Coach Kirstin

It's a song by Kid Cudi. Loved it the first time I heard it. But it hit home for me last October. It was after my fight and I was on the way to the gym. I was coming off a win and was supposed to take the week and rest. But I had a jiu jitsu tournament that weekend, aka a wrestling tournament for me. It's not really my thing but I do it for the practice. The experience. The adrenaline control. But that day the lyrics that sunk in were: Imma do just what I want lookin' ahead no turnin' back if I fall if I die know I lived it till the fullest if I fall if I die know I lived and missed some bullets I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good So simple. But at that moment, when I didn't want to rest, I just wanted to be better, I knew I was on my pursuit of happiness. I'm an amateur. But I love this stuff. It means the world to me. But you can't tel...

I love vinegar coleslaw.  Probably more than creamy coleslaw, maybe because it’s not as common.  I had thought on several occasions that I would make my own, but I never got around to it.  Well two weeks ago in my Green Grocer delivery, I had two heads of cabbage.  I also had a ton of zucchini so I made a lasagna that week and still had the cabbage, so my first attempt at coleslaw.  I modified a few recipes I read through based on what I had on hand.  What I used: <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>Splash of red wine vinegar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>1 ½ cups of regular vinegar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>¾ cup sugar <![if !supportLists]> ·          <![endif]>½ cup of vegetable oil <![if !supp...

So most people close to me know but I was trying to take a job in Afghanistan.  Largely for financial reasons.  I was looking to quickly get out of debt that I had acquired through some bad choices.  Good lessons, bad choices.  But it appears the era of easily getting  a job there has ended.  I had a job, was all set to give my notice and the company was put on a hiring freeze.  It may get lifted but based on speeches and political climates, I for see a very near end to our time in Afgh.  So after a bit of shock this week and putting the stop on a few things I had in motion, I finally can say I pulled my self together.  I was also slightly prodded by a good friend who told me I'm wasting my potential with talent in my career. And now the reality, I have my first Muay Thai fight in 6 weeks.  I have a lot of work ahead of me.  When I thought I wasn't going to be here, I decided I wanted to spend my time eating out and drinking with ...

So Sammy is my cat. He is a Maine Coon, which if you have never experienced one its like having a dog that looks like a bobcat. He's my little man and he's spoiled. We end every night with me petting him until I pass out or he gets fed up. This is also how I wake up. He's up at my head as soon as the alarm goes off and I pet him until the snooze goes off again. I didn't realize it until tonight but he helps me unwind and be ready for bed. His routine is also my routine and signals to my brain it's bed time. It's one of my favorite parts of my day.

So I like kale.   But I can only eat so many kale chips.  I received a bunch of kale in my veggie box this week and was at my limit for kale chips.  So I goggled recipes and found a couple but needed something quick.  There was a recipe for braised kale, that I decided to modify.  I took 6 pieces of bacon, chopped them up and cooked them in a big frying pan .  Then I took the bacon out, leaving the grease.  I tossed in the kale and added a few splashes of red wine vinegar.  Tossed it around a few times to get the kale to soften a bit and then added the bacon back in.  Rather simple.  And probably the tast iest kale I have ever had.    

So admittedly, I’m not very patient.   I’m quick to think and probably acting on it about 2 seconds later.   And I’m am 100 % sure I annoy the shit out of people.   I’m probably not the ideal candidate for a cube setting, more or less next to an annoying person . And I am currently seated next to the most annoying person .  There are probably several things that annoy me about him but the most annoying is his eating.  He is pre-diabetic .  You would think that would be enough to change habits.  Not this guy, he just cuts back.  Apparently he likes Coke ’ s quite a bit.  So post diagnosis, he just cuts it back to 2 or 3 a day … . Really? That doesn’t even help.   Meanwhile my health insurance goes through the roof because this guy can only cut back on his habits that caused the problem.  And Dr ’ s will medicate him through the nose and insurance will cover it....