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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Thanks , Tom Waits

I stole Tom Waits' s little black book today. Only to please the likes of the devil himself.
For all I am is a product of a desire , a vessel of deceit aloft a wandering seat.
Along this trip all I recall is the swindles and the swagger that I portrait-cant be me unless I sit still and talk, seeking only leads to loitering.
One Glass of wine, two whiskey shots im a mad man surfing on the line.
My Guitar lays in the grass, scratched and broke my camera's in the shop
' I got sunshine on a sunny day.. But its cold out in the month of may..'
bugs fly around me and my clothes soak the sun and sweat-
Cheese apple and bread carries my weight - I'm slowly deciding what I am
One Day i'll decide my hair ain't fallin out, my face ain't pimply and my skin isnt pale
One day i'll wake up , drink two cups of coffee and fall to the floor.
We all struggle and we all ache and we all pay for it when the bill is served.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Rumble Belly Blues

On the great 'No-destination-destination' road, one must eat and one must also endulge from time to time.
So how do you go to Ireland and eat a duck without having to perch yourself near a Fairy mound with a Slingshot and stones?
Well, appearing brittly famished outside of a four star restaurant never fails... but how do you do it and maintain your dignity?

In this post I will uncover the most thrifty eats for the Vegabond, Tramp, Hobo and homeless oh.. and the Traveler of course!

Methods of Munchy Conservation!

Grazing:
Every healthy eater knows that eating small portions consitently versus large quantities irregularly maintains both your energy and your appetite. This is the most essential key to keeping your minds eye ready for all the oppurtunities that arise while wandering.
Some great Grazing goods are as follows:
-Apples, Bannanas, Kiwi's , Any handy fruit
-Granola, nuts, apricots, raisons etc.
-Small leafy salads, cucumbers, slices of vegetables
-(for the meat eater) pepperettes, pepporoni etc
-alot of water / juice

Hybernation:
One of the best ways of maintaining both your budget and your appetite is to simply Sleep through those moments of the day when you would most likely be feasting. Just consider yourself a big burly bear and your wallet or lunch bag a frozen river! Also when you awake, you can look forward to a good hearty bite!

Various virtually free hearty meals:

Breakfast: (the essence of the day!)
-Toast with marmolade, jam, butter or just dry!
-Tea - versus Coffee (keeps you hydrated + its much better for you)
-An apple, bannana or other
-milk ( if its at your disposal) and gronala
*-Porrage practically freely cheap and very satisfying on cold mornings!

Mid-day "Lunch"
-Tuna Fish or Sardines on Bread (Sardines are the cheapest high protein alternative. And they generally come in a Tomato or Oil Base which is great with your bread)
-Fruity Salad Hostels always have dressings and spices- Grab some Greens, splurge on some Strawberries, pine-nuts, raspberries or apples. Throw in a bowl toss some balsamic vinegrette and your sound.
*- 'C.A.W.B' Among all these lesser meals, one taste stands alone. Its basicness and classyness is always bound to impress and it gives you a good mid day poison dose.Cheese, Apple, Wine, Bread.

The Grande Finale
Although every meal is as important as the last. Dinners always looked forward, from toddlers to tinkers from homeboys to hoes... We're all get down with our dirty self around dinner time. So what do you prepare on a budget when your hurtin for some eats?
Spagetti -Class stereotypical traveller, student, poorman meal. Easily prepared, cheap as dirt and satisfying. BUt you dont have to settle for simplicity. Add some oregano, rosemary, garlic, chili peppers, fingernail clippings! anything to spice that shit up!
*Stir-fry - Always my alternative to spagetti. Though it takes more creativity and time.. But its absolutly worth it. My fave mixture involves Chili peppers, green/red/yellow peppers, onion, scrambled eggs, pine nuts and various spices ! mhmm.. then sprinkle with Black sauce and your rollin!
Fish and Chips- Class Irish/ British Meal.. chop up some spud, sprinkle with rosemary douse in Oil throw in the oven. Drench your freshly fished cod or Halbut in some Flour throw in a pan fry it up. Serve with none other than a room temperature Stout! (for a twist. Crunch some un sweetened cornflakes up with your flour to give your fish that extra crisp! )
Burritos- Fix yourself some Rice and heat your ass some beans chop some veggies and Wrap up a storm then do the boogie woogie and drink a bottle of Tequila!

Encore!

Pint of Guiness with a Scoop of vanilla Ice Cream and sprinkle cocoa!

Alright so those are some options to cheap eats on the Road.. I got carried away so this is also my example of food for every day life!

One last option to the famished is of course! Get others to Cook for you!! Scottish Girls to bring Cheese Cake is always welcomed and food from the heart is always the bestist!

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Art of The Barter

Achieving what you need in this world has always been a question of :
'Radiator? Yeah , what you got?'
For decades this situation has been delt with the transaction of money or other credits . Infact, its become so uncommon to deal with anything other than money in most mainstream systems that we've forgotten that unless theres a morgage or bill to be paid, generally all that person wants money for is to buy more goods.
So why not just deal with goods? Cut away all the fat that is quite literally valueless monetary bullshit.
Now, of course.. My critics will remind me that we all have a duty to society and that banks represent the infostructure, education systems, growth and overall prosperity of the world.
Well, yes this is all nice and grand. But we dont have to worry about the collapse of all those things.. Because how many of you are going to practice this art that I preach, and howmany of you are going to consider it a good read and thats it?

I guess we'll find out ?

So what exactly is bartering?
Well it is a very basic transaction that involves raw material, for raw material..
It was the practice of craftsmen, butchers, blacksmith, bookmakers and whores for centuries before the Bank system and the Monetary revolution began price taggin' everything that you could eat, drive, read and well.. do?

Just like Money, this system had rules and objects had certain value. For instance, vegitables we'rent worth their weight and volume in Meat. Because it took more work to butcher, so meat was much more valueble. Carpentry wasnt worth its scale in blacksmithed goods, etc etc..

Why did we abolish this system? Well because it wasnt provitable for the richer upper class, they would have to work, and work hard to have the wealth they desired.
Also, personally... I beleive it was to further famish the poor. If they cant get a job, or make the new 'Dough' (a phrase derived from the Barter system) then they would just perish and die.

So what can you do to have the weath you deserve and not work a measly part-time job?
Well, use your crafts! Get your hands dirty, use the skills you have to achieve a weath beyond Money!

Now, of course.. its not exactly that easy to get the things you might want, thats why this is just a hypathetical theory.

Though if you are Traveling, I have learned that this system can be very very profitable.

Various things ive done since I left home for Ireland which got me what I needed to survive without haveing to break a bill are:

-Painted, cleaned fixed or performed a diddy at various Hostels for up to a 2 1/2 weeks now of Free sleep!
-Cooked meals (stir fries, burrito's, pizza's , Pancakes) for folks who put me up on their couches.
-Just recently I painted 3 portraits of some dudes cats for a Beautiful Silk Indian Throw!
-The Irish love their Musical Sessions! Ive played many a song for a Pint
-IOU's when staying at folks houses I would reassure them they've got a place on my couch in Canada!
-I almost traded my Guitar for a Squeeze box.. ?
-Traded books for Books, Music for music , Wine for beer, Pasta for Pizza
-Stories and company for a ride to the next town?

I hope this little snippit can be useful to anyone who wants to avoid the prison that is the Monetary system!
It has served me very well over the past month+
I havent used any of my own money from my stash for about 5 days now!
I havent taken a bus, train etc for over 2 weeks
In the past 3 weeks I have payed for 6 nights in a Hostel!

Hmmm.. Now thats FREE-dom my comrades

Tip your glasses and open your Eyes!
Cheers* Mack- Mackenzie