of comments

I decided to disable comments on my blog entries. Something about attachment, impermanence and letting go.. I wanted the words to stand as they are, without me looking back to older comments, commenting back or letting emotions alter the original intent of the post.

I understand some people need or want to make comments to feel as if this justifies their appearance at the blog. I disagree. You can enjoy the words, get something out of them and we can move on. Hold the words in that moment in time and then go forward. But never further ahead then the second that life is happening.

There will be times I will ask for comments based on a certain entries where I will ask the readers to voice themselves about something integral to the earth or something eco.

edit: funny, right here was something i was typing and i deleted it by mistake. I got mad for a second that I lost what i had typed. I laughed, then thought, "Hmmm, ironic".


This is our planet...
This is us.

namaste.

Tommy Fusco
Queens, N.Y.

of yoga mats {review of the rawganique hemp yoga rug}

Hello again.

I will be reviewing several green products here in the upcoming days, weeks and months ahead and today I will start with a Yoga product, the Rawganique Hemp Yoga mat to be more specific.

Here's my initial thoughts.


The Rawganique Hemp Yoga Rug

The Rawganique Hemp mat is an eco-yogis dream. Probably, the best overall choice for green minded yoga practitioners.

+ Its 100 percent hemp fabric. Because of this, it is best used on a carpet/rug or other grippable surface. Not made for hardwood floors, but I bought the Manduka Eko for that. On the carpet, I haven't noticed any slippage with the mat, though I haven't got hardcore.

- It felt odd at first getting on it, but got used to it. But I haven't once gotten off balance from it. Its just that its, a rug! :) Its a tad bit, itchy which is annoying, but I have sensitive skin. I hope a washing will temper that feeling a bit.

Also, it's not too thick so you still feel close to the floor surface.

+ It's perfect for travel.
This IS my travel mat for sure. Bendable, soft and light. Oh baby.
It truly feels great to take this baby anywhere and do so in an environmentally friendly way.

i find lately that getting ANYTHING anymore that isn't natural, green or anything makes me feel imbalanced. Like when a certain food tells your stomach after you've eaten it, I feel the same when i purchase something not eco friendly or new if i have the option to find it use.
I listen to my mind/body. It always says 'earth'.

- The mat is pricey, as is any green product. But at $49 its well worth it. especially when you find out that the company is 'off the grid'. They also ship fast and are friendly.
Now that I think about it. Is 49 really that expensive? Maybe this isn't a negative after all.

Other thoughts....

It feels 'correct' practicing on this rug, if that makes any sense. You feel 'earthy'. And during yoga, thats the way you want to feel isn't it?

I am not sure how this mat will hold up over the long haul. Its handmade/woven so any imperfections I am sure can just be weaved back to place easily.
I'll have to ask a girl on that one. :)

I give the Rawganique Hemp Yoga Mat a B+

I leave room for improvement because it may get even better than this over time if it holds up.
If you want the true eco yoga mat. There is only one. Hemp. By Rawganique.


This is our planet.
This is us.

Tommy Fusco
Queens, N.Y.

of life in earth tones

I decided to return to this blog after some seismic shifting in my life, family and otherwise. With yoga added to my lifestyle things should be interesting. Living life now in softer colors. Namaste.


Tommy Fusco
Queens, N.Y.

of heart rates, bikes and pudding

ZEN.

I finished my three days of silence with only a few hiccups. A few minutes after I started it, someone came knocking at the dooor looking for the person who lived here before me. I could have mimed it, or made nonsensical jestures, but then they might have thought I was hiding them in here and that i was a wacko hopped up on something. Though, when I talk they still might have gotten that impression, so who knows.

My next stint starting tomorrow is 1 week of the simple heartbeat theory. I am going to go a week avoiding stress and all activities and things that will cause my heart rate to spike. I need to get to the root of happiness and it starts at the inside. Once I find out (and the people around me) what keeps me happy and not a ticking time bomb, all is good.

Also, on the zen note, started (and stopped) reading eat, pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Review? Well they say, if you can't say anything nice......



VEGAN.

Here's a recipe from the previously mentioned cookbook by Moby, Teany. If I was still in New York, I'd check his place out. I will still go. But for now, here's one of the recipes from the book/cafe.

Chocolate and Green Tea Pudding Recipe 1 cup chocolate soy milk 1 tablespoon loose green tea leaves 10 ounces (one bag) semisweet vegan chocolate chips 12 ounces silken tofu 1/4 cup soft tofu 2 tablespoons matcha tea (green tea powder, available at any good tea shop), optional Pour the chocolate milk and tea leaves into a small pot and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let the chocolate milk cool. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler (or you can do this in a small pot over low heat, stirring constantly). Put the soy milk mixture , melted chocolate, silken tofu, and soft tofu into a food processor. Blend until totally smooth. Put into individual cups or bowls, and refrigerate for at least one hour. Before serving, take a paper doily or any other design cutout and lay it over the pudding. Generously powder the top of the doily or cutout with the matcha. Lift the doily or cutout, making sure not to disturb the design you just made. Serve immediately. Makes 5 servings. From Teany Book: Stories, Food, Romance, Cartoons and, of Course, Tea by Moby and Kelly Tisdale (Studio, 2005) - reprinted with permission

ECO-IST.

I am now ready to go a-biking. The Cannondale is in order and I will again seriously cut back on the car usage. Today for my mom's birthday we are going to Largo to see an Elvis Impersonator she loves, so instead of going in two cars and meeting them, its a car-pool kind of day.
But biking is going to be the main mode for January. I also now own some walking poles to be used during the many hikes that are planned in 09.

Time to live a different life.
Dream it. Plan it. Do it.


COMEDIAN?

Looking to get back to the stage with a few different approaches. There's a local place I think i can get stuff done at. Buit this time its not for me as much. Stay tuned.

of silence, tea and wood{y}

ZEN.

Today I am going on a three day speaking fast. No words. Just odd expressions from the overly talkative cashier when I have to ask for a book today at the bookstore (this should be interesting). Well, it will be fun and therapeutic. I need and have needed to do this. A lot of you are thinking, "Isn't New Years Eve tomorrow? How can you go that day without speaking?"

Well, thats just it. It's a perfect day to be doing it when you think about it. In this day and age of tech and the 'now, now now! mentality, we lose sight of the simple things. We don't see the forest for the trees. That being said, It's high time I took a hike in the woods.

As of 11:42. No speaking for three days. How will it go?



VEGAN.

Got a new 'cookbook' to add to my collection. This one is Teany by Moby and Kelly Somethingorother. Its a great little book (For 3 dollars @ Big Lots). It talks about his Lower East Side cafe, Teany, done through humor and not so much humor. It has a lot of natural tea remedies, vegan recipes (I finally found a vegan version of Pink Vodka sauce), the *fake* history of Teany, Moby & Kelly, among other nice tidbits thrown into a journal style stream of consciousness format. Fun read, pick it up.




ECO-IST.

Woody Harrelson was one of my main if not THE main inspirations for change. He is someone who walks the talk. I recently picked up the eco-mentary dvd and companion book, 'How to Go Further' at Borders and it opened my eyes. I am positive it will have the same effect on you as it did on me.



Check out these links to buy his book/eco-mentary dvd & learn more!

- woody harrelson and laura louie's voice yourself!: the official site
- the world according to woody harrelson
- woody loves nothing more than a bit of yoga
- woody harrelson's long strange trip
- woody harrelson's sustainable life
- woody harrelson talks marijuana
- woody harrelson's wonderful life



COMEDIAN?

--- I was just thinking of how the hell I am going to talk for 3 days. WTF was I thinking (ok there I am off to a good start, 'thinking', not 'saying'.
Good start.

Anyways, in thinking I thought (there i go again. this is easy), what if i have to sneeze? Does the sound of a sneeze count? OF course not. Buuuuuut, what about if I go 'Oh my god' after it, if its a big sneeze? Or what if I see a car accident and naturally go, "OMG WTF!!!!". Will I then be a failure? Someone who couldn't keep his simple word. Destined to forever be a person who doesn't do what they set out to do?

Of course it does.

But If I scream at the top of my lung in the woods (because I dropped a log on my tootsies) and no ones around to hear it?..........


--- Random thought- If a book is 3 dollars, does that make it a crappy book? I am seriously wondering it. Its very rare to see certain books ever go discounted, some go wayyyy down. I feel bad for the author. Unless its one of those romanciers.
Anyways, heres a list of books that you might see at the clearance isle at your local neighborhood hardware store.

-The History Of Squash: The Sport AND The Plant. Volume 1

-Philosophy & Tony Hawk

-Bush & Me: A Love Story

-Reverse Racism In Harlem In 1943: A Spiritual Study Of 14 Woman's & 6 Men's Ideals and Values In An Analyzation Driven World & The People That Inhabit It.

- Death By Ferris Wheel: A Novel

Get em now, before they aren't all gone.

--- Finally Woody Harrelson's birthday is July 23rd. Go wish him a happy happy at his website.


Thats all kids. Silence starts at 12 noon.
Now!

new format

New format rolling out today. I decided to take the 4 header words from the blog title, and blog based on each of those topics in each entry. Hope it works for me...and you. Its a worK in progress. I think my final format idea will be to talk ZEN.VEGAN.ECO-ISM. then in the comedian section, recap things with a funny bend. Maybe?


ZEN.

Today I did my first 'reframe'. It's the art of taking something that happened to you thats perceived as a negative, annoying, frustrating or whatever and 'reframing it' to see another side of it. I am always on the lookout for things like this. Me? Anger issues? Nooooooo. Yesssssssss.
Anyways, I saw this article on the not yet phenomenon of 'the reframing effect' and I bookmarked It quicker than you can say...

"Why would you bookmark this site when the article is only like 50 words?"

Though you wouldn't say that because why would you care if I bookmarked it. Its weird to care about that. Besides most people bookmark porn.

Here's How Tim Brownson describes it.

"If something unexpected happens, it’s easy to let it knock your fledgling self-confidence. Perhaps you spill your drink on someone, you arrive late for the big meeting because of traffic problems, or someone who you wanted to speak to gives you a cold brush-off. Try to “reframe” the situation; put it in the best possible light: often, events are only negative because of the meaning we attach to them".

Give it a try, it can't help but help.

I like the meditation thing. It calmed me down even though it was early in the morning and I was already calm.

Mission Meditate: Success.


VEGAN.

So, people ask me, are you really doing it? Going green?

Yes, tho its going slowly.
I haven't switched over all aspects yet.
I am learning and easing in.
I am still eating fish, though I am phasing it out ever so slowly as you will notice below.
Heres my early dieting plan.

Day 1: All natural, vegan and organic. Which included a colorful melange of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Day 2: I had fish as well as the recommended daily intake of protein and greens. (Note: I enjoy fish and might still eat the occasional sardine).
Day 3: I hunted and killed 3 deer and a squirrel. Then ate them both.
Day 4: I entered and finished fourth (!) in a hungarian/polish sausage/sauerkraut/chilibean eating contest in Springfield. Went home, had an apple.
Days 5 & 6: I ate nothing but chicken and all variations of. Chicken pot pie, chicken tenders, mcchicken sandwiches, chicken with pork sauce & just plain chicken. Felt extra healthy on this day. It's days like these that are gonna make it suck giving up chicken.
Day 7: Smoothie Sundays! These will be fun. I had 4 total. Along with HGH, and a bag of jelly beans (I ran out of fruits and stuff).
Don't judge!!

This organic living is fun!

baby steps....

*editors note* Ok so this should be more for the 'comedian?' section because of all the laughs therein. But Since the blog is new, I shoved it there. Besides, its from March. I don't eat meat or jelly beans.


ECO-IST.





COMEDIAN?

In the ZEN section up top, I talked about the 'reframe' exercise I came across on the web..I just didn't detail it too much.

Well, I am not going to do that here, either. But I will elaborate.

Well, I found the perfect scenario for this exercise. Something that upset me, that I was damn well going to spin doctor into something that fit how I saw things. Because I am the only important one in this thing right?

Anyways. I sized it up. Thought it through. Then applied it liberally.

Now I have a nasty f*&king rash on my bottom!
Does that always happen when you 'reframe' and realize thas the person in traffic cutting you off was only doing it because I drive a Toyota and he's an asshole?
Ok maybe, that rash was from something else. And maybe he cut me off because thats how he drives and I wasn't paying close enough attention to his intentions.

Either way. Unlike my old Electric football game with the guys that run all over the place even though I told them to run straight and have Lynn Swann do a fly pattern across the middle, this thing works.
I was speaking earlier on feeling relaxed doing my 1st meditation. IT also felt weird. I had this strange sensation going on up in the house. Hard to explain.
Though It did make me think of other things I've experienced that are soooo relaxing but that also feel weird to me.

+ Geting Novacaine (During a dentists visit, or not)
+ Masturbating (During a dentist visit, or not)
+ Baking a cake while wearing a cowboy hat with a parrot on my shoulder.

There is something to be said for all this zen buddhist meditation yoga, mind body stuff.
And that thing is...Neat-O.

I'm liking it.

--On the comedy world front, it seems the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm will be based loosely around Larry's real life starring role in a Woody Allen film, entitled, Whatever Works.
Can there be a better person to play Woody besides Woody?

On a side note (back and to the left) someone asked me once if because of my neurosis, my life ever felt like a Woody Allen movie. I said, 'Yea. But I just wish i had a better supporting cast'.



Tommy

earth day: welcome to the movement

- hi all. welcome aboard and happy earthday to you. i am inviting you to come along on my journey to help save the planet through comedy. soon i will be doing some exciting things as it relates to the environment & comedy. i finally found my purpose in life and without sounding too preachy, or at all preachy, it is helping others and myself too save the earth. sometimes you see things and you say, wtf! i have begun a life of eco-conscious SOL (Simply Organic Living). I say, "if you aren't SOL, you're S.O.L".

-my other purpose for being here is comedy, i knew i had to combine the two when i saw how both of them are more alike than i thought. i hope to bring the message to the masses with jokes, which has brought to you, the 'green with laughter' movement.

-any comedians interested in performing at any of my green shows, email me, any non comedians looking to join the movement or just enjoy the shows, let me know as well. i'd love to hear from you.

more to come soon.

enjoy earth day.

tommy fusco
scotch plains, n.j.