Shave and a haircut...

Week Twenty-One:Straight-Razor Shave

The idea of the straight-razor shave has always been romanticized in my head. I immediately envision a cowboy or gangster leaning back in the chair as the old time barber complete with white apron and striped pole leans over them, swinging the blade with quiet concentration. The whole situation has that old-fashioned Americana feel I truly appreciate - despite the fact that the patron is usually then gunned down by a more menacing version of the same type. Unless of course a cowboy bursts in to shoot the gangster, but that would just be ridiculous.

Therefore, despite the threat of imminent death, I decided to incorporate a straight-razor shave into 52to30 because it just seemed like such an awesome idea. The challenge I faced in accomplishing this, however, was finding a barber that still provided the service. Apparently nobody trusts a stranger to rub a razor sharp piece of steel across their face anymore. Weird.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to find an old-fashioned barber that would actually give me a shave I finally received a tip from my good friend Jason. He had recently received a haircut at Tom’s, a hole-in-the-wall barbershop on Amherst Street in Buffalo. In addition to a well-done and reasonably priced trim, Jason’s experience at Tom’s also included the straight-razor treatment on his neck and around the ears. Once he informed me of this incident I knew I was in business.

The next issue, however, was trying to make it to Tom’s while he was actually open. My first two attempts were foiled because the shop is randomly closed on Wednesdays and also because Tom only works between 9am and 5 pm – I happen to work from 9 to 5:30 so that doesn’t really help me. Therefore, to make this happen I arranged to work a later shift so I would be able to receive my shave first thing in the morning.

* * *

Arriving at Tom’s a little before nine on Thursday morning I was relieved to finally see his sign flipped to “Open.” As I walked into the worn out storefront it was obvious the shop had not been updated in the last thirty years. A row of tattered chairs were lined up along the right side of the shop for waiting customers and the linoleum floor was worn away in a circular pattern around the barber chair - undoubtedly the path Tom has shuffled hundreds of thousands of times over the last few decades. Several pots of flowers were scattered on the platforms behind each of the two large, filthy front windows as the time-warp atmosphere was completed by fluorescent lights flickering overhead and an A.M. radio filling the room with a combination of jazz standards, news updates and static.

I waited in the designated area while Tom finished cutting the hair of an elderly man who seemed to doze off several times during the process. Once his turn was up Tom looked at me and motioned to the chair at which point I requested a shave. After mumbling his acknowledgement through a faded Italian accent Tom attached the headrest, leaned me back and affixed some towels into the collar of my shirt. Next he applied the hot lather which felt fantastic at first before quickly cooling to room temperature while he sharpened the razor. Then tilting my head to the left Tom slowly began dragging the blade along the right side of my jaw.

It’s definitely not the most comfortable feeling in the world but I wouldn’t call it painful. Instead there’s a distinct scraping sound and the hairs are kind of tugged as they’re removed from the skin. Again, it doesn’t hurt; it’s just a slight pressure pulling the hairs as they’re being cut loose. It’s similar to shaving without water which would in fact be the case in this situation.

The most distinct feeling, however, is the undeniable anxiety over the fear of sudden movement. Throughout the entire process I was dreadfully aware that a very sharp razor was gliding along the contours of my face, uncomfortably close to my nose, ears and throat – none of which I’m currently looking to alter. Therefore, I remained very focused and conscious of limiting any sort of movement. Instead, I trusted Tom to move my head as he deemed necessary – tilting my chin to the left, right or upwards or pinching my nose to navigate the tricky corners around my upper lip. His patience and precision were truly appreciated.

After shaving along the jaw, cheek and neck on the right side of my face, Tom angled my head so he could do the same on the left side. Following each stroke of the blade he would wipe off the razor with the towel on my chest before continuing. Finished with my upper lip, Tom then removed any excess shaving cream before applying some aftershave which definitely livened up the senses a bit. However, he followed that with talcum powder to soothe the skin and that was most certainly appreciated.

At the end of this experience the straight-razor shave did not live up to the hype. Tom was definitely a very cool old guy and I truly appreciate his precision and skill but perhaps he’s a bit out of practice. Or maybe, the reason everyone shaves at home these days is because it’s easier, cheaper and, thanks to advanced technology, much more efficient. After I left I inspected myself in the mirror and moved my hand along my face. There were a couple patches Tom had missed along with a few spots of razor burn with traces of blood. Plus, his sideburn sculpting left something to be desired. Overall, the final product was decent but less than stellar and in fact turned out very similar to the way I shaved when I was fifteen.

I have heard about designer men’s shops in Las Vegas and New York City that provide first-class treatment including straight-razor shaves - likely in updated facilities much more polished than Tom’s little barber shop on Amherst Street. However, this treatment is also, very likely, much more expensive. So if I ever find myself in Vegas with a little extra time, money and facial hair I might consider giving a straight-razor shave another try. Until then, however, I’ll stick to the Gillette Fusion and my bathroom sink. I know it can feel like a hassle in the morning but you really can’t beat cheap and comfortable.

A creative mess is better than tidy idleness...

Week Twenty:Learn to Knit

There are many skills in this world that all men should possess. Included among these abilities are the proper ways to operate a chainsaw, throw a football and maintain an automobile (at which I’ve already proven to be a monumental failure). And while these represent just a small sampling of necessary “man skills,” learning how to knit definitely does not make that list. However, let it be said that I am not the type to shy away from a challenging new experience no matter how blatantly unmanly it seems. Therefore, in an effort to expand my experiences into unexpected and (if I may say so) uncharacteristic territories, I am learning how to knit.

My wonderful girlfriend Jackie originally brought up this idea but at first I really wasn’t interested. As time passed, however, the idea slowly became more appealing but not due to an increased desire to learn how to knit. Instead it has more to do with this strange compulsion I have to learn everything there is to know - I want to be able to install a light switch, make a quiche and skin a deer all in the same day. Therefore, since this opportunity was presented I figured I might as well add it to my arsenal.

In an effort to keep this task as manageable as possible I decided I would knit myself a scarf - just a straight line of fabric with no angles, patterns or any other obstacles to confuse the matter. I’ll have my hands full just learning the process so it’s best to keep it easy and functional. Next, I had to choose my yarn and considering style and texture, I selected a cool, grayish fabric with little notches to enhance the feel. Jackie then proceeded to show me how to wind the yarn around one of the needles to begin the process. However, when it came to the actual knitting of yarn together she had to slow herself down to consciously think about the process.

Once she figured it out, Jackie got behind me to guide my hands through the technique in a very Ghost-like moment - the only thing missing was “Unchained Melody.” But as I watched her fingers move, even at the exaggerated slow pace, I started laughing through my own intimidation. At first glance, the knitting process is so confusing I just couldn’t help feeling like I was in way over my head. Once again though, never one to back down from a challenge, I was determined to give it my best.

After helping me through the first row, Jackie left me to continue the process on my own. With my limited knowledge of the technique I started very slowly, repeating the steps Jackie taught me before realizing the actual knitting was the least of my problems. Instead, the thread that I chose ended up causing way more trouble than it’s worth.

Between the color, texture and random notches I was so fond of, it was very difficult to move the needle in and out of the appropriate loops. On the occasion I could actually find the right spot it was equally difficult to move the yarn because my knitting was so inconsistent – some loops being very loose while others were wound too tight to work with at all. Before I even finished the third row it was obvious I had created a knotted mess and I was forced to unravel and start again.

Although my second attempt began a bit more smoothly things quickly went south. After four or five rows of struggling through the process I spread out the fabric to check on my progress and realized, much to my disappointment, the scarf was developing very unevenly. As you can see from the picture, the right side of the needle shows the length it should be but as the yarn moves to the left it becomes a mangled up mess. So much so, in fact, that I somehow managed to extend some yarn above the needle – don’t ask how, I’m just learning here. At least Jackie got a good laugh out of my effort.

Therefore, feeling terribly frustrated and a little deterred I decided to pull it apart again and switch to an easier yarn. Unfortunately, my only other option was plain white but at this point style was out the window and I was only concerned with learning the process. Besides, if I’m pleased with the final product I can always dye it a more appealing color or give it away as a gift.

So with a fresh beginning and a healthy dose of determination I started chugging along. The difference was immediately noticeable and I was able to make a lot of progress very quickly. Actually being able to see the knots and determine where the needle is supposed to go makes knitting much easy, so that helps.

For the next hour or so I continued all the steps over and over – in, behind, loop, front, in, off. Trust me, it makes sense when you’re in the process. At first I started very slowly but as I got the hang of it I was able to pick up the pace and really work up a head of steam. Every once in a while though I would lose my concentration or over think myself, unsure if I had skipped or repeated a step. At this point I would make my best guess and pick up the steps where I assumed I left off. By the time I finished that first night I had about three inches of scarf to show for my efforts.

In spite of its image as a leisurely hobby for old ladies, knitting seems to serve the opposite purpose. It’s a stimulating brain activity requiring concentration and consistency which may in fact help prevent the mental atrophy that sometimes occurs in the elderly. No wonder so many old ladies are into it. Even in my own experience, once I gained confidence and started moving along at a steady pace I had to maintain my concentration. Any time I looked up to check the action in the hockey game for instance, I would be totally lost and end up making a mistake (note the random loop on the left side).

After another night of knitting I just about doubled the size of my scarf. While that’s not saying much at this point I realize it’s not supposed to be a quick process. Just like anything worth doing in life I’ll have to invest plenty of time and patience before I have something worthwhile. So hopefully over time I will keep on knitting and eventually have myself a pretty nice, one of a kind scarf. Good thing it’s April though because it might just take until next winter, at which point I’ll have a small, misshapen scarf as a memento of this experience.

A well needed change. Maybe...

Week Nineteen:Oil Change

After working in a car dealership for over nine years you’d think a person might pick up quite a bit of knowledge about maintaining an automobile. In my case, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite working at the now defunct Jack Adkins Ford throughout high school and college, I know very little about fixing or caring for my car outside of washing it or changing the windshield wipers. In all fairness, however, my main duties at the dealership were limited to washing cars and changing license plates before being promoted to the high-level position of parts delivery. Even then, while able to identify various car parts, I usually have no idea where they go or what they do.

I wouldn’t say I’m proud of this lack of knowledge but to be totally honest, I am not a car person. In fact, I have no interest whatsoever aside from personal transportation and as long as mine is functioning and looks halfway decent I’m happy. Conversely, I know many people that do fit into this category and subsequently love everything about cars - from driving and fixing them to watching movies and reading about them. To each his own I guess, but in my mind, cars are merely a means to an end and, aside from driving, I am mostly clueless.

Therefore, since a big part of 52to30 is expanding my horizons and becoming more of a well-rounded person, I thought I would try to overcome this automotive ineptitude and change the oil in my car. I realize this isn’t an overly impressive feat, like rebuilding a classic car or modifying an engine for more horsepower, but I’m a novice here and quite frankly, I’m not interested in reinventing myself as a car lover. So instead of finding my next passion project, I’m merely trying to expose myself to a new experience while gaining some useful knowledge – however slight that knowledge may be.

Getting started on this adventure was pretty easy. Aside from using the Internet to review all the necessary steps of performing an oil change, the rest of the research was done by my brother Sean. Always eager to help, and currently employed by a local dealership, Sean looked up and gathered the appropriate oil and filter for the process. He was also kind enough to lend me his oil filter wrench, which is apparently a vital tool in the oil change process. All I had to do was stop by his house to pick everything up.

In addition to all the items Sean provided, I also gathered a socket wrench, drain pan, funnel, a couple of rags and a pair of rubber gloves (Maybe I’m a wuss but I’ve seen too many mechanics with mangled, oil-stained hands. No thanks.) So with necessary tools assembled I set out to accomplish my first ever oil change. Crawling under my truck, I immediately realized I didn’t have quite as much space as I originally thought. Regardless of this miscalculation, however, I had just enough room to operate and quickly located my drain plug and filter.

After determining the correct socket to remove the drain plug I wedged myself awkwardly behind my front left tire. With the plug just within reach I positioned the drain pan, applied the wrench and established which direction to turn before applying pressure. With the limited range of motion I had to work with I knew I would have to use short strokes to unscrew the plug, but figured that was a good thing since it would prevent me from detaching it too quickly and causing a massive oil spill in the middle of the driveway.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized I was worrying about a future problem while being faced with a more pressing and unexpected obstacle. As I applied increasing levels of pressure to the socket wrench the drain plug refused to budge. In fact, the wrench would just slide off the plug with minimal force and I knew I was in some trouble. I double checked the socket size, tapped the plug with a hammer to loosen it up and even switched to vice grips for a tighter hold but that thing wasn’t moving.

Eventually I called Sean back into the game to provide his assistance in this matter. However, despite having more experience than myself (which isn’t saying much) Sean was unable to make any further progress with the drain plug. What he was able to provide though was an explanation. First, as evidenced by the slipping socket wrench, the edges of my drain plug are stripped – only a bit though, so it’s not beyond repair. Also added to this situation is the fact that the plug was last put back on with an air wrench so it too tight to be removed by hand (Maybe I’m overplaying this slightly but I’m just trying to save face).

So after wrestling with this frigging drain plug for over half an hour I decided to throw in the towel. While I’m not the type of person who gives up on things easily I know how to recognize when I’m wasting my time. I could still be out there with the tools available and not making any progress. Therefore, rather than continue this futile effort I elected to put it off until another day. Unfortunately, since I waited until later in the week I did not have enough time to find the necessary tools to finish the job.

So I now have the unfortunate duty of informing you that I was unable to successfully accomplish this week’s experience. When I first set out on this yearlong adventure I fully embraced the possibility of failure some weeks, or at the very least falling short of my expectations. However, with a task as seemingly simple as changing my oil, I never dreamed it would be unsuccessful.

While I feel like I’ve learned a lot from this process anyway, it seems like I’m apologizing here and maybe I should be. All I know is that I feel like a jackass and I’m eager to put this week behind me. I’m definitely going to change my oil in the future, if for no other reason than proving I’m not totally useless when it comes to cars. More importantly though, it’s in dire need of a wash.

POP CULTURE UPDATE:

Currently Watching : NHL Playoffs
Currently Reading : Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

We are all witnesses...

Week Eighteen:Attend an NBA Game

It should come as no surprise at this point to find out that I’m a tremendous sports fan. Football has always been my favorite followed closely by hockey and then baseball. But beyond my devotion to this top three, I can watch pretty much any sport imaginable, from golf to soccer and, of course, curling. However, despite this extensive interest in sports, basketball is the one game that has never appealed to me as a spectator. I like to play basketball when I get the chance but for some reason I have always found it to be a terribly boring game to watch.

Despite this lack of interest, however, I’ve recently thought it would be fun to check out an NBA game, just for the experience. After all, I’ve been to countless football and hockey games as well as a handful of baseball games, but I’ve never had the opportunity to check out a professional basketball game - owing largely to the fact that Buffalo doesn’t currently have a team. Adding to this interest is the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second closest team after Toronto, currently boasts the game’s most dominant player in LeBron James. Therefore, attending an NBA game quickly made it onto my list for 52to30.

I decided to purchase tickets for a game later in the season so there was less chance of driving through winter weather. Also, to ensure it was an entertaining contest, I chose a Sunday afternoon game against the San Antonio Spurs, a perennial contender in the NBA thanks to their own big name players - notably Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. I figured if I’m committed to watching a basketball game I might as well get my money’s worth and make sure it’s between two competitive and talented teams. My next challenge, however, proved a bit more difficult as I had to find someone to go with me.

In the months leading up to the game I had several lukewarm commitments from various friends and family members about joining me on this excursion. Realizing I don’t know any real basketball fans I thought I’d at least get some interest between the novelty of the idea as well as the chance to see one of the game’s all time greats. As the game drew closer, however, everybody backed out and I started to worry that I might be on my own. It’s amazing how much people love to proclaim their hatred of basketball around here. Really, a simple ‘no thanks’ would suffice – but I digress. Thankfully, I was finally able to convince my brother Pat to join me by offering him an early birthday discount on the ticket.

Deciding our outing to Cleveland would be a day trip, Pat and I hit the road around ten o’clock and made pretty good time, getting to our seats just in time for tip-off. We were in the corner of the upper deck but still had a decent view of the action. On that note though, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. The arena was packed and the atmosphere was electrifying as the city of Cleveland is really behind the Cavaliers right now. This excitement was only added to by what I would describe as the total sensory overload of the arena experience.

During the game, the lights are dimmed in the seats so only the court itself is lit. Despite this seeming attempt to focus attention on the game, however, music is blared through the speakers throughout the action and random movie or cartoon clips are played after every score. Again, I’m used to football and hockey games where any music or noise from the loudspeakers is limited to stoppages in play so this was a much different experience.

Then, whenever there was a timeout or any other extended break in action, the house lights come on and the court is flooded with the Cavalier Girls, the team’s mascot (Moondog), or the team’s pep squad of khaki-clad merry makers. Some spirited dance or promotional giveaway then commences until it’s time for play to resume. Also adding to this excitement were the various celebrities in attendance for the game. I’m not sure if this is a regular occurrence but in this instance the Jumbotron zoomed in on the likes of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Brady Quinn of the Cleveland Browns and the always-entertaining Bootsy Collins. It was really quite the spectacle.

Once I was finally able to focus on the game, however, I quickly realized how unfamiliar I am with the rules of basketball. I can get by on the basics like the casual fan that I am, but in terms of fouls and possession calls I was totally lost. For seemingly no reason the whistle would blow and the referee would make some obscure gesture while the crowd reacted either positively or negatively. It was all a little confusing. However, while I may have been lost on the technicalities of the game, the one thing that was impossible to miss was the complete dominance of LeBron James.

From the opening tip-off, James was the focal point of the entire arena and he easily lived up to all the hype. Scoring twenty points in the first quarter alone, he sunk almost every shot and made all defenders look ridiculous in their futile attempts to cover him. What everyone in the arena was really waiting for however, was for LeBron to break out a few of his highlight-reel dunks and he did not disappoint. In fact, two of my personal favorites were a beautifully timed al-e-oop pass that James grabbed out of midair and slammed into the net, as well as a classic breakaway, one-handed, windmill dunk. Both of these plays were things of beauty regardless of your interest in the game.

Thanks in large part to James’ dominance, however, the Cavaliers took an early lead and never looked back. The Spurs trailed through most of the game, at times by up to twenty points. Unfortunately, because of this commanding lead, LeBron and the other starters saw limited time in the second half of the game. Even the Spurs took out their top talent and the difference in play was painfully obvious. The back-ups that replaced the starters played sloppy and uninspired basketball as air balls and errant passes quickly brought the excitement to a halt. As time expired the Cavaliers won by a commanding score of 101-81, as LeBron James scored 48 points and the team elevated their record on home court to 37 wins with only one loss.

While I still wouldn’t consider myself a fan of basketball I had a great time at this game and I would recommend the experience to any like-minded sports fan. The entertainment factor alone is worth the price of admission not to mention witnessing the athletic brilliance of LeBron James. Still, while I don’t feel the need to attend another game anytime soon, I could definitely see myself checking it out again a few years down the road – maybe after my first soccer match or golf tournament. If nothing else, at least I now have a rooting interest when the NBA playoffs get underway in a few weeks. But chances are I’ll be watching hockey anyway.

Go vegan...

Week Seventeen:Veganism

Over the years, I have known many committed vegans and vegetarians - mainly through my involvement in the punk rock/hardcore scene where it’s a relatively common practice. Although these ideals never appealed to me, I’ve always supported them in others and defended the lifestyle against its critics (it’s shocking how angry some people get when they find out someone doesn’t eat meat). Despite my non-involvement, however, I always thought it would be an interesting challenge to see how long I could last on a vegan diet. Therefore, for this entire week I decided to give it a try as my latest installment of 52-30.

I realize not everyone is familiar with the vegan lifestyle so please allow me to provide a brief description. Most commonly, veganism refers to the dietary practice of avoiding all animals and animal byproducts including any form of meat, dairy, honey, gelatin, etc. (At this point, the usual question is, “even milk and cheese?” to which I naturally respond, “That would be dairy.”) The purpose behind this lifestyle choice ranges from the support of animal welfare to dietary benefits and even personal preference. Also, depending on their level of commitment, some vegans will abstain from wearing or using any animal products such as leather or suede.

Many stores these days carry an ample selection of meat and dairy alternatives, made from soy beans or other vegetable combinations. Most common among these products are soy milk and cheese as well as a variety of meatless burgers and chicken patties offered by several different brands. Thankfully, due to the ever-increasing popularity of the health food market, this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wide range of vegan-friendly products that have been developed and experienced success due to their low-fat and high-protein content. However, since living exclusively on these products would get very expensive, I decided to use them sparingly and focus on adding more vegetables while subtracting anything that contains cream or cheese - which, quite frankly, is a change for the better regardless.

Just like any week-long experience during 52-30, my life as a vegan began on Friday and continued through the following Thursday. Therefore, I knew I would have my work cut out for me by introducing such a drastic lifestyle change over the weekend. During the workweek I would be able to settle into a nice, easy routine and prepare all my meals ahead of time, but the open schedule and down time of the weekend would be a little more challenging. I wish I could tell you I persevered through some creative use of fruits or vegetables but I basically survived the weekend on salad and salsa. I definitely didn’t get off to a great start but I was confident I would redeem myself during the week – especially since I had developed a basic plan of action.

For breakfast everyday I kept it simple, eating a bowl of apple-cinnamon cheerios with soy milk. I’ve always liked soy milk so this wasn’t a drastic change and it was actually one of the most delicious meals of the entire week. Lunch wasn’t too different either since I usually have a salad with garbanzo beans and a side of cottage cheese everyday. The only change I had to make was substituting apple sauce for the cottage cheese and making sure I had vegan salad dressing – nothing with cream or cheese in the ingredients. Also, for snacking purposes, I kept a package of lightly salted rice cakes in my desk. And for the record, I’m not nearly as healthy as this makes me sound.

Dinner, however, would be the most significant change this week, as well as the most challenging, since nearly all standard dinners consist of a large meat portion and side dishes containing butter, cheese or cream. Therefore, I was sure to plan ahead, researching some vegan recipes and even altering a few regular choices to fit the criteria. Finally, I decided the week’s menu would consist of spaghetti with marinara sauce, bean burritos, imitation chicken patties, tofu stir fry and tofu tacos with black bean soup. Also, I must admit I received assistance with the selection and preparation of these meals from Jackie and my mother – both very helpful and supportive. So with a strategy in place I was ready to take on the experience of being vegan.

As the week progressed, however, more challenges quickly unfolded. The first, and most traumatic for me, was the lack of cream in my coffee. On the first day I tried substituting with soy milk but that definitely didn’t get the job done since it altered the taste but not the consistency – pretty much the opposite effect I’m looking for. After experimenting a bit, I finally picked up some non-dairy creamer, which I normally avoid, but in this situation it sufficed. Crisis resolved.

My next big obstacle came in the form of what is usually a joyous occasion – free lunch. Maybe once or twice a month in the office world we are graced with a free lunch, usually sponsored by one of our vendors. Monday of this week we were presented with a barbeque lunch from Kentucky Greg’s consisting of pulled pork, barbequed chicken, baked beans and macaroni and cheese. This was torture! The entire building smelled like this delicious spread and I was only able to partake in the salad and a roll with barbeque sauce. Despite this disappointment, however, I was able to resist and remain vegan.

Unfortunately, my struggle was just beginning. During an otherwise uneventful Tuesday we received an email about another free lunch the following day. This time, it would be supplied by Coyote Café, a local Mexican restaurant. It’s bad enough there were two free lunches in the same week, which is extremely rare, but it was tacos! You have to be kidding me, right? At least I was able to enjoy some chips and salsa while standing strong.

However, as I was suffering through my resistance, an email was sent about yet ANOTHER free lunch being provided on Thursday. Now this is ridiculous. Nobody could recall a previous occurrence of three lunches in the same week. I’m not sure what I did to deserve this kind of punishment but the third meal I had to regrettably decline was standard American fare – hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken, etc. The smell of this feast was the most delicious yet so I bypassed the cafeteria altogether and ate my salad and applesauce at my desk. But in a way, I’m thankful I had these three delicious, meat-filled meals to test me during this week. Being able to resist the temptation made my vegan experience all the more meaningful.

My week as a vegan played out pretty smoothly and, aside from the blitzkrieg of free lunches, it was more of a constant inconvenience rather than the struggle I had envisioned. That said, I only had a few minor missteps throughout the experience, including the BBQ sauce I applied to my “chicken” patties, not realizing it contained honey until it was too late. If anything, at least being vegan made me pay more attention to what I was eating. This knowledge is just another step to living a healthier life and that has definitely emerged as a regular theme here at fifty-two to thirty. So while I truly appreciate and respect the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and the various beliefs involved, it’s not something I can give my full commitment. But at least I finally got to be the annoying guy that has to ask, “Does this have meat in it?”