"VEGETARI--WAHHH, VEGETARI---WHOOO!?"

YES!!! Yours truly is going on my annual vegetarian fast for a whole month this month, from today the 3rd to the 3rd of February (the first day of the new lunar year cycle this year). Every year exactly a month before the Chinese/Vietnamese new year, I start this cleansing ritual for personal and spiritual reasons. I figured the whole year prior has consisted of me taking or receiving from nature, the earth or what have you. If I'm not going to give any of it back, which the last time I checked, I don't know anyone who've planted a tree nor nurtured a an egg to chicken lately. I may as well not take a life for the last 30 days of the year.
 I'm not a tree hugger by far, I'm just aware that the "powers that be" are good to me and my family and it doesn't take that much for me to resist over indulging to show gratitude. I get all types of reactions when people find out, mostly positive, some cynical, but all take a moment to process the reasoning. I've even had a few friends joined me in the last few years and we help support each other by finding new vegetarian joints and recipes (I know, gay right!?). My mom is also very supportive and frequently drops off vegetarian dishes for me at work (I know, gay and mommas boy right!?).
With a wide array of tofu specialties restaurant in the Westminster area, it's not that hard being vegetarian when you're Asian. Every type of Asian cuisines also offers vegetarian as an alternative, due to a vast numbers of Asians are Buddhists. Dude! they make tofu taste better than actual meat sometimes by over flavoring the tofu and the texture is surprisingly accurate.
 Bottom line is, I'm just trying to not take as much from what life has to offer. its my way of being thankful more than just by saying grace or slaughtering a pig or turkey as a form of appreciation. This will be my ninth year partaking in this ritual, if anything, at least for health reasons as well.
 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE,  and good vegetarian eating!!

BOB