H.A. Larson's Blog, page 30

The Nite Owl

One of the gentrified districts in Omaha is the Blackstone District. I've talked about the District at length in this post so I won't go into detail here. What I'd like to share with you today is another great restaurant there: Nite Owl. The Nite Owl is a 21+ bar and grill with a cool, hipsterish vibe.



An array of cozy tables and booths are surrounded by dark blue walls covered in a wide assortment of black velvet paintings. I met up with some friends there awhile back, my second time there. It's a grab your own menu and a glass of water then seat yourself kind of place. I ordered an Oktoberfest beer while I waited.



Besides all the great black velvet paintings, they have a big screen TV above the bar - which can be seen from every angle in the joint - where they show classic 80's movies.



Like the other establishments in the Blackstone District, Nite Owl has a few vegan options. While I really should branch out and try the Tofu Kimchi Sliders, I absolutely adore their heavenly Sweet Potato-Black Bean burger with house-made vegan aioli. I paired it with a side of tots for a full, carbolicious meal.
If you want a casual meal in a fun, inviting atmosphere, give Nite Owl a try...if you live in Omaha or ever come visit that is.

Shocktober 2018!

October is absolutely my favorite month of the year, hands down. What's not to love? October heralds a full month of Autumnal glory. The weather is perfect, the foliage is a brilliant display of warm, vibrant colors, pumpkin patches are open, flannel is in abundance, Halloween draws ever closer, and it's the perfect time to sip some spiked cider while watching scary movies.

A couple of years ago I watched classic scary movies for the month, but last year I stuck to more modern tales of horror. The reason for this is because, as a huge fan of all things horror, I purchased a Shudder subscription that I still have. Shudder is the Netflix of Horror, and I love all the movies and shows I can pick from. Anyway, let's get started with this years Shocktober!





If you remember, one of the movies I watched last October was Hell House LLC. It was my favorite one out of the bunch (except for Lovely Molly, which ironically has an unintended reference in this movie). When I saw, then, that Hell House LLC II was out exclusively on Shudder, I put it in My List to watch for Shocktober! It started out quite strong but disappointed me at the end. While much of the movie follows the same strong pattern as it's predecessor, this one fell flat at the end. Sometimes, revealing all the secrets takes the mystery out of things while, at the same time, not have that same kind of impact you would expect it to have. This was the case with this sequel. Still, overall, it was a decent movie but don't watch this one until you've seen the original.




Revenge is a movie about, well, revenge. Jen is embroiled in a sexual relationship with a married man, Richard, who is wealthy. Every year he takes a hunting trip with his buddies to his remote house in the desert that is only accessible by helicopter. He decides to take Jen there to spend a few days prior to the hunting trip but on the second day his buddies show up early. What follows next is nothing short of tense, raw action that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way until the bloody ending. This is one of my new all-time favorites.




A man and a woman are leaving the place they've lived to move who knows where. When they encounter a local crime group at a bar where they are having dinner, they unwittingly become the next victims. The tables turn however when the criminals discover a living woman in the trunk of the couple's car and she informs them that they're all going to die at the hands of the man. This movie is full of bad dialogue and gore but is a total fun blast to watch. If you like gore, comeuppance, and revenge of a different flavor, then you will like this movie.




1800s Estonia is rife with weird creatures, ghosts, werewolves, and the Devil himself. Shot in black and white, this movie tells the story of Liina, a peasant girl, who is desperately in love with Hans. Hans doesn't reciprocate as he quickly falls in love with the beautiful daughter of the German landowner who rules the area. Unrequited love leads to tragedy, but it's all the other weirdness and characters that make this movie interesting. It's hard to follow at times and is subtitled, but if you like off-beat movies, this is one you might appreciate.




Next to Revenge, this was my favorite movie out of the bunch. Richard comes home to his English home after the war and sets out on a mission to get revenge on the thugs who teased and harassed his mentally-challenged little brother. He stalks them, messes with them, and, when confronted, shows his absolute non-fear of them. When you realize that Richard's younger brother is actually dead, you understand that everyone who's responsible will pay with their lives. Brilliantly portrayed by Paddy Considine, you won't soon forget about Richard or this movie.



And there you have it, 2018's Shocktober! edition. I hope you check out one or two of these movies (Revenge, cough, Dead Man's Shoes, cough, cough) for yourself. 
Have a great weekend.
-H

Healthy Life Update

Good morning! I hope you're looking forward to the weekend as much as I am. Now that I'm back, the first thing I'd like to share is the latest update on my road to health. Those of you who have been following my blog for some time already know the whole story, but for those of you who don't, let me fill you in a bit.
When it was time to make a New Year's Resolution for 2014 I was in the poorest shape of my life. I tipped the scales at 340 lbs, I was a heavy smoker, a heavy drinker, and I had a food addiction that saw me eating 6 full meals every day of the worst kinds of food. I knew something had to change, so I started by quitting smoking. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was one of the best decisions of my life. It started a nearly five-year journey that brings me where I am today. 
Ever since late April, I decided to ramp up my love of hiking and walking and make a goal of getting 100 miles every month. So, without further ado, here are the numbers:
April 67.09May 119.01June 97.45July 107.32August 105.67September 94.59October 104.78-------------------------------------
Total Miles: 695.91

I actually would have walked/hiked more in October but I was sick for a solid three days and didn't walk at all. 
On the weight front, I think the last time I checked in I had lost 100 lbs. I plateaued there for quite some time, but, after a trip to Portland that saw me do some major hiking, my weight loss got a jump start and I lost another 7 lbs. That means I've lost 107 lbs! I'm thinner, leaner, toned, and in the best shape of my adult life. It feels great physically and emotionally to be in better health. I still have a ways to go and some goals I'd like to achieve along the way, but I will get there. Slowly but surely I will get there.
Are you working towards any healthy goals? I'd love to hear about them in the comments. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and a fantastic weekend.
-H.A.

The Return

At the tail end of last weekend, the weather was gorgeous. It was around 70 degrees with a hint of a breeze and I took advantage of this by taking a hike in Fontanelle Forest. The Fall foliage was in full bloom and I was surrounded by a beautiful quiet, only broken by the occasional sounds of squirrels scurrying amongst the dead leaves on the ground and kids laughing and crying in the distance. I did a hard and fast three miles, trying to break in the new hiking boots that I received a few weeks ago but hadn't gotten a chance to wear yet.
While all this was happening, I was also quietly trying to purge myself of all the woes and troubles that have plagued me this year. I followed that up this week by spending three days embroiled in bouts of crying and anger. I tell you all this for two reasons: one, I feel better now than I have in so long, and, two, I'm back. 
As I suspected, taking a month off from everything was good for me. If you have followed this blog for long enough, you are already aware of my internal struggles. While I keep it vague enough as to not divulge my personal life completely, I've been open enough for you to see through the cracks. If you haven't been following this blog let me fill you in briefly: I have had a rough year and I decided to take a month off of social media and my writing career. It was a tough decision but was ultimately the best decision for me.
What did I do for the past month? Well, I watched a lot of great movies, cooked some killer vegan food, took a couple of trips - one to each coast, and got outside as much as I could. Most importantly, I came back to a sense of normal. I'm back to the Write Life so I'll be posting on my regular schedule from now on. Stay tuned for this year's Shocktober!, a few travel posts, a recipe, some killer photos, a Healthy Life update, and even a new Latest Libations. 
It's good to be back.

Breathtaking

This photo is of the Ouachita Mountain section of the Ozark Mountain range. I took this photo on my second trip to Arkansas on top the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. From this vantage point, you can see miles and miles of mountain peaks. Stunning and breathtaking, I stared for awhile and admired it.

Recipe of the Week: Crazy Cacao Cupcakes with Cocoa Butter Frosting

Earlier this year, my good friend Audrey was planning a trip to see me. As is our usual custom, we planned on inviting friends over for food and drinks. We talked on the phone a few days beforehand and she said, "Oh, I'm making vegan cupcakes." I was like, "Really?" She said, "Yeah. You're going to love them." I eagerly waited for Audrey to arrive at my house after that, and when she showed up with the cupcakes, I knew I had a winner on my hands. When she told me it was Crazy Cake, my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. It'd had been a while since I'd last heard that name.

The Crazy Cupcakes before frosting.
Crazy Cake came about during the Depression when eggs and milk were harder to come by. Some genius dreamed up a world where delicious cake could be made without either ingredient. Because of the lack of eggs and milk, these cupcakes are accidentally vegan.

Sorry, this is my best picture of the frosted cupcakes and it still looks terrible. Imagine their deliciousness instead.
I make these regularly now and, man, do they get inhaled quickly - mostly by me. Since I try to eat a bit healthier, I use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder, which gives these cupcakes a decidedly deeper and richer flavor. I also make a "butter" cream frosting using cocoa butter (not to be confused with coconut oil) and it is delicious. The cocoa butter lends a richness to it that vegan butter lacks. Here's how I made them.


Crazy Cacao Cupcakes with Cocoa Butter Frosting

Ingredients for cupcakes:

1.5 c flour4 T cacao powder*3/4 c sugar1 t baking soda1/2 t salt1 t vinegar**1.5 t vanilla5 T vegetable oil1 c water

Ingredients for frosting:
1/2 c cocoa butter, scant***1 t vanilla1 T cacao powder2 c powdered sugar1-2 T almond milk



Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Mix all your dry ingredients for the cupcakes. Then, make three wells in the dry mixture.

3. In each well, you'll put in a different liquid: vinegar, vanilla, and oil.

4. Pour the water over the entire thing and mix well.

5. Distribute evenly between 12 greased muffin tins. You can use or skip muffin liners.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. While the cupcakes are cooling, make your frosting by adding all the ingredients to a bowl and mixing with a mixer - or with a whisk and some elbow grease - until smooth. If the cocoa butter is hard, warm it in a small saucepan over the lowest heat setting until it's just soft enough to be room temperature.

8. Frost your cupcakes and enjoy!



Notes:

* You can use regular cocoa powder if you want, just up the amount by a tablespoon.

** I use apple cider vinegar in this recipe all the time and it works perfectly fine, but white vinegar is the recommended vinegar for this recipe.

*** Scant just means "not quite" so you're looking to short this amount by about a tablespoon. You can use vegan butter substitute if you prefer, just make sure it's room temperature.

Lastly, if you don't feel like making frosting, many store-bought varieties are accidentally vegan. Also, you can just dust them with some powdered sugar. It's going to be delicious whichever you choose.

Antiquity

This is Corcomroe Abbey, a 13th Century Cistercian monastery. Located north of the Cliffs of Moher and nestled in the Burren, this is a glimpse into antiquity. The roof is no longer there, but everything else stands as a testament to the people who built it.

Basic Financial Fitness: Credit Scores and Net Worth

It's been awhile since I've done a BFF post, and I've had this one sitting on the back burner for a long time, so I decided that it was time to share this one. Today, I want to talk about credit scores and net worth. Now, I know that for the Poor to Middlin', these are two things that just aren't much of a thought in your mind. But, they should be. The older I've gotten, and consequently the wiser, I realize just how important these two things are.



What is a credit score, exactly? Well, it's a number that takes many aspects of one's financial life into consideration, and then rates that person on a scale between 300 and 850. If your credit score is 300, that means you are terrible at finances and are not credit-worthy, but if your score is 850, you are great with managing money and credit and could easily get a credit card or loan. 
The first time I ever got a glimpse of my credit score, well, let's just say it wasn't a happy occasion. I was depressed to see what that number looked like. But, it was a pivotal moment in that I realized that I had to start working towards having a better credit score. I can say that after years of hard work and due diligence, I have a credit score of Excellent.



When you think of Net Worth, I'm sure you're thinking of wealthy people and businesses. The truth of the matter, however, is that everyone has a net worth. What exactly is Net Worth? Quite simply, it's the value of all your assets (savings accounts, retirement accounts, car, house, et al) minus the amount of debt you owe. I never seriously thought about my own net worth until a couple of years ago when I discovered Mint. Mint is a money manager where, if you're brave enough*, you enter in all your accounts - bank accounts, retirement accounts, credit card accounts, loans, etc. Mint then keeps track of all your accounts and your net worth. In other words, it's a One-Stop-Shop for seeing how all your money is working for or against you.
Honestly, seeing my net worth in all its sad glory was quite a sobering reality. It forced me to take a hard look at my spending and finances. I mean, if I ever wanted to retire, I would seriously need to fix it. In my case, the bulk of my issue is student loans. After I take care of another big ticket item next Spring, I plan on tackling my student loan debt in earnest. The sooner I can free myself of that monkey on my back the sooner I can bring up my net worth.


If you're curious about your Credit Score and your Net Worth, here are some resources for finding yours and how to can begin the repair process:
What is my Credit Score?
How can I track my Net Worth?
How to Fix Your Credit Score
How to Increase Your Net Worth

*Some people don't like aggregating all their personal information in one place, but I've been using Mint for a year with no issues.

Majestic

I went to the Rocky Mountains a handful of years ago, and I was blown away by how immense and majestic they were. I love nature and being in nature, and I felt a mixture of pure joy and awe. I had never seen nature on such a massive scale before. I left that trip feeling humbled and renewed.

It's Time for a Breather

This year, without a doubt, has taken a toll on me. Between commitments I hated, personal troubles, and the unstoppable tide of hormones, it's been a hard road. What started out as a year full of hope and promise soured into a year of despair and despondency. Because of this, my creative drive took a back seat which later seemed to have fizzled out entirely. I can only assume that what I'm feeling is burnout from trying to spread myself too thin over too great a surface area.
While I've already taken steps to remedy this issue, it's apparent to me that I'm still in a funk, both mentally and creatively. I realize that something has to give. My writing has stalled, both in my stories and here on my blog. I have an abundance of great ideas and strong beginnings, but I'm not sure where to take any of them and my writing here on the blog has become stale. I definitely do not want these things to become permanent, so I think the best thing I can do is to take a break from everything for awhile. So, I am taking the month of October off. I will, however, schedule a Saturday post, in advance, for each week that I plan to be gone as well as a "photo of the day" on Tuesdays.

I truly hope that this break will be just what I need to get back to some kind of normalcy - whether that be my old normal or a new normal. I also hope that I will feel refreshed and inspired.  Only time will tell for sure. Wish me well, my friends.

See you soon.