Jordan B. Sanders

So I’m about 90-95% done with the new Order of Týr website.  I just have to take care of a few small things with regard to specific user information.  Once that site is done, I’ll probably tie up some loose ends on xeraen.com and then move on to the Etheria site.

I have many, many things to do for both Order of Týr and Etheria.  We are planning a full-force march toward releasing an album from both groups this year as well as beginning to plan for a third Order of Týr album and some touring possibly later this year or some time in 2011.  However, before all of that, we need to go live with the new OoT and Etheria websites.  We’re also planning on doing a proper recording of Etheria’s 5-song, self-titled debut EP and possibly something a little special for Order of Týr.

We will be having weekly podcasts as well as regular videos of practice and other events.  I will definitely update here when the new OoT site goes live!  =)

So I finished the migration to my new hosting today.

I apologize about the outage.  I thought I’d celebrate with a new theme!  I really like this one.  I’m hoping to start putting my music-related material up on here soon, so be on the lookout for that.

In other news, Order of Týr is reconstituted, moving along quite nicely, and should begin recording a new album some time in the first quarter of 2010.  We’re also working a very nice, new website with pictures, videos, podcasts, music, and, of course, blogs!  I’ll definitely post it up here when it’s ready.

So, I totally failed with the whole VeganMoFo thing.  I really wanted to get into to it, but life is just wearing me out.

My goal is now to not let my life rule me.  I want to take command and live purposefully.

To that end, I am going to be pushing myself to do serious work with music in many aspects.  First, I plan on trying to get as much done as often as possible for Mike’s, Donna’s, and my band.  Past that, I really want to start developing my composing and mixing skills so that I can begin doing freelance composition for video games (and some film stuff, too).  I really want to push the envelope with all that I do, and I hope that today can mark the beginning of a life dedicated to my passion for music.

(sorry it’s been so long since my last VeganMoFo post, life’s been crazy as per usual =)

Before I became a vegan, my hands-down favorite sandwich was the Reuben.  Man, I LOVE sauerkraut!  LOVE IT!!  Yesterday, my lovely wife (collector of all cookbooks vegan) made the tempeh reubens from Vegan with a Vengeance.  We’ve had these reubens before, but I just wanted to point out two things:

1. Tempeh is an incredible food (so long as you cook it correctly).
2. Isa Chandra Moskowitz fricken’ rules.

Seriously, if you only buy one vegan cookbook, make it one of hers (then go buy Skinny Bitch in the Kitch).  Also, if you’ve tried tempeh in a recipe and it doesn’t taste good, give it another chance.  Try cooking the tempeh longer and/or adding some extra seasoning.  The first time that my wife and I had tempeh, we really, really didn’t like it.  It turns out that we really didn’t cook it well enough (and we didn’t put much if any seasoning on it).

So yeah, tempeh reubens + fries = HWAWESOME!!

When I first became vegan, I had a habit of eating quite a bit of beef jerky.  What can I say?  I’m not proud of it.  Recently, I’ve become a fan of a vegan jerky substitute known as Primal Strips as well as the standard Tofurky Jurky (both pictured below).

Primal Strips

Tofuky Jurky

These guys make for great snacking!  The Tofurky Jurky has a toughness that is closer to beef jerky, whereas the Primal Strips have a more jerky-like texture.

I highly recommend trying out both of these products!!

So, in Memphis, there’s this local chain of pubs called Huey’s.  The original Huey’s is a landmark of Midtown.  Inside, you’re met with tons of scribbling all over all the walls, and if you look up, you’ll be greeted with the largest forest of toothpicks you’ve ever seen.

Huey’s is quite iconic in Memphis, and the best thing about it….they have vegan options!!

Huey’s serves both a veggie burger and a black bean burger which, when ordered without cheese, mayo, and a buttered bun are vegan, and let me tell you, they’re great!  However, half the experience of Huey’s is the atmosphere (I can’t lie, I’m quite partial to it as it’s the first place that my wife and I ate together =).

So if you happen to find yourself in Memphis and you’re looking for a burger, look no further than Huey’s!

Companies making vegan food really pull out all the stops.  Upon first transitioning to veganism, it may seem like all substitutes taste drastically different than their non-vegan versions.

…except for these bad dudes…

These guys come in Mexican Chipotle (awesome), Italian (incredible), and Smoked Apple Sage (holy crap, is this legal?!).  Take one of these, put it on a bun with some mustard and sauerkraut, and add some fries, tots, or chips on the side, and you have yourself a badass vegan meal!!  =D

So here I sat thinking…I’m vegan.  I have a blog.  Why not participate in VeganMoFo (MOnth of FOod)?  I could find no reason (I didn’t look hard), so here I am, about to blog about veganism.

The food is awesome, and being vegan rules.

…am I done?  That’s really all there is to it!!  =P

In all seriousness, I want to take the time to let all the guys out there who might be thinking that veganism is a feminine thing that it isn’t!

Here’s the recipe to prove it!

That recipe cured me of any longings for Buffalo Wild Wings.  I promise that if you give it a try, you’ll love it!!

Some of the things I’ll be blogging about this month will include but not be limited to the following:

• Vegan options in Memphis, TN (yes, there are many options here!!)
• “Men” food
• Transitioning from animal-based foods to plant-based foods while eating the same “kind” of food
• Using seasonings and sauces to make you wonder why you ever weren’t vegan in the first place!!

This will be the first time that I’ve used this blog on a regular basis, so it should be fun!  Hope you’ll drop by again soon!!

Check it out.

After hearing this song, I’m very excited about getting this album.  I’m just hoping that it doesn’t have as much filler as A Natural Death did.  These guys are probably my favorite band outside the whole Gothic/Symphonic/Power Metal realm.

My parents are one of the biggest reasons why I am childfree.

Let me explain.

It’s not because I had a terrible childhood, and I don’t want to subject a child to that.  It’s not because my parents were controlling people.  It’s not because my parents weren’t there for me.

It is because my parents are two of the most wonderful, amazing people to ever exist on this planet.  They are incredibly loving, giving, and caring.  I literally have the best parents ever.  Ever.  Period.

I know that I could never have to dedication and patience to love and raise a child the way that my parents loved and raised me.  I like to think that I’m a pretty OK guy.  I know inside myself that my parents are the largest reason why I am anything more than a selfish, spoiled meanie.  I cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel for them.  They tirelessly and selflessly gave their lives over to me to make sure that I had a comfortable life (and I have had more of a comfortable life than anyone has a right to expect).  They have put up with my terrible indecisiveness and only treated me with love in return.  Mine are the epitome of ideal parents.

That being said, I know that I am not able to be that kind of a parent, and honestly, being anything less than that kind of a parent is not only unfair to the child, it is unfair to society at large.  I do not want to be an instrument in the degradation of our society.  I want to be a force to help it evolve to its next, higher state of being.

I just wanted to make it known how I feel about my parents because they are deserving of endless praise for how they have treated and raise me my entire life.

Mom, Dad, I love you!