February 19, 2010

Yippie! It's Friday. The weekend is HERE!

I'm not sure why today is SO exciting for me. Maybe it's because I had such a great night last night. We had the FIRST "Burrito Project South Pasadena" this year. We will NOW continue to meet for the rest of the year & host this event on the 3rd Thursday of EVERY month. If you happen to be in the Pasadena area, I hope you drop in to lend a hand.

Maybe I'm SUPER excited because I am also teaching my "Dance Boot Camp" this weekend. This really counts as Week 1 of 3, so if you happen to read this posting this weekend, I hope you join us for an amazing class. I plan to put on a "Dance Boot Camp" every few months, so  if you missed this one, be sure to catch the next one.

I'm also really motivated to start training for the Wildflower Triathlon in May. I've scheduled small events to help get me prepared. There's the Firecracker 10k Run at the end of this month. There's also the LA Marathon in the middle of March.

The event that really has me pumped up is the Warrior Dash in April. It's a 3-mile run with 12 obstacles including fire, barbed wire & lots of mud. If you check out the Warrior Dash FaceBook Event Link you'll be able to save $5 on the sign-up fee.

I am also teaching a beginning/intermediate Salsa Dance Class at the newest Salsa Club in the San Gabriel Valley on Wednesday nights at "3 Vino's Restaurant". The lesson is FREE with your meal and/or drink purchase. Otherwise, the class is only $10. The lesson starts at 8:30pm and the DJ will start spinning his salsa tunes immediately after class. "3 Vino's Restaurant" is a great place to hang out, practice your dance moves & dance with some amazing dancers. See you on the dance floor.

Wow! I'm excited about ALL the activities coming up in the next few months. It's time to start working out. Here we go!

One last thing. I'm also planning a dinner party. Should I do an "Ethiopian Dinner" or "Indian Dinner" first? I'll start taking a poll & keep you posted on my next writing. =)

Have a fabulous day!

Tofu Alan

February 2, 2010

Happy Ground Hog's Day to you!

This is one of my favorite holidays, although it may be a close tie with Arbor Day. =)

This is going to be a VERY busy month. There are a lot of great activities going on and I hope you can join me at one of them if you happen to be in the area.

First off, by popular demand, I am teaching my "Dance Boot Camp" once again and we are starting on Valentine's Day and going for 3 consecutive Sundays, (for a total of 4-Sundays). What better day to bring your loved one and spend some quality time learning a great hobby which you can share together for the rest of your life. If you happen to be single, dancing is a GREAT way to meet new & VERY groovy people. No partner is needed to take this class.

This "Dance Boot Camp" will take you from knowing absolutely nothing about Swing & Salsa dancing to "cutting a rug" on the dance floor in ONLY 4-classes. If you have existing dance knowledge, then you'll learn even MORE from this class.

Why do I call it a "Dance Boot Camp"? Because it's designed as a 3-hour cardio workout as well. All 3-classes are meant to be taken together for maximum learning, but you can also opt to take just 1 or 2 of the classes in the series. I look forward to meeting you on the dance floor.

I am also teaching a beginning/intermediate Salsa Dance Class at the newest Salsa Club in the San Gabriel Valley on Wednesday nights at "3 Vino's Restaurant". The lesson is FREE with your meal and/or drink purchase. Otherwise, the class is only $10. The lesson starts at 8:30pm and the DJ will start spinning his salsa tunes immediately after class. "3 Vino's Restaurant" is a great place to hang out, practice your dance moves & dance with some amazing dancers. See you on the dance floor.

Friday, February 12 I am hosting my Bodacious Birthday Bowling Bash. If you're in the Pasadena area, send me an email & I'll forward you all the details. It's going to be a BLAST! I hope to see you there.

In November 2009, I hosted the "Silverlake Burrito Project" from South Pasadena. It was such a great experience for everyone involved, that I was asked to host another Burrito Project. SO by popular demand, We will be hosting the "Burrito Project South Pasadena" EVERY 3rd Thursday of the month starting THIS month on February, 18, 2010. If you'd like to get involved, just send me an email & I'll forward you ALL the details. This is a GREAT time, so I hope you'll join us.

If you're interested in starting a "Burrito Project" in a town near you, I can give you all the details to help you get started. It's very rewarding work & a great way to meet other socially conscious people in your community.

Wow! I'm excited about ALL the activities this month. I hope to see you at the "Bowling Bodacious Bowling Bash" on February 12th, the "Dance Boot Camp" starting on Valentine's Day & "3 Vino's Restaurant" EVERY Wednesday evening at 8:30pm.

Here's your challenge from me: See if you can cheer someone up today. Be the person who smiles at complete strangers. You'll be surprised at how cheerful your day will become.

Have a fabulous day!

Tofu Alan

Happy Halloween to you!

My favorite Holiday is Halloween. Maybe it's because it is set in Fall (which is my favorite season. Or maybe Fall is my favorite season because Halloween falls within it's time on the calendar?)

I love the cooling of the weather (but then I live in Los Angeles, so that may just be the difference of a few degrees). I enjoy being able to pull out my sweaters & vests & layer up my clothing. I always had an older world style anyway. I usually am likened to Mr. Rogers (who I think is a VERY snazzy dresser).  =)

Halloween gives us all the ability to step out of the ordinary and to become whomever or whatever we desire. All it takes is some imagination, a bit of make-up, some interesting and creative deviation in our normal attire & voila, behold a new you.

Now what keeps us from being able to do this the rest of the year? Is it fear? I love the reminder that Halloween gives me. I am reminded that to create a new me, all I need is an idea & a plan. This is why I love goal setting & intention writing. I can evaluate where I am, where I am headed (if I keep going down this same path) and whether I need to make some adjustments to keep inline with my vision.

I am looking at my current state of affairs. I am noticing that I may need to make some adjustments if I want to be in a different place by my birthday (at the end of January). One of the goals is my physical fitness. I would love to participate in the Wildflower Triathlon in March. In order to do so, it is necessary for me to start my training. I will start my running & swimming regimen this week. I will go swimming & running at least once this week and next week. Then I'll bump that up to twice a week mid November.

I also plan on attending to my finances. I plan to create my plan for increasing my networth. =) That will entail paying off any & all past debts I have accrued over the years. I know I will feel much lighter once I have attended to my responsibilities in this area of my life.

I understand that part of increasing my networth can involve SAVING money on what I buy. I signed up with the Blastoff Network. The program is FREE to join & provides its members with SAVINGS as well as Money Back on all purchases. It also gives members the ability to earn some extra money by promoting the FREE Service to others. I like the fact that we all WIN together.

I am also recommitting to the p90x workout program. I am starting TODAY. This will take me to the week of my Birthday. I think that will be a great Birthday present to ME!  =)

I plan on creating some awesome NEW habits this month. I am very excited!

I hope you have a safe & fabulous Halloween weekend. Enjoy getting dressed up in your Halloween costume. Enjoy discovering who you are & who you will become.

Here's to discovering your passions & what inspires you. Enjoy learning more about yourself. Have a BLAST setting your INTENTIONS this week. You have about 9 weeks before we ring in the new year. Let's start transforming our lives today!

Tofu Alan

October 8, 2009

Happy October to you!

We have now entered the 4th quarter of this year. we have less than 90 days till 2010. 90 days is plenty of time to accomplish many of your short term goals & to get you started on the right path for many of your long term goals.

I have personally started a 90 day workout program which will take me into the new year with my new body & my new attitude. Is it hard to make the time to workout EVERYDAY? YES, it is. Do I fail to workout some days? YES, I have. Now the important thing is not to dwell on missing a workout, but to workout with focused intensity the very next day.

I know for a fact that if I can do something for a whole month, then a new habit has already been created. I have looked at my life to see what I am happy with & what I am unhappy with. My current results are in direct relation to my past actions. Everything I am TODAY is a result of ALL the decisions I have made in the PAST. Everything I have TODAY is NOT a reflection of who I Am. It's a reflection of who I WAS!

Wow! Did you get that? Who you are right now is a result of who you WERE and the decisions that the OLD you has made. You & I have the ability to create who we WILL be in the future by deciding how we will ACT NOW, TODAY!

So what is it you are unhappy with in life? What do you love about your present life? What would make your life perfect? My suggestion is to follow your passion & joy. What are you Passionate about? What would you do everyday for the rest of your life, if money was not a factor? Once you figure that out, you may be on the right track.

One of my mentors, James Ray, will be giving a FREE 2-Hour Conference in Los Angeles & San Diego next week concerning some of these same concepts I am discussing now. I encourage you to check him out & attend if you can. I know he will get you thinking. I have also posted some other dates & locations here on my website for your convenience. If he is in a city near you, I encourage you to do all you can to attend. James Ray has charged over $149 for a similar conference, but is offering it to you for FREE.

I have attended several of his workshops & I feel my life has been changed for the better. When you truly start asking the right questions, the answers will start presenting themselves in MANY ways ALL around you. You will start seeing & hearing the answers in conversations, movies, books, radio programs, music lyrics & even websites.

Here's to discovering your passions & what inspires you. Enjoy learning more about yourself. Have a BLAST setting your INTENTIONS this week. You have the next 3 months to transform your life. I'm excited to see who you will be when we enter 2010 together.

Tofu Alan

September 21, 2009

Happy September to you!

I sometimes feel that September is the beginning of a brand new cycle. Many children (and adults) start the new school year in September and thus commence a whole new beginning.

I like the idea of "New Beginnings." It allows me to start anew (if I have veered off target) as well as reinforce & recommit to the fabulous intentions that I have set out for myself.

As I was looking over my year, I felt that I had fallen into a rut & wasn't really moving forward. Now as it happens in my life many times, a solution presented itself immediately. This time in the form of an email newsletter which came that very SAME day from my "Life Coach" James Ray. Feeling stuck in my "funk" though, I procrastinated in opening the email till a week later. =)

When I finally opened the newsletter, at the top was a link to an article: "Five steps to get out of a rut..." Now how perfect is that? I'll share a bit about it here, but I've also included a link to the original article for your convenience:  http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/how_to_400/463_5-steps-to-get-out-of-a-rut.html

The Five Steps to get out of a rut:

1. Define what inspires you
2. Set a clear intention
3. Keep your attention on that intention
4. Express gratitude for all that you currently have in your life
5. Take enthusiastic action each and every day

I'll focus on the first step right for now. I've known that truly discovering what inspires me is very important. I've heard this all before. When I read this article though, I felt an excitement stirring within me and I decided that meant I needed to pursue this train of thought.

My passions & inspirations are dancing & teaching. Usually when I learn something new, I am immediately presented with the opportunity to share and/or teach my newfound knowledge. This occurred last night over some boba & a late night snack.

As one of my friends mentioned feeling like he was stuck in a rut, I immediately asked him: "What INSPIRES you? What are you PASSIONATE about?" We all got to talking about our passions & inspirations. What resulted was an idea to create a non-profit organization that allows us to share what we love in life with others.

I am super excited about this idea. We are currently in the brainstorming stage. As ideas solidify, be assured that you will be hearing more about it. =)

Here's to discovering your passions & what inspires you. Enjoy learning more about yourself. Have a BLAST setting your INTENTIONS this week.

Tofu Alan

September 14, 2009

Happy September to you!

Wow! All I can say, is that time sure does seem to fly by quickly! One of my goals was to write a lot more often, but I must confess, I haven't made the time to write as much as I intended. That will change though. You will hear from me a lot more (whether you'd like to or not). =)

This has been a momentous month for me so far. I sang at the Anaheim Convention Center with Jacob & Matt at S.C.R.C. We celebrated 09/09/09 last week. (I'm geeky so stuff like that excites me). Last Friday (9/11) also marked another year since we all bonded as a nation. I was (& I am still) very proud of how Americans UNITED in a time of need. I am very proud to be an American!

There has been so much going on around me. I feel a sense of anticipation & excitement of what is to come & what will be. I feel like all the goals which I have been writing down & focusing on are starting to come to fruition. This excites me & creates in me a desire to reassess my goals & to add some new ones into the mix as well. =)

Some small personal goals are as follows:

• Daily: Drink MORE water everyday.
• Weekly: Take time to Read. (Leaders are Readers)
• Monthly: Learn how to type properly. (This is a skill I never took time to learn. Now is the time to change that)
• Quarterly: I am starting the "P90X" workout program this week. My goal is to workout for the next 3 months & have a new healthy & fit body to start 2010 with. There is so much to do next year. I need to be at the top of my game to keep up with my GOALS! =)

Good luck with YOUR goals for the week. I'll see you again soon.

Tofu Alan

PS - Do you have some ideas on how I can improve the www.TofuAlan.com website? Shoot me an email. I appreciate the feedback. =)

June 1, 2009

Happy June to you!

It's the beginning of yet another month of this new year. Well, not so new a year. We are less than 5 weeks away from the mid point of 2009.

Where has the time gone? Have you accomplished all that you have set your mind to? How many items on your "Goal List" have already become reality? How close are you to accomplishing & realizing the remaining items on your list?

At the beginning of every month, I like to step back & reexamine where I have been going. Am I still headed in the right direction? Have I drifted of course? If so, what do I need to do to put myself back on target to reach my goals in that specified time period?

I will publicly reexamine many of my goals with you. After all, it is you who help keep me accountable.

This week I'd like to focus on this website & some of the many goals & ideas that I'd like to bring to fruition within the next few weeks.

This month brings exciting things to the www.TofuAlan.com website. Whether you wanted this or not, this site has finally been integrated with my twitter account giving you the ability to view my "tweets" in real time. You also have the ability to comment directly from this website (if you already have a twitter account). What? You don't have twitter yet? You can also easily sign up for your very own twitter account & start "tweeting" today.

2 more immediate goals for this website are to:

• Re-design the blog interface to make it seamless & easy to use.
• Add my library & book list.
  • The old site had a list of my favorite books with links so you could easily purchase the books directly. A similar format will be added to this site within a few weeks.
  • I will also have several book lists from some of my favorite people as well.

I am also looking into integrating a google calendar (or similar platform) with all of the events & activities that I enjoy participating in. My desire is to make it simple for you to easily add the events that interest you to your calendar.

I am also in the process of creating a completely separate "mobile" version of this web site and/or making this present one as extremely mobile friendly as possible.

Do you have some ideas on how I can improve the www.TofuAlan.com website? Shoot me an email. I appreciate the feedback. =)

Tofu Alan

Greetings & Salutations!

One of my goals for this section of the website is to incorporate the TofuAlan Blog. How will I do this? I'm really not sure yet. I've have a few ideas, so I'll be experimenting over the next few weeks.

I just returned from the Sacramento Lindy Exchange. I had the most amazing time meeting new people and dancing with people from various places across the country.

You may find yourself asking, "What's a Lindy Exchange?" Well, here's my explanation. In a nutshell... Dancers on a whole are crazy people. Many liken themselves to addicts where their "fix" is dancing. Many will go to any length, including driving many, many miles, just to get their dose of a few hours of dancing.

"Exchanges" are set up across the country, usually over a weekend. The host city will provide various venues for dancing, many including live music. There is always at least one location for the "after hours" dancing where these dance addicts will dance till the wee hours. Often, after that location closes (at 4 or 5 am), the dancers then raid an all-night diner & continue their dancing often to the merriment (but sometimes chagrin) of the early morning breakfast crowd.

We had a caravan that left from Los Angeles on our drive to our state capitol. Our caravan included the dance performers for Saturday night as well as half the DJ's that provided the nightly entertainment outside of Macy's, at a local pub & at the after hours dancing events.

Although my body is exhausted, my will & craving for dancing go on. In fact, I will be driving about 3 hours roundtrip today just so I can teach a dance class & cut a rug on the dance floor (till way past midnight).

I'm already looking forward to the next Swing Dance Exchange in April. This one is called the Fleur de Lindy & will be held in New Orleans.

If you are looking to get a little exercise & have a great time with fun-loving dancers, scout out the dancing near you. If you're in Southern California, I look forward to introducing you to some amazing dancers.

See you on the dance floor.

Tofu Alan

Happy March!

I was at a wonderful convention this past weekend. I had the chance to sing in a choir with a great music group in front of thousands of people. I had a blast.

I've come to the realization that I love singing. I love music & I look forward to constantly improving my musical skills. 3 goals I am setting right now for myself are;

1. Improving my sight reading abilities.
2. Learning to play the bass guitar.
3. Improving my vocal range & musicality.

I realize the importance of goal setting and have decided to set some new goals with the beginning of this new month.

Here are a few more of my Goals:

• I would also like to improve my juggling skills.
• I will learn to juggle "clubs" by April.
• I will learn to ride a unicycle within the next 8 weeks.

...and some fitness goals:

• I will compete & complete my 1st triathlon in May.
• I will run the LA Marathon in May.
• I will become proficient on a bicycle.
• I will ride at least 12 miles a week on a bicycle.
• I will run at least 15 miles every week till May.
• I will swim at least 8000 meters a meek
• I will swim at least 5000 meters in 1 session every other week.
• I will go on a 5-mile hike (or more) at least every other week.
• I will do a minimum of 50 push-ups every day.

...and some fun goals:

• I will host a dinner party at least once a month.
• I will take a "Balboa" class this month.
• I will take an Argentine Tango Class within the next 8 weeks.

Wow! That felt great. I have a lot to do, but I also have a clear direction on where I am headed. I just need to do a little everyday, and HUGE goals will be accomplished.

Good luck with your goals!

Tofu Alan

Happy New Year!

It's amazing how quickly 2009 arrived . This is an exciting year for me. Many of my goals will be reached this year. How do I know this? Well, because I decided it will be so.  =)

I love this time of the year. We, as a society, clamor to compile a list of "resolutions" which we shall implement throughout the year.

Although, many times those resolutions may be in place only for a few short months or even weeks, I think it's great that we (as a society) realize that we may not be living up to our full potential.

I recognize the value in writing down my goals & resolutions. This was something I thought was silly and a waste of time, but I have recently changed my views on this topic.

I figured I would put the practice of goal writing to a 30 day test. I wrote down very specific goals and read them on a daily basis. I was stunned that after 30 days, everyone of my goals was achieved.

I liken this to my mad dash before a vacation. I sit down and write down everything that needs to be done before I leave town. I am always amazed at how much gets done in the few days or even hours before I rush to the airport.

It was while sitting on a plane after accomplishing all of my pre-trip tasks that I decided to try this out for 30 days. I was so amazed it worked, I tried it again for another 30 days, and much to my chagrin, it worked again.

I was proved wrong by my previous thick-headedness, and only proved right the "right down your goal mavens". I am fine with that though. I have found something that works, and I will continue to use it.

I encourage you to write down those "New Year's Resolutions" and read them everyday. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised just as I was at how much was accomplished in just a few short 365 days.

Here's to your health, wealth & many accomplishments in 2009.

Tofu Alan

December 6, 2008

Thank you so much for reading this. This is my chance to fill you in on what I'm doing this week.

Last week we completed the Swing & Salsa Dance Class Series. I had a great time teaching the class and I am excited that there were many request for more classes before the year ends.

This next session for all the Swing People will be next year in 2009. If you're looking for Salsa though, then we have one last class for you in 2008.

For more information on Dance Classes be sure to check out the link.

Do you want to learn to dance Salsa, but think you have 2 left feet? Then this is the perfect class for you. Do you have natural dancing ability? Then, this is also the class for you too. These classes are fun & entertaining & a great way to meet new people.

See you on the dance floor.

Tofu Alan

November 6, 2008

Halloween was a BLAST! I always enjoy checking out all the costumes & the creative ways people transform themselves for this holiday.

Some costumes were funny and some were silly and some were downright scary & ghoulish.

Which brings me to the biggest event of this week.

Congratulations to our President Elect Barack Obama.

I was very impressed with this election. I was excited to see more people excited about voting than ever before.

I was also surprised to see so many young people out promoting various propositions around town.

It seemed like anywhere I was, I saw people promoting their favorite candidate & propositions with T-Shirts, bumper stickers & signs.

This country is build on Democracy, and never before have I seen people so interested to make their voices heard.

The people have voted and the majority have selected not only their presidential candidate, but have cast their decisions on propositions all across the country.

I truly believe the idea of Democracy has been instilled in all Americans during this election season and I hope that the number of responsible citizens at the polls continues to grow.

And now for those of you who have VOTED to take Dance Classes this month, I offer you a very qualified candidate to help teach you the moves. I am writing my own name on the ballot.

I will be offering a 4-week Beginning & Intermediate Salsa Class on Sundays from November 30-December 21.

Do you want to learn to dance Salsa, but think you have 2 left feet? Then this is the perfect class for you. Do you have natural dancing ability? Then, this is also the class for you too. These classes are fun & entertaining & a great way to meet new people.

See you on the dance floor.

Tofu Alan

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. Maybe it's because it falls in my favorite season of the year, Fall. Or maybe it's because I love the colors black & orange. Either way, This time of year always brings a smile to my face.

Young & not so young alike are discussing what their costume for 2008 will be. There are makeshift pumpkin patches displaying their bright orange gourds for all to see.

Fake spider webs seem to adorn both home & place of business, and the real cobwebs are preserved for a few week longer rather than swept away.

Candy of all shapes & sizes is on sale in every grocery store & convenience store.

There is a certain smell and feeling in the air that eludes my ability to describe it, but somehow I know it smells like fun & good times.

I'm excited to announce that our October/November Dance Classes have been scheduled. These will take place on 3 consecutive Sundays starting with, October 26th. The classes will be from 1:30-3:30pm in South Pasadena.

Do you think you have 2 left feet? Then this is the perfect class for you. Do you have natural dancing ability? Then, this is also the class for you too. These classes are fun & entertaining & a great way to meet new people.

Do you like to play online games? Then I recommend you check out: GEM Lifestyle. There have been some exciting developments this past week with GEM Lifestyle. If you like what you see, make sure to secure your part of GEM Island before the company launches on November 1st.

Timing is everything.

I look forward to seeing you on the dance floor & on GEM Island.  =)

Tofu Alan

We have officially entered my favorite season of the year. I love Fall.

I love the crisp, cool weather and all the fresh new boxes of Crayola Crayons. What will we draw today? What ever your heart desires!

This time of year brings to mind the cycles of life. The season is coming to a close... or is it preparing for its next stage? The leaves start to fall so they can prepare the ground for new plants & trees.

This has been another tough month. I have attended 2 funerals in less than a week. I guess this is all part of that same cycle. Life & death. Grow & rest. Learn & teach. What we do on a daily basis affects those around us. What we do, affects everyone on this earth. What is your place in this world?

I think we forget the impact 1 person can have in a world of over 5 billion people. I know the death of these loved one affected many people. I saw that in the attendance at the funerals. I also heard it in the wonderful stories which were told about these special individuals.

What are we doing in our own lives to create a better world? I relate this time of the year to goal setting. Just as nature has set her goals of lush growth in the coming seasons, so will I start setting the stage for my next step.

Hmmm... What am I doing to better the world?

I like to help people laugh and enjoy life. I believe that is my calling. So, I will be throwing many parties for you to attend and be a part of.

What would you like to do? Where would you like to go? What would you like to see? What NEW experiences would you like to have? Let me know. If I can help you get there, I will.

I look forward to our great experiences together.

Tofu Alan

August 28, 2008

Today (Thursday August 28) is the KLSX No Limit Poker Tournament at the Commerce Casino. I love playing at the Commerce. It's a great Card House. It's actually the largest poker room in the United States.

They have professional & friendly staff and great food. They even have a spa to make you feel like royalty.

We'll see how things go tonight. I'm aiming for the final table. May the Poker gods be with me.  =)

The Peace Jam is quickly approaching. The event date is: September 11-13. This is going to be an exciting weekend featuring many Nobel Peace Laureates.

For all you poker lovers, I am organizing a Charity Poker Tournament so we can send as many inner-city youth to this event as possible. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the S.E.A. Organization. Soledad Enrichment Action serves the community all over Los Angeles and was instrumental in bringing The Peace Jam to Los Angeles this year.

I will post the dates for this Poker Fundraiser as soon as they are solidified. If you would like to make a monetary donation to S.E.A. or would like to donate prizes for the event, please contact me at: TofuAlan@gmail.com

By multiple requests, we will be making a return trip to The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant. October will most likely have 2 group dinners. One to The Three Drunken Goats and the other restaurant is to be determined. (I'll keep you posted on this same page).

I look forward to seeing you at the Poker Tournament Fundraiser & the group dinner next month.

Tofu Alan

PS - I'm going to Disneyland on Friday. Wish me luck! I hope to maintain my sanity.  =)

August 20, 2008

Exciting times are coming this week...

We had a blast at The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant last month. we had such a great time that I know we will be visiting again sooner than later.

The Peace Jam is quickly approaching. The event date is: September 11-13. This is going to be an exciting weekend featuring many Nobel Peace Laureates.

For all you poker lovers, I am organizing a Charity Poker Tournament so we can send as many inner-city youth to this event as possible. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the S.E.A. Organization. Soledad Enrichment Action serves the community all over Los Angeles and was instrumental in bringing The Peace Jam to Los Angeles this year.

I will post the dates for this Poker Fundraiser as soon as they are solidified. If you would like to make a monetary donation to S.E.A. or would like to donate prizes for the event, please contact me at: TofuAlan@gmail.com

Much of my time this month has been spent preparing for my move. Moving is such an adventure. I secured the boxes, tape, markers & bubble wrap. I arranged for a storage space and a moving truck. Now all that is left to do is pack.

This has been the perfect excuse to de-clutter my life. I guess I really don't need ALL the books I have, but I have kept many of them. Books are like old friends to me. I enjoy spending time with them and reliving our past stories.

I didn't realize how many clothes I have. My goal is to donate at least half of my wardrobe to charity. If possible, I'd like to prune my wardrobe by as much as possible. I'm feeling much the minimalist these days.

Now my biggest hurdle is paperwork. I have the tendency collect paper. In fact, I have boxes of paperwork I never unpacked when I moved in. I planned to go through it all, but it's been over a year and many of those are still sealed and have never been touched. I have a compulsion to toss it all, but I'm debating the wisdom of doing that. Hmmm....

I look forward to seeing you at the Poker Tournament Fundraiser.

Tofu Alan

August 15, 2008

Exciting times are coming this week...

We had a blast at the The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant last month. we had such a great time that I know we will be visiting again sooner than later.

The Peace Jam is quickly approaching. The event date is: September 11-13. This is going to be an exciting weekend featuring many Nobel Peace Laureates.

For all you poker lovers, I am organizing a Charity Poker Tournament so we can send as many inner-city youth to this event as possible. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the S.E.A. Organization. Soledad Enrichment Action serves the community all over Los Angeles and was instrumental in bringing The Peace Jam to Los Angeles this year.

I will post the dates for this Poker Fundraiser as soon as they are solidified. If you would like to make a monetary donation to S.E.A. or would like to donate prizes for the event, please contact me at: TofuAlan@gmail.com

Much of my time this month has been spent preparing for my move. Moving is such an adventure. I secured the boxes, tape, markers & bubble wrap. I arranged for a storage space and a moving truck. Now all that is left to do is pack.

This has been the perfect excuse to de-clutter my life. I guess I really don't need ALL the books I have, but I have kept many of them. Books are like old friends to me. I enjoy spending time with them and reliving our past stories.

I didn't realize how many clothes I have. My goal is to donate at least half of my wardrobe to charity. If possible, I'd like to prune my wardrobe by as much as possible. I'm feeling much the minimalist these days.

Now my biggest hurdle is paperwork. I have the tendency collect paper. In fact, I have boxes of paperwork I never unpacked when I moved in. I planned to go through it all, but it's been over a year and many of those are still sealed and have never been touched. I have a compulsion to toss it all, but I'm debating the wisdom of doing that. Hmmm....

I look forward to seeing you at the Poker Tournament Fundraiser.

Tofu Alan

Exciting times are coming this week...

Our long awaiting group dinner to The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant has finally arrived. We will be meeting there on Friday, July 25 at 7:30 pm.

Please RSVP using the Event Evite, or contact me directly so we can make the appropriate reservations.

My God-Daughter Jessica has come to visit me in sunny California. We have quite a week filled with many activities. I took her with me to work at a job-site in the Hollywood Hills, and we watched a local softball game.

Today, we're off to the Venice Beach and hopefully will be back in time for the South Pasadena Farmer's Market.

Friday we'll go watch The Dark Knight (which will be the 3rd viewing for me) and at night we have the Dinner at The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant.

Saturday, we'll soak in the Old Town Pasadena environment and check out some live music playing at Memorial Park.

Sunday, is a "Shopping Day" (scary) and Monday will take us to Disneyland. Woo Hoo!!!

Tuesday & Wednesday I believe are also "Shopping Days" (double scary!!!) and then I get to sleep for a week.

Wish me luck when I see you Friday Night at The Three Drunken Goats Restaurant.

Till then,

Tofu Alan

PS - For the 3 Drunken Goats Restaurant Dinner EVITE, Click here.

June 18, 2008

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote down some of my thoughts. Things have been very challenging over the past month.

I will be traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico this week for a funeral. Funerals are bitter sweet. We get together to mourn the loss of our dear friend or family member who left us. Funerals bring together family and friends and give us the chance to remember our recently deceased.

It's been several years since we had a death in the family. This funeral is bringing together family from all across the country. I am saddened by the reason for this gathering, but also excited to see the many relatives I haven't seen in far too long.

 My "Tio" Manuel was a prankster. He was always telling jokes and getting people to smile & laugh. Many times his comments would elicit a frown or the stirrings of anger till you noticed the big smile on his face letting you know he was just kidding around.

For those who knew him, we knew to take his comments in stride. For those who didn't know him, many expressions of confusion & uncertainty would cross their faces until they realized Manny was just pushing their buttons.

He loved to "shock" people. Whether it was from his crass comments combined with colorful language or things like walking around with syringes sticking out of his belly for all to see.

My uncle loved family gatherings. He loved to see the smiles on peoples faces. He loved making new friends anywhere he went. Even when he had trouble walking, he would take his motorized scooter and venture all around the neighborhood talking to everyone he met.

"Tio" Manuel was an interesting guy to talk to. He had many great stories to tell too. No matter what you were speaking about, he always had an opinion. That opinion was the one that would elicit the most controversy too.

I look fondly over the time I spent with him. I know he'd be excited and happy to see all the family who gather in his honor. We love you Tio Manuel.

Rest in peace.

Tofu Alan

I've noticed that I tend to be "all or nothing" with most things I do in life. My cousin James invited me out for a hike last Sunday. My workouts for the week were a bit spotty, so I figured a hike would be the perfect way to jump start my week.

Little did I know this would be an 8-hour affair. The day started out warm with temperatures getting into the mid 90's. We were meeting the "Los Angeles Hiking Meet-up Group" at Eaton Canyon at 9am. We left the parking lot about 9:30am. There were 8 of us on this hike with various levels of experience. Everyone was really nice and we all encouraged each other on our way up the hill.

We took plenty of breaks on our way to Henniger Flats. It was very hot and the way up was fairly steep. We seemed to hike from shady spot to shady spot. We drank plenty of water to stay hydrated.

We had a wonderful lunch at the Henniger Flats Campsite. A wonderful couple shared much of their lunch with the group. Julienla brought fresh strawberries and Alex had a whole box of chocolate-marshmallow pies and quite a few sandwiches.

After lunch, the majority of our group opted to call it a day and hike back down the hill. James & I opted for going on, so our hiking leader Bob led us on to our destination, IdleHour Camp Ground.

Once we left Henniger Flats, it took us about 90 minutes to reach the IdleHour Camp Ground. The majority of the hike was all downhill. The scenery was very lush & green and we had some great views of the ocean from this height. (We made a quick descent, but I kept thinking about the hike back out of this canyon).

Getting a chance to see the beautiful flowing creek amongst the shady trees made the long walk worthwhile. We sat near the running water and enjoyed our 2nd lunch.

Hiking out after our restful break took some motivation. All I wanted to do was to run all the way back to the car so I'd be over & done with this nature stuff.

We saw some snakes & squirrels on our way back down the hill. Bob got some wonderful pictures on this hike which I hope to post soon. On the final stretch, I ran into my good friend Gina who was on her way up the hill. It was great chatting with her for a bit. This is the 2nd hike I took this week, and both times I ran into friends I haven't seen in a long time. (On our previous hike with James, we ran into Angie from Bent Store). I think it's a sign I should keep up this hiking habit. I wonder who we'll hike into next time?

Tofu Alan

PS - Make sure to check your calendar for this Saturday, April 19 at 7pm. Comic Ozzie & I are hosting the first ever Ultimate Phase 10 Tournament.

This past weekend my good friend Autum hosted a booth at the 10K race in Agoura Hills, CA. She was promoting the Mona-Vie juice which is a blend of 19 fruits with the main ingredient being the Açaí berry.

I was very impressed with the product and her professionalism in presenting, sharing and explaining the Mona-Vie product.

I was introduced to the benefits of the Açaí berry, and I recognize how the Mona-Vie product can be beneficial to others.

One of the goals of the www.TofuAlan.com website is to present ideas, events & products which promote fun, community building & health.

I've decided that this product has some great benefit which you may enjoy, so this week we are in the processes of adding additional information about Mona-Vie to our website.

I hope you enjoy the Mona-Vie information which will be presented. Please let me know what you think about the product.

Now for a fun exercise & social opporunity. If you are in the Pasadena area this Saturday, please join us for the FREE Swing Dance Lesson and LIVE Swing Band The Jumpin' Joz Band.

This Swing Dance Event is being hosted by The Young Adult Group of Holy Family Catholic Church. Please join us Friday, April 11th in the Parish Hall for a wonderful time. The FREE dance lesson will be taught by yours truly, so I hope to see you there.

I have one final comment for today, as you know, our gathering at the Three Drunken Goats in Montrose has been postponed. I will you know the date and time for that gathering on this very page.

See you soon.

Tofu Alan

April 1st is here and it's time to evaluate your 1st quarter. Have you done everything you set out to do this year? Do you need to realign your actions towards your goals?

Personally my current workout schedule is not in harmony with my personal goals. I have the desire to tone up my beautiful body, but working out once a week isn't cutting it. I know that, and it's up to me to readjust my actions.

Today I had my Body Mass Index (BMI) tested by my friend Monica (who is a registered dietitian). I had some surprising results. We are meeting again in a month and I'll be re-tested to see how my results have changed.

So today, April 1st, I am recommitting to my workout routine. I know that if I do this everyday, I will create a new habit.

I'd also like to comment on the excellent time I had at the Stinking Rose last Saturday. We had a great turnout with the perfect amount of people. There were 17 of us squeezed tightly around a table for 12. It was very cozy.

We had many new people who joined us and we all had a great time. There was singing and joke telling and laughing and I can't wait to get together again soon.

Which brings us to our next get together this Saturday. We will be celebrating the grand opening of the Three Drunken Goats in Montrose. If you want to check out a really great restaurant come out and join us this weekend.

See you there.

Tofu Alan

Easter has come and gone... Gosh, where has all this candy come from?

A friend sent me a fun fact about Easter 2008.

1. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year
2228 (220 years from now).  The last time it was this early was 1913 (so
if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for
that!).

2. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year
2285 (277 years from now).  The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.
So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this
year!

What I liked most about Easter being this early is that I have a whole bunch of time to plan my April Fool's Day.

My highlight for the week is our group dinner at The Stinking Rose. If you'd like to join us, check out the evite.

Tofu Alan

The LA Marathon was a wonderful experience this year. Was I fully prepared? No. Was I partially prepared? No. Mentally I knew I would be OK, physically though, that was a whole different story.

This year I learned that a person should TRAIN for a Marathon. That may be obvious to you, but for me, it was a revelation.

This Marathon gave me a heightened respect for Jeff Galloway. I highly recommend any of his books to you, especially if you are planning a long distance run. I am a living example of an untrained person who used his methods and came out ahead.

Running & walking always seemed like a losers way to finish a marathon, but after reading Jeff Galloway's book I decided to give his theory a try. I hadn't really trained much, so I figured I had nothing to lose.

I did a 3 minute run/1 minute walk and ran it steady to mile 20. I had to walk for miles 20-23, but by then I was rested enough to run miles 23-26.

Then on the home stretch, the hardest part of any marathon, the .2, it always seems like the longest stretch ever. This is where in front of everyone cheering on the marathon finishers, I tossed my cookies in front of them all. It was wonderful!  =)

With my pride lying in the gutter, I picked myself up and ran through to the finish. I completed LA Marathon #6.

.... man. I'm gonna start my training this month for the Long Beach Marathon in October.

Tofu Alan

February is almost gone...

We had a wonderful Bowling Party on Friday, 2-22. It was held at Montrose Bowling in the quaint city of Montrose. It was the first time I have held an event there, but I plan on having many more. If you are planning a bowling party for less than 95 people in Southern California, this may be the perfect place for you.

Well, the Los Angeles Marathon is next Sunday. I think I will have a crash training session this week. I have a feeling I should have stared training earlier.  =)

Did you have a chance to watch the lunar eclipse last week? Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy that day, but it was still a sight to see.

I went to dinner this week with my sister. We visited a Vegetarian Restaurant called Cinnamon, located in Highland Park (Los Angeles). It's a Vegetarian Mexican Inspired Restaurant with plenty of yummy selections on their menu. They have wonderful cinnamon tea, which I assume gives the restaurant their name.

Cinnamon will be the 1st restaurant featured in my Favorite Restaurants Section. I hope to bring you many more in the next few weeks.

Have a fantastic week...

Tofu Alan

February is here!

The shortest month of the year, but this year we get a bonus day!

I'm excited about hosting the Annual Bowling Party this year. It's a new location, but I think it'll be the perfect place. If this works out well, we might host a few fundraising events there in the future.

If you're in the Southern California area and would like to attend, visit the 2-22 Bowling Party Evite.

There is only a month till the Los Angeles Marathon. What have I done to prepare? Well, I have "Carbo-Loaded" for the past few months, but I don't think that matters this far in advance of Race Day. Today, I've decided to start my preparation. If it doesn't happen this week, I think I may be in a spot of trouble come May 2nd.

That's one of the great things I love about February. Lunar New Year. I get got party again and renew my resolutions. This month is definitely the month to start my exercise routine.

Take care, and I hope to see you bowling,

Tofu Alan

Happy New Year! Wow! It's 2008 already. It seems like just the other day we were worried about Y2K compatibility.

I started off the New Year by going to the Pasadena Rose Parade. I haven't watched it in years. I'm usually tucked in bed sleeping off whatever I did the night before. It was different being up so early. It was a beautiful day. The perfect day for a parade.

So what is new for this year? Well, I plan to actually institute some of those resolutions I make every year. Here are a few of them so far:

• Get the www.TofuAlan.com website off the ground.
• Help you achieve your health & wellness goals through this website.
• Go to the gym (isn't this on everyone's list?).
• Exercise on a weekly basis (every other day is the goal).
  • Go swimming.
  • Go running.
• Run the Los Angeles Marathon in March.
• Complete my 1st Triathlon in May.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced tasty meals.
• Put my finances in order and create wealth for me and my family.

Well, those are my main goals for this year. I'm excited to be a part of your life and I look forward to helping you any way I can.

Your friend,

Tofu Alan

Christmas has never been my favorite Holiday. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I notice that people become progressively more rude as we get closer to Christmas.

This year I decided to try something different. I chose to listen to a daily dose of Christmas tunes on the radio, and I noticed that I found myself singing along to the radio more often than not.

While I was sitting in traffic, I would also notice how many people were singing along to the same songs I was listening to on the radio. We would look at each other and catch each other singing along in our vehicles.

I would usually laugh and notice my spirits rose even higher than they were a few minutes before.

"You find what you are looking for".

I noticed when I was looking for unhappiness, I found just that, and when I looked for happiness I found that also.

I decided to try an experiment this Holiday. I would treat others with kindness and respect. I had more fun holding doors open for people at work and at the mall than ever before.

Give it a try and see what happens in your life. Do random acts of kindness for people you hardly know. See if it brings joy to their face. Just by doing small, kind acts for others, we can change the world.

Merry Christmas and may you find all that you are searching for this Season.

Tofu Alan