GoVegan.net

Holy wow.
I have not updated this website in a while!! LOL
I am doing a “Dry January”. No phone. No social media. No reels. No scrolling. Hoping to reset my creativity! I don’t know about you but since the pandemic hit – I have been really doomscrolling on the phone to the point of making my mind into mush. It must be a self-soothing thing …

I have a few updates:

*kathy photoshopped in because she wasn’t there for the photo

1. Dec 31st was my last day doing the @officialgogos social media. I’ve been doing it for almost 13 years! 📆

I’ve loved this band since I first saw them on American Bandstand in 1981. It has been incredible to get to know the band members, their families and the crew. I was trusted to be backstage and to know details about how the sausage is made behind the scenes🤪 and I have so many special memories.

I am so proud of the work I’ve done for them over the years. Also big kiss to Anthony and Arnold for collaborating with me behind the scenes. And to all the fans that I interacted with via socials. I have met so many special people through this experience.

To be the voice of the band via the social media took a lot of creativity and thoughtful work and I loved every second of it. 🥰 Thank you Jane, Kathy, Char, Belinda and Gina for all the fun!

My sister from another mother 🙂

2. Yesterday was also my last day being @janewiedlin right-hand gal. 😭 I’ve been working for Jane as a personal assistant in some capacity or another for 15 years (maybe more) and it’s been so much fun.

Jane is exactly as she is in interviews. Funny, thoughtful, endlessly creative and has an incredible eye for detail. Plus she’s sweet as heck!! She trusts me with her social media, website, etc., and it means a lot. Having someone’s trust is a big deal to me. 🥰

Jane brought me into the GG’s fold and gave me many incredible opportunities to expand my horizons. It’s wild to think that we’ve been able to work together all these years and be in completely different countries – but we made it work.📱 My proudest part about this job is that we have been able to raise thousands of dollars selling Jane’s stage-wear/memorabilia for the various animal rescue groups she works with. It’s been a true labour of love. 🐶😻 I love you, Sweet Jane. Thanks for all the fun.

3. As I write this – I am on day 2 of not looking at my social media. Yesterday was so weird – I kept unconsciously picking up my phone and looking at it for no reason. At one point I found myself scrolling through FB and I have no recollection of opening my phone. The addiction is REAL!

The Kramers

In other news – My parents came over for a few days and we had a lovely visit. They have been cleaning out their library/office and brought over 27 boxes of books. I counted them all and it’s 752 books!! My upstairs loft/landing is FULL of books. Someone told me that you only need 1000 books to officially be considered a “library”. Ha ha ha.

I have no idea what I am going to do with these books – but I know I am going to enjoy a distraction-free month of January looking through and organizing them.

Some I will donate, some I will read and pass on and some are treasures of the past that I can’t wait to relish.

How’s your 2023 going so far?

HI PALS!!
I have been practising yoga with Ty Chandler since I finished cancer treatment in 2014. I can’t even begin to tell you how much her class has brought back my strength, flexibility, stamina and given my wandering brain a place to focus.

The thing I love the most about Iyengar yoga is the structure. I’ve learned so much about my body and alignment and now that I’m on the other side of recovery – Ty’s classes have helped me challenge my body to new heights.

Sometimes during class, I will find myself upside down and marvelling at my new found strength.

One of the silver linings of this pandemic is that Ty started teaching via zoom and her classes have been my saving grace during this stressful time.

Since the classes are on Zoom they are now accessible to ANYONE anywhere. The best gift I have given myself during Covid is to spend time on the mat with Ty.

Visit: tychandleryoga.com for more information.

HEY FRIENDS
My birthday is around the corner and I want to raise some $$ for a good cause! Buy one or more raffle tickets for a chance to win one of 3x different prizes!

BUY RAFFLE TICKET HERE

PRIZE ONE:
-Personalized autographed copy of Vegan A Go-Go!
-Gold-leafed fern pendant necklace made by Sarah
-15 minute Zoom chat with Sarah (and Walter)where you can talk about a wide range of topics like; food, how to take care of curly hair, boyfriend advice, chihuahuas, etc 🙂

PRIZE TWO:
-Sarah’s proof copy of Garden of Vegan that she used to edit the book before it was published. Book will have a personalized autograph for the winner.

PRIZE THREE:
-Copy of 2003 HERBIVORE magazine with Sarah on the cover. Magazine will have a personalized autograph for the winner.

BUY RAFFLE TICKET HERE

Sale of raffle tickets ends on Sarah’s Birthday at 6pm June 27th. 100% of the proceeds will be split between two charities:

1. MADE WITH LOVE

chefbenkramer.com/made-with-love

Makes meals that will be distributed through several Winnipeg organizations that are on the frontlines in trying to help communities during the COVID-19 and ever-deepening food insecurity crisis. Just $10 buys a high-quality, homemade meal that will be delivered to a frontline organization working to support its increasingly vulnerable community.

Full disclosure: this program is run in part by Sarah’s brother Chef Ben Kramer

2. TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER

transgenderlawcenter.org

Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

Sarah’s Delicious Chili from HOW IT ALL VEGAN. This recipe is cheap and easy to make with easy to find ingredients. Perfect for potlucks, parties and pandemics! 😷

Cookbook is available for sale at all the usual places.

Bean & Cheeze Casserole

A simple recipe from a simpler time. My Mum used to make this for me when I was a kid. After she passed away I somehow ended up with her recipe cards and this recipe, in particular, gives me the most comfort. And a little comfort is what we all need right now. Plus it’s also cheap as hell to make. Recipe is in my cookbook HOW IT ALL VEGAN!

Wow. It’s been almost a YEAR since I updated my blog. Yikes. I guess using social media has cut down on my blogging time down to zero. What a shame … ANYWAY … Here I am now and I have some news to share. Don’t worry. It’s good news.

I guess I’ll just start by saying that my husband is now my wife. 🙂

Geri has been struggling for many years with gender dysphoria and with the help of her therapist and myself has recently come out as trans. She goes by the name Geri and her pronouns are she/her.

This may come as a surprise to some of you but it wasn’t to me. This is something that has come up often in our 25 year relationship. We thought it was more of a kink but we now know it was much more than that.

The first question people have been asking me is if I’m ok and my answer is ABSOLUTELY. 🙂 Both Geri and I identify as pansexual (otherwise known as bi-sexual) and so our marriage hasn’t really changed. I’m in love with her. She’s in love with me. To quote David from Schitt’s Creek … “I like the wine not the label.”

So why a blog post?

We wanted to come out publicly for a few reasons. Our number one reason is visibility is important. With more visibility comes more understanding.

Trans people represent a small percentage of the population and therefore it can feel very isolating to be trans. So Geri and I are waving her Trans flag to say HI!!! We are over here!! We see you!! 

Our number two reason is we wanted to share our “coming out” letter in case anyone reading wanted to use it for themselves.

Geri had a difficult time trying to decide how to come out. It’s a very personal decision and everyone comes out differently. Now that Geri has removed the “man suit” that she’s been wearing as protection these last 48 years – she is understandably feeling much more vulnerable.

Coming out as trans person in your late 40’s isn’t easy. Both Geri and I were raised in an era (the 80’s) of extreme homophobia and transphobia. Fear of people shunning us. Fear of how people will react. When we were in our teenage formative years being anything but Cis and straight made you a pariah. So our default mode is fear.

Our biggest fear about coming out was what it would be like to watch someone we care about processing the information in real time – because if their reaction was negative – it would be heartbreaking. So after much discussion, Geri decided to write an e-mail and send it to our loved ones.

We looked online about the best way to craft a letter and didn’t find many coming out letters that we liked – so in Kramer DIY fashion we wrote our own letter (see below).

We wanted to give our friends/family time to read the letter. Process it in their own time … and come talk to us when they were ready. We also included some GLAAD links so that we wouldn’t have to answer the same questions over and over again. 🙂

Most importantly so they could read about how to be a good ally.

I’m happy to say that almost everyone on our list (that we sent the e-mail) got back to us right away with love and support. Only a few people haven’t responded and that’s ok … We send them off with love. Byeeeeee!

One of the things that surprised me the most was that almost everyone I’ve told (who is under the age of 30) was so blasé about it. I heard a lot of “ok cool – what pronoun do they me to use?”

It made me realize that so many of these young people didn’t grow up like we did with shame and fear. It brought tears to my eyes to realize that gender and sexuality isn’t a big deal to so many of them and it filled my heart with hope for the world.

So that’s our big news. 🙂 We hope you will take this news with grace and joy for Geri.

If you feel like you want to say something negative – please don’t. There is enough negativity in the world. We don’t need more. 😉

Below is the “coming out” letter we sent to our close friends and family. We offer it to any of you who wants to customize it and use it for their own. We hope you find it helpful.

Thanks in advance for your support.
I’m happy. Hope you’re happy too. 🙂
xoxo
SARAH

Hello
This is a big news letter from The Kramers. Have a seat. First off – Sarah and I are fine. :) 

This is difficult for me to write but I wanted to share something that’s going on in my life, because I love and trust you, and I know you love me. 

I am writing to let you know that I am a transgender person. I’ve known for a very long time and I’ve struggled for many years with my gender. With the help of Sarah and my therapist – I have come to terms with my place on the gender spectrum. 

I am now transitioning. 

I know this may seem shocking and that this may feel like it is coming from out of nowhere but I want you to know that I am ok. In fact I have never been better. :) 

This is my coming out letter. 

In the very near future I will be coming out to the world and living my life as female. I am still the same person that you have always known and loved. I’ll just be living more authentically as the true me. 

As of right now I will be going by the name Geri and my pronouns will be changing to she/her. 

I know you may have slip-ups with my gender at first, and that is ok. If you do slip up – you do not have to make a big deal out of it. Just correcting yourself is enough for me to see that you care about and respect who I am. 

My transition is not going to happen over night and some aspects may seem fast and some may seem slow. I ask for your patience and support during this time. 

I have included a few important links below for you to read. I would appreciate if you read these before you asked us questions. 

TRANSGENDER F.A.Q.
 https://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq 

TIPS FOR ALLIES OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
 https://www.glaad.org/transgender/allies 

If you feel like not responding right away, that’s ok. Take as much time as you need. I understand that this is a lot to process.

Sarah and I love you very much and we are happy to answer questions or talk about my transition. But please know that some questions may be too personal – so we will let you know when a question is over the line. 
Lots of love,
xoxo
Geri & Sarah (and Walter)

“Love is honouring the journey of another…” 

Hi Friends!!
Here’s my updated 2020 Vegan Eating Guide for Downtown Victoria BC Canada!! 🙂

Let me know if you think I’ve forgotten something.

Had an old filling replaced today.

Having procedures done to me (no matter how benign) are triggering for me as a former breast cancer patient.

Surrendering your body to a doctor is a very vulnerable place for me and being poked and prodded gives me a lot of anxiety.

I’ve been working on identifying my triggers, acknowledging them and today I was able to actually relax enough that I FELL ASLEEP during my procedure.

I feel very proud of myself. I would pop my tongue but it is so frozen – I can’t feel it.

BTW I asked my dentist to hold back on the epinephrine as it makes my heart race. It means the freezing doesn’t hold as long but it makes for a much easier time for me. #selfcare

I’m having a very sad-sack kind of day.

I’m working (very slowly) on a book about my cancer experience and it’s really difficult to revisit. Dipping my toe back into a dark pond of grief is tough stuff so I popped onto Instagram for a break from my misery and found this incredible letter in my messages.

IT MADE MY DAY!! Thank you friend. You are so lovely. 🙂