Recap My Life 2013

Books.
I spent most of my time reading easy readers.  I wanted to complete my goal of reading 50 books this year. I didn't though.  If I read good books, I never want to finish them.
Sex, Drugs, Gambling and Chocolate.
The Artist's Way
The Walking Dead Compendiums
Notes from a Writer's Book of Cures and Spells
Music.
Bangerz by Miley Cyrus. Wrecking Ball wins psycho-listen track of the year, according to my iTunes.
Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars
Yeezus by Kanye West
Les Claypool
Stick Up Kids by Bad Rabbits. Came out in 2009 but my daughter introduced me to the group this year. BR led me to...
Antibalas
Alone Together. Daley and Marsha Ambrosius

Movies.
The Beginner's Guide to Endings. Highly recommend this.
Pacific Rim. I loved this movie, but I'd only recommend this to nine year old boys who like robots and dinosaurs.

Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure.
Virtual relationships
Secret Social Media
Fetish lifestyle. Unlike E. L. James, I'm conducting research. Yes, that's what I call it.
Cybersex
Rihanna's Instagram

Colors.
No more black in 2014. I wear black everyday but if you ask me my favorite color I'd run down a list that could fill a crayola box - 16 count. So why am I wearing so much black?

Drink.
Water. Oh you do me better than that sexy bitch Chardonnay. I never thought I could, but I quit all alcohol. Best decision ever, once I understood why I needed to do it.
SanPellegrino. When I want a nice drink after a long day, the blood orange takes the edge off.

Movies.
I don't often go to movies. But when I do, I resent the hell out of the ticket price I have to pay. Which is why I don't often go to movies.
Pacific Rim. Yes, again!

TV Shows.
Scandal...Escandalo!!! Tony Goldwyn as President could get it.
Dexter. You were just fucking awful this season.True Blood, get it together.
Orange is the new Black

Wish List.
Last year I wished for iWeightloss, iMoney, and iMan. Well, two out of three ain't bad.

Triumphs.
Fun Fitness
Living la vida sober
Life as a local assistant director
45 by 45
Back to the pad again. Meditation.
New and renewed connections with friends - virtual and local.

Travels. New Category!
Long Beach, CA
GOBA
Chicago

Create. All things hobby related.
Cosplay
Writing
Stage Manager
A.D.

Losses.
Gall bladder
My suit of armor
Lee Thompson Young. Bipolar Disorder.
Martin Manley. Suicide.
Elmore Leonard
Jim Kelly
Bobby "Blue" Bland
Roger Ebert
Chinua Achebe
Mindy McCready
Valmore Samuel Jr.

No More Gall Bladder!

So at the beginning of October, I had my gall bladder removed. Back in August, I went to my general practitioner for a routine yearly exam. My last exam had been two years prior, and then she thought my liver enzyme count was high. I reasoned that was due to my intimate relationship with Chardonnay. I decided to stop drinking earlier this year, and I was curious as to how this would impact those test results. My doctor called the very next day and said I needed to have an ultrasound. My enzyme levels were now even higher than they were two years ago, despite me quitting all forms of alcohol months prior to the exam. After the ultrasound, she called and asked me to do a HYDA scan. You're injected with some kind of gorp and you lie in a, well a scanner and they take liver selfies.

I will never not hope for an alien abduction to happen at a time like this. 

The bottom-line results? A Cholecystectomy...stat. Or within the next four weeks if I wanted to avoid a gall bladder attack. Which I did want to avoid. Not only did I have at least one stone, my gall bladder just quit working; it was non-functioning. Petulant bastard.

The thing is, when my doctor first suggested there was a problem with my gall bladder, I was in disbelief. I didn't think I had any symptoms. But when I really though about it, I had; I just didn't know the cause. I've spent most of 2013 year cleaning up my diet, eating primarily plant based, whole food meals. I've also upped my workout game. But the weight loss was slow and I still felt rundown all the time. Not to mention the weird and awful noises that came from my belly. You can imagine the rest. I just figured it was typical getting older and being fat, although I was really working hard to change that. Apparently I have an awfully high tolerance for discomfort. Which is not a good thing.

So I went in on September 30 and came out October 1 minus my gall bladder. And now eleven days later, I feel so amazingly better it's damn ridiculous I didn't seek help for my symptoms sooner. I have three teeny weeny cuts on my abdomen where there were ports and one inside my navel (eww), but you can barely see them. I can now sleep on my right side (I couldn't do this without getting naseous), I don't have a horrible taste in my mouth anymore, and my back doesn't hurt.

Everything I've read about life sans gall bladder says to stay away from fried foods, even though my surgeon said I could eat whatever I wanted. Whatevs dood, I'm never seeing you again unless we run into each other at the gas station. I'm so glad I made changes to my diet already, so this is no big deal for me. I haven't had a fried anything since forever. Seafood is still on my menu, but I just generally don't like meat. I mean I can do without it. So I do. I eat greens, beans, onions mushrooms, berries & seeds...GBOMBS baby!

I feel like I can concentrate better and longer and I think my general disposition is much better. I'd gotten to the point where I made choices about what I did socially based on how far away from a bathroom I would be. 

That's no bueno for a hot MILF like me.

via

Everyday in July: Day 2 - How to be good in a crisis.

1. Identify the most important and the most immediate issue. What is most at stake? Is the crisis about safety? Yours or someone else? Is it a health concern? What's needed first?  If you can answer this problem accurately, you've already solved most of it.

2. See the crisis from start to finish. Explore possible outcomes and decide on the optimal solution.

3. Remember this is not about you. Think about what needs to happen that brings about the best result and focus on that. Don't think about how much you're doing compared to someone else. Fairness is always irrelevant in a crisis.

4. Eliminate the nonessential, but remember to care for yourself. If you're problem solver, you have to stay in the game. And you will surely be on the sidelines if you don't take care of yourself. Forget about doing your nails, ignore the DVR, you don't have time for social engagements. But you do have to sleep, you do have to rest and you do have to move your body. You have a crisis to handle, you don't have any leisure time. At least not now.

5. When the crisis is over, it's still not going to be about you. No one will care how much research you did, how many phone calls you made or how many nights you stayed up solving the problem. They'll just be glad it's over and will want to forget everything that has happened. Don't be surprised if you don't get the regard you think you should. Remember the point was to solve the crisis, not for you to be patted on the back.

6. Decide on a reward for yourself before the crisis is over. Use that as a motivator and a comfort for when the drama goes away. Because when the drama goes away, you're going to feel lonely. You're going to wonder what you're supposed to do when there is nothing left to do. Find a healthy activity to reengage yourself back to whatever your normal is.

7. Make plans for the next crisis. Shoes will fall. Hammers will drop. If the worst hasn't happen yet, get ready for it. Make your phone trees, set your plan Bs, get as many people as you can your side. Update your contacts, your emergency contacts, plan your will AND your funeral, and encourage your loved ones to do the same.

Falling back in love with going to work.

Footprint trails of my babies who have already left for school. The snow is deep and needs shoveling. These prints make me smile.Their shoe sizes make me scowl.

I like this picture of the black squirrel running down the tree. This is a view of my backyard. These squirrels (tree rats) are amazing gymnasts. I can imagine one hell of an Olympic gymnastics contest between squirrels and chimpanzees.

This is the view down my driveway. I’m afraid to know what those drops are about. I think it’s antifreeze from my daughter’s car.  Rather than shovel, I think I’m okay with smushing the snow down with my truck tires.  Hmm, just had to add smushing to my  dictionary. I think it should have already been there.

Here’s a nice view of my street. It’s a nice quiet side street. As far as I can tell, there is only one vacant house on the block; every other house is occupied primarily by older couples with no children, or younger couples with toddlers. There are two other black families on my street, but I’ve only met one person. He is twenty-something and drives the neighborhood ice cream truck in the summertime.

I don’t know anything about photography, but I do enjoy taking pictures, though mostly still life. I do remember some photo techniques from my grade school art teacher, Sr. Geraldine. It was something about thirds. Anyway, I just want to play at it for a while before I crack open a book about it. The siding on my house has faded horribly in the sun, resulting in a gross shade of brown, hence the sepia. There is much I hate about this house architecturally speaking. My deepest hatred  is for the oddly sized shutters and the scalloping hanging from the useless triangle. You can’t really tell here, but the icicles on either side of the house are massive.  They look very Ice Age-y. This is not a good thing. Nevertheless, I really like this photo.

So back to the walking. I like the pattern of tire tracks here. People going this way and that; evidence of the busyness of life.

Even though it says ‘St’, I use ‘Drive’. Why? Because I think Valleyview Drive has a nicer ring to it.

They don’t call my town ‘Tree City’ for nothing.

Tree City Residents use many of transportation. It would have been nice to have someone walking in this shot. As I was walking a biker rode across the street. I put up my camera, but he crossed before I could get the shot. Fortunately, a second biker happened along right on time!

Today probably wasn’t the best day to wear liquid eye liner. But I’m glad that was the only thing running down my face. I like the blurriness of the scarf in contrast to the un-blurriness of my head. I love the colors in that scarf! What's the photography term for un-blurriness? No, I don't mean focus!

Morning traffic. There isn’t much to this photo, except for the plume of smoke in the background.  I also wanted to get a shot of the snow falling to the ground. I love snow fall. I hate snow landing.

Ha ha! See how I cleverly edited the name of the institution? If I had time, I’d get rid of the stop signs.

One thing I rarely ever do when I’m on campus is sit outside. I don’t know why. There are a lot of attractive spaces to have lunch, read a book or have a friendly chat. With someone else, not by yourself. Or is that implied? I like the esiness of this photo.

I’m not a bird watcher. In fact, I sort of hate them. I hate them because they scare me. But I do like to look at them. I’m a bird looker. 

Almost there. The tall building is the library; twelve stories. I’m uphill and I think that’s why it looks short. I love the dis-proportionality here.

And we've reached the end of our scenic morning stroll to the office. Now it is time to make the donuts! Thanks for walking with me!

Crazy really, REALLY is the new sane.

Ok, so it's now Week 2, Day 4 of the 6th grade gym class for this overweight, die-hard GenXr. And guess what? I.am.hooked. These nutty broads are definitely onto something. I really can't believe I doubted their Shaolin technique!

I've lost 6 pounds after 3 days of a cardio routine Jillian Michaels would be proud of! Not to mention, I've mostly followed their diet plan to a T. So, technically, I dropped six ell bees in less than 7 days!!

Now, I'm drinking water like a fish, I'm up and at 'em (who ever they are) at 4:30 AM, 3 days a week. Remember my quest to quit sugar? Almost there...I'd say about 80%, which is good enough for me. I've never been much of a meat eater, so that's not a problem for me. But I have been re-introduced to seafood. Last week, I had Orange Roughy and that was the yummers!

There is a lockdown on how much I can say about who they are and what they do, and I really, really don't want them mad at me, so I ain't spilling the green beans! But I will say I am glad I am able to appreciate the "crazy" they have for whupping folks in shape! I am ret' to go!!


Coming up next: 2010...what the plan is..huh?

...but that's what I was thinking.

I know I'm not the only one who has mental arguments with people. Everybody does. But one thing that may be a bit troubling about me is that my arguments usually involve people I don't know. Random strangers. In fact, I could be having an argument with you right now. But you would never know, cuz I'd never let you in on it. So take that! I win so'more!

Today's cerebral bruhaha happened this morning in the new gym I recently joined. I won't mention it here because they have a sucky website, and I don't link to sucky sites. They also have a, umm...shall we say, different approach to exercise and motivation. Think back to the crazy militant gym physical education teacher you had in grade school. Ok, then, remember how teams where chosen? All the fast and popular kids first? Now, you're getting the idea...


So, we're working out in our groups; I'll call the top group, Superfast, the middle group, Average Janes, and the bottom group, the YouCanDoIts. So, the drill instructor/trainer calls Superfast and Average Janes to line up at their stations. This being my second day, I'm waiting with the rest of the newbies for Ms. Balbriker to tell the YouCanDoIts to go to their station. Someone from Superfast (I hope you're saying this the way Mary Katherine Gallagher would say it) pipes up, "What are you guys waiting for?"

Sideye, beyotch, I got this!

So as I'm going to the loser section, Ms. B tells me to join the Average Janes. Clearly, she noticed my ninja-like moves on my first day. And so begins the gruesome torture exercise.


We step-lift our way around and around in three groups; you can smell fat-burning going on. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a Superfast walking around idly like she's the equivalent of Allen Iverson (practice? I don't need no stinking practice!). Ms. B gently admonishes yells for her to get moving and stop wasting time. Eventually Iverson rejoins the group, but she isn't quite working at the regular Superfast pace. This butt-dragging, I-can't-be-so-bothered *ish goes on for a while...and when I say a while, I mean all of about 2 minutes and then...

Balbriker benches Iverson! In my mind, that is. Actually Ms. B sent Iverson to the Average Janes. I think there was some trash talk, or eye rolling, cuz it took a minute for Iverson to get herself together. I couldn't tell because my heart was trying to escape from my body. Now I gotta deal with a pissed off AI and keep my ribs from exploding all over my step. Not to mention I have COUNT. OUT LOUD. IN ORDER.

As I've mentioned, this is my second day. I'm still a bit overwhelmed that I paid money for this shit as I attempt to follow the choreography. One misstep could cause a sweaty musty chain reaction, which could leave you screaming out the door for a Purell shower. But what's this? Is AI trying to punk me? Is she trying to look like this is so easy she can barely break a sweat? I feel like my swagger is in jeopardy...what to do?

She starts moving closer behind me like I'm moving too slow for her...

Aww sooky, we past the sideye now! It's on!!!!!

And suddenly, as if Jesus stuck his foot out, AI trips as we go around to the left! Our eyes meet; she knows I know she almost busted 'dat ass! Now she gotta save face, so I know she's coming for me when we switch to the right...

bah-ring. it. bitch!

Calling on my latent ninja training, I am able to recharge immediately by remembering all the times I was called on last for dodge ball and Red Rover (stupid fuckin' games! Who invented that shit?)

My reflexes kick in and I make my steps wider and higher and faster like Jamie Sommers.
Besides, I hate when people stand directly behind me..it creeps me out.

New set...LEFT!

Uh oh, my turn! I heard ya calling me AI, now I'm coming! I got the rhythm down (I think) and I'm hauling ass across the steps. Come creeping up on me? Yeah? I don't think so...how's that? I'm right behind you AND I'm simultaneously counting! HA!

New set...RIGHT!

AI is trying to play like she doesn't know what's going on between us, but I know that she knows. Just because she looks completely ambivalent to the mental battle between us; it's really just a ploy to make me simmer down. But I won't have it! I will triumph!

New set...LEFT!

Ninja skills are weakening...apparently there is a lift under the floor that makes the steps higher as you go (very clever you heartless bastards), but I'm not done yet...

The mental warfare quickens as I imagine her saying to her Superfast buddies after class...

AI: "Yeah, I couldn't really get a good workout on over there in the MomJeans group."

Me: "Bullshit!"

AI: "Wha the..who said.."

Me: "Yeah, I said it."

AI: (Gives me the WTF look), then says, "f*ck you!"

Me: "Well, you can f*ck my fat ass if you want to, but if I were you, I'd wait a few more weeks!"

Superfast, AverageJanes, YouCanDoIts all fall on the floor laughing.

Me: Winks at AI and walks out the door.

Now, that didn't really happen, but that's what I was thinking!

Beckie has a new religion.

Gimme some new religion,
Something that I can feel.
Gimme some new tomorrow,
Bring it on and make it real.
I'm drowning in sweet forgiveness,
Come on baby turn my life, yeah.
Alice Smith, New Religion

Well, not really. But I am furthering my journey along a path I've considered traveling for a while now. Mrs. Cook, my sixth grade grade teacher, introduced me to meditation. I don't know why it appealed to me then, but it did. Meditation is one of things that makes sense to me, even though I don't completely understand it.

My religious experience consists of being raised in a Baptist family while attending Catholic school. Therefore, I know how to sit for a long time and say lots of prayers. I can say most of those prayers in Spanish (Jesus is multilingual, are you?). My second grade teacher told us non-Catholics we might be going to hell because we weren't Catholic. To compensate for what could possibly be eternal damnation, I would practically wash my face in holy water each week before and after mass. I confessed. I said the rosary. Once, one of my friends let me sub for her as an altar girl. I loved to ring the bells. If going to church was crack, I then just call me Pooky. "God be call'n me, he be call'n me!" I went to Mass once a week at school, some Saturdays, and then off to Baptist church on Sundays. I was in the children's choir, children's usher board, and secretary for children's Sunday School. I was in every group there was. I figured if Catholics had the sure ticket to heaven, then going to two churches instead of just one was bound to get me extra credit. Gold star for Beckie!

I converted to Catholicism to marry my X and raise our kids in his family parish (which no longer exists). Now that I'm divorced (sans annulment), I'm technically a pariah. That would be a problem if I cared. I don't. Religion is a Google map, as far as I'm concerned. It's a route that can but sometimes doesn't get you to where you think you want to be.

At this point in my life, church (any) isn't working for me. I find I connect with God more easily and more meaningfully when I meditate. That's my church. That, reading (Tolle, Holmes, and Rinpoche), community service and Joel. Trying to find a new church home is hard work. I dare anybody to try it. Better yet, try as a single person, then go with your family. See if there is a difference. It flat out sucks. No church is as welcoming as it thinks it is; some churches flat out don't want new members. This has been my experience with christian churches, non-denominational (by definition is denominational), Baptist, and Catholic.

But I've never been one to care too much what people think. If I like the feeling I get going to a church, I'll go as long as I like how I feel. But in recent years, I've only gone because I feel like I'm supposed to, to give the kids the experience. And frankly, that's not enough. The fact that I'm a Christian mutt only benefits me when it comes to game show trivia. My kids also feel and see the disconnect between new members and old ones. It's not a fun experience for them. And I'm kinda over the whole perfect attendance at church thing. I'm not knocking folks who go to church; please don't read any sarcasm in what I'm saying. In fact, I like and admire that. But it doesn't work for me. Spiritually, it just doesn't work.

What has been working for me is meditation. For years, I've practiced alone. Only child syndrome...introvert...I find people exhausting. Meditating helps me remember myself. It helps me relax out of the anxiety I feel when I'm encountering the world. I trust myself and my intuition more. Mediation gave me the strength to ask my X for a divorce. Meditation helps me to chart a course of action for myself and my family. But...meditating alone is a real challenge. And it brings up issues that I don't know what to do with. So now I've started to attend a meditation group. And so far, it's going well. And by so far, I mean two sessions. But I know enough about meditation and the community that potentially comes along with it to know that I like this one. Although it is based in a Buddhist tradition, being a Buddhist is not a requirement. Nor is it an expectation. Meditation is truly a non-denominational practice. This group seems to embrace that concept.

I see myself working on pulling together things I used to think were incongruous, fractured or just not acceptable. Things appealed to me at different times in my life and I didn't know why. But now they seem to come together; vegetarianism, yoga, meditation, my disdain for litter, instrumentals. Peaceful habits of sentient beings. I don't know where this is going to take me; but I'm looking forward to this ride. This year I want answers--no more questions. I'm tired of waiting. Let's go.

Make this month greener...update!

I have found another natural foods market nearby. It's called Seven Grains, and it's not far from where I live. I'm excited about this because they sell antibiotic-free, hormone-free, grass-fed meats! Didn't I just ask this of the universe?

They are also a distributor of Field Roast Grain Meat products. The little one doesn't know it yet, but he's about to go "veg" too! Actually, I consider him and my daughter true meat-lovers. Both of them always ate all the meat on their plates. My daughter admits she sometimes gets cravings, but she doesn't cheat...I have to give her credit. But I really don't like meat; it's too, well, fleshy! I'm happy to give it up. I'm am concerned about too much fake meat though. I'm not sure how tasty it is. I've found a few homemade options I plan on trying, with beans.

I'm going to cook up the remaining meat I have, and make a serious effort not to buy meat or meat-related products anymore. My daughter's birthday is next week. We're having a small family gathering and I'm making a vegetarian dish...which one I haven't decided. This will be good practice because I know I'll have to start making dishes for holiday get-togethers that my daughter and I will be able to eat.

On another note, a good friend of mine is celebrating, observing, honoring Ramadan. She's catholic, but her sweetie is Muslim. Isn't that awesome? She's the bomb; I'm sure he knows. I know very little about Islam, but to me, it sounds like Lent, in practice and in purpose. Anyway, from what I have learned from my buddy Badr, I think I'm going to give fasting a shot.

The sunrise/sunset I'm following is here. For me, this isn't about becoming Muslim, it's more about getting my mind, my soul, and my actions to align. My mental image of who I am is very different than my behavior in alot of ways; I need for that disparity to disappear. And again, the bar is just hovering above the ground on this one. I'm not going for 100% every single day. But I am going to do the best I can with what I have to make the most of this experience. We'll see what comes of it.

Make this month greener

Make this Month Even 'Greener'!

Live Healthy. Live Happy. Make a Difference!
Badr Bakry
Copyright © Badr Bakry 2009

Some ideas to make this month even 'greener'!

(Badr's text is in black. My comments are in green.)

Turn off you TV. For this whole month.

Now that Saving Grace is over for the season, and True Blood, Mad Men, Monk, and Psych will soon end, I can turn off my TV most days. I cancelled Showtime, even though it pains me to not watch Dexter. I don’t get premium channels or DVR on my bedroom TV anymore, and I really don’t watch much TV in there anyway. I’d rather read or work on the computer or sleep. I keep saying my ultimate goal is to cancel cable altogether, but I’m afraid my kids will launch a revolt.

Reduce the use of cell phones.

I’d be happier if I didn’t have one period. I only use it for my kids, and the occasional random person call. I don’t like being that connected. But I also don’t like being limited by minutes or texts or any of that. Most of the time it’s at the bottom of my purse, so I tend to miss calls. It’s easier to call me at work or at home.

In fact, I’d like it if my cell phone wasn’t a phone at all. Talking on it is the last thing I do with it! I use it for RSS, calendar, notes, web, text, camera, and if I hold it under the light in the right way, a mirror!

Be informed and learn about the issues in our environment, and know your options.

I would like to attend a discussion on health care reform. I know where the big pieces sort of fit in this picture, but I would like to hear a more practical implementation strategy at the local level.

Eat more greens and whole, unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables.

There is always romaine in my fridge. I love salads. Usually spinach too. I do my best to shop the “outside” of the grocery store. Actually, there’s a great local market down the street from me, Krieger’s. I buy almost all my produce there. They have a nice supply of vegan/vegetarian items as well. I’ve made fruit salads a couple of times, but we didn’t really eat much of it. Dunno why…it was tasty.

Eat meat, eggs and dairy from grass-fed animals.

I'm transitioning to a meatless diet. Once upon a time, I was a vegetarian, but that was a while ago. I'm really not a big meat eater. Most meals don't have meat or much of it. My daughter has been a veghead for almost two years. My son however, probably bleeds bacon grease. Well, it's really f-acon (turkey bacon), also known as edible paper IMO.

Shop for meats guaranteed to come from animals that have not been given any hormones or antibiotics.

I know Krieger’s buys from local vendors, but I’m not sure where they stand with organic/free range/grassfed meats.

Shop local food and produce, go to the farmers market.

I’m going to a farmer’s market this weekend!

I’m also trying to break up with Wal.M.art. I live right across the street from one, so it’s really hard not to go there when I need poster board or milk at 8:00 at night. I comparison shop and I know for many of the taxable items I buy, they have the lowest prices. I try to use my membership at a local wholesale club (which is not owned by Wally), but sometimes it just can’t be avoided. When you have other people to take care of, convenience becomes a commodity. My time is money!

Make your food colorful and attractive.

I’m not a bad cook. I’m still learning new, healthier and creative ways to prepare meals, and I definitely like it when my friends and family compliment me on a meal.

Read labels carefully. If you don’t understand it, don’t buy it.

Check!

Eat slowly and chew your food.

Duh.

Buy less food this month.

Not possible with the boy in the house.

Avoid all sugar products.

Working on it. Iced tea is a fav. There are a lot of Stevia-ia products out there, Truvia, etc. Don’t think they are budget friendly.

Avoid all refined carbohydrates.

I found a blog on making your own hamburger buns. Seems pretty easy and straight forward..gonna try that this month too. (I'll add the link when I find it!)

I don’t buy sliced bread anymore. I’m trying to get into making wraps, but I haven’t completely transitioned. Right now, the kids get school lunches (gasp). I just can’t beat the convenience factor. I hate making lunches. That’s so lazy, but I do.

Avoid all refined sweeteners, such as sugar, dextrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup and fruit juices.

I cut all that out a while ago. I don’t buy any juice at all except orange juice.

Avoid all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats and oils.

Check!

Avoid all refined liquid vegetable oils made from soy, corn, safflower, canola or cottonseed, and all processed oils and hydrogenated oils.

Check!

Avoid all fried food.

Most of the time. The boy likes my fried chicken, so once or twice a month I cook it for him. Once in a while, I will fry potatoes (greasy yummy heaven), but that’s it! I have a stovetop grill, a toaster oven

Avoid drinking the poison called SODA pop.

Even though I have a case a pop and drank one yesterday, I don’t really like it. I only buy it for gatherings, but from now on, I quit!

Stop using microwaves.
I use it less frequently. I never prepare meat or defrost anything in it. Most of the time we use the toaster oven when we can. I also hate those microwave lunches/meals! Even though those are uber-convenient, I don’t like the taste or the way the foods look. The only micromeal I do like are the Tabatchnick soups. The Balsamic Tomato & Rice Soup is yummy!

Car pool to work or take the bus.

I would love to take the bus. But there are no routes from my apartment to my job. Even though I work only 9 miles away, there is no safe bike path either. I would have to cross over a highway on a narrow shoulder, so that ain’t happen! Someone might think I look like Michelle Obama from the back and try to run me down!

Stop smoking.

Don’t smoke anyway! Check!

Avoid using make-up, it causes skin cancer and many other skin problems.

Hmm, Badr. Make-up causes cancer? That’s a first. I usually wear mascara, powder and lip gloss. That’s not so much. On the weekends, I usually don’t bother. I like to play with make-up; it’s fun to put on, but I don’t like wearing too much because I touch my face a lot and end up with smudges everywhere.

Walk at least 20 minutes everyday.

I really need to do this. Really really do.

Give something every day of this month, an advice, a smile, a gift, listen to someone...

I think I do this anyway. Some days I think I do too much of it. But I guess it comes with the territory. Besides, it could be worse. I recall someone once telling me what it was like to go through the day without any physical contact from another person. No acknowledgment of his existence, except as a fleeting customer or bus passenger. He had no one who cared about him or depended on him for anything. I think about that when I think of my parents, who each live alone and each have significant health issues. Days when I think I can’t bear to have a conversation about mundane activities like what I made for dinner or what the kids are up to, I realize for my folks, these accounts are the highlights of their days. I get and give hugs and kisses every day. That’s a beautiful thing. I do my best to share it, even if it is over the phone.

Volunteer work.

I’ve been checking out a few places, but I haven’t done much more than that. I’d like to volunteer at a retirement community, but I don’t really know where one is down here.

Plant a tree or a small garden.

Since my last attempt at gardening failed miserably, I think I will try container gardening. One day.

Recycle and buy recycled paper products.

I stopped buying paper towels a year ago. The kids thought it was weird, but now they’re used to it. I use washable rags instead. When they get gross, I throw them out! Simple!

I carry big purses, so if I’m running errands, I tell the cashier I don’t need a bag. Or I’ll grab the trendy grocery bags from the trunk of my car. It’s much easier to carry them up and down the stairs.

Think positive thoughts and practice forgiveness.

Check! The last few weeks I’ve rekindled my relationship with my father. I love him and missed him dearly. But forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. We won’t have the type of relationship I’d like, but it will be a functional one. I think he also now understands that I have boundaries that cannot be crossed. I’m hoping for the best, and recognizing my own weaknesses in this process.

(Whew! I didn’t see wine on the list!)

Un-Food for the Month of September: Sugar

Green Ramadan is my friend on Facebook. Green is actually Badr Bakry (I think it's ironic his last name looks like bakery), author of Cleanse Your Life Now. His website describes him as a Mind-Body wellness practitioner, holistic nutrition specialist, international speaker and life coach. Job titles like life coach and mor.tga.ge bro.ker tend to turn me off, but his postings are just too much common sense to turn away.

I've included several postings here today because I want to be able to quickly refer to them when the lure of sugar starts gnawing at me (or me gnawing at it). I've heard all this stuff before, years of knowing better but too lazy to do better. There's no reason I can't be the healthiest I can be. I want that for my kids. Which ultimately means I have to be the model for them. Too much pwesha!!

So to that end, I'll be exploring sugar substitutes, listing foods and beverages I'm reducing to zero consumption. By the end of the month, I'll post where I am in this process. Since I'm allergic to follow-through, I'm setting the bar really low for myself. I'll be happy if I end the month will a suitable substitute for sweetening iced tea. I'll tackle caffeine in another month.

Wish me luck!


From Green Ramadan:

"Natural Sugar Alternatives: Raw honey & Stevia. Stevia is an herb native to South America, is now grown and cultivated throughout the world. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar but does not affect blood sugar levels, can be used for sweetening beve...rages and for baking. Stevia is easily digested, dissolves quickly and it is safe for diabetics. It has no calories or carbohydrates.

95% of people are addicted to sugar to some degree! Refined sugar is a pure chemical. In my opinion, it is like heroin, and even more of a threat because it’s legal and cheap. It’s a chemical that has been stripped through the refining process of all... the natural food nutrition that originally resided in the plant. Heroin and sugar are produced by very similar processes.

Refined sugar has absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever. It also robs the body of enzymes, minerals and vitamins, especially B-vitamins. Symptoms of B-vitamin deficiency include: fatigue, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate, poor memory, insomnia and irregular heart beat."