This time of year, I truly miss living in New England. There's nothing like an autumn spent walking among scattered color, and seeing natures handiwork painted as a backdrop to changing skies. Ahhh... "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/01/is-bottled-water-really-pure.aspx

Is Bottled Water A Scam?

According to the article above, written by Dr. Mercola, bottled water is a marketing-driven bamboozle that has tricked the American public to believing that this so-called purified water is nothing more than tap water in a bottle.  Mercola says, "In many cases indistinguishable from regular tap water.  In fact, about 40 percent of bottled water IS regular tap water, which may or may not have received any additional treatment."  OUCH!

Have we been duped?  Read on:

Bottled water may be one of the most effective swindles out there. Marketing, of course, has played a major role. For example, in 2006, Pepsi (owner of Aquafina) spent $20 million suggesting that Americans should “drink more water.”
It worked. The following year Americans drank nearly 7 percent more bottled water than they did in 2006, according to Beverage Marketing Corporation.
Last year, U.S. bottled water consumption reached nearly 9 billion gallons, raking in revenues of more than $11 billion. Not bad for a product people can get almost for free from their own kitchen tap.
The belief driving sales of bottled water is that it must be cleaner, and therefore healthier. But that’s where we’ve all been fooled.

The Amazing Bottled Water Scam

There are many problems with bottled water, but the most obvious is the fact that you’re paying a premium for something that is in many cases indistinguishable from regular tap water. In fact, about 40 percent of bottled water IS regular tap water, which may or may not have received any additional treatment.
Most municipal tap water must actually adhere to stricter purity standards than the bottled water industry.
Case in point: In one test performed by the Environmental Working Group, 38 low-level contaminants were found in bottled water, with each of the 10 tested brands containing an average of eight chemicals.
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs), caffeine, Tylenol, nitrate, industrial chemicals, arsenic, and bacteria were all detected.
Fluoride (a highly toxic bone poison that should be avoided at all costs) is usually present in both tap water and filtered bottled water. And the toxic metal antimony (a silvery white metal of medium hardness) has also been found in many commercially bottled water brands.
Part of the problem is that while the EPA requires large public water supplies to test for contaminants as often as several times a day, the FDA requires private bottlers to test for contaminants only once a week, once a year, or once every four years, depending on the contaminant.
In addition, the General Accountability Office (GAO) report states that “the FDA does not have the specific statutory authority to require bottlers to use certified laboratories for water quality tests or to report test results, even if violations of the standards are found.”

Toxic Water, in a Bottle

Probably the worst of the toxins found in both tap and some bottled water are the disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). DBPs are formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter like decaying vegetation in the source water during water treatment.
Adding chlorine to the water kills or inactivates harmful microorganisms that cause diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and giardiasis. Its use has virtually eradicated these diseases.
However, this water treatment technique clearly has serious drawbacks. Scientists are now starting to discover just how toxic these disinfection byproducts really are.
DBPs are about 10,000 more toxic than chlorine and trihalomethanes (THMs) are classified as Cancer Group B carcinogens, meaning they’ve been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
They’ve also been linked to reproductive problems in both animals and humans, and human studies suggest that lifetime consumption of chlorine-treated water can more than double the risk of bladder and rectal cancers in certain individuals.

• One such study found that smoking men who drank chlorinated tap water for more than 40 years faced double the risk of bladder cancer compared with smoking men who drank non-chlorinated water.
• A second study found that rates for rectal cancers for both sexes escalated dramatically with duration of consumption of chlorinated water. Individuals on low-fiber diets who also drank chlorinated water for over 40 years more than doubled their risk for rectal cancer, compared with lifetime drinkers of non-chlorinated water.

To put it another way: Disinfectant byproducts are so toxic that simply swimming in a chlorinated pool presents “an unacceptable cancer risk,” according to one recent study. THMs formed in chlorinated swimming pools have also been linked to spontaneous abortion, stillbirths and congenital malformations, even at lower levels.
So why on earth would you pay up to 1,900 times more for the same amount of health risk as you encounter drinking tap water?
And when you take into account the health hazards imparted by the chemicals leaching out of the plastic bottle itself, then bottled water really doesn’t make sense anymore.

Plastic, Plastic Everywhere. Clean Water, Not So Much

When you consider the massive amounts of non-biodegradable plastic required for all these billions of gallons of bottled water being consumed each year, it’s no wonder we have a plastic “stew” twice the size of Texas swirling through the Pacific Ocean.
Another fact to chew on is this: A bottle that holds 1 liter of water requires 5 liters of water in its manufacturing process.
So not only is the consumption of bottled water polluting our fragile world, it’s also profoundly wasteful of our natural resources.

Your Healthiest Water Options

Your best source of water is having an artesian well in your back yard as that is some of the finest water in the world. Very few people are fortunate enough to have this, however, so after many years of careful research I have concluded that filtered tap water, using a reverse osmosis filter is currently your next best option.
I know some people have great comments on ionized alkaline water but I am very skeptical, especially in light of new research that I have recently learned that will be published later this year. I am concerned that these may cause some significant long term problems and are probably best avoided. .
Remember that you cannot tell if your water is safe or not by the way it looks, tastes, or smells. Some contaminants in water are so harmful they’re measured in “parts per million,” or as in the case of DBPs, “parts per billion.”
This means that just a drop of these poisons added to several gallons of water can be harmful to your health.
Additionally, since your skin easily absorbs chemicals in water -- as illustrated in the study on swimming pool contamination and cancer risk mentioned above – purifying your drinking water alone may not be enough. For optimal protection, you’ll want to install a system that filters all the water in your home.
For a more thorough look at what your options are, please review my previous article, Tap Water Toxins: Discover Your 3 Best Solutions, Straight from the Expert...

 Thinking Out Loud

You can see that I am not keeping up with this blog as regularly as I would like to.  Certainly, it's related to my day/night job. The truth be known...I spend far too many hours in front of this screen. So why the need for another blog?  I have yet to figure out the answer to that.  Perhaps it is that I enjoy "watching" me speak... lol doubtful, but it's an answer of sorts.

Today I want to discuss optimism.  I think it should be an infectious disease that spreads among us all, especially during difficult times like today with our crazy economy.  One of my favorite quotes by Lewis Carroll is, "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."   There is something very empowering about believing in the impossible.  Don Quixote's big quest to dream...to follow that star... Quixote is the hero of Don Quixote, the early 17th century novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Quixote is a dreamer and a kindhearted buffoon, an aging gentleman who sets out from his village of La Mancha to perform acts of chivalry in the name of his grand love Dulcinea. He rides a decrepit horse, Rocinante (which is quite comical), and is accompanied by his "squire," the peasant Sancho Panza. Quixote's imagination often gets the better of him (hmmm... perhaps he should have been a writer); in once famous incident he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants (perhaps the aftermath of late night pizza...I'm just sayin'). Throughout his many adventures Quixote often seems ridiculous, yet he maintains his staunchly hopeful attitude and belief in chivalry. (The term quixotic now describes anyone who takes on an idealistic or foolish quest against great odds.) The book Don Quixote inspired the 1959 play Man of La Mancha, in which Quixote's quest is summed up in the song "The Impossible Dream."

As I was saying...

I realize that Don Quixote's character is a bit overdone, and certainly he would be considered rather odd in today's society.  Especially since he was ever-so committed to winning the love of Dulcinea by performing wild acts of chivalry (it's all so very dramatic). Chivalry in some respects is a beautiful notion, and a code of behavior that medieval knights followed. Chivalry was a feature of the High and later Middle Ages in Western Europe. While its roots stretch back to the 9th and 10th centuries, the system of chivalry flourished most vigorously in the 12th and 13th centuries before deteriorating at the end of the Middle Ages. However, the ideals of chivalry continued to influence models of behavior for gentlemen and the nobility during the Renaissance in the 16th century.  During the crusades, Christianity also influenced chivalry, but I really did not want this to become a history lesson... or did I?  lol


A couple of informative websites to check out about chivalry are:
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html
http://www.chronique.com/Library/Chivalry/code.htm

Back to the subject at hand...Optimism...

It is a medically proven fact, that optimism has profound affects on health.  Your mental outlook controls your emotions, which in turn affect your body.

I prefer to hope against hope, to dream large, to look at the glass half full instead of half empty.  Do you remember the childhood book, Pollyanna authored by Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868-1920)?  Disney later turned the book into a feature film. The New Hampshire author created this childhood classic in 1913, and Pollyanna has been a symbol for inspiration ever since.

Here is a TRUE CONFESSION.  I actually watch Pollyanna whenever I feel slighted, overwhelmed with a circumstance that life is dishing out, or I simply have the temptation to get negative.  The message behind this story is powerful.  This young girl was able to turn the mindsets of an entire town around because she chose to be optimistic and glad about whatever life handed her in the moment.  She looked for the good in every circumstance.

"Although the personality and popularity of Pollyanna eclipses the author even today, the message of the book was never intended to be "blind optimism". About the storybook, "Pollyanna did not pretend that everything was sugar-coated goodness," her creator Mrs. Porter insisted, "instead Pollyanna was positively determined to find the good in every situation."

For further reference see:   http://www.golittleton.com/eleanor_porter.php

...and those are my thoughts today...back to dreaming the "POSSIBLE" dream...

2 AM OVER-STIMULATION

Saturday, August 21, 2010

It's 2 am, and I really should be in bed.  My eyes were blurring about 4 hours ago, so why am I still here?  That seems to be the question of the hour.  I think I am over-stimulated, but it's not from coffee... I really don't drink much coffee.  I think it's from having too much on my mind.  I'm working on too many projects right now.  Truthfully, it seems about all I do is sit in front of this computer and write.  Oh yeah... here is the latest load-down...

I am currently working as a freelance reporter for a newspaper in Southern California.  While I do love "telling the story," writing feature stories require a lot of research.  I suppose I can't complain about that either, because I am a research hound.  The truth is... I LOVE IT!  However, it is time consuming.  Along with news journalism, I have my own writing/editorial business, and I stay busy with press releases, resume building, website content, editing, copywriting, and various other writing-related jobs.  In addition, I am ghostwriting a book for a health coach, which is also very time consuming, and trying to keep up with the 6 original screenplays that I am writing -- 2 have recently been optioned.  I am about to sign a contract to ghostwrite another book on finance, and I may be writing for an up-coming TV show that the Discovery Channel is negotiating.  The head writer has asked me to come on board, and if this goes into production, we will knock out 6 episodes.  Once those are completed, if the show moves into a 2-year contract, then I will be relocating to Nashville, where the show is going to be filmed.

I used to write a poem a day... Now it is a rare moment when I have time.  I really miss poetry.

I really need to visit the sandman...

Good night.

A Mini Thought

Writing, writing and more writing... and so my journey continues... I have come to the conclusion that to write well, one must utterly abandon themselves to it. You cannot keep secrets or hold anything back. You must spill your heart out on paper.

Yummy and healthy!

Today I really needed to hit the store, but didn't really want to take the time, so I had to make-do! Here's what I came up with!  It was delicious!

Quinoa made with organic vegetable broth (follow package directions)
Use the broth instead of water and add the following:
Finely diced small jalapeno pepper
3 cloves garlic
1 small onion diced
Dash of herbs de provence
Ground pepper
Sea Salt

After the quinoa is cooked, heat up a large skillet with about 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and fast saute the following:

1/4 cup raw pine nuts
1/8 cup organic dried cranberries
2 gloves garlic
Mixed heirloom pearl tomatoes
Turn burner off and add a package of spinach and add 3 leaves of chopped kale.  Stir until wilted, and squeeze 1/4 of lemon juice over.

Remove from pan, serve over the quinoa.  It's AMAZING, and SO HEALTHY!

Your body will say, "thank you!"

Notes about Quinoa:

Qunioa (pronounced keen-wa), and is a grain that comes from the Andes  Mountains of South America. Quinoa's origins are truly ancient. It was one of  the three staple foods, along with corn and potatoes, of the Inca civilization. Quinoa was known then, and still is known, with respect, as the mother grain. We  call it the "Supergrain of the Future."

Quinoa contains  more protein than any other grain; an average of 16.2  percent, compared with 7.5 percent for rice, 9.9 percent for millet, and 14 percent for wheat. Some varieties of quinoa are more than 20 percent protein.

Quinoa's protein is  of an unusually high quality. It is a complete protein, with an essential amino acid balance close to the ideal ... similar to milk!

Quinoa's protein is  high in lysine, methionine and cystine. This makes it an excellent food to  combine with, and boost the protein value of, other grains (which are low in lysine), or soy (which is low in methionine and cystine).

Rich & Balanced Source of  Nutrients
Besides its unique protein,  quinoa also provides starch, sugars, oil (high in essential linoleic acid), fiber, minerals, and  vitamins.

Easy on the Stomach
Quinoa is light, tasty, and  easy to digest. It is not sticky or heavy like most other grains, and  it has a delicious flavor all its own.

Quick  and Simple to Prepare
A whole-grain dish of  quinoa takes just 15 minutes.

Versatile
Quinoa can be substituted for almost any grain in almost any recipe. It looks and tastes great on its own, or in any dish from soup to salad.

Perfect for Summertime
Many people eat grains only during the colder months, but quinoa's lightness combined with its versatility in cold dishes like salads and desserts makes it an ideal source of good summertime nutrition.

Kids love it!
Quinoa is an excellent source of nutrition for infants and children.

The Browning's:  A Literary Love Story

One of my favorite stories is the love story between Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  Indeed, they have been considered one of the most romantic literary couple from the Victorian age.  After reading her poems for the first time, Robert wrote to her: "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett--I do, as I say, love these verses with all my heart."

With that first meeting of hearts and minds, a love affair would blossom between the two. Elizabeth told Mrs. Martin that she was "getting deeper and deeper into correspondence with Robert Browning, poet and mystic; and we are growing to be the truest of friends." During the 20 months of their courtship, the couple exchanged nearly 600 letters. But what is love without obstacles and hardships? As Frederic Kenyon writes, "Mr. Browning knew that he was asking to be allowed to take charge of an invalid's life—believed indeed that she was even worse than was really the case, and that she was hopelessly incapacitated from ever standing on her feet—-but was sure enough of his love to regard that as no obstacle."

The Bonds of Marriage

Their subsequent marriage was a secret matter, taking place on September 12, 1846, at Marylebone Church. Most of her family members eventually accepted the match, but her father disowned her, would not open her letters, and refused to see her. Elizabeth stood by her husband, and she credited him for saving her life. She wrote to Mrs. Martin: "I admire such qualities as he has—-fortitude, integrity. I loved him for his courage in adverse circumstances which were yet felt by him more literally than I could feel them. Always he has had the greatest power over my heart, because I am of those weak women who reverence strong men."

Out of their courtship and those early days of marriage came an outpouring of poetic expression. Elizabeth finally gave her little packet of sonnets to her husband, who could not keep them to himself. "I dared not," he said, "reserve to myself the finest sonnets written in any language since Shakespeare's." The collection finally appeared in 1850 as "Sonnets from the Portuguese." Kenyon writes, "With the single exception of Rossetti, no modern English poet has written of love with such genius, such beauty, and such sincerity, as the two who gave the most beautiful example of it in their own lives."

The Brownings lived in Italy for the next 15 years of their lives, until Elizabeth died in Robert's arms on June 29, 1861. It was while they were living there in Italy that they both wrote some of their most memorable poems.  

A Letter

I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,--and this is no off-hand complimentary letter that I shall write,--whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course recognition of your genius and there a graceful and natural end of the thing: since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon me--for in the first flush of delight I though I would this once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admiration--perhaps even, as a loyal fellow-craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of herafter!--but nothing comes of it all--so into me has it gone, and part of me has it become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew... oh, how different that is from lying to be dried and pressed flat and prized highly and put in a book with a proper account at bottom, and shut up and put away... and the book called a 'Flora', besides! After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time; because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought--but in this addressing myself to you, your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogher. I do, as I say, love these Books with all my heart-- and I love you too: do you know I was once seeing you? Mr. Kenyon said to me one morning "would you like to see Miss Barrett?"--then he went to announce me,--then he returned... you were too unwell -- and now it is years ago--and I feel as at some untorward passage in my travels--as if I had been close, so close, to some world's-wonder in chapel on crypt,... only a screen to push and I might have entered -- but there was some slight... so it now seems... slight and just-sufficient bar to admission, and the half-opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be!

Well, these Poems were to be--and this true thankful joy and pride with which I feel myself. Yours ever faithfully Robert Browning
                                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth's Sonnets From the Portuguese were birthed out of Robert and Elizabeth's letter exchanges, and even today, they are widely considered to be some of the greatest romantic poetry ever written.  Here are a few:

III. "Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart! Unlike our uses and our destinies. Our ministering two angels look surprise On one another, as they strike athwart Their wings in passing. Thou, bethink thee, art A guest for queens to social pageantries, With gages from a hundred brighter eyes Than tears even can make mine, to play thy part Of chief musician. What hast thou to do With looking from the lattice-lights at me, A poor, tired, wandering singer, singing through The dark, and leaning up a cypress tree? The chrism is on thine head,---on mine, the dew,--- And Death must dig the level where these agree.

V. "I lift my heavy heart up solemnly..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
I lift my heavy heart up solemnly, As once Electra her sepulchral urn, And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn The ashes at thy feet. Behold and see What a great heap of grief lay hid in me, And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn Through the ashen greyness. If thy foot in scorn Could tread them out to darkness utterly, It might be well perhaps. But if instead Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow The grey dust up, . . . those laurels on thine head, O my Belovèd, will not shield thee so, That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred The hair beneath. Stand farther off then! go.

XIII. "And wilt thou have me fashion into speech..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

And wilt thou have me fashion into speech The love I bear thee, finding words enough, And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough, Between our faces, to cast light on each?--- I drop it at thy feet. I cannot teach My hand to hold my spirit so far off From myself---me---that I should bring thee proof In words, of love hid in me out of reach. Nay, let the silence of my womanhood Commend my woman-love to thy belief,--- Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed, And rend the garment of my life, in brief, By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude, Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief.

XI. "And therefore if to love can be desert..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

And therefore if to love can be desert, I am not all unworthy. Cheeks as pale As these you see, and trembling knees that fail To bear the burden of a heavy heart,--- This weary minstrel-life that once was girt To climb Aornus, and can scarce avail To pipe now 'gainst the valley nightingale A melancholy music,---why advert To these things? O Belovèd, it is plain I am not of thy worth nor for thy place! And yet, because I love thee, I obtain From that same love this vindicating grace, To live on still in love, and yet in vain,--- To bless thee, yet renounce thee to thy face.

XIV. "If thou must love me, let it be for nought..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
If thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say 'I love her for her smile---her look---her way Of speaking gently,---for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'--- For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may Be changed, or change for thee,---and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--- A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love's sake, that evermore Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

XII. "Indeed this very love which is my boast..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Indeed this very love which is my boast, And which, when rising up from breast to brow, Doth crown me with a ruby large enow To draw men's eyes and prove the inner cost,--- This love even, all my worth, to the uttermost, I should not love withal, unless that thou Hadst set me an example, shown me how, When first thine earnest eyes with mine were crossed, And love called love. And thus, I cannot speak Of love even, as a good thing of my own: Thy soul hath snatched up mine all faint and weak, And placed it by thee on a golden throne,--- And that I love (O soul, we must be meek!) Is by thee only, whom I love alone.

VIII. "What can I give thee back, O liberal..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

What can I give thee back, O liberal And princely giver, who hast brought the gold And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold, And laid them on the outside of the wall For such as I to take or leave withal, In unexpected largesse? am I cold, Ungrateful, that for these most mainfold High gifts, I render nothing back at all? Not so; not cold, --- but very poor instead. Ask God who knows. For frequent tears have run The colours from my life, and left so dead And pale a stuff, it were not fitly done To give the same as pillow to thy head. Go farther! let it serve to trample on.

X. "Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright, Let temple burn, or flax; and equal light Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed: And love is fire. And when I say at need I love thee ... mark! ... I love thee---in thy sight I stand transfigured, glorified aright, With conscience of the new rays that proceed Out of my face toward thine. There's nothing low In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures Who love God, God acceps while loving so. And what I feel, across the inferior features Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show How that great work of Love enhances Nature's.

XVII. "My poet, thou canst touch on all the notes..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
My poet, thou canst touch on all the notes God set between His After and Before, And strike up and strike off the general roar Of the rushing world a melody that floats In a serene air purely. Antidotes Of medicated music, answering for Mankind's forlornest uses, thou canst pour From thence into their ears. God's will devotes Thine to such ends, and mine to wait on thine. How, Dearest, wilt thou have me for most use? A hope, to sing by gladly? or a fine Sad memory, with thy songs to interfuse? A shade, in which to sing---of palm or pine? A grave, on which to rest from singing? Choose.

	XLIII. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

  For The Love of Books

I am of the firm opinion that we should have days dedicated each year to books, reading and authors.  In fact, perhaps an entire holiday should be named to celebrate authors and their writings!

Books, books, books had found the secret of a garret-room
piled high with cases in my father's name;
Piled high, packed large, --where, creeping in and out
among the giant fossils of my past, like some small nimble mouse
between the ribs of a mastodon, I nibbled here and there
at this or that box, pulling through the gap, in heats
of terror, haste, victorious joy, the first book first.
And how I felt it beat under my pillow, in the morning's dark.
An hour before the sun would let me read!
My books!
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

 

MUSIC: A DEEP-SEATED PART OF MY EXISTENCE

Okay, I admit it... Music has always been a deep-seated part of my existence.  I suppose being raised by an opera conductor father, and a mother who was a violinist/music professor, etc. played a part in my relationship to melody.  In truth, I cannot understand anyone who doesn't love music at some level.  I have known a few who were not overly impressed.  In fact, my ex mother-in-law did not like any music of any kind.  She said it made her nervous.  Odd.

Shakespeare said:

The man that hath no music within himself
nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
the notions of his spirit are as dull as night
and his affections dark as Erebus:
let no such man be trusted.

...and Saint-Saëns said:

There is nothing more difficult than talking about music.

...and finally, Hunter S. Thompson said:

The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.

Well, thankfully, I am not in the music business, although my son is, and he can testify to the above Thompson quote.

At any rate, I am having a moment, somewhere between Mozart and Diana Krall...I am lost in the rapture of melody!

BACK ON THE ALKALINE TRAIL

This is a continuum in my life... back on the Alkaline trail.  This is an excellent article by a guy that understands the blood.

OUR BODIES WERE DESIGNED TO BE HEALTHY, slender and energetic. We were intended to have smooth, supple skin and a quick, alert mind. Instead we are overweight - tired and sluggish. WHY?

The New Biology™

Dr. Robert O. Young's New Biology™, most simply stated, is that the over-acidification of the body is the single underlying cause of all disease.

In contrast, the old biology, based on the work of Louis Pasteur in the late 1800s, stems from the idea that disease comes from germs which invade the body from the outside. Dr. Young has found that when the body is in healthy alkaline balance, germs are unable to get a foothold.

Think of your body as a fish tank.
Think of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the internal fluids of the body that we "swim" in daily.

Imagine the fish in this tank are your cells and organ systems bathed in fluids, which transport food and remove wastes. Now imagine we back up a car and put the tailpipe up against the air intake filter that supplies the oxygen for the water in the tank. The water becomes filled with carbon monoxide, lowering the alkaline pH, creating and acidic pH environment, and threatening the health of the "fish," your cells and organs.

What if we throw in too much food or the wrong kind of food (acid-producing food like dairy, sugar, and animal protein) and the fish are unable to consume or digest it all, and it starts to decompose and putrefy? Toxic acid waste and chemicals build up as the food breaks down, creating more acidic byproducts, altering the optimum alkaline pH.

Basically, this is a small example of what we may be doing to our internal fluids every day. We are fouling them with pollution, smoking, drugs, excessive intake of food, over-consumption of acid-forming foods, and any number of transgressions which compromise the delicate balance of our internal alkaline fluids.

Some of us have fish tanks (bodies) that are barely able to support life, yet we somehow manage to struggle from day to day, building more sever imbalances until there is the inevitable crash and debilitating chronic, disturbing and disorganizing symptoms to deal with.

The pH level (the acid-alkaline measurement) of our internal fluids affects every cell in our bodies. Extended acid imbalances of any kind are not well tolerated by the body. Indeed, the entire metabolic process depends on a balanced internal alkaline environment. A chronically over-acidic pH corrodes body tissue, slowly eating into the 60,000 miles of veins and arteries like acid eating into marble. If left unchecked, it will interrupt all cellular activities and functions, from the beating of your heart to the neural firing of your brain. In summary, over-acidification interferes with life itself leading to all sickness and disease!

How do you know if you're overly acidic?

Fat is an Acid Problem!

Perhaps one of Dr. Young's most well known discoveries is his theory of the cause of overweight. He has shown that fat is actually an over-acidification problem. What does that mean? The body creates fat cells to carry acids away from your vital organs, so these acids literally don't choke your organs to death. Fat is saving your life! Fat is actually a response from the body to an alarming over-acidic condition.The solution? Alkalize and Exercise™ beginning with organic greens products that are loaded with chlorophyll like Doc Broc Power Plants and purified, Ionized Water from one of the systems we sell such as our Jupiter Melody Water Ionizer.

What about Underweight?

At the other end of the health spectrum, the yeast and fungus produced within an overly acidic body can feed on your nutrients and reduce the chemical and mechanical absorption of everything you eat by as much as 50%. This causes many people to become excessively thin, which is no healthier than becoming overweight. Without protein, your body cannot rebuild new tissues or produce enzymes, hormones, or hundreds of other chemical components necessary for cell energy and organ activity. Fatigue, illness, and body weight changes are the results. An underweight person may loose a little more weight as their body chemistry stabilizes. As their body normalizes, they will begin to gain towards their ideal weight. Healthy bodies are not overweight or underweight. A healthy body naturally maintains its own ideal weight. You can begin to restore health, balance, and harmony to your body with ... Brand products (Dr. Young's Balance Pack). As alkalizing and oxygenation begins to take place, the body naturally begins to seek its own ideal weight.

Allergies

The toxins produced within an overly acidic, oxygen deprived body may contribute significantly to what are often called the symptoms of allergy. In addition, the absorption of undigested proteins is a major cause of allergy conditions. The digestive system is weakened, which prevents the total breakdown of amino acids - often causing food allergies. This alone may produce a wide spectrum of severe allergic reactions. Alkalize and Exercise™ beginning with organic greens products that are loaded with chlorophyll like Doc Broc Power Plants and purified, Ionized Water from one of the systems we sell such as our Jupiter Melody Water Ionizer. These products introduce oxygenating and alkalizing elements into your body - helping to balance the conditions that may lead to hypersensitivities.

Fatigue

Fatigue is probably the major symptom or complaint of an overly acidic body. The toxins produced in an acidic body environment reduce the absorption of protein and minerals, which in turn weakens the body's ability to produce enzymes and hormones. This also interferes with the reconstruction of cells and other necessary components of energy production. The result is fatigue, poor endurance, an inability to add muscle tone, and general weakness. Alkalize and Exercise™ beginning with organic greens products that are loaded with chlorophyll like Doc Broc Power Plants and purified, Ionized Water from one of the systems we sell such as our Jupiter Melody Water Ionizer.

Doc Broc Power Plants is formulated to bring you vital nutrient elements and easily digested protein. This alkalizing, energizing, and nourishing formula begins oxygenating your body.
Alkaline Water
The most important thing you must learn is to hydrate the body with alkalizing water. Like the earth on which we live, our bodies are 70% water. Food cravings are often the body's cry for water. A thirst for water will begin as one begins to hydrate with water.

A diet high in acid foods such as meat, dairy grains, high sugar fruits and bread, causes acid wastes to build up in the body. When acid wastes enter our blood stream, the blood system will attempt to dispose of these wastes in liquid form through the lungs or the kidneys. If there are too many wastes to handle, they are deposited in various organ systems like the heart, pancreas, liver, colon, and other locations.

The breakdown of this disposal process of acid waste could also be called "the aging process". To slow down and reverse this process, one must begin by removing this over-acidification of the blood and tissues by including liberal amounts of alkaline water in the diet. Alkaline water has a pH between 9 and 11, and will neutralize harmful stored acid wastes and gently remove them from the tissues.

Are You Getting Enough Alkaline Foods in Your Diet?

'Your health depends on an alkaline environment, created by eating foods such as tomatoes, avocados and green vegetables...striking the optimum 80/20 balance and regulating your body's acid/alkaline chemistry through simple changes in diet can result in weight loss, increased stamina and strength,a stronger immune system and a greater sense of wellbeing.' Dr. Robert and Shelley Young

How did we become so out of balance?

After years of societal changes, millions of dollars of marketing spend and technological advances we, as a race, are now facing more dietary based health challenges than ever before. It is no coincidence that the rapidly growing numbers of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes correlate almost exactly with the rise in consumption of acid forming foods such as sugars, saturated fats, and white breads. At the same time our consumption of fresh vegetables and essential fatty acids has decreased dramatically, making way for convenience and a generation hooked on sugary treats.

Becoming Alkaline

This is not as difficult or as technical as it sounds. When we talk about eating alkaline foods or starting an alkaline diet we are referring to consuming those foods and drink which have an alkaline effect on the body. This effect is based upon the ash residue that remains after our foods are consumed. Some foods leave an acid ash, whereas others leave an alkaline ash. Conveniently for us, our bodies have been designed to categorize which foods leave which kind of ash into neat and easy to remember groups.

Of course, everybody is different - but most of us should aim to eat 75-80% alkaline foods and a maximum of 20-25% acid forming foods.

Today's Thoughts

Just when we "think" things could not get any worse in our lives, a suddenly moment happens, and we are confronted with another persons life sorrow that changes our perspective. Perhaps the old Jewish proverb holds true: "I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders."

Organizing Your Day

No matter what profession you're in, if you work from home it is imperative that you organize and prioritize every day for optimum and rewarding performance.  Here are a few hints that have helped me along the way. 

1. Start the night before: It’s a great idea to make a list of the things you need to accomplish the night before. Prioritizing your list is always a great idea, and when you wake up in the morning, you'll have a clear-cut guide detailing everything that must be done.

2. Beware of diversions: Distractions are a huge issue.  Anything from phone calls, to someone suddenly stopping by, or those sudden urges to Twit or Facebook your way into a social frenzy. Truthfully, unless you are “truly” using those networks to drive advertising, you should leave them alone during your workday.  You would be amazed at how much time is wasted away.  If you find that you constantly get off track, get a watch with a timer and set it so it goes off every 30 minutes. Every time it sounds, be sure you're working on what you originally said you would. If you're not, stop what you're doing and get back on schedule. Most distractions are not emergency situations.

3. Check it off. After finishing a project, cross it off your list.  It will give you a  sense of accomplishment, and help to keep you on track throughout the day.

4.  Schedule breaks:  There are reasons that mandatory lunch breaks and intermittent 10-15 minute breaks are a part of labor law.  Taking a lunch break and a couple of shorter breaks during the course of the day helps the mind to replenish itself.  Most of us have discovered that thinking can be tiring, even exhausting. As the primary source of energy in the human brain, glucose can be rapidly used up during mental activity, so making sure you take a couple of needed breaks is paramount.  Incidentally, research has shown that mental concentration actually drains glucose from a key part of the brain associated with memory and learning – underscoring just how crucial this blood sugar is for proper brain function.  So make sure you EAT!

5. Do a final check. At the end of the day, take a look at your list. If you were not able to finish everything, then move it to the beginning of your list for tomorrow. In the event that there were far too many things left undone, then either you got distracted and didn’t stay on track, or you had way too many things on your list to begin with, so you might want to re-think your list, and really focus on prioritizing.

REMEMBER, you only have 24 hours, and you should be using a third of those hours to sleep!

 Oil Flows Freely Again!

Just in from the Washington Post this morning...It seems the oil is flowing freely again! Evidently, the Deepwater Horizon well became an "uncapped geyser," according to the Washington Post.  With the cap gone, once again, the oil flows freely into the gulf.  


Naturally engineers frantically came on the scene to recap the well, BUT there is no idea when it will return to its previous level of performance... Just another reminder that THIS IS NOT WORKING!!!! 

GET THIS THING CONTAINED TODAY  IS THE MESSAGE OF THE HOUR!!!!

For further reading:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062302595_pf.html

 Are You Kidding Me?

After the horrendous tragedy that happened in the Gulf, and continues to spill oil out daily, BP is proclaiming liberty 3 miles off the coast of Alaska.  While Obama has managed to halt other projects, this one is forging ahead, since the project has already received "state" and "federal" funding.  

While there are a few other things that still need to be approved, if "all" goes as planned, the Liberty Project will begin in the fall.  “The whole process for approving Liberty was bizarre,” one of the federal scientists said.

The scientists and other critics say they are worried about a replay of the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico because the Liberty project involves a method of drilling called extended reach that experts say is more prone to the types of gas kicks that triggered the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon.

(As well they should be worried!  This should NOT be happening)

“It makes no sense,” said Rebecca Noblin, the Alaska director for the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental watchdog group. “BP pushes the envelope in the gulf and ends up causing the moratorium. And now in the Arctic they are forging ahead again with untested technology, and as a result they’re the only ones left being allowed to drill there.”

BP has defended the project in its proposal, saying it is safe and environmentally friendly. It declined to respond to requests for further comment (oh gee, how odd...).

BP officials say that by accessing the Liberty oil field from far away, the project reduces the chance of impacting the North Shore area.  

But there's still a chance.  Why mess with this? 

They need to fix what they've done in the GULF and NOW!

The Liberty field lies about five miles from land under the shallow waters of the Beaufort Sea in an area populated during the winter by seals and polar bears and covered by thick floating ice.

However, according to the NY Times (article below), this type of drilling is riskier and more complicated than "traditional" drilling.  

Let's look at the highlights:

• Risker and more complicated
• Relatively new (uncertain)
• Gas leaks are more frequent and harder to detect
• More powerful machinery required for this type of drilling
• More pressure on pipes and casings
• Islands are so small, that if a leak occurs, it will RAPIDLY spill over into surrounding waters

ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY IS THIS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED?

 Further Reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/24rig.html?WT.mc_id=US-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-TMO-062410-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Oil in the Gulf, two months later 

This incident will change the face of our existence forever. We will suffer the effects of this travesty for generations. We have been rolling the dice for years, options for oil alternatives have been around for years and have been oppressed by big business and bigger wallets.  This is a HORRIBLE travesty, and this LEAK MUST BE STOPPED NOW...

62 days have passed since the initial explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and the crude oil and natural gas continue to gush from the seafloor. Re-revised estimates now place the flow rate at up to 60,000 barrels a day – a figure just shy of a worst-case estimate of 100,000 barrels a day made by BP in an internal document recently released by a congressional panel. Louisiana’s state treasurer has estimated environmental and economic damages from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could range from $40 billion to $100 billion. Collected here are recent photographs from the Gulf of Mexico, and of those affected by the continued flow of oil and gas into the ocean.

Click here for photos:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/oil_in_the_gulf_two_months_lat.html

Please watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAR_yuCi6WE

Continued reading:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-52784-Atlanta-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m6d16-What-Obama-should-have-said-about-the-oil-spill

The Mean Reds

“You know those days when you’ve got the mean reds … the blues are because you’re getting fat or maybe it’s been raining too long. You’re sad, that’s all. But the mean reds are horrible. You’re afraid and you sweat like hell, but you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Except something bad is going to happen, only you don’t know what it is.”

— Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1958

I was speaking with a friend today about the many factors surrounding homelessness, and even more specifically the varied issues and lack of support that single women over 50 face, who for whatever reason find themselves either turned out, divorced, jobless, moneyless, or horrendously compromised.  When I say lack of support, that is precisely what I mean. 

It is so easy to assume that a person in this kind of situation will be taken care of by the government. This is not always the case. I know of a woman who has not been able to find work in over 2 years, and she receives $400 a month from Social Security.  When she finally decided to actually apply for welfare assistance, she was staggered to find out that she earns too much income! She faced the harsh reality is that welfare is primarily set up for struggling mothers who have children in the home.  This was also to include all facets of welfare assistance and food stamps. 

A recent report in SexualHealth.com says, "Homeless women in America have experienced a steady decline in mental, physical and financial health over the past decade, a new report finds.  In addition, the report showed,  "Women appeared to have had more acute and chronic mental health problems, significantly poorer overall health, and more limitations in physical functioning. They also reported more limitations in their social abilities due to their physical or emotional health problems, the study said.  Past studies have shown that homeless mothers with depression are unlikely to receive mental health services, and untreated depression can harm the development and well-being of both the mothers and their children."

Here's another mind-blower... It is actually illegal for a restaurant or business establishment to give the homeless food. This same friend and I when discussing homelessness told me that she tried to feed a homeless man pizza, and the minute she did, a policeman pulled up and warned her that it is illegal, and told her he would have to issue her a ticket if she continued.  These poor people often eat out of trash bins, or pick up scraps on the streets.  How can there possibly be an ordinance against helping someone out with something to eat?  It's outrageous! 

It is doubtful that anyone wakes up one morning with the desire to become homeless. The reasons that anyone ends up turned out are numerous and often complicated, but it is certain that these kind of stories are endless. There are scores of women who once lived respectable lives, who did not plan for life to take such a downbeat turn — a turn that has undoubtedly increased with our stormy economy.

Further Reading:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/17/96074/report-nations-economic-collapse.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/11/homeless.blogger/index.html
http://reg.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/43206-blanket-of-stars-offers-different-look-at-homeless-women.html
http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/87_years_old_and_homeless_for_the_first_time

With a continued commitment to living "green," and eating healthy, I decided to make a wonderful vegan cream of broccoli soup!

Today's Lunch Menu:
Cream of broccoli soup with avacado
Falafel with roasted garlic hummus
Steamed artichoke

Here is the cream of broccoli soup recipe that I used.  It's YUMMALICOUS!

CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP

Ingredients: (Use organic when possible)

2Tbsp. olive oil
1 white onion, diced
2 cups broccoli
1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil
4 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 can coconut milk
Sea salt to taste
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 tsp. Herbes de Provence (Spice Hunter)
2 1/2 cups diced avocado

Dice the onion and peel and chop the broccoli stems into small pieces.  Set the crowns aside.  In a soup pot, heat the oils on medium low and gently saute the onion and broccoli stems for approximately 5 minutes.  Add the vegetable broth and broccoli florets (chopped), the seasonings, and let simmer for 15 minutes on low.  Remove from heat, and let the soup cool.  Puree the soup, and pour it back into the pot, adding the coconut milk.  Heat.  Serve with diced avocado's on top. 





Bon appetite!

Sweet Reunion Between a Man and the Gorilla He Raised as a Baby

Sweet Reunion Between a Man and the Gorilla He Raised as a Baby

                              Classic Tofu Quiche (ACD-friendly)


Here is another blog that I discovered that has a lot of wonderful healthy recipe's, especially for those watching their diets, and avoiding candida-contributing foods.

Good, healthy food!


Enjoy!

These muffins are a great way to start the day with both some fruit and some vegetables.  They’re sweet, but not overly so; and you won’t taste the spinach at all.  (Promise).

2 small apples, about 6-6 1/2 ounces (170-185 g) each, washed and cored (I used Granny Smith)

3  ounces (85 g) fresh or frozen spinach (include the stems)

1/4 cup (60 ml) natural smooth almond butter

2 Tbsp (30 ml) sunflower or other light tasting oil, preferably organic

2 tsp (10 ml) chia seeds, finely ground after measuring

2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract

1 tsp (5 ml) pure almond extract

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) apple cider vinegar

1-1/3 cups (320 ml) unsweetened soy or almond milk, plus up to 2 Tbsp (30 ml) more, if necessary

1/2 cup (60 g) carob powder*

1/2 cup (75 g) brown rice flour

1/2 cup (60 g) millet flour

1/4 cup (30 g) arrowroot powder

2 tsp (10 ml) cinnamon

1 Tbsp (15 ml) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) baking soda

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) xanthan gum, optional (muffins will be slightly crumbly without it)

1/4 tsp (1 ml) fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 350F (180C).  Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners, or spray with nonstick spray.

Coarsely chop one of the apples and place it in the bowl of a food processor.  Dice the other apple into very small pieces (about the size of blueberries) and place in a small bowl; set the second apple aside until later.

Add the spinach to the food processor, and process the mixture until almost smooth. Add the almond butter, oil, chia, vanilla, almond extract, vinegar and milk and process again until well blended.  Add the reserved diced apple to the processor and mix it in by hand until all the pieces are coated, but don’t process again. Set aside while you measure the dry ingredients, or at least 3 minutes.

In a large bowl, sift together the carob powder, brown rice flour, millet flour, arrowroot powder, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, xanthan gum and salt.  Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir until just blended.

Using a large ice cream scoop or 1/3 cup (80 ml) measuring cup, scoop the batter into the muffin cups and bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through, until a tester inserted into a center muffin comes out clean.  Cool five minutes in the pan before removing to a cooling rack.  Cool completely before sampling; the spinach will be discernible in the warm muffins, but the taste disappears once they’re cool.  Store, wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator up to 4 days.  May be frozen.

* you may use cocoa instead of carob, but cut back the quantity a bit (perhaps 2 Tbsp/30 ml) and add a bit more sweetener.

Last Year at this Time: Old Habits Die Hard: Mocha Cereal Cinnamon Muffins (non-ACD recipe)

Two Years Ago: Dolmades, Deconstructed (Mediterranean Rice Casserole)

© 2010 Diet, Dessert and Dogs

The Garden of Eatin’ Tostada

(Vegetarian)

Ingredients:
(Use only organic ingredients if possible)

1 white onion (thinly sliced)
1 orange bell pepper (thinly sliced)
1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced)
2 crushed garlic cloves
1 large sprig fresh cilantro (stemmed and chopped)
Homemade salsa (recipe below)
1 avocado, sliced avocado (sliced)
1 large ripe tomato (diced)
1 large yellow tomato (diced)
1 bunch chard (sliced)
½ cup red or green cabbage (finely shredded)
1 teff and millet tortilla shell
Celtic sea salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
(Pre-cut all veggies, and prepare salmon in advance)

In a wok, blanch onion, bell pepper in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil. Add garlic and chard, and turn off the heat, but keep on the burner, mixing thoroughly. Add salt and pepper and the cilantro. Leave this in the pan so it stays warm and set aside.

(Optional: If vegan, black beans work great instead)
1 med size piece of fresh salmon (wild caught preferred, and NOT farm raised)
2-3 tablespoons grape seed oil
½ cup low-fat coconut milk
½ cup spelt flour (for dusting)
1 lime (juice only)
Celtic sea salt and pepper to taste
Chili & Lime Spice blend (The Gourmet Collection)

Rinse the salmon, and cut it into 4 semi-narrow pieces, dusting them in a bowl with spelt flour. Take the grape seed oil and brown the salmon quickly, adding limejuice and coconut milk. Sprinkle fish with chili and lime spice blend, sea salt and pepper. When coconut has evaporated, remove from stove.

Heat up the teff and millet tortilla, and place on a dinner size plate. Heap the chard mixture, place the salmon, tomatoes and avocado’s on top. Put the homemade salsa all over the top and serve.

Homeade Salsa:
(Put in a blender)
2 tomatoes
1 Serrano pepper
1/2 Habanaro pepper (this is very hot)
1 lime (juice only)
Dash of Sea salt
Sprig of fresh cilantro
Blend and eat!

Bon Appetite!
(Serves 4)

Additional Information:

Teff is an intriguing grain, ancient, minute in size, and packed with nutrition, and can serve as a wheat alternative. Teff is believed to have originated in Ethiopia between 4000 and 1000 BC. Teff seeds were discovered in a pyramid thought to date back to 3359 BC.

Copyright2010©Iacovetti-Gleason

It's foggy, and a bit chilly here on the coast in California, so I thought I would make a wonderful veggie soup!  
 

Scrap Soup

(If possible, use all organic ingredients)
3 large carrots
1/2 large fennel bulb chopped
4 stalks of asparagus
1 large yellow onion
1 large ripe tomato
6 cups of distilled water
2 tblsp organic extra virgin olive oil
4 tsps. of instant vegetable broth (yeast free)
Dash of cayenne pepper
Celtic Sea salt to taste
2 tsp. Herbs de Provence

Directions: Shred or dice carrots, dice fennel, asparagus, tomato and the onion. Bring water to boil, adding vegetable broth & onion. Once boiling turn off and leave set in pot. Add your shredded carrots, fennel, tomato, and asparagus and leave set in pot until vegetables are tender.

(The idea is to NOT cook this very long so you get the full nutritional value from the vegetables.)

Once the soup mix has cooled put in blender and mix all ingredients.
Serve warm.  IT'S DELICIOUS!!!

P.S.  Dice up some ripe avocado and put it on the top!!!  Magnifique!

Bon Appetite!

How To Avoid Writer's Bulge

One of the down-sides of writing is the fact that you are sitting at your desk for hours on end, and often times, the only exercise you get is leaning over to grab something you’ve printed out, or tapping your right and/or left hand while waiting for inspiration to come.  Of course there are the usual potty breaks, tea or coffee time moments, and meal times, but apart from that–you are tied down like a pilot in a cockpit for hours on end.

Everyone who is in this profession, or at least ruled by the passion to write knows precisely what I am talking about.  It’s that sedentary lifestyle that is unavoidable.  Sitting at your desk all day can make your ass as wide as Texas, so the trick is to get out of the saddle as frequently as possible.

It’s not surprising that the medical community is becoming increasingly concerned about what sitting for extended periods of time does to the body.  Prolonged sitting promotes a lack of whole-body muscle movement, which the researchers claim is the true definition of sedentary behavior. Research indicates that the body starts to slow down in as little as 30 minutes and that sitting for long periods, decreases our metabolism, shuts off our fat burning enzymes (OH NO), and can even lead to clogged arteries and heart disease.  In fact, some researches say that sitting on your butt all day can be as bad for your health as smoking!

So, if you didn’t have motivation to get your butt moving, now you do! There of course is light at the end of this tunnel.  Just getting up every hour and stretching, or moving across the floor will take you out of the danger zone.  That doesn’t mean you have to pirouette across the floor like Mikhail Baryshnikov!  Au contrair…

Here are three sure-fire moves to keep your blood flowing and your butt cheeks from bulging. You can do them anytime, anywhere including right near your desk or while you’re on the phone. Okay, let’s go!

Good Mornings
Even though you are still dragging from a night of creative insomnia, you need to start upright, feet shoulder-width distance apart, hands behind your head. Keeping your core engaged, hinge at the waist keeping your back flat. 15-20 reps (no, you cannot sit down yet!)

BREATHE!

Hip Extensions
That's right, we're still standing.  Perhaps you should turn away from your desk, and avoid looking at the hours upon hours of work you still have to accomplish, knowing time is of the essence. Stand, with both hips facing forward. Resist the urge to turn. Put one hand on a wall or chair for balance. Put your brain in your butt cheek as you lift right leg back – heel first. Extend as far as you can without turning your hips. Repeat with left leg. 15-20 reps (no, it's not time for a coffee break yet).


COMMON BREATHE!

Plie Squats
This is where it would be helpful to have Baryshnikov's flexibility... you shouldn't have quit ballet classes, back in the day.  So, start with your feet wider than shoulder-width distance apart and turn your toes out (oops!  Try not to topple over).  Keeping your weight in your heels and your knees turned out, squat down and then up. That's right, down and up. Repeat, and turn it up a notch by lifting your butt cheeks us as you squat. 15-20 reps (are you sweating yet?).

YOU REALLY HAVE TO BREATHE, OR YOU'LL TURN BLUE!

While sitting in your saddle, try to take exercise breaks every hour. I realize this can be a real challenge for your creative flow, but unless you want to risk having an ass the size of Texas, and/or slowing down your metabolism to a glacier pace, these suggestions are a helpful way to avoid writer’s bulge!

( I used to fit at my desk, but not any longer.  Thank God I have a laptop!)