Friday, June 27, 2008

Haiku Friday

fish

muggy, rainy day
went fishing in pouring rain
with twenty children

haven't fished in years
hooks were flying everywhere!
but no one was hurt : )

except the poor fish
an awful surprise for them
a hook, not a worm

we caught and released
we pierced gooey, yucky worms
ewww, ewww, ewww, ewww, ewww

rain finally stopped
all finally caught a fish
smiles for everyone

Haiku Friday

For more Haikus click HERE!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Haiku Friday

Haiku Friday


what does it take for
a family to stay strong?
love is not enough

nor is flesh and blood
pride, stubbornness, ego, trust
they get in the way

Is the loss worth it?
yes, say some; no, say others
where will the cards fall

the question remains
what happens when anger fades?
scars are left behind

very troublesome
which way will the wind blow now
only time will tell

For more Haikus click HERE

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I looooooove shoes

I figure if I wore these with the right white t-shirt & black pants I would look very athletic, don'cha think? I've also got a lot of really cool ball caps that would look great with these. Besides shoes, ball caps are my biggest accessory.

I love these Donald Pliner sandals but can't decide which color. Any thoughts? Either would go with my wardrobe which consists of black, white, brown, khaki and the occasional blue.They are a little pricey but money well spent.
Don't these look comfy? Love the colors and either would go with my standard uniform.


Btw, did I mention I have a birthday coming up? I'm 37 and fabulous

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Oh yeah, baby, I had . . .

fun



I went to an indoor water park on Saturday with my two boys. Usually, this is the type of thing they do with their father while I stay home with Lucy and do 2yr old activites. But this Saturday Chad was beat, it was supposed to rain all day and I was ready to get the hell out of dodge. The boys were a little wary as they think Daddy is sooooo much more fun than I am. I was ready to prove the little ingrates wrong. The three of us set out on the 2hr drive not knowing if it would be worth it or not.

I never really did things like this as a child so it was all new to me. We ALL had a blast! I was finally able to forget about my daily duties and responsibilities and just ENJOY! I rode in 2 person tubes with the boys down pitch black water slides, screaming at every drop. Halfway through the day I was going down water slides. all. by. myself. I was actually having pure fun by myself and not just for my children. It may sound odd to most but I have never really done that, even before children.

I'm even thinking about making my mom go when she comes to visit next month : )

Thursday, June 12, 2008

13 Reasons to be a Vegan

header

Here are thirteen reasons that have compelled me to give veganism a try.

1. Because every package of chicken contains a little poop. Yes, POOP.
A USDA study found that 98 percent of broiler chicken
carcasses had detectable levels of E. coli, indicating fecal
contamination.

2. Because grain used to feed animals could be used to feed hungry people.
Eighty percent of U.S. agricultural land is used to raise chickens, pigs,
and other farmed animals; seventy percent of grains are used to feed
them. If the massive quantities of grain, soy, and corn now fed to
factory-farmed animals were freed up, there would be plenty of food
for the world’s starving people.

3. Because when animals feel pain, they scream too.
If you burn them, they feel it. If you give them electric shocks, they feel
it. Animals feel pain in the same way and to the same degree that we
humans do.

4. Because more than half the water used in the U.S. is used to raise animals for food.
A totally vegetarian diet requires 300 gallons of water per day, while a
meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day.
Time magazine reports, “Around the world, as more water is diverted
to raising [cattle], pigs, and chickens, instead of producing crops for
direct consumption, millions of wells are going dry.”

5. Because you wouldn't eat your dog.
Most people are horrified that some cultures eat dogs or
whales, but these animals suffer no more than animals
commonly consumed in the U.S. The difference is only cultural,
not moral.

6. Because no one should have to kill for a living.

Slaughterhouse workers have among the highest rates of
injury and illness in the country, and working in a
slaughterhouse would dull anyone’s sense of compassion.

7. Because this is not what wings are for.
Chickens, pigs, and other farmed animals never get to breathe
fresh air, feel the sun on their backs, build a nest, nuzzle their
young, or do anything at all that they were born to do.

8. Because eating fish does not make you a vegetarian.
Fish have the same ability to respond to pain that birds and
mammals have and are also interesting individuals in their own
right. According to a review of the science published in Fish and
Fisheries, fish are “highly intelligent”—they have long-term
memories and learn from one another, use tools, form social
hierarchies, and “can even be favourably compared to nonhuman
primates.” Explains marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, fish
are “so good-natured, so curious. You know, fish are sensitive,
they have personalities, they hurt when they’re wounded.”

9. Because they feel fear.
Their hair stands on end, they urinate on themselves, and they shake,
just as we do when frightened out of our minds with the prospect of
being hurt or killed.

10. Because no matter how you slice it, it's still flesh.
Other animals are made of flesh, bone, and blood, just as we are, so
“meat” is just a euphemism for a decomposing corpse used as food.

11. Because even prisons aren't this crowded.
Animals on factory farms are crammed into so little space that many
of them are unable to do anything natural to them for their entire lives.

12. Because no living creature wants to see her family slaughtered.
Cows love their calves, sows love their piglets, and chickens
love their chicks. Farmed animals love their families and
mourn their loss.

13. Because you shouldn't have to lie to your children about the food you eat.
Children would be horrified to learn about the cruelty and
violence involved in turning chickens, pigs, and other animals
into nuggets and other “foods.”

These reasons are all from Goveg.com.

For more Thursday Thirteens go HERE

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

What am I Thankful for Today?

XBOX Wife Ten Things Tuesday

Today I am thankful for . . . .

1. 84 degrees instead of 92 degrees

2. air conditioning

3. sunscreen

4. the best friends and neighbors

5. smart, healthy kids

6. a fabulous hair stylist/colorist

7. guacamole

8. the world wide web ~ what did I do before this? Oh, yeah, I read books.

9. my wonderful husband

10. air conditioning; did I say that already?

See more thankful posts HERE

Monday, June 9, 2008

Another Vegan Revelation

ME FRESH

I'm not sure, but I think I stink less! Yes, that's what I said. I stink less. I've always been one of those people that needs to wear deodorant . . . all the time. It's not like the person standing next to me is offended or anything but by the end of a hot day, like today, I need a shower and a fresh coat of Secret Clinical.

From the moment I wake I feel like I'm sweating. This morning I realized I hadn't put deodorant on yet and also realized that I didn't stink yet! I still put some on. I'm not going to be one of those vegetarians. It's now the end of a hot, sweaty day and, although not odor-free, I still smell pretty good! Interesting. And really gross if you think about it. Was all that dead animal flesh I've been eating all my life seeping through my sweat glands and making me stink. Ewwwwwww.

I know this doesn't hold true for everyone. If there's a meat platter on the menu, my husband orders it. He has virtually no body odor. Ever. It's weird. And nice.

Now, the gas I'm passing is a whole other story that I won't go into. I just can't catch a break.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Haiku Friday








It is hot today
So hot my bones are sweating
Yes, I feel my bones

Am grateful for sun
But hate the sun all the same
Will try to love it

The bright flowers wilt
My spirit seems to wilt too
It is all ego

Go beyond feeling
Access the stillness, it's there
The stillness is true

For more Haiku Fridays click here

Seven Levels of Veganism

Vegan

I recently purchased a vegan cookbook, was flipping through it and saw a recipe that stated once I prepared and ate it I could classify myself as a 'Level 7 Vegan'. What the f*ck?! There are levels?? I've already given up all the animal products I've ever eaten. What the hell else do I have to do?

So I googled it and this is what I found. Apparently there was a reference to a 'Level 5 Vegan' on a Simpson's episode so it's kind of a joke. Ha Ha. Those funny, self-righteous vegetarians. Just kidding, of course.

This is just one random person's very non-official description of the levels.

Vegan Level One:
Doesn't ask if there is chicken stock in the rice, doesn't ask if there is lard in the beans.

Vegan Level Two:
Occasionally buys milk chocolate products. Doesn't worry about how the wine they drink is clarified.

Vegan Level Three:
Only eats milk chocolate if someone else bought it. Eats doughnuts at work if someone else brought them in. Eats their roommate's ice cream. Also known as a Freegan.

Vegan Level Four:
Still wears the old leather and wool products they had before they went vegan, but feels guilty about it.

Vegan Level Five:
Stopped using their car because of the animal products in tires, the animal testing of vehicles, the animal products in the pavement.

Vegan Level Five point one:
Stopped riding with friends to the movie theater because of the above and the fact that film is processed with animal gelatin.

Vegan Level Six :
Has given up all products that involve animals in any way. Hires someone to sweep the path ahead of them as they walk so they don't tread on insects.

Vegan Level Seven:
Similar to a Jain. Wears a mask to keep from breathing in small critters. Uses a mild vegan soap that doesn't kill microbes, it just floats them away. Washes their raw organic produce outside with bottled water so that any little beasts will return to the earth rather than going down the sink. Realizes that having someone sweep ahead of them hurts the insects and so doesn't move around much anymore.

This was this person's disclaimer:

(Actually, the above list is just a fanciful fabrication. We shouldn't feel guilty if we have a weakness for an occasional non-vegan chocolate or whatever. Animal ingredients are so pervasive in our society that it is nearly impossible to avoid them all. More important than being a "pure" vegan is to keep compassion for all animals as an important goal and to live our lives so as to be examples for others.)

I agree with the above statement (not necessarily with the levels) and without knowing about any 'levels' I have read every label and put down or thrown out anything that contained milk or eggs, milk chocolate or otherwise.

I've been wondering how long I have to eat this way before I can call myself a 'vegan'? I have to admit there is a part of my Ego that will enjoy telling people that "I am a Vegan". Oooohhhhhh. You're a what?! That being said, I feel very committed to this lifestyle and from a much different place than I have ever been before. It's not just all about my ego this time. Some, but not all.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

First Day of Summer Break

summer

I think I'm done writing about my Quantum Cleanse. I am going to continue with being a vegan eater. I'm going to do the other stuff in moderation. I'm going to work on the other aspects of quantum wellness like meditation, self-work, etc.

On another note, what the hell am I going to do with these kids all summer?! I am usually good about signing them up for camps already but so far I've got nothin'. I'm going to check on some today. . . . .

It's going to be 90+ here tomorrow. We only have window air. Motherfucker. That's all I have to say about that.
Sweaty Hot

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Did You Have Fun Today?

fun
I don't feel like I have that much fun in my daily life and I'm coming to realize, at the age of almost 37, that it's really important to have that FUN. Part of the problem might be that I don't remember having a whole lot of fun as a child. Most of my memories are of being sad, depressed and anxious. I'm sure I had some fun; It's just not the dominant memory. I witness my kids having fun all the time, often to my annoyance. "Calm down!", "Go outside!", "What's wrong with you?!" I often scream say.

My intention is to have some fun. Every day.

Today, as part of that intention, I stopped cleaning, folding laundry and surfing the net and found my 2 yr old daughter on the trampoline all by herself. It's quite impressive that she got up there all on her own. I joined her and jumped, layed on my back and belly at her instruction, looked at the beautiful trees and sky and it was fun.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Day 10 of Quantum Cleanse

vegetables
I'm not sure if I should continue to call this the Quantum Cleanse. It feels more like 'Day 10 in the Life of a Virgin Vegan'. Veganism is the one thing I feel really committed to right now which is huge for me, in and of itself. Although, I have given up caffeine, unless you count decaf coffee which apparently still has a little. I have given up the big wheat items like bread and crackers but if a vegan item, like a veggie burger, contains wheat then I eat it. SO MANY things have wheat in them; you would be surprised. I have been pretty good about the sugar although I have definitely not omitted it entirely. I've pretty much eliminated artificial sweeteners. I have not given up wine. Overall, I'm definitely cleaning up my act.

How do I feel? I feel best about the vegan thing but more in a mental and spiritual way. Physically, I feel good because I've lost a couple of lbs but I would probably feel the same if I had lost it another healthy way. My skin looks a lot better which I attribute to the vegan lifestyle. I am sure the effects of a vegan lifestyle will have even more/better long term effects as time goes on.


What is the hardest part? I think it's just breaking old habits. The way I miss caffeine is more about my habits and ego than anything. I feel just as awake in the morning drinking decaf but I feel like a dork ordering decaf at Starbucks. I miss my afternoon diet coke, not because of the pick-me-up but because I love diet coke and chocolate together. I have to admit I had about 4 sips of a diet coke this afternoon with a choc/pnut butter protein bar. The Cliff Builder's Bar happened to be one of my favorites even before I started paying attention to vegan ingredients.

Even though I have never big a big sandwich eater I have been craving sandwiches lately. Soft wheat bread with anything in between. I'm more than happy to fill it with vegan mayo, vegan ham and vegan cheese (which is really hard to find btw). I haven't broken down yet but maybe soon. Oh, and pbj sounds sooooo good. It's just not the same on a rice cake.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Day 9 of Quantum Cleanse

Tempeh

So, yesterday I woke up all cranky and thinking that eating this way sucked. I wanted to pig out on something. My normal vices weren't available but I wasn't ready to give up yet. I was reminded about what I read about 'feeling the feeling' instead of self-medicating with food. Whatever. I had a spoonful of peanut butter. I went to Whole Foods and had a vegan oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie. Deeelightful. Satisfying. A little wheat, a little sugar, no one harmed.

Today I went to Qdoba and had a naked (w/o taco shell) vegetarian taco salad. no dressing. black bean corn salsa. grilled veggies and pico. guacmole. no cheese or sour cream. baked corn chips. I had some vegan sour cream I was going to try but I was too hungry and scarfed the salad as soon as I walked in the door.

For dinner I tried something new. Tempeh. It's a soybean cake. I bought one that had added carrots, red and green peppers. I sauteed it with olive oil, garlic, onion, portobello mushrooms,fresh green beans and teriyaki sauce. It wasn't bad at all. The texture of the tempeh was not what I am used to but it was good. Plus, I was comforted by the fact that is wasn't animal flesh.

Oprah had her vegan chef fed-ex food to her in Vegas. What a pussy. Just kidding. You know I love ya Oprah.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Day 8 of Quantum Cleanse



Our task must be to free ourselves . . . by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. . . . . Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.

~Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel Prize 1921