John Philip Souza and The Town Dump

Today, I had to make a trip to the Town Dump. In my town, there is no public trash service. If you want your trash picked-up, you have to pay a private company to do it. Or, you can buy a sticker @ the Recycling Center (this sounds better than Town Dump!) for $100.00 a year and cart your own trash and recycling to them. This is what I opt for and so each week, I pile all my trash into the car and make the trip to the dump site. Today was an exceptionally warm November day; it is supposed to get close to 70 degrees. This type of temperature does not do any favors for week-old trash. After I finished piling everything into the car, I got inside and quickly rolled down the windows. The smell of it all is just appalling; I mean beyond words. Fortunately, it is a short trip.

I pull into the dump and give a hello to the guy sitting in the booth; he checks to make sure I have the proper sticker on my bumper and waves me through. I always think about that guy's job. I mean, consider this: he sits inside a small booth all day long and waves people through with their trash, no questions asked. The only reason you would be stopped is if you didn't have the appropriate sticker on your car and then you would have to pay a $15.00 fee. I suppose anyone could drive in with anything in their car and throw it away. Wow...I have seen too many Law & Orders to start thinking about that!

The dump itself is sort of a dump. There is a shabby butler-type building with rusty holes in the ceiling and all kinds of frightening looking, greasy stains on the cement floor. It is open on two sides: one side for people to walk in and the other side for the dumpsters to be moved in and out. There are always flocks of seagulls there, hanging around and waiting for any sort of thing they might consider eating. Pretty amazing to think how they have gone from open waters to garbage dumps....I guess that would be considered evolution.

I actually think that it is a good idea to take my own trash to the dump. I certainly think about what I am doing every time I go. I take my bags of trash and toss them over the side into the enormous, dirty containers with everyone else's garbage, and say to myself: What is going to happen to all of this? Where does it go? When you stand in front of an enormous bin the size of the bed on an 18-wheeler full of who-knows-how-many-pounds-of-garbage, it can give you pause if you let it. Especially if you are there on a day when they are moving out a full dumpster and bringing in an empty one for all the new trash. The best day to go to the dump to really get yourself thinking about this is December 26th. That is a perfect day to witness what a throw-away society we are. Think about that this year when you are buying wrapping paper....

So anyway, today I got out of the car and opened up the back end. As I began to unload, I heard a very loud rendition of John Philip Souza's march, The Stars and Stripes Forever. You know the song I mean; they play it at all things patriotic. And I mean LOUD, just plain blasting out of a tinny little radio coming from the booth inside the dump. Now this booth is where the guy usually sits who manages the people as they dump their trash into the bins. When he is not sitting in there, he walks around checking out what you have thrown away; makes sure the newspaper doesn't get thrown into the magazine dumpster and that sort of thing. Sometimes, I try to leave things on the side of the dumpster, hoping someone will take it home. You know, something-that-is-still-useful-that-I-feel-terrible-throwing-out-but-don't-know-what-else-to-do-with. Usually when I do this, this man swoops down--sort of like the seagulls--and tosses it into the bin before I get back from my car again with my next bunch of trash. Anyway, today he was marching around and singing this song: da-da-dadada, dadadaaa.....da-da-da-da-da-da da-da-daaaa-da....you know the song?  He is kind of a short man, non-descript and marching--knees up and arms swinging--in a crisp, fresh sort of way. A pleasant smile on his face. He doesn't make eye contact with anyone, just makes his way through his rounds, picking up trash and keeping a general good order to everything in a brisk, efficient manner.

I try not to stare. I want to watch and take a picture and laugh and ask him why....why is he playing this music? I mean it would have been totally different if he had been playing Led Zeppelin or Earth, Wind and Fire; that would have just seemed like background music. But it wasn't that; it was a patriotic marching song. It was loud and clear and he was marching and singing along to it! And then I thought, well why not? I mean, here I am writing a blog post about it, for goodness sake. I am trying not to laugh out loud thinking about it as I write this inside the hushed library. And so again I will just say, Why Not?!

Expect good things....

Breath-taking November Beauty....

"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."

Albert Einstein

Yesterday I pulled into my driveway. The gravel and dried leaves crunched under my tires. My radio was playing a classic-rock song by Queen. As Freddy Mercury crooned on, my eye caught movement in the backyard. I turned down the radio and shut off the ignition. There, nearly camouflaged by the autumnal colors, stood a male deer with a sizable rack on his head. He stood as still as a stone. I watched him through the windshield of the car; he was unmoving. I gathered up my belongings and quietly opened the door. I gingerly walked across the gravel until I reached the first stone of the walkway to the house and stopped. It was fairly quiet. I heard a distant car on the road a short distance away. There was a lone crow cawing across the yard and the breathing of this silent, strong buck.

We looked at each other; there was something so direct and still and steady in his gaze.
I said out loud: "You take good care. You are welcome and safe in this yard. You are beautiful."
It was a sweet moment---that steady, unmoving gaze watching me.
I took a breath and went inside the house.

In reference to Mr. Einstein's quote, here is a video that is so beautiful, I can barely think of
words to describe it; you have to watch it HERE.  It is a murmuration which is the proper name
for a flock of starlings. The event itself is a phenomenon which I have witnessed, 
but never to this extent.
Beyond that though, is the sheer joy and absolute awe of the two film- makers.
Watch it and pass it on....life is good!

Expect good things.....

A Long Time Gone....

Sunflowers, August 2011

If you are trying to be a vital player in this internet-texting-social media world, what I have done over the past 5 months is definitely not recommended. It is not a good idea to start a blog, write it for a while, get a little better at it, have a few people interested-reading-commenting on it and then just plain-old stop writing it. That is not a good idea.  It goes into the "Don't try this at home" category.

I don't even want to bore you with all of the reasons why that happened. Just know that I was very, very busy with my life and felt I had very little to give to anything other than the daily needs of whatever job I was working, my family, my household--never did get the grass cut before the landlord came by--and my own well-being.

Old Tractor, July 2011

Life right now is really racing by. Things feel like they are happening really quickly. Ned is a senior in high school and making his way towards the next chapter in his life....which will also be the next chapter in my life. There is much turmoil, unrest, and action happening in our country and around the world. I like the drive, the spunk, the energy in all of it.  I like the passion that people are feeling about what is happening to the world. I like being a part of the world. I think this is a good time to write about, document in photos and share with you. 

Rye Grass, July 2011

Expect good things.....

June 3, 2011

Rye Grass @ Balsam Farm, 6/2/11

I had an interesting experience this afternoon. I was headed over to Jim's and had to stop for gas (by the way--I saw gas for $4.79 for regular on North Main Street in East Hampton today!), so I pulled into Hess in Wainscott. This place has the cheapest gas in town, and so it is always busy. And today--this Friday afternoon in June--was no exception. Weekenders, landscapers, average folks like me.....all preoccupied with filling our tanks and moving on. I thought I would pay in cash, so I got out of the car and headed towards the cashier. About half-way to the register, I decided to use my debit card instead. So, I turned around and headed back towards the pump. I had to pass another car on the way. There was a woman standing there, and as I walked by she said: "Excuse me. Do you think you could help me out?" I asked her what she needed, and she said: "Can you help me with some gas? I don't have my wallet with me and I have to get back to Manhattan."

Two things happened to me in that moment. The first thing that happened was that I recognized that I was observing myself. And here is what I saw: I suddenly felt defensive and had thoughts like, "Do I look like a sucker? Do you think I am going to fall for a scam like this?" I realized I was shutting myself off from the conversation I was in with this woman. The second thing that happened was that I took a closer look at her. The main thing that I remember about her was that she looked real tired. In her face--I mean in her eyes--she looked tired. She was dressed nicely enough. She had on a wrinkled, denim sundress with a tee-shirt underneath. On her feet were black patent-leather-looking shoes that she was wearing like slippers. Her hair was pulled back into a windblown ponytail. I glanced into the car. There were two adults in the front seat--a man and an older woman. And there were two kids in the back seat. I quickly surmised that this woman was sitting in the back seat with them. It looked cramped and hot and I figured that was why her dress was wrinkled. And her face--she had a tiredness in her eyes that I could identify with.

I was fumbling with my wallet and had some cash out from my expected transaction with the cashier. I had a couple of $20's and a few singles. I found myself saying: "Well, I know it looks like I have a lot of money here, but I have to use it for other things. I can give you my singles." As soon as I said it, it felt like a really lame thing to say. I handed over the singles; she was extremely grateful and thanked me profusely. I turned and walked to my car and started filling up the tank. I saw her walk to the cashier.

I started to question myself and my reaction. I considered the situation: out of the 3 adults in the car, somehow she got nominated to solicit help for gas money. I thought, "What if I was in a situation like this? Would I be able to ask for help?" As I finished up, she got back to their car and began pumping gas. In other words, she went inside with the $8.00 I had given her and bought gas. I put my gas cap on and went back to speak to her. I asked her: "What are you going to do? How are you going to get home?" She told me that they would go as far as they could, and then stop to ask for help again. I went back to my car and took out a $20.00 bill and gave it to her. "Oh, thank you!" she said. "May you be blessed for your generosity."

I got in my car and drove away. I often feel tired from my life, and I feel broke a lot of the time. But I have work, and I have food, and I had money to put gas in my car today. I have my family and friends and my health. And I can only hope that I have the courage that this woman has. I hope I can ask for help when I need it. I may have been taken advantage of--maybe they were running a scam. But I am going to believe that they needed help, that she had the courage to ask for it, and that I gave it to them.


Expect good things....

Memorial Day Weekend

Irises @ EECO Farm, 5/29/11

Today was a perfect day. It really felt like a summer day, even though that day is still a few weeks off.  Where I live, Memorial Day is the "official start of summer".  Translation: the population of this tiny community explodes with people, cars, surf boards, long lines @ the restaurants, coffee shops and parking lots. The traffic will be completely nuts for the next 3 months, with lots of honking and crabby drivers everywhere....and I am glad because it is good for our economy. I am going to work really hard at not complaining about it all. We had a long cold winter and a longer wet spring....I am glad that it has stopped raining and the sun is out part of the time and that people are here to enjoy our beautiful part of the world.  Main Beach was named one of the Top 10 Beaches in America this week.

I got up and went out fairly early to visit two farms. They were both bursting with new growth. Everywhere I looked there were irises, daisies and other wonderful flowers. And then, the vegetables and herbs everywhere. At Balsam Farms in Amagansett, they are selling Radishes, Arugula, Zucchini, Asparagus and beautiful Lettuces. I love this sign on the Radishes. It says: We Grew It!  How much simpler can it get?

Balsam Farms Radishes, 5/29/11

In my travels today, I was looking for cilantro. I hoped to buy some fresh but I couldn't find any. I love a good Corn and Black Bean Salad with scallions, lots of cilantro, sun-dried tomatoes and a light dressing. I could have gone to the IGA and bought it, but as I was talking to Christie @
The Springs General Store (I am SO GLAD that she has the vegetable stand open there again), she asked me:  How about some basil instead? And so, I changed my thinking and made the salad with basil instead of cilantro. Now, this might not sound like a big deal, but what I did is purchased the local basil from Christie instead of buying the cilantro from a grocery store. Her hard work of growing those herbs for us (our community) was rewarded by my purchase. By the way, Ned loved the salad with the basil! And, while I was in there, I noticed these darling little nosegays in the refrigerator. How much better can something be? A bunch of fresh mint with a chive flower in the center. Put together by one of my favorite farmers, Paul Hamilton, I was thrilled to purchase it and put it on my kitchen window sill. It brings me great joy every time I look @ it.

Paul's Mint & Chive Nosegay, 5/29/11

And so it is Memorial Day weekend and we honor those who have died in wars. I continually hope that someday we won't be fighting in any wars.  It is also the weekend of the Indianapolis 500 which was run today. I am a native of Indiana, and the sound of those cars racing around the speedway is one of the most familiar and thrilling sounds I know. The older I get, the more I am moved by sounds and smells and sights from my childhood. It all seems like another lifetime ago. I miss my siblings and my cousins and my parents and grandparents. I probably wouldn't change most things about my life, but I do often feel that it is too bad that I live so far away from my family. And so, to cheer myself up on Indy Race Day, I made Deviled Eggs. I don't know why, but to me these are all about my childhood. You really can't beat the simple taste of this treat!

Deviled Eggs on 5/29/11

The end of a satisfying day full of friends, food and wonderful memories.

Expect good things....

On the Road, 5/11

LIE, 5/1/11, 6:20 a.m.

I hit the road @ 5:20 a.m.to make the drive to Pennsylvania. There is nothing I like better than that Interstate 80 West sign that tells me I am heading out to see my mom.

I-80 West, Pennsylvania

I love the road. I have had wanderlust for as long as I can remember. If you have never read
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, I highly recommend it. It is as pertinent and right on today as it was in 1960. I often wonder about why I have wanderlust. There is something about the unknown that I love. I am curious, eager to learn, interested in others and so I have this yearning to want to see more than just what is outside my front door. It's gotta be in my DNA.

Cheese and Peanut Butter Crackers, .79 cents

Do you remember these crazy orange crackers with peanut butter between them? I hadn't had these in years. I remember paying .15 for them in vending machines when I was a kid. I opened them up (I didn't torture myself by reading the ingredients!) and they smelled and tasted exactly the same. I was 11 years old, sweaty and hot in the back of the VW bus, driving with my family to Naples, Florida on summer vacation. I have read that the sense of smell is the strongest for bringing back memories....I believe it.

I-80, Pennsylvania

So I got to PA, and it was summer here! A few hundred miles west and the sun is out and it was 80 degrees. What a welcome relief from the long, dark, damp weather at home.

I-80, Pennsylvania

I want to report that we are in a beautiful country. It is big and interesting and there is something new around every bend. We must love it and take care of it....all of it: the people, the land, the ideas. I have been suggesting to people that they turn off the news and just read the headlines once a day. I really feel that watching and listening constantly to the news is discouraging. I mean, if you think about it, it is all bad news coming out of that talking box in your living room. When was the last good news story that you heard on t.v.? Concentrate on your local news. Here is some important local news that you can make a difference in: In New York, we vote next week on school budgets and school boards. This type of participation in your local government can make a big difference in the world--in your world.

And speaking of local, check out Real Time Farms. They are a great resource for local farmers and farmer's markets. Buy your food from your local farmers; join a CSA. Challenge yourself and see how much of your grocery bill you can switch from spending on industrialized  food to your local purveyors. This helps the economy in your community and I promise you will meet some really nice people at the farm stand or farmer's market.

Subscribe to or pick up an Edible publication. I have a story in the current issue of
Edible East End.  I interviewed farmers and gardeners last year on how they plan their gardens to ensure being able to make a favorite recipe at harvest time. Let me know what you think about it.

I just bought a bike rack and a basket to hang on it. I am going to ride my bike to work this summer and will now be able to bring groceries home from the farm stand when I am done working. The thought of this is bringing me great joy!

Expect good things.....

A Woman for Peace

Women for Peace, 1981

I hereby declare myself A Woman of Peace! I have been feeling I must say this out loud---or at least write about it here. Our country is currently involved in 3 wars...that is right, 3 wars.  Here is a site that will knock your socks off--The Cost of War.  Think about how interesting, motivating and productive our school districts would be if we were privy to some of the money being spent on these military conflicts. Think of the houses that could be renovated and the community gardens planted.  The walk-in clinics and food pantries we could open. The classes taught to kids so that they had something to do after school.....art, dance, music, photography, gardening...the list goes on and on.

What is it that leads us, over and over again, to this way of dealing with conflict situations? I think about this frequently. I try not to be obsessed with it, but I can't even put on the Dianne Rehm Show without hearing about the war. I love her show; I listen to it while I work. I know the first hour is always news, but lately, the second hour seems to be news....and none of it is good.

Here is a quote from one of my heros:

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than 

on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4, 1967

In my opinion, this says it all.

I have nothing original to say except that I will share two sites that might be helpful in your journey to peace, spiritual well-being, health and happiness for you, your family and friends.

The first site is part of The American Friends Service Committee.  Did you know that April 12th is the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS)?  This coincides with the release of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) new annual figures on world military expenditures.  The military spending in the United States far exceeds any other country, accounting for more than half of the $1.53 trillion dollars spent globally in 2009 alone. The AFSC website is full of wonderful stories and information on people and programs geared towards peace. Thank you to my good friend Gail--who is definitely A Woman of Peace--for reminding me about the valuable, productive work being done on behalf of peace-seekers.

The second site is one I have mentioned before, and am extremely proud of: Arms for Peace. This is a project started by my mom, Mary Watson. This is a real grassroots effort to build a memorial for lost soldiers and those they have left behind. A year ago Christmas, my mom told me about her plans for this memorial in her state of Pennsylvania. Since then, through much dedication and hard work, the entire project has been nearly put into place. Much of what will go into the memorial--architectural plans, materials, building costs and the land--have been donated to the project. At this point, there is a fund raising campaign going on to raise money for the plaques which will list the names of the fallen soldiers and their close family members. The memorial itself will be designed to look like arms embracing someone....thus, Arms for Peace. Here is a story that appeared in The Centre Daily Times about the Arms for Peace Project. This project, initiated by my mom, the first Woman of Peace I ever met....and the one who is responsible for teaching me to be the same kind of person.

Please share your stories with me about Women (and Men) for Peace who you know. I think this is a conversation worth having. Let's see if we can drown out some of the war news on the internet!

Expect good things....

Morning Walks....

Sebastian Inlet, FL  March, 2011

We have been taking walks every morning within the condominium complex. What a great way to start the day! The body moves, the mind slowly wakes up, all of the senses come alive. The sounds in the morning are wonderful. There are loads of birds here: herons, egrets, grackles and crows, sandhill cranes, woodpeckers, gulls and vultures. All of them with different calls; it makes wonderful morning music. As well, every person that you walk past says hello and/or waves. There is a great sense of friendliness and neighborliness here.  Last night we took a walk before we turned in. It was still and the stars were out by the millions; we heard bull frogs and an owl. The night time sounds are so different from the day. You can't see the critters making the noise, so a slight sense of unease runs up the back. Funny how that is.

I found out about an outstanding website today called Organic Consumers.org .  Anyone at all interested in the food that you eat ought to check this site out. They have a blog called Organic Bytes . I recommend reading this and subscribing to it. It was here that I found out that some Boca Burger Products contain genetically modified ingredients.  

"It's a fact that much of the high-quality soy grown in the U.S. has been genetically 

engineered, so the traditional BOCA line of soy-based products may contain 

ingredients derived from these crops." 

This is a quote from frequently asked questions on the Boca Products site.

What? Are you kidding me?  To call this a disappointment is an understatement. I am not clear how to tell which Boca products do or don't contain genetically modified ingredients, but you better believe I am going to scrutinize the labels from now on and may just stop buying them altogether. 

Another incredibly educational site that I found is called the Non -GMO Project .  You must take a look @ it to educate yourself and your loved ones. I just found out that the Pacific Brand Oat Milk and Almond Milk we have been drinking is safe and does not contain any genetically modified ingredients. 

We must be our own teachers and advocates. These websites will help you on the safe, delicious food journey if that is the path you are on.

Expect good things....

March Madness....

Vero Beach, FL   March, 2011

It feels like madness, living in the cold and dark for months at a time. Short days and long nights; many feet of snow shoveled over time; loads of firewood brought in with cold hands and chattering teeth. And then, suddenly, there will be a day when the wind stops, the light shifts and there is some hope in the air. Before the really big changes come however, we are fortunate enough to be able to get on a plane and head south.

Magically transported from one end of the country to another in the air, pick up the bag, register for the car and then it arrives. The moment I have been dreaming of for months. The electric eye sees us, the doors automatically open-sliding mysteriously across the floor in front of us and there it is....that first draft of soothing, warm, humid air upon my face. My shoulders relax, my eyes brighten and my mouth moves in silence, "Thank you, thank you." This is the first moment when I know I don't have to work so hard to get to the next part of the day. No scraping of windshields, shoveling of walks, bulky coats and big boots. The warmth is not just a weather report, however. The warmth has become a part of me. It is therapeutic and healing. It sinks into my skin. I am breathing it; it is as though I can see it.  The feeling is comfortable and natural, like meeting a long lost friend after a long absence. It feels like all is well with the world.

In fact, my life is the same as it was before I walked through that door. My job prospects, my bank account, my health, my child, my home....they are all the same. However, I have been given a bonus; I have been given the gift of travel. The ability to leave it all behind and not think too much about everything "back there" in my life. Lengthy casual conversations with my love, long leisurely walks, everything we do has no deadline....it is like a grown-up goodie bag.

I will put a plug in for a terrific book, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. A wonderful tale of Steinbeck's trip around America in the 1960's. If you can't get away, this road-trip can be taken from your living room in front of a roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate.


Expect good things.....

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, 2011

Stop the presses.....the sun is out! This is big news in the northeast in the middle of February.
The days are long and dark; the snow is dirty and the ice is unforgiving. Right about this time,
I always begin to wonder what the heck I am doing living here. And then, one minute at a time, the days get a little longer, the light begins to shift and we have a couple days in a row above freezing. One day this week, I could smell the salt in the air from the ocean. I am not sure what this means, but it felt hopeful!

The Wellness Challenge continues. I averaged 5655 steps per day my first week. I have to say that the pedometer is a great motivator for me. I love looking at it during the day and thinking about what I have to do to make my number higher. For an exercise delinquent like myself, this is a great new obsession!

I heard a great old song on the radio this week, The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin 
and the Bluenotes. This is from 1973; the era of really good soul/rhythm & blues music. I grew
up on this music, and still today, when I hear it, I am back in Evanston, IL, riding my bike along the lakefront with my sisters. Free, simple, not many worries in my mind. A great feeling....music has the power to do this to us.

Today the sun is out, I feel good and the Egyptian people stood up for what is right.
It is a good day!

Expect good things....

Sunday Morning in February

The Beatles in Chicago, Jan. 2011

I am happily in the midst of the Wellness Challenge and am very interested in how I have just stopped eating eggs and cheese. I am intrigued by this as these were two of my main staples. It is funny how I don't really miss them.  I am eating plenty of food, so I do not feel deprived in any way. Once in a while, I miss salt. I LOVE salt. My sister always says she would like to put a salt lick in her living room! Yesterday, with the delicious white bean/vegetable/sage soup that I made in the crock pot, I ate a LOT of Riceworks Sweet Chili chips. Oh man, they tasted so good! This is a gluten free snack food, which sounds like a good thing.  However, I don't think devouring the entire bag with one other person in a single setting is a good idea!

One of my favorite parts of the Challenge is the pedometer that we were given. This small device clips right onto your waistband and counts the steps you take in a day. It has been suggested that 10,000 steps in a day is a figure to strive towards. On days when I exercise, I am averaging between 6000 and 7000 steps. Yesterday I parked a bit further than I had to from the library and sloshed through some funky, sort-of-slippery sidewalks to get there. I know if I hadn't been using this pedometer, I would not have been motivated to do this. So the Challenge is already working; my thinking and behavior is changing.

On my journey of learning about food, I am foremost interested in the growing of food. Farmers and gardeners earn the highest level of respect from me. They have taken tiny, hard seeds and have nurtured them into delectable, nutritious sustenance for us. It never amazes me, this mysterious way of the world; without it we would not be here. And so, I want to share a stunning photo documentary project that I discovered: The Migrant Project.  Give yourself the time to take a look at this in-depth photo essay. It is full of superb photographs and staggering facts about the lives of migrant workers....the people who bring us much of our food.

Expect good things.....

The Wellness of My Being

Diesel Looking for Jim, 2010

This has been a long, difficult winter. And, it is only the 2nd day of February. Today it was pouring down rain and there was a lot of flooding in the road. As well, the fog was heavy and thick and it made for treacherous driving. Chicago had 2 feet of snow today; I suppose I would rather have the rain.


I started the Wellness Challenge today. Really fantastic that a group of people organized themselves to provide the following to their community: "Founded in 2005 by East Hampton resident Douglas D. Mercer, Wellness Foundation empowers people of the Town of East Hampton — from Sag Harbor to Montauk — on their journey to increased health and happiness."  Their services are free of charge; real community service.

I got my blood work done in time to participate in the Challenge and found out, to my surprise, that my cholesterol is high. A plant-based diet....that is the gist of this program. Lots of vegetables (50% raw/50% cooked), whole grains, fruit and legumes. I actually like to eat a lot of these things anyway. I think the hardest thing for me will be the half & half in my decaf! But hey, I have tried the Silk creamer and it is not that bad. Tonight for dinner I made whole wheat couscous (not really sure that this would be considered whole grain now that I think about it). I broiled tofu in a combination of rice vinegar, low-sodium tamari, ginger and garlic. I steamed broccoli and kale and then sauteed them with orange juice, garlic and red pepper flakes. Not a drop of oil in the entire meal! The meal was a hit and there are left overs for Ned's lunch.


I am avoiding my homework. I just started a class on-line. Part of the class includes having "discussions" on line. I think I might be too old for this. In my experience, a discussion is when two people are in the same room talking, or at least you can hear each other's voices (telephone). But to call snippets back and forth on the internet a "discussion" is really pushing things in my opinion! As I said, I  might be too old for this. 


Expect good things.....

It Has Been a Long Time...

Dad, July 2010

The holidays are here and gone. This was a very different year for us. Dad was sick and that seemed to throw everything out of kilter. I am currently back with him now. I have been here for nearly a week and will be with him for another 10 days or so. My parents both live a distance from me. In fact, my entire family lives a distance from me. It isn't easy to see any of my family on a regular basis. The older I get, the less I like this.

I have been thinking about lots of issues:  elderly parents, how to care for elderly parents, advocating for good health care, health insurance and many more along these lines.

I am reading an insightful book called Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease  by Caldwell B. Esselstyn. It is wonderful and I recommend it. If I get home in time, Jim and I are going to sign up for the Wellness Challenge sponsored by The Wellness Foundation. This is a free program for residents of the town of East Hampton. Both the book and the challenge are focused on plant based diets. Many of the health issues that our country faces would be eliminated or reduced if we went this route. I am going to take this challenge and see where it takes me.

I ask that you hold good thoughts for my dad; thank you.

Expect good things....