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....

It is Dark in Here....

This has been a long day. It started @3:30 a.m. I was up and on my way to the airport by 4:00. Got the call late yesterday that my dad was in the hospital. My sister sobbing on the phone, talking about a heart attack. Felt like I was in a fog, arranging jobs, packing clothes, giving Ned directions on feeding the cats.

Arrived in Chicago @ 8:00 a.m. and came directly to the hospital with my sisters. If you haven't experienced it, there is something startling, scary, and very, very serious when you see one of your parents in a hospital bed. Dad looked sort of sunken, and tired and old. I often have to remind myself that my parents are getting old(er!). I always feel so fortunate that they are both still here. But to see one of them like this breaks my heart. The doctors and the entire staff @ Lutheran General Hospital have been nothing short of professional, informative and caring. Conor joined us later on and we discussed things like the will, last wishes, etc. Topics that need to be discussed.

The memories of my life, the overwhelming sadness of the situation, combined with the need to stay present....very, very present in this moment now. This is what we have. Dad with his children, gathered around him today. Laughing at his corny jokes, telling stories, long pauses of silence in between.

Now, the hospital room is dark. Outside, cars go by in the night, headlights leaving trails of light in the long exposure photo I took from the window. The machines working to record dad's blood pressure and heart rate are purring next to his bed. Gretel and Conor have gone home for the night. Ann and I are here, illuminated by our laptops in the dark of the hospital room. It has been a long day. Right now, this very moment, is all we can count on for now. I love my family.

Expect good things....