Every ailment, every syndome, every cause and effect pertaining to our health has a name now. What's the name of that syndrome that plagues people in the winter? I can't remember, but I do remember the first time I read about it. It's not that I don't believe it's real, but I also do not believe it is as simple to just give it a medically-correct name and then just accept it and do nothing to remedy it! Even worse, taking some kind of synthetic drug for it seems overkill (at least to me). Oftentimes, with our health and medical situations, we seem to feel better -- relieved, mind you -- if someone will just name our ailment and give us some colored pills in a bottle. Why is that?
I am a strong advocate for health - healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, healthy thinking... Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with low blood sugar problems. Before the relief of finding out what was ailing me, I was a basket case, believe me! We were in West Africa at the time in a bush village, but there was an American missionary doctor in our town. He concluded that either I was having a nervous breakdown or I was entering early menopause. Neither of those seemed palatable to me for obvious reasons (even though, considering what was going on in our life and ministry at the time and the history of females in my family - either could have been a possiblity), so I kept searching for a more soothing diagnosis.
My father, at the age of 49 or so, contracted type-2 diabetes -- mostly due to poor choices in foods and eating habits during his adult life. The doctor that finally concluded I had reactive hypoglycemia said that it is basically just one short step towards diabetes. That did it! I did NOT want that. If it was a choice, I was choosing hmmm....no! No diabetes. I started doing research on low-blood sugar, high blood sugar, and all the ends and out of both.
It was ten years ago when I chose health -not just for me, but if I was going down that path, obviously my family would go with me. It's no fun alone! Admittedly, the first three years or so were hard as I began weaning my family off some of their comfort foods, unhealthy snacks, and desserts. There was much wailing and gnashing of the teeth, let me tell you! But I prevailed, because I had been given a second chance and a personal conviction from God that healthy eating, a healthy lifestyle, healthy choices, would bring more strength and stamina to my ministry and family. It was just a win-win situation! Now, my family has been reined in pretty well on most things. However, for three of them, there is one thing sacred that I could not wrestle away from them - chocolate. I was smart enough not to try. Now, there is evidence that chocolate (the dark kind with little or not sugar) has great health benefits. But I'll leave that one for another blog.
Another conviction of mine is that traditional medicine and treatments most of the time only put bandaids on the root cause of disease and such. I am NOT against traditional medicine in some cases, but I do believe that especially in these days of rising cost of treatments and insurance, a more practical, economic approach is to take control of your body, understand what's going on inside your body, and how it can best be remedied.
When we were in Africa and had small children, we mainly lived in small bush towns. There were no doctors that I would have dreamed of taking my children to! Someone gave me a copy of the missionary's alternative to healthcare called, Where There is No Doctor". That was the beginning of my passion for learning about what goes on inside our bodies, how to understand symptoms, and how to treat basic and not-so-basic ailments with basic medicines, herbs, timed healing (letting it work its way out), and home remedies. Even here in America, my family doesn't rush to the doctor with the slightest sniffle or fever. In the past ten years, God has allowed me to read, confer, research, and reference so many diseases and such. I am thankful that He has imparted His wisdom and given me the passion to understand how the body works and how best it can be put back on track, sometimes with practical or natural provisions.
There is a time and place for traditional medicine, and that's why I am very excited about the new wave of medical treatment centers using the term, "Integrative medicine". That is simply the use of traditional and alternative (acupuncture, acupressure, herbal, homeopathic, chiropractic, and many others, including nutrition) treatments in the best way possible to heal the body. Finally, it seems that American medical experts are realizing why Europe and other countries have known for decades (and centuries). Our bodies know best.
So, if you feel yourself succumbing to that winter syndrom that I can't remember the name, your body is most likely going to turn towards the sunshine more (open blinds and curtains or buy one of those "Tru-light" lamps and sit under it). Drink orange juice, concentrate on citrus because the color is the color of sunlight (I know that sounds crazy, but it's true!), light happy music, and a warm fire. Add flowers to your table and warm, energetic colors to the rooms you frequent the most! Colors of the sun or nature, anything that displays light of any kind would be beneficial to the body during these short days of winter.
I got off on this rampage today simply because I am home, the sun is shining beautifully in my windows, the cat is basking in the sun rays (he doesn't seemed plagues with that syndrome!), and I am enjoying a warm fire in the hearth.
Anyone join me for a cup of oj??
27 January 2006
24 January 2006
LSD and TVs
It's enough. I mean, I've had enough. Never in my life did I think that buying a new television would be so complicated. Am I the only one NOT excited about this electronic progressiveness? What happened to just buying a plain old tubed television. Now there are small tubes, big tubes, tubeless, Plasma (isn't that part of red blood cells?), LCD (a derivative of LSD perhaps?), Rear projections (huh??), Conventional (that sounds a little familiar), or Combos. Wouldn't that be easy: I'll take Combo #2. Yeah, well it's not that way.
4:3 and 16:9, though mathematical in their interpretations of aspect ratio and such, are now used to refer to the sizes of the picture on the screen. Oh, and then you have 16:9 enhanced which is basically a squarish TV trying to give the impression of being widescreen (you know, a widescreen wannabe). We have been told many times that 4:3 screens (the squarish-looking tvs that we have been used to for years) are on their way out. Within 1 1/2 years or so, a squarish tv will project a black line on top and bottom of the picture, because most programming is being produced and fed in 16:9 (true widescreen) mode. That's the wave of the future.
I know there are people out there that can just buy a large, widescreen Plasma or LCD TV and not flinch at the price. We're not in that position, but we also do not want to buy a gasping dinosaur of a tv that will be irritating to watch in a matter of 18 months or so. So, we'll keep studying on it, asking questions, gaining electronic knowledge until perhaps we fry our minds!!
On Christmas morning, our 55" large, black, big screen (not wide screen - there IS a difference) gave up the ghost. While listening to Christmas music on one of the music channels, the crisis hit! I was downstairs with the girls cooking breakfast. The aroma of sausage and pancakes was dripping off the end of my nose. However, my husband, who is forever a turbo banshee when it comes to smelling anything wrong electrically (there's a childhood incident that caused this fear in Jeff), came running down the stairs hollering, "Turn everything off. Turn everything OFF! Something 's frying!" (Need I say what I thought was frying at the moment?)
He ran around the room with his nostrils doing types of calisthenics that I didn't know nostrils could do. Finally, he reached the television, and with satisfaction in his eyes, he quickly "pulled the plug" on the old electronic codger. This television actually came with the house when we bought it three years ago. The previous owners were leaving the country and that huge monster of a TV was not something you could put in your carryon, for sure! So they left it. It was already having a few issues, but we were just thankful to use it for this long.
It's not a huge deal that we don't have a television downstairs, except when our married daughter and her husband come, our other daughters decide to watch TV, and invite whoever else knocks at our door. (Our rotating front door is a subject for a future blog!) One night last week, while I was fighting the flu, I counted 8 other people in the room besides me! Hello....I have the flu - does anybody care? Guess not.
Anyway, we really like having our standard ole 27" upstairs, but it just may be that it has to go downstairs before long, even though it is sure to get lost in the mere size of our family room.
A larger screen would be nice when we have college students in, but that is yet to be determined.
HD-capable. HD-ready. Integrated tuner. Digital. S-video cables. All that jazz. It's enough to make my head spin!
Actually, the more I look at TVs, the variety that's out there, and the prices of them, LSD doesn't seem like a bad idea! Perhaps the drug-induced aura will cause our little 27" to seem like a 55"!!
4:3 and 16:9, though mathematical in their interpretations of aspect ratio and such, are now used to refer to the sizes of the picture on the screen. Oh, and then you have 16:9 enhanced which is basically a squarish TV trying to give the impression of being widescreen (you know, a widescreen wannabe). We have been told many times that 4:3 screens (the squarish-looking tvs that we have been used to for years) are on their way out. Within 1 1/2 years or so, a squarish tv will project a black line on top and bottom of the picture, because most programming is being produced and fed in 16:9 (true widescreen) mode. That's the wave of the future.
I know there are people out there that can just buy a large, widescreen Plasma or LCD TV and not flinch at the price. We're not in that position, but we also do not want to buy a gasping dinosaur of a tv that will be irritating to watch in a matter of 18 months or so. So, we'll keep studying on it, asking questions, gaining electronic knowledge until perhaps we fry our minds!!
On Christmas morning, our 55" large, black, big screen (not wide screen - there IS a difference) gave up the ghost. While listening to Christmas music on one of the music channels, the crisis hit! I was downstairs with the girls cooking breakfast. The aroma of sausage and pancakes was dripping off the end of my nose. However, my husband, who is forever a turbo banshee when it comes to smelling anything wrong electrically (there's a childhood incident that caused this fear in Jeff), came running down the stairs hollering, "Turn everything off. Turn everything OFF! Something 's frying!" (Need I say what I thought was frying at the moment?)
He ran around the room with his nostrils doing types of calisthenics that I didn't know nostrils could do. Finally, he reached the television, and with satisfaction in his eyes, he quickly "pulled the plug" on the old electronic codger. This television actually came with the house when we bought it three years ago. The previous owners were leaving the country and that huge monster of a TV was not something you could put in your carryon, for sure! So they left it. It was already having a few issues, but we were just thankful to use it for this long.
It's not a huge deal that we don't have a television downstairs, except when our married daughter and her husband come, our other daughters decide to watch TV, and invite whoever else knocks at our door. (Our rotating front door is a subject for a future blog!) One night last week, while I was fighting the flu, I counted 8 other people in the room besides me! Hello....I have the flu - does anybody care? Guess not.
Anyway, we really like having our standard ole 27" upstairs, but it just may be that it has to go downstairs before long, even though it is sure to get lost in the mere size of our family room.
A larger screen would be nice when we have college students in, but that is yet to be determined.
HD-capable. HD-ready. Integrated tuner. Digital. S-video cables. All that jazz. It's enough to make my head spin!
Actually, the more I look at TVs, the variety that's out there, and the prices of them, LSD doesn't seem like a bad idea! Perhaps the drug-induced aura will cause our little 27" to seem like a 55"!!
18 January 2006
Tired Already?
A new year brings a lot of things to mind. Resolutions, diets, new looks, diets, new jobs, clean closets, and just a general cleaning up of things in one's life.
This year, I've done a couple of those -- and even though the closets DO need cleaning, I don't see it happening this month (no, let's just say, not this year!). But I have rethought some of the things I did in 2005 that were mainly just the useless spinning of my wheels. I desire to become more selective where I put the essence of my efforts and more abandoned in the way I live life with my family. Have you heard the song, "Live Like You Were Dying"? It'll make you think!
Anyway, all that said, in the last couple of days, I have been battling some kind of virus, flu bug, so have been pushed to just let it ride itself out! I am in the minority with that, I realize, because I know many, many people fight, never stop, never give in, push through it -- and then it lasts longer and often there are relapses. Understanding the very mystical sounding saying, listen to your body, I do try to do just that. So, I have searched the web, listened to the radio, and watched way more tv than is normal for me -- because of all that, I have heard too much. Here are three things that I am already tired of!
1. The Golden Globes and all the media attention that comes with it. I watched some of it because so many of the girls that I minister to are into these kind of things, I feel I need to be able to give some kind of "somewhat intelligent" comment about it. It's bad enough that 36 consecutive hours after the event was filled with fashion experts, gawking commentators decked out with their own bling-bling, and more cleavage and strutting than a person can stand just filled the airways. Now, tonight, (gasp!) it was revealed that one of the stars actually was given a gently-worn (USED) dress to wear to the after Globe parties!! Heaven forbid that the dress was not new and that it did not cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Where in the world are we heading with this? And what about the millions of girls that watch these fashion analysts commenting on the horrors of wearing a used dress to something like the Globe Awards. What message is this portraying to our society? One that is already embedded way too deeply, especially into much of this collegiate generation.
2. Racist, bigoted comments from ALL sides of the political and social spectrum. There are days that my traveling wings itch so badly to board a plane and head back to West Africa to live out the rest of my days! While there is prejudices everywhere in the world, the one associated with the color of the skin is falling on intolerant ears - mine! When I was in junior high, integration (the blending of black and white students into one school system) was just happening. My jr and sr high school years were very interesting and very tense at times, but I learned what I believed about some things. I didn't like racism then and I certainly do not like it now. While I could give a thorough dissertation on the moral and spiritual harm of this kind of continual bashing of how we treat each other as blacks and whites, that is not what I desire to do here.
But I do want to point out that Hillary Clinton has shown some (only some) of her true colors in Harlem this week during a MLK celebration. Comparing the runnings of the current government to the runnings of a plantation (and, she reminded the audience, "you know what I mean"). Okay, do we really know what you mean, Ms. Clinton? Perhaps New Orleans' mayor Nagin knows what you mean since he, too, has decided to make his own extremely biased and not-so-smart comment about race. Yes, he did. That's exactly what he meant. Nagin, too, showed some of his true colors when he said that he hoped that NO would be rebuilt again as a chocolate city!! Okay, you can't get more blunt than that! And this is my issue....when high-profile public servants(?), not because they deserve to be, but because people that do not have a clue, vote them into these high-profile positions -- when these people continue (over and over) to feed the fire of racism that burns omniously underneath our feet, it's irresponsible and should be illegal. But, yadeyadeya, freedom of speech and all that! It's sloppy, sad, and should not be acceptable AT ALL!
3. The impatient drivers in my city and the ones that need to go to parking school. Three times in the past week, I have had to find alternative parking spots because of people who were either impatient or incapable (or, most likely, BOTH) of putting their cars in between the two visible white lines, parallel with the others around them. Earlier this week, I could have sworn (and I'm not the swearing type) that I was back in West Africa where the ability to continually blow the horn while in the driver's seat was the most coveted right as a citizen. What in the world has gotten into this city? Are we all so important that our agendas supersede the graciousness of living in the south? There's probably a myriad of answers, but I am so weary of going 28 mph in a 25 mph school zone, and having people riding my bumper and honking their horns because they THINK they are more important than the children that are represented by these speed limits. Could we please re-find the graciousness. I promise you'll live longer without all the unnecessary stress that goes with thinking that your importance is the most important thing in the world.
There, I feel somewhat better (if only my virus-riddled body would agree).
This year, I've done a couple of those -- and even though the closets DO need cleaning, I don't see it happening this month (no, let's just say, not this year!). But I have rethought some of the things I did in 2005 that were mainly just the useless spinning of my wheels. I desire to become more selective where I put the essence of my efforts and more abandoned in the way I live life with my family. Have you heard the song, "Live Like You Were Dying"? It'll make you think!
Anyway, all that said, in the last couple of days, I have been battling some kind of virus, flu bug, so have been pushed to just let it ride itself out! I am in the minority with that, I realize, because I know many, many people fight, never stop, never give in, push through it -- and then it lasts longer and often there are relapses. Understanding the very mystical sounding saying, listen to your body, I do try to do just that. So, I have searched the web, listened to the radio, and watched way more tv than is normal for me -- because of all that, I have heard too much. Here are three things that I am already tired of!
1. The Golden Globes and all the media attention that comes with it. I watched some of it because so many of the girls that I minister to are into these kind of things, I feel I need to be able to give some kind of "somewhat intelligent" comment about it. It's bad enough that 36 consecutive hours after the event was filled with fashion experts, gawking commentators decked out with their own bling-bling, and more cleavage and strutting than a person can stand just filled the airways. Now, tonight, (gasp!) it was revealed that one of the stars actually was given a gently-worn (USED) dress to wear to the after Globe parties!! Heaven forbid that the dress was not new and that it did not cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Where in the world are we heading with this? And what about the millions of girls that watch these fashion analysts commenting on the horrors of wearing a used dress to something like the Globe Awards. What message is this portraying to our society? One that is already embedded way too deeply, especially into much of this collegiate generation.
2. Racist, bigoted comments from ALL sides of the political and social spectrum. There are days that my traveling wings itch so badly to board a plane and head back to West Africa to live out the rest of my days! While there is prejudices everywhere in the world, the one associated with the color of the skin is falling on intolerant ears - mine! When I was in junior high, integration (the blending of black and white students into one school system) was just happening. My jr and sr high school years were very interesting and very tense at times, but I learned what I believed about some things. I didn't like racism then and I certainly do not like it now. While I could give a thorough dissertation on the moral and spiritual harm of this kind of continual bashing of how we treat each other as blacks and whites, that is not what I desire to do here.
But I do want to point out that Hillary Clinton has shown some (only some) of her true colors in Harlem this week during a MLK celebration. Comparing the runnings of the current government to the runnings of a plantation (and, she reminded the audience, "you know what I mean"). Okay, do we really know what you mean, Ms. Clinton? Perhaps New Orleans' mayor Nagin knows what you mean since he, too, has decided to make his own extremely biased and not-so-smart comment about race. Yes, he did. That's exactly what he meant. Nagin, too, showed some of his true colors when he said that he hoped that NO would be rebuilt again as a chocolate city!! Okay, you can't get more blunt than that! And this is my issue....when high-profile public servants(?), not because they deserve to be, but because people that do not have a clue, vote them into these high-profile positions -- when these people continue (over and over) to feed the fire of racism that burns omniously underneath our feet, it's irresponsible and should be illegal. But, yadeyadeya, freedom of speech and all that! It's sloppy, sad, and should not be acceptable AT ALL!
3. The impatient drivers in my city and the ones that need to go to parking school. Three times in the past week, I have had to find alternative parking spots because of people who were either impatient or incapable (or, most likely, BOTH) of putting their cars in between the two visible white lines, parallel with the others around them. Earlier this week, I could have sworn (and I'm not the swearing type) that I was back in West Africa where the ability to continually blow the horn while in the driver's seat was the most coveted right as a citizen. What in the world has gotten into this city? Are we all so important that our agendas supersede the graciousness of living in the south? There's probably a myriad of answers, but I am so weary of going 28 mph in a 25 mph school zone, and having people riding my bumper and honking their horns because they THINK they are more important than the children that are represented by these speed limits. Could we please re-find the graciousness. I promise you'll live longer without all the unnecessary stress that goes with thinking that your importance is the most important thing in the world.
There, I feel somewhat better (if only my virus-riddled body would agree).
11 January 2006
How Do You Burn Fish Sticks?
Okay, so now I know how far I have come in ten years with my cooking and food choices. I just don't know how to cook with processed foods anymore. I don't know if there are a lot of women like me, but there are just times that I'm willing to go on auto-pilot, make "the pots jump up and down" (as my father-in-law says), and wait for a suggestion from one of the other family members who reside with me. However, most of the time, they are just no help at all! None. Today, though, was different. My husband had a suggestion: fish sticks! Fish sticks, like in school cafeteria fishsticks? With garden peas and french fries, a roll and a slice of cake? He looked a little sheepish; probably because of the bewildered look on my face. And then it hit me, I had not cooked nor eaten fishsticks in probably seven or eight years! Did I even remember what kind to buy? How should I best cook them? Did I even really want to cook them? I could not imagine eating them, but fervent love and a reminder of those vows I willingly and mushily chirped out almost 25 years ago took me straight to the frozen food aisle of the grocery store! I'm sure that I remember there being a clause in our vows that went like this: "For better or for worse, for aged ribeye or for crumbly fishstick, I take thee." Yeah, I'm almost certain that's the way it went!
I bought the Gorton's popcorn fish and one small box of breaded white fillets. Now, at no time am I blaming Gorton's for the way those little "pop-in-your-mouth" morsels of fish turned out. It would be nice to do so, but I do have a conscience. Looking for some gourmet twist to the french fry side dish, I decided upon julienne sweet potato strips seasoned with sea salt. That sounded fishsticky enough, but yet had also a cosmepolitan feel enough to satisfy my gourmet side that has really become who I am and how I cook. I chose Leseur extra small garden peas to top off the cafeteria-like menu, deciding on making a mixed green salad instead of cake and rolls (even though my husband was disappointed about the cake part!)
Because of a time constraint, I needed to get everything done by 6:00 p.m., but didn't remember that until 5:40. Never fear, it's just fish sticks and fries. That shouldn't take too long to create, I thought. Wait a minute, I'm not really creating anything! Just heating up something. The gourmet, holistic-foods person that I had become almost jumped out of my skin with that knowledge! However, after looking at the packaging on both the fries and the fish sticks, I realized that they both needed to be cooked at a different temperature. So, I used my faithful brown stones (instead of heeding the instructions and using metal pans for baking), met the temperature in the middle of the two foods, and popped it all in the oven. Everything was fine for the first 12 minutes, then I had to take the sweet potato strips out to stir them. The last 12 minutes did not go so fine. When I came back in the kitchen, following a trail of not-so-aromatic smoke coming from the oven, I knew that supper had taken a turn for the worse. When I opened the oven door, which, hours later, I am still regretting because the house smells like it was burned down and built back up again before the smoke settled.......the fries and the popcorn fish were almost charred.
Because my husband had asked for the fish sticks, he gingerly came into the kitchen, trying hard not to sniff obviously or rub his burning eyes from the smoke, and proceeded to eat my burnt offering! I had bought a good tartar sauce and a malt vinegar for him to enjoy with his nice browned fish sticks. What a trooper he was with the "blackened fish sticks" and dual-colored sweet potato sticks (one side black, the other orange)! Twenty-four years ago I would have run to my run in tears because of the burnt meal. Interestingly enough, I just laughed, apologized, and went about cleaning up the ruins.
I'm almost sure that I will not get another request for fish sticks for at least six more years! By then, maybe the smell will have left the house!
I bought the Gorton's popcorn fish and one small box of breaded white fillets. Now, at no time am I blaming Gorton's for the way those little "pop-in-your-mouth" morsels of fish turned out. It would be nice to do so, but I do have a conscience. Looking for some gourmet twist to the french fry side dish, I decided upon julienne sweet potato strips seasoned with sea salt. That sounded fishsticky enough, but yet had also a cosmepolitan feel enough to satisfy my gourmet side that has really become who I am and how I cook. I chose Leseur extra small garden peas to top off the cafeteria-like menu, deciding on making a mixed green salad instead of cake and rolls (even though my husband was disappointed about the cake part!)
Because of a time constraint, I needed to get everything done by 6:00 p.m., but didn't remember that until 5:40. Never fear, it's just fish sticks and fries. That shouldn't take too long to create, I thought. Wait a minute, I'm not really creating anything! Just heating up something. The gourmet, holistic-foods person that I had become almost jumped out of my skin with that knowledge! However, after looking at the packaging on both the fries and the fish sticks, I realized that they both needed to be cooked at a different temperature. So, I used my faithful brown stones (instead of heeding the instructions and using metal pans for baking), met the temperature in the middle of the two foods, and popped it all in the oven. Everything was fine for the first 12 minutes, then I had to take the sweet potato strips out to stir them. The last 12 minutes did not go so fine. When I came back in the kitchen, following a trail of not-so-aromatic smoke coming from the oven, I knew that supper had taken a turn for the worse. When I opened the oven door, which, hours later, I am still regretting because the house smells like it was burned down and built back up again before the smoke settled.......the fries and the popcorn fish were almost charred.
Because my husband had asked for the fish sticks, he gingerly came into the kitchen, trying hard not to sniff obviously or rub his burning eyes from the smoke, and proceeded to eat my burnt offering! I had bought a good tartar sauce and a malt vinegar for him to enjoy with his nice browned fish sticks. What a trooper he was with the "blackened fish sticks" and dual-colored sweet potato sticks (one side black, the other orange)! Twenty-four years ago I would have run to my run in tears because of the burnt meal. Interestingly enough, I just laughed, apologized, and went about cleaning up the ruins.
I'm almost sure that I will not get another request for fish sticks for at least six more years! By then, maybe the smell will have left the house!
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