The Heart and the Fist

Image from here.

Alright folks, this book was A-MA-ZING and so right up my alley currently. Eric Greitens presents different parts of his journey through life. He discusses becoming a boxer while at Duke, participating in humanitarian projects across the world, attending Oxford, and then at the same time as when he had offers to teach and contract, he discusses his choice to become an officer/Navy SEAL. I loved many things about this book but one of the major reasons that it struck a cord with me was Greitens personal journey from idealist humanitarian to realist soldier----and somehow I feel that this mimics my own journey from lofty social worker to public health advocate to military spouse and veteran sympathizer. Greitens argument is that there is a need for both idealist/realist or warrior/humanitarian to exist in the world however and I couldn't agree with him more.

The first chapter left me in tears (mainly as I am currently so intertwined with so many veterans who have served overseas), but the rest of the book kept me nodding my head and earmarking pages. I learned more about the military and about current efforts overseas. I heard my heart speaking and I heart Greiten just get so many of the things that do weigh on my heart and mind. I also was reminded of the strength that each of us does carry inside and was asked to take a hard look at my own commitment and journey in the larger world. And I would honestly recommend this book to everyone and really wish we had read it this time for book club.

So here are some of my favorite passages so I can unfold the pages and pass the book on for hub and housemate #1 to read next. :)

"Across the globe, even in the world's "worst places," people found ways to turn pain into wisdom and suffering into strength. They made their own actions, their own lives, into a memorial that honored the people they had lost......On the frontlines---in humanitarian crises, in wars overseas, and around some kitchen tables here at home---I'd seen that peace is more than the absence of war, and that a good life entails more than the absence of suffering. A good peace, a solid peace, a peace in which communities can flourish, can only be built when we ask ourselves and each other to be more than just good, and better than just strong. And a good life, a meaningful life, a life in which we can enjoy the world and live with purpose, can only be built if we do more than live for ourselves."----pg 11.

"God, in Earl's view, had invested every person with strength, and it was our duty to develop that strength.....duty to use their strength in the service of God.....Earl rarely used the word, but his whole system of teaching and his whole way of living was built around the concept of honor. You honored God by using your time wisely, and you honored your fellow man by treating him with respect....."-----pg 38-39

"Bruce was both compassionate and demanding. Compassion was primary. He thought it criminal that people could grow up oblivious and unresponsive to the suffering of others. These are your neighbors, he would say. But he was hardheaded enough to know that having a loving, wide-open heart was only a start."---pg 75

"Here in Bolivia most of the kids played in bare feet, and they had as much fun as we ever had. Alone, human beings can feel hunger. Alone, we can feel cold. Alone, we can feel pain. To feel poor, however, is something we do in comparison to others."--pg 92

"If we want to change something, we must begin with understanding. But if we want to love something, we must begin with acceptance. ....Their love was built on patience, and their faith helped them to know that they couldn't do everything, but they did have to do what they could.....I admired their intentions but...there are some things---like civil society, like character, like a child's belief in the future---that cannot be achieved overnight. Humanitarians, warriors, scholars, and diplomats all do best when we recognize the difference between what we can fight for and what we must accept, between change that can be catalyzed and change that must be built over time, from within."--pg 106

"I learned how difficult it can be to stay focused when you're worried about someone that you love, and for that learning I am grateful......Of course, just like life doesn't stop at home, the mission overseas doesn't stop either, and those same men had to wake up the next day and get back to dangerous work. Emerson once wrote that concentration is the secret of strength. You can't chase two rabbits at once. And for men to perform overseas while their lives kept running at home, absolute concentration on the task at hand is essential."---pg 158 & speaking of the difficulty of "issues" happening at home during deployments

"I love American idealism. I love the hopeful spirit of Americans endeavoring to shape the world for the better. A lot of times, though, many Americans.....who have never spent a day working with people who suffer, can be blinded by the bright shining light of their own hopes. You cruise through a town where you don't speak the language and offer someone a conversation about freedom or fifty bucks, most people will take the cash, thank you very much. I'd learned.....the very simple lesson that people were smart enough to know what they needed, and if we wanted to have credibility with them, we had to be able to help them directly." ---pg 224

"The world, I believe, is not constructed so that is presents us with perfect choices. I'd joined the military in part, because I saw that to protect the innocent, we have to be willing to fight. It is also true, however, that for all the warrior's discipline, when we pick up the sword, innocents will suffer. ....The Greeks often talked about phronesis, practical wisdom...Phronesis is the ability to figure out what to do, while at the same time knowing what is worth doing. 

Phronesis allows soldiers to fight well and leaders to rule well, and, as Aristotle argued, it can only be obtained through experience. My own experiences....had not made me a militarist or a pacifist, or any kind of "ist." I knew that the world would continue to require us to make hard decisions about when we draw the sword and I'd seen that the use of force was both necessary and imperfect. There is no school of thought that can save us from the simple fact that the hard decisions are best made by good people, and that the best people can only be shaped by hard experience." ---pg 283 & 284

""Take care of your people" is one of the principal lessons of military leadership, and my people were not just SEALS, or SWCC, or the men in my targeting cell. Serving overseas, everyone in uniform is part of the same team. Everyone is away from their family. Everyone is exposed to danger. Everyone endures the same long, hot days, hears the same bad jokes, reads the same old magazines. Everyone loses friends. If we take care of our people on deployment, why should that change when we come home?"---pg 287 & 288

"Stockdale taught that as a leader, you must embrace reality and be brutally honest about the harsh facts of your situation. At the same time, you must maintain hope." --pg 289

"Our wounded and disable veterans had lost a lot. Some had lost their eyesight. Some their hearing. Some had lost limbs. All of that they could recover from. If they lost their sense of purpose, however, that would be deadly. I also knew that no one was going to be able to give them hope; they were goign to have to create hope through action." --pg 291

"Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of Man's Search for Meaning, wrote that human beings create meaning in three ways: through their work, through their relationships, and by how they choose to meet unavoidable suffering. Every life brings hardship and trial, and every life also offers deep possibilities for meaningful work and love. 

I've learned that courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin, and that every warrior, every humanitarian, every citizen is built to live with both. In fact, to win a war, to create peace, to save a life, or just to live a good life requires of us--of every one of us---that we be both good and strong."--pg 297

LOVED IT. Please read.

Jan-March Books

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I'm not gonna lie, this book got a "so-so" review from our book club, as many of the gals thought it had too many details....which means that I seriously loved it. I didn't finish it before book club discussion but it was one that I made sure to finish before starting this month's book. It's definitely a different read than some of Bryson's other books and is an account of his thoughts and experiences throughout a variety of separate journeys he took across Australia. As I have not been to Australia, nor read/known much about it, I felt that the book was interesting and provided new details into an area of the world that I would love to travel! Bryson's usual dark sarcasm is present although less than in some of his novels. (But I will tell you I almost woke hub up from laughing so hard in the very beginning.) While the book might not be for everyone (especially if Bryson can rub you the wrong way), it is insightful as to the intricacies of Australia and entertaining to view the country via Bryson's lens.

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So....an interesting detail about myself: certain areas of "humor" are not my favorite--of which stand-up comedians etc usually are included in that not-so-funny-to-me category. I have liked some of SNL but not all of it. I hated Princess Bride and the Monty Python movies. Hub busts a gut over It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, while I find it mildly humorous, etc. SO I definitely had mixed thoughts about reading Tina Fey's book, which was the selection for February. (Ironically, it also was almost the selection for January.) The book was interesting to learn about Fey's life and to read her perspective on women in comedy, within SNL, etc. Overall it was incredibly fast (200-some pages, double spaced, large font) and an easy read---which is one of the reasons it was selected---to give us a bit of a "break" via something light and funny. Fey provides her perspectives on numerous aspects of feminism and being a female in general---which I'm sure will be fuel for book club discussions tomorrow as we all have very different opinions on those topics. ;) So if you're looking for something incredibly fast and easy, while gaining insight to Fey's life....then definitely take a peak between its covers.

March: it's my pick and I'm wavering between Joy for Beginners-Bauermeister and The Heart and the Fist-Greitens. Incredibly different books but both equally thought provoking and timely.

Joy for Beginners is said to be a story depicting the journey of 6 female friends facing personal challenges.

The Heart & The Fist is the story of Eric Greitens, who has been both humanitarian, Rhodes Scholar, and Navy Seal. It's said to provide insight on the need for fighting the underlying issues of the world both via combat and thru a helping hand.

Quick Book Reviews

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Here's what you need to know about the above book (which was our November book club selection): hands down it was one of the best books I've read in the last five years. It definitely would make it onto my top twenty book list. It's both a personal story, a story of social justice, a personal account of one of the individuals who contributed (unbeknownst to her) so greatly to our understanding of genetics and disease, AND also a history of much that has to do with genetics, public health, research ethics, etc etc. Now here's my word of caution: everything I just listed is pretty much everything I'm interested in, so I can't guarantee this book will be for you, BUT if you're interested in ethics, biology, and/or personal stories this book might be for you.

The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks who contributed so greatly to our understanding of cells and genetics, although she contributed without necessarily given her consent nor without her family ever really being aware of it. This book provides an insight into who this fascinating woman was and what became of her family, while also investigating the ethics behind what her cells provided to health and research.

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The title, reviews, and cover of this book had me from the moment I spotted it in our local Fred Meyer. The book was an incredibly fast read and mildly entertaining, but it just didn't live up to what I expected the book to be. Rather than ever really grabbing me as a reader, Klam provides a peak into her various relationships with her Boston terriers---the ones she owned, the ones she sheltered/fostered, and the ones she assisted in being placed in forever dog homes.

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This book is a series of essays written by Steinem---a well-known and well-written feminist. Originally published decades ago, many of the essays were added to in the 1980s-90s. Steinem offers various perspectives on the passage, perspective, and relationships of the "female experience" while also challenging the stereotypes and language of what that experience actually is.

This was our December book club selection and while we selected to read a handful of the essays, I found Steimen's expose and first-hand account of posing as a playboy bunny to be both insightful and cunning. While my thoughts on feminism can be contradictory, it was insightful and telling to see how many opportunities are now available to females due to the feminist movement. Reading something from an older perspective also provided further reflection on where we've come and where may still have yet to go.

Image from here.

I've alluded to this book in other posts as this was my September book club selection, and here's what you need to know: it's not for everyone. ;) I have a heart for Africa, I enjoy books about journeys toward personal discovery, and this author lives in Portland.....so I thought it was worth a go and I have to admit, for me, I might have been able to read it all in one sitting. However I don't feel that this book is for most. This book is based on the author's desire to have one last hurrah/solo trip of discovery before finally marrying his long-time girlfriend, so he goes off to Africa to attempt to follow in the centuries old footsteps of a previous man who also crossed that section of Africa to demonstrate his worth in order to gain the hand of a wealthier bride-to-be.

What I enjoyed about this book was that it provided me with more insights into one person's version of Africa, it introduced me to a bit of history that most have never heard of, and it encouraged me to think on a deeper level, but in all honesty, it's a book I could have never read and been just as equally satisfied.

I'm also going to add in two reviews of two more books even though I have to finish them in their entirety, although they're both almost done.

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This book I picked up from a lil' mom & pop book store in Natchitoches, LA (and blogged about here), which was one of our favorite little historic towns to visit. I've been steadily going through the various essays included in the book and have found it to be interesting reading of many of the various cultural women that are included in the diverse history of Louisiana. The book itself is a collection of stories from various authors based on women from all walks of life throughout the last 400 years of Louisiana history. Many of the stories are pieced together from various accounts as not a lot of written history exists, especially in a region where the worth of a woman was long based on her beauty and her partnership to her spouse. While this book is a bit more "textbook-ish" and has taken me a while to get through, I really have found it to be interesting based on our recent experience in that area of the nation.

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This is another book I haven't quite finished although I've started it twice and haven't given up yet. It's not that it's not good, it's that it's the type of book that I'd read better in one or two days rather than trying to read little bits at a time. This story is the voyage of one Scottish man's walk across Afghanistan.....and during recent history. It's a story of his experience with the country, it's people, its various cultures, its joys and its hostility, and with its land. Since this is where hub spent his deployment, I've been interested to read something that so much more clearly depict what some of his experiences with the locals may have been like.

My current reading stack includes:

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I picked this up on that same Fred Meyer trip which I lingered too long in the book aisle....and so far I'm LOVING this book, but then again its right up my alley: foreign travel, personal journeys, international social justice, women helping each other.

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Which was my stocking stuffer from hub.

And.....

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Which is our January book club selection if you want to read along! ;)

August is Drawing to a Close

This month of so much busyness is slowly coming to a close... We're heading over to a friend of mine's tonight to BBQ with her and her boyfriend, also allowing the gents time to watch football on TV and hopefully give us ladies time to chat openly. Its been a slow morning, which has been exactly what I needed after the past week. I'm pretty sure that hub's off hiking, which while I'm sorry to have missed the opportunity to go with him, I'm pretty sure that on this day he needed some time in the woods with just him and the dogs. Waking up to an empty house and no dog licks was just another moment of appreciation for the mornings when I do wake up to hub's and the dogs greetings.

The new job is going well although somewhat confusing. Its a new position without any groundwork really having been laid and with the potential upcoming displacement of control that some others have previously had. It has been and will more than likely continue to be an interesting transition of power, expectations, and assessment. I'm hopeful to be able to increase program development, but first have to bridge some of the lower-level issues and concerns. And somewhat related to this same topic: I just had the joyous opportunity of fielding the Army Reserve Recruiter at my front door, which left me in a position of attempting to network for my new job and also trying to communicate hub's disinterest.

The summer term wrapped up on Wednesday evening however and Thursday I finished grading finals and inputting grades. A portion of September will be used preparing for Fall Term, especially since I'm happily teaching double the load of what I've been teaching. The nice thing about my current jobs is that I feel (for the most part) that I'm well-suited for both of them, and ta-da, I have benefits on the way! Yea for again having health care! Not that we usually need it, but it's nice to have at least for emergency situations. Additionally the increase in finances will be nice. We can finally pay off the truck, save money for at least 4 months of living expenses, and I can start really hacking away at my graduate loans.

A few additional things as of late:

--I just finished reading a book suggested by my cousin, A Dog's Purpose. Hilarious and sad all at the same time, and an amazingly fast read. If you love your dog, it's a must-read.

--A week late, I finally finished The Help, with mixed reviews on my part. I felt the book could have been equally as good with at least 100 less pages, and many parts of it broke my heart over the fact that racism, stereotyping, and social injustice are still so equally practiced throughout our nation today. The fact that in some ways we have come "far," yet the reality that there is still SO far to go....is just so sad. Ironically the topic of judgment came up frequently during my trip home this month and it actually came up in separate conversations with very different people. I have a horrible habit of becoming much more judgmental of all others the more insecure I am in my own life, and somehow the older I get the worse I am at forgetting the "plank in my own eye" when I focus on the "speck" in another's. Definitely something for me to be working on, especially as I move into my new position, where stereotyping and judgment is very much practiced at times.

--Next month's book for club is Crossing the Heart of Africa by Julian Smith, if you care to read along. It was my pick and I hope it turns out to be an alright read. I found it originally at Powell's in the airport, always have a love for Africa, and its by a Portland author.

--Hub and I are in the market for a new bed. I know, I know....the environmentalist and non-consumer-oriented part of me feels incredibly guilty! Didn't we just buy a new bed a year or so back you ask? And unfortunately the answer is yes....and unfortunately I strongly dislike our Ikea bed and hub strongly dislikes our Ikea mattress, never mind the fact that the slats under the bed have had issues for over a year encouraging the mattress to fall through...... Ikea's cheapness we've come to realize is great for some things and was a great fast fix when we needed it, but it wasn't the smartest purchase I've ever made. Even though I'm ashamed to admit I fell into the buy and dump consumption, I'm not going to lie...we're ready for some quality AND I'm pretty positive we can sell what we have for re-use on Craigslist. SO...we're focusing on quality of products. I've been eyeing the Sumatra Pottery Barn bed for two years, and a new cheaper II version was released in the last year. When we moved in we received a 10% off coupon for PB in the mail, which I'd intend to use to further reduce the cost. The reviews on the bed are mixed (solid but soft wood--easily can scratch) and hub and I have made several trips to check it out. It's definitely more sturdy and of a style that should be fitting for years. Hub also got a coupon off the internet for a local mattress store. (My "green" focus tends to be health considerations, hub's latest focus is local.) The mattress is made by a local company, made from about 90% USA materials (including recycled components), is guaranteed for 15 years, and the box spring should be able to be ordered to specification. We tested them out last weekend....and seriously had fun flopping and rolling on about 10-15 different beds! ;) We still haven't made any final decisions or attempted any orders.....but my PB coupon is only good until October! ;)

--The garden continues to grow although I, ahem, made the wrong choice on chopping the lettuce back and it died. We're also having issues with the zukes and pumpkin plants dying off, so I'm not expecting too many more of either category. The kiwi continues to go crazy, although without any fruit on it this year. The turnips will not be returning to the raised beds next year as they've taken over everything, and the tomatoes are just now starting to turn. Most our berries are done, the carrots are harvest ready, and Roxi decided to explore amongst one lower bed and flattened the rest of the onions.... Honestly we need to get to work on the rest of the actual yard....as it's starting to look like renters live here ;)

--This month also marked dropping money on two big but necessary purchases, which are some of the ones that I refuse to accept anything but quality: tires and bras ;) The car got decked out in 4 new 85,000 mile tires for a good price from America's Tire Company (cost comparison put these 85k tires at the same cost as 40k tires from Les Schwab, which is the company I've gone with in the past). And the "girls" got decked out in splurges from Nordies---now yes, $50-80 a piece is a lot to spend on one lil item of "clothing," but there's nothing quite like a legit bra that makes sure your boobs are covered and where they should be in perkiness and location! Honestly, a good appropriate bra especially with a proper fitting, in my belief, is the foundation for any outfit and only helps make sure that a gal looks her best. I'm sure my thoughts on boobs and bras, could be an entire posting in itself however, but here's an article on it from TLC Style. ;) Uh and awesomeness: have old still functional bras that you want to pass on? Send them to the Bra Recyclers!!!

I suppose that's mainly it, although Heather at Townsend House, just shared this blogger and I love her to bits: Keeper of the Home and she had this post Because Sometimes I Get Tired of Healthy, Natural Living  at Simple Organic.

Hope everyone has been well! Besos y abrazos!

On My Mind....

It's amazing how slow June was and yet July and August have decided to make up for it. With everything going on, I've been trying my hardest to be better organized and have returned to the use of the TO DO list, steadily checking items off my list.

However amongst the to-dos, there's a lot on the mind too, even if frequently it all goes hand-in-hand :)

Reading

My first book club novel arrived on Wednesday (The Help). I'm really looking forward to reading through it and for the comraderie that I hope will develop amongst our members. First meeting is in a few weeks!

However before I start on The Help, I wanted to finish the main book that I have been reading. I recently borrowed a book from my gal, N, who is also an avid reader. You all know that I'm really into personal narratives and non-fiction, but this go round I was in the mood for something a little different. Yesterday I blew through the rest of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, and I LOVED IT. It was an incredibly easy read, covered family and mother-daughter issues which are right up my alley of things I like to read about, and taught me something new via it's historical fiction context (Russia: Stalin era).  Plus the author is from the PNW--love supporting all things local. ;)

There were a couple of passages that completely resonated with me:

"....They would always be a family, but if she'd learned anything in the past few weeks it was that a family wasn't a static thing. There were always changes going on. Like with continents, sometimes the changes were invisible and underground,  and sometimes they were explosive and deadly. The trick was to keep your balance. You couldn't control the direction of your family any more than you could stop the continental shelf from breaking apart. All you could do was hold on for the ride." (pg 329)

"...And maybe that was how it was supposed to be, how life unfolded when you lived it long enough. Joy and sadness were part of the package; the trick, perhaps, was to let yourself feel all of it, but to hold on to the joy just a little more tightly because you never knew when a strong heart could just give out...." (pg 383)

Family Shenanigans

And a good portion of the quotes probably resonated with me, because in my head I feel like I'm still trying to sort out my transition back into my immediate, extended, and husband's family. After being away for two years, it's definitely a change to figure out how those relationships should look now, and how to integrate my husband to best meet his needs AND the needs of my family members. Additionally, there have been some changes in some family relationships, near and far over the last six months, and I feel like the first quote is a good bit of advice for me (and maybe for some of them too) on some of those changes.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a loving and positive family--one that is truly based on acceptance and unconditional love. In the last two weeks I definitely have spent more time with family members as I got together with two cousins, dropped off garden goodies to my aunt and a cousin, and my brother took me to a Portland Timbers game against my other national love: Argentina. ;)

This weekend we will all come together for the celebration of Granny's 100th birthday, starting with a smaller family BBQ this evening for those of us in Portland and ending with back-to-back bashes on Sunday. My husband and I will provide airport transportation and a place to sleep for my eldest brother's quick 24 hour trip. I'm glad to provide for family... but I have to admit to some apprehension based on a strained relationship between my brother and I this year. However, I know it will be great to have each member of the immediate and extended family here to celebrate the life, lessons, love, and optimism of our granny!

Socialization

They're coming in droves from out-of-state! On Wednesday we'll pick up our friends from Chicago and show them as much of Oregon as we can in a week. We're definitely excited for them to come, and based on their personalities, we know they're absolutely going to love Portland and the PNW! Plus hub will get the added benefit of being able to take them to our home town and hang out with some of his high school buddies. One of my favorite gals from my MPH program will be visiting from California next weekend, so I'm looking forward to getting together with her over breakfast next Thursday. A high school friend of mine who also lives in Cali will be in our hometown mid-month, so I'm going to need to figure out how to schedule in a trip down south to catch up with her and meet her guy. ;) (On the plus side, we'll get to hang out with one of our other favorite high school gals and I'll get to see Mom & Dad too!) I'm heading on Tuesday to see one of my gals who recently had a beautiful baby girl, and I'm seriously bubbling up with excitement about the possibilities of this book club! From what I can tell most the other gals seem pretty stoked too. Add onto that the Bridal Shower I'm throwing for my gal N and it's going to be a pretty socially full next few weeks.

Social Justice---Donations

The Horn of Africa continues to be on my heart and mind. Mercy Corps, who rarely sends me a "tin cup," continues to send updates. The most recent stated the following: "Families in Wajir County are among more than 2.4 million people in Kenya in need of food, water and other critical aid, according to the UN. Our team reports hungry women and children are streaming into towns around northeastern Kenya. Many husbands and fathers continue to search for water and forage to keep their precious herds alive. Up to 80 percent of livestock in the region have already perished." If you look at the updates and pictures on UNICEF, Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, or any of the INGOs, the information is heart-breaking.....

While I am seeing this occasionally show up on the major news stations and papers, it seems so sad that it is not more publicized. It takes so little to make a large difference for others that suffer around the world---a skipped outing to Starbucks, one less microbrew, or bypassing that great deal that one finds at Target but doesn't really need. I know many of us are tight for cash these days, but I still see how well are basic needs are met and how little we fight for basic survival. I know there are mixed feelings out there, but I can't help but ask that if you find it in your heart, you might be willing to give, no matter how little the amount.

 

"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."--Luke 12:48

 

Working Hard for the Money

Term continues--trying hard to prep now for the next two weeks so I don't have to worry too much about the course while we have friends in town. Same with the training I'm in, trying to cram as much in before they get here---but truthfully it's almost over anyway. A few more activities to do and then I believe it'll be concluded. :) September will mainly be planning for my fall courses, especially the ones that will be new.

 

Ironically, while we're on the topic of employment......I've been missing working with soldiers since our return and have found that frequently my veteran students have really enjoyed working with me, since I have a greater understanding of their military lives, mentality, and potential issues than the average civilian instructor/worker. I've been telling hub and a few friends for the last two months that I wonder how I could work with veterans without going back to school to complete my MSW (tried that, didn't finish, and the way I'm feeling I may be completely done with school....). The irony is due to the fact that this week an internal hire position just got sent out via email for a part-time Veterans Resource Center Specialist at my campus....hmmm. I'm not 100% qualified and I have apprehensions (ie would vets prefer working with me vs an actual vet in the position, its a completely new program/center/etc meaning that year 1 would be a LOT of work), but I also feel that I could be a great fit and bring lots of skills to the program. I do plan to apply but I'm not entirely holding my breath either.... ;)

 

The Garden

We've been passing out lettuce and rhubarb like it's nobody's busy, and additional irony arrived yesterday with another full head of lettuce arriving in my Organics to You box. We also just entered into zucchini season---there are already 5 in our produce drawer and this is the first week of harvesting! ;) Marionberries are putting out about two bowls a week right now and the green beans and snap peas are coming on. Tomatoes are going to go nuts in a few weeks and even the pepper plants are starting to show lots of peppers starting. Hub harvested about 15 heads of garlic this week---they're laying on the deck to dry.

 

We're finally having a few more days of sunshine--helping to promote garden growth and put a smile on this face, and today we started an introductory conversation about creating covers for the raised beds for winter gardening ;)

 

SOOOOOO---lots to do, lots on the mind, but its nice to be busy and purposeful. Hope each of you is doing well!

 

PS I've seen COCONUT cream pie show up TWICE this week.

Here and here. Definitely might have to beg hub to give one a try!

A Few Books & Films

In the last few weeks, I've been on quite the reading kick. I found a few titles at REI that looked interesting, which I then came home and ordered for reduced pricing from Amazon. Although this first book listed here is one that I borrowed from my cousin.

EXERCISE TITLES:

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This book was amazing. You all know that I started running routinely again in spring of 2010, but since our return to Oregon I've been running and hiking in Vibrams. Thus far, running "barefoot" in Vibrams has been great--no real overuse energies, no shin splints, etc. And my only real complaint has just been stinky feet and blisters from where the Vibrams rub on our long hikes. But since reading this book, I kid you not, I think of some piece of information from the book every single week. It offers me motivation to know that genetically humans are supposed to be capable of running incredibly long distances--in fact it makes me in awe of the capacity of the human body. The book also motivates me to run even if I've neglected myself nutritionally or via my beverage choices on any particular day. And since reading this book, I always try to remember to smile on my runs and hikes....in order to truly increase enjoyment of the activity. If you're into running or into learning about the capability of the human body due to evolution, I highly encourage you to check this book out.

Now these next two books actually are about the same thing---couples that traveled the Pacific Crest Trail. The first book listed has chapters written by both the male and female perspective along the trail, while the second book is only from the male perspective. The books both offered insight to the trail, to the difficulties, and made me laugh at some of the trials faced by the couples upon their time outdoors together. I'm not going to lie though, if you wanted to read one of these, you're much better off with the first book, as I found the author of the second book incredibly annoying and focused way too much on sex on the trail. The first novel however was much more rewarding, balanced, and insightful.

Image taken from here.

Image taken from here.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING TITLE:

Image taken from here.

This book was one that I saw mentioned somewhere although I have no recollection of where I first read about it. I ordered it on a long shot and sure enough I loved it. Kimball was a NYC journalist/hipster out to interview an organic farmer--they surprisingly fell in love and moved onto a piece of land to start their own full-service CSA. Humorous, insightful, and fulfilling, as you read about their adventures in horse drawn tilling, pig and chicken raising, maple sugaring, cow rearing and milking, and the attempting of a relationship leading to marriage.

Recently I've also watched three great documentaries or clips of news.

The first is from a National Geographic Series:

Stress: Portrait of a Killer

It can be found both on YouTube and on Netflix Instant and it's about an hour in length. Incredibly insightful on how stress impacts us biologically.

The second is a 20 minute Frontline Video found here, which is about for-profit colleges taking advantage of veterans and their education benefits/GI Bills. I'm not a huge fan of for-profit educational institutions anyway but this just annoys me even more.

And the third is a documentary: God Grew Tired of Us which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. Incredibly heart-warming and heart-breaking it provides the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan who were forced to flee Sudan during Civil War or be killed. They traveled by foot with limited water and food, basically starving, to Ethiopia where they lived in a refugee camp for three years. At the conclusion of the three years they were forced to relocate again to a refugee camp in Kenya, walking again. At the time of the film, the boys had been in exile for 10 years. From there the film follows a handful of boys (now young men) who are relocated to the United States and discusses the hope and trials they face as they integrate into our country. It'll warm your heart, it'll make you cry. It was available via Netflix DVD or a rental, but you can watch the trailer here:

PS If you are interested in either of the hiking books or The Dirty Life, let me know and I'm willing to pass on. Drop me a comment and I'll send you an email for your mailing address. Born to Run is not up for grabs however as it belongs to my cousin.

21 Days of Clean

 On Monday afternoon I came home from work just feeling wiped out. My body hasn't been wanting coffee as much in the last few weeks, my pants were starting to feel a little tighter, and hub and I were talking about how much food and good brew we'd been able to indulge in during the month and a half we've been back in Oregon. In the midst of our conversation hub interjected stating that we should do the cleanse he's been wanting to do for the last several months (it was mentioned in a couple articles in his Outside Magazine.) While hub was in the Army, we couldn't exactly do a cleanse....but there was no real reason why we couldn't do one now...and what better time than the present...we decided to start the very next day....

So we hunted down the book, hub read the parts we needed to know and I spent the rest of the night reading the book in depth. Much of Junger's thoughts on the toxins that are present in our world and the reasons behind doing a cleanse (to purge oneself of toxins and realign/pause your digestive tract) I readily agreed with.

Junger's Clean would actually allow us to eat a decent amount of calories, but would include a major change in the way we've been eating:

No dairy, no beef, no peanut products.

No soy, no corn, no wheat products.

No oranges, grapefruits, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, bananas, or potatoes.

No coffee, no alcohol, no real sources of caffeine.

No to most sweeteners.

But instead we have expanded our exposure to many of the products we can have: quinoa, brown rice, coconut milk, almond butter and milk, millet, dried legumes, fish, sesame oil, agave, balsamic vinegar, and a whole host of vegetables and fruits.

The basic schedule of the cleanse allows us a smoothie in the morning, a solid lunch, and a smoothie or raw soup in the evening for dinner. It also allows for a small snack between meals (almonds or a piece of fruit, etc). We are to drink enough water to make us urinate every hour and we're allowed herbal teas, including yerba mate (even though it has caffeine.....). The cleanse itself is 21 days and people who have gone through it (including One Green Generation) report that it's been wonderful---provides more energy, increases health and decreases health issues, and assists the body in enhanced functioning.

Like most things, you can purchase supplements and shakes to help improve the experience, but we're not doing that...just good ol' fashioned food and continuing with our exercise of running.

Luckily we're allowed many spices as well: most green spices, healthier oils, vinegars, sea salt & pepper, and lemon/lime for seasoning.

  

We've been stocking up on organic fruits and vegetables mainly thanks to Fred Meyer and Whole Foods, but today we had our Organics to You delivery also!

We've also been hitting up new recipes and taking ideas from recipes and rolling with them. It definitely takes more time for preparation but so far the food has been pretty good! Plus it's just nice to try new things.

So how's it going you might be wondering? Well, we opted not to do the elimination diet prior to starting the cleanse (which is recommended to ease your body into it), so as we're three days in we're a lil more tired than usual and we tend to fluctuate somewhere between lots of energy and wanting to take a nap. But overall we both feel like it's doing good things and we're hopeful to have some great things to report by the end of the 21 days.

At the very least, it's great to be doing something new together and our recipe selection is being given a whole new take on life. Speaking of, if you've never tried millet---give it a try! It's sort of a mix between couscous and brown rice, but its definitely a food that will be sticking with us past the 21 days!

Here's to health!

The Hospital By the River

(For some reason, I can't get the picture to rotate correctly)

Two months in the making and I finally sat down to finish this amazing story this afternoon. This is the story that made me think about going back to school, this is the story that melted my heart, this is the story that left me thinking again beyond our nation's borders, this is a story that I hope you too will take the time to enjoy and be moved by.

Taken from the back of the book (British spellings in context and possibly written by John Little):
"Gynaecologists Catherine and Reg Hamlin left Australia in 1959 on a short contract to establish a midwifery school in Ethiopia. Over 40 years later, Catherine is still there, running one of the most outstanding medical programmes in the world. Thousands of women have been able to resume a normal existence after living as outcasts.

The Hamlins, both active Christians, dedicated their lives to women suffering catastrophic effects of obstructed labour. The awful injuries that such labour produces are called fistulae, and until the Hamlins began their work in Ethiopia, fistula sufferers were neglected and forgotten--a vast group of women facing a lifetime of incapacity and degradation.

Catherine and Reg, with their team of dedicated surgeons, have successfully operated on over 25,000 women, and the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, the hospital they opened in 1974, has become a major teaching institution for gynaecologists from all over Ethiopia and the developing world. Since Reg's death, Catherine and her team have continued the work...."

Catherine and Reg were two incredibly self-less individuals who devoted their lives to women living in Ethiopia. These women frequently were married off and producing babies by 15 years of age, before their bodies were entirely developed for childbirth. These women who frequently live in rural areas without access to medical facilities nor professionals, who birth alone or with a few family members in dirt-floored huts, and who frequently face days of difficult labor. The women who do develop vaginal area fistulas (leading to incontinence) are frequently abandoned by husbands and family, moved into huts on the edges of town, and left to suffer and survive in isolation.

The book is an incredibly easy read, and while it includes Christian views which may dissuade a few of you, the reality that these women experience is one that I feel all of us should be exposed to and do what we can to help, while the story of Reg & Catherine's amazing outreach and repair work will warm your heart. You may also find additional information (and donate to the cause) via the Fistula Foundation.

Reason for Blogging & A Book Response

I've mentioned my recent questioning about the purpose of maintaining the blog.....

....and then today, when I was whipping through the end of "Living Simply" by Joanne Heim, the following passage stuck out at me:

"How are you making and recording your memories? What are you doing to remember today? Nothing important has to happen--it could just be Thursday. But if you happen to be driving down the beach with your hair blowing in the breeze, smelling a tantalizing mixture of sea and Mexican food, singing your heart  out along with the Indigo Girls--then it might be a good idea to stop and think, I want to remember how this feels forever.

Feel the sun on your face, take a deep breath, and hold it for a second. Let it out and continue on your merry way, knowing the memory is made and stored away for the next time it's cold and rainy and you're feeling blue (pg 192)."

So even though I might not feel that I'm where I intended to be on this simple living journey (in fact most the time lately I've just plain forgotten.....), this passage reminds me that this blog has the capacity to be a living document---of those moments, of my life, of who I am at this exact time....if only I actually take the time to sit down and click out a few moments into script. In the few moments that I think about shutting down the blog, I do always contemplate using one of those hardbound services to convert the experiences and thoughts from previous years into paper......hmm....although I've thrown away/recycled some of my old journals, so not entirely sure about the point of that either. ;)

And now here are some thoughts on the book itself and the other lessons that I took out of it:

Honestly the first 3/4 of the book I wasn't overly impressed. Some of the reviews I'd read before purchasing the book had been mixed as well, but mainly from individuals who didn't know until the book arrived that the author is a known Christian author (and really you wouldn't know easily if you saw the book as a suggestion). There were many things about this book that didn't speak to me mainly based on a difference of lifestyles and that the author's manifestation of simplicity didn't necessary correspond to my idea of true simple living. The initial annoyance with the book surprised me as in the past I've delved into this material from other authors and felt much deeper connection and/or similarity of philosophy. However, there were some passages I highly enjoyed and that caused me to pause and think, including this referenced quote on friendship by CS Lewis:

"Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I [should] say 'sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.'"

Truly I only finished the book because a) I hate giving up on books and almost always see them through to the end regardless of how frustrated I become with them and b) I feel like my sister may relate more to this book and I wanted to honestly be able to send it on to her with a positive reference for her. Honestly the last three chapters of the book were my favorite: Simple Sabbath, Simple Pleasures, and Changing Seasons. From those chapters the things that stuck with me the most harken back to one of my primary reasons that I fell in love with a "simple life" in the very beginning: we need a time to refresh and restore leaving ourselves open to what God has to tell us, we are surrounded by so many incredible experiences that can bring us such pleasure if we only stop to notice creation and the daily gifts of life, and that it's not to be about us but rather about how to glorify God.

When I think of the moments from 2007 that I love the most, I am engulfed with memories of trusting in God and his provision, of keeping in mind a global outlook while focusing on my local surroundings, of relishing the glory of what surrounded me, of trying to live rightly to benefit others on this planet, of feeling that my truest gifts were minutes and hours in the company of friends and family, and of realizing that in all things it never was nor is about me.  All of those thoughts, those moments to me are the foundation of Christianity, of simplicity, and of sustainability....

So for every individual there is a book, while this one may not have been my favorite, it will probably speak to others....and at the very least it did remind me of a fabulous reason for blogging! :)

Blue Like Jazz

I've had multiple people over the years suggest that I read the book Blue Like Jazz. When we got married and integrated homes, I realized the husband had a copy in his book shelves, so its been patiently sitting there waiting for me to open its covers. This past week I finally pulled it out....and fell in love with Miller's words and experiences.

The church discussed (Imago Dei) is actually one I went to sometimes as an undergrad in Portland (although I have mixed feelings about it now after a couple of my friends were mis-treated while seeking baptism and I'm never a fan of what happens when a church grows to mega-size). The non-profit I give to (Dinner & A Movie) is one mentioned several times in the book as well, although its never directly mentioned by name. (I actually first discovered it through Imago....)

The book itself is a great discussion of Christian spirituality rather than "Christianity" per se and is much more up my alley of what I agree with from a religious point of view. Its based on establishing relationship with all kinds of people, getting over ourselves, giving to God and to others, and keeping heart on issues of social justice. Loved it, loved it!

So here is a pieced together example from the book, which is probably my favorite section/message:

Obviously all words and credit to Don Miller (and I hope its legal to do this, if not then someone please let me know and I'll delete)....

"The thing I have to work on in myself is this issue of belief....Here is the trick, and here is my point. Satan, who I believe exists as much as I believe Jesus exists, wants us to believe meaningless things for meaningless reasons. Can you imagine if Christians actually believed that God was trying to rescue us from the pit of our own self-addiction? Can you imagine? Can you imagine what Americans would do if they understood over half the world was living in poverty? Do you think they would change the way they live, the products they purchase, and the politicians they elect? If we believed the right things, the true things, there wouldn't be very many problems on earth.

But the trouble with deep belief is that it costs something. And there is something inside me, some selfish beast of a thing that doesn't like the truth at all because it carries responsibility, and if I actually believe these things I have to do something about them. It is so, so cumbersome to believe anyhing. And it isn't cool. I mean it's cool in a Reality Bites, Welcome to Sarajevo, Amnesty International sense, but that is only as good as dreadlocks. Chicks dig it to a point, but you can't be all about it; you also have to want a big house and expensive clothes because in the end, our beliefs are about as enduring as seasonal fashion. In the end, we like Ethan Hawke even though we don't know what he believes. Even our beliefs have become trend statements. We don't even believe things because we believe them anymore. We only believe things because they are cool things to believe.

The problem with Christian belief--I mean real Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell---is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe.

I had this idea once that if I could make Christianity cool, I could change the world, because if Christianity were cool then everybody would want to deal with their sin nature, and if everybody dealt with their sin nature then most of the world's problems would be solved.....

My friend Andrew the Protester believes things. Andrew goes to protests where he gets pepper-sprayed, and he does it because he believes in being a voice of change. My Republican friends get frustrated when I paint Andrew as a hero, but I like Andrew because he actually believes things that cost him something. Even when I disagree with Andrew, I love that he is willing to sacrifice for what he believes. And I love that his beliefs are about social causes.

Andrew says it is not enough to be politically active. He says legislation will never save the world. On Saturday mornings Andrew feeds the homeless. He sets up a makeshift kitchen on a sidewalk and makes breakfast for people who live on the street. He serves coffee and sits with his homeless friends and talks and laughs, and if they want to pray he will pray with them. He's a flaming liberal, really. The thing about it is, though, Andrew believes this is what Jesus wants him to do. Andrew does not believe in empty passion.

All great Christian leaders are simple thinkers. Andrew doesn't cloak his altruism within a trickle-down economic theory that allows him to spend fifty dollars on a round of golf to feed the economy and provide jobs for the poor. He actually believes that when Jesus says feed the poor, He means you should do this directly.

Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do.

.....

We live for what we believe, Andrew would say....If Andrew the Protester is right, if I live what I believe, then I don't believe very many noble things. My life testifies that the first thing I believe is that I am the most important person in the world. My life testifies to this because I care more about my food and shelter and happiness than about anybody else.

I am learning to believe better things. I am learning to believe that other people exist, that fashion is not truth; rather, Jesus is the most important figure in history, and the gospel is the most powerful force in the universe. I am learning not to be passionate about empty things, but to cultivate passion for justice, grace, truth, and communicate the idea that Jesus likes people and even loves them."

Just a section, but the rest of the book is just as fabulous. A bit of humor, a bit of sarcasm, and a lot of thinking about reality. Take a look at the whole thing......

Southern Manners & The Thank You

One of the books I purchased on my Natchitoches excusion a few weeks back was Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On! by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson (The Belle of All Things Southern). Southerners are renowned for their manners and charm and the book itself I found to be really pretty entertaining. Many of the examples in the book reminded me of one of my coworkers who is a born & bred Louisiana woman and per her request I intend to loan the book out to her in the next week. Being here in the south has definitely made me realize that I will NEVER be capable of being a Southern belle (my husband is wonderful at honestly letting me know that I lack a certain amount of tact at times and I will never desire to wear lipstick, fry my food, or add body to my perpetually flat hair), but I found it interesting that several of the elements of what it takes to be a Southern belle are in fact general manners and hospitality that have been taught in my non-Southern family.  (Although I was reminded of several things that I should be practicing to be a better person and a better hostess.)

My mother was a wonderful example of welcoming guests into our home and always offering to get them something to eat or drink upon arrival. Containers of left overs were sent home with dinner guests and while dad was in the military the home was kept in pristine guest ready condition at all times in the event that someone would be dropping by. I've mentioned before how important it is to me to have comfortable guest settings both as a potential guest and for those that visit my home---a comfortable, clean place to lay their heads, clean sheets and towels, organized and clean bathrooms, and in prepartion for granny's visit we're working on better behaving pets!

Additionally, granny instilled in me her own lessons. Every morning upon waking up, you put your face on and get yourself ready regardless of what you're doing during the day. Its worth getting yourself ready even if its just for yourself. Cussing is a sign of a lack of education (although sigh, being around the military even I've slacked on my own rule on this one....) You always fix a bit extra in case of a potential extra mouth.....or for your own left overs! Your clothing should match, cover everything it needs to, and be age and weather appropriate. You don't talk back to your elders and you respect them. Attempt to be nice to all people. But probably one of the biggest lessons Granny taught all of us was that of the thinking of you card and thank you!  We were to send thank you notes within a reasonable amount of time and she wanted it to include information about what we had been up to too.

The thank you note is something I feel is being lost in our current society. I will readily admit that at times I have fallen down on it myself and its been months late in the coming, but nothing frustrates me more than sending wedding or baby gifts and not having any indication of it even being received. Because not only does the thank you note demonstrate gratitude but it also lets the sender know that the recepient did indeed receive the gift. In this day and age, I will readily admit that if my main communication with that individual has been via email then I'm in full support of sending and receiving email thank you messages. But if I'm needing to express my gratitude to anyone in a more formal setting, then the thank you is always sent in the form of a hand-written note. I send thank yous for gifts, for interviews, for scholarships, for networking opportunities, for supportive friendship, etc. And I definitely agree with the need to follow the set thank you pattern. Thank the sender for the exact item sent, express what you intend to do with or how said item benefitted you, express interest and care in the individual who sent it, and sign off with some sort of sign of gratitude/affection.

These thoughts about thank yous are some that have come up even in my line of work recently, as a client debated in a recent workshop about the current necessity of sending a thank you for a job inteview. I explained to this client that the thank you demonstrates your ability to be be an appreciative employee and to be part of a team. And I gave the example of one of my closest and longest friends who has never failed to get a job she interviewed for because a) she's a fabulous interview preparer and b) she follows the gratitude/thank you card to a T. Thus this week I've been glad to be the receipent of three thank you notes. Two from my care package receipents: my sister-in-law and a fellow blogger friend, and one from my nephew that had been misplaced by my sister (I'm pretty sure this was one of the few thank yous I've received from him!). Nothing makes my day at work more than a client who takes the time to send an emailed note of appreciation.

Its my sincerest desire that we should keep the thank you note alive! Why shouldn't we take the time to let others know how much we appreciate them, regardless of whether its for a routine event, unexpected item or demonstration, or just for being them? Let's keep the the gift of appreciation alive....keep sending those thank yous!

Photo Project Day 8: REVIEWS

Over the course of the last few weeks I have read and watched quite a few interesting items.  The husband and I aren't big TV viewers (except for sports and the occassional Netflixed show), and it's always interesting when we're around other people who watch a lot of TV.  We hear a lot about random, brain-numbing shows, and then it's always entertaining to watch their eyes glaze over as we talk about the latest documentary we've viewed. ;-)  And speaking of documentaries, we just watched The Cove this weekend.  If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth watching.  It's about the hidden dolphin industry in Japan.

However beyond documentaries, I've also been reading quite a bit again and several have been really interesting books.  Although I must say I was quite disappointed in both the book and the film on No Impact Man.  After following his blog over the course of the year, I felt the book was not easy-to-read and unorganized.  The way the chapters were put together did not create for an easy flow of his story, and I felt the same way about the film.  In fact, my husband did not know much of the background of No Impact Man and he felt that much was assumed to be known about it.....meaning that we both walked away from the film before it ended. 

But back to the other books:

If you are at all interested in the recent health care debates, I highly suggest Reid's The Healing of America.  After going through the public health program, I feel that this book would be an excellent addition to many of the courses and I learned a lot about health care systems throughout the world.  Reid takes a global comparative glance of health care systems including their insurance mechanisms, as he searches for a solution to a personal health care issue.  His initial discussion gives an overview of the four primary health care systems that exist in the world (which all are used in the USA), and he searches out examples of each throughout the world.  Regardless of one's take on the current debates, it's an educational read.

Currently, I am in the process of reading Half the Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Kristof and WuDunn.  Another incredibly interesting read centered on the various ways that women are oppressed and struggle throughout the world including: lack of education & rights, rape as a tool of war, lack of health care access, poverty, enslaved prostitution, etc.  At the end of each chapter, there is a discussion of someone or program that is attempting to help that particular situation however.  The book is to empower others to create change.  While my reactions have been mixed, I've definitely increased my knowledge on these issues more than I ever could have imagined. 

I also recently read Pollan's In Defense of Food.  Between this book & the documentary Food, Inc the United States "should" learn to change the way it eats.  I walked away after reading this newest book of Pollan's less weary of eating whole fats, less concerned about individual nutrients and instead reminded more of the benefits of eating whole meals, and more into reading the ingredient labels of the processed foods we do eat.  Definitely a read that everyone should tap into.

And within the last few months, I finally conquered The Confessions of An Economic Hitman.  While this book will leave you annoyed with the author by the end, the information and his confession discussed in it (primarily in the first half) leave you with a new understanding for the mess of the world, thanks to our nation's business and government interests....

Two books that leave you feeling amazed at the capacity of individuals: The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears and Strength in What Remains.  And as mentioned in a previous post, the documentaries The Garden (the struggle over an inner city garden in a food desert of central Los Angeles) and Dear Zachary (murder, emotion, legal systems, family) were incredible.

I always keep a running list of books that I want to read.  I usually add to it by titles mentioned in books that I'm currently reading, mentions from friends, or reviews from magazines.  And since I don't seem to be getting called to sub, I'm relishing these final weeks by reading, cooking, relaxing, and hanging out with the dogs. ;-)

What are you reading?  Any good suggestions

Photo Project Day 2: Expansion

WORD: Expansion

Additional thought: I'm so completely glad I found the library on post.  One nice perk of the military library is that they can interlibrary loan any book I want to read from any other library in the nation.  So at least some of your tax dollars are going to a good cause!! ;-)

Steps Toward Health

So it's now the following morning and unfortunately the hub is still tied up at work.  The cat is swishing his tail on the window ledge enticing Roxi to leap at him through the curtain.  In other moments the dogs are busy holding their own combatives tournament in the middle of our living room.  At this point in the day everyone has been fed, loved on, and gotten ready for today.  Hopefully the husband will be home in the next hour or so and will be able to get some decent sleep as our bedroom is on the back half of the house.  However after being awake since 5am yesterday and at work for over 24 hours now, I'm not banking on him going on our evening run....

Like others who are attempting to get healthier with the New Year, the husband and I have doing an evening run together and trying to eat better.  Ironically our "get-in-shape" steps are due to my being weighed at my annual exam, realizing my "fat" jeans that were easily pulled off while still buttoned last December are now incredibly tight, and the hub feeling a bit too solid around his middle after a month's absence from morning PT.  Implementing an evening run has been really wonderful as it gives us something to look forward to together at day's end while releasing workday and household frustrations, and it allows us to push each other more than we could on our own.  His one rule for me is "no stopping and no walking," but as long as we keep moving I can jog as slowly as needed. So far it's worked and I've been able to get over my one tricky spot in the neighborhood. 

Additionally, after finishing Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, I've been incorporating more whole foods, especially fruits and veggies, into our diets.  I really enjoyed the different viewpoint of that book and its reminded me to look at ingredient labels and to return to a more veggie-based diet.  Since getting married I switched from a primarily vegan diet to being vegeterian but I am realizing that an increase in carbs, dairy, and portion size has led to the increase in my wasitline.  Although my husbad isn't a huge eater, for some reason in recent months I had convinced myself that it was healthy for me to match my portion sizes to those of a 6'4" man! ;-)  Somehow an increase in produce on our 1st grocery run of the month cost just a little more, but our food supplies and meal variations are also stretching more.  Unfortunately....weight never comes off quite as fast as it piles on ;-)

While on the topic of health, I'm also contemplating going back to school....again.   I've researched going into nursing (or other direct health practice options) many times over (as that's where the jobs are), but have always hesitated due to the additional cost and the need to complete prerequistes.  However I've discovered that I could reasonably take many of the prerequiste courses online (or locally) during the coming months.  The biggest catch is the competition that exists to get into nursing school back home (490 applicants, 48 slots for the one year program), but completing the prerequistes would serve me regardless due to their related nature to my current fields and the continued mental stimulation.  While financially this might not make the most sense in the present, I feel the long term pay off may be more beneficial.  (And most financial advisors agree that educational debt is one of the few debts that pays off in the long haul.)  A recent news article estimated that 600,000 nursing jobs will be created within the next 8 years, and many of the jobs that I'm most interested in for public health would require a nursing degree in the rural sector.  So while it's just a thought at present, it is an option that I'm going to start planning toward....something to keep me more mentally occupied here and something to keep me working toward the future that I hope my husband and I will be able to have together.

Still have a few topics left to cover but will get to these later. ;)  Enjoy the day!