Soul Runnings

Antipasto Pasta Salad with Turkey Pepperoni I woke up this morning feeling pretty darn good.  My neck was rather sore, so I did my hitting of the snooze alarm for awhile, why I let the cool air from the fan revive me.  It seems to have cooled down quite a bit last night. In fact, as I waited for the bus ride home last night after teaching, there was a gentle, refreshing breeze that I quite enjoyed. Yesterday was a good day overall. I ate very healthy.  I had a moment between students where I felt the need for a small snack. I had not packed anything, so I stopped at a convenience store. I usually buy unsweetened iced tea to pick me up.  But I felt a little weak and was thinking some protein would do the trick. Usually I buy a small bag of nuts. But I took some time to read the calorie and sodium content on the back of the packages. Most of the small packages of various salted nuts were about 400 calories!  Luckily they had unsalted, raw almonds.  A...

Again I had a big family feast yesterday.  We had chicken soft tacos, beans, chips and salsa and strawberry shortcake. But I stopped eating at 7:00 p.m. I feel I didn't overeat, except for I observed myself being quite drawn to the chips and salsa. Especially before dinner. We watched the USA women's soccer team defeat the Japanese team and win the World Cup!  Most exciting! I found myself reaching again and again for the bowl of chips and dunking in the salsa and crunching madly away. Then I noticed a look from my daughter.  I got hold of myself and stopped the manic munching! But, as usual, I was dragging this morning.  I drank a lot of water last night. I stretched this morning. But after I watered the plants and took out the dog, I lay back down with the window open and fan blowing. Finally, a bit of sweet cool air upon my face!  This summer heat is maddening.  So I did not go to the track this morning.  I am heading to the gym in about an hour...

When I was young, maybe 11 years old, I read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.  I would like to read it again.  But after all these years, what made a profound impact on my life was his daily schedule. When I feel overwhelmed with the business of my life, I always go back to making a daily, hourly schedule. Here is an image of Benjamin's Franklin Schedule.  I have kept lists all my life. But in revisiting his schedule, what pops out at me are the two questions he asks of himself. In the morning:  "What good shall I do this day?" In the evening, "What good have I done today?" I love this.  It reminds me of a prayer technique I learned.  At the SEEL retreat a few years back.  SEEL stands for "Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life"  "St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, developed his Spiritual Exercises so that people could retreat for 30 days of prayer and silence to grow in their relationship with God and lear...

Independence Day has a new meaning to me this year. This year I am experiencing increasing freedom from my unhealthy eating patterns, and freedom of increased mobility! This morning I contemplated running on the trail. But the sun was already blazing when I woke up.  The gym is closed. So I worked out in our living room.  20 minutes on the stationary bike and then some crunches and plank.  It was nice working out at home. I might do this more often.  I set my Kindle up against the screen of the bike and watched a video on ballet exercises. I rented the "Eric Zimmer Dance Workout". I tried a few moves. I really like it. But my legs are still so sore from my leg workout, two days ago, that I kept it slow and easy. Did some stretching. Then my daughter and I made a nice American 4th of July dinner for when the men come home. I made barbecue beer chicken in the crockpot. I referred to the recipe from Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body. (http://www.fatgirltrappedin...

Andrew at Crown Point, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Andrew and Taylor. These are my two beautiful children! Andrew's 22nd birthday with me at Momiji Sushi in Salem last year Funny thing. Today is Day 53. I am 53 years old and it is my son's 23rd birthday.  I think today will be a very good day! Yesterday was a good day indeed!  I started the day with a cup of cabbage soup. And I ended the day with a cup of cabbage soup. Yay for cabbage soup! It has a lot of water content, loaded with healthy veggies and very low calorie.  I must keep this in the dinner rotation. It is really early in the morning on July 3rd. Today is my son Andrew's 23rd birthday. I couldn't sleep because of the heat, so I am up posting a birthday picture shrine to my son on Facebook.  Hopefully he'll be happy and not too terribly embarrassed.  He has come a long way in the last few years. Overcome the loss of a close friend, and has pulled himself up out of the hell of subs...

I made a big pot of cabbage soup in my crockpot last night.  I just had a bowl. Yum!  I am going to the next level on my eating today.  The soup I made was fashioned after that old cabbage soup diet craze, but I am not doing fads. I am just committing myself to healthier eating for life. I used this recipe from Sparkpeople.com: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2094757&utm With a few variations of course! I added a chopped jalepno and instead of tomato juice, I just chopped up some fresh tomatoes.  And I added fresh parsley from my daughter's garden. I heading to the gym now and then to meet up with a friend and play through some piano/recorder duets. Trying to keep processed carbs, salt, and junk food to a minimum or a zero! :) Happy Thursday! 

A good face day! On my way to Salem today. The A/C on this bus is blasting cool air on my face. I feel good! I even think I am starting to enjoy this summer weather. I told my daughter that our sense of survival kicks in at the end of a hot day.And we feel proud to have made it into the evening, when it cools off a bit and a refreshing breeze begins to blow. I stuck to my plan yesterday. Did a good, strong back/biceps work out and 2 miles on the elliptical. Ate healthy, stopping all food at 7 pm. Last night I went for a moonlit walk with my daughter, son-in-law and dog. The moon was full and luminous. And Jupiter and Venus were close to each other and so bright! I read they have not been in this configuration since the birth of Jesus. some are calling it the Star of Bethlehem. It wad amazing to witness. I wonder what it was like that night 2000 years ago? Feeling good. Feeling blessed. Happy Wednesday!