Moving to a new blog

Hey all,

Most of my posts are now at a new blog. It's called rawreevolution.

Hope to see y'all there.

Thanks for any comments. I appreciate 'em.

Vegan or vegetarian

Some people don't even understand the difference. Personally, I hope to eventually become a full-fledged vegan meaning I don't eat any animal products including meat, dairy and eggs. Right now, I'm moving towards lacto-ovo-vegetarian with NO CHEESE or CREAM PRODUCTS or perhaps a macrobiotic diet. I can't really decide.

This LINK explains the shades of vegetarianism.

Of course, I can't tolerate every grain either. I have to watch myself around certain rices and breads. I have to really make sure that I don't touch any refined products, especially of the carbohydrate variety.

Lately, I feel like it's easier NOT to eat than to figure out this maze. I'm not going to do that...I was bulimic for 14 years of my life and it messed my metabolism and my body up in ways I'm still discovering...but, some days it seems that everything I want to eat is just harmful to my body.

Some famous veggie eaters include:

Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Michael Stipe (REM)
Moby
Paul McCartney
Weird Al Yankovic
Liv Tyler
Shania Twain
Pamela Anderson
Christina Applegate
and Bryan Adams

Obeying the Muse

Okay! I'm getting ready for summer. The kids get out on Thursday. That's only two days away. I have an eguide to write, a ton of articles I need to get done so we can go away and the muse won't let me be. Oh no!

She won't let me get out of my own head so I can do the work I'm supposed to. The siren's calling. I must heed her. She wants to write articles about historical women. She wants to write poems about my wounded womb. She wants to avoid thinking about going to Boston to visit my parents. She wants me to read books that have nada to do with my research.

The muse is a brazen, selfish bitch. I must resist her, in part, at least!

Gotta go see my son launch a rocket after school. Yippee! Nothing more fun in almost 100 degree heat! Luckily, my daughter is surprisingly low-maintenance. I'm blessed with good kids. It's the schools that expect so much from us.

Okay! I'm whining.

On a pseudo-fast this week and being 80% vegetarian and 30% raw. My skin has broken out, releasing toxins...but I'm in my early 30s. I'm tired of ACNE!

bitch, kvetch, whine. I'm sick of myself. Adieu for now.

Falafel - a Wondrous food

This weekend I had my first falafel. Now, I can't get it out of my mind. It's so strange. I had always wanted to try falafel but never did. No real reason why. Just didn't.

I'm definitely contemplating vegetarianism as a lifestyle choice. Currently, I'm reading a book called 365 Good Reasons to be A Vegetarian. I also finished reading a book on Jim Morrison's early poetry this weekend. Yup! I read about 2 books a week, sometimes more. I read fast.

Yesterday was a tough day. Very sick. Hate having fibromyalgia sometimes. Trying to take it slow today...trying, but really can't.

Got too much to do. Keeping chicksnchips afloat, writing a poker e-guide, my novel(s) - yes, plural. Besides, Dark Secrets, I'm working on a serial killer tome set in Las Vegas called The Highest Stakes. I'm busy, busy, busy!

Not to mention the kiddoes are almost out of school for the summer. What's a mom to do! and the house is a mess, y'all!

Fuggedaboutit! I'll clean when they're in college.

Dark Secrets

Dark Secrets is the title of my first full-length paranormal romance. It's currently in the works. I have such a hard time writing descriptively. Man, it's tough. I've also got the poetry in my soul, y'all. It's calling to me. My muse is working overtime.

Here's an excerpt from my prologue. Hope you like it:


“Jim, please don’t give up. Stay with me,” Isabela pleaded with her mate, the man she spent the last two decades living with and loving.
“Bela,” Jim croaked in pain. She could tell it was unbearable for him. “Don’t cry for me. I’ve lived a better life than I deserved to. Thanks to you. I-I-I…” His breathing was hard yet shallow. She could tell the effort was enormous.

Isabela grabbed his hand. Once it was so strong. Now, it appeared shrunken somehow. The chronic heart attacks and the thickening of his blood from the thalassamia had changed the man she loved significantly. He was a shell of his former self. “Don’t speak, my love. It’s too draining.”

Dr. Richard Vanelt, Jim’s best friend and colleague at Boston General in the hematology department, entered the bedroom. He had a huge gym bag of sorts with him. Isabela wondered what it was for. “Isabela, I got here as quickly as I could. Jim, you wanted to speak with me?”


I must say that this process is very difficult. Very!

Good Morning Starshine The Earth Says Hello

I love that quote. It's from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp and originally from a song from the musical Hair. You know - when Willy greets the kiddoes at his factory.

Willy reminds me of me sometimes. So awkward in social situations. A true geek that feels more comfortable alone. My hubby even says that I'm a 'sociopath'. He means it as a joke. I am no sociopath because well, I have strong empathy for others and I feel guilt immensely. I was raised Roman Catholic in the Archdiocese of Boston by an Italian-Born mother and a superstitious Portuguese-American father.

The point is - I'm shy with some serious antisocial tendencies. I'm not rude, but I'm not ever the one to start a conversation. Afraid I'd be bothering people.

Wow! I'm officially killing my own buzz. Was having a great morning. Felt no stress. No sadness. No depression. I attribute it to the foods I've been eating. I'm partially RAW (about 20%). It's a start and about 70% vegan. I'm also gluten and dairy free. I notice changes in my body - LESS FLUID RETENTION, LESS PAIN! For a woman with Fibromyalgia, I welcome less pain anytime!

Last night, I made this killer Banana Frozen "Yogurt". I also did 'yogurt' yesterday (That's what my three year old calls yoga!) She's so cute!

Here's the recipe (remember the measurements are approximate as I'm a tactile cook. I just toss stuff in!)

2 Frozen Bananas - mildly ripe is good!
1/2 cup organic walnut halves and pieces - diced or chopped real fine
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut - shredded
1/4 cup raw, all-natural honey (***agave nectar would be a better substitute but the kids don't like it as much)
1/8 cup water (to get the blender moving)
15-20 cacao nibs

Steps
1) Throw everything in blender
2) Blend until mixed - consistency should be like a slightly melted frozen yogurt.
3) serve
4) eat