Random thoughts about the past in the future

Having a little time on my hands, I've been sorting through and cleaning out years of stored personal papers. I've just completed shredding 15 years worth of bank statements and cancelled checks (yes, SK, it's finally finished, phew!). While the blades whirled, my mind wandered to a university project a few years ago in which students and their professor dug through and uncovered decades of landfill. The experiment was designed to discover the rate of decay of various materials. What they found was that tightly packed paper devoid of sunlight and unexposed to the atmosphere remained pretty much intact. In an age when identify theft had yet to take place, check stubs and registers weren't destroyed. And this gave the students a whole other layer to their study - a bonus, if you will. For there in the depths of landfills was a perfectly preserved microcosm of the everyday life of ordinary people; a slice of society of the day.

So what's going to happen a couple of hundred years from now, with everything now shredded, recycled or deleted? Just a random thought.

Balancing act

According to an article I read awhile back, undertaking a new venture needs to have a healthy balance of excitement and anxiety. These two emotions serve as a check and balance to motivate us yet provide a necessary degree of caution. When the balance is right, life changes can take place. It's not a guarantee of success mind you, but it spurs us on and, when necessary, to accept disappointment for what it is, a learning experience, a bump in the road.

True failure only occurs when these emotions are out of balance. When excitement rules, we are often careless or ill prepared. Success - however, we measure it - can be short lived. When anxiety weighs down the scale, we usually remain stuck in place. The trying never begins.

So how do we keep the balance?

JRB

Survival 101

Our shoreline is cursed with rip currents (sometimes called riptides or undertow). Roughly, for those who don't know, rip currents are caused when waves are prevented from returning to the ocean by something such as a sandbar. The current moves along the obstruction until if finds a spot where it can break through. The water is literally ripped out to sea. They are strong and dangerous to swimmers, who are often blindsided. The good news is that they don't go on for ever, either in time or distance. So if caught up in one, how do we survive these too often deadly phenomena?

• Relax - don't struggle, you'll only wear yourself out
• Don't try to swim back to shore while you're caught in the current, you'll only wear yourself out
• Swim with the current, parallel to the shore, the average rip current is about 30 ft. Once you're out of the rip current, head for shore
• If swimming parallel is too difficult, then go with the flow, it will take you out into calmer water, from where you can signal someone on the shore for help and also find it easier to follow the previous step (or rather, stroke)

When you think about it, this is also good advice for life in general. Let's face it, most of us at some point have been or will be blindsided by a personal rip current, which brings with it a real fear of emotional if not actual drowning. So when it happens, remember the rules of survival:

Relax...go with the flow...ask for help.

Food for thought

Fear and I have been periodically acquainted over the years. In fact, we're probably better acquainted that I care to admit. Fear is one of those bad-ass people that you know you shouldn't hang with but are just not that easy to give up. You know the kind, gives you really bad advice and encourages you to eat all the wrong food that simply feeds your insecurities but sure tastes good. So how do we cut these ties that bind?

I found this article on Care2 helpful.

Random thoughts about the iPad

It used to be that necessity was the mother of invention but we've moved light years beyond that. Now we primarily invent for the sake of inventing and for profit - then we're sold on the supposed use for the technology by the corporations making the profit. However, having said that, I believe that technology has potential for good or evil and that there are some inventors who are still looking at the need for new technology - particularly in the medical field. But bottom line here - I don't need an iPad.

There's a good article about this on Care2 Does Anyone Really Need an iPad?

What springs to mind...

I cannot get motivated. Here it is Saturday, the end of February and I have an errand list as long as my arm; I need to clean the house in preparation for yet another house guest; the dog is begging for a walk; I need to do my income tax returns; and yet here I sit, blogging. Meanwhile this morning, my 88 year old neighbor, who is totally motivated apparently, and his 50+ nephew have cut down two dead dogwood trees in my yard. Well, that's embarrassing! My guilt level rose enough that I put on my coat and went outside to "help". That consisted of unlocking the gate so Mr. A. didn't have to scale the fence at least and then raking off some Spanish moss from the Japanese magnolia (what an International garden I have!). The reason for this inertia? The miserable weather! It's been too cold for too long.This wasn't in the brochure. This is, after all, the South. Yes, we have seasons but freezing temps for anything over a day? Come on. I am so ready for spring.

What's in a name?

What with a special electing convention, then the consecration of the new bishop (and my new boss), followed in ten days by our annual convention, I feel that "almost a life" is very apt. I've been putting in 14 hour days, 7 days a week, without even a lunch break. I haven't seen my father in the nursing home for over a week and I'm, to be frank, exhausted. One bright moment is my coming home to notes saying, "Dinner's in the fridge; animals fed." Thanks, S.K.! It's been a Godsend.

Whining over? Never!

After two weeks of very little wine - two glasses - or carbs and no fresh fruit, I have dropped 8 pounds and am definitely ready to start adding those lovely low glycemic, high fibre fruits and starches back into my diet. In reality, my weight fluctuates regularly by 10 lbs due to, who else, George, who believes that I'm his personal lap cushion. Perhaps I should take him to my annual check-up and have them weigh us together!

Don't forget to drip your pipes!

Yeah, but see what happens! My friend, Carol Melton, took this photo of icicles on the Forsyth Park fountain in Savannah. This is the longest cold spell I've experienced in Savannah and I've been here 30 years! But this week it'll be in the mid-sixties (Fahrenheit)

Whining & Dining, one week out - rant #1

It's somewhat of a disconnect that in a nation (when did we stop saying "country") of obesity we are a people obsessed with our weight. Of course, it's big business. It only makes sense for manufacturers of diet pills and programs to keep us overweight, that way no customer is lost. And don't get me started on clothing. Too late, I'm on a rant...I have stayed about the same size now for 25 years yet incredulously I dropped THREE dress sizes! It's a miracle. And now I know people who wear a size zero, yet they look clothed. Another miracle. Ladies, remember when we were teenagers and a few extra pounds meant that no way were we going to try on let alone buy a new swimsuit? But if I need a size 10 this year whereas last year I was a 12, I must look fab in that bikini, right? And those bulges and overhang must be due to something being wrong with the dressing room mirror.

Now, don't get me wrong, I believe it's my responsibility not "them others" to maintain a healthy lifestyle for myself, it's just that sometimes I feel as though I have to deflect those weighty bullets, sort of like Wonder Woman, well except without the long flowing auburn hair, long legs and cinched waste.

Whining and Dining, Day 6

Confession being good for the soul, I thought I'd post that I cheated yesterday (Day 6) and had a glass of cabernet. I had planned a dinner with friends before deciding to get back on track and didn't want to cancel. I know, I know, I could have had dinner without wine but it wouldn't have been the same. I savored every sip - and I did sip it - and stuck to one glass. So no damage done, I think.

PS The Sisters in Haiti are safe and uninjured. Their living quarters right now is a football field, along with countless other people.

Haiti

In the light of the horrendous plight of Haitians, continuing to document my losing weight seems not only trivial but totally inappropriate.

We don't even know the full extent of loss of life or the number of injuried.  The Episcopal Church has around 180,000 members in Haiti. The Society of St. Margaret - an Order dear to my heart - has lost its convent and its two schools (one for the handicapped), the cathedral is gone as is the bishop's house. No one has heard from the sisters; the bishop & his wife are okay (she slightly injured), but we have no news of students. One of our Order of Preachers - an RN - is headed to Haiti next week with the Red Cross. This is where the US military are at their best, dealing with the aftermath of disasters.They can have mobile hospitals up and running in a matter of hours. I am so grateful to our President for responding quickly. Doctors Without Borders are already established in Haiti, only without a hospital standing and with little supplies. Rescue dogs are on the ground.

It's estimated that 3 million are in need of assistance. It must seem a daunting task for everyone. I remember years ago a poster for hunger relief said, "How do you feed 10 million hungry children? One at a time." I guess the same is true in this case, but it can't be easy when you're trying to unearth family, friends and neighbors from the rumble.

For most of us, the best we can do is donate monetarily. I'm doing so through Episcopal Relief & Development.

Whining and Dining, Day 3

Give us a quiche!

Life's not at all that bad when this tasty crustless spinach quiche can be on the menu!

(PS, 3 sweaters and an apron are adding to my bulk.)

Whining and Dining, Day 2

After the second full day on Phase 1 of South Beach, I remember how much I actually enjoy this food. Sure the first two weeks of ridding the memory and body of sugars is somewhat intense; however, I know that I feel better overall on this low glycemic diet. I think each body needs to find its correct diet - a way of eating for life that maintains health and proper weight without depriving the tastebuds.

And it might surprise some of my friends that I miss fruit (only 12 days left) rather than wine (only 12 days left for this also)!

Julie Powell I'm not: Day 1

No rich sauces or deboned ducks (thank goodness!) - but I think if I post something each day about Phase One, the accountability will help. So far, so good - but then I've only been up a couple of hours and had only a cup of tea. BUT I didn't put sugar in it.

But seriously, I've posted a big sign on the cupboard door. It emphasizes the foods I CAN eat (and there are many) rather than those I shouldn't (most of which I don't eat when I cook for myself anyway).

Perhaps trying a diet devoid of root veggies during this unusually cold period is not the smartest thing to do, but there are limits to how far my seams will stretch! Besides, lentils and split peas are permissable, so I feel a huge pot of yummy soup on the horizon.

Now, where did I put that Beano?

My serve, I believe

I have a chef house guest at the moment. Since he arrived, we’ve been playing a sort of table tennis. He serves up a delicious meal heavier in fat and carbs than I’m used to and I counter with a leaner, vegetarian dish. We both acknowledge and appreciate each other’s ability and taste. The only problem – for me –is that I’m being weighed down by his “good” food. I realized yesterday as I struggled to pull my jeans pass my hips that I need to change the rules. For the next two weeks I’ll be back practicing my game: Phase One of South Beach. That means absolutely no carbs – no alcohol, no fruit, no starch, no sugar –no carbs period. So for the next two weeks I guess you can say I’ll be whining and dining.

View Master 9.0

Last night I saw the movie Avatar. What a marvelous film! Not just in the way it was made but in its story and remarkable alien planet and inhabitants. It was my first - yes, first - 3D movie. From what I understand, that's not a bad thing because this movie is the first of its kind. The technology is far superior from anything that's been used previously. But for all its 21st century techsplendor, it still took me back to my childhood and being awed by the Road Runner in full three-dimensions through my handheld View Master - click, click..."Wow! Would you look at this? Dad, how'd they do this?" "I'm not sure. Perhaps your Mother knows."

Happy 2010!