Today is my lame-o book giveaway.  Please CLICK HERE for your chance to win (and, also, so I don't look like an idiot for holding a contest that NO ONE ENTERS).

When I first started blogging SIX YEARS AGO, I posted a lot of self portraits.  I'm not sure why.  Just exploring with the camera, I guess.  I did that for a few years, and then it ... just ... sort of ... stopped. 

In case you weren't around then, or even if you were ... This is me.  Hi. 

• X's twitter.
• my new flickr group, home comforts.  (if you are on flickr, consider yourself invited.)
• moontree studios (the play-by-play art project days are awesome.)
• grilled tomatoes with rosemary and garlic.

You know that thing that I've been doing?  That thing that rhymes with FLENZ?!  It has spring-boarded me to make a few more commitments, to challenge myself with some small changes.  (I see that I'm in good company as Wenderina is now under new management.)

• Read for an hour (or more) each day -- This probably seems lame and easy, but, as much as I enjoy reading, I put it on the backburner far too often.  On a similar note, has anyone else signed up for GoodReads? 
• Walk everywhere that I can and, when possible, take the dog -- This probably seems like another no-brainer and I'm ashamed that I don't walk more.  I usually save up all my errands for one day and then do them by car. 
• Daily video blog -- I'm going to try to post DAILY at my DAILY video blog (as opposed to NOT DAILY). 
• Read the newspaper -- The Wisconsin State Journal is delivered to our home each morning.  X reads it more than I do, I am ashamed to say.  I would also like to do the puzzles more, especially Sudoku, which I love to play. 
• Go to bed earlier -- I don't want to stay up so late and would like to go to bed around 9 pm as opposed to 11, even if to read for an hour.   

And, that's all the fun and excitement going on in my world, folks.  How are you?

Thursday became Friday, and Friday became Saturday/Sunday this week(end) because theother23 is heading out of town to do damage control and put out metaphorical fires.  He left this morning and should be home in about two weeks.  It sucks but, at least as field operations manager, he is now home a lot more ... like, 50% more. 

On faux-Friday, he and I watched the entire first season of Californication which, once I got past all the gratuitous nudity in episode one, was quite entertaining.  If you don't mind some crude adult humor, I recommend it.  Not quite as good as Weeds, but fun nonetheless.  Faux-Saturday started out relaxing, lying around in bed for two hours and listening to the storm while talking, then getting up to shop at Whole Foods.  After that, a movie (Hellboy II) for the other two while I putzed around the house, and another movie at home (Eagle vs. Shark) for all three of us in the evening. 

All in all, it was a good faux-weekend.  Short, but sweet. 

And now?!  X and I have the real weekend ahead of us.  We started it out with an episode of Flight of the Conchords.  That led to the conclusion that we must watch the series in its entirety.  Too bad we're #86 on the wait list at the library. 

We've spent the last four hours practicing guitar and piano, printing out some new music, surfing the internet, reading, and lounging on the sofa.  I think that I'll wander out to the garden now.  Tonight and tomorrow, I foresee more reading, snacking, and lollygagging. 

Today is day 13 of my cleanse, and I've spent a lot of time mulling over how it's going and how I'm planning to eat when it ends.

First of all, I have to say that I'm feeling REALLY good.  For those that don't know, I have multiple endocrine diseases (type I diabetes 25 years, hypothyroidism, & anti-GAD antibodies in my system), which have progressively depleted my energy over the years, seemingly no matter how well I eat, sleep, exercise, et cetera.  (Quality of life, in terms of pain and energy, has been a huge issue for me for almost a decade.)  Less than a week into the cleanse, I noticed that I had a lot more physical energy and mental motivation than usual, and I have been able to sustain this.  It's like, all that spring cleaning that I didn't do in April?  It's getting the hell done NOW.  So, I definitely give the cleanse credit for helping me to feel MUCH better.   

I'm not having any difficulties with food cravings and I don't feel deprived.  My meals might seem a little boring and repetitive, but I am still discovering new-to-me foods and seeking out recipes to try.  Besides, I tend to eat foods in cycles.  Like, I ate tostados for about a week because I was slightly obsessed with them, but now I probably won't have one until next month. 

I am not 100% sure what will change about my diet when day 22 comes along and I can, seemingly, eat whatever the heck I desire.  I think that since I'm feeling SO GOOD, I will just eat something that wasn't on the cleanse if I really crave it, and then I will observe how it makes me feel.  For instance, maybe I'll notice that gluten makes me tired or sore.  If so, I'll limit it.  If not, I'll eat it when I want it.  I appreciate good cheeses, like grana or aged cheddar, so I suspect that will make an appearance in my life once or twice a week.  Eggs ... maybe, especially in a birthday cake or whatever.  I don't really plan to eat meat, but that could change.  Fish comes to mind.  For the most part, I do know that animal products bog my body down and fruits, vegetables, and grains help me to feel normal-ish for the first time in A LONG TIME.  Feeling good trumps eating mindlessly, but a little indulgence is good for quality of life too.   

I will definitely have coffee again ... probably once a day, possibly more.  Sugar isn't really an issue.  I don't crave it.  If I should, I'll indulge.  While I don't care for most alcohol, I like fine beers.  I haven't made a firm decision about that EXCEPT that I won't have it more than once-in-a-while.  And, mimosas on Mother's Day. 

I am planning to do one more post about the Quantum Wellness cleanse on Day 21 (July 17 at my other blog), at which time I plan to give away my copy of the book.  It's not a fancy-schmancy contest nor a fancy-schmancy prize, but if you were thinking about buying the book, please come by that day and leave a comment for a chance to win it instead.  Seriously, your odds of winning will probably be one out of five. 

My previous Quantum Wellness posts: 

• quantum wellness ... or, in praise of cheeses.
• NEWSFLASH: disclaimers and clarifications! 
• quantum wellness cleanse, day four.
• sweet baby cheeses.

Luna aka Lunatron aka Lunar aka Lunabomber aka Retardo Montalban aka Lunatuna aka Lunarama aka Girl.

(Edited to add:  Our three cats were all strays and/or saved from animal shelters.  Luna, however, is an AKC Akita, raised for the show ring until the age of seven months.  At that time, she had an eye injury that required surgery, so she could no longer compete and was put up for sale.  Her grandpa was best Akita in breed at Westminster Dog Show about ten years ago.  Her ring training is still very evident as she only knows how to walk on our left side, and she circles clockwise.  ALWAYS.)

On Sunday, we went to the local dog park.   Continue reading →

I meant to make this recommendation BEFORE 4th of July weekend, but it didn't happen. 

Listen, if you're into grilling with charcoal, I strongly urge you to consider trying a hardwood charcoal.  A few months back, I bought 365 Everyday Value™ Hardwood Charcoal at Whole Foods.  The price was $5.99 for eight pounds.  Theother23 says that, for traditional charcoal, he spends about $11.00 for a 20-pound bag.  We usually get three, maybe four, meals out of that.  Although the hardwood charcoal was a little more per pound, we were able to get SEVEN meals out of one little eight-pound bag, which meant that we spent about half as much in the end.  AWESOME. 

This is what it says on the Whole Foods website:

Our 365 Everyday Value™ Charcoal is the real thing made from 100% hardwoods like oak, maple and hickory. No trees are cut for our charcoal; it's made from small pieces of wood recovered from hardwood floor and furniture industries. Because this fuel is pure, with none of the additives used in charcoal "briquettes," it lights more easily; is more responsive to changes in oxygen level so you can regulate it more easily; and burns cleaner and hotter. Since it contains no impurities, you can add hardwood charcoal to the fire while you're cooking, without having to worry about waiting for the chemicals to burn off, as you would with briquettes.

Okay, so ... Yesterday, one of my best friends became, like, the TENTH person to ask me if I read that Dooce quit the cleanse.  My answer to her and everyone else has been:  Yes, and I'm comment #30 on that post.  I do disagree with her doctor's assessment, but it's not wise of me to judge as I'm not aware of her health history and other mitigating factors BECAUSE I AM NOT HER DOCTOR.  That said, I think that it is HIGHLY unlikely that a lackadaisical cleanse like this one (the Quantum Wellness cleanse) would/could/should cause a sinus infection unless, maybe, the person had been snorting parmesan cheese the week beforehand. 

I'm just saying. 

As for me, this is day seven.  I did not have a caffeine withdrawal headache.  (I drank about three small cups per day before the cleanse.)  Coffee is what I crave most, and this is only when I feel sleepy.  I feel sleepy now. 

The last few days, I have had a bit more energy and that is saying A LOT because energy and I aren't friends.  I've also slept a little better than usual.  (The first few days, I didn't sleep quite as well as I generally do.)  I don't feel deprived.  I don't feel hungry.  If anything, most days, I should eat a little more. 

A lot of people have been asking me about RECIPES and "what foods can I eat" and "you're an abomination".   Here are a few of my favorite things to eat on the cleanse.  (I have to admit that the first three feel like cheating.)  (You can also see what I eat daily HERE.)

• Amy's Organic Shepherd's Pie is THE AWESOME.  (Also, it's gluten-free and dairy free and did I mention awesome?) 
• Dooce's tostado suggestion (and several varieties thereof) is VERY satisfying and delicious.  I want one now, but I'm out of refried beans. 
• Van's Organic Waffles, which are wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and NOT yummy-free. 
• Beans.  I love them, so I make a lot of bean salads.  No recipe.  Pick your favorite canned beans, rinse them, and then add your favorite diced vegetables (or whatever is on hand).  I generally use a balsamic vinaigrette.  However, that often contains sugar, so I went with simple vinegar and olive oil. 
• Meatless meatballs with spaghetti sauce (sometimes with brown rice pasta). 

My other Quantum Wellness posts: 

• quantum wellness ... or, in praise of cheeses.
• NEWSFLASH: disclaimers and clarifications! 
• quantum wellness cleanse, day four.
• cleanse schmeanse.