I had hardly submitted yesterday's post when I began to think of things that I ought to have better defined, disclaimers that I should have made.  Then, I bought the book and began to read it -- Holy need-to-clarify, Batman! 

In light of that, let me add the following bullet points regarding my ATTEMPT at a 21-day cleanse and the book, Quantum Wellness ...

• When I decided to do this cleanse and announced it via blog, I did not make reference to THE OTHER SEVEN THINGS that this book addresses and suggests that the reader incorporate, like meditation (which I've done for 20 years), SPIRITUALITY (not planning to discuss that; I believe that, or lack thereof, is a private matter ... unless I'm itching for a fight), and the whole idea of Quantum Wellness.  The OTHER SEVEN THINGS, or SIX of them, are already part of my life and I intend to continue as well as to further develop these practices.  I'm really skimming over that part of the book because it is SO been-there-done-that.  The focus of this cleanse, for me, is ... TO CLEANSE and to eat more consciously, which is something that I think needs improvement in my life. 
• The book emphasizes small steps and the sort of butterfly effect that they can produce, and that is something that I also already practice and believe.  For instance, I count the little successes ... any time that I choose water over coffee or beer, each yoga pose and each walk around the yard, reading a book instead of turning on the television, or avoiding a SECOND piece of four-year aged cheddar. 
• I DON'T WATCH OPRAH!!!  Okay, so sometimes I happen to see a show if there's going to be something or someone on that I am really curious about, but I DON'T WATCH OPRAH.  In general, she's just a little much for me, if you know what I mean. 
• The basics for the cleanse are no alcohol, no caffeine, no sugar, no gluten, and no animal products.  I am rather in the habit of, also, avoiding processed foods as much as possible.  However, I noticed ON OPRAH'S 21-DAY CLEANSE BLOG (yes, I read the blog) that the participants were eating Morningstar sausage patties and such.  I don't PLAN to do that, but I may as it seems the lesser of two evils if I, in full knowledge of the crime I'm about to commit, should choose to CHEAT.   

I've decided to 'pulse' what I eat ... meaning that I will post my meals and snacks via 'pulse' on Xanga.  You can find that link HERE.  Unfortunately, I can't find an RSS feed for the site.  I considered posting my food choices to Twitter, but I don't want to clutter up X's witty comments. 

I think that I'm going to start the cleanse today or tomorrow.  I don't know if I am anxious to start, or ... anxious to get it over with.   

My other Quantum Wellness posts: 

• quantum wellness ... or, in praise of cheeses.
• quantum wellness cleanse, day four.
• sweet baby cheeses. 
• cleanse schmeanse. 

I don't generally like to make announcements about what I'm going to do because you can be sure that, if I proclaim it, I will FAIL.  Does anyone recall my big spring cleaning project in March/April?  I PLANNED TO SPRING-CLEAN THE ENTIRE HOUSE. 

I did the laundry room and three-quarters of the kitchen. 

Um, yeah. 

Well, despite that massive FAIL, I'm going to go ahead and share my present intentions, and that is to do a cleanse.  In reality, I eat pretty damn healthy most of the time ... I avoid gluten.  I stay away from nitrates.  I eat loads of organic fruits and vegetables, locally grown when possible.  I include lots of GOOD FATS in my diet, like avocado, salmon, and olive oil.  I don't drink soda, diet or otherwise.  Sweets aren't my thing, so sugar and high-fructose corn syrup rarely touch my lips (or enter my digestive system).  I also do not care for french fries and whatever other deep-fried foods are ingested by the public en masse.   Ooh, and one more thing ... I'm already dairy-free and have been for ten years. 

Unless you count CHEESE. 

That said, I do have two cups of coffee each morning and, generally, another one (OR TWO!) in the afternoon.  Then, there's Stella Artois and Newcastle, and I tend to drink one (OR TWO!) with supper each night.   Yummy-hoppy goodness.  (In the words of Homer Simpson, "Homer no function beer well without," or "Here's to alcohol, the cause of—and solution to—all life's problems.")  (An aside: When theother23 is out-of-town, we both go on the wagon.  When he's not, we both have supper with our beer ... I mean, beer with our supper.)  I'm sure that I commit other sorts of dietary infractions, which I don't intend to entertain at this moment, but their absence will be glaringly obvious once I omit them from my life, albeit temporarily.  Or, not. 

So, I've been thinking about this for a few months.  LITERALLY.  Then, I watched an episode of Oprah with guest, Kathy Freston, author of Quantum Wellness.  Ah-ha!  I knew immediately that I wanted to follow her guidelines for the cleanse.  I ordered the book from the library but, unfortunately, most of the library branches in the Southcentral system have not yet received their copy, so I'm still waiting ... 

A few days ago, Dooce blogged about doing the cleanse as well.  I mention this simply because I don't want to look like a copycat blogger.  The fact that we are both starting the cleanse in June of 2008 is merely coincidence. 

ANYHOW, I'm going to buy the book today (rather than wait on the library copy) and I intend to start the cleanse on Friday or Saturday of this week.  (Maybe I can wean myself down to one daily cup of coffee before then to make THAT transition easier, as the caffeine will potentially be the biggest challenge.  That and FOUR-YEAR AGED CHEDDAR.) 

Is anyone else interested in doing this?  Is anyone else ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT?  If so, let me know.  I need other people to SUFFER with me while I attempt to get back into shape, like I was five years ago ... Continue reading →

I'm doing that now, even though there isn't a party to break from, just life ...

For her birthday, she wanted (and got) ... breakfast at the diner, a day of simple pleasures and things that she enjoys (like gaming), theother23's specially-prepared grilled hot dogs for dinner, and a movie (Be Kind, Rewind) for the three of us. 

Perfect.

With tomorrow being X's birthday and the summer solstice, and me busy tidying up of details for TWO parties and this thing called LIFE, I do believe I'm going to be a little behind with posting.  I am already behind on commenting, and I do apologize for that.  I will tell you right now:  I WON'T GET CAUGHT UP. 

(I'll try to get X to post at HER SITE tomorrow, as her b-day seems to be about the only time that she ever blogs.)

If by some chance you are missing me, bored, or PLAIN CRAZY, you can find me at MY OTHER BLOG, where I write a little more in-depth.  Think ... a paragraph as opposed to a TITLE.  I also have a VIDEO BLOG.  I know, I know ... like I need to spend more time blogging, right?  I post videos there almost daily.  It is ALMOST interesting.  Okay, it's not really interesting at all. 

There's also Twitter, which is kind of like Xanga's Pulse, and Flickr, where I post the photos you see here PLUS the ones that don't quite make the cut. 

These links are also in my left-hand sidebar for my your convenience. 

(About the photo?  My first-ever Xanga self-portrait ... from SIX years ago.  So many friends have been celebrating their Xangaversaries this week, and I will celebrate six years in August!   Heh, remember that poor little camera that was held together with duct tape?  Sometimes I miss the days of point-and-shoot cameras.  Mostly NOT; I love my DSLR, but am now ready for a new one.  Soon.  Maybe.)

Oh, and did I mention that it is X's birthday on Friday and there is a celebration that day and there is a party on Saturday and there is a party on Sunday and Parfrey's Glen is closed due to the rain/flooding and plans are changing and the weather is iffy and I have more errands than I have time to do them in and more people to invite and less days to do it in than yesterday and that I am definitely running in place, like in the cartoons, where they rev up their feet before they GO?!

Please listen to audio file while looking at the photo.   Other ambient audio-photo(s) HERE.