Health 'n Humanism

2011-08-14T09:27:00.001-07:00

Kitchen sponges are the No. 1 source of germs in the whole house. Why? The moist, micro-crevices that make a sponge such an effective cleaning device also make it a cozy home for germs and more difficult to disinfect. Wiping your counters or dishes with a dirty sponge will only transfer the bacteria from one item to another. "Wet your sponge and then pop it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate the germs that lurk inside the crevices," says Neil Schachter, MD,

- source
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/germs-in-kitchen

2010-03-24T20:36:00.001-07:00

"What would happen if even one generation were raised with respect and without violence?" Gloria Steinem

Yoga Heals Too

2010-03-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

PRANAYAMA (breathing) + ASANAS (postures) eradicate disease.

YOGA improves circulation, respiration, muscle tone and nerve strength, and is a ritual to bolster your spirit and mind...

a physical prayer.

Migraine Remedies

2010-01-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

essential oils of lavender, sandalwood, eucalyptus or peppermint to massage the forehead to get quick relief

grapes

massage

the smell of pleasant food

INFJ

2009-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

succeed by perserverance, originality and desire to do whatever is needed or wanted. Put their best effort into their work. Quietly forceful, conscientious, concerned for others. Respected for their firm prinicples. Likely to be honoured and follwed for their clear visions as to how best serve the common good.
*
type watching:
"allows for personal need of the moment"
P's are life's question raisers (typically answering a Q with a Q)
J's are life's advice givers
*
avoid putting your partner in a corner conversationally
appreciate partner's ability to generate alternatives. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO CONSIDER THEM.
*
E's astounded by I's word for word recollections of coversations the E doesn't remember having had

The Logic of Love

2009-09-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

why love at the risk of terrible anguish?
because doing so maintains our capacity and willingness to do!

DARING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, EVEN THO YOU MAY GET HURT, is the only way to realize your deepest desires.

Religions To Explore?

2009-08-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

[ ] christianity, represented by the crucifix and with a diversity of expressions, with Sunday as the first day of the week in most communities and an focus on the observance of the Ten Commandments and allegiance to Christ
lent march 6, christmas, easter, etc. etc.

[ ] judaism, represented by the shield (star) of david
synagogues, rituals, their very identity as jews
the year is a lunar year of twelve months, beginning late Sept/early Oct (each month begins with a full moon, and religious days run sunset to sunset)
rosh hanana, yom kippur, hanukkah

[ ] Jainism small percent of India's population, mercantile and professional classes
non injury to any living thing

[ ] Hinduism
om, the Persian word for Indian and a complex religious tradition which has evolved into highly diverse beliefs and practices, no founder and no practices or dogma and doctrine. a religion of feasts, fasts and festivals (esp connected to seasons and major gods)

[ ] Buddism
founded within Hinduism, temples
represented by the wheel of truth, like life, always in motion
buddah means "one who has awoken" coexists with folk relitions such as confucianism, Taoism and Shinto. no single calendar, but the full moon as the most important first day for celebration
(chinese new year jan 31)

[ ] Sikhism
weapons of self defense against tyranny and injustice
ten gurus, warrior nature

[ ] Islam
crescent new moon determines the calendar, "submission to god" total way of life prescribed patterns of order for family life, law, business, food, dress, and etiquette. ramadan and the pilgrammage

[ ] zoroastrianism
the dignity of humanity, small prosperous community mainly in India with 7 holidays
creation, fire and righteousness

[ ] aboriginal peoples
sacred objects, sacred feathers, sacred herbs and sacred art
primal traditions
contrasts in languages, geography and climatic zones
time and process, seasons of nature, span of a life, interrelation with the natural environment
dance, song and recital of legends, mythical stories and clan histories

[ ] baha'ism
the unity of all religions
based on solar claendar of 19 months, 19 days +
day begins at sunset, with a 19 day fasting season Mar 2

inconvenience vs priviledge

2008-10-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

e-mail facts: We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by very courageous women.

Remember to vote.

PS
In Canada the women of Manitoba got the right to vote in 1916 thanks to the efforts of Nellie McClung and her colleagues. The rest of Canadian women were allowed to vote in federal elections when the Women's Franchise Act was passed in 1918. However, it was not until 1940 that the women of Quebec got the right to vote in provincial elections - the last province to accord them this right of suffrage.

Words from Martha Beck

2008-09-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

a commercial for finding a therapist

hit by an arrow of outrageous fortune?
trauma, persecution, rigid judgements, lost job, lost love...

emotional wounds can lame as badly as a broken limb

Quiz

is there anyone who knows and cares about all or almost all the significant events of your life?

do you feel you are living life behind an invisible screen, unable to truly connect with anyone or anything?

is there at least one person you talk to once a week who really understands almost all your feelings?

is there anything you feel you can't or musn't tell anyone?

do you feel comfortable crying in front of the person or people you love most?

are you able to freely express love to your friends and family?

are you lonely even if, or especially when, you're with a group of people?

do you have to be under the influence of alcohol/drugs to be open about your thoughts and emotions?

does your fear of others' disapproval dominate your choices?

More Julia Cameron Teachings

2008-09-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Creativity is medicine. It is not dangerous or egotistical. It is life affirming and essential. The more we use it, the more steadily and readily we use it. The more we ground it and regularly access it, the better off we are. The healthier we are.

Humour and acceptance enter the picture.

As we express our intrinsic nature, which is beautiful and specific, particular and original, we experience a healing transformation less in ourselves than in our relationship to the world. We are very large, and in expressing this truth, healing occurs. What is healed is the rift between our spiritual nature and our mistaken perception of ourselves as flawed.

Self expression began to heal character issues that years of therapy had not touched. as she found a way to channel and express her colourful inner selves, her life took on a gentler vet more vibrant shape and her dreams took on colour clarity.

deception dance paraphrasing

2008-09-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

truth telling is the foundation of intimacy
and often the central challenge in our lives

knowing and being known

refining and deepening disclosures
without disregarding different realities, hurting others etc.

the heart of who we are in the world and, what kind of world it is

schlock

2008-08-26T08:24:00.001-07:00

after returning home from a drunken evening of irresistable when actually japanese kareoke, my undomestic and normally choreless sister surprised me when she prepared a tasty, easy and healthful snack for us. i sat in her tokyo apartment eating from an earthy, warm yet dainty rice bowl, using chopsticks, and i thoroughly enjoyed couscous, topped with avacado, tomato, cuccumber and yogurt. i swear it felt like the first thing i could eat in that country. but my appreciation wasn't just of the soothing sustenance when starving. it was the true pleasure of savouring a luxury, a real treat. good textures and temperatures and it felt healthy too.

happy new year! when she stayed, along with our also surprise-visiting cousin, the tiny one room attic i was living in, in jerome with my then fella? we were all flu ridden. she prepared another of her standard dishes: schlock. chick peas, garlic, onions, sometimes ginger, cooked forever in oil with chopped tomatoes for liquid and lots and lots of cumin and tumeric and corriander and all. no worry about timing, just cook for ages and serve over rice. so nourishing and deeply filling. earthy grounding good. i even ate it cold the next morning, and schlock is STILL one of my staples.

* * *Woman to Woman:
the daughter of brilliant and complicated parents, an adoring and alcoholic artist for a father and a dazzling, funny, wildly frustrated mother driven to see her daughters achieve what had never been possible for herself...

bits from oprah:
joyce maynard wrote "like so many women i know i had a complicated relationship with my mother. i adored her and there was never any question in my mind how much she loved me back, but we argued about many things and kept uneasy silences about others... at the age of 66 she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. i was living hundred of miles away at the time, raising my three young children, struggling with a failing marriage... but i flew to be with her and spent the summer in toronto. my mother died in early fall. five days later i moved out of the house my husband and i had shared for 12 years to a house in a different town 30 miles away...

one thing she kept was her mother's rolling pin
the magazine publishes the recipe from the author's website. www.joycemaynard.com
i went to hear her read in new york. for free at the bookstore. even in manhattan you can usually get a seat at readings...
Rona Maynard (an older sister) Chatelaine editor says
A cardiologically correct dessert is a lot like a cup of decaf – it tantalizes your senses but withholds the big buzz...
It runs in my family, this lust for things rich and sweet… my sister and I at 11 and 15 thought we’d escaped all the humdrum rules of suburban life along with the meat loaf and carrots... (on holiday with their mother they were allowed to have desert as dinner every night)
...We’ve had our disagreements since then, but when it comes to the role of desert in life we’re of a mind. My sister bakes world class pies and I love to eat them. Last summer after an uneasy silence of many years, I invited myself to her home in California. No sooner had we set a date and she got right to the heart of the matter: “What kind of pie would you like?”
… by eating my sister’s baking, I was allowing her to make me happy. We couldn’t have shared a more restorative experience.

* * *
Don't you even have A Dish?" is a great rant done at me by a funny far off fairbrother. i bet if you've ever come to my house, you'd enjoy it. i am NOT passionate about cooking, gourmet or otherwise is all i have to say on the matter.

however, tourtière is a really tasty treat that my mom (a good french canadian) makes and can teach people like me someday to make. or, if they're really lucky, like i am still, she gift delivers it to them, after creation. (or, my dad does. or nowadays they do it all together as a team tradition).

it is another one of the valuable HOLIDAY heritage things of my past that i want to retain in my future...

you can believe me when i tell you it has special magic powers!
so appealling it has been even known in some circles as, 'sorcière'

doesn't that sound yummy? i've long heard that the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach. and, since i can't cook, or bake i thought i would share at least one tasty tidbit of enticing encouragement...

so, my mom can cook and my sis can cook pretty good. and dad's sis can too and ma's sis has even started and SOLD restaurants so i figure the talent is in me somewhere (if latent) and waiting to explode. let's hope eh? perhaps i might shalt start with A Dish.

2008-08-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

we have a deep psychological need to be accepted as we really are.
we conceal aspects of ourselves that we think invite rejection but ironically the very act of secrecy makes us inaccessible to love.

this emotional disconnection is so intolerable we often end up seeking comfort in destructive ways i.e. addicts
experience loving acceptance and ultimately heal
*
"Confession is risky. Some people really may reject you if you claim your whole identity and tell your whole story. But, explicityly losing those people is no more horrible than keeping them - sort of - at the cost of your integrity.

Besides, there are probably fewer of them than you think.

Love has sharp insight indeed a nd the people who love you aren't fooled by whatever masks you wear. They sense when you hide things and become frustrated by the inability to connect.

By giving the people that you care about the chance to love you as you are, everyone will benefit."

-- jun 02, martha beck, oprah mag

birth

2008-06-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

midwives seek to restore a sense of intimacy and community throughout birth process, instead of medical events requiring the supervision of physicians and routine application of technical aids.

procedures, the dominance of technology and professional needs
prioritized over women's bodies

medical monopoly

birth outcomes vs. various aspects of birth

a possibility:

2008-06-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

sometimes you have to learn to take from people because giving is what makes them feel good.

Beat The Heat

2008-06-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

tips

OnLine Protection

2008-05-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

do not click on links in e-mails

authentic looking emails, appearing to come from legitmate companies "phish" for personal and/or financial info that is used for fraud.

Oil of Oregano

2008-04-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Oil of Oregano has powerful anti-yeast, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, as well as intestinal cleansing benefits. It is often used with intestinal Candida/yeast, and as a first aid to help treat food poisoning. Oregano Oil has also been found to have powerful antioxidant effects.
Benefits of Oil of Oregano
Antifungal
Antimicrobial Effects
Antibacterial
Inhibits Yeast Growth
Antioxidant

According to North American Herb & Spice, to remedy different conditions effectively follow these suggested doses:
Internal
Upper Respiratory tract conditions: Take 2 or 3 drops sublingually three times a day. Also take 3 to 5 drops twice a day in juice or water.
Lower lung or pnuematic conditions: Take 3 to 5 drops sublingually three times a day. Take also 3 to 5 drops three times a day in juice or water. Also, at night rub a few drops onto the chest and on the soles of the feet.
Asthma: Take 3 to 5 drops twice daily under the tongue. Also take 2 or 3 Oregamax wild oregano capsules day.
Inhalent allergies: Take 2 or 3 drops as often as necessary sublingually. Also take 2 Oregamax capsules twice daily.
Low blood pressure: Take 2 or 3 drops twice daily sublingually (under the tongue). Also take 3 Oregamax caps twice daily.
Stomach disorders: Take 2-5 drops twice a day in juice or water. Also, take 3 Oregamax capsules twice daily.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Take 2 or 3 drops twice a day sublingually plus 3 to 5 drops twice a day in juice or water. Take 3 Oregamax caps twice a day.
Diarrhea/constipation: Take 5 drops 3 times a day in juice or water. Also take 3 drops under the tongue twice or more often daily.
Bladder disorders: Take 5 drops three times a day in juice or water plus 2 drops three times a day sublingually.
Psoriasis/Eczema: Take 10 or more drops three times a day in juice or water.
External Toothaches/oral lesions: Apply directly to involved region as often as needed.
Athlete's foot/ringworm: Apply directly to involved areas twice a day.
Seborrhea: Apply to involved areas gently. Take internally, 5 drops twice a day.
Sunburn: Rub on involved region.
Rash or hives: Rub on involved region twice or more daily.
Psoriasis or eczema: Use internally primarily for adults. In children, apply small amount to the lesions once or twice a day.
Warts: Saturate a cotton ball and apply to wart with paper tape. Repeat twice daily. Also, take the oil internally, 5 or more drops twice a day.

2008-03-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

"the best way to learn about a culture, its people, language & customs is to immerse yourself in it"
-- tom ranieri

2008-03-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

i am still seething about the suit that made the arguement
"the economy is every bit as fragile as the environment"

inspiring quote

2008-03-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt --

2008-03-24T15:24:00.001-07:00

the key to some environments is simply SURVIVING them, until you can create new ones

Lawyer Referral Service

2008-03-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

toll free 1-900-565-4577
email:records@lsuc.on.ca
crisis lines:
toll free 1-800-268-8326
416-947-3330

The Law Society of Upper Canada
Osgoode Hall
130 Queen St W
Toronto, ON M5H 2N6

- can investigate/discipline lawyers
- help you find a lawyer
- provide legal advice

complaints
1-800-268-7568
416-947-3310
email:comail@lsuc.on.ca

Financial Health

2008-03-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

1) the decisions you make when you first get married don't have to stay that way for life.
2) the handling of $ is the #1 cause of marriage breakdown.

get familiar with your spending style and where your money is going
know your net worth before you marry

2008-01-21T16:36:00.001-08:00

Breathing vapors of creosotes, coal tar, coal tar pitch, or coal tar pitch volatiles can cause irritation of the respiratory tract

2008-01-02T18:27:00.001-08:00

sometimes i find it helpful to remember that

redemption
COMES
thru darkness

a healthy activity

2008-01-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

during the terribly bleak season i lived on tyrell, the morning pages exercizes from the audio book "the artist's way at work" got me through. i also loved the view down that street to park from the dining room. and since there was a clever little coffee station right by that big window, i was able to form the discipline to do 3 long hand pages of writing every morning first thing, even though i had an office job then and some pretty early morning starts. its a half hour daily exercize to do first thing. never let your hand stop. just dump whatever's in your mind on the page.

the routine has kept me grounded and calm and has really helped me to re-invent myself, as an artist, while helping me to improve relationships in my life. sometimes i learn things from what i've written, but usually it's only the practice of them that's meaningful. they are not done for the product.

i usually read them back after 6 weeks and blog anything that seems insightful, or poetic or whatever, and i also pull highlights that need to be added to my daytimer in a things to do column.

its a constructive ritual i recommend.

2007-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

i want to believe that there's someone for everyone.
someone for me.

but maybe there's not.

i think the trick is to enjoy your own company, and to create a completely full and fulfilling life within a loving community.

humour

2007-10-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

can turn the serious into the bearable
the humilating into the humbling
and the mundane, into the unique

humour,
its all in the perspective!

VALUE

2007-10-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

living in a culture that believes one's worth is one's NET WORTH, we must hold to a different standard.

ART

2007-10-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

is the naming of our experience.

steven covey teaches

2007-10-11T18:11:00.001-07:00

seek first to understand, then to be understood

a love

2007-10-09T04:58:00.000-07:00

of natural sounds is built into our dna.

away from human hubbub, sit quiety. listen for finches, gulls, the whisper of a breeze, the bubble and whoosh of a stream. if someone has come with you, reach for their hand. smile. say nothing. let the birds chorus.

lush landscapes and quiet scenes also quell distress.

art

2007-10-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

the singular image that haunts us, is what becomes our art.
art is the key to freedom.

*

standing knee deep in the flow of life? pay attention. writing is a conversation with life.
intimate, romantic and passionate.

recipes

2007-09-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Bill's Bread

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup of water
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp milk powder
1tbsp veg shortening
11/4 tbsp yeast
1 tsp salt
add flax seeds, sesame seeds, oats or whatever you want...

*
bill put a lock on my door for me once and is also the person who taught me to pack a peanut butter sandwich for lunch just in case, AND to put a slice of lettuce on it...

2007-09-23T15:29:00.001-07:00

"You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

2007-09-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

The struggle to define a self within the intense emotional field of family relationships is relevant, indeed central to all of our lives.

We all do better in life when we can stay reasonably connected to important others; when we can listen to them without trying to change, convince or fix; and when we have a clear bottom line (I am not willing to live with these behaviours)…and de-instensify our anxious focus on the other’s problem and put our primary energy into clarifying our own beliefs, convictions, values and priorities, while formulating plans and life goals that are congruent with these.

*
the ability to stay responsibly connected to family members and to define a solid self in this arena, helps to bring a more solid self to other intimate relationships.

when family relationships have been especially painful and there are cutoffs or distance it is always a trade off. the plus is that we avoid the strong, uncomfortable feelings that contact with certain family members inevitably evokes. the costs are that the excessive anxiety, reactivity, and intensity is brought into other intimate relationships instead...

if we can slowly move in the direction of reconnecting rather than in the direction of more cutoff, there are benefits to the self and generations to come.

2007-08-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

"the meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed."

cg jung

2007-08-20T18:48:00.001-07:00

life decisions

i know what dr. phil means when he coins the phrase.
i have successfully made at least one of these. did i mention it?

2007-07-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

The Global Village
have you ever reveiwed the stats of human ratios? i remember a earth's population shrunk to 100 people article that was very interesting...
one thing that really stuck with me is that
6 would control 50% of the world's wealth, and all six would be US citizens
*
51 would be female
70 would be non-white
80 would live in non standard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition

2007-07-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

SUGAR

flex fuel cars are running in Brazil. did you know this? they are there to stay! YEARS AND YEARS AGO the country reduced its reliance on imported oil and gas from 80% to 10% by inventing cars that can run on pure ethanol, or pure gas, or some of each.

i can't tell you how comforting i found some of the facts in that sugar documentary i watched last night (after walking in the rain, instead of going for a guelph lake swim...)

2007-07-03T04:45:00.000-07:00

Pakistan requires 4 male witnesses for a rape prosecution

2007-06-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

if you approach others with the thought of compassion, that will automatically reduce fear and allow an openness with other people.

2007-06-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

"When we change what we buy -- and how we buy it -- we'll change who we are."
Faith Popcorn

re-claimed affirmation

2007-06-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

once i had this little handwritten thingie posted on the mirror in the bathroom. i think its a good one to think ALOT about again right now...

go DEEP into the life that you want
become SO MUCH YOURSELF that you find
OTHERS of your kind
with whom to SHARE FREEDOM.

(the money will follow)

every moment

2007-06-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

is enormous.

2007-06-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

think about the environment this week eh? t'is officially the week for it!!!
*
what do you think about the expanding wal-mart store in town? there's a meeting tonight!

p.s.
the windmill on the homestead cost 106,000 to build, and then the city increased his property taxes by $30,000. nice reward for greenifying eh?

sweeeeeeeeeeeet potatoe

2007-06-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

did you know that sweet potatoe is good for a woman's libido? it's true, you can look it up if you don't want to take my word for it.

apparently i can't steal my friend's pics for my blogs anymore, but it was his soup that made me think of it... see for yourself http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdenton/506769159/

Nutritional Healing

2007-05-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

i accidentally gave away one of my bibles in a recent move. but, it turns out that the guelph main library has a new, better, revised version ANYWAY.

i also want to add that the guelph library has bought me a few books. no kidding! ask, and ye shall receive.

don't tell me i actually think having a library card is better than having a boyfriend...

Roots

2007-05-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

At least I am not living in Ireland during the potato famine, sitting on the fence around fields of rotten crops weeping with the rest of the family.

People then lined up begging for a chance to enter the prison of the workhouse, despite the chlorea and typhoid inside…

the way to live today

2007-05-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

1) drink tap water instead of bottled.

2) make a MASSIVE CONSERVATION effort.

International Women's Day

2007-05-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

in Poland, is a NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

and, incidentally, the tulips are also in bloom by then.

High Risk Behaviours

2007-05-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

nevermind shredding the contents, she told me she doesn't even open her mail. this person who has already had her identity stolen and who may yet end up with (additional) haunting black marks on her credit rating because of it...

i said that is high risk, unhealthy behaviour. its not like you are driving without your seatbelt, its like you are driving DRUNK.

nice analogy she said.
do you think the envelopes are staying sealed?

(i am currently trying to follow and sort out all my own highminded advice!!!)

Grow Your Own Food

2007-05-25T03:59:00.000-07:00

by Dan Jason, Salt Spring Island
Food Choices for Sustainability

Many consumers have become aware of a basic dichotomy

1) products grown thousands of miles away (petrochemical fertilizers and biocides)
= monoculture, agribusiness (displacement of family farms)
= depletion of soil fertility & soil erosion
= use of non-renewable natural resources
= destruction of wildlife habitats
= chemical run off into ground waters
= health issues of eating and/or working with said chemicals

2) buy local, organic or grow our own
= preservation of a sustainable environmnet for all earth's inhabitants

Anti-Smoking Techniques

2007-05-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Every time you want a cigarette, do the following, three times. Inhale the deepest lung-full of air you can, and then, very slowly, exhale. Purse your lips so that the air must come out slowly.As you exhale, close your eyes, and let your chin gradually sink over onto your chest. Visualize all the tension leaving your body, slowly draining out of your fingers and toes, just flowing on out. This is a variation of an ancient yoga technique from India, and is VERY centering and relaxing. If you practice this, you'll be able to use it for any future stressful situation you find yourself in. And it will be your greatest weapon during the strong cravings sure to assault you over the first few days. This deep breathing technique will be a vital help to you.

The first few days, drink LOTS of water and fluids to help flush out the nicotine and other poisons from your body.

Remember that the urge to smoke only lasts a few minutes, and will then pass. The urges gradually become farther and farther apart as the days go by. I am finding it useful to brainwash myself during cravings mentally reciting "i am glad to be a non-smoker"

Nibble on low calorie foods like celery, apples and carrots. Chew gum or suck on cinnamon sticks.
Stretch out your meals; eat slowly and wait a bit between bites.

After dinner, instead of a cigarette, treat yourself to a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy. I like the Wethers butterscotch numbers...

and, i don't care if i DO gain more than 15 pounds!!!

2007-05-18T07:44:00.001-07:00

in a way, my yoga mat feels like a magic carpet!

2007-05-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

Tobacco use may be one of the most significant factors in the development of periodontal disease.

If you smoke, you are more likely to develop hard plaque on your teeth, which must be removed during professional cleaning or it will destroy gum tissue. Tobacco may also limit blood flow to gum tissue, restricting necessary nutrients to the bone and periodontal support of the teeth. Gums shrink away from your teeth, making them look longer - a condition which can become painful and ultimately lead to the loss of your teeth.

Chemicals in tobacco slow the healing process after treatments or oral surgeries.

other risks include:
oral cancer
bad breath
stained teeth
loss of taste
mouth sores
and more

Fitness Tax Credit

2007-04-27T06:21:00.001-07:00

are individuals claiming this?

are businesses marketing to it?

(they should be)

2007-04-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Daily Physical Activity of at least 20 minutes is being incorporated in grade school.

*
have you ever noticed how horse-riding seems to be a sport people take up for LIFE?

home birth facts

2007-04-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

what really gives me the creeps nowadays is all the viruses just WAITING to infect you when you visit the hospital for something else!
*
note sent:

aloha,
i am wondering if you would be willing to share some details of your homebirth experience - as in, i need some "real" facts to build into a kids story i've been working on.

what was it like when your water broke?
what are the stages of labour and how were they for you?
can you describe contractions?
i would reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally appreciate it!

Sage, Cedar and Sweetgrass (Smudge Ceremony)

2007-04-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

to cleanse my new home/work space by removing negative entities and energies (the smoke carries them away through open windows and doors), i will:

1) say a prayer asking God and my spirit guides to be with me and guide my actions.

2) smudge is myself.

3) start at a doorway and direct the smoke completely around the door frame, then go around the room to the four corners and then down the middle with a circular motion, including closets and cabinets, with a mental image of fumigating for bugs, and using a feather or fanning hand to direct the smoke.

4) upon completion say another prayer of thanks.

5) open as many windows and doors as is practical to allow the smoke to be purged from the interior and fresh air and chi to flow back in, and burn some good smelling incense at the beginning of the ceremony to help cover the pot-like smelling sage.

6) place the ashes collected on the bowl or plate outside the door afterwards, and raise the vibration of cystals or rocks by ringing a bell near where they sit.

http://www.asunam.com/smudge_ceremony.html

morning pages started here:

2007-04-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

and, i think they saved my life.

i sure did love that view out the dining room window, with the coffee station set up at that second sink.

2007-04-05T16:13:00.001-07:00

living with in a culture that believes one's worth is one's NET WORTH, we must hold to a different standard

2007-03-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

It is said that love “gives you back to yourself” and makes everything in life more meaningful.

yoga

2007-03-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

is (best) practiced in bare feet

another familial diagnosis:

2007-03-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration
http://www.macular-degeneration.org/prevent.htm (note, wearing sunglasses is important too)

2007-03-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

MS can cause loss of balance, impaired speech, extreme fatigue, double vision and paralysis.

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/information/symptoms.htm
http://www.mssociety.ca/en/information/tips2.htm#fam

Bruised Thumb on Bark (in November)

2007-03-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

Nails are produced by living skin cells. They are composed primarily of keratin, a hardened protein also found in skin and hair. The nail itself consists of several different parts:
Nail Plate: Visible part of nail on fingers and toes.
Nail Bed: The skin beneath the nail plate.
Matrix: The area under the cuticle, the hidden part of the nail unit where growth takes place.
Lunula: This is part of the matrix and is the whitish, half-moon shape at the base of the nail, usually most pronounced on the thumb.
Cuticle: Tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail.
Nail Folds: The folds of skin that frame and support the nail on 3 sides.

Nails, like hair, grow from the matrix. As older cells grow out, they are replaced by newer ones, they are compacted and take on a hardened form. The average growth rate for nails is 0.1 mm each day; individual rates depend on time of year, activity level, and heredity. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, and grow more rapidly in the summer than in the winter. Nails on a person's dominant hand grow faster, and men's nails grow more quickly than women's, except possibly during pregnancy and old age. Nail growth is affected by disease, hormone imbalance, and aging.

Common Nail Disorders

Most of us, at one time or another, have closed fingers in doors, suffered from ingrown toenails, or endured minor nail infections. Most minor nail injuries heal on their own, although, they might be unsightly for a while due to the nail's slow growth rate. More serious injuries or disorders may require professional treatment. Symptoms that could signal nail problems include color or shape changes, swelling of the skin around the nails, and pain.

Splinter Hemorrhages - A disruption of blood vessels in the nail bed can cause fine, splinter-like vertical lines to appear under the nail plate. Splinter hemorrhages are caused by injury to the nail or by certain drugs and diseases. However, trauma is the most common cause.

Ingrown Nails - Uncomfortable until treated, a corner of the nail curves downward into the skin. Ingrown nails can be painful and sometimes even lead to infection. Seek treatment for the condition rather than attempting to cut away the nail yourself, as infection may result.

Bacterial Infections - Redness, swelling, and pain of the nail skin folds often indicate a bacterial infection. The most common cause is trauma to the nail or surrounding skin, or frequent exposure to water and chemicals.

Surgical treatment is common to correct structural abnormalities. Non-surgical treatments include the use of topical or oral medications.

Tooth Aches:

2007-02-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Ginger Root – shave a pies of and place on tooth. Bite down on it if at all possible and chew it slowly to swill its juice around the aching tooth.

Cloves - place two drops of clove essential oil on a sterile cotton ball; place the cotton ball against the aching tooth between the tooth and the cheek until the pain subsides. Or, place a whole clove between the aching tooth and your cheek. It can be held in place by holding your finger on the outside of the cheek. Chew the cloves a little to release their juice, then leave them in place for half an hour or so or until the pain subsides.

Salt - Combine two tablespoons of salt with one cup of boiling water; take a mouthful of water as hot as possible and slosh it around your mouth near the tooth; repeat as necessary.

Oil of oregano – apply directly to tooth or gum, tastes bad and burns a little but has natural anti-biotic properties.

Garlic Cloves - placed on the tooth has helped ease the pain.

Tea tree oil - essential oil is a potent antibacterial (applied straight). It has the additional advantage of being easily carried along in one’s pocket so it is always available in case of need, rinsing the mouth with water plus tea tree oil can provide quick relief to inflamed gums.

* * *
If the root of the tooth dies, the toothache may stop, but the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy tissue.

Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill, with nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills, and sweats.The doctor may decide to cut open the abscess and allow the pus to drain. Unless the abscess ruptures on its own, this is the only way that the infection can be cured. People with dental abscesses are typically prescribed pain relievers and, at the discretion of the doctor, antibiotics to fight the infection.

Follow your dentist's instructions and take the full course of any antibiotics prescribed.
In addition, you can:
Rinse your mouth 3 to 4 times a day with warm saltwater.
Chew on the side that does not have the affected tooth or tissue.
Keep your mouth as free from bacteria as possible by brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily.
Drink plenty of fluids

nutritional value

2007-01-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.thedailyplate.com/diary/who/kimloguester/

The average amount of fiber consumed by Americans is 10-12 g daily while we should ingest 25-35g per day for a healthy diet.

- Consume less than 2,300 mg (approximately 1 teaspoon of salt) of sodium per day.
- Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids and less than 300 mg/day of cholesterol, and keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible.
- Keep total fat intake between 20 to 35 percent of calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

Remember:

2007-01-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

we cling to our financial concerns as a way to avoid not only our art but also our spiritual growth. Creativity is not sensible!

i agree with the guy

2007-01-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

who ranted going to work all day and then going to the gym is ridiculous when you can just get a job where you work physically, and get paid for it.

ha ha. but, seriously...

2006-11-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

It is normal to grieve other losses while in the midst of a loss.
sad, but normal.

2006-11-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

Money issues are said to cause almost half of marriage failures.

Good News

2006-11-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Meditation has been clinically proven to have profound beneficial effects on the body’s stress levels, hormones and biochemistry (address pain reduction and insomnia, lower blood pressure, facilitate healing, reduce stress, anxiety and enhance creativity).

Think cobbler’s pose.

Yoga IS meditation. Meditation settles the wandering mind and allows it to be steady in the present moment – you use your concentration to watch the mind wander.

Healthy Relationship Tips

2006-11-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Ask essential questions or comment to clarify facts. Share information that would make a difference in their lives (the more intimate the relationship the bigger the emotional consequences if info withheld). Any wish to protect others is misguided and needs our attention – a lie can be perpetuated through silence.

The unconscious seeks truth.

Let other people be who they are. Take care of yourself.

Express emotions openly, honestly, appropriately…

To identify behaviors that cause problems and decide what you want to do about it is LIBERATING.

example phrase

2006-10-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

"i love you. but, we are in a place where we need more support. acknowledging this is painful, but i can't help you all by myself"

Abuse

2006-10-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Neighbours, Friends and Families is a campaign to raise awareness of the signs of women abuse so that the people who are at risk have access to the support they need.

the assaulted women's helpline at 1-866-863-0511
www.awhl.org
www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.on.ca

when you recognize the warning signs of abuse:
- choose the right time and place to have a full discussion, ensure calm
- be direct and clear about what you have seen
- say "i care and i am concerned. this behaviour is your responsibility and needs to stop" but don't make judgemental comments or allow others to be blamed. keep the conversation focused on the family safety
- look for opportunities to help and provide support

* * *
Recognize that abuse has nothing to do with you, your actions or qualities

Start setting limits. Bluntly, assertively refuse to comply, and state that you will not tolerate attempts to intimidate or manipulate.

Listen carefully to your feelings

Honor and nurture yourself

*
Are you chemically dependent, or in a relationship with someone that is?
Compulsive disorders need help. A “shape-up” approach does not work. Soul work is required to take away the need being met by drugs or alcohol. Consider ego reinforcement i.e. can you drug with praise? Or maybe instead of walking on egg shells, walk away?

Go on with the guts and grace to heal the world.

mindfulness and the discovery of self

2006-10-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

p 97
the mind is like the motor of a car. its running provides the power necessary to move. when the mind is in gear we are carried along by its power... fearful thoughs gather more fear to them and the mind takes the form of whatever it becomes absorbed in. by shifting into neutral, taking a breath and adopting the position of the mindful observer, you can detach yourself from the mind even though it is still running.

in this way, the mind can ultimately become the servant rather than the master, if you learn to live in the present rather than the past or future.

after great pain

2006-10-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

what does it take to emerge whole? sept 2002 oprah goes around the world to find out what makes a survivor...

since sept 11 all of us have struggled thru disaster's aftermath

anxiety and fear are ordinary responses to horror, but the fact that they are understandable does not make them acceptable.

often the period after the devastation is rougher than the devastation itself -- surviving is not contingent of a single moment of strong will and spirit and strength but on a sustained state of mind, unremitting across time

one man insisted that one survives by looking forward and that looking at what had happened was the worst possible way to make yourself live afterward.

the strength of a new reality had to subsume the agony of memory

a balance struck between remembering and forgetting

you can't hide from the facts

feelings that aren't acknowledged, that aren't felt, are dangerous explosions waiting to happen. feelings that are experienced too vividly however, implode and are just as deadly.

disastrous losses are perpetual losses and you will never return to the innocence that predated them. control what we can and let go of the rest. be present in the moment and reminded of how fragile life really is.

when you believe that you cannot stitch your own heart back together, go to work on the hearts of others

the best antidote to pain is happiness, even if it is someday to be defeated by another sadness (in turn to be enlivened by another joy, and on in an endless cycle).the intellectual abilty to see how bad things are and the emotional ability to look forward with hope is a hard combination to sustain, but if you can do it, you can change your world.

recovering a sense of identity

2006-10-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

p47, artists way
crazymakers discount your reality
"i know you asked me not to call at this time but..." they are the people who drop by unexpectedly to borrow something you don't want to lend them or can't find. even better they call and ask you to locate something they need then fail to pick it up.

crazymakers expect special treatment
"i am afraid daddy will have a heart attack" the victim starts thinking instead of "how do i get this monster out of my house"

crazymakers spend your time and moneyif they borrow your car they return it late with an empty tank

crazymakers create dramas- but seldom where they belong
crazymakers triangulate those they deal with
crazymakers are expert blamers
crazymakers hate schedules except their own
crazymakers hate order
crazymakers deny that they are crazymakers

Financial Advice

2006-10-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

can influence your life for decades!

Lifestyle Choices

2006-10-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

we often overlook the basics in helping depression:
- HAVE MORE FUN
- exercise regularly
- reduce caffeine
- get plenty of good quality sleep
- avoid alcohol or substance use (don't self treat depression or anxiety)
- increase social support by joining clubs and interacting more with family/friends
- cognitive therapy (recognize and correct depressive thinking)
- breathe slowly and deeply
*
natural remedies
- st. john's wort (watch out re: lack of standardization and discuss herbal remedies with your doctor)

regular activity BENEFITS

2006-10-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

- builds strong bones and stengthens muscles
- maintains flexibility
- improves fitness and supports healthy weight
- promotes good posture and balance
- improves physical self-esteem
- strengthens the heart
- increases relaxation
-MEET NEW FRIENDS!

free, confidential, anonymous 24/7

2006-10-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

Mental Health Service Information Ontario
1-866-531-2600
www.mhsio.on.ca

Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatmeant
1-800-565-8603
www.dart.on.ca

Medicines

2006-10-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

make sure you understand the following about your prescriptions and nonprescription medicine:

what is the name of the medicine and what does it do?
how and when do i take it?
are there side effects and what should i do if i get any?
do you have any written info on the medicine?
what food or drinks or other medicines should i avoid when taking this medicine?

your health care

2006-10-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Be Involved! speak up if you have questions or concerns about your care.

Tell a member of your health care team about past illnesses and current health condition. Tell them if you have ever had an allergic or bad reaction to any food or medicine.

Bring all you medicines with you when you go to the hospital or medical appt.

Make sure you know what to do after your appointment or when you go home from the hospital.

language skills

2006-10-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

canada is not the only country in the world with two official languages, but we have a unique approach in adopting bilingualism. OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT testifies to our attachment to the fundamental values that have marked our history and development and reflection of them in public life. copyright her majesty the queen in right of canada represented by the minister resp for the public service human resources management agency. www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/ollo 1) use it or lose it 2) read msgs or websites in your new language 3) compose bilinigual e-mails and ask for feedback from recipients 4) change your voicemail to a bilingual msg 5) discussion groups and language buddies 6) immerse yourself with a new job that employs your new language 7) listen to radio, books on tape and cds in your new language 8) watch the news in your new language 9) watch movies in different languages 10) look for cultural events in your new language 11) persue hobbies in your new language, social groups etc 12) vacation to an area where your new language is predominantly chosen p.s. help your french immersion kids with their homework, take courses etc.

3 to 4 calcium servings per day

2006-10-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

1 cup of milk
3/4 cup of yogurt
cheese
200 grams of tofu
1 cup of almonds
2.5 cups broccoli

the facts about our eggs

2006-10-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

recommended listening = let 'em run, the bills
*
battery hens are imprisoned for their 1-2 yr pre-slaughter life in wire cages so small they cannot flap their wings (which makes their bones brittle enough to snap from lack of exercise). less living space than a single sheet of paper, stacked up to 9 cages high. deprived of natural behaviours such as walking, flapping and scratching at the ground they often peck each other's feathers out or eat each other, unless prevented by debeaking.

sometimes they are starved and kept in the dark to shock them in to shedding quickly (forced moulting).

*
this also, of course, threatens human health AND the environment.

THEY DO NOT HAVE TO CAGED TO PRODUCE LOTS OF EGGS! commericial cage free alternatives are in use around the world.

these cages were banned in Switzerland in 1992, and the European Union has agreed to ban them by 2012

www.chickenout.ca for more info

minding the body, mending the mind

2006-10-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

p20 the way our minds work - the degree to which we awfulize - also depends on previous conditioning. the responses of our parents and other influential role models shape our own reactions to life. awareness of our conditioning is the first step toward unlearning attitudes that have outlived their usefulness. such awareness opens our ability to respond to what is happening now rather than reacting out of a conditioned history that may be archaic. this is a skill you will learn if you really apply yourself...

* * *

its whether we can cope with those changes or not that determines whether we will grow with the situation or be overcome by it...
*
roseto proves that social support, the great stress buffer, turned out to be more important than health habits in predicting heart disease
*
p30 sandcastle kid example
developing the discrimination to tell when to hold on and when to let go is the key to escaping past conditioning and responding freshly to life's challenges. this means being flexible and (self) aware
*
"meditation is any activity that keeps the attention pleasantly anchored in the present moment" practice meditation at least once a day for 10 to 20 min

the science of healing (notes)

2006-10-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

a subject under hypnosis raises a very real blister on her skin, even though the "hot iron" the hypnotist says he is touching her with is, in reality, an ordinary pencil.
p. 9
an individual with multiple personalities is diabetic in one identity but normal in others

THE POWER OF FAITH AND HOPE

numerous studies have shown that attitude may be a mechanism of profound importance in determining the course of at least some cancers.

p12 many cited the importance of knowing that even one other person had survived with their type of cancer. If someone else could survive, why couldn't they?

is the demand for ivory

2006-09-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

greater today than ever before?

talk about your wasteful and appalling tragedy.

the elephant documentary should have been titled the elephant atrocity video.

god. there are things even worse than poaching them? do you know what it takes to BREAK an elephant? in order to teach them 30 commands and have them work like a machines in the teak forests?
declining economic value blessings.

at least some things changed...

2006-09-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

options, options, options

2006-09-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

i am reading all the fine print of various benefit plans and travel medical coverage.

you know these pending root canals? i think i may have actually found a way to make them a little less painful...

i promise to share the info once i've confirmed it all, so cross your fingers eh?

Save The Planet

2006-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

ecocide is a term in the conterversial new book, Collapse

the failure of ancient civilizations, from Easter Island to the Mayans to the Anasazi...

people destroy natural resources which creates a world of scarity, which is followed by conflict and disease. but environmental journalists should remember that Martin Luther King's speech was not called i have a nightmare but I Have A Dream.

FIVE WAYS TO HELP NOW
1) hybrid vehicles
2) solar, wind or geothermal heating and cooling. add at least SOME element to your home
3) work closer to where you live
4) educate yourself (and support the learning of others)
5) dream. imagine people living in harmony. now, what can you do to make what you imagine come true??

2006-09-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Cost-effective member Travel and Accident coverage from Classic Equine Insurance Brokers. For a fee of $70 per year, members will have $1,000,000 out-of-Canada travel coverage and year-round accident coverage for horse- related accidents. Unlike many other insurance policies, this policy does not exclude sport participation

*
"EC membership is automatic once you have joined your provincial federation or nationally affiliated association. " SO I AM A MEMBER!

The EC membership year begins on January 1st and expires December 31st. All member benefits are only in effect while your membership is active. The effective date of membership is the date the application and correct fee are received by EC and note that it is not valid until you have paid your provincial membership fee.

Additionally, members will receive:
A membership card with that can be stored in your wallet for easy access. It will include useful information such as - your status as an official, coach or amateur, your name and address and a list of the horses that you have purchased an Annual Horse License for.

more coverage to wish for:

2006-09-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/hrbulletin27.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/hrmanual/Travel%20Benefit.htm

coverage notes

2006-09-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

$30,000, Accident, Death or Dismemberment coverage if YOU, THE MEMBER suffer a catastrophic and permanent injury (or death) related to an incident where horses are involved. This coverage is in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and covers the member anywhere in the world. PLEASE NOTE: There is NO FRACTURE benefit or DENTAL benefit related to this AUTOMATIC coverage.
***
If you require more comprehensive and individualized coverage, please contact me and I will be happy to assist you. We have a life, health and disability broker available to all members who is quite familiar with the nuances of the sport of horses.
Michael A. (Mike) King, Principal Broker and Owner
mking@aci.on.ca 15221 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 1L8(905) 841 - 8200 or 1 888 394 - 3330 www.intercityinsurance.com

a-researching i go...

2006-09-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

2.1.4. Benefits for Members:
Providing “group buying benefits” for individual members was identified as a high priority for more than 70% of industry participants surveyed. Specific identified benefits include:
Medical/dental plans for family or staff
Product discounts
Group travel benefits