“Forks Over Knives”

Posted by random olio

It is imperative that you watch the documentary: “Forks Over Knives.” We saw it Tuesday night, and I cannot tell you loud enough that you have to watch it. It is a fascinating take on our health, food, obesity. So the first quote that hit home at the very beginning was this one:

“We pay more for health care per person than any industrialized country in the world, yet we are sicker than ever.”

Wow. That says a lot doesn’t it? We spend so much money on our health, when really we should be spending our money on buying good fruits and vegetables. Throwing away the sugar, cookies, pop-tarts, etc. My rule of thumb is to try to eat as much of my food that is alive. Fruit is alive. Vegetables are alive. They are grown through the sun. They were not made with chemicals in a lab. They were not created with artificial flavors. Anything created from fake sugars, flavors, and preservatives were never alive. Something that was alive transfers that energy to you. You want to eat that real energy. Alive = real energy = your energy.

I found this quote fascinating:

“Let food be thy medicine.” Hippocrates

Hippocrates said this. Wow. Hippocrates was born in 460 BC and died in 370 BC. He was definitely well before his time. We should start listening to him now. Food that is alive is the best way to care for the body. Which leads me to my next fascinating quote from this documentary:

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” Thomas Edison

Edison was born in 1847 and died in 1937. It sounds like we still have not seen the future. It is starting though. More individuals are finding that whole foods, vegetables, and fruits are the best way to take care of the body. Yet, we are still treating most ailments with drugs. Why? Because it is easier. It is maybe the easiest thing. Pop a pill or eat spinach? Pop a pill or have a salad? Pop a pill and have a cookie? It seems easiest to just pop a pill. What is harder is to change our habits and make eating healthy food a priority in our life. Whole foods fill our stomachs and we do not eat as much. Eating foods that do not contain natural fibers mean that our stomachs do not fill up as full, and we eat more, gain weight, and the result = unhappiness. It is a continuous process from day-to-day. Two more interesting quotes:

“He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the time of his doctor.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

“One-quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three-quarters keeps your doctor alive. -Ancient Egyptian Proverb

All such great ideas. Go out and watch this documentary. It might change the way you view food and your doctor visits. It might change your life.

Belle, George, and Zeus

Posted by random olio

BC. Before Chris.

Great Danes were not part of my life, BC. Growing up we had black Labradors and German Shepherds. Never a dog the size of a horse. Belle was Chris’ dog when I met him. A beautiful black Great Dane, so gentle and sweet. Well, except around me. Somehow I think Belle knew that I was taking more of Chris’ time away from her. She was an angel when Chris was around, but if it was just me, she would get into things, make messes, and be ornery.

In any case, Belle made me appreciate Great Danes, and she made Chris completely addicted. We will walk down the street and see a Harlequin or Brindle Great Dane, and he will talk like I would if a little baby was walking by…(oohhs and aaawws, and a sad face). We have known about Giant George, who was the tallest dog in the world (until recently). He was on Oprah, has a website, sleeps on a queen size bed, and consumes 110 pounds of food a month. You can read more about Giant George at the above link, and be sure to click on the Photo link on George’s website!

Recently, George was pushed out of first place by Zeus. The newest dog to be the tallest in the world. Zeus beat George by one inch. Zeus is 44 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, and stands at 7 feet 4 inches tall. Crazy! I was not able to find a website for Zeus, but maybe soon.

Note: F or those on their way to get a Great Dane – both George and Zeus drink directly out of the kitchen faucet.

Belle

We miss you Belle.

Six Degrees or Six Pixels of Separation?

Posted by random olio

I had checked out “Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone” by Mitch Joel at the library numerous times and had never opened the cover. I either had to return it because someone else was next on the list, or I had renewed it so many times I had to return it and re-check it out. Finally last week I read it. After getting into it, I realized I was reading it at the perfect time. Had I actually opened the cover before last week I am not sure I would have finished reading it. It is not that it is a boring book, more that the subject matter has a specific audience. The message has an impact to a project I am working on at the moment, and I probably would not have related to the message the author shares if I was not working on this project! It is always interesting to me the timing of things in our lives.

The premise of Joel’s book is that due to the Internet, we are no longer separated (think Kevin Bacon and six degrees of separation). He talks throughout the book about how to interact, engage, and ask questions online. He shares very helpful ideas. In the end I realized how we are all in differing degrees cyber stalkers. We view and watch online much more often than we participate. Such as this fact from Six Pixels:

“Only about 2 percent of all people online actually comment. The question really needs to be provocative enough to spark them to take action. Asking questions also keeps your content alive for a longer period of time.” Page 174

I think that is fascinating. Only 2 percent. So that means that the other 98% of online users are stalking content. What will it take to raise that 2% to 5%? Create more compelling content? Ask more questions? Create a forum for conversation?

I have my own reasons for not always commenting or participating. Sometimes it is time. I might quickly be checking into Facebook or Twitter to read updates, but do not have time to respond. Or I might not be interested in the topic or community and decide not to share my thoughts. Often, though if I have the time or energy, I will contribute, respond, like, share, etc. When I see a picture or an article, I comment if there is something I want to share. This means I am at times part of the 2% and at times part of the 98%.

Why do you choose to contribute online? Or what makes you stay in the 98%?

A Little Silly And A Lot of Sass!

Posted by random olio

My Granny Smith, she was a sassy one. I spent a good part of my life with her, even before my parents were gone. She was my favorite. When I was younger I would often spend Friday night at her house, spending the night and then spend Saturday morning watching cartoons (we did not have TV at home). I would also spend Sunday afternoon after church at her house. I always called her Grandma Smith. It was not until I was married to Chris that I somehow started calling her Granny Smith (and the name has stuck). Even though she is no longer with us, she is still Granny Smith to us, and the mention of her name brings a smile to our faces. So many stories, so many funny sayings she had. Many of which made no sense to me.

Chris had a special way with Granny Smith. He was able to get her to talk, and talk, and talk. He got her to tell stories of growing up, her marriage, and raising her kids. She never wanted to tell me that stuff. I imagine he was a patient, listening ear, and he asked her very specific questions. He immediately won her over. Which I can tell you is not an easy feat. Granny Smith did not instantly like folks, and if you were not her favorite person, she did not warm up to you.

As I said earlier, she was a sassy one. She would tell you what was on her mind, whether you liked it or not. I wonder if that is where I got my bluntness. She also liked the underdog. One of the things she liked to do was watch golf. If Tiger or Vijay were constantly winning from week to week, then she would cheer someone else on. We all need someone to root for us when we are the underdog. Somehow she brought out my silly side. I think it was because she was so serious much of the time. It made me try hard to make her laugh and to make her be silly too.

Granny Smith being silly with me…

I miss her.

What Makes You Happy?

Posted by random olio

Do you ever stop and think about what makes you happy? Is there something that brings a smile to your face throughout the day? Or even once a day?

Chris brings a smile to my face. When I think of him during the day, when I see his name show up on my phone. A text, or a voicemail. It is a reminder to me that he is thinking of me. I try to return the favor. It is nice to be thought of isn’t it?

Little babies that start laughing and cannot stop. That makes me happy. Laughter in general makes me happy. When you watch a genuine moment between two individuals, whether two co-workers are making a connection, or you see someone at the store helping another person.

Seeing someone passionate about something makes me happy. It could be when you hear someone sing and it sends chills throughout your body, because you feel the sound of the music and their voice together and it moves you. When you see a couple dancing, and you can see and feel their connection.

Smiles make me happy. You know the kind where their eyes are crinkled and you know that it is real, genuine happiness. When you nail it in a work meeting, or you someone else brings their game to the table and you are just in awe of what they are capable of and what you know you can learn from them.

Hugs. Hugs make me happy. They ground me. I love this quote from this recent Daily Om:

“Many of the happiest people on earth are also those coping with the most serious challenges. They have learned to make time for those simple yet superb pleasures that can be enjoyed quickly and easily. Cultivating a happy heart takes no more than five minutes. The resultant delight will be neither complex nor complicated, but it will be profound and will serve as a reminder that there is always a reason to smile.”