Well after reading my friend Clare's blog I realized that I started this blog over a year ago and then never posted. Maybe I didn't have anything to say. Maybe I just figured that no one else would care what I had to say. Or maybe I just got distracted with my daily life. Either way, I feel as if today I have something to say. I now have only 5 treatments left of a 24 week treatment program for a (hopefully) curable disease that I have. It has been a long and strange journey but I have learned a lot about myself and what I am made of. I have not shared with many people what I am going through. I am not looking for sympathy . I just want to tell other people who journey through this strange labyrinth called life that whatever curve balls you are thrown, whatever pie in the face experiences that you are have, revel in yourself and love the fact that you are strong, you are resilient, and you are loved by many. Some of whom you are not even aware of. We are all survivors. Period. No one gets of of here alive, but it's what you do with the time that you do have that is important. Make it matter. Even if it only matters to you.

Back to Basics

I really have to get some control over my eating. I am bored and constantly reading food blogs that just fuel the fire. I need to get back to my GREENS and other colored fruits and Veggies. It doesn't help that I started my day with leftover chocolate rhubarb cake. But now I will start fresh with a smoothie and try to have a more veg filled day and find something to do besides OBSESSING over food.

Smoothie: 2 handfulls of spinach
8 whole strawberries
1 cup almond milk
1 Tbl flaxseed
1 Banana

Another day stretches in front of me and I am determined to do something constructive. Yesterday I made flaxseed crackers in the dehydrator and today I am drying apples. The crackers are actually still in there. They are taking forever to dry. I guess that's what happens when you buy your dehydrator at Walmart. I have read 3 books this week, all on the subject of raw foods. I'm not sure I agree with all of the reasoning behind it but I totally agree with eating foods in their most natural state. I don't think I could give up cooked food though, since I practically live on baked sweet potatos and steamed collard greens. Last night I made a killer stir fry with zuchini, broccoli slaw, onions, mushrooms, carrots, broccolli and cashews. I cooked them in tamari, ginger, sesame oil and rice vinegar. Yum. If only I could make a living cooking and eating vegan food!

Too much time on my hands

I work at Genie Industries in Moses Lake and the company is really in trouble. Like alot of businesses we rely on our customers to keep us busy and if our customers are not busy then they really don't need us. All you have to do is watch the news to see that it's all around us. This is the second week in a row that I have only worked 2 days out of a 4 day schedule, giving me 5 days off. As nice as that sounds: a.) I have no money and b.) I am bored out of my mind. It's about 15 degrees outside and I can only dream of going for a walk or working in the yard. I have the heat down and the pellet stove on low so it's actually too cold to do much inside either. Then there's the motivation factor, I have none. Next week there will be a plant wide layoff. I may have even more time on my hands.

Searching for vegans

I have lived in Moses Lake WA. for two years and have yet to meet a vegan. Even the vegetarians are few and far between. Am I looking in the wrong spot? Where to look seems to be the problem. Are they at Walmart? They aren't at Trader Joes because sadly we don't have one. I can't be the only one. I would love to discuss recipes and maybe trade secrets such as where to find nutritional yeast. Mostly I would just like to not feel so alone. Vegans give me hope for the planet. Plus, I like to surround myself with like minded people. How much of the "I love meat" mentality do I have to be exposed to? Granted, I work with mostly men and they don't seem to understand my choice of veganism, yet they are fascinated with my lunch every day. Thay say "that smells good" or "that looks good" and still they find a way to ridicule it. Do I say a word to them about the pus in their milk or the antiboiotics in the piece of carcass they are chewing on? It grosses me out but I keep my mouth shut because I believe that it really won't make any difference. It's really not in my nature to try and change the world. Maybe it should be. Wasn't it Ghandi who said to be the change you want to see in the world. Food for thought.