Bad Fats vs Good Fats: Let the Truth be Told!

Who amongst you still believes that fat is a bad thing? I wrote a Blog, a while back, called “Are You a Good Fat, or a Bad Fat?”, you can read that, here. The more research I’ve done on this subject, the more information I soak up!

Backstory…

When the Food Guide Pyramid was introduced by the USDA, back in 1992, the government instructed us to limit our fat intake to 30% of total calorie intake. The pyramid looked like this…

The USDA has demonized fat for decades…it’s bad for us, they say; and they haven't distinguished between good fats and bad fats, until recently.

This handy little guide of theirs tell us that in order to have a balanced diet, we should focus more attention on carbs (breads, cereals, rice, pasta, etc), eating 6-11 servings per day; our focus on fruits and veggies should be to eat only 3-5 servings of veggies and 2-4 servings of fruit per day. Apparently, they’re not as important as the bread and cereal group. The next level of the pyramid tells us we should only eat 2-3 servings of meat and dairy, per day; meat and dairy are high in fat, so we should limit our intake.

And the top of the pyramid is where fats are featured….fats, oils and sweets, to be exact. Now, limiting your intake of sweets is a stellar idea! Sweets aren’t healthy, at all. But, fats aren't as bad as they'd like for us to think.

The Food Guide Pyramid, has taken on a few changes, through the years; it looked like this, in 2005, and was called MyPyramid:

In this version, the USDA tells us to balance a healthy diet with exercise; but, do you notice that the grains group is still the biggest section, and the fats group (the little yellow stripe) isn’t mentioned at all?

Here’s the latest transformation…it’s called Choose MyPlate. It’s a much more balanced eating structure, aside from one minor detail…

Do you see it?? Where did the fat go? Now, it is true that you get a certain amount of fats from all the other food groups, but not enough to keep our bodies in good shape! On their website, they explain that avocados and olives are part of the vegetable group (technically they're both fruits), and nuts/seeds are part of the protein group.

But, let’s get serious for a minute…how many people out there consider avocados and olives, when talking about fats? Or, the fact that nuts and seeds have protein in them? Trust me, the USDA considered that when they created the pyramid.

The website also states, “Soft margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressings are mainly oil and are not considered to be part of any food group.” It’s true…they’re not foods; they’re condiments! Margarine should never be consumed, in the first place; I touched on that topic, in this Blog post.

Sidebar – processed carbs (cereal, bread, pasta, etc) aren’t any better for the body than margarine. You can get all the carbs your body needs by upping your intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

I digress…why has the USDA demonized fats, and favored processed carbs, so much?? I think Dr. Pealmutter explains why we need to eat more fats, quite well, in this video.

But, there is a huge difference between fats and fats….good fats (saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and Trans-fats. Trans-fats will raise your LDL cholesterol (the bad one); it also causes heart disease, strokes, and Type 2 Diabetes.

It is commonly found in fast food, fried foods, donuts, pastries, and snack foods like cookies and chips; but, it can also be found in any processed food that contains hydrogenated (or partially hydrogenated) oils...things like crackers, pretzels, cake mixes, microwave popcorn, pizza, etc. Any oil that is hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated, is a trans-fat and should be avoided at all cost!

Anything you’re eating, if the box, bag, jar, or package says “0 Trans Fats!” check the Ingredients list; look for the oils…Big Food is sneaky, when it comes to disclosing whether or not the oils in foods are hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated. If there’s any oil in the processed food you’re eating, it’s most likely a Trans-fat.

Within the past 30 years or so, the amount of calories we’ve consumed from fats has fallen to around 30%, while obesity has doubled; and heart disease remains this country’s number one killer.

I can't stress this enough...our bodies need saturated fats to function properly; as previously mentioned in Dr. Pearlmutter’s video, saturated fats are good for cognitive brain function; saturated fats also keep us at a healthier weight.

The more we limit fats from our daily nutrient intake, the more people end up with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and a host of other health concerns....but that's good business for Big Pharma, because they've got a pill for every ailment our bodies develop!

Here are some more benefits to eating saturated fats:

• Saturated fat encourages the liver cells to dump their fat cells, which helps the liver to function more effectively. It has also been shown to protect the liver from alcohol and medications, including acetaminophen and other drugs commonly used for pain and arthritis.
• Saturated fatty acids, especially the kinds found in butter and coconut, help white blood cells to recognize and destroy invading viruses and bacteria.
• Saturated fat is required for calcium to be effectively incorporated into our bones.
• In order for our lungs to function properly, the air spaces have to be coated with a thin layer of something called “lung surfactant”; 100% of this surfactant is saturated fatty acids.
• A diet that limits saturated fatty acid intake robs the brain of the ability to function properly; the human brain is made up of fat and cholesterol, and the majority to fats in the brain are saturated.
• Limited amounts of saturated fats, in your daily diet, also limit your body’s ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi; our immune systems rely on saturated fatty acids to keep the T-cells (white blood cells) in working order.

But, not all saturated fats are equal…dairy, eggs, and meat all have saturated fats in them; but so do nuts and seeds. If you’re an omnivore, you’ll want to buy grass-fed dairy and meats; and only eat eggs that are laid by backyard (free-range, cage-free) hens. this way, you'll be getting the most nutrient-dense animal products.

The lion’s share of eggs we buy, at the grocery store, come from factory farmed hens. Imagine stuffing 25 live chickens into a shopping cart, cutting their beaks off, and only cleaning their “cage” once a year. Their eggs are nutrient deficient, high in cholesterol, and candidates for E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter which are found in the hens, themselves. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll pass on the store-bought eggs!

The same with factory farmed meats…they're all nutrient deficient, and disease-prone. You’ll be better off buying free-range, grass-fed, organic meats and dairy products.

Grass-fed meats are higher in Omega-3s, which are considered “good fats”; the folks at eatWILD.com discuss the health benefits of eating grass-fed meat, eggs and dairy on their website. In the left hand corner, you’ll find a link titled “Shop for Local Grassfed Meat, Eggs and Dairy”, which will lead you to a clickable map where you can find local farms to buy your grass-fed products.

If you choose to be vegetarian or vegan, a great way to get an adequate amount of good fats into your diet is by eating nuts and seeds; the VeganHealth.org website has a couple of very good tables, listing the different plant-based foods that are rich in SFAs (saturated fatty acids), MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids) and PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids). However, it is important to remember that too much fat is a bad thing, even when it comes from healthy sources; so make sure to incorporate tons of fruits, veggies, beans, and legumes with your nuts and seeds. And always buy organic, and non-GMO, when you can!

So, go ahead and enjoy food; eat an abundance of healthy foods....omitting the unhealthy foods, altogether.

And have a blessed day!!

Raise Awareness by Taking Off Your Bra…Are You Kidding Me??

It’s been declared that today is National #NoBraDay…it’s supposed to be a Breast Cancer Awareness thing; personally, I think it’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard!!

Breast Cancer (or any cancer) is NOT a fashion statement!! It’s not a trend, a social club, or a badge of honor, either…IT’S A DISEASE, AND ITS JOB IS TO KILL YOU!!

This, my friends, is awareness.....

Mastectomy scar on a man. Yes, they can get breast cancer, too!

Mastectomy scar on a woman...complete with drainage tube.

Chemotherapy feels a lot less peaceful than this looks.

The Breast Self Exam...DO IT!!

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

It is my opinion that the focus needs to shift from awareness, to prevention and curing those who have it. Only about 5% to 10% of breast cancer diagnoses are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child; the rest were preventable!

To prevent breast (or any other) cancer, do the following:

• If you smoke…stop!!
• Eat more raw, organic whole foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and whole grains; cut down on your consumption of meat and dairy
• Exercise several times a week, every week
• Limit your intake of alcohol
• Stop eating processed foods and junk/fast food
• No more canned foods, convenience foods, chips, snack cakes, etc.
• No more trips to Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc.
• Use natural skin/hair care products
• Most OTC products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals
• DIY your cleaning products, to reduce exposure to chemicals
• Switch to glass food storage containers
• Even the BPA-free stuff is made with toxic chemicals
• Use natural sunscreens (read the ingredient lists!)
• You can also go DIY. Here’s a recipe from Wellness Mama

Taking off your bra for the day is not going to bring awareness to anything, other than the fact that you’re not wearing your bra. Put it back on!

If you really want to raise awareness…share this Blog post!! I’ve been in a battle for my life, for the last three years; I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, in July 2012.

Here's a link to the beginning of my journey. Happy reading, and have a blessed day!!

Go and Sin No More (not health related)

I’ve been quietly following the Kim Davis story, and I applaud her for standing up for what she believes in….but, she’s doing it wrong.

As a Believer, she is to abstain from sin (all Believers should)…here’s a small list of what she’s not supposed to do:

• Steal
• Murder
• Engage in immoral sexual acts
• Be a homosexual
• Be a prostitute
• Worship idols
• Be greedy
• Take the Lord’s name in vain
• Dishonor her parents
• Curse, or speak in a hateful or tasteless manner
• Lie, commit slander, be a hypocrite, gossip, etc.
• Want anything that belongs to someone else
• Get drunk in public
• Brag about your own accomplishments (self-importance) 

She’s also not supposed to be divorced, except in matters of infidelity (either spouse); or commit adultery, herself, which she has done. However, she has only been a Christian for four years; until then, she was of the world, and the rules of Christian life didn’t apply to her….now she is in the world, but not of it, and they all apply. More on that, later.

Kim believes she’s doing God proud by denying a same-sex marriage license, because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin. However, it is only a sin to those who believe it to be so….the rest of the world doesn’t count. Therefore, it is up to her, as far as her beliefs take her, to not commit that sin, herself; she does not have the right to impose her religious beliefs on those who don’t share them….none of us have that right! And, the couple she denied the marriage license to aren’t going to break up, just because they couldn’t get the license…they will continue with their relationship, despite being denied their legal right to marry.

Here’s how Kim Davis should’ve handled that situation…according to the Bible.

Romans 13:1-3 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. (NLT)

The governing authorities of the United States have declared that same-sex couples have the right to be married, if they so choose. Kim Davis rebelled against God, in this matter, when she denied that couple their marriage license. And, she’s soaking up the limelight that decision has afforded her.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m not standing in judgment over her; that’s not my place! But, if you’re going to obey God’s Law, you need to obey it completely; which brings me to this point:

Deuteronomy 17:12 Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the Lord your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel. (NLT)

So….according to Biblical law, Kim Davis should be put to death for rebelling against God, when she refused to submit to the governing authorities of the land. Who’s gonna be her executioner?? (FYI: I'm not suggesting that someone should kill her)

Kim Davis is standing in judgement over same-sex couples; by denying them their marriage licenses, she’s telling them that she is god and she will decide their lives for them. That’s not her place. She’s supposed to do the job she was hired to do….as a Christian, she’s also supposed to pray for people she believes are in sin; she should be praying for God to come into their lives and open their eyes, so that they can turn away from that sin.

I wonder if she’s even thought of that…or is she too busy, being the current “media darling”, to notice where she’s gone wrong?

Another thing about this whole story that irks me, is all these memes of her that cite how much of a hypocrite she is….like this one:

Do your homework, before you call her a hypocrite!! All of those things happened prior to giving her life to Christ….they don’t count, anymore! The only things that count, as she lives her Christian life, are the things she’s been doing in the last four years, and beyond.

When a person gets saved, the life they lived before giving themselves to Christ is washed away…it no longer matters. What God judges us on is how we walk the walk, after declaring Him Lord and Savior of our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. (CEV)

The sins she commits as a Believer, are the only ones God will hold against her…unless she repents, and turns away from them. This is what I’ll be praying for!

Anyone want to add their two cents in? I welcome all input….and I wish you all a blessed day!!

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

No, this isn't a Blog about the Peanuts Halloween special; although, I am looking forward to watching that, on Halloween (tradition!). But, it is officially pumpkin season, here in the United States, and I'm excited!!

I love Charlie Brown...I love Fall....and I love pumpkins!! Pumpkins are amazing; they're nutritious, delicious and totally versatile!

Here's a brief run-down of just how awesome pumpkins are...

Check out all these amazing benefits!!

Did you see that?? So much goodness to improve your health! And, I love fact sheets...especially the ones that come with recipes; I can't wait to try that smoothie recipe!! LOL!

Some other things I've learned about the wonder that is a pumpkin are as follows:

• Eating pumpkins reduces the risk of gastric, breast, lung and colorectal cancer, regardless of family history.
• Eating pumpkins reduces breast cancer risk, in both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
• Cucurbitacin E, a compound found in pumpkins, has been shown to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer metastasis in the lab, by suppressing cell migration and invasion.
• Pumpkins contain hypoglycemic substances that may improve diabetes.
• Intake of orange and yellow vegetables (like pumpkins) may also be protective against prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

I, personally, love eating pumpkins/pumpkin seeds...and I totally wish they had a longer harvesting season. I made sure to collect a few recipes, recently, so I'll have plenty of variety when it comes time to grub on some yumminess!!

Here, let me share them with you:

Pumpkin and Black Bean Casserole - FatFree Vegan

Pumpkin Pancakes - Chocolate Covered Katie

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Pie - This Rawsome Vegan Life

Nutty Pumpkin Chip Cookies - Happy Healthy Life

Raw Pumpkin Spice Granola - Fragrant Vanilla Cake

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream - A Calculated Whisk

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts - My Whole Food Life

My goodness....I think I've made myself hungry!! LOL! Have a blessed day, everyone...and don't forget to partake in some pumpkin goodness this Fall!!

FYI - Try to buy organic pumpkins, if you can!

A Different Type of Survival: Fighting for Equal Rights

Ok....I'm sure I'm going to lose a few of you, but this needs to be said; so, here goes. This is my "soap-box" moment about the Supreme Court's ruling, today.

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States declared that same-sex marriages are to be considered legal, in all 50 states. That's a huge victory for the LGBT community....and a huge thorn the the side for the Conservative Christian community.

I'm not taking sides, here, but I do think a few things need to be addressed. Please allow me the liberty to do so....

A brief history lesson....

The rights of the Black Community

• The Civil Rights Movement has centered around granting black people the right to be human beings. A lot of folks believe that it all started in the late 1950's, but it actually started in 1863, when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
• The NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was founded in 1909 by a multi-racial group of activists, in New York City.
• MAY 17, 1954 - The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimously ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that public school segregation was unconstitutional, and paved the way for desegregation.
• Overriding President Ronald Reagan's veto, Congress passed the Civil Rights Restoration Act (1987), which expanded the reach of nondiscrimination laws within private institutions receiving federal funds.

Thanks to people who are racist, the Black Community is still fighting for certain rights.

The rights of Women

• On Election Day in 1920, millions of American women exercised their right to vote for the first time. It took activists, and reformers, nearly 100 years to win that right!
• In 1971, women won the right to practice Law.
• On September 13, 1994, The Violence Against Women Act was signed by President Bill Clinton. This law makes programs and services such as protections for victims who are evicted from their homes because of events related to domestic violence or stalking, funding for rape crisis centers and hotlines, and legal aid for survivors of domestic violence.
• In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed the first woman, Sandra Day O'Connor, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg followed her to the nation’s highest bench in 1993.

Women have been actively seeking equality for many, many years...and we are still fighting for our rights to equal pay for equal work, adequate (paid) maternity leave, reproductive rights, etc.

I saw this video today....before the news of the Gay Marriage ruling hit the internet. It's relevant to what I've just stated:

And here is a brief history lesson, concerning today's ruling.......

The rights of the LGBT Community

• The Society for Human Rights was founded in 1924; this was the USA's first known gay rights organization.
• In 1962, Illinois became the first state to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in public.
• In 1992, the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy was instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military, but banning homosexual activity.
• And today....legally denying a same-sex couple the basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness afforded to heterosexual couples is no longer allowed.

Certain groups of people have been fighting for the right to live their lives the way they see fit, for a very long time....and, although, there have seen tremendous victories, in their battles, the war wages on.

As I've read the articles that are flooding my News Feed on Facebook, concerning the SCOTUS ruling, I've also read a lot of comments from Christians, posting virtual coronaries after hearing about this ruling.

• "The world is going to Hell!"
• "The Bible says homosexuality is a sin, so even though it's legal, God will never bless those unions!"
• "I feel sick...what's happening to America!"

I've been leaving my own "two cents" for those folks......

To all of you who are "throwing stones", I need to caution you.....

Don't get caught up in some "holier-than-thou" attitude toward how the world operates. Jesus told us not to judge others or we would be judge by the same standard we use on them (Matthew 7:1-2); proclaiming yourself as "town crier" over the coming judgment day is still sin, in God's eyes. It's not OUR place to decide who gets punished for what....that's God's job. 

All we are to do is love people, the same as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). It's best to just judge ourselves by God's holy standards; and pray that those who don't, get right with God, before it's too late.

And, to add to that......the Bible also tells us, in Romans 12:2, that Believers are not to conform to the behaviors and customs of this world; so, my advice to you would be...

• if you're not a homosexual, don't become one
• if you're against same-sex marriages, don't attend one of their wedding ceremonies

Other than that, this ruling should be a non-issues to you since it doesn't affect your life, or your walk with God, on any level. And, if you're truly concerned with their eternal future, witness to them how making Jesus your Lord and Savior changed your life for the better, and leave the rest to God!!

Furthermore, The Golden Rule applies here...human rights are for ALL humans, not just God-fearing, Conservative Christians.

Yes, the Bible says homosexuality is a sin; but God gave human beings free will....we are to point them toward Him, but it's not our call to decide that the LGBT community doesn't deserve the same human rights we enjoy.

They are human beings, too....it should be a no-brainer, guys!!

Leave the judgmental attitudes at the cross, and let God be God in YOUR life!

Ok....I'm getting off my soap-box, now. Have a blessed day!!

Mountains, Giants and Holy Cows

Hello, my loves....first of all I want to let you know I'm back online (finally got WiFi!); so the Blogs will be much nicer looking, now! And I've fixed the ones that didn't look so great! LOL!!

I have, officially, been a citizen of Knoxville, TN for roughly three months....I signed my lease in December 2014, and spent the holidays with my youngest daughter and granddaughter; I only began occupying my apartment, in mid-January.

Can I shoot straight with you? I have something to confess. These last three months have been a roller coaster of obstacles, excuses and weakness....a lot of "mountains", "giants" and "holy cows". I haven't been walking my mission like I should be, and I'm sorry.

While my body adjusted to life in my new city, I began to feel severe pain in my hips, and legs. At times, it seemed that my body didn't want to move, at all...just like me, my limbs are rebellious and stubborn. The obstacle I need to overcome is the pain, because it keeps me from moving. The more I move, the less pain I'll be in; right?

Well, that will only work, if I stop letting the pain keep me in my chair. Some would say I was making a mountain out of a mole hill; and at times, I would have to agree with them. Even though the pain makes it difficult to move, I can still move! My problem is, instead of telling the mountain to move out of my way, I just sat here and stared at it.

Another issue I'm currently facing is that I'm still spending cash on food....I don't yet have my food stamp card, even though I applied for that, back in February. Enter the giants....all the excuses and procrastination I could muster.

There's a Family Dollar store directly behind my building; I plan to shop there, when I need things like toilet paper, feminine supplies, and stuff for my apartment. I didn't plan on buying food there, because all the food Family Dollar sells is processed junk! However, (warning...excuse in progress!) considering the amount of pain I was dealing with, and the fact that it stopped me from exploring Knoxville, buying junk is better than starving; I can always venture out, and shop at a real grocery store, once my body feels better!! See what I did, there?

No exercise (every street is either uphill or downhill) and a plethora of junk at my disposal....enter the holy cows; otherwise known as food addiction. DiGiorno Pizza, Velveeta Shells and Cheese, BirdsEye Voila meals, Ramen noodles, Chef Boyardee, etc. I know they all look super yummy....but none of these products is healthy! Please don't eat them!! I've stopped eating them, which is why I'm writing this Blog.

I've felt the impact of re-introducing those food-like products, to my digestive system, too.....my body has been screaming at me! Steadily, the pain got worse, my bowels aren't moving like they should be, and I'm feeling depressed. I'm not getting healthy!! And, I'm terrified; I'm reversing all the hard work I've already put in, and will end up back in the Chemo Chair, if I don't get a grip and get serious about my health!!

A friend of mine is allowing me to borrow a laptop, because mine broke; this friend as also supplied me with a handful of movies, in case I get bored (before I set up my Wifi). One of the movies I've watched is Facing the Giants. If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to do so! This movie spoke to me in ways I never thought were possible.

This is one of my favorite scenes....

The conviction to do our very best (despite the mountains, giants and holy cows) is what God is looking for....and I have failed Him more times than I care to count. This scene convicted me; honestly, the whole movie convicted me....but this scene made a powerful statement to my heart.

I was texting my oldest daughter, one afternoon, and she asked me how I was doing; I told her I was disappointed in myself. I had anticipated being further along in my "new life" than I was, and had become disgusted by the fact that I had slipped back into some old habits.

The Apostle Paul said, in Romans 7:14-20, he hated that he couldn't do right by God; he always seemed to give in to his sinful nature. I keep holding on to what God told my oldest daughter, the week I was diagnosed...He said I wasn't going to die from this disease, but it was going to be used for His glory.

It is NOT my intention to make God out to be a liar! But I know, if I don't get healthy and stop this disease from destroying the rest of my body, that's exactly what will happen....I'll die from breast cancer. And I'm the only one who can stop myself from eating things that will destroy my health.

So....now that I've fallen, again.....it's time to pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off, and keep believing I will be the person God wants me to be!

I will NOT accept defeat!!

HAPPY 2015!! New Year....new Blog post!!

Hi, again! My loves, I realize that it’s been several months since my last blog entry...I’m terribly sorry; I developed a severe case of writer's block, and could not pull out of it! As I’m writing this, it’s 4:07am (EST), New Year's Day.

On with the updates! I finally moved out of my sister and brother-in-law’s house....I have a tiny apartment in Knoxville, TN, now! Here are a few pictures...

Yes, my kitchen really IS that small! LOL! It’s perfect, though....just the right size for me! I've met some of my neighbors, and they seem to be pretty decent folks. My oldest daughter took me on a tour of Knoxville, a few days before I headed to Atlanta, GA to spend Christmas and New Year’s with my youngest daughter and granddaughter; I've been having such a great time, with them....I'm planning on staying most of this month.

As many of you know, I had a recurrence, mid-year, last year. I believe it’s gone, again; but, I won’t know for sure, until I line up a new set of doctors, when I get back to Knoxville. My new Oncologist will need to run tests, to see what needs to be done, if anything. As of right now, I’m going to believe that I am cancer free, once again!

I moved on December 17, 2014, after my last course of chemo was done. Coincidentally, my new adventure began, the day the last Hobbit movie was released in theaters, world-wide! I've always said I’m a Hobbit at heart, so now I have a timeline to prove it! LOL!!

This is where my life, truly begins....it’s just me, myself and I, now. For the first time, in my life, I’m on my own! No one to keep an itinerary for; no one to keep mine for me, either. No one to hold me accountable, except me; it’s time to go next level!! I’m truly excited to see what God has in store for me, this year!

At this moment (4:20am EST) I seem to be running out of steam....I've only had 3 hours of sleep, tonight. Y’all won’t mind if I stop here, and get some more rest, would you? I’ll pick up again, when I get up, later! Good night!

7:54am – Ok....that’s better! Good morning, my loves!

Now, back to my blog. Getting better acquainted with my granddaughter has been such a joy; she felt comfortable with me, soon after I got here (Christmas Day) and has been steadily warming up to me, more and more, each day. Last night, we had a breakthrough moment!

Whenever she gets scolded for doing something she’s not supposed to do, she apologizes with a kiss; she doesn't quite have the vocabulary skills, to verbally apologize, yet. I've been allowing her to carry my cell phone around, and push the buttons (she likes technology); she can’t call anyone, because the keypad is locked, so I let her play with it. Well, last night, she threw it behind the bed. She’s being taught that there are things you’re allowed to throw, and things you’re not allowed to throw....cell phones are not to be thrown.

Mommy scolded her for throwing Grammy’s cell phone, and Alice went to give Mommy a kiss, to apologize; Mommy told her to apologize to me, instead, and brought her to me. I looked her square in the face, told her that what she did to my phone was not nice.....and she kissed me! It was magical!!

Alice likes to play a variation of hide-and-seek; she gets behind Mommy, in her blind spot, and Mommy says, “Where’s da baby?” Alice’s response to that question is to step out from behind Mommy with a big smile on her face....and Mommy is glad to see her (“There you are!!”)  She has included me in the game, now....while she’s hiding behind Mommy, she’ll peek around and look at me, as if to ask if she’s doing it right. I love it!! It’s fun to trick Mommy! LOL!!

"There you are!!" (sorry for the blur!)

This little person is too smart, for her own good, too! She can talk....she just doesn't; Mommy says Alice’s Daddy was like that, when he was a baby, too. One day, she’ll decide it’s time to speak her mind...until then, she communicates in other ways. She knows how to share things she has possession of, as well; she hands them to you, if she wants to share them. She can high-five, and fist bump, too; it’s hysterical! And, I love watching her make decisions...the look on her face is just precious.

Alice even likes to tease me....I call out her name (“Aaaaalice!”), and she answers back, “mmh-mmh” (translation – “no I’m not!”) She thinks she’s very clever, when she teases me, like that! We both get a kick out of it, too! LOL!!

When I get back to my apartment, I’m going to get a proper ID, sign up for assistance (Medicaid and Food Stamps) and get the ball rolling on my new medical team. I’m also planning on joining the YMCA, and looking into vegetarian meet-up groups, so I can get acquainted with like-minded people. Which means I'll have more content for the Blog!

For now, I'm enjoying spending time with my family. I hope you're having an enjoyable day, as well!! God bless you, all!

Earth Day PSA

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend! I have a PSA (public service announcement) to share with you...

Do you celebrate Earth Day? What’s your celebration like? A great way to “celebrate” the earth is to reduce our carbon footprint. Bill Gates says we can reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the number of people who live on the planet!

In this video, you'll hear him dance his way through it by touting vaccines and "reproductive services" (aka: abortions). What???

Instead of committing global genocide, how 'bout we all work together to take care of our planet??

Here’s the plan...

• Use cleaner transport
• Walk, bike, or take public transit (or carpool) whenever possible.
• Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you'll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic).
• Don't take the drive-through (fast food junkies)....park the car and walk inside instead. Or, better yet...cook at home, and skip the fast food!
• Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
• Driving over the speed limit and excessive acceleration wastes gas (reducing mileage by up to 33%), money, and results in an unnecessarily higher carbon footprint. Slow down!!
• Combine errands to make fewer trips. Remove excess weight from your car. Use cruise control.
• Avoid short airplane trips-take a bus or train instead.
• Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.
• Plant a garden....it doesn't get more local than that!
• Shop at your local farmer's market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven't traveled long distances to reach you.
• Choose foods with less packaging, to reduce waste.
• Eat lower on the food chain...going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle!
• Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don't forget electronics!
• Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to...like after they break, or stop working!!
• Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn't produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.
• Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled "post-consumer waste."
• Adopt water-saving habits
• Take shorter, less frequent showers...this not only saves water, but it also saves the energy necessary to heat it.
• Don't use the garbage disposal...compost instead.
• Run the dishwasher and the laundry machines only when full. And, if you can, dry your clothing outside on a clothes line (this saves electricity)!
• Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.
• Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.
• Regularly look for, and fix, leaks.
• Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.
• Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.
• Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, toilets; also furnaces, air conditioning units, dishwashers, and refrigerators. ENERGY STAR labeled products are recognized as having superior energy efficiency.
• Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
• Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
• Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
• Add solar panels to the roof of your home. This costs a little more than the above options, but many providers offer financing options which minimize upfront costs. Two examples are SolarCity and SunRun. If you live in a state with a Net Metering law, you could eliminate your electricity bill, or even earn money, by selling electricity back to the grid.

Every day can be Earth Day; if everyone on the face of this wonderful planet of ours would consciously make these points a part of their everyday life, our CO2 emissions would be drastically reduced...without reducing the size of the world's population!

Have a great day, everyone...and God bless you!! oxoxox