Health Website
Current mood: happy

I have had fun the last couple of weeks tracking what I eat on http://www.thedailyplate.com. It tells me when I am eating too much, when before I had no idea. And I never knew I ate so much fat! So now I can easily make healthier choices. They make it very easy to track anything having to do with food, weight, and physical activity.

And here is a Yahoo article that talks about how beneficial it is to record what you eat.

8:29 PM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Common Courtesy
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life

It is my opinion that a person should be able to walk or jog in the public streets without being threatened by loose, vicious-looking dogs.

8:37 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

We did it!
Current mood: stressed

When we moved to DFW 6+ years ago, the plan always was to move back to Tyler. This past weekend we finally listed our Arlington house for sale. It was a lot of work getting it ready. I had lots of fun taking the pictures of our house for the listing. (I am in love with my new camera.) You can see one of our listings (and my photos) at www.owners.com/WTG6633.

So I've been to a couple photography classes at Arlington Camera recently. The classes were great and I learned a lot. It is very exciting to me. I would like to have a simple studio set up eventually at our new house. Not a permanent set up, but one that can be stowed away. I have the camera, a background, and a secondary light source, but I need to get a light meter and a light or two.

On another note, I have almost survived another winter. Was loving that warm streak and then it snowed tonight. Bleh! I was hoping the nice weather was here to stay. But at least daylight savings time starts Sunday!

7:27 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Remodel
Current mood: tired

At this point, Sandy and I need to be in Tyler a lot for work, so we want to sell the house as soon as we can. We've been getting it ready, and have recently completed the master bathroom. Here are some pictures:

Before:

After:

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4:29 PM - 6 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Amy Carmichael on Joy
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Writing and Poetry

Amy Carmichael (missionary in India) wrote the following in letters:

Don't let your mind dwell on sadness as it saps the soul of strength. There is more blue sky overhead than clouds. The clouds will pass. I often think how sad we shall be at the end, if we have failed in joy. I don't want to fail.

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He has brought you into the company of the happy-hearted, and you will carry His happiness wherever you go. How we dishonour our good Master when we carry fogs and mists and a general sense of dreariness. The Lord of Joy keep us in the glorious way of joy.

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Just now I am reading through the Gospels and marking in the margin every place where suffering is mentioned. It is mentioned very often. The Lord Jesus made it plain from the beginning that there would be trial of many kinds for all who would follow Him, and He Himself led the way in that path. Should we be surprised when we find ourselves following His footsteps?

There is joy too. He said clearly that sorrow would be turned into joy, joy that would never end. But I think that He wants us all to understand quite definitely that if we follow in the way of the cross we must be prepared to take up the cross. We must not think of life as a joy-ride. But there is nothing whatever to be afraid of. 'Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be always praising Thee' is a shining word for us all.

No one knows what this next year will bring, but one thing is sure. He will be with us, and He is enough for every difficulty that may arise. He is enough for today's difficulty. Do you sometimes feel like the disciples when they were in the midst of the sea toiling in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them? Then take the lovely words for your comfort: 'He cometh unto them and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.'

No matter how much the wind blows, it will be true for us as it was for them, 'The wind ceased'. So let us be of good cheer and go on our way rejoicing.

8:40 AM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Tom Cruise on Scientology
Current mood: peaceful
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Highlights from the video in the news today:

Tom Cruise: ...I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist does... has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone and know absolutely that you can help them.

"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident... you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help.

"But that's what drives me... I know that we have an opportunity to really help... effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated to that. I am absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that.

"We have a responsibility.

"We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions... we can rehabilitate criminals.

"...We can bring peace and unite cultures...

"Traveling the world and meeting the people that I've met, talking with these leaders in various fields, they want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that.

"It is the time now. Now is the time... Being a Scientologist, people are turning to you, so you better know it, you better know it and if you don't, go and learn it, but don't pretend you know it. It's like we're here to help.

"If you're a Scientologist, you see life, you see things the way they are, in all its glory, all of its complexity and the more you know as a Scientologist, you don't become overwhelmed by it.

"Look, I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to go on vacation and go and romp and play and just do that, you know what I mean. That's what I want it to be. There's times I'd like to do that, but I can't because I know I have to do something about it.

"I have to do it because I can't live with myself if I don't, and that really is it.

"So it's our responsibility to educate, create the new reality. We have that responsibility to say, 'Hey, this is the way it should be done because we do it this way and people are actually getting better.'

"And let's get it done. Let's really get it done and have enough love and compassion and toughness that you're really going to do it and do it right.

"I have to tell you something – it is rough and tumble, and it's wild and wooly, and it's a blast, it's a blast, it really is fun because, dammit, there is nothing better than the going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see things are better.

"I want to know that I've done everything I could everyday, and I think about those people out there who are depending on us. I think about that and it does make me feel that we've got more work. I need more help, get those spectators either in the playing field or out of the arena. Really, that's how I feel about it.

"I do what I can, and I do it the way I do everything. [laughs] There's nothing part-of-the way for me."

I was amazed that in 9 minutes on Scientology, Tom Cruise really didn't say much more than, "Scientology is great. We can do good stuff." He didn't give us one bit of new, insightful information. The interview really just raises more questions.

8:58 AM - 8 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

It only took a year and a half!
Current mood: excited
Category: Art and Photography

I finally finished re-finishing my chair!!

I loved the chair's previous look, but the cushions got nasty in storage, so I decided to refinish the wood and make new cushions. This is not a very flattering before picture, but I didn't think to take a picture of it before I started working on it.

After:

Oh - and I GOT A NEW CAMERA!! I am thrilled about it.

8:22 PM - 4 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

January Activities

Anyone remember Chasing Furies? Well Sarah Macintosh is going to be at The Door in January. Anyone want to go with me?

http://www.myspace.com/smacintosh

Also, Sandy and I are planning to have a New Year's party again this year. So plan on coming.

Girls, what are your thoughts and ideas on a girls' day/night. We could do one in Arlington/Fort Worth (I would have lots of ideas), or we could do one in Tyler (would need ideas for). Shopping, cooking, movie, eating, talking, games, etc. January may be best for this.

12:12 AM - 14 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Muse
Current mood: calm
Category: Music

How can somebody make such beautiful music? *Sigh*

8:02 AM - 3 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

White Bread Adds to Waistline
Category: Food and Restaurants

Interesting article below. Now that we have zillions of recipes and foods with refined white flour, there's no way back. But I bet flour-makers could make white flour that's not so refined and bad for you. I buy un-bleached flour because I've read it's healthier than bleached - duh!

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Two researches show that white bread and flour products add fat to the abdominal area and increases diabetes risk and heart risks. Whole grain products are beneficial.

October 13, 2004 -- A Tufts University 3 year study found that eating refined flour foods, white bread and other white flour products adds inches to the waistline. Participants in the study who favored white bread actually gained a disproportionate amount of weight in the abdominal area. The danger? Its well established that abdominal fat is an independent risk factor for diabetes, which, of course, increases risk for many health problems.

The three year study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked eating habits of 459 healthy people, both male and female, with a mean age of 60. The studys purpose was to see how the types of foods people habitually ate, impacted their waist circumference the common spare tire.

After analyzing the food-intake habits of the participants, the researchers determined that there were five basic dietary patterns. Members of the white bread group (16% of daily calories from white flour) ate five times more refined flour products than those of the healthy group, and gained three times as much in the waist as the healthy group.

P. Kisten Newby PhD, ScD, MPH, MS. scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts Univesity, the studys lead author reported that the dominant feature of the study results was not that the healthy group ate a lot of whole-grain products. Rather, she says, it was that they ate such a limited amount of white bread and flour products.

She and her colleagues can only speculate why white-flour consumption results in fat deposits in the abdomen, but what is certain is that white and refined flours have again been shown to be unhealthful

White flour, called enriched flour by the milling industry, is refined to the point that it is devoid of the fiber and almost 20 minerals and vitamins found in freshly milled wheat berries. The healthy way of eating includes complex carbohydrates from whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans claims G. T. Hewlett, M.A., M.P.H.. For a free e-mail report on whole grain flours for the best breads and baked goods, send your request for Home Mills to e-mail protected from spam bots.

In answer to the question, Is whole-grain bread really more healthful than white bread? Mark A. Pereira, PhD. assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, states, Yes. For six weeks, in a recent study, participants ate six to 10 servings daily of breakfast cereal, bread, rice, pasta, muffins, cookies and snacks made from refined flour. For another six weeks, they ate the same foods made from whole grains.

Result: Insulin levels were 10% lower when eating the whole-grain diet. Low insulin levels allow the body to control blood sugar more effectively, reducing the risk for diabetes and heart disease. To allow your taste buds and digestive system to adapt, gradually introduce whole grain products into your diet.

This article courtesy of  http://www.breadmakersplus.info.

5:01 PM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment