The Brief History of the Dead

Earlier this week I finished reading “The Brief History of the Dead: A novel” by Kevin Brockmeier and this is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year. Why? Because it made me wonder and I like that….a lot. This isn’t going to be a book review but I have to tell you a little about the book or else you won’t understand why it made me think about the things I thought about. (is that still a sentence? I am not quite sure ;))

Anyway, this is how the story goes. Laura Byrd, a Coca Cola researcher, is stranded and in trouble. Three weeks ago she and her friends found themselves alone in one of the coldest, most remote places on earth, the Antarctic. Her friends set out in search of help, and now Laura realises that they are not coming back. So she gathers her remaining supplies and sets out on an extraordinary journey. Meanwhile in another city, more and more people arrive every day. Each new arrival has a different story to tell, but their accounts have one thing in common - it was their final journey. For this is the city of the dead. The earth has been decimated by a virus called “The Blinks”. Brockmeier's notion of an afterlife is a way station where people must stay until people whom they have known have also died, or until they are forgotten. Strangely enough over half of them have known Laura Byrd. This is a spellbinding story about our lives, loves- about our place in the world, our connections with each other, and what happens to us all after our deaths

First of all: I don’t believe in heaven or hell or any form of afterlife. In my opinion, you have to enjoy this life and make the most of it. Who knows, there might be nothing else and I believe it would be a waste if you spend your life hoping for something that might not exist. Why hope for a maybe when you have something genuine right now.
But it is still kind of fun to wonder about the possibilities every now and then. What if there was something like the city of the dead after this (the land of the living). In the book the city of the dead is much like any ordinary city. There are houses, apartment buildings, offices, shops, libraries, newspapers, movies, books, music (no radio and TV though), restaurants, bikes (no cars though), some people work (others don’t), the weather changes, there are food and beverages, and people go out and enjoy themselves. So it is not so different from the life we live right now, and it certainly is nothing like heaven or hell. What makes the city even more interesting however is the fact that it not only expands to cope with the many arrivals, it also diminish when a lot of the people vanish all of a sudden. Funnily enough, the people who stay in the city of dead start to wonder about all those vanishing people. They even start to speculate about an after-afterlife and maybe afterlives. But if that was true, how many lives would we have then…..7? Or 9 just like a cat? Or would the next step be heaven or hell?

Anyhow, this book gave me a lot to think about. I still believe there is no afterlife but it was fun to fantasize about it though. It was a bit like playing Sims, you can create and live in your own little fantasy world. It also made me think about hope, the hope that we will not soon be forgotten after we die. It would be nice to achieve some form of immortality through the generations. But will people remember us? How many people will remember us? What will we be remembered for? And for how long? Questions, questions, questions!! :)
This book also made me think of all the people I’ve lost over the years: my Dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, friends and acquaintances and colleagues. It would be nice if they were happily together in a place like the city of dead, but I guess they aren’t. However I don’t believe they are absolutely dead yet. People are alive as long as they are remembered. They are only dead when people stop talking about them. And I think that that’s the book's real message somehow. It makes no difference what your believes are, there are two worlds out there, a) the here and now (the living) and b) the not here and now (the dead). Luckily there is a bridge between them…….our memories!!

Friday video: Interesting and inspiring – Free hugs campaign!

I was going to blog about something really interesting today, but there are tree almost-ready-to-be-written-blogpost swimming around in my brain and none of them is reading to jump out yet so, it’s Friday video again. Maybe some of you have seen this video already, and maybe some of you haven’t. I came across this today and decided to pass this on to all my friends…. All I need to do now is find a stranger to hug and my mission will be completed! ;) We all need a hug (sometimes)!

The story behind the video:
Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. “Free hugs” is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity coming together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person...

Music by Sick Puppies.



Here you can find an interview with the guy who started a world sensation with his free hug movement. Such a simple idea, that meant so much, to so many.

A blinking light!

There is something really strange going on while I am typing away on my keyboard right now. When I look up, just above my monitor, I see a little webcam. Which I never use btw, I am not even sure why I have one.

Anyway, when I look up I see the little thing. Nothing strange about that, but the little light on top of it keeps blinking and that is kind of strange because it should not do that. Hey come on, the thing isn’t even connected to my PC, it’s connected to an old one which I rarely use and it is switched off. So, what is going on here? Is Big Brother watching me? Is someone listening in? Is it a sign …. Is someone trying to reach out to me? Hmm…. It gives me the creeps! Oh well, it’s probably nothing….just a malfunctioning webcam (screaming for some attention)!

Cartoon Tuesday: Concert!

Blogger beta and other stuff.

Dear visitors,

I know there are still some problems with beta and some days I wish I hadn’t changed over to beta, but I did it and it can’t be undone :( . Luckily the log-in troubles are over…..hooray, but now there is a whole new problem with the RSS feeds. It’s a known issue and the blogger folks are working on it…..so, let’s hope it will all be over soon!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by (again) !! I know it can be a really annoying at times :)

In other news! It took me a while but I think I’ve solved the mushroom & baguette mystery.....hoorah!! Thanks Aoj for your suggestion :).It really helped a lot! I now have discovered I can eat mushroom soup and French baguettes, but not together.

I also discovered that horoscopes are rubbish (DUH!). There was no one around with an eye on me…….or was there!? There was this guy shopping with his wife, he looked in my direction a couple of times. So what did I do? Absolutely nothing :) A – he is married (or looked married) and B – he isn’t really my type. He made me yawn (bad sign). Anyway….if he wasn’t the person I must have missed the other one. Boohoo!

So, now I am wondering, how did the other Libras do?

Mind, Body & Soul sessions (#15)

Let go, set it free!

"One can never change the past, only the hold it has on you, and while nothing in your life is reversible, you can reverse it nevertheless." - Merle Shain

Have you looked in your refrigerator lately? What’s in there? Yesterday’s leftovers? Older leftovers, bits and pieces of meals you've eaten at some undefined time in the past? Do you save food thinking you can incorporate it into some future meal? In other words: Is your fridge stocked with glowing, healthy, nutritious food, or fruits, vegetables and other food well past its ‘sell-by’ date?

Okay this might all seem a bit strange, but some experts think that there is a relationship between what's in our refrigerators and how we deal with past experiences. If you can’t let go of food, it's very possible that you're hanging on to old stuff in your consciousness too. In order to look forward to the future and live in the ‘now’, you need a clean starting point, a clean slate. You need to let go of disappointments, anger, old hurt and negative beliefs about ourselves. By letting go of any remaining pain you might be carrying around, you can clear some mental and emotional space to welcome new people, new adventures and new situations into your life.

So, did you look in your fridge? What did you find? Fresh produce or old moulted cheese? The problem is that, like the bit of cheese that gets lost way in the back and when you find it you have trouble remembering it was cheese, bad memories, anger and old hurt, go deeper and deeper. The deeper they go, the more probable it is they are to influence your day to day life, and the harder it is to remember that that's why you do what you do all day, every day.

It's a lot easier to clean out your refrigerator than it is to clean out these old hurts. But it is doable. Here is an approach to free yourself from these restrictive memories. There are two ways described here, the hard way and the easy way :).

Rewrite your history.
Let the adult you rewrite your history. Write a letter to yourself (or to the person(s) involved) and describing the hurtful situation. Visualize it, but this time have the person act in a loving, nurturing way, the way you would act if you were that person. If you find it hard to reframe the memory, then visualize it as it happened, but this time around you step in and comfort the you it happened to. Say all the things you wish someone had said to you right as it happened. Remember, you are not trying to change the past as much as changing your reaction to it. Does it look as bad now as it did then? Explain why your feelings were hurt and own up to your negative contributions. Apologize for any pain you may have caused. And if it's yourself that you haven't forgiven, now is the time to be kind to yourself and to let go of self-blame. See every side of the situation and wish those who hurt you happiness, and don't forget to include a thank you. Part of who you are today is because of these circumstances. It may have made you more caring and more sensitive, so be sure to include that as well. The important thing is to include all your feelings, so leave nothing out.

Finally, get rid of the letter(s) in the way that brings you the most closure. Release your entire story into the universe. Remember that this is about you and not about the other person. You can send the letter to a certain person, tear it up and throw it away, cut it up, burn it, bury it... Whatever method you choose, do it with the intention of fully freeing yourself from all lingering emotions. As you dispose of it, remind yourself that being able to forgive other people begins with being able to forgive yourself.

Okay, this was the hard way, but there is an easier way too. As promised: the simple and easy shortcut: Just clean out your fridge! (wow! Now, that sounds simple!)
Let's end where I started…..the fridge. Double the effectiveness of cleaning out your refrigerator. With each item that you toss in the bin, create the intention of releasing old beliefs, situations or people. With each item, say something like "As I release this old food, I release all old hurts and negative beliefs. I am free." (or make up your own sentence, if that makes you feel more comfortable) Use it every time you throw something out and notice how your life starts changing.

Set yourself free, be free!

Friday video: Laugh Therapy with Elmo

This is sooooooo cute..... I want one!!

My little.......project

My little.......project
Originally uploaded by Dakota_.

The last couple of days I’ve been working on my little project…..and I like the result :-)

Weekly horoscope for Libra (18th - 24th September 2006)

I came across this “scary” horoscope today….so, Libras beware! ;)

“The supermarket offers more than groceries this week. There is someone walking around who has (obviously) an eye on you. So, what are you going to do?”

Good question! It all depends on the person, I guess! Anyway, I have a slight problem now; I usually shop at different supermarkets…..it would have been nice if they had mentioned the name of the supermarket too. Choices, choices!
What if I pick the wrong supermarket? Aahhhh, I am starting to feel sorry for that someone already……………….;)

Cartoon Tuesday: Ehm....she's having a moment

Mind, Body & Soul sessions (#14)

Spread a little kindness - Smile at a Stranger!

In certain instances, it is easy to feel compassion. When you watch TV and see people in trouble, it's easy to imagine how it must feel to be one of them and to genuinely wish them well. However, bringing compassion into your daily life can be more challenging. How can you feel compassion for someone you see on the street; for telemarketers, who have the most thankless job in the world; or for yourself when you see yourself with puffy eyes and a bed head? The answer is simple! Start small, be compassioned, be kind, and start with a smile!

“It costs nothing, but gives much.
You are enriched when both receiving it
and offering it to someone else.
It takes only a moment, but its memory can last a lifetime.
None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it,
and none is so poor that he cannot be made richer by it.
It brings happiness to the home, promotes good will in business
and is the cornerstone of friendship.
It perks up the weary, brings cheer to the discouraged,
sunshine to the sad and is nature’s best antidote for trouble.
It is so valuable, and yet it cannot be bought,
begged, borrowed or stolen,
for it’s worthless until it’s given away.
If you see someone without one of their own,
then send them one of yours for no one needs
a smile so much as he who has none to give”

-author unknown

Let's face it, if I smile at you, you'll smile back. The more I smile, the more people will smile at me. The more you smile, the more people will smile at you.

The big question with smiling at strangers is where to start. You can’t go around smiling all day, every day. That would look unnatural. The smile we are going for here needs to be natural and has to have a profound impact on someone. One of the best places to smile at a stranger is where there are enough people staying relatively still. The park is a possible candidate, as are cafés, coffee shops, public transport and places like bus stops, or how about the queue in the supermarket. Look around and find a target. When a possible target is found, follow these steps.

Step 1: Eye contact
This step is very important! A person will not know that they are your target unless they see you do it. For example: in public transport peoples' eyes tend to wander around. Do not stare, because that will make people turn away. When the wandering eyes have found another pair of eyes, they will stop for a moment. It is critical to proceed to step 2 as soon as eye contact is established

Step 2: Decision time – think quick!
You see a person who looks interesting. Maybe he or she is attractive, maybe they’re wearing something that appeals to you, or maybe you just want to give this person some attention. The reason is not that important, so don’t investigate. Right now the “should I or shouldn’t I” question will pop in your mind. Forget about it. Forget all those other questions like “what will they think?” too. Decide!! Just do it now….or not! The only person who can decide whether you want to proceed is you. Feeling courageous? Proceed to step 3 or just divert your eyes

Step 3: Flash a smile
Don't feel awkward or self conscious. Everyone can smile, it’s not difficult, and everyone looks good with a smile plastered on their face. What matters with smiling at strangers is the fact that you actually smile. However, please, do not force a smile: If one comes, it needs to come and look natural.

Step 4: Don't overdo it.
It's important to smile just as long as it takes for the person to notice. Don’t just sit there for hours with a silly grin on your face ;) There will always be some sort of response, ranging from a real smile back at you all the way to a frown or a movement of the head away from you. If the latter occurs, don’t let it discourage you….better luck next time!

So, what will happen next? That will all depend on the parties involved. In most cases the reaction will be a positive one. It may not be visible to you, but they will feel it. In some cases it is possible that this simple act of smiling at a stranger will spark conversation or even more. There is no telling until you try it. So, give it a go….SMILE!

I’ve been travelling the world ……online!

I love to travel, explore countries and see cities. Taste exotic food and smell different scents. Watch and meet new people and immerse myself in other cultures. Unfortunately I can’t afford to travel at the moment, but still, I travel..... a lot…..online! I like to visit countries, resorts, National parks and I’ve discovered some great travelblogs on: travelblog and realtravel where you can accompany people on their journeys. Great sites for the travellers among us. You can find all sort of information on there but sometimes you come across funny or strange travel tips, like these 10 tips for people who want to visit Europe:

Tip 1: Pepperoni pizza does not exist, or at least not by that name. It is usually called The Americana, (or a spicier version of this is The Diavola). Pepperoni is referred to as salami and 9 times out of 10, it doesn't taste like the pepperoni from back home so just don't order it. Also, they don't slice the pizza before they bring it out for you to eat.

WOW! I am shocked!! Who can survive a holiday without pepperoni pizza!
First of all pepperoni is a altered form of peperoni, the Italian plural of peperone, referring to the bell pepper, so that ordering "peperoni" pizza (a pizza with bell peppers) in Italy is often an unwelcome surprise for North American tourists. To order the American version of pepperoni in Italy, someone would request salame piccante (spicy salami). So go ahead order a pepperoni pizza just make sure you ask for the right one. And don’t worry; they will give you utensils so you can cut the pizza all by your self..... come on, you're a grown-up now! On the other hand Italian cuisine is extremely varied, so why not go for something completely different and be surprised!

Tip 2. Air conditioning is another thing. Many hotels claiming to have air conditioning are either lying to get your business or do not quite understand what Americans mean by true air conditioning. A fan does not constitute proper air conditioning in 100 degree weather. Restaurants don't usually have AC either, so sit outside and hope for a breeze. Worst of all, public transportation also lacks AC. Being packed into a bus like sardines with sweaty people who don't use deodorant is not pleasant.

A lot of hotels and restaurants do have air conditioning these days because of the many heat waves we’ve been having. You just need to pick the right hotel or restaurant. But then again….what is wrong with eating outside or sleeping with the windows open, it’s all part of the European charm. I can agree with the public transport thing, but I would like to add that you can come across smelly people all over the world.

Tip 3. Europeans have no rules for boarding a bus. There is no such thing as 'first come, first serve'. No lines are formed. Whoever pushes hardest gets in first and is most likely to get a seat. If not, you'll be forced to stand up and hold on to whatever you can. European drivers go very fast and make quick stops. Hold on tight.

Oh, we Europeans are so rude! I know! Every European country has it’s own bus boarding rules though. You just need to figure out what the rules are in the country you are in. And they don't drive like maniacs, for instance the speed limit for busses lies between 31 and 49 MPH (depending on where you are).

When you buy cheap tickets to ride on cheap airlines (Easy Jet, MyAir, RyanAir, etc.), you get exactly what you paid for... nothing. The seats do not recline. Food and drink are not served (for free, at least). Assigned seats do not exist. As I mentioned above, push hard and you'll get a good seat.

On a cheap flight you get exactly what you paid for……a flight from A > B. And Europe is quite small, it’s not like they put you in a plane for 24 hours! So eat and drink before boarding or take a snack along and Bob’s your uncle.

Tip 4. Europe was built for small people. I've hit my forehead entering more doorways than I can count and I've slept on beds where my feet dangle off the edge. Elevators are tiny and most of the time only for one or two people. So take the stairs.

Yeah, we are all midgets or hobbits and we live in small tiny houses. BS!! As if American’s are that tall (a lot of them are large but that is a different subject), so either this is giant lady or she is exaggerating. Some elevators are tiny, but most tiny elevators are found in tiny hotels and are there for the elderly....so why not take the stairs

Tip 5. Showers don't normally have curtains around them. I don't know why...

I never encountered one. They either have a curtain or a glass door or a screen.

Tip 6. Crossing streets is as dangerous as driving on them, especially in Italy, where motorcyclists will come at you out of what seems like nowhere. My advice: run or become road kill.

Look around for traffic lights or pedestrian crossings and keep your eyes open at all times!!

Tip 7. Customer service does not exist. Americans sue for every little thing done wrong to them. In Europe, if someone (particularly a business) screws up, you're on your own. Suck it up. Complaining does not help, especially in restaurants.

We don’t like the “I am going to sue you” mentality, but we will help if we can. Complaining does help, just drop the attitude and be nice.

Tip 8. Italian men are very friendly and tend to be quite vocal about their friendliness. They honk. They yell. They whistle. Don't wear short skirts if you don't like male attention.

All part of the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish charm and mentality…. If you don’t want the attention, dress accordingly. Oh, hold on, this doesn’t work when you are a blond ;)

Tip 9 Drink water all the time. The cost of a soda is ridiculous with no free refills.

She forgot to mention something here….. we don’t do Big Gulp sizes! Hooray, so much healthier for you!

Tip 10 In buildings, the first floor is actually what we consider the second floor. What you walk into on the level of the street is called the ground floor. When you get into an elevator, it’s floor 0. If they have an underground level, it's referred to as -1 (negative one). In our first hotel, I was assigned to the second floor. I walked up to what Americans would consider floor 2 which was actually floor 1 and spent about an hour trying to find my room.

We can’t help it! In the “old country” Europe we count differently. We always start with 0. No, just kidding there are 2 systems in use worldwide a) the British and b) the American system. We Europeans like the older British system….we are a bit funny like that :) But at least we do have hotels which have a 13^th floor or a room 13 :P

Okay, you must have figured it out by now. Most of these tips are rubbish! This lady visited two countries (Italy and France – Paris) and now she thinks she knows all about Europe, but Europe is so much more. Every country has its own culture, their own customs and religions and we are all different and that is partly why I love travelling through Europe!

Anyway happy travels and oh, I almost forgot, in my opinion there is one handy tip missing here. If/when you are planning a visit France (Italy or the Balkan) come prepared! You won’t find them on every street corner but they are still around in some places and to be honest, it surprised me a lot the first time I encountered one ;)

And now for something completely different... ...

The last couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit down for various reasons. I’m not going to name them all today, because one semi-depressed person in the world is one person to many already. And hey, I know this will pass, and I know I’ll not “cross to the dark side of the street”, this is life! Life, with its ups and downs.

One thing that really depressed me these last couple of days is the whole 9/11 disaster. It’s kind of strange, but I am starting to believe that I am one of the few people who can’t remember what I was doing that day. I think I was at work. I remember the special news bulletin on the radio and I can still hear the tone of disbelieve in the newsreaders voice. The rest of the day I was glued to the TV and radio thinking that this wasn’t happening, but it was. One other thing I do remember from that day was the strange silence. I remember going home, travelling on public transport and everybody was bizarrely quiet. Anyway I spend the day in a daze, feeling confused,sad and above all shocked.

Today, 5 years later, new facts about this disaster can still shock me. They say that seeing things over and over again can numb you, but not in this case. I can still be blown away by the videos, the photos of people jumping from the Twin Towers and the transcripts. But there is another side to it all too. I can also get very angry. Angry, when I watch stuff like Fahrenheit 9/11 or Loose Change (available on Google video). Loose Change is a conspiracy theory documentary, I know, but stuff like that always makes me wonder…..what if only 1% of the presented "facts" are true? I would still be appalled, horrified and shocked! But who is to say that it is all BS? Bush? Who, in is right mind, still believes that geezer? The guy who’s been telling the world that there are no, I repeat NO, secret CIA prisons for months now and then one day wakes up and tells the world that there are CIA prisons…….Oops! (must have slipped his mind). The same guy who started the “war on terror” or was it the war for oil? Sorry, I am still a bit confused about that war! The same bloke who said "this war will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated”. Brilliant choice of words! He is actually saying we will be in a state of everlasting war because terrorist groups will continue to arise indefinitely. Smart move!

Anyway, today I’ll think of the approximately 4,319 victims of terrorist attacks and the roughly 92,469 people killed in the “war on terrorism” once more. After today I’ll try to close the book for another year. This will not mean I’ll forget, but I need to create some distance……. I don’t want to move to “the dark side of the street” indefinitely!

I started a blog, nobody read.....the song!

Today I discovered a song by the Sprites, which you probably know already! Is it me, or is blogging sometimes just as depressing as this song ;)

Cartoon Tuesday: She's back!

Mind, Body & Soul session (#13)

Giggle and Enjoy Yourself - Laugh Therapy

"Laughter is a tranquillizer with no side effects" ~ Arnold Glasgon

It is official, laughing is good for you. Research shows that laughing has positive effects on every aspect of your life and health. Laughter lifts you up and life becomes worth living. Did you know that a laughing fit is just as liberating as a good cry? It really clears the mental decks. It is mindfulness and pure, wholesome joy in action. You experience that vanishing state of being called relaxation. You stress less and enjoy the company of other people more. You live and enjoy the present moment. Laughter is contagious and it creates laughter for other people. Allowing laughter to swell into a movement across the world would reduce the growing anger and violence.

And not that you need more reasons, but laughter has been proven to:

• Strengthen your immune system
• Release endorphins
• Lower your blood pressure
• Make your cheeks sore
• Enhance your cardiovascular flexibility
• Increase the level of oxygen in your blood
• Make you think more clearly
• Put a devilish twinkle in your eye
• Increase your intellectual performance and information retention
• Make you forget what you were laughing about
• Destroy your conservative reputation
• Replenish your creative juices
• Dampen your undergarment (oops)
• Increase your spirit quotient
• Release and transforms your emotional pain
• Develop abdominal muscles of steel
• Create perspective and remind yourself of the bigger picture
• Help yourself to live and die, laughing
• Be good for weight loss (apparently 5 minutes of belly laughing burns the equivalent calories of 15 minutes of indoor cycling!)
  

You could say that laughter is the best medicine ever (and it’s free!). All of us have heard this from childhood but where is our laughter today? Gone! Disappeared!! We somehow forgot how to laugh. Research indicates that adults smile or laugh 15 times (or less) per day and think negative ideas ¾ of the time. Children however smile or laugh 400 times per day.

Now, I am not saying that you should smile or laugh 400 times per day (it would be nice though), but wouldn’t it be great if you laughed or smiled more than 15 times a day. So, while you can't force a laugh, you can invite more humour into your life. How? Give this a try:

• Cultivate your sense of humour - find something small to have a smile about every day
• Try to see the silliness that's lurking just below the surface.
• Learn to laugh at yourself – Don’t take everything so serious. If you can take yourself lightly, you can put most of your worries into perspective.
• Be spontaneous and playful.
• Allow some fun into your life.
• Make friends with people who bring out the playful side of you.
• Try and do something a bit foolish or silly every day.
• If something happens that annoys you, make a funny face, stick out your tongue or do a silly little dance.

Notice how differently you feel when you greet life with a laugh instead of a frown.

Don’t talk, just kiss!!

Isn’t it nice to know that fun, entertaining, amusing and enjoyable things, can actually work wonders for your health. Japanese research shows that kissing can lessen all sort of allergic reactions. Just 30 minutes of (heavy) kissing is enough to reduce hay fever symptoms, because the kissing action actually decreases the production histamine (the protein involved in many allergic reactions). One other advantage….skin problems/disorders caused by allergies can disappear entirely, just keep kissing frequently.

Hmm….the pollen count is high today! *sigh* Now where is that kissing partner, when you need one? ;)

Don’t you just hate it when food stares at you?

The other day DoGGa had this picture of a strangely shaped potato on his blog.

Yesterday I came across this one….

I really don’t like it when food stares at me. It gives me the creeps;)

Oh my…..Stuff your face!!

Not my words, but I think HP is saying it’s okay! Because hey, come on, they do invent. Look at this. They have invented a camera with slimming feature. Just fiddle around with a few buttons and hey presto….. a new and improved slender photo subject appears. Man, are they serious?!?! Who is kidding who here?

Cartoon Tuesday; Research

Mind, Body & Soul sessions (#12)

Stop Mindless Eating, Start Eating Mindfully

Do you find yourself continually reaching for that second helping, taking nibbles and bites while you are cooking, filling dinner plates to the rim, finishing leftovers, staring down the contents of your refrigerator waiting for something to beckon to you, or finishing meals in record time? If the answer is YES! Well then it is time to congratulate you, so here it is Congratulations, you are now officially a Mindless Eater. Hmm… congratulating you does not feel right; actually I should offer you my condolences. Mindless eating is bad….BAD, because mindless eating can lead to eating amnesia. This means you cannot accurately remember what and how much you actually ate. It’s hard to keep track of how much you are eating when you are doing something else like watching TV, cooking, reading, checking your email, or talking on the phone. Plus the kind of food that you can easily eat when you are multi-tasking is usually food you can pick up with your fingers. Unless you eat celery sticks or fruit, most finger foods are high in calories. And hey, just because you can’t remember what you ate and all those calories that came along with it, doesn’t mean they aren’t real.

A lot of our unhealthy eating behaviours are simply bad habits, inherited from our parents or influenced by our environment. But these little habits can have a huge impact on how many calories you eat each day and ultimately, how much you weigh.

So, maybe it’s time for a change and maybe it’s time to examine your relationship with food, which can be both enlightening and liberating. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to end the mindless eating and start to eat mindfully.

Your task, if you want to change you eating behaviour: Dedicate this week to paying attention – and I really mean pay attention- to how you eat your food. That means no snacking because you're upset or bored, no eating while standing in front of the fridge or preparing your meals, no grazing mindlessly while staring at the TV or your computer screen and no turning meals into multitasking affairs.

Instead of wolfing down a sandwich at your computer, take 15 minutes to truly enjoy your meal. Sit down, push everything else aside, give yourself plenty of room and actually taste what you're eating. Think about the food you're putting into your mouth and consciously chew, take pleasure in every bite. Eat slowly and stop when you're comfortable. Remember that as your food reaches your stomach, you will feel full. Eating slower helps you eat less, by simply slowing down and taking the time to truly enjoy your meals, you can trim calories too (now, isn’t that a great plus :)).

So, in short, Eating Mindfully is all about paying attention? Yup, Eating Mindfully is all about paying attention to what you eat, when you eat, where you eat, how it taste and controlling what goes in your mouth when you're stressed, upset, or just plain bored. Sound easy enough! But still, you have to be smart and some tips might come in handy, so here are 3 tips that will help you during moments of weakness.

Plan Ahead – You can’t eat it, if you don’t have it: In a moment of weakness or boredom, there's nothing easier than grabbing the Ben & Jerry’s from the freezer (or your snack of choice) and devour it. But what if indulgences like that aren't in the house? If it isn’t there, you can’t eat. Stock your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, pudding cups, frozen fruit bars, and yogurt a.k.a healthy snacks!

Treat Yourself To A Treat from time to time: There's nothing wrong with an occasional treat, they often make eating healthy a little easier. Whether it's a small bag of chips, a handful of M&M’s during your favourite TV show or an ice cream cone on a warm day, giving yourself permission to eat it removes the need for secret binge sessions.

Stay Active During TV Time: Keeping your hands and head occupied can keep you from the television haze-induced snacking. This doesn’t mean you have to stay active all the time, but when you feel a snack attack coming on, don’t snack, do something else instead. For example: exercise, knit, or do a crossword! It doesn't matter what it is, just keep busy and keep your mind of the snacks!

Now go on……Eat, Drink & Be Merry, but above all….Mindful!!

Friday fun & video

Sometimes you are just in the mood for some laughs and sometimes you’re not. If the last thing is the case…..go ahead, read another (much more) interesting blog :)

I came across this billboard photo on a site and felt immediately sorry for Emily. Or who knows, maybe Steven was even worse off ;)

Anyhow, I googled around a bit and found the perfect gift to send to Emily.
And I advised her to start video dating right away


Want more hilarious Smack The Pony videos? Just click the link!