Yeap, the evil sauces. Why? Because they add stupid calories to your food.
I say, no one is perfect and living on algae is no fun, therefore, we all must choose our stupid calories wisely.
Human nature is inquisitive and indulgent, so it is OKAAAAAAAY to enjoy food, to drink alcohol socially, to taste the goodness of KFC, and to have bacon for breakfast - sometimes! You see, there are already plenty of stupid calories floating around and we all want our share. So don't let the sneaky stupid cals take up the room for the occasional stumble and poison your foods.
The sneaky sauces, such as marinades, ketchup, anything Thai, anything dipping, anything teriyaki will add flavor and calories to your foods, mostly in disguise of my favorite condiment, the corn syrup! These can be easier avoided and left off, making room for that 1/4 of decadent dessert that you might indulge in. Or that glass of wine. Or that piece of bread. In any case, avoiding sauces has worked well for me, and avoiding piling up stupidity works even better. For instance, one cannot have wine, bread, pasta and dessert in one meal. In my case, I would choose wine and pasta. Or wine and one piece of bread. Or just wine. Furthermore, the stupid calories have to be carefully accounted for - just because you only choose one item, it doesn't mean you can have a bushel of it. Or barrel, or a whole dessert. One should never consume a full order of any sweet or starchy food that is served in a restaurant.
Another human notion is gathering. We gather stuff, including wealth, food clothes, and other collectibles. It's pretty much pointless. It is greedy and has no benefit to us, it actually makes one miserable, fat, pretentious and miserable. And fat. So instead of gathering and accumulating, try having needs satisfied and sharing the surplus. Save for later, but what's not used, don't discard - give away!
I am not a socialist - I believe in individuality and having good traits and deeds rewarded. But I do not believe in building dynasties for future generations to squander, and having to buy perfumes of Tori Spelling and Paris Hilton. Why? I think if someone doesn't know how to use wealth and what to do with it, to make oneself worthy of having it in the first place, than it's a waste anyway, might as well give it away. I also do not believe in supporting useless people (I use this in its harsh sense) or providing for the ones who waste themselves and contribute nothing to this world. So where is the balance??? I really don't know. But I do know that Bill Gates is doing a lot with his fortune and that each of us have to stop gathering stupid calories and stupidity, period. Less is more, believe me!
Many of our current issues revolve around the greedy gathering characteristic of our race... just take a look at everyone's giant house that no one could afford and now being written off, accumulating more debt. Just take a look at our need to get bigger plates served at the restaurant so we can buy products and services that promise instant fixes without us expanding effort. Just take a look at having all monies on the market only to make more monies that will be invested back into the market to earn more monies - and loosing the whole stupid illusion, all at once...Just take a look at our appetite to devour everything and our need to stand out by having more (of anything; botox, guns, clothes, cars) that has no real meaning in the universe and in the course of human history anyway. If Galileo lived now and preached about how tiny Earth is and how we don't see the big picture - we might burn him on a pile of wood chips too. Consumption is the enemy, and on top of that, the sauces.
So forgive my rant (again), and stay away from the sauces. Big fixes don't happen overnight, and sauce seem to be a good first step:)
Instead of treating symptoms we should nix the cause. THAT is the only permanent fix, my friends.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
everything is relative
The law of relativity... how sucky my life is, compared to Bill Gates's. Or how lucky I am, having a roof over my head. It's all BS.
We are comparing apples and oranges. Instead, should look in our immediate environment and see what we can improve. Not compare, demand, expect, IMPROVE. If each of us tried to do something nice for another person, animal, plant, or oneself, and enjoy everything that is already present in one's life, than there would be a lot more happy people.
My sister in law talks to me on Skype from Hungary, while my brother is overseas, trying to make a buck to support his family. Silvia is home with two little boys, ages two and a half and one, in a one bedroom apartment. She calls her rooms, "little room" and "big room". The big room is the family/living room, also serving as the parents' bedroom. It is so, to combine usage of one area without sacrificing privacy, and due to the lack of "extra space" (I live in a "3 room" apartment) that we are so accustomed to elsewhere. The family/master bedroom is quite doable, because the parents normally are the ones to rise first and sleep last. We also have beds that have a hollow compartment underneath, so to strip and store the linens every morning and use the bed as a great big "couch" during the day, where the whole family fits and plays. I never thought much of this till I realized, sitting across from her on the video camera, how spoiled I have become. On the other hand, they are a happy, wholesome family with bright kids and a satisfied mother who is able to spend her days with her most precious possessions, and make those days into anything they want to, each time around. She also takes them to the park for 3-4 hours every day. To her, it's not work, it's not hardship, it's the best life has to offer. Did I mention that she is really really happy?
I have a huge living room, a huge bedroom and a huge "office" room, with two full baths. Why? Because I can...So it's all relative, you see.
We eat because we can, it's all around us. If we see someone walking (away from the downtown area) we assume they are "lowlife" or poor people, or drunk, or homeless, or some other person of misfortune who CANNOT drive. Because we can all drive everywhere and eat till the plate is clean. Then flip to the other side, become holistic about green living and veganism, while sporting over sized breasts of the not so holistic kind... whatsup? Go to yoga and church and pull out of the parking lot, ignoring everyone else on the road. We burn up energy to condition the air in our living and working spaces, but we do not use the sun to dry our hair and clothes. Instead, we use more energy for dryers, that heat up our living area that has to be conditioned with more energy to make it cool again. Is this not a bit wasteful???
I am no angel, I admit, I could scale down on some of my indulgent habits, like having 17 pairs of running shoes and more than 8 beds for my dog around the house.
I wonder why we are so wasteful and superficial still, knowing that others are literally starving to death, and knowing that this planet will not sustain our indulgent asses (regardless, it will cycle into its deadly changes). I wonder why (and here I will step on some toes, and get "witchy"), still we have to fear and beg a nonexistent human form, in the name of god, and go to wars, in the name of god, and believe in contra-scientific FACTS, in the name of god, who was created long long ago, BECAUSE we couldn't deal with life and explain the unexplained, and get comforted and reassured, and regard our passing life as passing, and reach for solutions that were beyond our realm of knowledge and understanding. Oh... I forgot to mention, it is also the greatest, most profitable and longest standing BUSINESS ran by the biggest hypocrats in the world (who have your little boys and girls in their laps).
And the answer to all is that we are still crawling. As a species and a life form, we are, at best, toddlers. Some of us can speak already, some are just drooling and screaming for instant gratification... sounds familiar?? Yeah... little kids, who cannot conceptualize every aspect of life, time, and the "whys". This is what I think.
So this post is merely a think-out-loud for me, not a rant, not a scolding, more of my own reasoning to explain our, my shortcomings. This way, and not because some god figure tells me, it is fathomable that we just don't know how to be better. Yet.
The comforting part is, that against the best efforts of religion to keep progress from happening, there are, have been, and always will be inquisitive minds, pioneer minds, and brave, independent thinkers, scientists and motivators who carry the spark of humanity forward (not in the form of burning women on stakes, or feeding babies to a fire pile, or blowing themselves up). So cheer to humanity, and if you are inquisitive, seek out the knowledge and keep walking... the tunnel has another end. I am sure!
In the meantime, I am trying to identify and cease my selfish habits that are programmed through society and are so meaningless, in the long run. They really are...
Does anyone know the ownership-line of ancient art, does anyone know the shoemaker of Luis the XVI? Does anyone know what brand of writing instruments Newton used? No... and who cares. It is all relative. We care about what Paris Hilton wears...but the future generations will only look to accomplishments, discoveries, reforms and improvements and other, beautiful creations. THAT is what's relative on the big scale. What we do and how we think... not the credit score and brand of clothing and cars...do you see?
My newest interest is the slowfood movement that started in Italy... check it out.
Also a last note about religion: I do not need to be "scared" into being a decent human being, nore do I need to pay my way into heaven. Or wherever. I regard my NOW life with care and concern and not wait to chill lazily on top of clouds (probably getting skinnier as I eat more and more), laughing at others, who are burning in hell (must have missed a payment, or got bad credit rating). I do not judge anyone's belief, only if it's an extremest kind (an extremist of any kind is unhealthy, even a workout freak). I do not argue sicentific proof. Seriously...
I do what I can NOW to improve something. And it doesn't always take money.
We are comparing apples and oranges. Instead, should look in our immediate environment and see what we can improve. Not compare, demand, expect, IMPROVE. If each of us tried to do something nice for another person, animal, plant, or oneself, and enjoy everything that is already present in one's life, than there would be a lot more happy people.
My sister in law talks to me on Skype from Hungary, while my brother is overseas, trying to make a buck to support his family. Silvia is home with two little boys, ages two and a half and one, in a one bedroom apartment. She calls her rooms, "little room" and "big room". The big room is the family/living room, also serving as the parents' bedroom. It is so, to combine usage of one area without sacrificing privacy, and due to the lack of "extra space" (I live in a "3 room" apartment) that we are so accustomed to elsewhere. The family/master bedroom is quite doable, because the parents normally are the ones to rise first and sleep last. We also have beds that have a hollow compartment underneath, so to strip and store the linens every morning and use the bed as a great big "couch" during the day, where the whole family fits and plays. I never thought much of this till I realized, sitting across from her on the video camera, how spoiled I have become. On the other hand, they are a happy, wholesome family with bright kids and a satisfied mother who is able to spend her days with her most precious possessions, and make those days into anything they want to, each time around. She also takes them to the park for 3-4 hours every day. To her, it's not work, it's not hardship, it's the best life has to offer. Did I mention that she is really really happy?
I have a huge living room, a huge bedroom and a huge "office" room, with two full baths. Why? Because I can...So it's all relative, you see.
We eat because we can, it's all around us. If we see someone walking (away from the downtown area) we assume they are "lowlife" or poor people, or drunk, or homeless, or some other person of misfortune who CANNOT drive. Because we can all drive everywhere and eat till the plate is clean. Then flip to the other side, become holistic about green living and veganism, while sporting over sized breasts of the not so holistic kind... whatsup? Go to yoga and church and pull out of the parking lot, ignoring everyone else on the road. We burn up energy to condition the air in our living and working spaces, but we do not use the sun to dry our hair and clothes. Instead, we use more energy for dryers, that heat up our living area that has to be conditioned with more energy to make it cool again. Is this not a bit wasteful???
I am no angel, I admit, I could scale down on some of my indulgent habits, like having 17 pairs of running shoes and more than 8 beds for my dog around the house.
I wonder why we are so wasteful and superficial still, knowing that others are literally starving to death, and knowing that this planet will not sustain our indulgent asses (regardless, it will cycle into its deadly changes). I wonder why (and here I will step on some toes, and get "witchy"), still we have to fear and beg a nonexistent human form, in the name of god, and go to wars, in the name of god, and believe in contra-scientific FACTS, in the name of god, who was created long long ago, BECAUSE we couldn't deal with life and explain the unexplained, and get comforted and reassured, and regard our passing life as passing, and reach for solutions that were beyond our realm of knowledge and understanding. Oh... I forgot to mention, it is also the greatest, most profitable and longest standing BUSINESS ran by the biggest hypocrats in the world (who have your little boys and girls in their laps).
And the answer to all is that we are still crawling. As a species and a life form, we are, at best, toddlers. Some of us can speak already, some are just drooling and screaming for instant gratification... sounds familiar?? Yeah... little kids, who cannot conceptualize every aspect of life, time, and the "whys". This is what I think.
So this post is merely a think-out-loud for me, not a rant, not a scolding, more of my own reasoning to explain our, my shortcomings. This way, and not because some god figure tells me, it is fathomable that we just don't know how to be better. Yet.
The comforting part is, that against the best efforts of religion to keep progress from happening, there are, have been, and always will be inquisitive minds, pioneer minds, and brave, independent thinkers, scientists and motivators who carry the spark of humanity forward (not in the form of burning women on stakes, or feeding babies to a fire pile, or blowing themselves up). So cheer to humanity, and if you are inquisitive, seek out the knowledge and keep walking... the tunnel has another end. I am sure!
In the meantime, I am trying to identify and cease my selfish habits that are programmed through society and are so meaningless, in the long run. They really are...
Does anyone know the ownership-line of ancient art, does anyone know the shoemaker of Luis the XVI? Does anyone know what brand of writing instruments Newton used? No... and who cares. It is all relative. We care about what Paris Hilton wears...but the future generations will only look to accomplishments, discoveries, reforms and improvements and other, beautiful creations. THAT is what's relative on the big scale. What we do and how we think... not the credit score and brand of clothing and cars...do you see?
My newest interest is the slowfood movement that started in Italy... check it out.
Also a last note about religion: I do not need to be "scared" into being a decent human being, nore do I need to pay my way into heaven. Or wherever. I regard my NOW life with care and concern and not wait to chill lazily on top of clouds (probably getting skinnier as I eat more and more), laughing at others, who are burning in hell (must have missed a payment, or got bad credit rating). I do not judge anyone's belief, only if it's an extremest kind (an extremist of any kind is unhealthy, even a workout freak). I do not argue sicentific proof. Seriously...
I do what I can NOW to improve something. And it doesn't always take money.
Friday, May 1, 2009
the year in review
Ph! What a trying first 4 months these were!!
I have made it... And I sense a change in the winds for the upcoming months. I will take the summer to reevaluate and rediscover life, slowly and sweetly. In retrospect, the year has had nothing but trials for me so far but I really feel I can breath easily and I really feel I have accomplished a lot without losing focus.
Focus on what, you ask. Focus on not focusing on unimportant things. And what would those be, you ask. Pretty much everything we "think" is so important.
Just to keep it brief, I'll give you a quick rundown.
Important: love, respect for life, respect for self, positive outlook, help and consideration for others, being able to live with all your decisions, moving forward, finding solitude, all things beautiful (colors, sounds, living things, literature)
Unimportant: money, things you own, credit or the lack of (credit rating??? arbitraty...), things you collect, clothes, cars, how many places ahead you get between traffic lights, who made your shoes, etc.
But, that is not the title of my post, so I shall post something that accounts for my hardship for the past four months. Those were, in order:
a (short) notice to move due to short sale
a notice to ship out to Afghanistan with the Army
a knee injury
a move (and midterm)
dog got INFESTED with flees (in a house we looked at as potential residence) car died (and got half-assed fixed for a lot of money)
latissimus injury (and finals, with the last week of school missed because I couldn't drive, couldn't sleep, and didn't eat because I had PAINKILLERS in my tummy!!)
BUT! I have also had some heartwarming heat flashes of being overwhelmed by emotions due to some of the following.
Having talked to my nephews and my brother via Skype video;
Having talked to my Hungarian ex, with whom I came here and actually being able to be friends
Having seen my teen idol band's lead singer LIVE in concert in my Klub, 3 feet away from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having talked to another ex who was very dear to me but almost cost me my life (and his as well), and knowing that he is doing OK.
Sitting through Rigoletto (and "hearing"my father singing those arias when I was little)
Reuniting with a dear dear classmate from Hungary from (I don't' know) xyz Conhead years ago
Attending an appreciation lunch at the center where I volunteer
and these are just a few... I sometimes tear up watching a puppet show on the street (childhood memories??) or seeing a woman feeding her baby ice cream (lost love, lost life(s)), and all sorts of other, hormonal and emotional outbursts.
Now I feel like I have grown up 20 years worth in 4 months. Probably because I am fighting alone and I appreciate more of the everyday pleasures and little wonders around me. I love my plants in my apartment, love to watch them grow. I gather the lost lizards and bugs and dragon flies and carry them outside my door. I marvel at the breeze that comes off the water as I am sitting in the park with my precious puppy in my lap. I inhale the sweetness of the blooming gardenias on my long runs. I speed down the freeway to turn my last paper in as the wind whips through my open windows and sunroof in the cool spring afternoon. I watch the sunrise and feel a rush of gratitude flood over me to have another day in which I can fight and save my critters and watch the skies and breath the breeze and taste the scent of flowers and feel Shasta's heartbeat as she lay in my lap...
life is good... for me, and for us... and even for the Hottentots who sleep with their heads propped up on one arm,on the ground so the bugs don't crawl in their ears. We are all alive...THAT alone is precious... don't squander it.
Good night Palm Beach!
I have made it... And I sense a change in the winds for the upcoming months. I will take the summer to reevaluate and rediscover life, slowly and sweetly. In retrospect, the year has had nothing but trials for me so far but I really feel I can breath easily and I really feel I have accomplished a lot without losing focus.
Focus on what, you ask. Focus on not focusing on unimportant things. And what would those be, you ask. Pretty much everything we "think" is so important.
Just to keep it brief, I'll give you a quick rundown.
Important: love, respect for life, respect for self, positive outlook, help and consideration for others, being able to live with all your decisions, moving forward, finding solitude, all things beautiful (colors, sounds, living things, literature)
Unimportant: money, things you own, credit or the lack of (credit rating??? arbitraty...), things you collect, clothes, cars, how many places ahead you get between traffic lights, who made your shoes, etc.
But, that is not the title of my post, so I shall post something that accounts for my hardship for the past four months. Those were, in order:
a (short) notice to move due to short sale
a notice to ship out to Afghanistan with the Army
a knee injury
a move (and midterm)
dog got INFESTED with flees (in a house we looked at as potential residence) car died (and got half-assed fixed for a lot of money)
latissimus injury (and finals, with the last week of school missed because I couldn't drive, couldn't sleep, and didn't eat because I had PAINKILLERS in my tummy!!)
BUT! I have also had some heartwarming heat flashes of being overwhelmed by emotions due to some of the following.
Having talked to my nephews and my brother via Skype video;
Having talked to my Hungarian ex, with whom I came here and actually being able to be friends
Having seen my teen idol band's lead singer LIVE in concert in my Klub, 3 feet away from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having talked to another ex who was very dear to me but almost cost me my life (and his as well), and knowing that he is doing OK.
Sitting through Rigoletto (and "hearing"my father singing those arias when I was little)
Reuniting with a dear dear classmate from Hungary from (I don't' know) xyz Conhead years ago
Attending an appreciation lunch at the center where I volunteer
and these are just a few... I sometimes tear up watching a puppet show on the street (childhood memories??) or seeing a woman feeding her baby ice cream (lost love, lost life(s)), and all sorts of other, hormonal and emotional outbursts.
Now I feel like I have grown up 20 years worth in 4 months. Probably because I am fighting alone and I appreciate more of the everyday pleasures and little wonders around me. I love my plants in my apartment, love to watch them grow. I gather the lost lizards and bugs and dragon flies and carry them outside my door. I marvel at the breeze that comes off the water as I am sitting in the park with my precious puppy in my lap. I inhale the sweetness of the blooming gardenias on my long runs. I speed down the freeway to turn my last paper in as the wind whips through my open windows and sunroof in the cool spring afternoon. I watch the sunrise and feel a rush of gratitude flood over me to have another day in which I can fight and save my critters and watch the skies and breath the breeze and taste the scent of flowers and feel Shasta's heartbeat as she lay in my lap...
life is good... for me, and for us... and even for the Hottentots who sleep with their heads propped up on one arm,on the ground so the bugs don't crawl in their ears. We are all alive...THAT alone is precious... don't squander it.
Good night Palm Beach!
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