11/26/07 - How could I not mention my Toshiba Laptop
computer? Probably because it's so much a part of my life
that I take it for granted. I have a Satellite M series because
of this website. I need a lot of memory in order to do pages,
especially when I forget how many pages I have open.
When I first got it, it was so powerful I was afraid of it, and I
was also afraid of hurting it. But it's been resilient and
friendly. I love it! (Well, you can see that I have it in bed
with me. )
When I got my first
laptop I could not believe
that it had all the things
my old computer had,
in a tiny fraction of the
space: modem, hard
drive, the whole kit and
caboodle. And, having
a touch pad instead of
a mouse is great.
Because of my brain
injury I use mine to
help me remember things I need to do, and things I've done.
You'll notice how many web pages I have that talk about
what I'm doing. Partially that's because I like to write, and
partially that's because things I don't write down I forget as if
they didn't happen. So, my computer is my lovely memory
repository.
computer? Probably because it's so much a part of my life
that I take it for granted. I have a Satellite M series because
of this website. I need a lot of memory in order to do pages,
especially when I forget how many pages I have open.
When I first got it, it was so powerful I was afraid of it, and I
was also afraid of hurting it. But it's been resilient and
friendly. I love it! (Well, you can see that I have it in bed
with me. )
When I got my first
laptop I could not believe
that it had all the things
my old computer had,
in a tiny fraction of the
space: modem, hard
drive, the whole kit and
caboodle. And, having
a touch pad instead of
a mouse is great.
Because of my brain
injury I use mine to
help me remember things I need to do, and things I've done.
You'll notice how many web pages I have that talk about
what I'm doing. Partially that's because I like to write, and
partially that's because things I don't write down I forget as if
they didn't happen. So, my computer is my lovely memory
repository.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Today Is a Whole-New-Day things --
"What?" (to quote David Letterman).
Here's what I mean: a few years ago a weather man said that
dry air felt colder than moist air. So I got Crock Pots for
different rooms to put moisture into the air during the winter
(Santa Fe is VERY dry). And, yes! It made an amazing
difference to the feeling of warmth in my home. (I'd take the
lids off periodically and most contained only water with some
Epsom salts to release negative ions into the rooms.)
It reminded me of when I first lived in London and we didn't
have central heat. Our house was near the Angel, on an
historic, preserved street with Regent's Canal at the bottom.
Each room had a fireplace to burn coal and while charming, as
well as warm in concept, I used to have a terrible time getting
the fire started, especially if I was cold. And then, I'd spill the
ashes more often than not.
One day when my little son and I came home from shopping in
the West End I opened the door, expecting the chill of winter,
and instead found the house to be not chilly at all, but relatively
warm. Astonished, I went downstairs to the kitchen to begin
preparing dinner, and there I found that I'd forgotten to turn off
the drying cabinet.
England in those days had completely different ways of treating
wet clothes than anything I was used to from growing up in
Wisconsin. For instance clothes would be hung on wooden rods
in the airing cupboard, which was a space beside the hot water
heater. It worked really well, and mostly things dried without
wrinkles, though wrinkles were not on John's radar, at all. He
appeared to be blind to them in all situations, even when
preparing for a job interview. A drying cabinet was a tallish
metal box with the requisite wooden rods at top and an
electrical element in the bottom, beneath a thin metal floor
piece.
The drying cabinet didn't feel particularly warm because the
amount of heat was minimal, just as there was minimal heat
from the water heater in the airing cupboard. The idea was that
the cabinet and cupboard would do their job over time. The
English were fond of saying, "Patience is a virtue, possess it if
you can -- it's seldom found in woman, never in a man."
The big lesson for me was that a very small amount of heat
over a long period of time makes a huge difference in the feel
of a home.
Incidentally, when we got central heat the paint on all our six
panel doors and other woodwork showed eighth to a quarter
inch separations at every place where pieces of wood were
joined. The wood shrank that much when the moisture that had
been in it for decades was dried out by the constant central heat.
But, back to the subject, which is how there's nothing like
coming home on a cold winter day, opening your door and
being greeted by the flavorful aroma of home cooking.
Just a few moments of preparation in the morning when you're
rested and full of energy for the day make a restful and
wonderful evening meal possible.
than fast food, and it will cost a fraction of the money. Third,
and best of all, is that the aroma of herbs and vegetables when
you walk in after a hard day's work will be relaxing and
invigorating at the same time. It will give you the feeling of
being taken care of, as if you had a chef working for you.
Here's what I mean: a few years ago a weather man said that
dry air felt colder than moist air. So I got Crock Pots for
different rooms to put moisture into the air during the winter
(Santa Fe is VERY dry). And, yes! It made an amazing
difference to the feeling of warmth in my home. (I'd take the
lids off periodically and most contained only water with some
Epsom salts to release negative ions into the rooms.)
It reminded me of when I first lived in London and we didn't
have central heat. Our house was near the Angel, on an
historic, preserved street with Regent's Canal at the bottom.
Each room had a fireplace to burn coal and while charming, as
well as warm in concept, I used to have a terrible time getting
the fire started, especially if I was cold. And then, I'd spill the
ashes more often than not.
One day when my little son and I came home from shopping in
the West End I opened the door, expecting the chill of winter,
and instead found the house to be not chilly at all, but relatively
warm. Astonished, I went downstairs to the kitchen to begin
preparing dinner, and there I found that I'd forgotten to turn off
the drying cabinet.
England in those days had completely different ways of treating
wet clothes than anything I was used to from growing up in
Wisconsin. For instance clothes would be hung on wooden rods
in the airing cupboard, which was a space beside the hot water
heater. It worked really well, and mostly things dried without
wrinkles, though wrinkles were not on John's radar, at all. He
appeared to be blind to them in all situations, even when
preparing for a job interview. A drying cabinet was a tallish
metal box with the requisite wooden rods at top and an
electrical element in the bottom, beneath a thin metal floor
piece.
The drying cabinet didn't feel particularly warm because the
amount of heat was minimal, just as there was minimal heat
from the water heater in the airing cupboard. The idea was that
the cabinet and cupboard would do their job over time. The
English were fond of saying, "Patience is a virtue, possess it if
you can -- it's seldom found in woman, never in a man."
The big lesson for me was that a very small amount of heat
over a long period of time makes a huge difference in the feel
of a home.
Incidentally, when we got central heat the paint on all our six
panel doors and other woodwork showed eighth to a quarter
inch separations at every place where pieces of wood were
joined. The wood shrank that much when the moisture that had
been in it for decades was dried out by the constant central heat.
But, back to the subject, which is how there's nothing like
coming home on a cold winter day, opening your door and
being greeted by the flavorful aroma of home cooking.
Just a few moments of preparation in the morning when you're
rested and full of energy for the day make a restful and
wonderful evening meal possible.
So, if you need a
bit of additional
heat during the
cold months and
you want to save
some money why
not try cooking in a
Crock Pot? There
are a couple of
reasons to do this.
First, your Crock
Pot will deliver a
delicious meal to
you with very little
work, and that's on
top of providing
some heat.
Second, your
than fast food, and it will cost a fraction of the money. Third,
and best of all, is that the aroma of herbs and vegetables when
you walk in after a hard day's work will be relaxing and
invigorating at the same time. It will give you the feeling of
being taken care of, as if you had a chef working for you.
11/19/07 - I'm feeling quite happy -- I love solving problems
(like making double use of the energy used for cooking and/or
heating). In fact, as a child, the most satisfying toy I ever got
(next to my bike) was a set of Chinese puzzles purchased at a
store in Wausau that was devoted entirely to toys. I had my
choice and I chose the puzzles.
Now I know that puzzles come in all shapes and sizes. For
instance, when I lived in Monterey, when I was young, my
friend, Vicky, drove a Scout. I forget where Vicky and I were
going the first time I rode in it, but I remember clearly that
there was a clicking sort of knocking sound inside as she drove.
I remember looking around for the cause and deciding it was a
particular bit of metal that was vibrating rhythmically. I put my
purse on top of it to see if that would stop the vibration.
Indeed, the sound could no longer be heard.
Vicki commented that everyone who had ever ridden in her
Scout had mentioned, if not complained strenuously about the
sound, but I was the only one who had ever done anything
about it.
(like making double use of the energy used for cooking and/or
heating). In fact, as a child, the most satisfying toy I ever got
(next to my bike) was a set of Chinese puzzles purchased at a
store in Wausau that was devoted entirely to toys. I had my
choice and I chose the puzzles.
Now I know that puzzles come in all shapes and sizes. For
instance, when I lived in Monterey, when I was young, my
friend, Vicky, drove a Scout. I forget where Vicky and I were
going the first time I rode in it, but I remember clearly that
there was a clicking sort of knocking sound inside as she drove.
I remember looking around for the cause and deciding it was a
particular bit of metal that was vibrating rhythmically. I put my
purse on top of it to see if that would stop the vibration.
Indeed, the sound could no longer be heard.
Vicki commented that everyone who had ever ridden in her
Scout had mentioned, if not complained strenuously about the
sound, but I was the only one who had ever done anything
about it.
11/20/07 - Here's another thought: say you live in a tiny flat
with what seems like a wholly inadequate kitchen. Crock Pot
cooking changes the dynamics entirely.
For instance, before I discovered that my solar systems' battery
monitor had been incorrectly installed I was going use Crock
Pot heating in my bedroom. (It was by running several Crock
find an alternate means than to keep fretting over not having
the money for plumbers.)
In any case, last November when I went to vote, the city's ride
program lost my appointment to take me home and left me
outside in the cold and dark for an hour. After that I was quite
sick because I hadn't fully recovered from having tetanus. By
the time I was able to go outside again, the water from rain and
snow that had collected in the ceramic liners had frozen and
caused them to break. The only reason this one didn't break is
that the inside is stepped: I guess when the water was freezing it
was able to expand up the steps. The other two liners were
straight sided.
with what seems like a wholly inadequate kitchen. Crock Pot
cooking changes the dynamics entirely.
For instance, before I discovered that my solar systems' battery
monitor had been incorrectly installed I was going use Crock
Pot heating in my bedroom. (It was by running several Crock
- Pots that I discovered that my
battery monitor was not
working -- basically, the
batteries began to complain
loudly, which they should
have been protected from
having to do.)
In any case, Crock Pot
cooking looks pretty good,
doesn't it? This is my favorite
one from years ago. I lost two
ceramic liners to others when
I couldn't go out last year to
bring them in. I had been
using them to heat my water
for bathing in the sun. (I've
find an alternate means than to keep fretting over not having
the money for plumbers.)
In any case, last November when I went to vote, the city's ride
program lost my appointment to take me home and left me
outside in the cold and dark for an hour. After that I was quite
sick because I hadn't fully recovered from having tetanus. By
the time I was able to go outside again, the water from rain and
snow that had collected in the ceramic liners had frozen and
caused them to break. The only reason this one didn't break is
that the inside is stepped: I guess when the water was freezing it
was able to expand up the steps. The other two liners were
straight sided.
11/21/07 - Recently there were two telly programs which
caught my attention: one related to parents wanting their
children to achieve at an early age and encouraging study at the
near exclusion of play; and the other was a dynamite pbs
program on aging and the brain in which puzzle solving and
physical activity were shown to keep the brain healthy and
functioning as well as it did at a much younger age.
Of the people in the aging program, my favorite was a nearly
hundred year old man who exercised 5 minutes every morning,
and that was it. I just LOVED it because I have had the most
spectacular results with three minutes of exercise a day. I've
lost over 11 inches around my waist and I was losing inches
consistently even when I was eating a dessert a day.
I've documented my slimming experience but I get the feeling
that few take it seriously because it doesn't sound real, given
what we are constantly told by people on television about how
much we need to exercise.
I think the reality is that we don't need to do very much
exercise ... it just has to be more than we were doing before,
and if it's done relatively early in the day it sets our metabolism
at a higher rate for the rest of the day. But most importantly,
we need to be patient. That's really key. Weight gain may well
be linked to fast food but the perceived need for fast weight
loss (through surgery or intense exercise and diet) has little to
do with wellness and is not good.
I can't help but wonder if the desire for fast weight loss
predates fast food, going as far back as Biblical times when
people "fasted." I wonder if they were dieting because they
wanted to quickly lose weight, but writers of their time seized
upon the practice to make a point about penance, Advent and
Lent. I wouldn't be surprised.
Today people spend thousands of dollars for fast results from
surgery, and often spend even more for subsequent surgery to
remove the skin that is left hanging by fast weight loss.
Whereas, with patience and three, maybe five minutes of
exercise a day, the body loses weight and has the time to take
care of the skin problem. As long as I was doing three to five
minutes of exercise a day I consistently lost five pounds a
month. That's not too shabby.
I am reminded of a woman who was helping me a few months
ago: She was using gym machines for an hour a day three days
a week and couldn't shed five pounds. I suggested that she try
simply walking around her garden in the morning before she did
other things. (My exercise consists of walking around my
garden... when I'm well enough.)
Because I couldn't afford to keep her on, I don't know how
she's doing. But I would be tempted to guess she didn't try it
because she didn't believe it was possible that so little walking
would make a difference.
I also think that we can't lose weight easily if we are scared and
impatient. I've noticed that the days I push myself to do many
tasks, and expect to have lost additional weight for my effort, I
am disappointed. Whereas when I casually and happily walk
around my garden, my body is relaxed and lets go. I think when
we push ourselves without any play that our bodies become too
stressed to let go of weight. I think that's why when we're
afraid of being fat, we tend to gain weight.
With imagination we shouldn't have to be afraid of anything.
Think about comics, about how there is always a way that the
hero or heroine survives and does good to boot.
I remember a comic I had when I was young in which a
character goes over a cliff in a car. On the way down, to certain
doom, the character promises, "If I live I will spend the rest of
my life doing good." (The character had previously been a bit
dicey.) So, no surprise, the character became a hero for the rest
of the comic.
caught my attention: one related to parents wanting their
children to achieve at an early age and encouraging study at the
near exclusion of play; and the other was a dynamite pbs
program on aging and the brain in which puzzle solving and
physical activity were shown to keep the brain healthy and
functioning as well as it did at a much younger age.
Of the people in the aging program, my favorite was a nearly
hundred year old man who exercised 5 minutes every morning,
and that was it. I just LOVED it because I have had the most
spectacular results with three minutes of exercise a day. I've
lost over 11 inches around my waist and I was losing inches
consistently even when I was eating a dessert a day.
I've documented my slimming experience but I get the feeling
that few take it seriously because it doesn't sound real, given
what we are constantly told by people on television about how
much we need to exercise.
I think the reality is that we don't need to do very much
exercise ... it just has to be more than we were doing before,
and if it's done relatively early in the day it sets our metabolism
at a higher rate for the rest of the day. But most importantly,
we need to be patient. That's really key. Weight gain may well
be linked to fast food but the perceived need for fast weight
loss (through surgery or intense exercise and diet) has little to
do with wellness and is not good.
I can't help but wonder if the desire for fast weight loss
predates fast food, going as far back as Biblical times when
people "fasted." I wonder if they were dieting because they
wanted to quickly lose weight, but writers of their time seized
upon the practice to make a point about penance, Advent and
Lent. I wouldn't be surprised.
Today people spend thousands of dollars for fast results from
surgery, and often spend even more for subsequent surgery to
remove the skin that is left hanging by fast weight loss.
Whereas, with patience and three, maybe five minutes of
exercise a day, the body loses weight and has the time to take
care of the skin problem. As long as I was doing three to five
minutes of exercise a day I consistently lost five pounds a
month. That's not too shabby.
I am reminded of a woman who was helping me a few months
ago: She was using gym machines for an hour a day three days
a week and couldn't shed five pounds. I suggested that she try
simply walking around her garden in the morning before she did
other things. (My exercise consists of walking around my
garden... when I'm well enough.)
Because I couldn't afford to keep her on, I don't know how
she's doing. But I would be tempted to guess she didn't try it
because she didn't believe it was possible that so little walking
would make a difference.
- Which brings me to building blocks. I used to
love building blocks when I was a kid. My son
loved them when he was a kid. I think the
beauty of building blocks is that they can be
used to create things -- all different things --
and the more things we create the more
creative ideas come to us. I think getting into
the habit of expecting creativity from our
minds, and accepting the creativity when our
minds present it to us is refreshing and vital,
the way that drinking water is. I think
creativity is what allows us to escape the
chains of some television messages.
I also think that we can't lose weight easily if we are scared and
impatient. I've noticed that the days I push myself to do many
tasks, and expect to have lost additional weight for my effort, I
am disappointed. Whereas when I casually and happily walk
around my garden, my body is relaxed and lets go. I think when
we push ourselves without any play that our bodies become too
stressed to let go of weight. I think that's why when we're
afraid of being fat, we tend to gain weight.
With imagination we shouldn't have to be afraid of anything.
Think about comics, about how there is always a way that the
hero or heroine survives and does good to boot.
I remember a comic I had when I was young in which a
character goes over a cliff in a car. On the way down, to certain
doom, the character promises, "If I live I will spend the rest of
my life doing good." (The character had previously been a bit
dicey.) So, no surprise, the character became a hero for the rest
of the comic.
11/21/07 Later - While I was looking at toys I found a variety
of indoor play tents. They reminded me that just the other day
on a forum a fellow in Northeast was talking about how to
conserve heat and said he was going to build a room within a
room for himself so that he would be heating a lot less space
during the winter. His plan sounded way beyond my skills, but
it also sounded pretty clever if the main aim is not to spend a
whole lot on energy during the winter.
I don't have a whole lot (of money), so I was particularly
interested. I began to think about how a tent might be easier to
put up than a whole room -- but even a ridge pole for a tent
seemed beyond my skills. I began thinking that when it gets
really cold I might just put a sheet over my headboard, which is
pretty high. But that was a little depressing to imagine.
I don't mean that you have to buy a kids tent, though if you
have kids they'd love it, I'm sure. But I'm thinking more in
terms of older people like me who aren't that active and whose
bodies tense in winter cold.
of indoor play tents. They reminded me that just the other day
on a forum a fellow in Northeast was talking about how to
conserve heat and said he was going to build a room within a
room for himself so that he would be heating a lot less space
during the winter. His plan sounded way beyond my skills, but
it also sounded pretty clever if the main aim is not to spend a
whole lot on energy during the winter.
I don't have a whole lot (of money), so I was particularly
interested. I began to think about how a tent might be easier to
put up than a whole room -- but even a ridge pole for a tent
seemed beyond my skills. I began thinking that when it gets
really cold I might just put a sheet over my headboard, which is
pretty high. But that was a little depressing to imagine.
- Maybe it was the thought of
putting up a the tent which led
me to kids tents without me
actually thinking that was
what I was doing. But, lucky
that it did because there are a
lot of different kids tents, and
seeing the variety gave me
ideas.
I suppose there aren't that
many people who would want
to live in a tent inside their
homes, just to stay warm.
But... say you didn't have
much money, like me, then it
might be something to
consider.
I don't mean that you have to buy a kids tent, though if you
have kids they'd love it, I'm sure. But I'm thinking more in
terms of older people like me who aren't that active and whose
bodies tense in winter cold.
11/22/07 - Today I walked around my garden, leaving my door
open to air out the house. Some gas is discharged from my
batteries, so I've made up my mind to leave my door open each
day while I'm walking around my garden. (I'm reminded of
when we used to do radon tests as a part of home inspections,
back when I was a Realtor, that when people opened the doors
to the house, they let in enough fresh air to defeat the test if
there were radon. And that in turn reminded me of how much
more healthy my Polish grandparents were than their brothers
and sisters who had less money and tried to keep all the heat in.
I think fresh air is vital.)
I also put up some tin foil in my living room. I know, horror of
horrors! But when I did the tin foil experiment in my garden it
clearly worked amazingly well. I was going to get Shoji screens
and put the tin foil in them, to sort of pass the tin foil off as a
decorating decision. (I have been wondering if the old tin
ceilings were adopted because of the way that tin reflects light.)
I forgot to mention that when I came in from my walk around
my garden that
it felt really warm in here compared to outdoors.
Many hours later -- This has been an entirely Great
Thanksgiving.
open to air out the house. Some gas is discharged from my
batteries, so I've made up my mind to leave my door open each
day while I'm walking around my garden. (I'm reminded of
when we used to do radon tests as a part of home inspections,
back when I was a Realtor, that when people opened the doors
to the house, they let in enough fresh air to defeat the test if
there were radon. And that in turn reminded me of how much
more healthy my Polish grandparents were than their brothers
and sisters who had less money and tried to keep all the heat in.
I think fresh air is vital.)
I also put up some tin foil in my living room. I know, horror of
horrors! But when I did the tin foil experiment in my garden it
clearly worked amazingly well. I was going to get Shoji screens
and put the tin foil in them, to sort of pass the tin foil off as a
decorating decision. (I have been wondering if the old tin
ceilings were adopted because of the way that tin reflects light.)
I forgot to mention that when I came in from my walk around
my garden that
it felt really warm in here compared to outdoors.
Many hours later -- This has been an entirely Great
Thanksgiving.
11/25/07 - Well, when I tried a tent over my bed I found it to be
toasty warm inside in comparison to the rest of my home. I wish
I had a thermometer so I could tell you the exact difference.
toasty warm inside in comparison to the rest of my home. I wish
I had a thermometer so I could tell you the exact difference.
Okay, so there you have it,
that's my tent! (I think this
clearly illustrates the
importance of buying
attractive linens. Chuckle.)
The "bump" at the front is
my laptop computer, that's
the screen holding up this
side of the tent roof. How
clever is that?
Basically, I stapled my duvet
cover to the wall. Easy as
pie! Now I'm thinking I may
ask Del to come and put up
a wire shelf to hold up the wall end of the tent. That would give
me some head room even if my computer lid were down. Now,
when I forget and close my computer, I find myself engulfed in
cloth.
I'm sure you're wondering what it's like inside my tent, besides
warmer. I imagine you're keen to see how I have it decorated. lol
So, let me show you.
me some head room even if my computer lid were down. Now,
when I forget and close my computer, I find myself engulfed in
cloth.
I'm sure you're wondering what it's like inside my tent, besides
warmer. I imagine you're keen to see how I have it decorated. lol
So, let me show you.
My cousin just sent me the
card. It's wonderful and like
some of the images I've
seen and loved on
StumbleUpon.
I'm reading a book, The
Giant Book of Women's
Health Secrets, which will
help me do some new web
pages, and my whole tent is
lit quite brightly by my
FreePlay Indigo lantern. So,
how cool is that?
http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Karen Kline
Dried beans: 1lb
Onions: 2 or 3
Carrots: 2 or 3
Celery stalks: 2 or 3
Garlic cloves: 2 or 3
Bay leaves: 1 or 2
Thyme: big pinch
Sage: big pinch
Savory: big pinch
Marjoram: big pinch
Conversions:
1lb dry beans =
..2-2.5 cups cooked
1 cup dry beans =
..2-3 cups cooked
1 can of beans =
..about 3/4 cup dry
Don't use raw/dry
kidney beans --
A telly program
while I lived in
London said raw
kidney beans have
a toxin that's
destroyed by
cooking over a
certain temperature,
not by length of
cooking. So kidney
beans, dry, are a
NO for Crock Pots.
Rinse
Remove any stones
Place in CrockPot
Chop and add
Peel and add
Pepper & olive oil
( I don't find it
needs salt.)
Add deep water,
cook while at work
& welcome home!
Remove any stones
Place in CrockPot
Chop and add
Peel and add
Pepper & olive oil
( I don't find it
needs salt.)
Add deep water,
cook while at work
& welcome home!
Welcome Home
Bean Soup
Bean Soup
Search term: Playhut
Health Boundaries Bite