Blame it on the State Fair of Texas

Got something new to add to my mile high list of need to's. More good and best foods to eat; what we need to drink; activities we need to do... Good stuff in and bad stuff out. I know, I know... I do get on my tower of righteousness and maybe I mighta' gon a little too far at times. Sure... I can do the salmon, the green tea, the ground flax seed... and even the exercising, though I admit befor' the Supreme One, and Country that I get off course... and... well... I can jus go hog wild at times. Like I been doin' for the last three weeks... There! I said it! But you gotta' understand... The Fair's in town. I mean... THE STATE FAIR...! ...OF TEXAS! And anybody who's from here knows what that means. Newspapers write about it, TV news and bemused shows talk and hawk it. No! Not Football! Although that's big too... Real big! Let's see... There's Grambling and PV. This yr they played the second week of the fair; and Texas - Oklahoma the third week. That's "Huge." We still need a game for that first week... Anybody? And then there's the food... no... not just food... there's a fried wonderland of delicacies... every day and night, and you jes gotta' try 'em. If you don't sample somethin' well-l-l... that's crazy... sad... unheard of... and un-american. So for now... diet, healthy eatin', prudence be darn. And so... even though I keep my ears tuned and open for whatever healthy info I can capture, and I feel guilty 'bout not exercising (walking, stretchin', palates, etc.) like I should and find every excuse not to do it. I know I need it, and that I need to eat right. So even though I'm not exactly on course right now I'll pass these tidbits on with the promise that I'll join you in the circle as soon as the fair's over. In the mean time... add these food to your diet: Beets: eat 'em raw. They fight inflamation. Swiss Chard - can help reduce the incidence of lung cancer. Ground flax Seed - reduces symptoms of menopause. Increases brain function. (Ooo... I know I need some 'a that) Cinnamon - helps with diabetes. Acai Berry - in paste. An antioxident. I'll be back on board soon... but fa' now I gotta' try this homemade cashew brittle. (Crunch!!!)

Just Do It

I took Oprah and her guests up on their call for all viewers, friends, relatives and acquaintances to get busy and do something that can affect lives big time. "Make a Vision Board." Yes. That's right. "A Vision Board. Okay... it sounds kinda' like something everybody oughta know about and just been putting off. But for those like me, I'll explain. Sounds nice and all... but I thought up all kinds of excuses. "They gotta' be kiddin'. More work! Not this girl! No time. I'm already too busy. That stuffs not for me; and too many thumbs down to bore you with. Then I thought, couldn't do any harm, but I still didn't do it. Bet most of the folks watchin' didn't either. Put it out of my mind after that, just like others did. Lots of folks watch Oprah don't admit it, but always chime in talk about something that happened or was talked about on the show, and they get called on it and claim somebody told them about it. Well I watch and my hubby too. He's got time and beats me to the most comfortable chair in the house. Comes in loaded down with snacks, and sits with the remote... ready. Yeah... I looked at it that first time but didn't act and my life went on along it's mediocre path, with a few quirky turns, that got crazy. Some things wound up bad and mangled; other stuff fell off the radar. Hey... I was hanging on. (sniff) I went a few places, met some good people, did my work, managed, with my husband's major help to eat right most times. Made most of my appointments; though not doing much exercising, unless I can count discount shopping and loading up on the best stuff I can find for the cheapest price. Then I saw a re-run of that Oprah show. This time I got serious and paid attentionI was gonna do it. ...started that next day. Got me a couple of boards, and pulled out all those magazines been stacked up everywhere for years, I'm never gon' look at again. I found scissors, and glue; and I made myself sit down, spread all that stuff out on my bed, and get started right then. Hey.. I was serious. ...took me back to the days of paper dolls. And I stuck with it. I cut out everything I thought could apply to me and what I'm doing. Can't even tell you how many magazines I mangled. It took me a couple of long days, but I did it. I finished my board. And I'm planning on doing another and maybe even a few more. I don't know how many I'll end up with. It was work. I'm not gon lie. But it was something I needed to do. It made me think about what I really needed and wanted. I asked myself some deep, for real questions. What's important. what's a want and what's a need. Who's important in my life. How do I get to where I want to go. Where do I want to go? And it helped me think deeper about everything I was going to put on that board. It was the closest I have examined myself in years, maybe ever. I recommend it.

Been to New York

I been talking about getting away from home and taking a trip, and seeing some of the world we live in. Bet you thought I was just talkin'? Didn't think I'd do it, huh? Thought I was dreamin' and gabbin' didn't you? I was sorta was at first. But... Well-l-l... Ha! Ha! I did it! Yes! Me! And it almost didn't happen. A week and a half before my insistent girlfriend convinced me to go with her, I got sick. I mean really sick. Don't think I was subconsciously tryin' to get out of it. I believe I got careless with my diet; plus I wasn't exercising, or getting enough sleep, and maybe worrying about something trivial. But anyway... It got so bad I couldn't get outta' bed without help. Thought I might be headed back to the hospital. Didn't want that... so I fought it. I got on the grains, fresh fruit,drank water, and more water. Stayed off the salt, sugars, fruit juices; ate stalks and stalks of celery, apples, granola... I got regular, and I read (the good stuff) Emerson, Wayne Dyer..., no newspapers, no tv news. I meditated, prayed and collected all the positive energy I could. That plus the heating pad pulled me through. It wasn't easy, don't think it was. But I made it just in time. I had to see NY. And it was worth it. I only had three days and two nights to do it. In that time I saw a broadway show, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." More about that later. Went to Grand Central Station, even sang with one of the resident entertainers we stop to see in switching trains. That's also another story for later. Went to China town. So fun! I gotta' go back. So much I didn't do and see. Can't wait for my next adventure. I recommend it. I was energized And now I'm ready to go again. Philly here I come! Sue

Starting Simple

Not plannin on doin or making any dramatic moves, changes, or proclamations. Not now. My pledge is to start off slow and easy... no sudden shifts. I'm putting a check on any outrageous and wild ideas that are sure to crop up and tease me. Not tryin' to impress. That was never my intention. I'm saving and controlling all wild thoughts and impulses up to a point, for later; maybe till about the close the year. Who knows. But I have great hope for a wonderful year, and plan to give something positive and real. I've lost some wonderful friends, some I met at the latter stage of their cancer, some who had gone through chemo, baldness, mastectomy, reconstruct, the whole nine; and were back on the scene with smiles of hope, and encouraging others. Most were younger than me, and all shared their love and prayers when I was diagnosed. We didn't talk much on the phone, hang out, or visit each other. Most were sisters from my church. They are an industrious bunch of spiritual women who have full lives, and were encircled by the winds of change and turned to face this humongous obstacle with grace and lots of prayer. Oooh...! ...the courage they showed, the warmth, love and eagerness to share their thoughts and feelings has been such a blessing, though it was hard to open up and share my feelings sometimes for somebody like me who can be a solitary sort, though I don't come across that way to others. But I'll never forget their love, and I so appreciate the time, care, openness, and warmth they gave and keep showing me everytime we meet. My love and appreciation to their families. I want to share some of what I've learned and hope it will in some small way help somebody else. But like I said... I haven't given much thought to what lays ahead for me this year. I am planning a book, to include some early writings, thoughts,poems; and some of my experiences, thoughts, adventures, and a focus on some of the people I've met in my cancer battle and on the journey. I'll let you know how it's coming. Right now I keep busy working on my book projects,plays, songs. Got roped into directing a new play I wrote with original songs and working with the pre-teen chorus group at church. They want to present the play in April. Yeah. Right. We'll see. Anyway... But for those on the cancer journey, I want you to know that my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family, friends, and associates experiencing all that the diagnosis brings. Share this blog with all you know who might need it. I welcome your thought, comments, and ideas. Love. Sue

Cover UP

Been meeting so many great women dealing with cancer. When first diagnosed I tried to ignore, cover up thoughts of it, keep myself busy, doin' for others, but couldn't make it disappear. Was always still there. Tried O Gotta' get that meat outta' our diet. But that don't mean you can't and won't backslide sometimes. We all do. We just had the State Fair of Texas here last month. It's the biggest funfest around. And people, kids, mom, pop, grands come to gawk, point, laugh; and do a lot of eating. There's food of all kinds... a lot that folks plan all year and concoct, and it's all fried, wid lots of sugar, bad greecy bad, the most unhealthy oils. It's all bad-d-d-d - GOOD! Went to the fair since I was a little girl, way back when we only got to go on 'colored day'. You know that was a long time ago. Anyway, I know I'm not suppose to eat anything out there. I'm even suppose to take my own water. Helped my daughter hand out free samples of grilled chicken fixed with she and her husband's gourmet spicy seasoning. Boy was it smellin' good; and folks were lined up. No-o-o-o... I didn't eat any. But on our breaks we went out on the midway searching for cotton candy, fried catfish, tamales, corn-on-the-cob, and everything else fried we could find. Well... Everything bad was out there. It was a fried-fest. Boy did I partake. I worked there two weekends and had a ball. Yes. I ate the bad stuff. But I got back on track once it ended. I'm sayin' this to say. We get off track, but we can recover. So don't beat yourself up when you stray. Educate yourself. Learn what you need to do and try to stick with it. But, when you backslide, know that you can turn it around again. Sue

Brain Food

Cancer is always in the back and front of your mind once you've gone through the scare, treatments, quick change of habits and thinking. But you start gettin' comfortable after a time no matter what. And you cheat. It's back to sweets, i.e. cookies, cake, ice cream, fries. But not all the time. Still not eating meat. Proud of myself. Don't miss the hamburgers or chicken. Fish is filling the void. So I look for good fish places. Discovered one last week on the way to one of those designer circus'. Got free tickets. Not about to pay high price for food there. Knew circus food would not cut it for taste. Spotted a fish place. Decided to stop and try it. Man, it was good! They had fried shrimp, catfish, tilapia, red snapper, and buffalo. Got the tilapia (fresh, cooked to order, moist, not too salty); had great fries and a timble of cole slaw (slammin' good). But it was fried. Not so good. This place is on the other side of town, and with gas as high as it is, I won't be visiting too often. But those evenings when I'm yearnin' for something special, I might make the trip. Can't remember the name of the place, but I know how to get there. Sue

Backslidder

I'm not eating and exercising like I should and I know I've gotta' get back on track. When I first got the diagnosis I got serious. I was on top of things. I was taking pilates, shopping at Whole Foods, reading and surfing for info to help me, praying and quoting scripture to pull me out of the doldrums. Now my hair has grown out (not to my shoulder yet), and I've started partaking in "healthy" desserts from time to time, stuff like blackberries and blueberries. The only problem is they're in cobblers, and topped with Bluebell ice cream. I know what I need to do. I just have to get back on course and get serious again. I know I can do it. Everything depends on it.