Et Tu, Fructose?

Posted on November 1, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A glass of orange juice

Good Morning, God!

How long ago was it, God, that I read about how superior fructose was to regular sugar? Am I imagining that? Anyway, the news coming out about the dangers of fructose is unsettling.

At first I thought that this doesn’t affect me all that much personally. Ever since hearing Mayo Clinic urge us to EAT fruit, DON’T DRINK IT, that’s pretty much what we’ve been doing. Kit and I don’t have orange juice for breakfast. After all, when you can have papaya or grapefruit — why would you drink orange juice?

That’s really all I thought about orange juice, God, until I read Tim Ferris’s book, The 4-Hour Body. In the book he lists the stats for his blood tests before and after two weeks of adding 30 oz. of orange juice to his normal diet. YIKES! It was SCARY! All the bad stuff went up and the good stuff went down.

Going online I found a good summary of the problem with fructose, God. You were so smart (DUH!) You packaged the fructose with enough fiber to mostly counteract the impact. But, we have tossed out the fiber and gone straight to the juice. And since fructose is cheaper to make — and companies need more sugar to make low-fat food taste better — it is now in just about everything!

What surprised me in all of this is that fructose 1) doesn’t trigger the hormone leptin, which makes us fill full and 2) has to be processed by the liver. “Fructose is a chronic hepatotoxin — “it’s alcohol without the buzz.” That quote is from Dr. Weeks quoting a talk by Dr. Robert Lustig at the UCSF Medical School.

So, God, fruit without fiber — fructose — isn’t just as bad as regular sugar, it’s worse. A liver toxin! Yikes!

Tagged with: dangers of fructose, Dr. Weeks, fructose and fiber, fructose as a liver toxin
Posted in adoring Easy, choices, food questions, Uncategorized

The Grove — a new kind of Plaza?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Valet Drop Off Area as seen from 5C in the parking lot at the Grove

Good Morning, God!

We are social beings and so congregating is what we do. So, perhaps it is no surprise that I wanted to go to the Grove for dinner. The Grove is a new outdoor and upscale shopping center. It was built right next to the old Farmers’ Market that existed from even before my childhood. Suz scoffs at the Grove — calling it a cross between a mall and Disneyland.

But, it was Suz who pointed out that it now serves the function of an old-world plaza — a gathering place for the community. As I looked around, God, I could see her point. A Christmas Tree was being put up — while several yards further on, a Halloween Pumpkin Patch was being dismantled. Little children in Halloween costumes were still wandering around. All of this activity was going on somewhere between the Apple Store and Nordstrom.

I had wanted to eat at the upscale French restaurant — but, Suz felt she (we) were too exhausted to appreciate it. So off we went to the Farmers’ Market area to order cactus salad. They were OUT of cactus salad which was both a disappointment and a relief. The contrast between the slick new age Grove and the tacky (but, mostly, clean) shops and food stalls of the Farmer’s Market was stark!

Suz pointed out that the most popular food stalls were the all-you-can-eat Brazilian place and the Singaporean food stall. This was NOT the Farmers’ Market of my childhood, God, but rather a Global Eatery. And, if I hadn’t been so tired I would have loved to browse and take photos.

My photo this morning is of the 1% using the valet parking. We had to walk by Rolls Royces, Land Rovers and Bentleys on our way out of the parking structure. Truly, God, the Grove is a meeting place for all ethnicities and all social classes.

Tagged with: a Global Eatery, community gathering places, social beings, The Grove
Posted in a new view of Commons, Abundant Life, people as gifts, seeing, Transitions

Walking, Talking and (a little) Shopping

Posted on October 30, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A house turned into a store on Abbott Kinney Street

Good Morning, God!

Let’s see. Yesterday. Seven Hours of walking, talking and just a little shopping! How does one process that? Or does one? I am thankful with Time with Daughters!

It was a wonderful gift when Sandy parked her car and came in a talked with me — for almost an hour — when she took me to the airport. Being with — Connecting — Hearing and Being Hear. That is the BEST GIFT.

Now I am enjoying that gift with daughter Suzanne. Beginning each day with coffee tasting — two coffees that Suz prepares and sets before me for me to guess what part of the world they come from. That is so like her Dad! And, I enjoy it. In fact, God, it is almost time for that right now.

But, first, God, I want to share with you the very simple pleasure of asking people about themselves. I have been “connecting” with people. The cause of our WALK yesterday was our need to have the rear brakes changed on Suz’s car. Who knew it would take seven hours and not get done! But, no matter! It started with my noticing the photos of two little boys on our assistant’s cubical. That’s was all it took to hear about how he and his wife had fostered them and adopted them and what a joy they were!

It was heart warming to share his joy. And then, as we moved on down Main Street I chatted with a shop owner from Hawaii who’s husband is an artist — looking at a book of his paintings — and hearing about their house by the stream in Kalihi.

It was a Marvelous Day, God! Mother Daughter “Gatherers” out on a seven hour expedition.

Tagged with: Abbott Kinney Street, mother daughter time, Santa Monica, shopping as gathering
Posted in connecting, Conversations, daughters, Hearing, Sharing

Into the Abyss — A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life

Posted on October 29, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Werner Herzog, German film director at the reception following an advanced preview

Good Morning, God!

Suz was lucky enough to be given tickets the night I arrived to an advanced preview of a documentary film
Into the Abyss by Werner Herzog. It’s about a triple homicide in Texas and the execution of one of the two “killers.”

My first thought was “Oh No!” But, Werner is an amazing human being and a trustworthy guide into what did feel like an abyss. His interviews with the people involved were respectful and honest. He let the people — police, families of the victims, and the murderers and their families speak.

The interviews keep replaying in my mind. This morning, I’m “seeing” the one of Fred Allen, a Captain of the Death House in the prison in Texas. His job was to “take care of” the person to be executed in the last 24 hours — and then to preside at the strapping of the person on to the gurney. He said for a while there he was doing 2 executions a week. His last one was the execution of a woman. He told how she had thanked him for being so kind to her.

Oh God, you could see how stricken he was sharing that. Then he talked about how that evening, when he got home after the execution, his body started to shake. He couldn’t stop shaking and he just stood and shook and wept and knew — he couldn’t do it any more.

So often, God, we take things like Capital Punishment and take positions on them involving principles and philosophies. That’s all very well. But the story of Fred Allen seems so much more to the point. Every cell in his body shook and cried out — no more.

Tagged with: capital punishment, Into the Abyss, pre-premier, visceral knowledge, Werner Herzog
Posted in choices, daughters

Lashing ourselves to the mast — or putting in ear plugs?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Sirens by Oscar Ramos Orosco

Good Morning, God!

Through a series of “random” connections I ended up at an interesting website called 99% and saw this illustration of Odysseus who had himself bound to the mast to resist the irresistible songs of the Sirens. His crew were wearing wax ear plugs. Surely, a much easier way to resist temptation. But, Odysseus wanted the joy of hearing the Sirens while the safety of resisting them. How like us, God!

Temptation is always with us, God. Even when we have no intention of “giving in” we still want to gaze upon it. We, like Odysseus want to hear the Siren Song — while resisting. Sigh, how good we are at deluding ourselves. It makes me think of the “Marshmallow Test.” This was a study years ago — in which children had ONE marshmallow put on the table in front of them. Then, they were told by the “instructor”, “I’m going to leave the room for a while. You can eat the marshmallow. But, if you can wait and not eat it then when I return I will give you a second marshmallow.” It turned out in this longitudinal study that the children who “waited” for the second marshmallow were more successful in later life.

For years it was assumed these children had more “character” — more “will power.” But, the secret for many of them seemed much simpler. They just didn’t LOOK at the marshmallow. They distracted themselves and focused on other things. They did the equivalent of putting wax in their ears.

How utterly simple, God! And how amazingly uncommon. Now, the question for myself is — what are my temptations? And, what am I doing about them? Hmmm.

Posted in accepting my need for help, choosing HARD

NOW, because Later is So Close to Never

Posted on October 27, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Rosy fingered Dawn

Good Morning, God!

So often, when I have to do something, I tend to think that I’ll do it later. The thing about LATER is that so many things can be stored in it. Later is endlessly expandable. But, NOW mostly only holds One Thing. And, that means that we have to decidewhat to put in our Now.

Deciding is hard. But, the other morning it hit me with fresh power that Later is very close to Never. That’s especially true with Dawn, and I realized that morning was the first dawn “with clouds” since I’ve arrived in Tucson. It was the thought of pink clouds that got me up. And once up and moving, it was easier to keep moving. So I went out jogging — this time for a full two miles. Newton was right. Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion.

Reflecting on this, it comes to me, God, that “A Day” is rather like an empty necklace chain — with activities like beads. Such a variety of shapes and colors, God! And, mostly, I get to select the beads I string. I’m pretty much free to choose what I do and when I do it. Now that I am retired again I have this gift of freedom. Freedom is a terrible thing to waste, God. And, I suspect it was some variation of that “thought” that has kept me so busy over the years.

Because, God, it is hard for me to grasp that Nothing can be the Very Best Something. I’m sure that is why I love the Benedictine Retreat Center at Snowmass so very much. Sitting in silence was a Something. It was even a scheduled Something. The value it was given, and the ritual surrounding it, helped me see it as a beautiful bead that I can string on the necklace of my days. But, now that I am home, that bead is covered over by the other beads. Please, God, help me in my NOWS to choose wisely.

Posted in Centering Prayer, choices, Nothing as Something, time

I’m NOT running with the Coyotes

Posted on October 26, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Coyotes on Sandy's street

Good Morning, God!

I’m up at dawn, again. Taking photos and sipping coffee. I have turned over to Sandy all of the responsibilities for the boys leaving for school. I am relaxed and happy. I was considering going jogging earlier than usual. But, that was before I saw three coyotes lopping down Sandy’s street. I am not eager to run with coyotes — especially three of them.

Coyotes are resourceful creatures. I dare say they are far more interested in the local rabbits than they are in me. Still, I shall wait another hour or so before I take to the road.

No one is worried about coyotes becoming extinct, God! They seem very adaptable. They have even shifted from diurnal to nocturnal in urban areas. They learn quickly and work together in packs. I’m full of coyote factoids after reading the wikipedia article. It seems they might have originated in the Americas.

But, what really interests me is our human reaction to coyotes as opposed to wolves. If I had seen three wolves lopping along Sandy’s street — would I be outside AT ALL? Fear of wolves seems far more powerful than of coyotes or even of the cougars who inhabit Sabino Canyon. Not, God, that I am jogging in Sabino Canyon.

I’ve read Farley Mowat’s book about wolves. And I dare say he has it right when he says: “We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be –the mythologized epitome of a savage ruthless killer – which is, in reality, no more than a reflected image of ourself.”

Sigh, we are predators. And, I suspect, God, that is HOW predators behave — eliminating other competing predators. Wolves when reintroduced into Yellowstone set about killing coyotes. We don’t like competition. It seems we dislike most in others, our very own qualities.

Aah, but, the sun is fully up now, God. And I shall be setting out on a jog.

Tagged with: a moment with God, coyotes, sabino canyon, wolves
Posted in Common Sense, exercising

Seeing Beauty in Unexpected Places

Posted on October 25, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Grains of Sand from Maui: Photo by Dr. Gary Greenberg

Good Morning, God!

I knew that each snowflake was unique — but grains of sand? I’m amazed! And delighted! These grains of sand are beautiful. But, the thing is, God, that it takes a very powerful microscope to see — and photograph — them. So, it is no surprise that I’ve always seen grains of sand as identical.

It is tempting to think that people — all 7 billion or so — are pretty much identical. It is just “easier” to assume that other people are pretty much like us. That’s my default assumption. Hmmm. And I hold to this illusion, in spite of growing up in a family filled with diversity — in spite of my being married for many years to a person fundamentally different from me. Ah yes, God! Gender differences!

It’s odd, God! In spite of my reading books by Deborah Tannen and learning about Myers Briggs “types” and enneagram types — I am still, so often, surprised by our differences!

Sigh, yes, You do love surprises. And I do have “miles to go before I sleep.” So much learning and growing left to do. So much interacting with other grains of sand. Are we ever done, God? Or is “done” a finite human concept?

Hmmm. Perhaps, it would be better for me to focus on the beauty and uniqueness of the grains around me? Please help me, God!

Tagged with: beauty, beauty in unexpected places, diversity, Dr. Gary Greenberg, sand grains.com
Posted in A God given diversity, appreciation, beauty, Diversity, Expand my Heart, seeing

The Return of the Parents

Posted on October 24, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Midnight at the Tucson Airport

Good Morning, God!

And a good, good morning it is! Sandy and Dave have returned home and I am no longer The Responsible Party! Sigh. I had forgotten just HOW responsible parents are. I love my grandsons, but I am happy to turn over the Position of Responsible Adult to their Mom and Dad!

Responsibility is a funny thing, God. When I was an Active Parent — one never stops being a parent — I wasn’t so aware of the weight of responsibility. It is only when reassuming that “responsibility” that I notice how heavy it is. I guess You don’t let us “notice” it while we are engaged in it. A Very Good Thing!

Both boys ARE responsible. They are really Young Men. And, mostly I only reminded and chauffeured. Well, and cleaned and washed and cooked. The most fun for me were the conversations I had with them. This visit I made a point of spending quality time with each of them one-on-one. And that was delightful.

Hmmm. I’m remembering the Smoothers Brothers comedy duo from my past. Their whole schtick was sibling rivalry — “Mom loved you best!” Everyone laughed. We all understood. We all want to be loved “The Best.” Even, maybe especially, when we are Grumpy, Prickly, and sometimes downright Nasty.

It was several years into our marriage when I was finally able to 1) understand and 2) tell Kit that when I got Hurt/Angry and yelled “GO AWAY!” that I really wanted him to come and give me a gentle hug. What an incredible difference those “hugs” have made over the years! Touch, is definitely one of my Love Languages.

Thank You, God, for Your On-going Love of us! Your Love, like Mother Love, isn’t so much quantifiable as it is endless. And, thanks, too, God for bearing the Real Responsibility.

Tagged with: God's Love is Endless, Hugs, mother love, parents, responsibility, the gift of loving touch
Posted in Communication, hugs, LOVE

An Hour of Stillness — A Thankful Heart

Posted on October 23, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

another beautiful Tucson sunrise

Good Morning, God!

It’s morning and all is still. No sound of cars driving by as I nipped outside to take this photo of the dawn. The boys are sleeping. I am back in bed with my coffee. Missing Kit. But, then there is a Race today and on Saturdays he is often out early doing TNT runs or, as he did yesterday — working at the AID Station as part of his job as a mentor. Smile.

Active and involved is good. But, God, as with all Good Things, the danger lies in TOO MUCH of a Good Thing. Balance is HARD for us, God. So too, is Understanding. As I lie here, literally in my daughter, Sandy’s bed, I think of the old Native American saying. We truly don’t understand anyone until we have “walked a mile in his moccasins.” It has only been a week, God. But, my “Understanding” and “Appreciation” of her have quintupled.

And, in part that is from the gift of a breakdown — as Suzy says, “Breakthroughs come AFTER Breakdowns.” Sigh. I, who haven’t cried in years, was reduced to sobbing outside the Tucson Music Hall — and calling Sandy for help. I was taking Ian to see, Shrek: The Musical. I had, as Sandy had urged, earlier done a dry run into downtown. But, that evening the key street was closed to all but GAME TRAFFIC. My next turn took me onto the freeway and into being LOST for 30 minutes.

LOST is stressful. How much more stressful for my “high functioning” autistic grandson! All his “coping energy” was quickly used up! Even as we arrived — just in time — he wanted only to GO HOME! Thus my tears. I called Sandy. With her loving comfort and advice I exchanged our tickets for the next night and we went home — relieved and in good spirits.

And, last night we both enjoyed — the first 50 minutes of the show. Then, Ian said — pleasantly but clearly — it was time to go home. Thank You, God, for a good evening!