Scribblings

In the new year ...

Circle of Words:

There are years that ask questions and years that answer.
-Zora Neale Hurston

The New Year brings upon many resolutions that will go unmet. Instead of a resolution...how about an aspiration. What are your hopes for this new year?

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My hopes for the New Year:

I want to lower my blood pressure. Slowly, I?ve been eliminating caffeine from my diet. I?ve been trying to walk on the treadmill every day. I know that caffeine elevates blood pressure. Exercise lowers it. Right now my blood pressure is in the high normal range. When I go back to the doctor in two months, I?d like to see it fall into the normal range.

I want to be healthier. The doctor suggested I try the South Beach Diet (SBD). I?ve got the book and it?s easy to understand. It should be easy to follow except for the cravings. There are no portion sizes ? and that is a good thing. It gets so old to be weighing food and wondering how many points or calories it has. Even though there aren?t portion sizes, there are foods to avoid or eat sparingly.

The first two weeks, I shouldn?t eat any bread or fruit, cereal or grains or the veggies I love best (like carrots and beets). I should have lean beef and pork, light or no-fat cheeses and milk, most vegetables and many condiments as long as there?s no added sugar. I think the hard part for me will be giving up fruit, cereals, and carrots. I love carrots and fruit! As for cereals, I just have to get used to the idea of eating meat or tomatoes or broccoli or something like that in the morning. I could do it. It?s just not that easy.

One more hope for the new year: finish a story I?ve started. There doesn?t have to be any pressure here because I?ve started quite a few. I?m thinking I can work a bit on each until one ?inspires? me and then go with that one until I finish it. I?ve started working toward that by starting with 30 minutes of writing a day. It doesn?t sound like much but, with the holidays, it was the most realistic thing I could do. As things quiet down, I should be able to devote more time to it. I would be very happy with that!

Random Question of the Day:

On this day in 1935, Elvis Presley was born. Do you like rock-n-roll? What is your favorite kind of music?

I love rock and roll!

I enjoy listening to all kinds of music. It just depends on the mood I?m in.

If I am feeling mellow, I like to listen to soft jazz, classical, or soft/lite rock. If I?m feeling tense or wound up, I like to listen to hard rock. I enjoy just about all kinds except for most country and almost all hip-hop. I?ve just never gotten into those sounds.