While Mother's Day may seem like an ordinary holiday or some effort by card companies to increase sales, it comes at a poignant time for me.
I have multiple mothers in my life: Grandmothers, great aunts, aunts, friends, my wife, her mother and my own stepmother and birth mother. There are a great many things about them which reminds me of their uniqueness and specialness which has had an impact on me throughout my life.
As a young boy, the complete, gentle and loving acceptance of my birth mother is something that has stayed with me. The strength of my stepmother as she took me as a wild teenage boy has also stayed with me. I remember my Aunt, a wonderful woman who has since passed, took me as a young boy and sought to fill the role of grandmother since both my grandmothers had passed either before I was born or just after. My great aunt also took me in and sought to fill the place her sister was supposed to fill. My wife, with her constant focus on the goodness that should surround our children, brings that same gentleness and care to me and our home.
In each of these mothers, it was the caring they brought. It was and is their gentle presence surrounding me and their own children. It is a good thing, a very good thing.
All this care, this softness tempers me for the better. I believe I am better for all this good influence on me. I'm more gentle than I would otherwise be. I've been lucky to have those gentle mothers in my life reminding me of the good nurturing I was fortunate to know.
On Mother's Day, I'm thankful to all the mothers who've come to me in their way. I love them all.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Constant Alertness and Extensor Muscles and Fatigue and Pain
As I was being Rolfed today, I heard something that I had never heard before. The limbic system, or the part of our brain that is the most reptilian (fight or flight) is linked the extensor muscles. When a person becomes alert, the extensors straighten the body and neck and lift the head. Imagine a deer eating grass in a meadow and it hears a startling sound. It lifts it's head. It's alert. After the starting sound passes and there's no sign of danger, the deer will relax and begin to eat the grass again.
So imagine humans who work in high-demanding jobs and have young children and commute to work. Or, imagine people who have two high-demanding jobs, or one that keeps them for long hours. People in these kinds of situations are on constant alert. They are on alert at work, on the way to and from work and at home. Time for rest is not considered until it's time for bed.
It is in this high-stress kind of situation that the extensor muscles will fire. If the alert is constant, the firing will be constant. This firing will fatigue the body and cause low grade inflammation. This is the link between stress and back pain or neck pain or any kind of pain that comes from extensor muscles.
If you see a deer in the winter, you will see a hard deer. It will look haggard and tough. Winter is a hard time for deer. Winter is a time for being on alert for the search of food and constant muscle firing with the shivers. A winter deer is a stressed deer. When summer comes around and the food is plentiful, the deer is more relaxed and looks more supple. When a wind blows and ruffles the leaves, the deer becomes alert for a moment until the wind passes and then relaxes.
People in high-stress situations need for the wind to stop blowing so their body can relax.
So imagine humans who work in high-demanding jobs and have young children and commute to work. Or, imagine people who have two high-demanding jobs, or one that keeps them for long hours. People in these kinds of situations are on constant alert. They are on alert at work, on the way to and from work and at home. Time for rest is not considered until it's time for bed.
It is in this high-stress kind of situation that the extensor muscles will fire. If the alert is constant, the firing will be constant. This firing will fatigue the body and cause low grade inflammation. This is the link between stress and back pain or neck pain or any kind of pain that comes from extensor muscles.
If you see a deer in the winter, you will see a hard deer. It will look haggard and tough. Winter is a hard time for deer. Winter is a time for being on alert for the search of food and constant muscle firing with the shivers. A winter deer is a stressed deer. When summer comes around and the food is plentiful, the deer is more relaxed and looks more supple. When a wind blows and ruffles the leaves, the deer becomes alert for a moment until the wind passes and then relaxes.
People in high-stress situations need for the wind to stop blowing so their body can relax.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Why are we responsible for the packaging manufacturers choose?
Doesn't our recycling system seem bizarre? Consumers buy things from manufacturers and then it's the consumer's responsibility for the product and it's packaging from that moment after. There's actually a social pressure on the consumer to handle the product and packaging in an environmental way, to recycle it. Then, local governments are pressured, through good intentions, to have recycling programs to reduce waste. This is generally how I see things working with our recycling system.
Think about the expectations here. Manufacturers produce most of the single-use land fill destined products and packaging. But, the people who buy these products are expected to be the ones to recycle. Isn't that strange? Shouldn't the problem be fixed at the source? Any other solution focusing on individual effects isn't scalable. Is it more effective to remove the machine gun from the hands of a shooter than it is to dodge bullets? Wouldn't it work better if the manufacturers had an economic/ecological sense of this waste they are responsible for and designed for reuse? Or, wouldn't it be better if manufacturers were forced to be ecological? Wouldn't it be better this way?
As a consumer, I see I've got a few choices with the current setup.
I imagine a response to this being "Let business run free. Don't stop a free market. It will regulate itself." I bet it will regulate itself...over time. Everything is regulated over time. However, while I'm alive and while my children are and their children are, I want to focus on the joys in life and not recycling. Overall, my answer to that is a question. Should you let a business have practices that are detrimental? We don't allow lead in toys for example. It's detrimental. Maybe someone might say trash is not detrimental. I'd argue that it is. Think about how much city governments have to pay for garbage and landfill space. We pay for that in our taxes. My conclusion here is that I draw a connection between single-use landfill destined products and a destruction of beauty (who thinks landfill creates beauty?) and a reduction of my income. I pay more taxes because of single-use products. I think everyone else who pays taxes has the same effect in place whether they know it or not. I spend time thinking about an unnecessary problem which has become necessary to think about instead of having more reflective time with my family, work, etc. I could choose to not care, but this single-use crap is making work for me and costing me money. Let's kick it in the pants so we focus on cool stuff like creating a nation of innovators for the betterment of mankind (creating opportunities for our children to succeed...education damn it!) and colonizing the moon...something interesting and that benefits people.
Think about the expectations here. Manufacturers produce most of the single-use land fill destined products and packaging. But, the people who buy these products are expected to be the ones to recycle. Isn't that strange? Shouldn't the problem be fixed at the source? Any other solution focusing on individual effects isn't scalable. Is it more effective to remove the machine gun from the hands of a shooter than it is to dodge bullets? Wouldn't it work better if the manufacturers had an economic/ecological sense of this waste they are responsible for and designed for reuse? Or, wouldn't it be better if manufacturers were forced to be ecological? Wouldn't it be better this way?
As a consumer, I see I've got a few choices with the current setup.
- Not buying things: hard to do, but people are trying this.
- Only choose products with a design for multiple-use.
- Another is I can focus on stripping products and packages apart for recycling.
- Combining those three above is a fourth option and what I do now.
- I could not care and just let it pile up; however, I see the effects of manufacturer's already making those choices. I don't like it. It's ugly and hazardous.
- I could try to influence legislation so that it's illegal to operate in a way that's single-use. That would be hard, but sometimes the best answers are hard. I do want this.
I imagine a response to this being "Let business run free. Don't stop a free market. It will regulate itself." I bet it will regulate itself...over time. Everything is regulated over time. However, while I'm alive and while my children are and their children are, I want to focus on the joys in life and not recycling. Overall, my answer to that is a question. Should you let a business have practices that are detrimental? We don't allow lead in toys for example. It's detrimental. Maybe someone might say trash is not detrimental. I'd argue that it is. Think about how much city governments have to pay for garbage and landfill space. We pay for that in our taxes. My conclusion here is that I draw a connection between single-use landfill destined products and a destruction of beauty (who thinks landfill creates beauty?) and a reduction of my income. I pay more taxes because of single-use products. I think everyone else who pays taxes has the same effect in place whether they know it or not. I spend time thinking about an unnecessary problem which has become necessary to think about instead of having more reflective time with my family, work, etc. I could choose to not care, but this single-use crap is making work for me and costing me money. Let's kick it in the pants so we focus on cool stuff like creating a nation of innovators for the betterment of mankind (creating opportunities for our children to succeed...education damn it!) and colonizing the moon...something interesting and that benefits people.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Is Poetry.com for real?
I posted a poem or two on Poetry.com a while back. It was my poem called "Leaves". Since I did this, I keep getting emails from Poetry.com that I've won awards. Here's a couple of the email titles:
Abe, Your Poem "Leaves" Won The Editor's Choice Award!
Abe, You're Nominated For The Best Poems And Poets Of 2007!
- And, if you decide to order a copy, we are so certain that you will love the quality of the edition and the way your poetry is presented, we can proudly offer an unconditional, iron-clad guarantee. If for any reason you are dissatisfied, your money will be promptly refunded.
- The plaque and membership are individually valued at $135.00, but today you can order them together for $75.00 (plus $14.00 shipping & handling), which is a $60.00 discount off the regular retail price. Please take the time to review the benefits of becoming a member of the International Society of Poets and join today. We'll send your Editor's Choice Award plaque and membership package immediately upon your acceptance of this offer.
I'm working on puting my children's stories into an ebook and CD
You may or may not know that I also write and narrate children's stories. I put up a site a year or two ago and have been working on it sporadically. I'm looking to put a more consistent effort into this writing as I've been getting more and more emails asking for more stories. My most recent writings are not recorded yet; however, there are podcasts that can be downloaded so you can play stories in the car for your child.
Here's the link to my Children's Stories site. I intended it for children from ages say 3 to 7, but I've been getting feedback that adults enjoy them as well. So, I may need to revise my thinking on the age range.
I'm looking to place these stories into both an ebook as well as a compilation CD. Once those are available, I'll let folks know.
Here's the link to my Children's Stories site. I intended it for children from ages say 3 to 7, but I've been getting feedback that adults enjoy them as well. So, I may need to revise my thinking on the age range.
I'm looking to place these stories into both an ebook as well as a compilation CD. Once those are available, I'll let folks know.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Poetry: All points lead to now
This musing was mix of walking through San Francisco at night on a way to a party after my children and wife had gone to sleep. Those are the main ingredients. Oh, also add the morning after rain.
Streets are wet but
the sun is shining.
Around the corner the remains remain,
as they do.
Shopping carts and yelling
incoherent anger blended with despair.
But not so far away, 20 feet,
business is thriving.
In the darkness before now
the rain poured on us all.
I was asked twice or more for money.
In the seedy, the seeds can grow.
Or the new gentry can
take risk. Over time,
the cure of all ills,
there is no risk.
But for the short,
which is ours, there
will be spoils for some
and riches for few.
And so still I was walking.
There was a bus full of promise.
There were the affluent
and the non-invited.
Concrete and steel, the time's decor,
show affluence still.
Many are drawn, I am.
For as long as I can span, I am drawn too.
But the return was fraught
with public transport.
A sure grounding in the reality of
human suffering.
Some expound the joys of commonality,
others revile. I watch with
eyes half open.
The time was short again. And this led to now.
As it always does.
Supposedly on the way to forever.
Humans, myself will never see forever.
We may be in the ever
for now.
With children though, a parent must plan.
And care, and toil, and boil
and guide the disciple
through all of this.
Streets are wet but
the sun is shining.
Around the corner the remains remain,
as they do.
Shopping carts and yelling
incoherent anger blended with despair.
But not so far away, 20 feet,
business is thriving.
In the darkness before now
the rain poured on us all.
I was asked twice or more for money.
In the seedy, the seeds can grow.
Or the new gentry can
take risk. Over time,
the cure of all ills,
there is no risk.
But for the short,
which is ours, there
will be spoils for some
and riches for few.
And so still I was walking.
There was a bus full of promise.
There were the affluent
and the non-invited.
Concrete and steel, the time's decor,
show affluence still.
Many are drawn, I am.
For as long as I can span, I am drawn too.
But the return was fraught
with public transport.
A sure grounding in the reality of
human suffering.
Some expound the joys of commonality,
others revile. I watch with
eyes half open.
The time was short again. And this led to now.
As it always does.
Supposedly on the way to forever.
Humans, myself will never see forever.
We may be in the ever
for now.
With children though, a parent must plan.
And care, and toil, and boil
and guide the disciple
through all of this.
Fortunate
When I ride the MUNI in San Francisco, I find myself very aware of the good fortune that has come upon me in recent years. Public transport is often a sure grounding in the reality of human suffering. I can see why some people choose commonality and others revile it.
Living near Market Street in San Francisco, I am often exposed to people in despair shouting incoherent, angry words. The shopping carts filled up completely with blankets, bags, items that could still be of use, etc. It is definitely a sight; although, far from an enjoyable one.
I remember a man sleeping on the street. As I came closer I looked at his face. He was actually awake but squinting at people through his sunglasses like a child who is pretending to be sleeping. I imagined he was like a child in mind. Stunted somewhere along his way towards adulthood. Another day, as he was being chastened for prowling through rubbish, I heard him screaming in retort about how Sandra Day O'Conner somehow will vindicate him. From my perspective and probably those who have the ability to read blogs, it was a bizarre response.
I wonder about his life and how he came to be that way. I'd like to make sure that if I die before my children are self-sufficient that their fate would never come to be like his.
Walking through Union Square, I noticed a woman dressed in a fancy but wild way. She was speaking in short terse tones and I could tell she was angry. I looked at her as I was trying to understand if she was in fact talking to herself or chiding someone on a phone. She looked very wealthy and had a shopping bag full of fine hats. I think only someone with access to an unlimited supply of funds would have such hats. As I came closer, it was clear she was not speaking to anyone in particular but was just insulting people as they went by. For me, she held up her hand to block my face from hers and said something to the effect of "I don't want to see a talking head on top of a walking corpse..." Yes, it was something like that. It was rude, and it was a bit sick. I imagined that she had been in luxury in most of her life and was now somewhat stranded with the common folk. Or, maybe she was mentally ill. I would put my money on the latter. After a few more steps, I decided not to keep her vileness she wanted to pass to me. Although, some of it has remained as I am writing of it now. Writing can serve the purpose of emptying the mind. So perhaps it is fitting and proper to write about it.
Of all the images I have conveyed, I am so glad that those are not the images people see when they see me or when I see me. I know times will change and things will happen, but for now I feel quite fortunate and thankful.
Living near Market Street in San Francisco, I am often exposed to people in despair shouting incoherent, angry words. The shopping carts filled up completely with blankets, bags, items that could still be of use, etc. It is definitely a sight; although, far from an enjoyable one.
I remember a man sleeping on the street. As I came closer I looked at his face. He was actually awake but squinting at people through his sunglasses like a child who is pretending to be sleeping. I imagined he was like a child in mind. Stunted somewhere along his way towards adulthood. Another day, as he was being chastened for prowling through rubbish, I heard him screaming in retort about how Sandra Day O'Conner somehow will vindicate him. From my perspective and probably those who have the ability to read blogs, it was a bizarre response.
I wonder about his life and how he came to be that way. I'd like to make sure that if I die before my children are self-sufficient that their fate would never come to be like his.
Walking through Union Square, I noticed a woman dressed in a fancy but wild way. She was speaking in short terse tones and I could tell she was angry. I looked at her as I was trying to understand if she was in fact talking to herself or chiding someone on a phone. She looked very wealthy and had a shopping bag full of fine hats. I think only someone with access to an unlimited supply of funds would have such hats. As I came closer, it was clear she was not speaking to anyone in particular but was just insulting people as they went by. For me, she held up her hand to block my face from hers and said something to the effect of "I don't want to see a talking head on top of a walking corpse..." Yes, it was something like that. It was rude, and it was a bit sick. I imagined that she had been in luxury in most of her life and was now somewhat stranded with the common folk. Or, maybe she was mentally ill. I would put my money on the latter. After a few more steps, I decided not to keep her vileness she wanted to pass to me. Although, some of it has remained as I am writing of it now. Writing can serve the purpose of emptying the mind. So perhaps it is fitting and proper to write about it.
Of all the images I have conveyed, I am so glad that those are not the images people see when they see me or when I see me. I know times will change and things will happen, but for now I feel quite fortunate and thankful.
Health and Fitness has been fun, but there's more to life
Now, that I've accomplished what I consider fitness. I think it's time to move on. I will continue to be active and fit, but it's not my life's focus. It's actually less than 20 min of my day and having a conscious choice to be healthy in my decisions (skip the coca-cola and waffles, walk or ride the bicycle instead of driving the car, etc.).
I actually have a fair amount of other things in my life: kids, wife, house, car, job, dog, etc. I find I am much more interested in the mysteries that go on unquestioned. Fitness and health was a mystery; it's been solved now. Evolutionary fitness/diet and Crossfit are super answers. I call them super answers because they are by far the best answers out of a multitude.
There are so many other mysteries to investigate. As a result, I'm changing the focus of this writing to be more aligned with the multitude of mysteries as opposed to one particular one.
I actually have a fair amount of other things in my life: kids, wife, house, car, job, dog, etc. I find I am much more interested in the mysteries that go on unquestioned. Fitness and health was a mystery; it's been solved now. Evolutionary fitness/diet and Crossfit are super answers. I call them super answers because they are by far the best answers out of a multitude.
There are so many other mysteries to investigate. As a result, I'm changing the focus of this writing to be more aligned with the multitude of mysteries as opposed to one particular one.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Excess Sugar = Fatty Liver?
Check out this study on fast food consumption.
Why? Because of these comments from the study:
Why? Because of these comments from the study:
- That signs of liver damage were linked to carbohydrates was another key finding, he said. "It was not the fat in the hamburgers, it was rather the sugar in the coke," he said.
- "The study showed that the increase in saturated fat correlated with the increase in healthy cholesterol," he said.
What's up?
My posting as of late has been almost non-existent. I find between my work and family, I haven't taken much time to write. I know as my children get older that more time will come to me. That's what I have scheduled anyway.
I do find time to exercise though. Having twins and doing a long commute, I leave at breakfast and get home at dinner. Often, I'd stay up after the kids and the wife have gone to sleep to have my workout time. I have to say that kind of schedule doesn't bode well for resting. I've since moved "my time" to the early morning. Now, I get to bed at eight or nine and wake around four am. It works for me. I write this as an example of how I chose to fit health in.
By far, the best method for my fitness has been Evolutionary Fitness and Crossfit. With diet, the best method I have found is eliminating grains, starches and refined sugars and eating vegetables, nuts, and pasture-raised animals. Without doing "cardio", I am 8% body fat. I've been following this kind of regimen for 5 months now. I think at 33, I am in much better shape than when I bicycled across Alaska in 2000. I think I'm in better shape than I've ever been except when I wrestled in school.
I have never been in "super" shape, but I seem to be heading towards that direction as I get stronger. It hasn't been hard. The workouts are extremely taxing, but they feel so natural that I don't procrastinate. I also don't seem to lose much in the breaks I take. It's good. It's very good.
I do find time to exercise though. Having twins and doing a long commute, I leave at breakfast and get home at dinner. Often, I'd stay up after the kids and the wife have gone to sleep to have my workout time. I have to say that kind of schedule doesn't bode well for resting. I've since moved "my time" to the early morning. Now, I get to bed at eight or nine and wake around four am. It works for me. I write this as an example of how I chose to fit health in.
By far, the best method for my fitness has been Evolutionary Fitness and Crossfit. With diet, the best method I have found is eliminating grains, starches and refined sugars and eating vegetables, nuts, and pasture-raised animals. Without doing "cardio", I am 8% body fat. I've been following this kind of regimen for 5 months now. I think at 33, I am in much better shape than when I bicycled across Alaska in 2000. I think I'm in better shape than I've ever been except when I wrestled in school.
I have never been in "super" shape, but I seem to be heading towards that direction as I get stronger. It hasn't been hard. The workouts are extremely taxing, but they feel so natural that I don't procrastinate. I also don't seem to lose much in the breaks I take. It's good. It's very good.
Friday, January 18, 2008
My favorite topic!
In reading one of my daily favorite reads, I see a topic that I do thoroughly enjoy. Mark's Daily Apple had this fun post of extreme exercise, sometimes called Parkour.
I'm reminded of so much that I often don't write about. I work on my vaults every chance I get. Whether it's setting a couple of chairs to hop over in the house when I'm folding laundry or when I'm walking the dog and I see a human-height wall. I never count this as training, but it is. It's incredible exercise. It's also incredibly fun.
For people just starting out, it can seem daunting. The videos show the ones who have been doing this for years. That David Bell feller is a master. Don't even think of starting there. Never jump off a building if you haven't jumped since you were a kid. One has to start gradually. The body will change in response. It has to.
If you are interested in such things, try finding a beginning gymnastics or circus skills class for all ages. They are popping up all over the place. You can also go to a gymnastics center for kids and ask around how you can get started. You'll get tips you can start on at home to build strength and flexibility. Someone my be willing to train you. You never know unless you ask.
I'm lucky that one of the premier circus training centers in the US is 15 blocks from my house.
I'm reminded of so much that I often don't write about. I work on my vaults every chance I get. Whether it's setting a couple of chairs to hop over in the house when I'm folding laundry or when I'm walking the dog and I see a human-height wall. I never count this as training, but it is. It's incredible exercise. It's also incredibly fun.
For people just starting out, it can seem daunting. The videos show the ones who have been doing this for years. That David Bell feller is a master. Don't even think of starting there. Never jump off a building if you haven't jumped since you were a kid. One has to start gradually. The body will change in response. It has to.
If you are interested in such things, try finding a beginning gymnastics or circus skills class for all ages. They are popping up all over the place. You can also go to a gymnastics center for kids and ask around how you can get started. You'll get tips you can start on at home to build strength and flexibility. Someone my be willing to train you. You never know unless you ask.
I'm lucky that one of the premier circus training centers in the US is 15 blocks from my house.
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