Happy Veggie Birthday to Me!

As of yesterday, I have been a vegetarian for exactly one year. The back story to that decision is here.

So, yay me! I wasn’t sure I could do it, but am happy to report that the adjustment was much easier than I’d anticipated, and that I do not feel a void – either emotionally, socially or nutritionally – in my life.

Now, I must admit one thing. I am, at this point, technically a pescetarian, meaning I occasionally eat seafood, though I try to do so with health and eco-responsibility at the forefront of my mind. I decided to reincorporate seafood mainly for health purposes – there’s no denying that fish offers numerous health benefits. It also makes eating anywhere other than home much simpler.

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(Wish I was a) Galway Girl

A couple of days ago, I heard from an old friend who’d spent the month of June in Ireland. It was really great to hear from him, as we’ve sort of lost touch over the past decade.

It was also great to sit back and enjoy some amazing pictures from his trip. It all reminded me that it had been far too long since I’d enjoyed anything Irish. There are moments when I really miss the days when I was at a live show every few weeks, tipping back Guinness every Wednesday and engaging in lively conversations with people that grew up in Derry and Donegal.

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Week One:

Well, it’s Friday.

It’s kind of weird that it doesn’t mean the same thing it did a week ago.

My first week as a freelance writer has flown by. Without going into detail, I’ll just say that while it’s been nice to have the time to deal with the curve balls life throws at you, it’s been tough making the time for work. When you’re allowed to let real life be your priority, you go with it.

Of course, that’s not to say that nothing work-related got done. Not by a long shot. Today, I am much more aware of the realities of my choice to abandon steady employment, but I am also more prepared to explore my options and take them up on what they have to offer.

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Telomere Me – Thinking of the Future

Full disclosure: The main reason I started writing this post (way back in early June)  is that I really liked the word ‘telomere’ – I like the way it looks and I like the way it sounds. The content just happens to be interesting science stuff, and relevant to each and every one of us.

Ok, so have you ever had your palm read? How about your DNA? What if I told you that there was a way to get your life line interpreted by reading the tips of your chromosomes?

Would you buy it?

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To My Ancestors: Ambitious Thanks

In this post, I made a vow to my long-dead relatives:

“In 6 months, I promise to thank you for freshwater beaches, piney woods, and a significant lack of hurricanes.”

Admittedly, it’s been seven months and two days, but fashionably late is typically my way.

And so, on this day of new beginnings, I thank you, ancestors, for settling in West Michigan.

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Welcome to .com Land!

Hi! This is my first post on the new .com!

I have a lot to learn yet about blogging in general, and probably even more about exactly what I want for this blog… I do know that I intend to post at least three times a week (beginning next week), and at the same time begin my career as a freelancer. I’m nervous, but couldn’t be happier to be out from under the thumb of a boss, mandatory lunch breaks and the creative suppression of a grey cubicle.

I’m still trying to figure out how to organize things like blog subscriptions and RSS feeds and frivolous images of myself, so I beg you to bear with me as I get my act together. I will do what I can to make the content somewhat interesting in the meantime.

And so… on this my darling husband’s 32nd birthday (have a happy one, dearest!), I declare myself blogging adult – bladult.

Thanks for reading!

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It’s the End of the World

The pudgy Hispanic boy two driveways over momentarily distracted the robin from his search. After a second’s pause, he returned his beak to the matted leaves in the gutter. There had to be a worm in there. Anything less was a waste of time. Spring was, after all, very short.

The boy, facing the street, looked backward over his shoulder, and hefted his basketball up and over his head. The ball disappeared behind him, perhaps into the net. Perhaps not.

Leaves jumped to the left and to the right as the bird picked at small sticks and wrinkled candy wrappers.

From the car, she watched all of this, while a man in LA told her the day’s economic news through the radio. It wasn’t terribly encouraging news, but the man had a nice voice.

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My New Love Affair: Quinoa

It all happened so fast…

I’d been perfectly happy with my brown rice and occasional couscous for a long time. Even after I stopped eating meat, those old standbys always did the trick when I needed a traditional meal base, or something a little more exotic with herbs and pine nuts.

But last night, everything changed.

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Worry, Be Happy

Lately, I keep hearing about a phenomenon that I think we can all understand:

‘Suppressing bad feelings is not good for your health.’

Duh.

But, the conversation goes further than this. It not only says that long-term neglect of depression, grief or even just the blues is bad, but that momentary facades – like a forced smile – can make a bad-mood-day worse. In turn, the whole mind-body unit takes a hit.

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The Great Blue Hole

I am so captivated by this thing.

What Is It?

Reminding viewers of an enormous pupil, this fascinating piece of naturalness is known as The Great Blue Hole (hereafter GBH), and is a part of Belize’s Lighthouse Reef on the coast of the Caribbean Sea.

The Lighthouse Reef is an atoll. Atolls are distinct from other reef types, such as barrier and fringing. Most common in the Indian and Pacific oceans, atoll reefs enclose a space in the shape (ish) of a circle or horseshoe.

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