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A few blogger buddies are struggling with their health and/or with their weight. I join them in this common problem; I am upset with my body. Despite months (years?) of exercise my waistline is not getting any smaller. After a large meal I look like a pregnant woman.
It is not uncommon to feel bad about one’s body (I am too large, too fat, too big/small etc. etc.) Discouragement from effort without efficacy is also common.
Well, I have the exercise part going – my personal trainer has me doing plenty of abdominal exercises. I feel my abdomen has some strength and tightness now.
I suspect I am not doing the other side of the coin – diet and portion control.
Here are my basic stratagems -
1) It is time to set limits on the amount of food I eat. I don’t think I eat badly but I eat portions too large. Between now and Key West 2010 (mid-February) I am changing to frequent, small meals.
2) Starch. I don’t eat much if any sweets, but I love pasta and noodles and bread. Time to eliminate these nasty carbohydrates. My CHO needs to be nearly all in vegetable form.
3) No more late night snacks. If I must eat prior to bed time, it is going to be fruit – not cheese or crackers or other nasty nibbles.
4) Finally, if all else fails, I’ve learned a few things from the eating disorder patients. I will join the Karen Carpenter fan club and stop eating. There is nothing like bingeing and laxatives and diet pills to shed off those unwanted pounds.
Opps, sorry. I got carried away there.
Seriously now, sensible eating is the key.
Thanksgiving and Christmas times will be challenging, but I merely have to keep in mind running around shirt-less (and trouser-less) in Florida to be inspired.
This one is for Princess-Goddess, who is due any day now. They are doing Madame Munchkin’s room in a ‘fish’ motif.
So here is the ‘Fish Quilt”-
Here is my long sleeve Spo-Shirt for Hallowe’en. I wear it to work with this neck tie. The first time patients don’t always come back.
Meanwhile here is a Meme from Dear Erik
1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction?
The Haunting of Hill House
2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?
Childhood’s End
3. Who is your favorite monster?
Godzilla rules
4. What is your favorite Horror movie?
The Haunting
5. What horror movie gives you the most chills?
See previous answer.
6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?
The Sleep Walking Lady in “Plan 9 From Outer Space”.
7. Freddy or Jason?
Neither thank you very much.
8. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Toasted pumpkin seeds. I cook all I can find and munch them until the end of the year.
9. Ghosts or goblins?
Ghosts. They may be creepy and a nuisance but they don’t attack.
10. Friendly-faced jack-o’-lantern or scary one?
Must be scary. That is the point of them – to scare aware evil spirits on All Hallow’s Eve.
11. What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal?
Some of my patient’s incredible stories about encounters with spirits.
12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
Yes. I sense there are souls lost not wanting to go on.
13. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho?
Being psycho is rather amusing; zombies are no fun and never get invited to “A” list parties. It is dangerous to be an alien here in Phoenix.
14. Favorite Halloween costume?
I still want to be Pan.
15. Best thing about Halloween?
You can make it to be whatever you want it to be – and no expectations. You are going along with a holiday thousands of years old!
16. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?
Brother #2, who now has boys of his own to carry on the excitement.
17. Are you superstitious?
At times; I won’t say at work “It looks like it will be a quiet day today.”
18. Share an unusual Halloween story.
I had a Wiccan friend come over one Halloween to ‘cleanse the house’. The whole ceremony was unusual that I have never seen one before.
19. What did you do for Halloween as a kid?
What didn’t I do? I got into it to the max.
20. What’s the best Halloween party that you’ve attended?
That would be the “Come as your mother” bash. I went as Elizabeth I.
Get a haircut and beard trim. I am looking less like a COLT wannabe and more like a terrorist.
Partake in some exercise. I have 4 months until Key West when I go shirtless (and drop trousers).
Work on my ‘fish’ quilt for Princess-Goddess, who is due in the next two weeks. I do hope the sister-in-law can keep her legs crossed until then.
Speaking of sewing, I have my eye on 5 fabrics for shirts. I need to investigate if they are available. What time is it in Hawaii?
We are going to a party – in the mid-afternoon! Some friends of friends invited us.
Saturday night is the Opera. “Cosi Fan Tutti”. I must have a cup of coffee for medicinal reasons to stay awake. Dr. Quest – help!
Sometime in all this running around I need to do my homework.
I want to put up the Hallowe’en decorations. I got as far of getting them out of their boxes. For a week they have cluttered up the dining room.
I need to return a handful of emails. I tend to handle them like letters; I read them, put them down, think about them, and reply later. This makes a few people cross. I suppose email culture expects and demands instantaneous responses?
There are a few other items I would like to accomplish, but I am saying nothing…….
‘Tis the season hohoho to read ghost stories and watch scary movies. However, these night time indulgences are working all too well as they are giving me the creeps.
A few times when I get up to go to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water I’ve run into Someone, only to let out a shriek. This makes Someone shriek as well, and become somewhat cross what the hell is the matter etc.
Normally the large double doors to the bedroom are left open, but the cupboard and lamp in the hallway now look like a small alien. Behind him is some sort of large dark spook. They are plotting to suck my blood so I have to keep the doors closed.
The east side of the house is particularly creepy and I won’t go into it without the lights on. Someone doesn’t believe my theory of poltergeists responsible for the continual half consumed beverages sitting around the house, nor does he go for the goblin hypothesis to explain the consumption of the peanut butter.
So night time at our house is a nervous matter.
So far I have not heard any laughter or whispers or voices telling me to ‘Get Out!”.
To discourage the ghosts, I am leaving a light on in the other side of the house. Ipods are good at keeping away things that go bump in the night. Kate Bush is particularly good at staving off the ghoulies (and at times Someone, who goes to the living room couch).
I saw this first at Jim’s blog. I thought it very good to do.
1989 was one of the darkest times of my life. I sometimes joke I choose not to count as part of my life the year I was in my internship. It was not ‘Scrubs”.
Then ~ October 1989
1. Age: 27.
2. Romantic Status: breaking up with my first real boyfriend – not done well.
3. Occupation: Internship in general medicine
4. Fun night out: Going to Gentry and cruising visiting businessmen.
5. My BFFs: I had none at the time
- I spent way too much time: being frightened
7. I spent not enough time: doing my job. I tried to get it done and get out ASAP.
8. I wanted to be when I grew up: a cardiologist
9. Biggest concern: I’ll miss Christmas – my first one alone.
- What my biggest concern should have been: focusing on work.
11. Where did I live: Chicago
12. Dumbest thing I did that year: Let my Victim/Martyr complex run wild.
13. If I could go back now and talk to myself I would say: I would tell myself I was about to f-ck up in ways beyond your present belief, but the start of this Dark Time would go on to something well. Hang in there, despite the mess you will make.
Now ~ October 2009
1. Age: 47.
2. Romantic Status: partnered x 13 years
3. Occupation: Psychiatrist.
4. Fun night out: dinner with friends.
5. My BFFs: So many – Scott, Doug, Eileen, and George are the tops.
6. I spend way too much time: Doing paperwork after hours and on weekends.
7. I spend not enough time: Sitting still.
8. I want to be when I grow up: Healthy
9. Biggest concern: losing my health.
10. What my biggest concern should be: Fretting so much.
11. Where do I live: Phoenix, AZ.
12. Dumbest thing I have done this year: Converse with Someone as I do here.
13. What I think I would say to myself in 10 years: Again, you worried about so many things and guess what – things are still OK.
Summary
1. What do I miss most from 1989: Living in Chicago.
2. What do I miss least from 1989: being young and stupid – if they are not the same thing.
3. What have I accomplished in 20 years that I am most proud of: Growing up, growing wise, and transforming my Self into something decent. I am still here despite it all.
4. What have I NOT accomplished in 20 years that I wish I had: Feeling secure.
October is a third over, and I haven’t posted any Hallowe’en entries.
‘Tis the season hohoho to read ghost stories and see scary movies. I’ve written about ghost stories before. So I thought I would write about Horror Movies.
Every age has its fears. Throughout time Man has needed some rituals and tomfoolery to deal with their fears (Hallowe’en is one example). Movie writers pick up on this. What is scary in a movie reflects what scares us in life.
Back in the early 20th century, the base/dark unconscious side of Man was the prime bogey. Early horror stories (and movies) touched upon the concept of Evil and tampering with the forbidden. Frankenstein with its taboo of making life; Dr. Jekyll who dared to touch upon the inner darkness of man, and Dracula – the archetypal undead – were the original scary movie topics.
But Man’s nobler nature would eventually bring on the sun, burn down the monster, and save us from our mistakes.
During the Cold War, movies like “The Thing” and “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers” were code for The Red.
Fears of invasion from outer space (AKA Russia) and from within (treacherous Reds) played on our national fear of control. Still, there was optimism – in the end we defeated the monsters and the aliens.
Scary Movies got more violent and more pessimistic after that. With events like Watergate, we no longer could trust our leaders and parents to care for us. Movies turned graphic. “Hallowe’en” is a good example of how we now view evil. It is mindless and we have to fight it alone (as no one can or will help us). We really can’t win and we can’t get rid of it – it can only be contained temporarily. It pops up again and again, never to be really defeated.
Ironically, we seem to becoming jaded with senseless violence; perhaps we have ‘given up’ so violence isn’t as horribly entertaining as it used to be. Or perhaps it is because there is so much of it?
I find it interesting society seems to be simultaneously waxing nostalgic for ‘old favorites’ horror movies and going to new films about armageddons. The later touches on our fears (hopes?) for the end of the world either through mankind’s tampering with nature or nuclear terrorism. The former may be a wish to return to a time when evil and fears were understandable, simple (us vs. them) and – most important – we can eradicate it.
With that said, my favorite scary movie is “The Haunting”
There is no monster, there is no violence. There is only the creepy sensation something dark and uncanny is happening. If you have not seen it, I recommend you do so.
It captures what is the most scary thing to Man – being alone, in the dark, unable to make sense of the spiritual threat just outside that door.
It is October, and that means Hallowe’en is coming up. I count down the days to All Hallow’s Eve the way Benton awaits Christmas. Spo-fans will see a few Hallowe’en related blog entries this month.
As it is the beginning of the month, here is the latest reading. Of course I use the Hallowe’en deck. This whimsical deck uses ghosts, imps, bats and pumpkins instead of the usual cups,rods, swords, and coins.
“What will the month of October hold for Spo and those of his ilk?” is the question.
From the Bats (thought) – Page of Bats. This young person heralds a new thought or idea coming this month. Worthwhile to nurture it along. Or does it mean the arrival of new man of some sort?
From the Ghosts (emotions) – 9 of Ghosts. Happiness and joy. Some see this as the ‘wish card’, viz. something you hope to see will be so.
From the Pumpkins – (property or money) 3 of Pumpkins suggests another ‘start of some industry’. Good month for activities or any sort.
From the Imps – Queen of Imps is a personal card. She grows sunflowers and has a black cat, two things I used to have. This card tells me the reading is particularly about me, rather than about others (sorry).
Major Arcana – The Hanged Man – a change of perspective or lifestyle.
Summary – New things are developing, things I have longed to do/have. I anticipate a lot of productivity and ‘action’.
Considering the ‘main card’ of the month is The Emperor, who is Masculinity incarnate, there may be physical matters happening.
I think I know what may mean, but I will say no more!
I haven’t done this in a while.
I am open to questions about mental health care. Ask me a question, and I will try to answer it.
I will write the responses on Thursday evening.
And if you don’t have a mental health question, I am very good with state capitols.
The author of Spo-Reflections would to like to apologize to everyone in the world but Serbia for the gloomy rant of The Board of Directors. They do tend to go on like some awful combination of a James Joyce novel and a bunch of sour aunts. Yesterday there was a hostile takeover of The Board by the Furies and they were sent on holiday to Orlando, Florida where they have a weekend pass to some place called “The Parliament House”. I hope they come back more relaxed.
There will be NO improvements here at Spo-Reflections as The Author is rather content with its contents and style and hopes to go on writing what he jolly well wants to write about although I did fancy the notion of a virtual tea house (whatever that is) and I WONT take court ordered medication (except some Gin) and yes I said Yes I will Yes.
