The Good v. Evil of Chocolate

Mocha (Hot or Iced)

1 cup non-fat milk

water

1 tsp. cocoa

1 Tbls. instant coffee

Equal packets (to taste)

For Hot Mocha

Pour water and milk into a mug and microwave until hot. Add instant coffee, cocoa and sugar substitute and stir. Enjoy.

For Iced Mocha

Run the tap water until hot and put about 1/4 cup into a glass. Add cocoa and coffee.  Stir until dissolved. Add ice. Stir until cold. Add sugar substitute. Add milk and water until the glass is full. Stir completely.

Cocoa Cream Cheese Frosting

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter

16 oz. cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbls. vanilla

1/4 cup cocoa

In a mixer, cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth.  Slowly add the powdered sugar.  (You may add more or less to your sugar tolerance and/or taste.)  Add the vanilla. Add the cocoa. Blend until creamy/smooth.

Chocolate Fudge or Sauce

1 stick unsalted butter

1/4 cup milk (nonfat is okay)

1 cup powdered sugar, or fine grain sugar--use as little of this as possible (to taste)

6 Tbls. cocoa powder

Place the butter, milk, and sugar together a deep bowl and put into the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Put it back into the microwave for another 2 minutes, stopping and stirring as the mixture bubbles to the top rim of the bowl. Stir in chocolate or powder.Microwave 30 seconds.  Stir until well blended. Pour into greased pan. Cool in the refridgerator for an hour before serving.

Being the Boss of My Health

In a few weeks, I have all sorts of doctors appointments--I like to do my medical work all at once, at about the same time, or at least as close to the same time as is possible: annual physical, dentist, eye-check,....  However, I like to keep myself informed all the time, so I read up on my various illnesses on the internet as often as possible.  When I see a doctor, they have to know that they are dealing with someone who not only will question orders, but might even give orders.  This is right.  This is good.  As one young doctor once told my bewildered mother, who was struggling with heart issues at the time and getting all sorts of conflicting messages from various doctors, "It's your body.  You're the boss."

That's right: doctors work for me; the insurance company works for me.  They work for you.

So, when a doctor tells me that I have to do this or will be ingesting that, I always interrupt him or her and ask why.  If it is a new doctor, this questioning becomes an initial test.  If the doctor shrugs me off, perhaps not even bothering to try to answer my question ("You don't need to worry about that."), then I leave the room.  I pay my bill, but that doctor, as far as I'm concerned, is fired. If the doctor gives me dramatic, exaggerated declarations ("You could DIE if you don't start taking this medicine!"), then I press onward, continuing to ask, like a three-year-old, "Why?"  Usually that doctor will either resort to the first kind of doctor, shrugging my concerns off as inconsequential (and so then is now to be fired), or else moves toward answering my question.   If, in answering my question, I find that the doctor is condiscending in any way, however ("This is going to be very hard for you to understand because I'm better educated than you..."), then that doctor goes into a probationary period.  On the other hand, if the doctor responds with an intelligent, well-informed reply, then he or she will be promoted toward a more permanent status. 

This is my approach to doctors; it may not work for you.  I have a Ph.D. in English, which counts for something in terms of experience in researching and understanding difficult texts.  I have no fear.

However, anyone can develop a no-fear approach that will works.  For example, much medical literature out there is well written and leveled for any non-doctor to understand.  Web MD, for example, is a great source of information.  Most government-funded and/or non-profit organizations (such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Association) tend to provide reliable information.    There are a lot of alternative medicine sites and other corporate-sponsored sites that provide good information, too.  But all doctors and other scientists must be constantly questioned, as they should (like good scientists) question themselves--changing approaches to treatment or improving upon treatments as often as possible.  Especially, in this country, one must question the money angle.

The experience made me think of why I am now about to see a new regular doctor.  A while back,  I discussed my obesity problems with my old doctor.  I had researched everything, from fad diets, to the concept of fats and fatty livers, to issues of metabolism and hormones that affect weight gain and loss.  I regretted the discussion of this topic with the doctor almost the moment it started.  Why?  Because she said, "So, which are we going to get you started on, The South Beach Diet or Atkins?"  "Neither," I said, "I'm not interested in doing a fad-diet, and neither is my diabetes specialist."  She didn't seem to hear me, started talking about how I'm going to have to have stomach by-pass surgery.  I responded with a loud, "Absolutely not!" Again, I had discussed this and other "quick-fix" options with my diabetes specialist, and I had come to the conclusion that not enough research has been done on this latest fad in surgeries.  "Well, you have to do something." My doctor said in a scolding voice--as if I were a naughty child.  I told her of my plans: now that my job situation and home situation are each less stressful, I have more time to exercise, something I wasn't doing hardly at all; I told her I needed time to de-stress, that I was exhausted.  She dismissed my plans, said that they would never work, that I would not be able to make permanent changes to my health. Again, she pushed the surgery; it seemed that, in her mind, it was time for me to do it, tomorrow.   A good employee would make sure that I understand the whys and whats before I made a decisions; a good employee would know his/her place and not expect me to be a puppet-leader over my own health-care.  This doctor, instead, switched to saying, "You don't need to worry about that.  You need to trust me to know what is best for you."

Yeah, sure!  I fired her.

The money angle, in the United States, is a huge factor in medicine.  Illness is profitable.

Recently, I went to a free all-day Women's Health Expo.  I was expecting it to be a lot of booths with various types of useful information on women's health, some samples of health-promoting products, and maybe even some quick forms of check-ups (blood pressure, ....).  "Take advantage of free health screenings and enjoy a lelicious, complimentary lunch," it said on the post-card.  It was held at this very ritzy private medical center, but it was free and open to the public--though reservations were required (because of limited space).  I registered both myself and my step-daughter, thinking this was a feminist, woman-empowering type of experience, a healthy thing.

I should have known better.

There were booths with information, oh yes: all the standard diseases were there, as well as pregnancy and menopause.  But the only health screening I saw was at one table, where they were doing small blood tests.  There were some health promoting products--every-fifth-woman got a free pedometer at one booth, and at another booth, samples of skin creams were being handed ou intended to help with weight loss.  I kid you not.  The only thing I didn't see there was something like a magic all-purpose medicine like what used to be sold in the late 1800s: Dr. Schnigonfotter's Magic Medicine.  They gave us a very unhealthy breakfast: fattening, sugar-loaded muffins or sugar-coated croissants.  There was a wide assortment of soda-pops (oh yes, very healthy indeed), along with a small selection of juices.  We sat in a large seminar room, a couple hundred of us, and listened to speakers make various presentations (but if there were any deaf or hard-of-hearing women in the audience, they wouldn't have gotten much out of the presentation--no captioning or interpreters were provided).  Topics included, "The Heart of the Matter: Women & Heart Disease," "Urologic Advancements in Female Pelvic Helath," "Thyroid Disease," "Women, Migraine & Hormones: An Interesting Combination" -- each of which sounded potentially very informative.  However, beyond showing some interesting pictures and diagrams, most of the information was hyped-up, intended to make one not only worry about becoming ill, but what sorts of tests one should do to prevent such illnesses (most of them expensive tests, by the way).   I looked around me: most of the women were my age or older (no one below their 40s, I'm sure); most of the women were dressed in middle-to-upper class clothing (no sweat pants, flannel shirts or anything else costing less than $30.00).

It dawned on me: this was an event for older women with money, for hyporchodriacs with money!

I looked at the rest of the program: "Cosmetic Laser Eyelid Surgery & Cataract Surgery," "Women's Health 101," "Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for Me?" "Breast Health: Are You at Risk for Breast Cancer?"  This wasn't about preventative medicine or developing and maintaining a healthy life-style!  This wasn't empowering!  This was intended to make women paranoid about breast cancer, heart disease, bladder control, and the shape of their eyelids!  These doctors were not doing their jobs--they were not promoting healthy lifestyles and preventative medicine--they were trying to sell their wares: tests, examinations, scans, surgeries and magic medicines.

I'm all for tests, examinations and even surgery--when they are truly needed.  I support the medical professionals in general, on principle.  However, when scientific principles are sold out for profit, I have to step back.  If you want to be my doctor: you have to prove that you are a good doctor; you have to earn my trust by holding intelligent conversations about my health with me; you have to treat me like an adult human being (not some silly child), and you have to strive to do what's right, not what's profitable.  Otherwise, you're fired.

The Pursuit of Happiness Via Positive, Constructive, Tolerant Thinking

Recently (actually, over the past several years), I have heard so many arguments  that lacked any sort of truly logical thought, much less demonstrated any sort of reflection upon the nature of the matter, that it has begun to drive me insane.  I don't have actual quotes; I don't want to directly attack anyone.  But here is a small sample of the nature of some of these arguments:

• Obama being elected to the presidency has made the issue of racism in the United States obsolete.
• We need to help the normal people, first.  Then we can help the ___[other "not normal"]___ people. Providing elevators, interpreters, note-takers, enlarged print documents, ramps, hearing aids, glasses, ... should not be a requirement of society, much less of insurance companies.  If you need such items: that's your own fault/problem (not mine), and you (not I) should have to pay for it.
• If I, as a Christian, were living in the Islamic parts of the Middle East, I'd be dead by now.
• A leader of a small group of individuals should be trusted to speak on the group's behalf, without each of the members of that group providing permission.  To require such permission is a violation of that leader's freedoms of speech and/or expression.  The members should trust the leader represent them without their consent, to say the "right" things for each of them.
• There are more women than men attending college now: sexism is no longer an issue for women.  In fact, now it's an issue for men!
•  If you don't believe in my beliefs, then I can't be your friend because your beliefs threaten the foundation of mine.

All of these "rationalities" seem to have at least one thing in common: a fear of some sort.  It might be a fear of having to work harder.  It might be a fear of the unknown.  It might be a fear of losing power, money, community standing, or a sense of self. Another thing they may all have in common is an insensitivity towards -- perhaps even an intolerance of -- others.  I'm not really thinking of the ideal human behavior.  Furthermore, I know and accept that we all have fears, some quite justified, and we all have needs to preserve our sense of self (and/or our community standing, money, power, known parameters, or work load limitations).  However, I'm thinking how this kind of thinking, the actual entertainment of such ideas, is so negative and destructive. In other words, I'm not saying that such thinking is wrong:  I am saying that I feel it moves each of us in a direction away from general happiness.

 In response to some of the above, for example:

• We should try to help all of the people all of the time, knowing that we are doing the most we can for most everyone (and forgiving ourselves if we can't help everyone), regardless of who and what each person may be.  The only limitations should be time and energy.  Everyone needs something some time.  We are all disabled; we are all abled.  Recognition of this fact allows for a grace to providing for others.  (Providing for others is providing, ultimately, for ourselves. There is no person who is "normal" in some way, who isn't also "abnormal" in some other way.)
  
• If I, as a Christian, were living in the Islamic parts of the Middle East, I'd learn to survive and thrive among my fellow believers and to both tolerate and be tolerated by my fellow non-believers.  (I could die any time, anywhere, for any reason-- I have no real control over this fact.) (By the way, I am NOT Christian.)
  
• A true leader works hard to make sure he/she understands and fully represents the views of the collective body of the group and has each member's consent to be represented as a part of a group action (such as by a vote).  (Trust is built and maintained in this manner, isn't it?)

Judgements and actions based upon difference (race, gender, sexuality, beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, abilities,...) are almost never justified, and racism, sexism, intolerance of others' beliefs and other forms of intolerance still exist, and may always exist.  Perhaps to believe that one can eradicate such intolerance--as if it were polio or some biological disease-- is a set-up for failure, deconstructive and ultimately negative?  However, to accept that intolerances of these kinds exist and thus reason that they can be ignored is also deconstructive and ultimately negative.

Striving for high amounts of positive and constructive thinking is a difficult challenge.  I like to compare such efforts to striving to jog or walk 20 (okay, even 5) miles in a day, to save $100,000.00 in a year,  to make an original scientific discovery, or to create an artistic masterpiece.  For me,  the journey is worth the efforts.

Everyone is different; the similarities between individuals, much less groups, are the wonderful things that should be focused upon and celebrated--not the awful things that "should" keep us apart.

I don't believe in pushing my ideas upon others, but I suppose that I can't help but represent them.  I understand and respect that we each have a right to think, believe and feel as we do, but I also think, believe and feel that negative energy (negative thoughts, negative feelings, negative beliefs) begets destructive behavior.  For me, by the way, thinking supersedes belief and feelings, almost always.  

Individuals can focus upon the intolerance each has for others, work on the self, in positive and constructive ways, including healing ways: sooth hurt feelings, make statements that rebuild self-confidence, donate money,....  I think, believe, and feel that, ultimately, to practice general tolerance, constructive behavior, and positive thinking-believing-feeling is to strive toward happiness. 

So, I write this, thinking (and thus believing and feeling) that I am making a positive statement that is somehow constructive.  What am I building?  I'll let you know as soon as I know. 

Starting with a Recipe

I'm planning to generate entries on all sorts of topics in this blog--ranging in focus from politics and love to food and exercise. I think I'll start with food, so here are some recipes for a mildly healthy meal. I just created and tried these this past weekend, and they seemed pretty good to me. I have to warn you: I use a lot of seasonings and spices! (Yes, I mean Tablespoon, not teaspoon in the below recipes.)

Parmesan Paprika Chicken (or Tofu)*
--use 1-2 pkgs. of chicken breasts: remove all fat, skin and bones
--cut each breast into palm-size chunks (cut into thirds or halves)
--pound each piece until flattened to an even level
--dip each piece into wet mixture (see below)
--dip each piece into dry mixture (see below)
--place pieces onto a cookie pan or rectangular baking dish that has been lightly greased with Olivio margarine
--bake (with the Zucchnini Splash, below) at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, until lightly golden & cooked completely
Wet Mixture
--for every 2 lbs. chicken, beat together:
1/4 cup dry wine (white or red)
1 egg
Dry Mixture
--for every 2 lbs. chicken, mix together:
1/2 cup unbleached white flour
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons of paprika
* I believe that if you replaced the cut and pounded chicken with slices of tofu (take one package and slice it into 8 pieces--and don't pound them), this recipe would work just as well.

Zucchini Splash
1 medium zucchini squash
1 medium yellow squash
1 large vidalea or other sweet onion
1/4 stick unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons garlic powder
black pepper, to taste
salt, to taste
--melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish
--slice the zucchini and yellow squashes into very, very thin "coins" (as thin as possible)
--cut the "coins" in into half-"coins"
--place into glass or ceramic round baking dish (such as a casserole dish)
--cut onion in half, and then thinly slice each half (long strings of onion)
--place into dish with squash
--sprinkle with garlic powder
--salt and pepper to taste
--pour melted butter on top
--stir until all is well coated
--bake (with the chicken) at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes


I served the above with a box of StoveTop chicken stuffing (made with a cup of celery--including leaves--and a cup of onion, all sauted together in light olive oil).  Let me know what you think!