South Carolina Politics

So as a resident of South Carolina I am beginning to wonder if anyone takes us seriously? And really, how could they? Let's see. We had the 2007 Miss Teen USA contestant that could not produce a coherent statement if her life depended on it. VIDEO HERE. Way to go SC Educational System, way to go.

Recently we have had our Governor disappear only to be found in the arms of an Argentinean woman - Guess that could have been OK, had he not been married and publicly touted his religious and moral beliefs as the basis for his political career in SC. So now he is divorced and there should be no reason to "go missing" and yet. Poof. He was gone again, and where-o-where was he found? You guessed it Argentina. For goodness sakes. He's not even smart enough to know he doesn't have to hide...

Now we have the militarily discharged, unemployed (receiving unemployment benefits), living at home with his parents, criminally charged Alvin Green as the democratic hope for the US Senate. Are you serious? So what, do you ask, are his plans for SC should he win the November 2010 senatorial race? This is do good, I'm surprised no one has thought of it before... His grand idea on how to turn around unemployment (which he is a part of mind you) and to bring back to glory our sad economic life, is to - get this - sell action figures of himself. Yep. Mini Alvin Greenes. Can't you just hear your kids now as they make out their Christmas lists?

Dear Santa,
I have been a very good boy/girl this year and I think that I have earned any of the stuff I am going to list here:
A Pony
a nicer big brother
a bb gun
world peace

Oh and if you can swing it, can I get an Alvin Greene Action figure? I don't want the one with the AF or Army uniform, not even the senator's suite, but I would love the one of him in the orange jumpsuit from when he was arrested for showing a young girl porn on a public library computer!!! Please, Please, Please, i promise I won't ask for anything else!

Love,
Johnny/Susie

Anyway, if you want more details on the absurd plans for the dolls, Here ya go...

Alvin Greene Announces His Economic Stimulus Plan for South Carolina - Alvin Greene Action Figures

To Kill a Mocking Bird Renewed

CLICK HERE to read a wonderful story and remember why this books is still around and considered one of the best pieces of literature ever written.

Absent

For those of you that have checked in here and not seen anything new for a while, I have been working on a freelance project that took me far and away from my personal writing endeavors. The project was much more than I had expected and it took much, much longer than I had anticipated. 


So it's now complete and I am going to take a few days to enjoy myself and my family before I return to doing the kind of writing that I want to do. The type of writing that is appealing to me and other readers and not that dictated by others and held within specific guidelines and boundaries. 


To all of you that sent me a personal message, thank you for your care and concern. My Blog family may be small but it is clear that we are caring. I am thankful to have each of you as a part of it. 

Published Photos

I normally only list my published works on my Freelance Obsession page, but I love these pictures and wanted to let everyone have access to the link. CLICK HERE to see the slideshow, and if you are interested, here is the link to the article that accompanies the photos.


Thank you to all of you who show your support of my budding freelance career by reading or viewing my articles. I welcome all comments and feedback both here on the blog and on all my articles and photos.

Foods for thought

Ok, so it is no secret to all that know me: I am not a small woman. I'm not excessively large by any means, but I have a more robust appearance that I would like. It is because of this that I have been watching more of what I eat and attempting to increase the amount of physical movement that I do each day. So far so good, and I do feel better, both mentally and physically. The hardest part of my attempt at transformation has been the food issues.

So this has got me thinking about what each food may do for me.

I find that if I eat protein (eggs, chicken, etc) that I have more energy almost immediately. Ok, no shocker there. We all know from junior high health class that protein = energy, but some of the other things I've noticed about food, I don't remember being told about in any class.

Milk, cheese and other dairy after a work out prevents cramping in my muscles.
Citrus fruits eaten before I sit down to write articles seams to promote creativity and the flow of ideas.
Mint, lavender, and rose smelling and tasting foods (or naturally flavored foods) relax and settle my mind - allow my to sleep more restfully, limiting the need for sleep aid medications.
Caffeine and Chocolate make me feel more run down, something that I would have never thought. Especially b/c they promote caffeine to keep people up and wired. The only real great thing that I have found with the two is their ability to get rid of a headache. I thought I would miss them when I cut them out of my diet, but really, I haven't. Like I said the times that I have had them, I just feel crappy.
I've started to eat a lot more fish (which I should have been doing all along given that I live on the east coast of SC), and I have found that my hair has a lot more body, softness, and looks all together more healthy.
I've cut out almost all salt and butter, and I will admit that I taste foods more. What I mean is there is a natural flavor to certain foods that I had never tasted before simply because it was being masked by all the butter, salt, pepper, ketchup, etc. I have become more of a fan of the natural flavor of foods. A good example of this was when I made green beans the other night - my normal routine would have been to blanche them in a salt water solution, then saute them in butter and salt. This time I simply washed and steamed them, the favor was very basic, but the point is, I could taste the vegetable - not the butter and salt. I guess another benefit of cutting out the butter has been that foods don't taste, or feel as heavy. Grant it, you can still get that overly stuffed, unbuckle your pants, feeling if you eat too much of anything (steamed green beans included) but if you stop with your preset amount of food, or even when you are simply full, then I have noticed that there is almost no slug like feeling that overcomes me.

So there are many other foods that I have found there to be a benefit for, and I think that they are pretty much the things that most people know - heck most may even know about the ones that I have listed here, but I thought I would share and see if there were any suggestions, agreements, or comments about foods. I'm always open for ideas on how to continue my journey to a better, healthier me!

Hypocrite or Hippocratic?

Today I completed my article about the debate and controversy stemming from the differences of traditional medicine and that of alternative, homeopathic treatments. (CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE) What spurred me to write it was the report by the source The Telegraph in the UK about the medical community passing a blanket ban on all homeopathic and holistic teaching. One chairman actually called homeopathy "witchcraft".


Being a part of the traditional medical field, I am not one that subscribes to the healing powers of crystals and electromagnetic therapy, but I do not fault others who do. In researching and writing the article, I found that there are more techniques that the commonly known practices of homeopathy. Some of the practices I myself do on a daily bases: Meditation, Yoga, etc. I do them because I know from my previous psychology training that these are ways to focus the mind and body are good for mental health as well as physical health.


Even with this information, I still would not describe myself as a homeopathic believer or follower. I would sill not choose to seek medical advise from someone other than an MD. Heck, I have trouble just seeing a resident when I go to the Medical University Of South Carolina. So I ask this - Since I practice homeopathic techniques at home in my private space, but would not recommend them to a person in my public life, does that make me a hypocrite?


While I am not a medical doctor myself, I do strongly believe in the ethics set forth by the hippocratic oath, which in summation states to do no harm. I try to bring this philosophy into my professional life as I work with patients, my public life when I am out with family and friends, and my private life when I am at home with husband and child. Perhaps it is this respect for life, and the other people in it, that has me so angered by the statement of Dr. T. Dolphin. He is the British MD that declared homeopathic practices to be "Witchcraft". I feel that it flies in the face of the impartial opinions that a medical physician should hold while addressing the public, but hey, maybe they do things different in the UK.


You know, the more that I think about it, I am not sure that Dr. Dolphin has any idea about "witchcraft" anyway. Most, albeit not all, people who practice witchcraft as a religion are earth based people who believe that life and the environment are precious. Giving the term witchcraft a negative connotation is unfair and ignorant of the religion behind it. Perhaps this is where I am a hypocrite again... I have studied and researched Wicca and other religions that practice some form of witchcraft. I find their beliefs to be very sincere, their views defendable, and will continue to advocate for their rights to practice a religion that is not in the "mainstream", however, I am a Christian and can not believe that there is not one omnipotent and powerful God.


Ok so is there a middle ground that I could be considered a part of? How about Hypo-cratic? I think that is along the lines of a republicrat...Oh man, politics are best left for another entry. I'm not sure I want to make that leap.

Thank You!

Thanks to all those that visited my blog and especially those that have chosen to follow me. The Blog Jog was absolutely successful and I received many page views on my freelance articles. Since I am only a few paces off the starting line in my writing career, the support of my friends, family and followers (and visitors) means so much!


Again, Thank you to all and I will have some new material on here soon!