My friend N smokes, but she is not a smoker.
After dinner, she quietly goes to her purse, disappears, and finds a private place to smoke one cigarette.
She relishes the relaxing effect the nicotine has on her. She totally enjoys every drag. Smoking puts her in a peaceful mood. During a few short minutes, N's cigarette gives her a calming respite to a stressful day.
But she doesn't want anyone to know.
Smoking is so yesterday.
Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
This is one of my favorite quotes. I picture the Statue of Liberty, in all of her glory, greeting millions of immigrants as they approach the United States, full of hope for a new and better life.
It is also what was running through my mind during the last painful fifteen minutes of my first cycling class.
Tired, yearning to breathe. The huddled mass of sweaty cycling students, trying to mimic Mindy, the Taylor Swift/Beyonce-rolled-into-one instructor. Tell me again, why I am doing this at 6am??
There are some people who enjoy getting out there and sweating. I don't happen to be one of them. Any kind of prolonged exercise where my heart rate stays at an aerobically efficient level is pure torture for me.
Forget water-boarding. If you want me to talk, make me sweat for over 45 minutes.
My idea of exercise is a long walk around the Seventh Arrondissement of Paris, with a few espresso breaks.
I must admit, however, that after cycling, I was secretly proud to be one of the cool, sweaty, spandex crowd.
Here's a riddle for you:
Kate, my daughter in law, has a big, gorgeous smile. Kate is 24.
Christy Brinkley also has a big, gorgeous smile. She is over 60.
What do these two beautiful women have in common?
A wicked fairy disguised as a harmless old lady casts a spell on Sleeping Beauty, causing her to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall asleep for 100 years.
Snow White eats a poison apple given to her by the evil Queen disguised as a farmers wife, and falls into a deep sleep. Her buddies, the dwarfs, think she is dead and put her in a coffin.
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In real life, the fairy tales would go like this:
Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger on the poison spinning wheel after months of insomnia. She knows that spinning wheel poison is addictive, but she is frantic to get some zzzzzs. She overdoses and sleeps for 100 years.
Snow White meets a farmers wife at the farmers market who tells her that if she would eat more fruits (like apples) and veggies and less sugar she will sleep better. Snow changes her diet, and finally is able to fall asleep. She wakes up after only 3 hours of restless sleep because she had a vivid nightmare about 7 small men putting her in a coffin.
A good night's sleep is golden.
I am going to go out on a limb here.
Some things you just don't discuss with anyone except a close friend, spouse, or doctor. Some times you go for years without help for a simple problem, just because you don't want to broach an uncomfortable subject.
Can we talk?
I am not much of a breakfast eater.
I prefer to get my energy from really black coffee in a great big mug.
But, if I consistently eat something nutritious for breakfast, I don't binge in the afternoon. I lose weight. Go figure.
I stumbled on a breakfast that is not only nutritious, but so yummy that it is now my favorite meal of the day.
We're talking total comfort food.
Now, let me warn you that many of you are going turn up your noses at my breakfast. But if you are the least bit adventurous and want a new idea for a super nutritious, stick-to-your-ribs kind of breakfast, you'll just try it.
