It's all right to cry.....

Have you ever thought about how weird crying is?

I did today when I was weeping in my car, a habit that I seem to be quite unable to break, of late, while driving home from work. I am quite aware that my tears are not being caused by anything outside of myself and my frustrations with my day job.... but sometimes they just keep coming down. The tears, like all else, always pass, but today, I turned my frown upside down by thinking about the fact that crying is pretty f'd up. Salty water that comes from our eyes when we are upset, overjoyed, afraid, inspired.... ? Really, what a bizarre thing for we humans, and only we humans, to do!

Please let me clarify that I am not wacko--at least not completely--I'm just a cryer. Some people can't cry, I can't stop myself. I have been told that it's endearing, a useful tool for release, a sign that I am comfortable with my emotions, healthy. I would tell you that I enjoy a good cry, but the truth is, crying is a real pain in my ass. There is nothing cute about being an adult cry baby.

Friends and family members have an uncanny sixth sense to read my crying 'aura' before I even know that the tears are on their way. In fact, people who don't even know me are hardly able to say 'Are you okay, ma'am?' without mysteriously opening the floodgates. I have been told by stern relations that I need to grow a thicker skin, or settle down and knock it off-- but I swear to you that it's beyond my control! Would I ever like to be the Butta-cup that sucks it up if I could!

Crying is a real drag, to be sure, when it is not evident what the trigger is. Crying is inconvenient when you need to work, especially if your job involves teaching or performing for others. It's a waste of a chance to be happy. Aside from the annoyance factor, the crying hangover that next day is dreadful-- headaches and sleepiness abound. The thick phlegm that can come out of facial cavities while crying is unladylike and disgusting. Puffy eyes are unstoppable with the best of creams or coldest of cucumber slices-- and forget about eye-makeup-applying on swollen lids. I have searched passionately for mascara that can hold on to my blond lashes for dear life when weepiness calls. (**Note to all cryers: Revlon Luxurious Lengths has great staying power and conveniently, it washes off with soap and water!)

To all of you non-cryers out there, a psychologist would likely say to you that you had better have an outlet for the repressed emotions you must have stockpiled. But as a veritable faucet, I say kudos to you. Allow me to cry all of you a river.

Some a propos lyrics, from Marlo Thomas' forever-inspiring film, Free to be you and Me
sniff.. sniff... a tear!

It's All Right to Cry
by Carol Hall, Performed by Rosey Grier

It's all right to cry, crying gets the sad out of you
It's all right to cry, it might make you feel better.
Raindrops from your eyes, washing all the mad out of you
Raindrops from your eyes, it's gonna make you feel better

It's all right to feel things though the feelings may be strange
Feelings are such real things and they change and change and change
Sad 'n' grumpy, down in the dumpy
Snuggly, hugly, mean 'n' ugly
Sloppy, slappy, hoppy, happy
Change and change and change

It's all right to know, feelings come and feelings go
It's all right to cry, it might make you feel better

What's in an age?

Good morning!

Arose very early this morning (too much Australian Shiraz last night, I think!), but getting up early on a Saturday isn't so bad. It does prolong the best day of the week-- particularly if it is the Saturday of a long weekend! Happy Birthday Queen Victoria! I am so glad you were born. xoxox

Celebrating this woman's birthday kicks off our summer movement each year, doesn't it? The Victoria Day weekend has brought all of us Ontarians to cottages or campsites to drink a lot of beer and get a lot of black fly bites-- some years clad in tuques and some years in bikinis. She kinda started the modern-day monarchy, and she has a whole era named after her. Not bad, Vicky! I do hope she isn't cross with the carrying-ons of we, the common people under her ubiquitous reign.

Upon wondering how many candles would be on Queen Victoria's made-from-scratch birthday cake this year, I Wikipedia'd her and learned she was born in 1819-- so 190 candles! How many barbecue lighters would it take to light that many candles? And what would Victoria think about these phenomena of Wikipedia, or barbecue lighters, or barbecues, for that matter?

I have never understood why people get sad or shameful about birthdays and age. My mother gets very upset when her age is revealed. Me, I could tattoo my age on my forehead. My mom would say "That's because you're young, dear", but I disagree. I think every year brings us closer to figuring out what we are all about, and that is something worth celebrating publicly! Maybe I'll feel differently one day, but I really doubt it. Desiring to be younger than I am seems like a waste of time-- like a surrender to life having to deteriorate in certain ways now that a certain time has passed. I have to believe that the best is always yet to come, and may this optimism serve me well, and dare I say, prevent wrinkles!

Things that make me recognize that I am clearly 34:

1. Too many glasses of wine wake me up early as opposed to make me sleep in.
2. The easy-listening radio station actually appeals to me more than my former favourite alternative one, which just sounds loud and angry sometimes!
3. It's harder to count the number of girlfriends who aren't pregnant or on maternity leave than the number who are.
4. I have learned the meaning of terms like "electrolysis", "muffin top", and "Co Enzyme Q10"
5. I have grown curious about my spiritual side, whereas it used to be a source of humour.
6. A rainy Saturday prevents me from working in the garden.
7. That McDonald's has created the 'Big Mac wrap' kinda turns my stomach.

Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria and may the best be yet to come to all of us.

homemade salad dressings

Greetings salad-eating friends,

As the sun shines and warms up the earth to get the veggies growing, I am tempted to write today all about eating from Mother Earth, and not from a box or jar or can. I'll save you from my preachings, but in all honesty, when you look at all of the visible growth at this time of year springing up from the ground, are you not tempted to just make a big salad?

When I was in University I had a roommate who found my eating and snacking habits quite entertaining. She always laughed at my bizarre concoctions (ie, toast with garlic and honey), but often enjoyed them too when offered a bite. And now, at work, my friends always ask what is in my salad dressing because it smells so good. So today, I publish to the world my very first exercise in Recipe Writing:

Salad Girl's Devilishly Delicious but Healthy Dressing
1.Start with a glass jar (reused Salad dressing bottles (ie. Renee's) are best, but a mason or jam jar will do), and scoop two big tablespoons of orange juice concentrate-- in the frozen state.
2. Add two big tablespoons of Dijon Mustard. (the grainy kind is fun, but regular works well too)
3. Add two tablespoons of cumin. Great for digestion!
4. Add equal parts of Sesame Oil (always makes me think of Big Bird) and Olive Oil-- two amazing oils for your skin (maybe a quarter cup of each?)
5. Add Balsamic Vinegar to total your oil total (so maybe a half cup?)
6. Pepper it liberally and then shake it up.

YUM!-- on salads or on brown rice with chick peas and chopped coriander and sunflower seeds (weird but trust me....) I am certainly no expert in food, but I love this blend and people I serve it to seem to also..........

Fun add-ons-- try one or a couple until you love the tastes:

• Oregano (said to be good for vitality and longevity),
• Turmeric (powerful cancer-fighter)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (great for detoxing your digestive organs)
• Grated Ginger root (excellent immune booster).
• Blended Raspberries (frozen or fresh)-- very cheerful-- and it's yummy to add a bit of agave nectar or maple syrup to complement the tartness.
• Blended figs or dates.

Salad Girl's tip of the post: Stop buying ready-made dressings. They are full of sugar and salt and other crappy additives, and you can save yourself oodles or grocery dollars and digestive efforts by making them yourself! I have had so much fun experimenting and think you will too! Post your discoveries here or share them with your colleagues.... get the conversations started!

A few of my favourtie things

Hola!

If you are reading this post, bear with me, as I am working these days at overcoming my fears when it comes to my writing. I've mentioned before that I love to write and dream of writing books, and there are days when I am raring to go and others when I think I am living in a dream world. So, today, following some advice from my beloved and ever-growing self-help library, I will write what I am passionate about! The words just flow when you describe something you love, know what I mean?

My favourite things

1. My cat (Yes, I fear I am turning in to a crazy cat lady!). She is so cute. She is a genetic freak-- a calico cat, which means a patchwork of colours-- and weird shapes. I got her at the humane society on a bit of a whim when I had a broken heart and a big hangover one Saturday ten years ago. I am so glad I did; she makes me smile every single time I see her. She likes company on her own time and terms, and she is so bitchy but so loving. Kinda like me!
2. My laptop. I love that it is mine and customized for me, portable and ready to go. It is very pink and purple and green, and cheerful and full of more of my favourite things-- yoga classes (so many good classes to be found for free in podcasts!), recipes, writer's blogs, magazine articles, novels and chapters in the fetal stage, photos, music... you probably feel the same way about yours but I love this machine!
3. A daily salad. Lots of veggies and a yummy dressing and something that crunches on top-- sunflower seeds or almonds or soy nuts. SO full of life force-- I feel so well after eating one.
4. My journal. I've carried on about it before, but I don;t know what I would do without it. Like the perfect friend that you can tell all your woes and excitements to, and who somehow has the perfect advice or joke for you-- which is wacky because it really means that all the answers you need to know are somewhere in your head already. I am almost finished volume 9. AT the end of each volume, I am now writing down my top lessons in life that I learned during the days of the volume. Holy crap am I getting smart!
5. My geriatric-type of pillow. My chiropractor recommended it for my writer's neck. You put water in the bottom part of it and then the top is pillowy and delightful; you basically can alter the height of it as you need to. I sleep so much better with it. It weighs a million pounds but I take it everywhere. My husband is hooked on one, too!
6. My neti pot. This thing is ridiculous but I don't know how I used to breath without it-- it looks like a teapot and you fill it with warm water and a pinch of salt. You put the spout up one nostril and the solution runs through your nose and rinses out the other nostril. Then you repeat on the other side. Pretty disgusting and bizarro-- but it clears you right out! Ba bye allergens and snottiness. Buy one at the health food store.... you won't regret it!
7. Pineapple. It tastes so good. Like candy!
8. Uttanasana. In Yoga practice, this is just basically a forward fold or touching your toes like your phys ed teacher had you do in grade six. Stand tall with straight legs and hands at your heart centre. Inhale and extend your arms up and over your head, and as you exhale, swan dive forward and reach the crown of your head towards your toes. Inhale and lengthen the spine, exhale and fold. Perk your sit bones towards the sky. You can dangle the arms (keep your shoulders drawn down the back), or cross your arms and have fingers in the nooks of your elbows like a rag doll. Don't force anything-- just let your back body open up as it's ready. Hang out for five deep breaths through the nose or for up to five minutes. Then inhale and reverse swan dive up, arms over head, and exhale the palms back to your heart centre. SO nice on the back and hamstrings.
9. Really long walks. I love spying on people's gardens, decor, choice of colours for their outer homes. Or my other favourite is going to a forest path-- we are blessed with so many of them near Barrie-- and hiking up and down hills, looking in the ponds and observing the abundance and variety in nature-- all four seasons, there is such a natural wonderland out there.
10. Hot baths. Nothing in the world cannot be cured or made better by a long soak in the tub. I love a bath bomb in mine, or a j-cloth with oats bundled with an elastic, or a couple of chamomile tea bags while the tub fills. With a book is nice, or a glass of vino quite delightful. Soaking in hot water... Is it a throw back to being in the womb?
11. Tea and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Yummy.

A random list, I realize, but the words truly did flow.

Have a wonderful day!

Salad girl's tip of the post: Make your own list! It's smile provoking and will prevent wrinkles.