Whoo, Whoo ...

Southern Ocean
Originally uploaded by rozsavage

Whoo, Whoo ... I got to be one of the names on an earth ball that Roz Savage presented at the Copenhagen Climate Change summit (for being one of her sponsors on the Big Ben to Brussels walk as she made her way to Copenhagen with as light a carbon footprint as possible). Exciting stuff, indeed. :-)

Great Video from Roz Savage! Congrats on a Fantastic Year, Roz!

Happy New Year, 2010! . . . "Rawsome Life Anew" Year!

Garrison, NY Originally uploaded by Export-Pro

Anew, indeed! It's 8:00 p.m. here in New York on this New Year's Day, 2010, and I'm feeling maaa-velous! Working as I do in a New York City office, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. five days a week, I view holidays as big-time relaxing days or play days, and today was no different. I've lolled about and enjoyed every minute doing so here in the warm and cozy home where I get to live in the beautiful Hudson River Valley. With Arctic air blowing in, it's feeling even more cozy today. Here are a few photos of Garrison, New York, the place I call home (for now, anyway!) . . .

A Catholic church in Garrison, NY


Boats on the Hudson, Garrison, New York
So what's on your "Things I'll Get Serious About" list for the new year? Picking up my guitar and singing songs I love is one of the things on my list. Another is walking -- w/ the fervour of Forrest Gump. In fact, I think I'll rekindle my connection to my guitar right now. My very first song is Dylan's "Forever Young" -- not to be confused w/ Rod Stewart's "original" of the same title, for which he was court-ordered to split royalties with Dylan, but I digress. For the version I prefer, scroll down a bit and listen to Joan Baez's rendition. I've got the lyrics and now just need the chords. Easy peasy to find on the internet machine.

Happy 2010 ("Twenty ten" -- more pithy than "two thousand and ten" so spread the word!)

"One oar stroke isn't going to get you anywhere, but if you take a load of tiny actions and you string them all together, you really can achieve almost anything." (Roz Savage, Ocean Rower)

A Reminder: The Breathtaking Effects of Cutting Down on Meat!

Check out this brief and astounding article on how going vegetarian for just one day a week would impact the world. You will be AMAZED! In more and more situations, I continue to see the truth of Roz Savage's words (which I've adopted as a personal "mantra" these days):

"One oar stroke isn't going to get me anywhere, but if you take a load of tiny actions and you string them all together, you really can achieve almost anything."
(Roz Savage, Ocean Rower)

Do It Now!

I've been mulling over an expression lately -- one I've heard a few times over the years: "To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did," and for me lately this is taking on some personal meaning. ... more later!

A to Z: What's Right with America

Mike Adams and hundreds of Natural News Facebook fans agree -- there is a LOT that's right! READ THE LIST HERE!

I posted this list today because I've been thinking a lot lately about my attitude in general -- my focus -- seeing more and more that as I focus on what I'd LIKE to see happen (rather than what I don't want to see happen) powerful and positive things occur. There's a deeper principle in there somewhere that I am not quite sure I've earned the right to even begin to comment on ... but it's got something to do with my realizing that being an anti-war activist was not the same thing as being pro-peace.

Off to the gym: Planet Fitness: The No-Judgment Zone. Clever those marketing guys. More on this post later today. Stay tuned. :]

One powerful sentence . . .

"If you want something, make the decision, commit to it, act accordingly and you'll discover just how easy it can be for yourself!"

From Karen Knowler's "Successfully Raw Newsletter" published weekly. You can join her mailing list at The Raw Food Coach at www.therawfoodcoach.com.

What a wonderful day!

A day to consider the words of Dylan's beautiful song . . . A holdover from my first blog, enjoy Joan's sweet version of this Dylan classic ... and live FOREVER YOUNG today. (SEE lyrics below to sing along!)



"Forever Young" (by Bob Dylan)

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your songs always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

Okay, now HERE's a weird statement: I'm having a baby! Today is exactly 9 months away from August 1, 2010 -- and August, 2010 is the month I'll be heading out on my 200 mile trek across England. So I'm nine months away from "birthing" the Naomi who'll be in the fittest shape she's been in for a whole LOT of years. That fit person is the "baby" to which I refer. I know, on the surface it sounds so silly -- but there is something also very profound about it to me. See, in nine months, God's designed it such that one human being can bring a whole, beautiful, OTHER human being into existence -- into manifestation. In just nine months of life, a whole other life appears. Is that not amazing!? THAT is why I feel excited about where I'll be in nine months.

On top of that cool number (nine months/new life being born, etc.), there is another cool number coming up for me. In exactly 4-1/2 months (half of that 9-month period) it will be my birthday: March 15, 2010. I'll be turning 56 years old on that day. Now I've been told ... and have read over the years ... that every seven years, a person's life goes through profound regenerative changes. So that would be 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56. The prospect of being on the cusp of beginning the 57th year of my life as I head out on my personal "mini vision quest" (as I've dubbed my Coast-to-Coast England walk) is very exciting to me.

In light of these significant numbers, I'm thrilled about today -- which is nine months away from my big challenge. It's why I felt like posting my all-time favorite song, yet again -- Forever Young.

Today, I plan to accomplish the following:

1. On the raw front -- I'm making Karen Knowler's recipe for "fried" mushrooms and making some yummy "pasta" from my yellow and green squashes and fresh roma tomatoes and basil I got at the green market. Delish.

2. On the exercise front -- I'm heading out in a little while to walk the 2-1/2 mile loop that's in my lovely neighborhood here, around the lake -- ipod in place and light jacket in tow, just in case it's cooler than I think.

3. On the inspiration front -- when I get back from my walk, I'll head down to my favorite spot on the property where I live -- the brook -- and write in my thankfulness journal all that I'm thankful for today and will be thankful for receiving in the future ... and spend some time in prayer.

4. On the "simplify, simplify" front -- I'll be decluttering some more in my living space so that I have more things packed up to GIVE AWAY; then I'll sit down, figure out which credit card bills I can "double up" on paying -- all to the end that I am entirely without debt by the spring of 2011. That includes no car payments, no credit-card payments, no 401(k) loan payments! Zero debt. And I'll REMAIN that way the rest of my life. That is the commitment I've made to myself, and I'm stickin' to it.

Will write more later to see just how well I've done w/ the tasks above ... so I'm off to get things done now.

8:30 p.m. now, and I managed to accomplish 1, 2 and 3 avoe (didn't declutter tho). Three out of four is good! :-)

While enjoying my yummy "fried mushrooms" (uncooked, just marinated/dehydrated a wee bit), I watched "Nights in Radanthe" (a Richard Gere/Diane Lane film). I liked their interaction; but the 'good man' that finally entered her life at just the right time (after years of meeting cads) tragically dies. Sad indeed, but it was lovely watching them fall in love. A hopless romantic, moi.

"One oar stroke isn't going to get me anywhere, but if you take a load of tiny actions and you string them all together, you really can achieve almost anything." -- Roz Savage, Ocean Rower

My Saturday "Mrs. Greens Run"

The most productive thing I accomplished today was cleaning out my refrigerator of old veggies and fruits (and other biology-experiment-type items that once were considered food) and restocking it w/ all sorts of goodies for the week ahead. I made my Saturday run to Mrs. Greens -- my favorite natural foods store -- and stocked up on deep leafy greens, fruits and veggies (and stuff for juicing like carrots, celery, cucumber and apples). I also found some sprouted grain bread and wraps that will make terrific lunch sandwiches in the coming week. I used to shop for two weeks -- and ended up throwing out a lot of rotting foods; so now I'll go once a week.

The other productive thing I got done today was to have some blood work done at the suggestion of my endocrinologist -- so he can test the levels of all kinds of things -- including vitamin D, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. My doctor said he could recommend a natural (bio-identical compound) pharmacist if any of these things are out of wack -- who'd help me bring my hormonal levels into balance. I am thrilled by this because I've long suspected that my hormone levels are very MUCH "out of wack" and that if they are properly balanced out, my matabolism will function a whole lot more efficiently and productively. Which spells good news for the next 10 months of "training" for me. (Coast-to-Coast Walk here I come!) And speaking of 10 months of training . . . tomorrow I start my early morning walks -- I'm about to download some tunes onto my iPod right now so I have some motivation when I head out the door. Good tunes make for good walking!

All in all, I'm happy with what I accomplished today. It's a load off my mind to have a refrigerator full of healthy foods from which I can put together really good meals during the week. From green drinks and juices to yummy salads and snacks, a day does not go by that I am not very thankful to God for the blessing it is just to HAVE healthy food. It's as necessary as clean water and air, I think -- and now more than ever for me, as I'm keen on each day's "training" being the best it can be. The added cost of purchasing good food is worth it because of what I want to accomplish.

And now ... a little C2C travelling music to close: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS!

"One oar stroke isn't going to get me anywhere, but if you take a load of tiny actions and you string them all together, you really can achieve almost anything." -- Roz Savage, Ocean Rower

It's In Every One of Us

Well I recently said goodbye in my heart to the "Cliff Richard" of my life -- a man whose essence I could not seem to shake from my soul but needed to for my own sake, as I finally realized a mutual affection between us would never be. And now, feeling free of the ghost-like haunting he held over my heart, I feel quite joyful! And it's in that joy that I step into a brand-spanking-new chapter of my life.

Just felt like posting this song ... I really like it and hope that anyone reading will like it too. (I much prefer how David Pomeranz sings it -- but his version has been removed from YouTube so I'm afraid Cliff it is. It's somehow fitting that it's Cliff Richard, tho, init? If he's an Essex boy it would be even more fitting ... as the aforementioned Brit I've just emotionally "let go of" looks like he could be Cliff's brother). Anyway, the lyrics speak to me of a Life that lives in each of us -- a glorious Life -- one that allows us to know things without having to know "why" all the time. I may not know WHY I needed to let go of this man in my heart -- I just KNEW that I had to. (The song starts at 1:27 -- if you want to skip the fluff in the beginning).
I've come to believe that it is this LIFE that's 'in everyone of us' that inspires us, convicts us, encourages us, guides us, chastens us, embraces us, comforts us, sustains us, amuses us, nurtures us . . . and is merciful, kind, good, and faithful to us. And -- best of all -- I think this LIFE in us is What teaches us to love. This LIFE, to me, is G~d.

And now -- check out Roz Savage . . . who, by the way she lives, has become my "coach" as I prepare to walk 200 miles across England next summer.
I've found a source of much-needed motivation via Roz's adventures as I kick off my 10 "official" months of training today to walk across England next summer. One oar stroke at a time she rowed alone across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua -- about a million oar strokes, rowed ONE AT A TIME. She advanced a few feet w/ each oar stroke, and all those feet added together became 3,000 miles! If Roz can do that -- I figure, I can WALK 200 miles!

I'll arrive in St. Bee's on the Irish Sea the week of August 16, 2010 -- 10 months from now. That gives me about 40 weeks of "rowing" ahead in order to get fit enough to walk up and down the fells and dales of England with enough stamina to make it to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea -- traversing three national parks along the way (The Lake District, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales)! It's not rowing solo across the Atlantic like Roz did -- but it's my Atlantic. The most I've walked at any one time was about 14 miles -- and that was when I was half my age and hiking in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. I'm a bit removed from those extremely fit years -- which is why I need 10 months to prepare! (The longest day on the Coast-to-Coast walk in England will be about 17 miles, I think)

So today I begin a sort of diary here -- a place for myself, really -- where I'll record the progress I'm making as the next 40 weeks go by, a place I can post about my workouts, my meals, my "psych-myself-out" tips, and anything else I fancy sharing. In other words, it'll probably be all over the place, topic-wise. :-)

Here I go! Wish me LIFE!

"One oar stroke isn't going to get me anywhere, but if you take a load of tiny actions and you string them all together, you really can achieve almost anything." Roz Savage, Ocean Rower