Berkshires Raw

2010-03-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Trying to get started again.
My right achilles tendon is just not cooperating with me. It seems that each week my training, figuratively, goes two feet forward, one foot back.
I've tried taking it easy, and I've tried ignoring it, but nothing seems to work.
It's also easy to get down on myself when I'm not doing my best. I seem to have this switch in my brain that wants to quit when I can't do something the way, I feel, it should be done. But, I'm not about to quit! No way!!
There are lessons here to be learned, and I'm going to keep hitting the wall until I've learned what I'm supposed to learn.
One of these lessons is, I must take proper care of myself. That means stretching and icing after runs. I almost never do that. Stupid, I know, but I got into some bad habits.
So, I'll start with that.
I haven't given up on the marathon at the end of May, yet. But, I've got a long, long way to go!

Ouch!

2010-02-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

Well, remember the goals I set for myself, just about a week ago? Let's just say I haven't really begun to implement them, yet. Good intentions, yes. Good execution, not so much.
Not all of it is my fault. My achilles tendon has been a huge issue for me, and I don't know if it's going to resolve itself without me shutting down my running for a good six weeks or so. I don't know if I can run, and heal at the same time.
And, let me be honest about how this injury came about, because I have been a big proponent of the product that helped facilitate this injury. And, that is the Vibram 5 Finger barefoot running "shoes".
The problem is, you can't just go out and run ten miles in the Vibrams' You have to build up mileage very slowly because our bodies are no longer conditioned to run as they were meant to run.
Of course, after reading, "Born to Run" I got very excited about running barefoot, and I didn't hear from anyone (especially the author) that one should take this kind of running slowly. So I paid the price. And, it might ruin my running year.
Now, I still believe in the concept and would love to just run with naked feet someday, but it's not going to happen for me, for quite some time.
So, I recommend the Vibrams', but just take it slowly!!

Some of the other goals have nothing to do with running, so I'll tell you how those goals are going next time.

Looking Good Running

2010-01-28T14:32:00.001-08:00

The ankle feels a little bit better today, so I don't think this injury is going to last very long. Thank goodness, goddess, whatever! In fact, by the end of the day I was walking normally. Well, normally for me. On a side note, people who have distinctive walks, do you think they practice that? I've always kind of wondered. It reminds me of a Richard Pryor joke. He said that he couldn't fight so he developed a cool run. The joke goes something like this: " Oh, there's Richard running away from that guy who wants to give him a beating...but he looks cool".

Running fast can come in handy like that. I remember, my sophomore year in high school, my friend Danny told one of the biggest kids in our school (as a practical joke) that I was flirting with his girl friend. So, this huge kid finds me, and then begins to tell me that he's going to kick my ass all over the place. In my mind I'm thinking: "Can I take him in a fight? Probably not. But, can he catch me if I run? Definitely not!" Pride aside, I saved myself from some pain that day!!

There are cool runners. Very fast cool runners, in fact. Usain Bolt, can't be any cooler, could he, Fellow mountain racer Jim Johnson, I think, has a cool run. So does Tim Van Orden. Me, I don't know. I don't think I have any videos of me, running. Which is probably a good thing.

Anyway, if I can get a run in after this weekend, I'll be a very happy boy!

2010-01-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I tried to run yesterday, and hurt my achilles even more. This really sucks because on top of not running for myself, I can't run with the dogs either. I had to tell my clients (dogs) human companions that I have to take a week off from running. At least I'm hopeful that it will only be a week, but realistically it could be more.

I saw on facebook that Siobhan Archey and Berkshires Nautilus has started a running group, of sorts. I'm not sure what it will look like, but I really like the idea. If we can promote running from a strong running community, it will help motivate people to get moving. Hopefully, I can contribute something to this cause.

So, here's a beautiful picture from our beautiful Berkshires. I'm going to be praying that I can get back on those trails again real soon.

Rough start

2010-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm certainly off to a rough start. My right Achilles tendon has been bothering me a bit, and now it feels like it was set on fire, after yesterdays snowshoe run. And, I jinxed myself badly yesterday, as well. Ginger asked me whether I have ever had hamstring problems from running, and I said, "Never!" Now, what do you think hurts right now?

As Ray from Car Talk would say, "Boy oh boy"!

Well, I'm taking today off because I have two runs tomorrow. I've got a run with Boise dog, and then a run with Magic and Arrow (their owner must be a fantasy novel fan) right afterward.

Had four bananas, an apple, a green smoothie, three slices of raw pizza, an orange, and a coconut Lara bar, so far today.

Yeah, so a two hour run tomorrow with fast dogs. Maybe, because of the rain, the trails will be cleared of snow. Which is not necessarily a good thing, because when I take a spill while running two dogs quickly; it's nice to land on the soft snow.

Thanks to Marie-Lies for that pizza crust recipe, again! Yum!

Goal Setting

2010-01-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

All right, here we go. I'm going to set down some goals here that will apply for the rest of the year; nothing out of range, just goals I can achieve if everything lines up correctly. But, of course, you know as well as I do, that nothing lines up "correctly" in this world. So, I'll be excited to see what transpires out of these goals, but I'll be open minded and open hearted enough to know that they will not come about the way I have planned.

1) 99% raw vegan, and get down to 145 pounds, by the summer. No promises about coffee.

2) Plant a garden. (Have never done it, believe it or not.)

3) Blog everyday to stay accountable.

4) Qualify for the Boston Marathon.

5) Run under 17 minutes for a 5K.

6) No wine or beer. Going to be drinking a lot of herbal tea, and green smoothies!!

7) Do push ups every day. (That would be a first).

8) Do the little things to make Berkshires Dog Runner a success.

9) Live life as an activist.

10) Live in the moment filled with gratitude.

As, Jean-Luc Picard said, "Make it so". Hahaha! :)

Scary & Exciting

2009-11-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

Well, this past month has been both exciting and scary. Scary because I haven't had a job since October 9th, and I am rapidly running out of money. I have applied for unemployment, but they are in such a back log that it might take a month and a half to receive any money. I have never been without a job as an adult, but I find being in this position a blessing because I now have the opportunity to try something I would never have tried if I had a job. And, that is to start my own business. That is the exciting part.
I have launched Berkshires Dog Runner! It is a dog running service, much like dog walking, only faster.
Nothing would make me happier than to make a living, running. And, maybe if I can get in really great shape over the winter, I can supplement my income by winning a lot of races in the spring!
My diet has been about 50% raw these days. Not anywhere near where I would like it to be. But, stress, as you all know, will make you consider unhealthier options just so you can feel better in the moment.
I think my next race will have to be the Adams, Turkey Trot coming up in a couple of weeks. I ran it last year, and came in third. So, we'll see how I do this year. I know I'm faster than last year, but I'm also about ten pounds overweight.
Anyway, I'll compete as best I can.

2009-10-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

When I was planning to move to New York City, I was thinking about my blog name. It couldn't be Berkshires Raw anymore, right? I thought of other names I could change it to, but I didn't like any of them. Until I thought of, "My Hearts in The Berkshires- Raw" I liked that, but then it suggested that my heart would not be in the same place as the rest of my body. Not good! That's never good no matter what you're doing: where you live, work, relationships etc. And, when I got to NYC, would I be able to be "there", and not pine -no pun intended- for the hills and trails I love to run in?

I know happiness does not come from anything outside ourselves, but since I don't claim to be a Buddha, I can realistically assume that my surroundings could effect my happiness.

Anyway, that's a lot of blah blah blah, just to say I'm happy to still be here in the Berkshires.

So, what's the next thing? I believe it's going to be the snow shoe series. I'm really looking forward to it.

My friend, Chrissie, and I ran 8x 200m yesterday. I had some of my best times, and I felt quick.
Here are the times:
1) 32
2) 34
3) 33
4) 33
5) 33
6) 35
7) 33
8) 34

"every little things, gonna be all right"

2009-10-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

I hardly know where to begin. My life in the past two months has been a roller coaster ride: from separation, to moving plans to another state, to new job, to girlfriend, to no job, to no girlfriend, to not moving, to not having a place to live at the end of the month. And, I'm trying to navigate all of this with a positive attitude, a smile on my face, and faith that the universe has a plan for me that is greater than the one I was trying to manifest; because that plan has completely crashed to the ground. Which brings me to my favorite phrase: God laughs at our plans.
OK, because this is mostly a running and raw foods blog I'll swiftly move to those topics. The good news is my running is getting better and better! DON'T ASK ME HOW!! Before my meltdown, and after the mountain series, I was putting in a lot of good training for the Rochester Marathon. I was running about 70 to 80 miles a week. The training was intense, and I was getting very good results. In fact, I ran a 8 mile mountain race up MT Greylock, and beat Tim VanOrden by thirty seconds or so. (Sorry to mention that, Tim) http://www.runwmac.com/results/greylock-road2009.html
I thought I could run the marathon in about 2hr 45min. But,in the last two months because of everything I was trying to navigate, plus stress etc., my training has been spotty at best. But, I have run two 5k races in the past three weeks and Pr's both times. In fact, in this past Sunday's race, I ran the first mile at 5:07. That's a PR for a mile by about 12 seconds!?!
And it gets weirder as I have gained some weight, my diet hasn't been all that great, and I have never slept less. This is the new training method I should submit to a running magazine: BLOW YOUR LIFE TO HELL AND GET FASTER IN TWO MONTHS!!.
Oh, and here is the better news: I won money for both of those races! Actual money, not a mug, not a little trophy, but real money. Life is good, right?
Anyway, thanks for hanging in there while I have been distracted, and thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers you have sent my way.
"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Coming Soon To A Blog Near You

2009-08-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted anything in awhile. There's so much going on in my life that my little blog has had to take a back-seat for a time. Please know, that I will be writing new posts soon, and maybe even more posts than I have done in the past.
With all that's going on I'm still trying to keep my fitness up as best I can. I look forward to the fall running season even though it doesn't look like I'll be doing the marathon in September.
Thank you for everything.

2009-07-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

I've almost hit my one year anniversary! One year ago next week is when I decided to run again, and train for the Turkey Trot in Adams MA. What a glorious year it's been since I took that first run. I remember, I just wanted to run for twenty minutes. Now, I can do twenty mile runs. I have already posted that story, "Raw Journey" so I won't bore anybody with more details, but I feel reflective now that a year has passed.
I feel a little lost now that the mountain series is over. Those races, and the training for them consumed my thoughts and energy for months. Now, I've got to look for the next thing, which I believe will be a marathon in September. My friend, Chrissie, has been training for this marathon in Rochester, NY since February, so I think it will be fun to go out there and support her, and run the race myself. And, of course, if I'm going to run a marathon, I might as well try to qualify for Boston, as well.
So, I'm running more mileage, and trying to up the overall training. We'll see how it goes. I'm very optimistic that I can qualify for Boston. That would be amazing considering, once again, that I've been at this for a year. My shoulder now hurts from patting myself on the back.
I've found some great trails around Kripalu! Beautiful! It's easy to run for an hour or two when one is out in the woods enjoying nature. It really doesn't feel like work at all.

2009-07-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

I hate to say this, but I haven't run since the Cranmore Hill Climb. Results here: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/nh/Jun28_Cranmo_set1.shtml

I've done nothing but sleep for the past three days. Each day has been the same, get home from work, then fall asleep on the couch. Today, I didn't even make it to work. Oh well, it is what it is.

Tim, his father, and I drove up to N. Conway, NH and arrived early Saturday evening. After dropping our stuff off at the hotel, Tim and I drove over to the mountain and walked the course. This was the first time I had been able to get an idea of what a course looked like prior to a race. From the top of Cranmore you could see MT. Washington and the rest of the White Mountains. It is really beautiful. Getting a look at the terrain helped calm my nerves a little bit. I've been feeling slower and slower as the series has gone on, and as the races get harder and harder, I was spending too much time in my head fretting about what was to come.

The race is two 5k loops with a total gain of 2400 feet in elevation. Because we climb the mountain TWICE it would be a huge mistake to go out too fast in the beginning. But, sure enough, when GO! is given, people of every mountain running ability go out like a bat out of hell. It's just crazy. We hadn't even hit the 1K point, the real climbing hadn't even started, and there were people in front of me stopping to walk. I went out very slowly, and got boxed in early. Which was fine by me, it's a long race. The best guys run this race in about an hour. There's plenty of time to move up the mountain, and pass the over-exuberant.

I had a great climb up the mountain the first time, and I was feeling excited about where I was and how I was doing. But, then the downhill came after we hit the summit, and zapped all of the energy I had in my legs. Those of you who don't know, for many mountain runners, the downhills are worse than the uphills. They kill your quads, blister your feet, and sprain your ankles. And, if you take it carefully down the mountain, you get passed by everybody! The trick to downhill running is to run as if you have no regard for your personal safety, whatsoever. That's a trick I haven't mastered yet, so my legs take more of a pounding because I'm breaking as I go forward.

When I reached the base I was toast! My race was effectively over, and now it was just about finishing. Back up the mountain to do it all over again, I just put my head down, and put one foot in front of the other. Slowly up the mountain, I felt the mugginess in the air. The racers were now spread out over the mountain, it was quiet, and there was nothing but the mountain and my thoughts.

The second descent down the mountain was worse than the first. I was beaten literally and figuratively. I gave a nice final effort at the base, but I think it was just for show. Once I crossed the finish line, I slithered away, and looked for a place to sit down. I don't want to write this, but at that point I probably could have cried. I don't know why or how I managed not to, but I kept it together. Tim came over, noticed my facial expression, and said, "What's that face for?" I just shrugged my shoulders. He told me that I did very well, and that I had nothing to be ashamed of. I appreciated the words, but let them pass right through me.

I've decided to skip this weeks race, and rest up for the finale at Ascutney. The best five of the six races of the series are used for the point totals, so I can miss Loon and hold my spot in the top ten. And, I'm still third overall in my age group.

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/nh/Jul2_USATFN_1_set1.shtml

I'm glad that I've taken this break. I can hear my running shoes calling me back, and my mind is clearing. And I'm beginning to miss the wonderful trails out there in our beautiful forests.

2009-06-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't let this article go without comment. It comes from the AP, and was in the Berkshire Eagle on Wednesday. It's called "Disease Prevention Often Costs More Than It Saves". The first couple of paragraphs says it all.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- When it comes to health care spending, an ounce of prevention is seldom worth a pound of cure. Take Mrs. Jones, a hypothetical 55-year-old obese woman at risk for diabetes. It costs $900 a year to hire a personal lifestyle coach to help her lose weight and prevent diabetes. Suppose that the coaching works for Mrs. Jones, and she is spared diabetes and all the resulting health bills.
But research shows that for every person like Mrs. Jones, six other people just like her get nothing out of such a program. They either don't lose weight or get diabetes anyway or wouldn't have developed it in the first place. The yearly cost of the prevention program for those six people: $5,400.
That's probably more than Mrs. Jones' health bills from diabetes would have amounted to.

...Right off the bat, this article doesn't make any logical sense. First of all, since when did any medication, CURE diabetes? Someone should inform the American Diabetes Association that there's been a pharmaceutical cure for diabetes! I think it would be news to them. Secondly, When, in this world, will everybody pre-diabetic be assigned a life-style coach? I don't know what planet this writer is from, but I can tell you, it's not this one. I tell you what though, if that were true, life style coaches would be the hot new industry to get in to, as there are about 24 million Americans with diabetes. And, if Mrs. Jones spends her own money on a life style coach, that would sound to me as if she were taking some responsibility for saving her own life.

Also, why would somebody put a price tag on good health? That's the big question here! Sure, you can add up all sorts of costs like a membership to a gym, running shoes, water bottles, organic foods, anything you want. But no matter what you spend on your health, it is far "cheaper" than poor health, and a life on medications.

If the "Doctor" from this article doesn't know that, she should take a quote from The Six Finger Man from "The Princess Bride": "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything".

Cold And Fast

2009-06-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night, the Third Thursday street festival held it's first Green Mile race on North Street in downtown Pittsfield. Tim and I planned to make this a night of good speed work. We left the car at the Taconic track where we planned to do some intervals after the race, and ran toward the Colonial Theatre to meet our friend, Chrissie. On the way, we ran by the Dancing Vegan take out shop. It's amazing that Pittsfield has it's own vegan take out, but I worry about their location -in the middle of nowhere- in a very unvegan neighborhood. On the day of their grand opening they didn't even have a sign on their building. I thought they were either crazy or geniuses. I think the jury is still out.

After we picked up,Chrissie, we kept up our warm up. It was raining and cold, and a good warm up was essential. I was dealing with a couple of issues that I thought were going to hinder my attempt at a personal best time. One, was a huge bruise on my arse that I got from a botched attempt to jump over a fallen tree a few days prior. Second, my left foot began to cramp up ten minutes before the race. The bruised butt felt like a pin cushion bouncing around in my ass, and now I was limping a little with the foot cramp.
Tim, asked me what I wanted to do for a time. I knew he wanted to hear a fast number, but I had already started to dial down in my head. I said sheepishly, "5:20". Which would beat my best mile to date by two seconds. Inside, I was thinking that I would settle for a 5:30.
We line up for the race, and I'm trying to remember that this race is going to be over quick, so I shouldn't save anything out there on the road. I've been doing longer, harder races up mountains, so I was afraid that I would set a slower pace for myself.
Runner's set! Go! Everyone bolts off the line like it's a 100m dash! Almost a quarter mile into the race, Tim knows that I'm right behind him, so he yells back to me that I'm going really fast; so I smartly back off the pace a bit. Now at the half mile mark I was running very comfortably. So comfortably that I was worried that I wasn't running that fast. It seemed fast, but I wasn't sure. Let me see if I can go faster. I was thinking of my running form, and trying to figure out if everything was working properly. What's my turnover like? Should I extend my stride a little? Of course, at this point in the race there's only about a quarter mile to go, and this is where I got stuck. I know I can't sprint all out for a quarter mile, but I don't want to save anything either. I knew I had a lot in the tank, but I wanted to get closer to the finish line before letting it completely fly.
With about two hundred yards to go I gave it all I had. I could see the clock in front of me without making out any of the numbers on it. If I could have seen the clock from there it would have read something like 4:50. So, as I got to the finish line I was very happy to have run a new personal best 5:19. Of course, I'm only happy for about ten seconds, because now I'm wondering if I could have done even better. Man, we're all such knuckleheads. Never satisfied or grateful for what we have accomplished.
Tim, took third place overall, and first in his age group with a great time of 4:41! What did he win? A five dollar gift certificate to the Dancing Vegan! It's not raw, but it's still cool. Actually, we stopped there on the way back to the track, and asked them if they have any raw dishes. They were happy to say that they do carry some raw onion bread, and usually have some raw salad dishes available.
Super!

Does A Runner S**T In The Woods?

2009-06-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

After, Pack Monadnock, the legs were feeling very tired. And, not just the legs. I would go out for a run and start breathing heavily right away, and not feel better at any part of the run. I was just plain tired. And, the bad thoughts came creeping in, thoughts like: What are you doing this for? I would have to think for a few seconds for the answer. In the space between those seconds is a lifetime. Who are you now? What are you trying to prove? All those illusions and games my monkey mind plays with me. The insecurities pop up like the devil on my shoulder telling me to just quit. And, day after day, as the running didn't get any easier, I wondered if the body was telling me: "You've had it. You did well for awhile, but now it's over."
Of course it's not over. I'm just getting started, but those are the mental battles that show up now and again. Which is why a meditation practice is so important for me. When these thoughts pop into my head while I'm sitting, I recognize them, I label them for what they are, and then I let them go.
We are so hard on ourselves. Most of us would not have a person in our lives who would talk to us the way we talk to ourselves.

Twelve days after Monadnock I started to feel a little better, but I had know idea how I would do at Northfield.
This USATF Mountain Series is hard and grueling. I just starting running last August and now I'm racing in VERY tough races almost every week. Oh, and did I say, that the races get harder as the series goes on.
Anyway, due to some miscommunication, I picked up Tim a half an hour later than I should have. We barreled down Vermont and Massachusetts country roads trying to make it to the race before the start. We pulled in with about twelve minutes to get our numbers, get to a bathroom and warm up for the race. Oh, and I needed to pick up new trail racing shoes from innov8, as well. -Yes I was pulling another rookie move: wearing new shoes for a race.- Now, for those who are squeamish, you should skip to the next paragraph. I got my number and noticed the bathroom line was quite long, and so I said to Tim: "Is there another bathroom here?" And, he said, "Yeah, the port-o-pottie is next to that tree." Oh man, I don't like doing number 2 in the woods. I don't like doing number 2 anywhere but my house. I'm kind of a no poop in public kind of guy. But, as they said in Ole Yeller, "I got it to do". What's funny is, while I'm doing my business, I'm thinking, being a raw vegan, if a Ranger sees this, is he going to think it's human or a bear, or something?
OK, now I'm feeling better. I start to warm up with my new shoes. They feel fantastic. Great! Five minutes of warm up, and it's line up for the race.

I'm just going to say that I ran a pretty good race. I came in 20TH overall, and the legs and body felt fine. I think I did well by taking it fairly easy between races, which gave my body time to recover.
http://coolrunning.com/results/09/ma/Jun13_Northf_set1.shtml
I am still third Master in the series behind Tim and Dave Dunham, which I think, is pretty good, if I can say so myself.
Stay Positive!

Tough Week

2009-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a hard week. That's a good thing. No injuries, just tough hard running all week. On Tuesday, Tim Van Orden and I ran up Mt. Equinox in VT. which happens to be the highest elevation climb that I've done. At the summit, the view was absolutely stunning! It was like Christmas Town up there with the evergreens. At the base it was, I think, 75 F., and on top of the mountain it was low 40's. Burr.

On Wednesday, I ran eight miles in the morning, then did a "little" mountain run with Chrissie Constable on October Mt. When I say "little" I don't mean that to sound like some glorified hill, I mean it just didn't have the grade that Tim and I have been doing. It is an excellent work out. If you live in the Berkshires, check out the Switch Back Trail and try it for yourself.

On Wednesday I did an easy five miles, but on Thursday we burned up the track with some 200m repeats.

I was so happy to do this work out because I felt like I was getting away with having an easy interval day. Oh, no! It was some of our hardest track work yet. Here are my times:

1) 31

2)31 1/2

3) 32

4) 32

5) 32 1/2

6) 34

7) 35

8) 35

9) 35

10) 35

On Friday, I did an easy five miles again. Took Saturday off because of the race on Sunday. The 10 mile Pack Monadnock Race is a race conceived of in hell. It is a very hilly road race with a mountain thrown in at the end. For a good description of the race from one of the legends, read Dave Dunham's blog: http://ddmountainrunr.blogspot.com/

Check this out if you want to see the grade of Pack Monadnock (Jim Johnson's times on the graph) :
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E_gj3af3zMk/SiLKOTVSzzI/AAAAAAAAA-c/NpELavu0uIo/s1600-h/packSplits.jpg

I am basically pleased with my effort at Pack Monadnock, as I came in 22ND with a very decent time. Although, I can tell you that I made a couple of rookie mistakes. One, I wore racing flats, which destroyed my legs, and two, I was not properly hydrated.

Also, mentally it was a very challenging race. It took everything I had to stay positive during the run. I felt awful, and I didn't care about anything except for it to be over. My mind went to places I didn't want it to go, but I got through it. For the results:
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/nh/May31_PackMo_set1.shtml

I want to say here that I am incredibly blessed to have the love and support of the best team ever: My wife, Ginger , and Tim.

All in all it was tough, but a very rewarding week.

Raw Food Passion

2009-05-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend, April's blog, and see us holding a Raw Chocolate Mousse Pie! Yummy.
Oh, and get her smoothie and juice book, "Healthy Indulgence". I definitely recommend it.

http://rawfoodpassion.blogspot.com/2009/05/raw-desserts-at-kripalu-and-typical.html

Raw Organic Chocolate Mousse Pie

For this recipe, you will need a food processor.
Making the mousse pie takes no time at all, but the only thing to remember is to soak your 3 cups of cashews at least an hour before you are ready to put this recipe together.

For the crust:Process 1½ cups dry cashews and ¼ cup of dates until crumbly. Spread the mixture over a pie pan and press down to form the crust. Set aside.

Combine all the following ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth:
3 cups soaked cashews
¾ cup water
¾ cup honey
¾ cup coconut oil (just warm enough to be liquid)
4 tablespoons raw cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour contents into the pie crust and refrigerate until it becomes solid. Easy and delicious.

2009-05-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

I ran the first race of the N.E. Mountain/Trail Racing Series this past Saturday in Princeton, Ma. on Wachusett Mt. The course ran up the mountain for about a mile and a quarter on paved road. Then leveled out onto a trail for approximately the next 3/4 of mile. Then we moved onto a single track trail with a down hill lie. This part was the most fun and the most dangerous as we swished through the trees like skiers down a mogul. All the while trying to keep our feet from hitting a rock or root the wrong way. Which is precisely what I did. I got a little airborne and landed as if I were diving into a pool of soft pine needles -lucky for me.
I started the race conservatively. I hadn't run any of these mountain/trail races before, so I didn't know what was in store for me. After the initial euphoria of starting the race, I let the lead runners go and tried to settle into a nice comfortable pace. At the top of the first climb the better runners were clearly gone, and so a second group formed. After clearing the single track trail, non too bruised, the course turned much more vertical as we worked our way up the mountain to the three mile mark. That stretch of mountain was just the kind of work Tim, and I have been training to tackle. So I adjusted my form, and went about the grind of getting to the top of this, approximately 20% grade trail. There were two runners, that I could see, in front of me. I passed both runners as the mountain took it's toll on them. One of them was reduced to walking.
At the three mile point, it was all down hill from there, literally. It was a wonderful feeling soaring down the mountain after the previous climb up. It was time to just let it rip. I was passed by only one runner-I'll fill in the name when I see the results- the rest of the race. He just had better down hill technique than I have, and I couldn't catch him.
Overall, I placed 17Th out of, I believe, 320 runners. I felt pretty good for my effort, and I felt as though I represented Running Raw well.
After the race, we talked to other runners with Tim occasionally taping his conversations with the camera for future videos. We handed out raw raisin buckwheat cookies which went over very well. Even to the non-raw runners who tried them.
As for, Tim Van Orden, he had a "photo" finish with three runners and came in fifth place overall and first master.

Tim Van Orden Latest video posted: http://runningraw.com/races.html#wachuse

Raw Journey

2009-05-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

I haven't sat down and encapsulated my raw "journey" yet. Most of these "journeys " sound like some "born-again" christian testimonial. Like all testimonials, they start with the prodigal son story: The poor heathen living in sin, or in this case, fat and out of shape. Then in their darkest hour, they are saved, and live life righteously thereafter. Or, as it may be, a healthy life, with a purpose, and a nice glow on their cheeks.

I'm going to tell this story as a runner would, because that is who I see myself as today, a raw vegan runner. But, I had not been a runner for many many years, or as I will sometimes say, it was: "Many beers ago".

As a kid, I identified myself as a runner. That's what I did. That's what I did better than the other kids in the neighborhood. I ran home from school, and beat the buses home. I ran in the woods in front of my house, without shoes, so I could feel the forest floor on my feet. I was unbeatable at tag. I was in a constant state of movement.

When I got to high school, I ran cross country and track, and I did pretty well. I was good, but I wasn't great. I had laid the foundation as a kid to be great, but when my teens hit, it was hard to stay focused on running. I got severely depressed at times. I sometimes got involved with the party scene. Running became a chore. And even though I still ran, it was only because I was good at it, that I kept it up.

Still, I was good enough to win all but one race my senior year in track, and I came in third All Western Ma. in cross country. But, when high school was over, running was over too. I just quit. I used to say that I didn't like running, that I only did it because I was good at it. I've come to realize, that was a lie.

It's hard to believe that a person can live another twenty three years without the thing in their life that makes them feel special, and what gives them a purpose, but that's what I did. During that time, although I was a vegetarian, I was not a healthy person.

I moved to New York City in my early twenties to write plays and poetry. I was an all-in buyer of the bohemian, demon-filled writer guy, hell bent to ruin. I lived in the East Village, and I drank, and wrote at the darkest bars. My Dylan Thomas impression was spot on. I took my running ability and flushed it down a bar room toilet. I would have to live with the fact that I did not give my best to running, and that I "sacrificed the gift". Steve Prefontaine would not have been impressed.

Of course, most of that has changed as I have gotten older, I got married, had a kid etc. While still living in NYC I frequented the Village Zendo, and began a meditation practice which has become a very important ingredient in my daily life.

I support myself by working in the food industry. I trained on the job to be a pastry assistant twenty years ago. I have a degree from the French Culinary Institute. I have worked for the pre-eminent wedding cake maker, Sylvia Weinstock, as her head baker, and I am currently the bakery manager at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Ma.

I should say that my weight had always been an issue as an adult. I am a baker, for goodness sakes. I became a pastry chef because I like sweets, a lot! Still do. So, my weight, for the most part had hovered between 195 and 210. That's not great when you're only 5'9". Things only got worse when I got to Kripalu and had all of this buffet vegan food everyday. Yes, you can be fat and vegan at the same time, trust me. As time went on, I got up to 235 pounds. My blood pressure was high, and I just wasn't feeling that great. I should also admit that I didn't like being the overweight baker at a yoga center, where most people walking around, are looking more fit than me.

I became conscience of a raw vegan lifestyle about four years ago, from an article in a magazine. It was a Q&A with Juliano. I thought he was nuts, and I quickly dismissed the whole thing; but the seed took root somewhere in my head. I remembered Juliano talking about the amazing health benefits one got for being raw vegan. I started to do a little research, and everyone was saying the same thing. You'll feel great all the time. You'll have more energy. You'll get sick less often or not sick at all, as some would say. So, I was curious.

Then, two years ago, I said I would try it for a month. That's it. No promises after the month. Just a month. I was extremely skeptical that it would make any difference in my life. But, I was very serious about giving it a shot, for that month.

I still remember the first day I ate as a raw vegan. After lunch, I had more energy, rather than the sluggish feeling I had become used to after eating a meal. After a week, I remember feeling really good! Exceptional, as a matter of fact. I didn't have a blender, or a dehydrator or a spiralizer or anything at this time. I was just eating food in a totally different way: The way it was meant to be eaten! What a concept! Just don't cook it. Crazy, right.

Even before my maiden month was over, I knew I was never going back to cooked food. After seven months I lost 70 pounds, and I had never felt better in my life. Then almost a year ago, I was browsing YouTube for raw vegan videos, when I came upon, Tim Van Orden. He was like the Running Ghost Of The Past coming back to haunt me. It was like he was saying, "Michael, you can still do it. You can still be a runner". Then I thought, you know, I feel good, let's see what's possible. So, I set a goal. I would run the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in North Adams. I had about three and a half months to train for it. All I wanted to do was put in a good effort. I came in third! First, in my age group.

Now I try not to put limits on myself, or say I can't do something. It's all possible, and now that I am training hard to get back to where I was twenty three years ago, I know I will get there. The "Prodigal Son" has run home.

2009-05-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

For the past month and a half I have had the immense privilege to be training with Tim VanOrden. And, I can tell you that I have gotten stronger and faster within that short amount of time. But, more importantly, I ran the smartest race I have ever run a few weeks ago at the Race-For-Research 5k in Springfield, Ma., due to his great coaching.
As some of you know, I have been running again since this past August, after not having run in twenty three years! At the beginning, my goal was to be competitive again in some local races, and to just stay fit. But, as I have gone on with this journey my goals have changed to: Let's see what's possible. Is Tim right? Will I gain an advantage by being a raw food vegan, and can I get back into the shape I was in when I was eighteen?
So far the answer is pointing to, yes. It's all possible! I still have a long way to go, but I have no doubt that I will get there.
At the Race-For-Research in Forest Park, on the 26Th of April, it was an unusually hot day. By 9:00 is was 80 degrees. That was a bit concerning, due to the fact that my training had not acclimated me to that kind of heat yet.
Running in this race to support our friend who is fighting a very aggressive rare form of cancer: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, was my wife Ginger, our friend Chrissie, Tim and me. My goal in this race was to set a much faster personal record for a 5k than I had run before. To help me do this, Tim (who had won a race the day before) graciously agreed to pace me during the race.
I have to tell you that I have never really run with a strategy before. Especially as an eighteen year old, it was: Gun goes off, run as fast as I can, for as long as I can. That's it. And, on this hot spring day, that would have been a very poor strategy. But, old strategies die hard.
The first mile was flat with a little downward slope, so we got into a comfortable cruise, nice and easy. At the first mile marker I was way behind four guys in their late teens and early twenties. The old strategy in my head wanted to kick in and go after them as hard as I could. But, Tim said, "Back off. There are hills coming. We'll catch them". I didn't believe him. I was even more doubtful when we hit the first hill, and he told me to back off some more. Now I'm convinced I'm toast. But, Tim said, "When we get over the hill, we'll really go."
And that's what we did. By the second mile mark we were gaining on the guys in front of us.
Then another hill. Once again, we slow down, taking small steps, conserving our energy.
Tim knows Forest Park well, as he has raced there many times before. So he knows there is one more hill three quarters of a mile before the finish line.
Just before that hill we pass one of the runners. Going up the hill there are two runners directly in front of us, and we're gaining on them fast! When we get to the top of the hill, it's a quarter mile flat race to the finish.
Now, we have the fresh legs, and we're kicking it into another gear. We blaze past two of the twenty year olds, almost at full sprint. There is only one more runner in front of us, and we're gaining on him. At this point he can hear us, and he knows he's in trouble, but he holds on and gets to the finish line just before we catch him. As soon as he crosses the line, he loses his breakfast. Ouch.
A great race! I got second over-all, and first place in my age group. Obviously, Tim could have won the race at any point, but was a good friend, and let me take second.
And the goal was accomplished, as I broke my best time by thirty seconds!

Since that race, my training has only gotten more intense. So we'll see what happens in the upcoming months.

A Conversation

2009-04-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a conversation I just had on facebook. I think it's amazing that, Lisa, a mom with no vegetarian back-ground, wants to support her 15 year old daughter to become a vegetarian. Incredible, right? Of course Lisa has questions, everything she has learned tells her that her daughter will not get enough protein or nutrients, but she is open-minded enough to want to support her daughter. I think she's a wonderful Mom!!
6:10pmLisa
michael, i have a question for you
6:10pmMichael
yeah?
6:11pmLisa
chelsea is 15 and wants to be a vegetarian
do you think she's too young
6:11pmMichael
fantastic!!
no of course not.
we are born vegetarians
6:12pmLisa
she showed me and victor a you tube on why to become a one...it was quite interesting
6:13pmMichael
I'll ask you a question: When you see a dead dear on the side of the road, do you think about getting out of the car to open it's belly with your mouth? Or, rather if you saw an apple truck, would you think about eating an apple?
6:16pmLisa
yea, i hear you....definitely the apple.
when she showed us the video, it was heartbreaking seeing the animals
6:17pmMichael
of course! We cook meat to make it palatable. If we didn't, we wouldn't eat it.
6:18pmLisa
I know, you make perfect sense. I just hope if Chelsea decides to do this she sticks with it...
6:22pmMichael
she'll need help from you, because she'll be pressured by everybody who thinks they know better. You'll have to help her by giving her a balanced diet. You can be a junk food vegetarian as much as you can be a junk food carnivore.
6:23pmLisa
she's behind me and said she might request you for a friend...i told her she could learn a lot from you...and of course i would
6:23pmMichael
i would be honored
6:24pmLisa
help her with anything she decided to do, that's what us moms do
6:24pmMichael
you're a great mom!
6:24pmLisa
i try
6:26pmMichael
I have started a meet up group for Raw Vegans. We're going to have our first get together on Mother's day. It would be great if you and our daughter came. Or the whole family for that matter.
6:27pmLisa
I can't on Mother's day, Victor is having a party at the Portuguese club and I'm staying home with Nicole...she's bed bound...but let us know the next time
6:29pmMichael
I will. If you would like, google Berkshires Raw Meet Up and join the group.
6:30pmLisa
ok thanks i will. but she wants to know what a raw vegan is.
6:31pmMichael
A raw vegan is a person who eats only uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.
6:32pmLisa
oh OK. ill let her know. thanks
6:34pmMichael
I know it sounds incredible, but I believe that's the way we're supposed to eat. I work 8-10 hours a day, then I train 1-3 hours after that every day, and I feel fantastic!
6:35pmLisa
wow...and you have great energy..
6:35pmMichael
exactly!!
6:36pmLisa
michael, it's always a pleasure talking to you, but i have to get going...thanks for the information..talk to you soon.
6:36pmMichael
talk to you soon... bye
6:36pmLisa
k.bye

Meet Up Group

2009-04-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, Tim VanOrden my wife Ginger and I have formed a raw vegan meetup group for the Berkshires of Ma., southern Vermont, and Albany NY area. This is going to be a fun group. Sure we'll have pot-lucks, but we also plan to do other fun and exciting things, as well. I would love to meet as many raw vegan friends as I can, so if you're in the area be sure to drop by at one of our meetups.

Good Intentions

2009-03-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well it happened again as it inevitably will from time to time. The question: "Raw vegan, huh? What do you eat? Grass?" Sometimes I play along, and say: "Yeah, I steal from bird feeders, or I graze on my front lawn." And, of course, this is not the persons fault who doesn't know how they would eat if everything didn't come cooked, wrapped, boxed and packaged, but rather it is the fault of the good-intentioned.
It seems as though the more social developers try to make our life "better", the more it gets screwed up. I'm thinking of Monsanto, bioengineering food to produce more food than we ever could organically. If we could control nature, we could feed millions of more people. Good intentions, right? Disastrous results. I'm thinking of fish farming. Same thing. I'm thinking about scientists torturing billions of non-human animals in experiments in a desire to cure diseases nobody needs to have been afflicted with if they ate properly in the first place. I'm thinking about the debate on universal health care. Great idea, right? To me, it sounds like health care cooked, wrapped, boxed and packaged. The idea seems to be, lets all pay billions of dollars into a pool, and the people who are healthy will pay for those who get sick. Nice idea, right? But, is this the dog trying to catch its tail. Government (our taxes) give subsidies to the factory farms like Monsanto and Archer-Daniels Midland etc.; companies that make people sick in the first place, then we pay the government health insurance money, which in turn pays the medical and pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, nobody is cured from anything. All of this is done with "good" intentions.
When people fool with Gods' natural laws bad things happen. I'll try to tell a story that I heard from Pragata a Qigong teacher.
God was walking the Earth a long time ago, and came upon a farmer surveying his farm. God said,"Behold your many blessings and wonderful bounty."
And the Farmer said, "God you sure know a lot about the Earth and all it's many creatures, but you don't know anything about farming."
And God said, "Why do you say this?"
The Farmer said, "Throughout the year it is a struggle. Sometimes it will not rain when I need rain, and my fields go dry. Sometimes all it does is rain, and my fields are flooded. Many of the insects you have created eat my stocks and leaves leaving my plants barren.
If you would give control of these forces to me, I will show you how to farm."
So, God agreed and gave the Farmer the ability to control the weather and the insects. And so it was, when the Farmer needed rain, it rained. When he needed sun, the sun shone brightly. And, not an insect ate from a single plant.
The Farmer was very pleased, as it looked to be his most bountiful harvest ever!
Then God appeared to the Farmer and said, "Bring me a shaft of wheat so I can see your handy work." So the Farmer bent down to pull a shaft of wheat, but the wheat disintegrated in his hand. He then raced to other plants on his farm, and sure enough, they crumpled in his hand.
The Farmer said, "I don't understand! everything was perfect. "
And God said, "You took away the struggle which contains the life force from your farm. Everything was perfect so the plants didn't need to be strong, so they withered and died in your hand.

As a t.v. commercial once put it: "It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature". They were selling margarine, which was later found to make people sicker than butter.

Me Man Very Smart

2009-03-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

I'm dealing with my first runner's injury: tendinitis in my ankle. Consequently, I have had to take three days off from running. I had planned to run a 5k race this coming weekend, and have already payed for it, so I am hopeful that I'll be good enough to go.
I am icing, and believe it or not,even stretching to help the ankle. I read that this particular injury needs proper rest or it can become a chronic problem. So, in my warped world, three days is proper rest. We'll see.

I wanted to write about a story in the news I read the other day. It was about a caged monkey in a zoo that stored up rocks in the morning to throw at people later in the day. Now the geniuses in the science & news world were amazed that this monkey was able to plan his rock throwing idea ahead of time.
Hundreds of thousands of years living with monkeys on this planet, and they think that's a discovery? Boy, you know we are out of touch with nature and our natural world when this is news.
My basset hound knows when I leave for work in the morning so he can get on the couch. And, he knows what time my wife wakes up so he can jump off. A miracle!!!
Of course, they never asked: "What could be upsetting this monkey?"
I don't know, maybe he doesn't want to live the rest of his life caged and exploited!!!
Maybe this little playground they built for him doesn't come remotely close to the life he should be living. Maybe after throwing his feces at passersby for a long time, he finally thought, "I'm going to throw something heavier at these meatballs, they don't seem to get it!"
They've probably already honored his ingenuity by dissecting his brain.
Lord help us.

2009-02-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

I want to apologize for how boring my blog looks. My 11 year old daughter was making fun it the other day. I know it's not the most beautiful, but the truth is, I don't really know how to make it much better. She offered to help, but I'm afraid with her help, I'll have pictures of horses and penguins all over the place.
I was thinking the other day, actually most days, of how blessed I am. And, one of the ways I am truly blessed is being a part of the vegan raw community. Nothing in my life besides my family has brought me so much joy. And, although I don't personally know many of you out there, I feel a great connection to all of you. I also believe, most raw vegans are incredibly compassionate, spiritual people, filled with loving kindness.
I just wanted to say, thank you, for all the nutrition information, the inspiring stories, the great recipes, your love for the environment, and your love for all humanity and the non-human animals in the world. You are all beautiful people.
And, if my blog is about us, then it must be beautiful too.
Sort of.

Winter Training

2009-02-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Hi, a brief check in just to say how things are going this winter, training wise. I have been engaged in a training program for a half marathon in April.
I have never run a race longer than a 10K, so I'm a bit intimidated. And, I have never done the mileage in training that I am doing right now to get in shape for such a race. In fact, yesterday I ran 14 miles. And, I did that on a tread mill! I must be insane!! Plus, I haven't run 14 miles since 1985!
In fact, almost all of my training has been on the tread mill this winter. As much as it sucks not to be outside, I have gained a lot by working out this way: 1) I have never been good at keeping a steady pace, which this training has taught me to do. 2) It keeps me honest. When you set a goal, you set the speed, and you do the run. 3) Negative splits and tempo work are easy to orchestrate on a tread mill.
On the other hand, this winter's training hasn't been all that easy. Last week, I felt a little burnt out, and didn't come close to the training I wanted to do, but this week I feel pretty good; and so I'm off to a good start.
I still weigh more than I should at 157, but I'm optimistic that I can get down to where I need to be.
A couple of weeks ago, I got down to 153, and thought I was on my way to 150, but alas, the mind and it's insecurities took over and I went back to 157.
I am going to try to incorporate more yoga in the up-coming months. I used to go to yoga class every day, but it has been difficult work-wise to find the time with the training. Still, I think it would benefit me tremendously emotionally and spiritually to find my practice again.
I think it would be amazing to incorporate the raw vegan diet, yoga, and race training all together. The thought of it gives me chills.
Thanks to you who care enough to read this, and many blessings.

Buckwheat Porridge Recipe

2008-12-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

http://goneraw.com/recipe/buckwheat-porridge

Western Massachusetts Athletic Assoc. 2008 Turkey Trot Results

2008-12-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.runwmac.com/results/turkeytrot2008.html

Mayor Mary Higgen's Hot Chocolate Run Results

2008-12-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.runreg.com/Results/2008/12/06-MAYOR-HIGGINS-HOT-CHOCOLATE-RUN.asp

2008-12-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Just an update on how my first few races have gone. On Thanksgiving in the, WMAC Turkey Trot, I placed third overall, and first in my age group (40-49) with a 5k time of 18:48. The next weekend I ran in the Mayor Mary Higgens' Hot Chocolate run in Northampton, Ma, another 5k, with a time of 18:31. In the Northampton race, I placed 28Th out of over 1,300 runners. Not bad, considering I have only yet begun.
It was a little weird getting up to the starting line at last weekends race, because they have markings for where you should start based upon the time you think you will run. And I was right up front with all the competitive racers. I felt proud, and thought to myself, If I keep the training up, next year I can come back and win this.
How's that for cockiness?
And of course, as soon as you feel invincible, the universe brings you right back to earth. Because, two days a later I got back spasms, and consequently, I haven't run all week. It was my fault. I felt so good after the race, I didn't stretch, get a massage or anything. Now I'm laid up.
Anyway, my race last weekend was interesting, as I'm still learning, week to week, what to expect from myself. I started out slow, thinking my adrenaline and the other runners would drive me to run a fast first mile. That wasn't the case as I ran a slow, 6:12. first mile. Well, I knew then that I had to put it into another gear, and so my second mile was 6:00 minutes flat. Now, knowing I only have a little more than a mile to go, I start running a bit faster, running at 5:48 for the third mile.
Taking twelve seconds off each mile tells me I could have run a better race, and perhaps I could have run to a faster time; but, I am very pleased at where I am.
Now, I just have to get back out there before I go crazy sitting around on the couch with my heating pad.

2008-11-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

We'll, I'm excited! I have one person following my blog. And, if you are that person, I appreciate it (No sarcasm here). Now, since I have that one person-you, I am going to try to make it worth your while for checking in, now and again, to Berkshires Raw. Who knows we may get two of you one day. Thanks again, M

Tim VanOrden making sacrifices

2008-11-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

'http://www.flixya.com/video/403172/Running_Raw:_One_Year_Anniversary_11/3/06'>http://www.flixya.com/video/403172/Running_Raw

Poison On You?

2008-10-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Choosing Products That Promote Beauty and Well Beingby Barbara L. Minton (see all articles by this author)(NaturalNews) Millions of Americans are adversely affected each year by a silent from of chemical warfare that's taking place every day within the comforts of our own homes. While we worry about the chemical weaponry of terrorists and lead-contaminated imported toys, we are literally poisoning our immune systems with thousands of toxic chemicals that are known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, and cancer-causing agents.It starts with your morning routine. If you are a man, you will probably use shampoo, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, hair gel or styling products, shaving cream, and aftershave or cologne. A typical day for a woman starts much the same, with the added possibilities of shower gel, body and face cream, lotion, moisturizer, make-up, hair spray, perfume, and nail polish. By the time you have made it to the door, you have swallowed, inhaled and absorbed through your skin hundreds of toxic chemicals, some of which have been proven to be deadly to laboratory animals and many of which are known to be carcinogens.If you are suffering from dry flaky skin, persistent skin irritations, rashes, sinus problems, allergies, asthma, respiratory ailments and other health problems that never seem to get cured, it may be time for you to examine the negative effects your personal care products are having on your health. It's great to exercise and watch what you eat, but you must also watch what you put on your body and even what you use to clean your house if you want to achieve optimal health.Any substance you put on your skin, or inhale will enter your bloodstream just as surely as if you had swallowed it. Once these chemicals enter your bloodstream, they are perceived by your immune system as foreign and not recognizable, and they are perceived by your liver as toxins. When your immune system and liver are dealing with toxic chemical overload they aren't available to do the jobs they were intended to do. That's why people who insist on putting toxic chemicals into their bodies suffer from frequent bacterial and viral infections, other mysterious maladies, and even cancer.Have you ever taken a close look at the ingredients in your personal care products? Whatever you are seeing probably includes water. Is there anything else on that label that you recognize as a naturally occurring substance you might actually want to put inside your body? If it doesn't occur in nature, it shouldn't be inside of you, because you are a natural being.Kiss My Face Corporation makes a wonderful soap bar that lathers up and cleans just fine. The only ingredients on its label are olive oil, water and salt. There are no toxic chemicals or fragrance. That's what a label should look like. How does the label on your soap look?No matter what the advertisements try to make you think, fragrance does not come from flowers or anything else natural. More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances, many of which are waste products from the petroleum industry. Several of them are known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, and brain and central nervous system damage including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's.Since so many products are now scented, the number of people who are made ill by fragrances is steadily increasing. Babies and children are especially vulnerable along with those recovering from illness or disease. Chemical fragrances are everywhere: laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dish washing liquids, suntan products, sunscreen, incense, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms, almost every personal care product, and more. It's even found in many products labeled as unscented because it is contained within a compound when that compound is added to the product.Exposure to scented products can cause the persistent symptoms that mystify people, such as chronic aches and pains, headaches, allergies, swollen glands and lymph tenderness, heart palpitations, memory, fatigue, asthma, nausea, and neural-motor functioning including dizziness, and fainting. Exposure in children and even adults can cause learning and behavioral problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity in addition to any of the other symptoms. Continued exposure to chemical fragrances along with other toxic chemicals can cause development of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Disease. When you have this disease, the slightest whiff of a toxic chemical makes you so ill you cannot function. Your ability to interact with the rest of the world is seriously compromised.It's tempting to say to your self that these products must be alright or the 'government' wouldn't let them be sold, but this isn't true. The personal care products industry is not supervised. The FDA does not require manufacturers to register their products or to file safety data on the ingredients they use in them. They are free to put in as many toxic chemicals as they want. The only thing that stops them is reaction from the public. A few years ago, magazines came with scented strips advertising the latest perfumes. So many people were sickened and complained that the strips were discontinued. If enough people refuse to buy toxic products, manufacturers would stop making them.Products you use while taking a shower are particularly dangerous since you are using them at a time when your pores are opened by hot water, allowing quick and easy access to your bloodstream. A look at the ingredients in your shampoo may be shocking. There are more than 100 toxic chemicals traditionally used in shampoo, and most brands contain 20 to 30 of them in addition to chemical fragrance and dyes.Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos. In addition to its toxic effects on your immune and detoxification systems, SLS has been shown to corrode the hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for premature hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says that SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.While there are many natural alternative substances available that will clean and beautify you far better than these toxic concoctions, the large corporations that produce personal care products won't use them because it would cost too much money and interfere with their profits. They even try to disguise their cheap chemicals with tiny amounts of natural ingredients that are prominently featured on the front of the bottle. This is done to deceive you into buying what you think is an item that promotes health. But turn the bottle over and you will see a mind boggling list of toxic ingredients.If you have decided that you don't want to pay your hard earned money to a corporation that strives to deceive you and tell you lies, you will find that discovering how to replace your toxic products with products that promote good health is a very difficult task. No matter what it says on the label, there are virtually No products in any of the discount stores, traditional supermarkets, or drugstores that are not filled with health compromising chemicals.Some supermarkets featuring organic or health sections carry Burt's Bees products. These are certainly far preferable to those produced by the large corporations, but Burt's Bees has recently been bought out by Clorox Corporation, so its quality may soon be compromised. For now, some of Burt's Bees products are safe, and some contain toxic ingredients such as fragrance, endocrine system disrupting glucose oxidase, and borax (the active ingredient in most ant poisons).You will have a better chance of finding products that promote health at a health food market. But even there, you can't just walk in and buy what appeals to you on sight. Many products marketed as 'natural' contain high levels of toxic ingredients. Whole Foods Market publishes a list of ingredients not allowed in the foods they sell, but many of these ingredients are contained in their personal care items. Apparently it is alright with them if the toxins enter you body through your skin instead of your mouth.When you try to replace your personal care products with ones that promote health, you will find that almost every item you pick lists ingredients that sounds like chemicals. The only way to be sure of what you are buying is to research these ingredients. Here is a website where you can easily research many of these ingredients using their search box: (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) .Many people have found that the easiest and most cost effective way to shop for health promoting products is online using one of the large supplement companies such as Lucky Vitamin or Vitacost. Each of these carries an amazing array of the personal care and cosmetic products typically found in health food stores.There is one line of products that stands out above the rest. Aubrey Organics consistently provides items that are of very high quality and free of toxins. Many of their lotions and shampoos are highly scented with natural oils. Of course, these products are fairly expensive, but if you order them online there is a substantial savings.Kiss My Face makes that luscious olive oil soap without scent or in several scents created from chemicals. Many of their other products contain an array of toxic ingredients.Jason's is good for toothpaste, making several flavors without fluoride or significant toxic chemicals. But again, much of their line contains objectionable ingredients.Cosmetics made entirely from minerals are gaining in popularity as witnessed by the astounding growth in Bare Essential shops. Mineral cosmetics provide the affects of traditional cosmetics and don't contain toxic chemicals. There are several other companies that sell cosmetics made from minerals. Their products are available at health food stores and online.It's not easy to make the change from disease promoting personal care products to those promoting health. It seems to require some trial and error, a lot of time to do research, patience, and a commitment to paying higher prices for the products you use. But once the change is made and these products become as familiar to you as the ones you used to buy, it will be easy from that point on. You will realize that you have made a significant investment in your future health and freedom from disease, and you will feel proud of yourself. You will know that it's all a matter of priorities.After you have found products in every category that you really like and seen how good you feel using them, you probably won't even consider returning to the old brands. You will feel good about spending your money on products made by a company who knows its future rests in producing products that keep you healthy, rather that a corporation that sees you only as someone to be exploited. And you may realize that looking your best can be achieved only with the vibrant glow of good health shining from your insides out.
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Tim VanOrden On His Mission & Goals

2008-10-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRAD3j56_Zg

Bill Mahar on Health & The Pharma Companies

2008-10-06T17:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdHg6_pDbSI

A Few Pounds Here And There

2008-09-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

I don't mean this to sound trite, or somehow, for me to come off as not being considerate of other peoples problems considering their weight, but I need to lose weight. I know I'm not overweight for walking around everyday doing my thing. But for me, trying to be a competitive runner again, I need to lose about nine pounds. And I am having a very hard time doing it.
Two months ago I weighed 158. Since then I have done a lot of running, and now I weigh 158. So you can say, we'll I'm obviously eating more calories to compensate for my exercise, or I am gaining muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat, or my body likes it at 158 and that's where it's going to stay. There could be truth in all of that, but ten pounds of extra weight for a runner is about thirty seconds of time in a mile run. Think about carrying five pound weights in each hand as you run around a track and you'll get the idea of what I'm talking about.
So, here's my plan. If I analyze my eating patterns, I probably do eat too much at night, which can be a huge issue in weight gain for most people. For me, I think it's keeping me where I am. I often like to make a large smoothie a few hours before bed, so that's the challenge, to give that up. But I do not like thinking in any way of abstaining when it comes to food. The raw vegan life is about abundance, not about giving things up. The whole world opens up to you in a way one could never have envisioned. That all sounds very grand and maybe pretentious, and certainly blown out of proportion when talking about a smoothie, but I don't want to get locked into a method when considering my diet. But a method this way comes.
I am going to try only juicing vegetables after noon if I feel like I need something nutritious, or plainly, something in my stomach. Hopefully, this will get me down to my goal weight before my first race in November. I'll let you know.

2008-09-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

All right, I'm back!
I had been inspired about two months ago by Tim VanOrden and his Running Raw Project. Tim and I are about a year apart in age, and like myself was a runner way way back, about twenty something years ago. He has taken up mountain racing and other grueling races to prove the point that eating a raw vegan diet is not only good for you, but also is the diet for athletic success. He is out there every day competing against much younger people than himself, and winning.
So, I'm quite excited about this possibility to go out there and race again after all of these years. The last race I was in was the Western Massachusetts Valley Wheel Championships my senior year in high school, 1985. I was seated number one in the half mile. The quick re-cap of that race is: I took off so fast on the first quarter mile (in fact, I would have won the quarter mile race) that my whole body cramped up in the last 200 yards of the race, and I finished sixth. That was a most ignoble way to finish my running career, but I never enjoyed running enough to keep up with it. I ran because I was good at it, and I liked to win. That's it.
But now, the competitive juices are flowing again. And because it's not in my nature to just go out and jog every day. I am training to be a competitive runner again, against all of the odds.
So, here are my goals:
To run a competitive 5k road race on Thanksgiving. That doesn't mean I have to win, it just means that I will stay with the best runners for most of the race.
To do that my time goals are these:
By the end of this month I will be able to run seven minute miles for over three miles.
By the end of October, I will be able to run six minute miles over the same distance.
And finally, on Thanksgiving I will run five and a half minute miles for the race.
Ambitious, yes. Possible, we'll see. I don't believe it could be possible eating as most people do. But on a raw vegan diet, the best food in the world, it is all possible. The rest is up to me. To do the training, stay injury free, and take on all the responsibility for my results.
I would like to, time permitting, to make this blog a running and life journal, for my own benefit.
See you on the road.

Perfection

2008-03-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a poem I wrote today. The poem itself is not perfection, just the intention behind it.

The first thing I want to say is
you are all perfect.
It took the Heavenly Father
billions of years
to negotiate just the right amount of
star explosions
tidal forces
lava rivers
geometrical disturbances, and
alchemical reactions to produce this
perfection.
The Earthly Mother was implanted by the seed
of the Sun, and
gave birth to you.
Inside of the coconut is her breast milk.
All of her life,
her seeds, and
her fruit
are for you to eat.
This is your meat.
All of the sky is your room to grow.
The, Tree Of Life,
gives blessings to you
every day.
All you see in nature is perfection,
and all you can see in yourself is
imperfection.
But the shimmering, still lake
looks back at you
and all it sees is
beauty.

Manifestations and Mindfulness

2008-03-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

Is there a paradox between living in this moment and manifesting a future? Is it possible to view the universe just as it is without any individual perceptions? I have been struggling with these two questions recently. My Sensai Monshin Naamon, from the Tendai Buddhist tradition has said that he does not believe in manifestation. Yet, there is a time in our meditation service where we focus our, "thoughts and prayers" on those who are sick, or having some other type of problem. But if you do not believe that people have the ability to manifest happiness, health and prosperity, then what are we doing when we are giving our, "thoughts and prayers" to these people or conditions? Obviously, I have to ask him this question, and hear what his answer is.
I understand how one attains Buddha hood by giving up our preconceptions and prejudices, and to see life as it is. I know every aspect of life is impermanent and that all suffering comes from our desires, and fear of change. I know that my perception as an individual is a false perception, and there is nothing which separates me from everything else in the universe. I know we train our minds through meditation and chanting mantras. Yet, I also know 500 Buddhist monks praying for non violence in Washington D.C. cut the homicide rate down by a third, and that experiment has been demonstrated before with the same results in different places. What caused the homicide rate to go down? Did the monks visualize peace in Washington D.C. and manifest that outcome? I don't know, but I suspect they did.

Foraging

2008-03-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Foraging! here was my first thought on the concept of foraging: "You have to be the cheapest person in the world!" Now, here is my opinion today: "Out there in the woods is the healthiest food in the world!"
Almost every thing we eat in a typical U.S. diet is: pasteurized, hybridized, radiated, poisoned, genetically modified, and chemically altered. If you go into any U.S. grocery store, and buy anything but the organic products, (not to say that all the organics are good for you either) you are ingesting the worst drugs (food) you can put into your body. We should call grocery stores, Drug Stores, not just for the reasons I've mentioned above, but the food/drugs they sell are a quick fix to feel good. Their products are filled with carbohydrates, high fructose corn syrup, too much sodium etc., to give you the feeling of being full, and the feeling of being full-filled. But, like any other drug, you're going to crash and burn. I am not making a mistake calling food, drugs, here. There is no difference! The problem with the food/drugs the doctors give you is that you are already sick by the time they give it to you. And, the food they give you treats, what? The symptoms of your disease, which is poor nutrition, poor environmental conditions and/or a poor self image.
This summer I'm going to look for the wild plants that surround us. The first, wonderful thing about foraging, as I mentioned before is, the food is free. That speaks for itself. The second wonderful thing about foraging is, the plants have not been altered, ever! They evolved because they are strong, and all the nutrients we need are out there, in those unspoiled plants.
There are a couple of things to think about, though. Be sure you're not foraging on a super-fund sight, and be sure, if you're foraging in a city, state or federal park, be aware of people with badges and guns. Of course it would be wrong to dig up our parks, but gathering some blueberries shouldn't be a crime. I know their argument: If you let people forage, they're going to take advantage of it and, destroy the park. Trust me, in this culture, you are never going to find enough people performing the more difficult task of foraging to eat. Just don't take all of the blueberries, all right. And, save some for the bears and birds.

Buddhism Homework

2008-03-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Below, is a completed “homework” assignment given to me by my Sensei Monshin Naamon from the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center. This is my work, and has not been sanctioned or adopted by the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center. I believe it would be beneficial to all if we could adopt, some, or all of these responsibilities as members of our global society.

Responsibilities for the Members of the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center

1) Members of the Tendai Buddhist Institute will be a group that practices love and compassion for all beings. To achieve this aim, members will be mindful of their impact on those they come in contact with. Showing patience, love and respect for others. They will be mindful of the environment by not consuming energy or food resources unnecessarily above and beyond their physical needs, and by doing the least amount of harm to non-human animals. Members will work to promote peace in their community, nationally and globally.

2) Members will be active participants with-in their Sangha by being students of the Dharma, by attending meditation services, Sangha events and retreats whenever possible. Members will also support the Sensei in his/her pastoral duties when called upon to service. Also, members will give financially, what they can afford to the Tendai Buddhist Institute, so that it may carry out the purposes of its mission statement.

3) Members will practice non-attachment to the physical and nonphysical world. Members will not be influenced by wealth and fame, or by the desire for things that others may be perceived to have. Members should understand that all things are impermanent, so therefore there is no ownership of any material, living or spiritual objects in which to possess.

4) Members will practice being in the present moment at all times, knowing that the future and the past do not exist. Members will not attempt to escape the present moment by using drugs and alcohol, but always being sober and clear headed. Also, Members will practice the realization that all one sees is their own perception of the world. Therefore, Members will not be stringent or self-righteous in the way they conduct their daily lives, but will be filled with humility, understanding and loving-kindness when engaging other people.

5) Members have the responsibility for seeking there own enlightenment, and praying for the enlightenment of every sentient being.

This second part, is another "homework" assignment that I wrote, concerning the First Cardinal Precept in Buddhist philosophy.

The First Cardinal Precept: Not To Deprive Any Being of Life

Sentient beings are defined as, “characterized by sensation and consciousness” by Dictionary.com, this attempts to qualify one form of life: life that is aware of its own existence. I would presume these specific life forms are the “Life” one is not to deprive from any other being. Microscopic bacteria, viruses, insects, parasites etc. can and are killed by our very existence. As humans, we have not been able to perceive any ability by these organisms to suffer from real or imagined pain. Certain religious groups such as the Jains seek to do no harm to any living organism, but to deny ourselves life would be the only way to not participate in their demise. The most important work on this subject, I believe, is Peter Singer’s book “Animal Liberation” which goes beyond non human animals “rights”, but to their capacity to suffer. Since it is the nature of every sentient being to: One, live and Two, to live without needless pain or suffering, it would seem to be an axiom for a Buddhist to not contradict these natural laws.

It has been perceived wisdom for some Buddhists for many, many years, from what I understand, that the precept covers specifically the person doing the killing. That is, one is not responsible for the depriving of life from any being as long as it was not done by ones own hands. Consequently, one may go to the grocery store and buy the packaged meat, fowl or fish and not be in violation of the precept. Or more so, it is not in violation of the precept to accept food prepared by someone who killed or purchased meat, fowl, or fish. This way of thinking would make it acceptable if someone contracted a killing for a person, and that killing resulted in a benefit to the contractor, but as long as that person did not get their ‘hands dirty’ per se., there would be no violation to the precept. I believe, that any person partaking of meat, fowl or fish is responsible for the life that was deprived by their decision to eat that living being. In fact, it has been calculated that a vegetarian saves approximately one hundred lives a year just by refusing to eat non human animals. The butcher does not kill regardless to the demand of his efforts.

Another important aspect of not depriving life to humans and non humans are environmental concerns. Some of these, such as: Global warming, pollution, toxic dumping etc. are direct violent attacks on life. Indeed, there is a concern to environmentalists that the planet will suffer mass extinctions in the near future due to human influence. We can make the same argument as before, that a certain amount of environmental suffering will take place just by our very existence. The building of a house will up-root trees and may destroy underground homes of various non human animals. The wood to build the house may have devastated a forest, and perhaps the wood was treated with a poison that pollutes the soil and water where it was made. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Buddhist to be sensitive to the environment by buying products that do not pollute, by conserving energy, and by recycling used products.

Fifteen Great Foods

2008-03-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

I went to the website, veganpeace, which is not a raw site, but they have a lot of nutritional information on vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. They have graphs which break down the vitamins and minerals in a particular food, Kale for example. It will tell you that one cup of Kale has 134% of the daily amount of vitamin C we supposedly need, (I’m not being sarcastic) 206% of vitamin A, 684% of vitamin K, 26% of manganese, and so on, and so forth. And with all that, you can also click on specific vitamins and minerals, and it will tell you which foods have the most of these nutrients.
So, I thought, maybe it would make sense to go through all of the vitamins and minerals and see if I can come up with, let’s say, ten foods which would satisfy our daily needs. Not that I would limit myself to eating these ten foods, but to get an idea of which foods I should, perhaps, concentrate my diet around.
Now, everything changes all of the time, and which foods are good for a raw-living foods person changes like I change my underwear: for example, pickled foods, mushrooms, honey, dried fruits, and anything dehydrated, has gone from bad to good, to good to bad. So, I want to say, without doing a major study, and surely not thinking of every possible nutritional pro or con, and admittedly, having worked on this for about an hour; I have come up with fifteen foods which, pretty much, presumably, cover our nutritional needs.
They are, in no particular order:

1) Spirulina
2) Passion Fruit
3) Almonds
4) Sunflower Seeds
5) Shitaki Mushrooms
6) Oranges
7) Kale
8) Bananas
9) Cacao
10) Raw Tahini (ground sesame seeds)
11) Flax Seeds
12) Avocado
13) Goji Berries
14) Acei
15) Hemp Protein

This list seems, to me, to be helpful. Of course, there is a lot of play within these food varieties. For example, any dark leafy green will give you all the vitamin K you could ever want. But, I thought, given everything I know about food nutrition now, these foods represented the best of their nutritional relatives.

Fable

2008-02-25T12:33:00.000-08:00

I am currently writing this story, and I wasn't going to post it until it was done, but I thought, what the heck, put it out there, and just add and edit it as it goes along. So here it is.

Once upon a time, a noble King named Meriwether lived in luxury and plenty in a beautiful Kingdom. The Kingdom stretched in great distance from north to south, and east to west.
There was a vast arid desert to the west. To the east of the desert lay a mountainous region. To the south a tropical jungle, and to the north sat green grasslands covering many a hill and dale. Finally, in the middle of it all, in a temperate valley, stood the city of Meriwether, where King Meriwether held his court.
King Meriwether was a man who never wanted for anything. He wore handsome garments stitched from the finest silks and linens. When he slept he rested his body on goose-feathered pillows, and the furs from foxes and bear. When he bathed, he used aromatic soaps, perfumes and oils from rare animals and plants. The King liked to bathe many times a day because he did not like the smell of the human body.
The King ate delicacies from the many regions of his land. The goats and cattle produced remarkable cheeses. The beef was considered to be the most delicious and tender. For breakfast, the King would eat fluffy eggs and buttery biscuits. For lunch, he would eat braised ham, poached liver of ducks, soft billowy loaves of bread, and chocolate pudding made from the fatty milk of his most prized cows. For dinner, he supped on the ribs of bison, mashed potatoes, perfectly cooked wild game from his forests, and cakes made from whipped eggs, sugar, and wheat ground to fine flour.
The King was a goodly man and greatly cared for the people of his Kingdom, so he wished for them to eat as well as he did. He sent out his cooks to all parts of his land. They showed people in the markets how to prepare foods just as it was prepared for the King. The people, who once only ate fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds from their farms for thousands and thousands of years, now gave their lands over for the grazing of animals. The people were very grateful, and did just as the King’s cooks instructed them to do.
But for all of the wonderful food the King was eating, and the lifestyle he was living, he never quite felt well. The King suffered from depression, anxiety, and nervousness. There were days when King Meriwether would not leave his bedchamber, nor pull open the fabrics covering the windows of the palace. All day he could lie in his bed without even lighting a candle. The King suffered from periodic blockage of the bowels, headaches, and rashes on his skin. He had gained weight every year since he had become King. All of his old robes no-longer fit, and were packed away in large chests.
The Kingdom of Meriwether went on as such for many, many years. And, for much of that time the people thought it was the best time to be alive. For people who used to eat meat very infrequently, now ate meat every day. For people who never drank cow or goat’s milk, but only fresh water from the lakes and rivers, now drank milk two to three times a day. The people said that they felt stronger because of their new diet, that is was the natural way people should eat.
As time moved on, the people of Meriwether had begun to notice differences in their land, and amongst their people. Where at one time there lived the great tropical forests of Meriwether, now it had been mostly burned down and replaced by more fields to raise animals. Where at one time the arid desert region was small and hugged the coast, now it had spread into the once great rolling grass lands, and each year the desert spread wider and wider. The people, who were once renowned for their peaceful ways, now were impatient and were quick to temper. Neighbor fought amongst neighbor, and fisticuffs became a common spectacle. Also, they stopped considering other creatures as living beings, but saw them only as food, and as such, treated them with cruelty. And, over time, some of the people’s health complaints became the same as the Kings’. Many of the people of Meriwether could no longer work, but rather were bedridden, with many types of ailments never heard of before.
It was at this time in the history of, Meriwether, that a woman named, Anastasia, walked out of an oasis in the desert, and began talking of another path for the people.

My First Garden

2008-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

This summer, for the first time, I am going to plant a garden. Not just fruits and vegetables, but native plants scattered willy-nilly about the front and side of the house.
I have often looked in amazement, how beautiful these gardens are, with their stone paths, tall grasses, and clumps of flowers.
When I was ten years old, I remember the ChemLawn truck going through the neighborhood, spraying everybody’s yard. Row by row, every house with a perfectly green lawn, without a single weed. What a miracle! Children played on these lawns. Nobody worried whether there were chemicals leeching into the water supply. It was just a miracle of modern technology; a Walt Disney dream of urban perfection. And, of course, it was easy. Nobody had to spend any time getting dirty, and there were no judgments from your neighbors; we all had the same lawn.
Think what if every home in these suburban neighborhoods had grasses they could juice. What if they had bushes of blueberries and raspberries growing right in their front yard? What if the people living in these houses were outside every day planting and picking their fruits and vegetables? Nobody would feel disassociated from society. There would be a sense of community most of us have never known. What if everybody was composting, and eating vegetables that didn’t come in cans and plastic?
Think of how much water we use to grow grass we don’t consume! At least the grass on an environmental disaster of a golf course has a purpose.
Most people have good intentions. Even the companies, who make the poisons, may believe that what they produce is a benefit to society. But hopefully, we are finally moving into a new consciousness.
My new conscious is telling me to plant a garden.

A Poem

2008-02-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a poem my cousin, Suzie, from San Jose, California wrote. I think its beautiful set among fields and farm. And, the other thing that is wonderful about the poem is the compassion given to the frogs trying to make their way across the road.
The poem has no title.

I feel like an ant among humans, a little out of place, but too awestruck to move out of the way.
The peace and tranquility is amazing, and I swear, if the mosquitoes didn’t eat me alive, I’d lay
out under the stars all night.

This evening we scooted the frogs out of the road so they wouldn’t get squished by the
random passerby. At dusk, millions of frogs cross the road from the soy bean fields to the
grass, and many get caught before they make it. In daylight, you can see flat little frog tiles dot
the road, and I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to save a few.

At home, the most amazing thing you can expect to see is the contrast of hot pink flowers
bursting out from a giant bushel of green leaves. It stops me dead in my tracks every time as if
it’s the first, and last, time I’ll see that kind of beauty. That and buttermilk poppies; bright,
playful and vast along the most barren stretches of freeway.

But here, there’s time to take it all in and appreciate the slow pace and beauty of the lush clusters of trees along the waterways, between one farm and another.

Another "Raw Family"

2008-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

I know the book "Raw Family" already exists, but I should tell you about the wonderful healing that has occurred in my family. When I started this living-raw food diet on June 18th 2007, I just wanted to see how it would make me feel. The miraculous cures and health claims made me very skeptical, but I thought that I should see for myself before dismissing them out-right. I wasn't sick, as far as I know, though I was sixty pounds overweight. I challenged other members of my family to join me, as well. My wife was sick all the time, had migraine headaches on a weekly basis, and had a medicine chest full of prescription drugs. My Mother has type 1 diabetes, and although she takes great care of herself; her cholesterol level was higher than she wanted, we wondered whether she could reduce the amount of insulin she was taking, and in a separate issue, she had a chronic sinus problem. My Father, always a lean man, started to get the late fifties mid-section that most people just accept with getting older. And finally, my sister was about to go into surgery to get a cyst removed that was about to explode. You know what's coming: My Father and I lost the weight; my wife doesn't experience migraines anymore, and is almost completely off all her medications, my Mother's cholesterol levels are normal, she has reduced the amount of insulin she was taking, and the sinus problem vanished in one week. And, when my sister went to go for her surgery, the cyst was gone. So, my one month experiment is now my way of life. I'd have to be a fool to go back to sickening cooked food again.

Butt to Head to Head to Hand

2008-02-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday as I was sitting on a chair with little cushion, my rear-end was getting soar. No big deal that happens to every one, you just adjust your position and forget about it. But as my mind made a connection to my butt, I looked at my hand, at a place I had cut myself in the bakery a few days ago. And, of course, instantly I could feel my hand, and how it felt. I wash my hands all day because I work with food, and it is winter, so my hands are a bit dry and there are some cracks where the knuckles are. Then I thought, where did the feeling go from my rear-end? Then I thought of somewhere else on my body, and made a feeling connection to that spot. Now I was no-longer feeling my hands.
It is amazing that the observer, "The Mind" only makes a singular focus, for the most part. And this might seem like a big "duh" to many people, but it is a profound experience. Because this is the key to all our preceptions, our decisions, and our understandings of the world: WHAT WE CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON CREATES OUR WORLD! So, obviously, if you focus on negative thoughts, and live in the past you will suffer from depression, regrets and hopelessness, evreybody already knows that, but our reality goes beyond keeping a positive out-look on life, because we choose and control the physical and spiritual world we see. The feelings in our body are a physical reality, as our the images that come through our eyes, the sounds through are ears etc. And in our brain we make the connection to these objects and assign a feeling to them from our past experiences. Our brain sends out the message to the whole body on one single idea in our head. When we look at someone. When we are watching t.v., and reacting emotionaly to a world of illusion. Our palms might sweat, we might get goose-bumbs, the hairs on the back of our neck stand up. Every cell in our body is responding to each thought we think. And in doing so, the mind is createing a physical emotional reality in the world we see. So, think peace-filled loving thoughts, and make peace a reality. If everyone did this, this world would be a paradise.

Mission Statement

2008-02-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

To create a forum for practioners of mindful living, and a living foods diet and lifestyle.

We reject, out of hand, the publications and information from corporations, the medical & pharmaceutical community, and the government.

We believe that a living foods diet & lifestyle is the most symbiotic and healthful connection to the planet.

We believe a living foods diet is a conduit for spiritual awakening that promotes peace, and loving-compassion to all human and non-human animals.

We promote the ancient teachings of the Essesnes, Eastern spiritual practices, and yoga

We wish and pray for the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

Please add ideas and comments to the mission statement.