Another One ???

Yes, I did it again today.  I bought another notebook!  I don't know what it is about a notebook -- especially a NEW notebook -- that I just cant't get enough of.  I'm sure if some psychologist would say it has something do with with the feelings that others get when September and Back to School rolls around. Or even those who start with a New Year's resolution.  It's all about feeling as if it's a fresh start.  

When my kids were babies in the 80s, we didn't have computers, and having a typewriter at home, especially an electric one, was a luxury.  But frankly, I probably wouldn't have used it much because I tend to do a lot of my writing in the evening hours when it's quiet and I can hear my own thoughts.  A typewriter clackity clacking away would have kept the rest of the family awake.  Now there are computers and I can just blog here rather than writing in a new notebook.   Typing is faster, but I prefer a new notebook! 

Chaos: Organized  -  but what will I be recording in this book?  There are pages with squares for each day, but they're not defined by a calendar date, so it will be quite flexible and I'm thinking this could be a good way of tracking some of the home exercises I've been doing.  I need this but for some reason I keep putting it off.  Probably lazy.  Or if I begin writing it down, I won't have an excuse to skip days.  

When I was a little girl, there was nothing more special than getting a new diary!  It usually had a flap to keep it closed, with a little tiny lock.  Back then, I expected I would fill the days with all the things I was doing.  But I remember looking back at the entries:  Go to school ; eat dinner  ;  go to bed.  It never occurred to me back in those days to write about my thoughts or feelings.  I had it in my head that it was a place to log events and when you're 10 or 12, there aren't that many events in your life! 

We don't talk about keeping a diary much any more, it's much more hip to say "journal".  So here I sit with my brand new notebook and my plans to begin writing my plans and goals for exercise.  Wish me luck! 

Comfort Foods

When it comes to our favorite comfort foods, when something troubles us and we're down in the dumps, food transformed by love and memory becomes therapy.  Personal patterns of consolation are encoded on our taste buds.   

I read somewhere there are six basic food groups:  haute cuisine, lean cuisine, comfort food, soul food, nursery fare and chocolate.   I don't know about you, but I prefer comfort foods and chocolate; the rest are hit and miss for me. 

Comfort food is hearty.  When hearts are heavy, they need gravitational and emotional equilibrium.  Some of my own favorites are meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or extra cheesy lasagna, macaroni and cheese, or even red beans and rice, along with a slice of what I call good bread.  These types of food reassure us that we will survive.  As they say, different foods for different moods.

You won't find comfort foods in a four-star restaurant, but you might get lucky in a diner.  For me, when I cook up some comfort foods, I enjoy the anticipation, knowing that I'll soon be enjoying my comfort food.  And while I'm at it, I just might make a double batch, put one serving in the freezer so that when some kind of black cloud hovers over me, that wonderful cuisine is just a quick microwave session away!  And when we sit down not only to eat but to be cheered and comforted, do it with grace and gusto, and a grateful heart!