Cup of Tea?

Food Snobbery

2011-08-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

At work eating biscotti.

Which is a little classier than Cheetos.

Wow, I have a class system for food. Is that because I'm English? Do I consider Cheetos a 'working class' snack? And how does that explain my devotion to Pot Noodles? And didn't I just put Pot Noodles in the same category? Am I....gasp!....a culinary snob??

I have often been told that in England we have a class system, and in America we don't. I don't believe that is true. To make a long, boring argument I really don't want to have short, as far as I can see, in England you are born into it, in America you buy into it. Obviously this is a simplistic generalisation with some exceptions which render my ramblings completely meaningless.

I went to a Very Posh School. The kids who went to the local public school would yell at us in the street, recognising us by our strict navy convent girl uniforms. But at school, I certainly wasn't one of the kids who threw pool parties, had discos (it was the Eighties, OK?!) in their stables and turned up at school in a Bentley. My Mum cleaned the houses of some of their parents and sent herself to night classes to learn to be a secretary. My Dad worked nights, or got up at 4am, working thirty eight years for the Post Office. I was proud to pull up next to the posh cars in our dodgy old Viva. My parents earned that parking space!

My point is, I saw snobbery from both sides. Those who have looking down on those who have less, and those who had not making assumptions about those who had. So, when I talk about class, I don't really mean social or economic status. I mean that indefinable something which you can either have, or not, regardless of either.

As for classy food...Sarah, if you're reading this, I'll be there in October. Get in the curry flavoured Supernoodles and a jar of Nutella, make some of our 'creative' spag bol, and see if you can wrestle the Sangria off your mother!

Sorry Diane.

I am in SO much trouble when I get there.

Rx

Eating Cheetos in Church....

2011-08-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

So. Eating Cheetos in church. Thats probably bad, right? Eating artificial cheese flavoured lumpy orange things made from corn syrup and polystyrene, while the Pastor is talking about 'symptoms of spiritual heart disease' - oh my, so many levels of wrong there!

If I was far more spiritual than I am, I would get a good teaching stylie illustration out of that, but I've lost my edge since my Beach Mission days, when I could throw together a children's talk with three points all starting with the same letter just from someone sneezing.

Ah, simpler times! Better? Worse? Am I more enlightened in my approach now, or have I lost something along the way? And, more importantly, is it all just the result of too many Cheetos?!

Attleboro, Land of the Snowy Snow People

2011-01-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

I promised you photos....

To my New England blogees who didn't brave the white outdoors today, you can cheat by looking at my photos, I did the work for you.... (indeed, the workout...its deep out there!) I didn't build my snowman yet. I had a real live one to take for a walk, so I thought he'd do for today. He bought me hot chocolate on the way home, snowmen don't usually bother. But the live one is back at work tomorrow so maybe I will get to it then.....!

Let it Snow.....

2011-01-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Brrr!

Its cold in here! Even under my fleecy blanket and with my very tasteful stripy socks on. This might have something to do with the big snow storm that is due to arrive in town after midnight.

I suppose I have a different perspective from the average New Englander on this. I grew up in the South of England, where, for most of my life, I remember getting no more than an inch or two of snow, if that, and even then we didn't know what to do with it! A slight hint of sun, and we all run squealing into the freezing sea. Rain? We're the world experts at singing in it. But snow? Not so much.

Then I married a Rhode Islander... *insert appropriate incidental music* ... and moved to New England, Snowy Land of the Winter Snowfest. Over here, everything gets shoveled and plowed overnight, people own snow blowers and many a Facebook status claims to be 'excited' at the prospect of a snow storm. Maybe they have the right idea. Remember when you were a child, and looking out in the morning to see a world covered in white was the most exciting thing ever?

Well adjusted as my adopted home is to snow, it does still go SLIGHTLY mad before a big storm. Ask anyone who ventured into the supermarket today. Fighting your way through a store full of people who appear to be stocking up for about three years of living in their cellar, while wearing giant snow boots and forty two layers of clothing (the trick here is to start with your Christmas festive sweater, an essential in these parts, and gradually build layers until January) is all part of the fun!

As for me, I am looking forward to a day at home with my husband, who has a 'snow day' off work tomorrow. I am also hoping it is the right sort of snow for snowman building, a must for any creative type in this weather. I will post photos, watch this space.....

Stay warm, and safe, and don't forget to go out and play!

Trouble with my Whelm....

2011-01-06T22:15:00.000-08:00

whelmI

whelmed, whelm·ing, whelms

1. To cover with water; submerge.

2. To overwhelm.

Middle English whelmen, to overturn

There, see. My whelm is well and truly over. I am overturned and sinking fast! Or to put it a bit less...um...whatever it is....I am overwhelmed, tired, depressed and having trouble...um...what was it...clarifying my something...yes, thoughts. THOUGHTS. Right.

I do apologize to my blogees for not writing yesterday, and for starting off on such a cheery note today. But if this blog is to be about me, then I think it most likely that it will follow my mood swings too. The up side of this is that sometimes I am funny. When I'm not, you know, having whelm trouble. I hope it all balances out in the end and I don't send you all gibbering under the nearest piece of furniture. (Oh hello, welcome, there was some chocolate under here somewhere....)

It is nearing the end of The Week I Got Fired now, and I am starting to feel it a little. Yes, it is probably a good thing in the long run, and yes, I believe I am supposed to be a writer, ultimately. And YES, I DO believe that in the end, this year will be different because of that. But of course I have also lost that little bit of security that comes from knowing you will get tips tomorrow, and a check on pay day...of having a 'proper job' and a routine. I'm also worn out by the reasons I lost the job in the first place. I had been ill for a while with my diabetes and related issues, and then for the last two weeks or so, in a lot of pain with my arthritis (good grief, what am I, eighty??!) Yes, I can know that I didn't lose my job through anything that was within my control, but on the other hand, that is so frustrating. Though I can't honestly say my poor body doesn't have the right to get a certain amount of revenge for the things I have done to it and ESPECIALLY the things I have said to it over the years....if I was my body, I would have left by now... thank you, and sorry, Body!

So, you know what, I'm just tired. At times when I get like this, and I feel the depression creeping up on me, I often remember the Old Testament story of when Elijah was, frankly, in a right mood. "Oh, Lord, theres nobody else, I have to do this all alone, nobody caaaares......" His whelm, one might say, was over. So did God give him a big old vision and zap him better? No. He sorted him out. Food and sleep, followed by a job to do, a purpose for him to get back to working out.

Tomorrow, I will, as a certain group I was in used to say, 'do the next right thing'. Maybe God will send some ravens to stop me ravin'.

Hello, My Name is Ruth, and I'm Scared of Doctors...

2011-01-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

Can you hear me out there? Am I loud enough? I'm just checking, because I'm actually hiding under the table at the moment. No, no, theres no chocolate under here, its just that if I stay here he might not find me. Maybe he'll forget that I have an appointment. Maybe that nice lady in the office won't call with a gentle reminder that I get to visit my Doctor at 2pm tomorrow.

Maybe if I stay under here....

Those of you reading this will probably be split equally between two groups...the "Whats the problem?" people and the "can I join you under there? I have a physical coming up.." people. Guess which group I relate to?

Let me explain my Doctor history. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis at the age of about twelve, which mean't that I spent an awful (and I mean awful!) lot of my teenage years being poked about by Doctors, and I was blessed for much of this time with the most condescending Doctor you can imagine. I dreaded these appointments for weeks in advance because I came out of them every time feeling that I had been talked down to, that I was not being heard, and that I was somehow responsible for having arthritis, not to mention being overweight, which was heavily (if you'll pardon the choice of word) emphasized at every opportunity. At that age, I knew I was feeling these things but did not have the capacity to express them. Nor did I feel I was allowed to question anything. They were the adults, right?

The interesting thing is, if I look at photos now of when I was that age, I was really not that big. Which makes me wonder how much of my future weight issues had to do with being TOLD I had a problem before I ever had one, and being made more aware of my body than a twelve year old should have to be? So, even though I like the Doctor I have now, before every appointment I have that same feeling of dread, like I am being summoned to the Headmaster's office, because I have done something wrong.

This appointment is a follow up to the change in my diabetes medication. It is so easy to feel that way with diabetes, because there are such a load of misconceptions about this disease, and on a bad day I take those on myself. I have often had the discussion with people about how diabetes is not just about people eating too much, living a bad lifestyle and getting it. Yes, you can definitely contribute to it that way, and I believe that most likely my years of eating disorders triggered it. But I also know thin people with diabetes, and people three times my weight who do not have it. I know there is a genetic tendency in my family. I would not be at all surprised if the diabetes actually started before or during the eating disorders and helped to create the cycle that kept me there.

But in a way, that is not the point. However someone has ended up with the day to day struggle that diabetes can be, how does it help to add guilt and shame to their burden? How does it motivate someone to be told if they don't do it perfectly they will have a list of complications as long as your arm? (Oh, actually, you may not get to keep your arms, so PUT DOWN THAT DONUT!!!) How about a little motivation from the other direction?

Let me give you an example....if I learn to control my diabetes....

I can live.

I can stop being afraid.

I can lose weight and feel healthy.

I can have energy and not be tired all the time.

I can limit the scary depression and mood swings.

I can stop the equally scary food cravings that come with high blood sugar.

I can fully participate in my life, and not have to stop when we're out because I can't breath.

Doesn't that make you want to be healthy more than if you were just told "well, you'll probably have a heart attack and stroke and amputations and blindness, and goodness me, all manner of hideous things" ? I am not in denial. I simply believe people work better from a place of love, not negativity. My fear of the Doctor is because I take on all of those things about it being 'my fault'. Its not. Its a disease, and its hard enough to fight without fighting myself. So I will get out of my way, pray (well, I am already down here on my knees!) get out from under the table, and go to the Doctor.

If another type of Doctor wants to come along with a Tardis before then, make it before 2pm, 'k?

Thanks!

New Year, New Resolutions....

2011-01-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Its that time of year again. Yes, thats right, the beginning. 2011. There it is. Like a Monday morning, but bigger.

Now, I know many people say their resolution is not to make a resolution! I understand this point of view. There is nothing magic about the beginning of a year (even less on a Monday morning!) and we all make the same decisions over and over again, and then January 2nd comes and we look up from the Chinese buffet and go.....'oh.....um, well I'll start Monday....its still the holiday, right?'

I have tried this approach, but I am simply not wired this way. Because the part of me that believes in Disney and shooting stars and unicorns and still watches out of the window for Santa's sleigh, even though she knows she is supposed to be a boring grown up now, DOES think there is something magic about it. Magic in the sense of wonder and hope. To express it in terms of my faith, maybe it is that moment when you look up and say, yes God, you ARE there, and things CAN change, and I will begin this year believing.

So, what ARE my New Years Resolutions for 2011?

- To live out my Christian faith from a place of joy and grace, instead of through the filter of anger and fear which I carried through last year.

- To lose the weight. This is one of those 'oh, I say that every year' things, so you won't believe it until you see it. I won't believe it until I see it! But this year, I am done with 'to reach a place of serenity and fat acceptance regardless of.....' Oh, shut up. I only need one chin. I would like, this year, to find the original one again.

- To write every day. This is the year of putting it all out there as a writer. I don't know what will come back, I don't know if anyone will see fit to pay me, or to buy my book. But I will write regardless and not give in to 'I'm not good enough and nothings going to happen therefore I won't try'.

- To keep hanging out with those unicorns. May we never lose our sense of wonder.

Happy New Year x

Bio Dad and Allotment Man (The Year of Dads and Writing)

2011-01-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

Hey, its me.....remember? The one with the chocolate?

I will understand if you've forgotten me - I just found this blog and discovered that my last post was in 2009. You know, my 'come with me on my journey as I share with you' post. I'm so sorry, I left you standing by the side of the road and never picked you up, didn't I? I have no excuse, except that I thought I'd left some chocolate under the bed, and have been down there looking for it for the whole of my thirty sixth year of life.

Oh, and when I say I just 'found' this blog, obviously I didn't LOSE it, as such, I just....OK, yes, I lost my blog. Changed my email, lost my password, lost my blog. For a year. Keep reading my ramblings, get to know me, and I promise, this will not surprise you at all.

So, year thirty six of me. What did you miss, apart from the view under the bed? Well, there was a reason I was looking for that chocolate. I could talk about being unemployed for a year here, and I am sure you would thoroughly enjoy some anguished poetry torn from the depths of my tortured soul (watch this space, its coming soon!) It has not been a fun year as regards my health, and I look forward to showing you my vacation photos from Sturdy Memorial Emergency Room some time.

But to be honest, its hard to write about the negative things, because when I look back on 2010, I will remember nothing but this....

- Its entirely possible that God knows what He is doing and I should have listened in the first place, but I am so glad He had the patience until I got it!

- I am a writer. I am not 'a writer but I do this for my proper job'. I am not 'a writer, well, anyway, I'm having a go and we'll see what happens.' I am officially a 'work in the middle of the night, watch out what you say to me 'cos I'll put you in a book, sitting in Borders cafe scribbling and drinking lattes' writer. As Jewel once sang, 'All you unbelievers, move out of the way......'

- My Daddy loves me. Now before you go and collect your barf buckets and start rolling your eyes at each other, let me explain. I am adopted, and I made contact with my Dad for the first time ever back in September this year. He is a writer and an artist and a complete nutjob, thinks I am the best thing he ever got for Christmas and, in the words of my best friend Sarah, is SO my Dad!

Now, don't get me wrong - my adoptive Dad, who brought me up and has always been my Dad will...well, he'll always be my Dad! To make sure all Dads are clear on this (its getting kind of crowded in the Dad Room and I wouldn't want anyone feeling left out) they have both acquired different identities.

On the left, we have Bio Dad ......living in Turkey, doing Karaoke in silly hats. On the right, may I introduce you to Allotment Man......fearlessly growing fine British carrots for his family in all weather, while avoiding Mum in his shed. (Sorry, Mum!)

They even have something in common (apart from a fantastic daughter, of course) Socks and sandals. Why do Dads do that? The whole world over, fashion challenged Fathers are putting on socks and sandals, looking down, and saying to themselves 'that'll do.'

Am I blessed or what?

Psalm 28 v 7

After Chocolate, a PROPER Introduction....

2009-11-16T22:07:00.000-08:00

Moving on from the C word,,,,,

I should introduce myself, give you a little background. So, here's the skinny (she says, ironically) on me. I am 35, and originally from the south of England. Five years ago I married my Rhode Island man, and we now live in Massachusetts, in a one bedroom apartment between the Y and the Supermarket. (These two places may feature heavily in these blogs, as I am usually found either swimming at the Y - a good day - or swimming in the big freezer which has the cheesecakes in it at the supermarket - less so...) We have one cat, who, in my opinion, has the most personality, and indeed the biggest variety of facial expressions, I have ever seen on a feline. I didn't say it was a GOOD personality. Her name is Parsnip, and her nickname of 'Snippy suits her well.

But seriously...

I have struggled with weight and health issues for many years. From childhood, I think food was always my way of dealing with feelings, my coping mechanism. During my teen years most people who knew me would have said, I think, that I was strong - I had arthritis from the age of ten and spent a lot of time in pain and in hospitals or in physiotherapy. I LIKED people thinking this, but I think it made me feel like I HAD to be, and that, combined with family issues I couldn't talk to anyone about, laid the ground for the full on eating disorder which my 'coping mechanism' became. For the next twelve years I was in and out of treatment for bulimia and depression. I had varying degrees of success with this, and through a combination of two great therapists of different types, some amazing friends and a lot of faith, I had a great deal of recovery.

About seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I had just come out of my third time through treatment for bulimia, and it was just one thing too many. I felt guilty, thinking it was my fault because of the eating disorder - I now know that while this certainly contributed to triggering the disease, I also have a family history of it (being adopted, I only found this out later). I never really dealt with this properly, or got a hold on my treatment, before I was taken up with other things, and the next couple of years involved meeting my (now) husband, going through the visa process to live in America, moving countries and getting married!

Now, while most of these were wonderful things, I combined a lot of those 'most stressful life events' in a short time, along with some things left over from the past too. I felt like I should just get on with it when I was homesick, so I didn't talk to anyone - anyone seeing a pattern yet?! I desperately missed my best friend back in England (still do, Sarah!) I was angry - I worked so hard to get free of bulimia, and not be obsessed with everything I ate, and now I had diabetes and had to watch and count and record everything? Of course I had my lovely new husband, but this is me we're talking about - when I should have opened up to him, I was busy working on 'Perfect American Wife' (oh, my distress when I turned an entire load of laundry pink....!)

So, here I am now. Things are better - I am making a life in America. I have not stopped getting homesick but I have accepted that a little of that will always be part of my life, and that is ok. My dear husband and I have just celebrated out fifth Wedding Anniversary and at last I have some proper 'girlfriends' here - the sort you can call when you need to, and when they need you.

My struggle, still, is my weight and my diabetes, I am all for accepting yourself as you are - no one should ever be made to feel that they are less because there is more of them. I, like many, experienced this attitude in school and you do NOT forget. But for my health (and, ok, because I WANT to wear those clothes!) I need to lose the weight, and I need to get my blood sugar under control.

I am afraid to take away my way of coping with feelings, because I have relied on it again for the last five years.
But I believe there is another way. With this blog, I invite you to join me on my journey, and my hope is that THIS time, I don't give up - and that I end up with a story that will help you, if you are reading this and have been in some of the same places as me.

Chocolate - What Else Would I Blog About?!

2009-11-16T21:19:00.000-08:00

Once again - yes, for the 638th time, give or take a few - I am starting a blog. There have been previous rushes of enthusiasm to share myself with the world, or possibly with myself (its all so much clearer if you write it down, don't you think?) but I have a tendency to give up because its not perfect.

Because that is how I tick - if I can't do it perfectly, I will throw my toys and go home. At school, I used to get in trouble for ripping pages out of my exercise books and throwing them away. The teachers didn't understand - my writing wasn't good enough, so I had to start the page again. Now, that may sound a little over the top - and it is. I know that. I'm not crazy, Well, ok, I'm crazy, but the looniest people are the ones who don't know they are, right?!

But let me put this in a way that some of you might relate to more. Hands up (I can't see you, but I want you to wave anyway, 'k?) anyone out there who has ever started a diet, or a health plan, or a commitment to exercise, and, when you ended up eating that doughnut on the second day (or, if you're me, about half an hour in!) you give up and go for the full on chocolate, cheese and Chinese meal because you might as well start again NEXT Monday now?

Ok - now I have your attention!

This blog is really to share with anyone who relates. I will share a lot of my story, and you will see it continue as I kick and scream my way back to health. (I am predicting this, as I AM pretty stubborn, and by that definition of insanity being 'doing the same thing over and expecting different results' I am probably insane.) I should warn you, I cry quite easily too. And if you come between me and my chocolate, you may need to be familiar with the concept of prayer. My husband has learned this. He knows to back away slowly while saying 'go ahead dear, you deserve it,due to your many gifts and radiant beauty, and the way your enthralling personality lights up my life'.

Yes, ok, ladies, if my husband actually said this, I , like you, would need to be REVIVED with chocolate, but a girl can dream...

So you see my problem? I set out to start a blog about my journey back to health and so far the whole thing is about chocolate. As my American friends would say, 'go figure....;'!

To be continued........"0)