Hey all, I could spend this whole blog writing about all the things I want to write about but haven't had time...or all the things I want to do but haven't been able to. Such is life in the springtime with young children. Typically I spend this time of year re-organizing my house or garage, but my baby won't have any of that. Yesterday I felt like I had consumed 10 espressos for breakfast, I was all buzzed from spending too much time in the sun the previous two days. So, back on with the hat and sunglasses!

I have learned that I need to be much more careful this time of year about my compliance to the whole blood type program. No addictive avoids (corn and milk are still occasionally my downfall), and more exercise. Tonight I did manage to go for a walk at sunset with the family (after eating a nice steak), and it was all great. We pushed strollers up some mean hills, and I sure needed the workout. We were rewarded with a great view of a great sunset, and sleepy kids when we got them home.

Bipolar Seasonal Affective Disorder, it's an interesting one. I'm on a fall/spring schedule, with those being my worst times, a couple weeks after each time change or equinox is my worst time, gradually improving until each solstice when it resolves for the most part. Fall emotions are in shades of black, and spring emotions are in shades of red. A bit of mania can be fun, but too much gets frightening. I think I've adjusted what I need to now, but I still hope for these cool, rainy, overcast days like today. Anybody out there like me? Well, I know there's nobody exactly like me...

I have a bit of a cold, the kind that's just a little miserable for a few days, so I was craving spicy gingerale today. I'd heard of people making it themselves easily enough, and I actually had some ginger in the veggie drawer, so I gave it a try. After peeling the ginger with a veggie peeler, I figured I'd just use the same tool to make some thin slices of it. Probably the equivalent of one centimeter of ginger root. Then I tossed in 3 clove buds and some water and brought it to a simmer for 10-30 minutes, tasting it for spicy warmth as it went. Then I added some agave nectar. Glycerine should work fine too, or any sweetener you choose. If you like your gingerale really spicy, then add less sweetener, because you'll use more of the ginger water/syrup in your water, but I added about as much agave nectar as the liquid after it had reduced down a bit. You can see how it went in the video, just hit play. You could add any other flavoring, fruit concentrate, or spices of choice. It turned out great, as well as any gingerale I've bought, just a bit less bubbly, and without the corn syrup or other avoids. Very satisfying, anti-inflammatory, anti- h. pylori, and good for the digestion. A Secretors could use flat water with fine results as well.



I did this with just two takes, because I ran out of the ginger, but you get the idea.