I fought off a cold last week. The key word there is "fought", as I only had symptoms for a few hours. Lately those things get much worse before they get better, so this was good news. I haven't come down with anything since the end of September's pneumonia. I tweaked my diet quite a lot, and upped my compliance.

When I realized I'd tweaked it in the Hunter direction, by eliminating dairy and adding the gatherer black dots like sweet potatoes and bananas (Hunter superfoods) I decided to re-do my measurements. I really thought I was a hunter and hoped I was a hunter in the beginning, and fear I may have overcorrected myself. Now whenever I measure my fingers, by any method, the ring fingers are longer. One is much longer, the other just a couple millimeters. My measurements are more consistent, about the same every time, whereas they were bouncing all over the place before, so I must have been doing something wrong. Now, unless my leg measurements were way off (making me an explorer), I'm measuring out as a hunter. Some people I measure are without doubt, as their measurements aren't even close to being equal, but I'm just well balanced, I guess

I'll give it a whirl, without buying a bunch of bulk stuff until I'm sure. I'll be going to the clinic for the first time in a couple weeks, then I'll be sure. It's wilder than I thought, now that I study the lists, as it's not really the same as O-nonsecretor in many many small ways. I need a good workout every day, whereas I'm only doing it 2 or 3 times a week now. I know that part applies to me, for balancing out stress. I've always taken to the hills by hiking or running when I was upset, to help put things back in perspective. I need to do more of that to avoid the everyday stress burnout.

Today was overcast, windy, and cold. It's the time of year that I start dragging, due to Seasonal Affective Disorder. This was the first day of it. I could really feel it in Tae Kwon Do. My confidence just wasn't where it should be, and my energy was low.

The good news is that when I got cold and tired later in the day, I discovered a new use for my far infrared sauna. I used it and found that it really perked me up. It reminded me of college days when I'd spend time recharging in the tropical room of the greenhouse. It gave me more energy than a nap would have, and got me into the kitchen to cook dinner, rather than leave everyone to forage. It wasn't an exciting or elaborate dinner, but at least I put something on the table.

Dragging is ok, as long as I keep moving. Today was just too cold to get outside and walk, but the workout and the sauna definitely helped. Before my next taekwondo class, I'll be sure to use the sauna to warm up.

Not that beef and/or barley wouldn't work in this soup, especially for gatherers who are not gluten sensitive. I'm still tired of beef, and of course, don't eat barley. Job's Tears (aka Hato Mugi) make a great gluten free alternative. When cooked thoroughly (after a good overnight soak), they taste like a combination between barley and hominey.

I had already cooked the Job's Tears, so you'd have to do things differently and start earlier if you were cooking them in the soup. (that would probably be beneficial as the broth from job's tears is known for health benefits on it's own right, just pick them over, rinse and soak well before cooking, and it takes at least 30 minutes to cook)

Olive oil (2-4 Tablespoons)
1 onion, chopped
4-8 stalks celery, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 pound ground bison or beef
14 ounces or so of beef broth
2 cups cooked hato mugi.
2 tsp. red wine vinegar or ume plum vinegar or lemon juice,
salt to taste
Fresh cilantro and taco seasoning, optional, if you want more of a taco soup (Gluten Free Pantry makes a good taco seasoning without wheat or corn)

Saute the onion and celery in olive oil until soft and translucent, add garlic and carrots, once the garlic begins to cook, add the ground beef or bison. Cook through, then add broth and cooked grain. Simmer until carrots are tender. Season with vinegar and salt.

I haven't had beef n'barley soup for a decade, and found it very satisfying. My husband and kids liked it pretty well too!

Pneumonia isn't something you get over in a day, or a week, but I am feeling almost normal again. My lungs sound clear to my doctor, and I haven't come down with anything new for two weeks. I think something I'm doing is helping.

My doctor did allergy scratch tests on me, and didn't turn up anything major that has to be treated, but I do have the option of starting homeopathic allergy drops. I think I may, just to lighten the allergy load on my immune system. I am slightly allergic to western trees (juniper, olive, ponderosa pine), cats and dogs. My food allergies were interesting when compared to the results from a different clinic a few years ago. Back then I was mildly allergic to wheat and soy, but nothing showed up for anything else. This time a corn allergy showed up fairly moderately, wheat showed up about the same, soy not at all, and peanuts showed up mildly. They didn't test for horses, pistachios or rosemary, my other known allergies.

I'm thinking the corn fraction, or serum, or whatever they use to do the test, actually included the parts of corn I react to, whereas last time it didn't. In any case, corn is not an allergy I want to develop any further...corn is hidden in so many things that I really don't want to deal with a serious corn allergy. It is best to avoid it very strictly, rather than risk it worsening to the point that a drop of natural flavoring could require an epi-pen. Same goes for peanuts, though they were a very mild reaction. It was interesting to see changes, but food allergies can and do easily change.

He ran some tests to screen for vitamin deficiencies and general health. I think just avoiding milk, intolerances, allergens, avoids and toxins, is doing me very well now. The supplements and vitamins I'm taking are also being quite helpful. I need better sleep and less stress, and I think things will continue looking up around here. I made it to taekwondo again, thanks to some help from my husband, today, and that felt good. It's a great way to manage stress, socialize, and express myself.

My main issue is eating enough. I only want healthy foods, but I don't eat enough of them lately. My appetite just isn't what it used to me. I probably need to make myself a chart and check off my fruits, veggies, proteins, good fats, etc. throughout the day. I made a nice veggie/turkey chili tonight, and that was good.

I agree that something has to be done to boost confidence in the economy and stop more bank failures. I don't agree that it will take 700 billion dollars to do it. Instead, Dave Ramsey's plan sounds like a winner.

Basically:
1. Insure the sub-prime loans, only 7% of which are in foreclosure, rather than just buying them all.
2. Make it easier to sell or pay off a home, by eliminating prepayement penalties and taxes on their sale.
3. Eliminate Cap Gains tax altogether. This doesn't just benefit the rich, it stimulates the economy, which is good for everyone, and will benefit the stock market (and everyone who has retirement and other funds tied up in it).

At a pricetag of $50 million, it's a whole lot better than the tax hikes that will be required to fund the 700 Billion bailout. How can the government keep social security secure when it's throwing gobs of money at problems that don't require so much, or problems that weren't real problems at all?

Check out daveramsey.com (I didn't want to cut and paste the whole plan), and if you agree, send his plan to your senators and representatives today!

There are so many in the press that are fear-mongering, and the politicians are all blaming each other, rather than accepting any responsibility and looking for real solutions. Both sides have made significant mistakes that led up to this.

That's all got to change. Start voicing your opinions, accept that it is serious but solvable, and start voting some of these clowns out of office.