Well, I now have all of the proper identifying materials to be a New Hampshire citizen…license, car and voter registration, bank account, YMCA membership…I’m feeling a bit overcommitted and stripped bare of my previously “citified” existence. Even going in and out of Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth…it’s rural here…and wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but I’m nearly dizzy with all the clean, fresh air and open space. So just for some toxins, I came to Border’s and am having a fat chocolate chip cookie with my cup of joe!!

Okay, BTD news…with the interviewing at school sites and other housekeeping stuff of the last week, I’ve yet to locate any Mexican or Asian markets…so my small store of contraband supplies from Cali is running out. I desperately need rice noodles, good Jasmine rice, Japanese chiles, chile sauce and Vegata. Thankfully, the parsley and cilantro are in season, so they’re fresh and bouncy at the regular market. There is a Trader Joe’s in Nashua, and I should be scoping it out later this week. The great thing about the regular markets is all the fresh Atlantic fish…but I have to check into where it comes from, because NPR was talking about lead content for expectant (and preparing to be expectant) mothers. I don’t want to have a system full of lead and other nasties, no matter how yummy the flesh is!

There have been no hiking trips yet (became oppressively muggy this week), but plenty of adventures and exploring. I’m looking forward to a chill fall for many outdoor excursions. I plan on spending lots of time in Maine, because I think I really like Portland…perhaps that is where I’ll hang my hat once I’m back on my feet. It has the hustle and bustle of a city center, with the working port and wilderness all around. How can you go wrong there? You may ask yourself…but the cold, Amanda, the cold!! Well, ask me again in January, but after seven years in warm, warm Southern California…cold is relative and I’m not going to notice the difference between central NH cold and southern ME cold!!

Last notes for this blog…WHY DON’T YOU WRITE TO ME!!?? I feel so unloved!! If there are any New Englanders out there, contact me!! Where do you shop, play and wander? I grew up in NY, but am still learning New England!! Give me suggestions, pointers…heck, invite me to come play!! Tee hee…okay, okay, I’ll lay off the desperation for now…it’ll get busy once school starts in a couple of days anyhow!!

Until next time…be well…

I’ve done it. It’s official. There’s no turning back. It’s too late now.

I have officially relocated to the East Coast from the Other Side after seven years (Well, almost officially. I’m still in the air as I write this looking down through the clouds at thunderstorms and sunset tinged reflections in the sky). As the magnitude of my move settles over my being, I turn inward and gaze toward the Atlantic with hope looming in the future for the start of this new chapter in the book of my life as I wish to know it. I reflect back to the Pacific with many memories of getting up, getting out and moving on. And though I find myself wondering at times why on Earth I am uprooting myself from a place that has such a wonderful support system with so many years of adventures backing it, I know that the time is right and that this chapter of the book has been all played out. I remind myself that I also have a support system waiting for me at “home,” and that they have been there from the beginning. So far as I can tell, my place is on the East Coast…it’s where the land and water speak to me…it’s where I want to raise my own brood, at least until they need to run 3000 miles away and find themselves too!

Right now my heart feels broken and bruised because I’ve left my best friend, my heart sister, behind on the Other Side. But despite the tears and sadness, we both know that this new chapter must be written from different places. Our bonds run as deep as blood and we find ourselves lucky to have been shaped into the grown-ups we are today by our mutual experiences, impressions, soul-searching, random silly adventures, serious heart wrenching events and the myriad of daily joys encountered with regularity. We should (and will, after the initial heartbreak) count ourselves lucky that we’ve got each other still as a brilliant support team…no matter that a continent will divide our physical beings.

As for this blog…there’s been no mention of the BTD outright, but it’s there. Before finding this way of life, I never took the time to reflect on new beginnings and endings. I didn’t allow myself to revel in the emotion of a moment…good, bad or otherwise. I had no idea that the body could be made stronger and more resilient through calming practices. This blog is relevant for this day on this site because even though it doesn’t deal with food, it deals with how I’ve chosen to treat my self. In the same way that corn and chicken tell me with stunning speed that they are avoids for a reason, I have come to understand that not taking “time” (for any number of life things) has as immediate a bodily effect as does consuming an unbeneficial food item.

So hurray to all of us who strive in the miniscule moments of every day to live a highly beneficial life. Superb marks to us for even beginning to think of LIFE in terms of bennie, neutral and avoid. Go team for bothering to care enough to reach out and do the right thing. And most of all…thank goodness for our support networks that remind us of all the beneficial things we do daily when it feels like life is one giant Avoid.

Until next time…remain compliant as you can for today in all that you do and be well…

I cannot describe how much I enjoy the Olympics every time they come around. This year is no exception and I feel an even closer connection having been to the US swimming trials in Long Beach. I actually SAW these people in the flesh swimming their hearts out in July and now they’re in Athens kicking butt!! And the gymnastics and volleyball and kayaking…it’s almost too much to take in and the track and field events aren’t even ramped up yet!! The strength and dedication that these athletes bring to their sport is astounding. The level of commitment necessary to be a world competitor…ugh…I can’t even imagine!!

But don’t think for a second that I can’t (or won’t!) draw a parallel to the Blood Type Diet…

Actually, I know that you don’t need me to draw any parallel because you’ve heard/said it all before. The thing I was thinking was this…(living so close to Hollywood for all these years helped with this insight too)…these athletes (and A-list actors/musicians) are plain ‘ole folks just like you and me. Except for that strength, dedication and commitment thing that they’ve got going on…and there’s also the inner focus and drive that pushes them to compete so visibly on the world stage…so what I was thinking was this…I was thinking that if these ordinary folks can live so visibly and so LARGE, what’s my problem with kicking avoids out of my cabinets, ‘fridge and lifestyle habits?

Maybe it isn’t my goal to be a BTD Olympian, but I sure wouldn’t mind making it to the US trials of BTD compliance. I’m just a plain girl, eating average things…and if I just tightened up my life a little…added a touch more dedication, strength and commitment…those average foods and activities could send my health and body to extraordinary levels of excellence. It’s certainly something to think about as this summer comes to a close and my life takes a new direction as I relocate to the East Coast.

I have a clear line in the sand if I want to recognize it. I guess you’ll just have to keep checking in to see if I decide to pick up the gauntlet or not…

In the meantime…make summer memories and be well…

I’ve been stuffed to the gills for several days straight. I’m so good…I’ve been eating only bennies and neutrals…but the bad is this: there’ve been too many bennies/neutrals forcing their way into my body. I’m constantly full—this gives new meaning to the term “fat and happy.” I find that I’m sluggish and unable to focus very well. Good grief…it’s all the saying good-bye to friends…it turns out that everybody breaks bread to wish you well. I think that if I ever make a big move like this again, I’ll be meeting people for green tea or coffee rather than meals. Even my heart feels labored trying to digest all this stuff.

Take care of you all…be well…think of me trying to control portions amongst friends!!

The creature tore through her insides like a thing ravaged by the demons from the churning fire pits of hell. Its nails tore at her stomach causing an agony of syncopated wails and heart wrenching screams. Millions of undulating serpents traveled through her intestines creating waves of discomfort and unease…

In other words, I took a supplement that in my heart of hearts I knew that I should leave alone. As I look on the ingredients list now (after the remainder of the bottle has been flushed down the loo), I realize that all but one of the ingredients are avoids and the one is a neutral…and way down on the list (not a lot of it in the little capsule). This was a free supplement with this month’s superfood (Dr. Shulze), and I know I should know better, but I thought, eh…what could it hurt? Ummmm….duh! It hurt my insides, like, A LOT!!

It’s funny, because as I think back to pre-BTD life, I consumed two whole bottles of this stuff thinking that I was doing my body some good. All that happened was that I felt crappier, ended up on prescription acid reflux stuff and eventually began taking $290/month Chinese herbs. Who knew that for a fraction of that money I could have eaten right for my blood type and healed all hurts! Ah well…ca c’est la vie…

The good news is that with some fresh tofu, bennie veg. fritters, sweet potato fries, sour cream, watermelon and yogurt (not all together!)…I’m well on my way to intestinal comfort. I even had coffee to no ill effect!

Here’s hoping that y’all are enjoying the dog days of summer. Be well…

Hey y’all…I’m back in Cali and just woke up from a one hour drool fest. I figured that I’d just lay on my bed and rest my eyes (famous last words) for a few minutes and next thing I knew sixty plus minutes had passed, I had major drool puddles going on and my body felt like a steam roller had cruised over it! It’s funny to me (though really shouldn’t be anymore) that when I don’t respect my body’s need for quiet and relaxation (especially after long plane rides), it FORCES respect. I think part of it is being in the next phase in terms of not feeling so young and exuberant any more (still silly, random, curious and energetic…just don’t have that “wiggly puppy” thing going on).

I need my rest! I cherish my down time. I can’t push myself with no sleep/food/etc…I just don’t “do” that so well anymore…and it’s a good thing, just something that I’m still getting used to when I forget and my body so forcefully reminds me!

So anyhow, with consistent care and watering my AB system is a well-oiled enthusiasm machine. Without it…it’s a clunker!! Thankfully, I just had a hiccup and will be back on the wagon again. Have had good times eating wise, though I do need to print out my weekly portions chart. Had fresh tofu yesterday (heavenly…), and realized that when I officially move back East, it’ll be a harder staple to come by. Must run to the store to get seafood, yogurt and soy milk (stooped so low as to go to Starbucks for coffee today rather than battling at the supermarket) here shortly.

Hope that this finds you all happy, compliant and taking the time to take time…be well…

In typical BTD and AB fashion, I am now back to being mostly normal…for whatever that’s worth!! I’m not in the dumps quite as much so far today and noticed that my 100% compliant dinner last night certainly elevated mood levels (had red beans, spelt tortillas, grilled veggies, Spanish rice). However, I did not get a good night’s sleep…tossed and turned, awoke and roamed the house a couple of times, and beat the alarm at 5:53 in the a.m. Whatever is working its way through my system (I KNOW that life has elevated the stress levels) is doing it with a vengeance…thankfully today, I can take some time for me…and of course work out any angst in the pool. I think that I’ll take an extra effort to stretch out today too. Maybe even throw in a bit of weight training just to keep the energy flow moving throughout my body. I’m off to NY for a quick trip to take care of family stuff, and will be back by the weekend. I don’t know, however, how much I’ll be able to blog whilst away.

Happy compliant eating and be well…

May faeries dance in your dreams by the light of a silver moon…may you lay your head on a bed of fragrant blossoms and may you be lulled into peaceful quietude with the sweet music of future adventures whispering in your ear.