Now that I eat faces again, I love eating in N’Awlins more than ever. **wink* The only drawback is that oysters, crawfish, shrimp, heavy cream and corn syrup are all basically avoids for the AB blood-typer. But…I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—some avoids are just not really avoids if you’re having a great time eating them!! It all goes back to that living life in a highly beneficial way philosophy…

I won’t say that I’m not bloated, that I haven’t gained weight in the six days that I’ve been here (my jeans have gotten tight around the waist!), or that my tummy hasn’t gurgled more than a few times…but…it all tastes so good that the end result makes it all more neutral than avoid really. I’m not trying to convince you or myself, just stating the fact that all rules are exempt when in the Crescent City.

Jazz Fest was super crowded this year, and a bit commercial for my taste (sad that all things have to depend on money and who brings it in), but not an overall disappointment. Caught several shows that I couldn’t have seen anywhere else (Buddy Guy was off the hook and came into the crowd right in front of us!!), and danced like crazy to the requisite zydeco, brass band, and cajun music in weather that couldn’t have been better suited to Fest. We had not a drop of rain this year, and temperatures never exceeded the low 80’s. My friend’s wedding was wonderful and cruising on the Mississippi was very cool.

The plan is to enjoy down home good old southern cookin’ for the last two days of our trip; go home and detox for a day or two, and then start the BTD/South Beach combo diet to ward off those extra inches, make way for spring/summertime hiking and outdoor playing and to prevent heart disease/diabetes from setting in (we aren’t getting any younger you know!!).

I will be happy to share recipes from this “fusion” lifestyle/diet, results of weight loss and overall health feeling stuff…I hope that this finds you all well and content and compliant (for me…be compliant for me…)…smile…

I know that it’s bad. I know that it leads to skin cancer. I know that I’ll make people upset with this blog. But…

I went tanning today in a stand up booth (the kind that shoots UV light at you from all directions) because now that I don’t live in California anymore, I’m afraid I’ll fry in N’Awlins at fest this year. One thing that I didn’t count on from going to the tanning place was how much better I felt emotionally when I stepped out.

Now, understand that I did not look on-line to find out if this is an actual physiological effect or just a psychological placebo that I’m doing to myself…but…I’ve been so down in the dumps lately—really dark in mood—and suffering from TOTAL cabin fever, that anything that makes me feel like my bouncy self is tops in my book...placebo or not. I find myself breathing deeper. I am contented inside of my own skin. My brain is quiet from unsettling thoughts. I feel…can it be…happy.

I’m not advocating going to tanning salons if it’s something that you think may be an unhealthy personal choice. All I’m saying today, here, with this blog is that I felt better after being blasted with mega doses of UV rays over every inch of my skin. I’m just sayin’.

Until next time…be well…

Easter has come and gone and I’m back on coffee and sweets…with a vengeance!! I’ve been up and down with my energy, and have experienced wicked mood swings. So….the last of the candy has gone either to school (not that the teenagers need it!!), or landed in my freezer to be portioned out later. I’m finally back in the pool (if one workout constitutes being back in the pool!). I’ve been teaching swim lessons and water aerobics, but have gotten away from my swim sets, so I finally started again today. I plan on going over to the Y in the mornings before work (it’s only a block away behind my place) and do an easy 1000-1500 meter swim. I’ve been lethargic and grouchy lately; I’m sure that it’s because of the crap food I’ve been ingesting and the fact that I haven’t been in the liquid.

With two weeks and counting for New Orleans, I want to be fit, healthy and ready to have fun in the sun. After my first winter back on the East Coast in many years…I’m ready to warm my bones in that city drenched in history, music and spices.

Hope this finds y’all well…take care…