Black Beans and Rice - Yummy!

I posted a while ago about my gluten intolerance here (to recap:  Three to four years ago I began to suspect that I might have a gluten intolerance.  That means my body has adverse reactions to gluten, which is a protein in certain grains (wheat, barley, rye).  My whole life I have eaten bread, pasta, and pretty much anything and everything I ever wanted without any problems.  But now, ingesting just the tiniest bit of gluten sets off a whole host of symptoms, beginning with neurological symptoms of tingling, numbness, heaviness on the left side of my body, severe fatigue and nausea, severe migraine headache, and then gastrointestinal symptoms of bloating and diarrhea.   This goes on for more than a week.  So I have gotten very, very good at keeping gluten out of my diet.  It's been difficult, because it seems to be in EVERYTHING, and cross-contamination is always a possibility. )

If I am out at a restaurant or at someone's house..   I have to be absolutely positive that there is NO gluten involved in any way, shape or form in the food provided, or I don't eat.  The reactions I get are just too severe; it is just not worth it.  My family has learned to accommodate me, which is really great for me!  I want to share my daughter Stephanie's recipe for Black Beans and Rice here--delish!

Stephanie's Black Beans and Rice

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can Goya black beans, undrained

3/4 cup water

1 tsp oregano

1 packet Sazon Goya w/o Annatto

 Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion, pepper and garlic; cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.  Serve over rice.  Serves 4.

Look What I Found!

I had the MOST BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL RUN on the beach this morning!!

I was up early this morning and watched the sunrise..

Had planned to run later in the afternoon, but it was SO PERFECT out--the sun, the temp, low tide was at about 10am, so at 8am the sand was packed perfectly for a run...

So that was it, couldn't not..

Oh, joy!  I LOVE running on the beach!  And look what I found..

Now, this guy is actually quite large, but using my old iPhone camera, you can't really tell.

I turned it over..   and..  the animal was still inside!  He was alive!  I have not seen a live conch on the beach in years and years!  I took a photo...   You can't see him, he pulled himself up into the shell, but he's in there!

Need a Change?

Here in South Florida, a lot of you have you run your goal half or full marathon.  Most of the the rest of the country is in deep winter and won't be starting any real running training for another couple months.   

It might be a good time to work on any muscle imbalances you might have. Get into the gym and do some weight training, maybe work with a trainer, go to spin classes, yoga, maybe do some P90X or Crossfit.

It will help your running to give the speed work a break.  Lower your weekly mileage, and run easy miles.  Enter the races, but just run for fun. 

 Or better yet, volunteer at some of those races.

Disney Marathon on Sunday

Sunday will be the 20th running of the Walt Disney World Marathon.  So many runners I know have run this one, at least once if not multiple times.  It's one of the few Florida marathons that I have not run.  One of my runners, Chuck, is running the marathon this year, after many past years of running the half marathon, which is held the day before.

I hear running legends Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, and Joan Benoit Samuelson will be there, along with the outstanding Desiree Davila, and comedian Drew Carey. 

To Chuck, and all who are running Disney this weekend, ENJOY YOUR RACE!  Remember why you are running, remember all the training you put in, dig deep when the going gets tough, finish strong!  And remember to smile for the camera!

My Sister

I have the most wonderful sister.

I just received (another) book in the mail from her. And I can't wait to start reading it tonight.

My sister is two years older than me.

When she was six and I was four, she would come home from school and teach me everything she learned that day.

That's how I learned to read.

And I am a voracious reader.  I LOVE to read. That and running..

One year, a few years ago, for my birthday, she sent me a book every month that she thought I would like.

That was a good year!

My sister is an English teacher, has been for years and years, in the public school system in Asheville, North Carolina. She helps (or tries to at least) get kids to understand the joy of books.

I love my sister.

Life Changes

I haven't been posting very much lately, as I have been going through some life changes.  Learning and growing in many ways, different ways..   reading and studying and practicing...   a lot of spiritual stuff and learning how to quiet my mind, go within, meditate.

I recently finished reading a fascinating book by neurosurgeon Eben Alexander, MD, Proof of Heaven  A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife. You have probably read and heard about near-death experiences.  As someone who thought he should "know" that, although these episodes seem very real to the persons having them,  they are easily argued away by all sorts of scientific explanations.   That was until Dr Alexander contracted a rare form of meningitis, went into a coma and, for a week was close to death himself.  Everyone had given up on him surviving, thinking that even if he did his brain was so damaged that he would be mostly in a vegetative mental state and need round-the-clock care.  Dr Alexander suddenly awakened after that week-long coma, and had an amazing complete recovery.

His book details his journey into the "afterlife."  Here's a short video I found of him speaking about his experience.  Please watch.



You can get his book from Amazon.com: