Living Proof

"Watsamatta' whichoo?? We got everything we need!" Years ago I remember our power went out on Thanksgiving because of a hurricane. I forget which year it was, but it was a powerful one. I was only around five years old and all my sisters lived at home. Our turkey was halfway cooked and my dad, being the creative savior through all of this said, "Let's get the gas grill going and cook the turkey in that!" We all didn't know how he would do it in the rain and wind, but lemme' tell ya --- that man cooked the best turkey in our entire lives. I even remember how good it was.  Dad did a lot for us - if not everything. He protected us, provided for us and made sure his family was safe and warm. We never worried about severe storms or the lack of power --- we were with Dad, what could go wrong? His mind worked overtime and with that, I have learned to prepare ahead of time or at least, get creative with what you have on a second's notice. He was a hu...

We're alive! Sandy blew in here with a vengeance leaving most of our area and surrounding cities devastated in some parts. It's odd, because the areas that were of complete destruction, a block down the road could be seen as untouched. It seemed as though Sandy cherry picked her victims and kept some without an ounce of damage or even an electrical outage. Lucky ducks. Our electric went out Monday afternoon. We expected it. I had just finished roasting a chicken and preparing for Sandy to leave us without power for days, even weeks. You know what I love though - everyone, including people I didn't even know, made fun of me for storing up on gallons and gallons of water and a shit load of canned soups of every kind. I went three days before the hurricane when people were all saying, "Oh it's not going to be anything. It's all media hype." I don't take chances with my family, especially having a dog now. I first went to the dollar store, bought tons of...

"Even I can't stay on this Paleo diet." The challenge is over. I failed miserably. For the first couple of days it was okay. I usually don't eat my burgers with a bun anyway and kept up with my meat and veggie intake. As I kept reading about the Paleo diet, it also had some conflicting "beliefs" from dedicated followers. For example, some people feel it's okay to eat tomatoes, while others say stay away from them. Most say do not eat beans or coffee since the cavemen didn't eat them. But, they're naturally grown, perhaps found later on during the earth's life ...right?  Then you have to consider the strict rules in the quality of your meat - only grass fed burgers and steaks and organic vegetables and never buy fish that is farmed. Your life is basically dedicated to researching where your food is from when you're doing simple grocery shopping. And that's just it: it's not simple! While we try to cultivate a healthier lifesty...

Technology is a double edged sword. On one hand, it's helpful and very handy in doing everyday little or big tasks. It keeps us connected instantaneously and let's us discover the world in ways we never knew. On the other hand, it can deceive one's perception of people, friends, etc. It can even cause us to be antisocial if we let it. What I found interesting as of late was an old friend, ok ok, an old flame that had contacted me saying hello and then going on to say how different I've become. She even went on to say, "Who is this Deb?"  She remembers me riddled with anxiety and plagued with depression at times. She remembers my phobias and how I struggled with coping. But she also remembers the 'social butterfly' that she once used to love, that she grew to hate. Funny how someone can hate the one thing that they initially fell in love with.  So I asked her, "Have I changed?" And with that, goes along with many things she didn't ta...

"Ahhh! I just wanna go home!" Have you ever walked into a room and felt tense, nervous and perhaps a tad self-conscious due to the energy you felt walking inside? They say (God knows who 'they' are), that bees and dogs can smell fear - they sense your energy right away. But I don't think it's just limited to bees and dogs. I truly believe that people can sense or pick up negative or positive energy regardless. Take for example, last night... Madelene and I ate dinner at our favorite restaurant. We usually sit at the bar and order some appetizers. We're friends with the owners and have known them for years. There was something not right in the air - something a bit 'off'. Their demeanors were down - almost as though they've been defeated in some way or another. It also trickled over into the employees. Our peppy little waitress (when we actually get a table) looked down in the dumps, even though she had her sparkly smile on for us. Her en...

Our good friend Jill had posted something very heartfelt concerning her political views on Facebook. There was a big difference compared to everybody else's though: I have never seen such a personal and touching stance on politics---ever. I have never been convinced that either presidential candidate would ever change the way society truly feels about marriage equality, which is why I was so undecided about who to choose. I also don't rely on my lifestyle and personal life to dictate who I will vote for. I usually vote for who is best for the economy (in my opinion and from learning through others) which ultimately affects all of us,   and who will protect our country. I've been so undecided for so long, until now. I haven't had anyone truly make a dent with their side of the coin on swaying me to either side. They've all made great points and while I nodded my heads a few times, there wasn't anything so inspiring, so loving and so so personal as this one....

And so I'm back. I've been back for quite some time but just haven't been able to write much. Vacation was very relaxing and peaceful. Although some days were cold and windy, we managed to seek out some great restaurants on the sea and enjoy the views, as well as the fresh seafood. Every time I visit Provincetown, I think of my dad. He was a fisherman and spent years at his fish market over at the South Street Seaport. He taught me everything about seafood - how to filet it, shuck it, clean it, cook it - you name it. Each year I would come home with a sea-related trinket or souvenir of sorts. He loved it. This year was bittersweet, because we went to Provincetown to rest our minds and get ourselves in a different atmosphere. We wanted it to be a time to heal in a different location, and being by the ocean always sets my mood in a calm state of mind, but somehow it rattled my heartstrings a bit with all the strange reminders. While I was in a touristy t-shirt/novelty shop,...