This year is all about health. WIthout this, there is not much.

I am working with 2 applied kinisiologists (sp?) .  Miracle workers, as far as I'm concerned. 

I have gone gluten free, no dairy and little sugar. Inflammation be gone!

To good health!

I'm leaning toward January - not sure where.....Nicaragua? Thailand? Back to India? Mexico? Belize?

Friends, share your opinions! Where can I get away, rest yet explore history and culture, play, gab with total strangers, feel alive?!?

I'm turning 40 ... and it is time to travel and celebrate.

Green ideas are much appreciated.

Pushing back that fear of having respiratory issues while on the plane. Damn that mold illness.  BUT it won't stop me - so tell me about your favorite places!  It is TIME!  YEAH!!!! 

And folks, if you haven't bought a water filter yet, do yourself a big favor and splurge! For about $87 you can go to www.egeneralmedical.com and get a 10 stage filter that fits on your kitchen sink...avoiding toxins in your daily drinking water.  You're worth it!

On to politics.....I am completely bewildered by the Republican's strategy. Are they truly stupid enough to think that women will buy "inserting" one for another into the VP nomination? HELLO? Can you say "insulting"?!?!  Hillary Clinton's decades of experience for a handful of years in local government and 20 months as a governor? Huh? And perhaps most insulting is that this party would NEVER have picked Ms Palin if it were not for the HIllary fiasco.  Sure, she is an interesting character - but does that mean she is VP material? Not in my humble opinion.  Do I know many people who are interesting, smart, and great leaders in their community.....yes, sure do. Do I think they could be VP in these times with next to no national experience. Nope, I sure don't. So, news flash for the Republicans - don't insult me by sticking a woman on the ticket.  Her policies are still the same ole stuff that I don't buy, no matter how you package it.  

So I am focusing on staying in the moment. After today's 2.5 hour "nap", I've managed to make a healthy dinner. Tony definitely appreciated that as we never know when my energy will be zapped and he'll be in PB&J sandwiches for the night! But , today , in the  moment of cooking a good meal I felt alive and inspired by the yummy scent of the rosemary plant that I have growing in my little window garden and the smell of garlic (which I've been advised to eat to remove toxins from my body - who knew)!  

My home is so sacred to me - it is where I feel as normal as my body will allow.  So, for now, I'll stay here and in this moment and dig deep for strength and energy to get through a solid week out of the house.

Folks, be grateful for the ability to breathe without issues, to smell perfumes without a reaction, to feel energetic when you awake from a good sleep. When I have these fleeting moments, I want to stay in them for eternity.  For now, I find them in my mind and drift along that wave of the  "moment", soaking in the peace and calm that sweeps over me. Now, if I could only find a way to bottle that and drink it up so my body can follow my mind.....

Well, when you're sick all the time and never know what will set off your illness, you operate in a place of fear. I hate this place! I fight it daily and force myself to break out and challenge it. FEAR, you won't get the best of me. And today, this is how I fought fear:  Despite the humidity, I had to get out of the house. I was so sick on Friday - had to stay home all day in bed - spent most of Saturday indoors resting and sleeping. And today, I said FEAR, stand aside - I'm going out to the town pool and I'm going to at least try to have a relatively normal moment.  So despite the challenges of not sitting near people who are using fragrance/chemical sun tan lotion (which is not easy) and despite the humidity (I carry an inhaler everywhere I go) - I went. And I saw the diving board staring at me saying " you can't jump off of this - you're afraid. What happens if you can't breathe in deep enough? What happens if you swallow some water? What happens if (fill in the blank)??? Today, I said NO MORE FEAR.  I went to the high diving board, wanted to cling on for dear life and said " don't overthink this one" and just jumped. Hey, if the 8 year old kids can spend 40 minutes straight doing it, I could do one lousy jump. And I did! And while I was underwater it felt like I'd never have air again. But I didn't panic. I just knew that I'd rise to the top and I'd be ok.  And it was scary, but I DID IT.  And even though for the 2 hours outside the house today I simply sat near the pool reading a book,  used my inhaler to relieve the tightness in my chest and did have to come home and take a 2 hour nap, I overcame the fear of jumping off the board into deep water.  Fear, you may have a grip on me 99% of the time, but today, I won over you! And I'll keep fighting until you're 1% of my day, not 99% of it. 

I was exposed to very dangerous molds while working at Rockland Community College in NY State.  My employer avoided the issue, forcing me to stay in a very sick bldg for nearly a year before I was moved. By then, I was deathly ill and ended up at the ER. I was forced to resign in Feb 2007 and have been through hell and back to regain what is left of my health.  Please  know that you should never have to ask for permission to be healthy, especially at work. Hard lesson learned.  I am now advocating to have the building that got me very sick closed - and on Tuesday I'll be at the town's legislative meeting to address this sick building.  Fight for what you believe in friends. Truth will always win. 

Peace and good health to you all. 

For my 40th, I want to have a local gathering with friends. Nothing fancy - just a good time, music, storytelling, hugs, etc.  My dear boyfriend has toyed with the idea of having a gathering at my favorite local Indian restaurant, as he clearly knows me well! But I'd be very happy to have it at a friend's place and keep it very casual. 

My passion is travel, and I am anxious to travel somewhere very special for my 40th. Ideally, I'd like to go to Thailand or China. But frankly, I like to travel where it feels "right" at the time. So friends, where would you suggest I go? I want to see things that will inspire me, historical things, meet people, rest, relax, simply enjoy the experience. I might have up to 10 days to get away. So where do you suggest?

Wishing you all happy travels and many healthy birthdays ahead!

I have come to the conclusion that it is TIME to "do the right thing".  Not that I haven't been doing things right - but in my quest for truth, I now know that I must speak out on a situation that I know is harming people. They don't speak out of fear or perhaps because they are overwhelmed by this situation that has gone on too long. I have had a year to reconcile my feelings and to address my fear of outing an organization that has not been doing the right thing. The time is close. I must be strong. Truth is greater than anything in this world, and it is time for me to speak my truth as I know it. Nothing that happens as a result can be more powerful than the truth I will speak. So Gaia community friends and members, please send to me positive thoughts to tackle this experience with bravery, courage and integrity. I am certain that I will. I feel ready. The time is near. Thank you for all of your support.