Blogging is not my forte. Professionals say that writers should have blogs and internet presence, which I have, but don't update often. This is about to change.
There are people in the world who enjoy reading blogs. And since you are reading this, you must be one of them. Once a month, or maybe twice, a new blog will be posted. I hope to make it worth your while, or maybe just worth my own while. Isn't that an odd saying? "Worth your while." Why don't people just say "Worth your time"? Whatever.
My experiences at the Willamette Writers Conference will be posted next week. Other posts may consist of short stories or pieces from my novels. Maybe an article or two will be tossed in the mix. Better yet, a few book reviews. How exciting!
Until then, hold your breath.
Peace out, yo.
Ang
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
First Four Weeks
Meat has become so important to us that we build all of our meals around it—it’s the main course and we eat it three times a day. It hasn’t always been like this though. Only in the last fifty years has meat become so in demand.
Although the leading health experts believe that going vegetarian is something we can do to better our lives as well as our families’ lives, we each still consume over two-hundred pounds of flesh per year. People wonder why we have so much more cancer, so many more cases of diabetes, more cases of heart disease and stroke, but they don’t correlate these issues with our diet. I’m ashamed of myself, even, for being so ignorant for my entire life.
Exactly four weeks ago, after much investigating, I decided to stop consuming all animal products. Health isn’t the only reason for my decision. The main reason was compassion. It has been much easier than I ever thought it would be. If I hadn’t done the research, and if I didn’t know how our meat is “grown,” it would have been very hard. After all, I was like the cheeseburger queen, and I loved my steak a little bit bloody. Just the thought of eating a steak now makes my stomach seize and makes me gag. Disgusting and wrong.
Compassion toward animals has bled into my compassion toward humans as well. Some of you know that people irritate me. Well, it seems that they don’t irritate me as much lately for some reason. I seem to have a bit of compassion for even the stupid and selfish humans. Very strange indeed. Compassion breeds more compassion. Violence breeds hate and more violence.
People have commented on my appearance. They say that I “look” healthier and want to know what has changed.
Without changing my exercise routine, I’ve lost eight pounds, which is usually impossible for me. All I did differently was cut animal products from my diet. In the next week, I plan on adding yoga, weight lifting and cardio to my life and hope to lose twenty more soon.
Pain is a heredity prerequisite of the women in my family. Although my pain hasn’t diminished completely, it has diminished enough to where I can work without my hands going numb. In the forthcoming weeks, months, and years, I look forward to it diminishing more.
Thanks to my dad, I’ve inherited his low blood pressure (along with his thinning hair—thanks Dad). Before I went vegetarian/vegan, my blood pressure was 119/80 – which is high for me. Today, my blood pressure is 104/70 – which is very normal for me. Yay!
The other day, as I drove to work, a number of cows were released from their pens at a dairy farm. It warmed my heart as I drove by and saw them "frolic" in the green field. I had never seen a cow frolic before. Perhaps I hadn't paid much attention before. Frolicking cows made me smile. I said to myself, "I'm so glad that I don't eat you."
Many of you will think this is just a bunch of “yadayadayada,” but I hope one or two of you will arm yourself with knowledge. Take your life into your own hands by learning about your food. Food is truly medicine and you are indeed what you eat.
If you choose to consume animal products, please do so responsibly. Buy cruelty free, locally raised, organic and free range animals.
Here is a great article with lots of information from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
And another article about the health benefits for going vegan:
HTTP://WWW.GOVEG.COM/HEALTHCONCERNS.ASP
And if you only follow the latest trends, here is a list of a few celebrities that are vegetarian and beautiful (which includes Brad Pitt):
http://www.happycow.net/famous_vegetarians.html
Want to read a book or watch a movie?
"Fast Food Nation" and "Food Inc." will get you started.
Be wise, be loving, and be compassionate. As I tell many of my clients who refuse to care for themselves, "Do whatever you want with your body. But remember, you only get one, and they don't sell spare parts."
Angela
Although the leading health experts believe that going vegetarian is something we can do to better our lives as well as our families’ lives, we each still consume over two-hundred pounds of flesh per year. People wonder why we have so much more cancer, so many more cases of diabetes, more cases of heart disease and stroke, but they don’t correlate these issues with our diet. I’m ashamed of myself, even, for being so ignorant for my entire life.
Exactly four weeks ago, after much investigating, I decided to stop consuming all animal products. Health isn’t the only reason for my decision. The main reason was compassion. It has been much easier than I ever thought it would be. If I hadn’t done the research, and if I didn’t know how our meat is “grown,” it would have been very hard. After all, I was like the cheeseburger queen, and I loved my steak a little bit bloody. Just the thought of eating a steak now makes my stomach seize and makes me gag. Disgusting and wrong.
Compassion toward animals has bled into my compassion toward humans as well. Some of you know that people irritate me. Well, it seems that they don’t irritate me as much lately for some reason. I seem to have a bit of compassion for even the stupid and selfish humans. Very strange indeed. Compassion breeds more compassion. Violence breeds hate and more violence.
People have commented on my appearance. They say that I “look” healthier and want to know what has changed.
Without changing my exercise routine, I’ve lost eight pounds, which is usually impossible for me. All I did differently was cut animal products from my diet. In the next week, I plan on adding yoga, weight lifting and cardio to my life and hope to lose twenty more soon.
Pain is a heredity prerequisite of the women in my family. Although my pain hasn’t diminished completely, it has diminished enough to where I can work without my hands going numb. In the forthcoming weeks, months, and years, I look forward to it diminishing more.
Thanks to my dad, I’ve inherited his low blood pressure (along with his thinning hair—thanks Dad). Before I went vegetarian/vegan, my blood pressure was 119/80 – which is high for me. Today, my blood pressure is 104/70 – which is very normal for me. Yay!
The other day, as I drove to work, a number of cows were released from their pens at a dairy farm. It warmed my heart as I drove by and saw them "frolic" in the green field. I had never seen a cow frolic before. Perhaps I hadn't paid much attention before. Frolicking cows made me smile. I said to myself, "I'm so glad that I don't eat you."
Many of you will think this is just a bunch of “yadayadayada,” but I hope one or two of you will arm yourself with knowledge. Take your life into your own hands by learning about your food. Food is truly medicine and you are indeed what you eat.
If you choose to consume animal products, please do so responsibly. Buy cruelty free, locally raised, organic and free range animals.
Here is a great article with lots of information from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/200
And another article about the health benefits for going vegan:
HTTP://WWW.GOVEG.COM/HEALT
And if you only follow the latest trends, here is a list of a few celebrities that are vegetarian and beautiful (which includes Brad Pitt):
http://www.happycow.net/fa
Want to read a book or watch a movie?
"Fast Food Nation" and "Food Inc." will get you started.
Be wise, be loving, and be compassionate. As I tell many of my clients who refuse to care for themselves, "Do whatever you want with your body. But remember, you only get one, and they don't sell spare parts."
Angela
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Guide to Literary Agents
...is holding a wicked-awesome contest for middle grade and young adult writers. This particular contest, "Dear Lucky Agent", is to win a 10-page critique by an agent judge (Regina Brooks) and a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.
Check it out:
Guide to Literary Agents
Check it out:
Guide to Literary Agents
Friday, January 15, 2010
Kid Lit Contest
Do you have a MG or YA novel that is ready to be published? Want someone to critique it? Check out this contest to win a critique by agent Mary Kole:
http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/
http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Stinky Dog Farts
I am normally very thankful that my large furry friend follows my every move around the house. And then, there are times like now when I am even more grateful for the invention of gas masks. I only wish I had one.
I love the gloom
The rain and fog confounds the world more, creating mystery to unravel and treasures to discover outside our stockades. Some say, "Boo on gray." I say, "Hurray!" For if I could see ahead, I would not seek. And then I wouldn't find what should be found. In other words: I love rain!
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