LMAO with wendy (liebman)!

REST IN PEACE ROBERT SHERMAN, WHO WROTE MY THEME SONG, "I LOVE TO LAUGH"

2012-03-08T01:27:00.000-08:00

My husband Jeffrey was hired by Columbia-TriStar to write a sitcom for me. Before the meeting I was told that Jeffrey's father and uncle, The Sherman Brothers, had written the scores for Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in addition to writing the theme park ride song It's A Small World. I remember thinking: "Really? Aren't those guys British?" And "Wasn't that music written like a hundred years ago?" And "That song can really get stuck in your head." Though the sitcom never happened, it was love at first sight with Jeffrey, and Robert became my father-in-law.

* * * * * *

Robert passed away Tuesday morning in London at 86, and our world went gray.

* * * * * *

He was brilliant, humble and wise.

He loved jazz music. Dixieland. From New Orleans.

He was gentle, genuine and generous.

He was such an artist.

He painted wrote and built (a fountain).

He loved to read. Biographies. History.

And he'll go down as having written the soundtrack of my childhood.

* * * * * *
I remember singing Hushabye Mountain with my father.

I learned about charity from Feed the Birds.

And when I heard I Love to Laugh, I remember thinking, "Just like me!"

* * * * * *

I loved Mr. Sherman very much. And I'll think of him every day as I sing one of his songs.

* * * * * *

ROBERT & JEFFREY

the boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

Small World Lyrics

Hollywood Reporter

* * * * * *

xow
LMAO

6+ QUESTIONS FOR...DR. ARTHUR PERRY: HE'S THE PLASTIC SURGEON ON DR. OZ!

2012-03-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

DR. ARTHUR PERRY
PLASTIC SURGEON

I met Arthur Perry, M.D. when he was still in medical school in Boston in 1983. My friend Bedonna had dragged me to a singles' party and they met and he gave her his number which she threw away. A few weeks later I was watching the news and who was doing the weather or some other segment: ARTHUR! There had been a contest and this was his audition! I called Bedonna, and she quickly called the station and now have three kids, a dog, and a pet pig named Albert (I have pictures to prove it), and Arthur has a successful plastic surgery practice in Manhattan and New Jersey, a couple of radio shows and he is a frequent guest on the popular show Dr. Oz.

* * * * * *

1 - LMAO: How did you pick your specialty?

AP: I was one of those kids who knew very early what I wanted to do. During my freshman year in college, for fun I would pick up interesting books at the library where I was studying. I remember reading through a plastic surgery textbook and thinking that this was the coolest stuff I had ever seen. I was hooked. Plastic Surgery is the only specialty where doctors can express their creativity. It is artistry with your body as my canvas.

LMAO: What was your second choice?

AP: Probably infectious diseases - I always liked microbiology - bugs and drugs.

LMAO: What would you change about medical school if it was up to you?

AP: While it's nice to have well-rounded students apply to medical school, society would be better served if certain courses were taken in college -- like biochemistry and microbiology. These basic science courses take up valuable time in medical school that can be used to better learn pharmacology and pathology, for instance. And only the first year should be for these basic sciences. Students should start in with clinical training in the second year, allowing 3 clinical years. And then residency training should involve a more structured course, leading to a masters degree, similar to what occurs in dentistry.

* * * * * *

2 - LMAO: What is the most popular type of cosmetic surgery?

AP: This varies with the year and even with the season. Breast augmentations and liposuction are both very popular this time of year -- right when women start thinking about what bathing suit they'll wear this summer.

LIPOSUCTION

LMAO: What is the rarest one you've performed?

AP: During residency, I performed craniofacial surgery, limb replants and sex changes. All rare procedures. Now I'm in private practice and I perform only fairly common cosmetic surgery.

LMAO: How old was the youngest person to get breast implants?

AP: I have put implants in mature 16 year olds who have a syndrome where one breast has not developed. For traditional cosmetic reasons, saline implants can not be used under age 18 and gel implants can't be used under 22.

LMAO: Have you ever been grossed out?

AP: Not yet, but I'm not fond of parasites. Fortunately, we don't see those in plastic surgery. Interestingly, I have used leeches in my practice, and those things are fascinating and not at all gross....

* * * * * *

3 - LMAO: Have you ever encountered patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

AP: I frequently see people with this disorder. It's more common than you might thing. Plastic surgeons are trained to identify this disorder and protect people from undergoing surgery. These people need psychiatrists, not surgeons.

LMAO: Have you ever denied a patient more surgery?

AP: Nearly every week I see someone who has overdone it. Either with surgery or fillers. People think "more is better" and that's just not true. I often have to tell patients that they are "one procedure away from disaster" and they need to stop. Some take my advice and others shop around and get their surgery from someone else.

LMAO: Have you ever changed someone's looks for the Witness Protection Program?

AP: I can't talk about my aunt....Seriously, no.

* * * * * *

4 - LMAO: Can you tell us something encouraging about fat?

AP: Fat is your friend. It is biologically programmed to save your life during famine. It also keeps you warm. But our society has waged absolute war against fat. We diet, and we remove it with liposuction and a variety of new noninvasive procedures. Certainly too much fat is bad for you and the way to deal with it is through diet and weight loss. Plastic surgery procedures don't fix the problem, and you'll still have fat around your organs and in your blood vessels if you don't lose the weight. Cosmetic removal is fine, but should be accompanied by weight loss.

LMAO: Is the fat around my waist (my muffin top) the same as the fat on my butt?

AP: The fat under your skin is similar to buttock fat, but different than the more dangerous fat that is inside your belly and lines your organs. That's the fat that contributes to hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Interestingly, the fat in your buttocks has an enormous blood supply, and that's what lets us sit on our buttocks for long periods of time. (I can hear the jokes now.)

LMAO: What do you know about the Fat Freezing Process?

AP: Such an interesting concept, but the results are way to subtle to justify the cost of the procedure. Just my opinion, but this is an overrated procedure that I don't think will stand the test of time.

* * * * * *

5 - LMAO: Who is one celebrity that you think has gone too far with transforming their body?

AP: Wendy, this blog is way too short to answer this questions! We only have to look at the Oscars to see celebrities who have place their brows to a level that only looks good on Lt. Uhura of Star Trek, and who have lips that a pleco fish would be proud of, and who have obliterated their nasolabial folds like some sort of animal, and who have pulled their faces so tight that they look like they're going through a wind tunnel. I always wonder why, with all their money, they choose plastic surgeons who are not particularly artistic and who do not have the word "no" in their vocabulary.

LMAO: Who is one celebrity who we can't tell who's had plastic surgery because it's that good?

AP: Doesn't Barbara Walters look great? Better than 30 years ago. That's good plastic surgery.

LMAO: How did you get to be on Dr. Oz?

AP: I've been on the Oz show 8 times. I was co-author of YOU BEING BEAUTIFUL with Drs. Roizen and Oz. Dr. Roizen and I were together in the 1980s at the University of Chicago, and now we co-host a nationally syndicated radio show every Saturday. Dr. Roizen introduced me to Dr. Oz. He enjoys my straight shooting approach to plastic surgery.

* * * * *

6 - LMAO: For people like me who are scared of changing their face surgically or with botox, what are some things we should know about taking care of our skin/the aging process?

NIGHTSKIN
DR. PERRY'S AWESOME
PRODUCT

AP: There are now many things that really improve your appearance without surgery. First of all, stop smoking (you already did) and limit sun exposure to 20 minutes a day without sunscreen. Then throw out most of that garbage in your medicine chest and try to limit the number of chemicals that you apply to your skin each day. There are only a few things that really help your skin - most notably vitamins C, A, and B3 (niacin). Also, fruit acids are good for your skin. Other than those, there is very limited science behind most of those newer, and very expensive, substances. (A shameless plug for my NightSkin, but I designed it to really work...). Beyond these simple things, wrinkle fillers like Restylane and Juvederm, injected ARTISTICALLY, do a great job rejuvenating the mouth area. And light peels with a chemical called TCA can even out skin tones and get rid of decades of splotchy brown pigmentation. And finally, I am so excited about a new technology called Ulthera. This harnesses sound energy (like Ella Fitzgerald did in that famous Memorex commercial) and focuses it under the skin to destroy fat and tighten and thicken the skin of the face. It is really a cool new device and I believe that it heralds the start of a new era in plastic surgery that might well make face, brow, and eyelid lifts extinct.

* * * * * *

You the Owners Manual Radio Show 6:30 p.m. Saturday, heard nationally and on the internet.

What's Your Wrinkle radio show heard on WOR radio in NCY and on WOR710.com on the web at 7 p.m. eastern time.

Dr. Perry's Website

Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery at Amazon.com

Email dr.perry@perryplasticsurgery.com

I HAD A REALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2012-02-28T01:10:00.000-08:00

It will be my birthday for three more minutes. Two now.

Now I'm 51 and a day old. Whoa.

And I'm really happy!

Don't get me wrong, I still have problems, but I have wonderful friends, an amazing family, awesome fans and two perfect dogs!

I feel incredibly loved and appreciated :)

* * * * * *

My day was lazy--just what I wanted after working this weekend and traveling. I hung out with my husband and we walked the dogs IN MY PAJAMAS!!!

For dinner we had Chinese food with my stepsons while watching Jeopardy, two of my favorite things. My fortune cookie fortune said, "Long life is in store for you. 01 16 25 33 45, 6." What is YAY?!

* * * * * *

It's downhill from here. But that's the easy part. Except on the ankles.

I'm scared of heights, so I'll go very slowly at a small incline and I won't look down.

And I'll use myself more.

* * * * * *

I had a really happy birthday!

I'm glad we were all born!

xow

LMAO

6 QUESTIONS FOR...TODD WHITTHORNE (HEALTH EXPERT): HE JUST WANTS YOU TO MOVE!

2012-02-23T00:36:00.000-08:00

I recently performed at a convention of high-powered business people. (No pressure....) One of the speakers, Todd Whitthorne was an expert in health and nutrition, and while I didn't get to hear his presentation, he answered questions for me for me to share with you!

Coincidentally, Todd had interviewed me on TV when he was a journalist in Dallas.

I am so grateful to Todd for having the greatest sense of humor, for being so nice and smart and for sharing this information with us.

* * * * *

LMAO: You interviewed me twice on Good Morning Texas and you are now President and CEO of a health and wellness company called Cooper Concepts, founded by the man who coined the term "aerobics" in 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper. What made you switch careers?

TW: As you may recall during your second appearance on Good Morning Texas we were discussing the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders when you shared that you too had been a cheerleader in high school and then, from out of nowhere, ON LIVE TELEVISION, you quickly lifted your leg into the air and placed your ankle BEHIND YOUR NECK! It was both thrilling and amazing, yet shocking and disturbing all at the same time and honestly I never quite recovered...right then I just knew it was time to get out of television!

Actually my degree from UCLA is in kinesiology and exercise physiology yet somehow I ended up working in TV for about 20 years. Shortly after coming to Dallas in 1997 I met Dr. Ken Cooper. Dr.Cooper is recognized internationally as the "Father of Aerobics" and is a pioneer of preventive medicine. I had studied his work since college and had read several of his books and I just decided that working in the are of health and wellness would offer much greater satisfaction than searing Ahi tuna with some random chef during cooking segments on a local morning show. It has been without question the best career move I ever made.

LMAO: When I saw you last week you said there were three tenets of health, and I think you said: Eat a lot, eat often, eat sweets. No. Something about moving? And your great grandmother?

TW: Hey, we need to keep my great grandmother out of this!...and we definitely need to work on your memory. When discussing nutrition I often quote Michael Pollan, a professor at U.C. Berkeley and the author of several great books including The Omnivore's Dilmema (highly recommended...or if you don't like to read then just rent/download the movie Food, Inc., it's awesome!). Professor Pollan summarizes all of his incredible research into three short recommendations:

* EAT FOOD (he defines "food" as something your great grandmother would recognize...assuming she's still alive). Most of what we consider to be food in this country is really a "man-made, food-like substance." Unless it came out of the ground, off of a tree, or at one time had a mother then it's NOT food...it's just something created in a lab somewhere by really smart people that understand how to manipulate our behavior and increase "cravability." It's not complicated...they want to sell stuff and are not really interested in helping us live a long, healthy life. With food you must think of two things...quantity and quality. Food is fuel. We need to make sure we are putting high quality fuel in our tanks.

* MOSTLY PLANTS. Sounds simple but the research clearly shows we're not doing much of that. We should all be getting at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day but The Morbidity and Mortality Report published in September 2010 showed that only 32.5% of us get 3 servings of veggies! Upping our intake is a simple way to improve our health. Increasing our consumption of plants lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and also lowers our risk of stroke, osteoporosis, heart failure, kidney stones, cancer and diabetes! A great resource to learn more is a new book, The DASH Diet Action Plan. "DASH" stands for Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (hypertension is just a fancy name for high blood pressure). Not only is this a really healthy way to eat but they also now have data showing it also helps a great deal with weight loss (www.dashdiet.org).

* NOT TOO MUCH. Duh. With 68% of American adults either overweight or obese this is clearly easier said than done. I oversee a program here on our campus in Dallas called the Cooper Wellness Program. One week every month people come and live with us in our hotel and I like to say we "Cooperize" them. The program includes about 20 different lectures, personal training sessions and group exercise classes but much of what we zero in on is food. We have cooking classes and go on field trips to local restaurants but much of the focus is on why we eat like we do and how we can learn to overcome what has been defined as an "obesegenic" environment. My experience tells me that many of us are just really confused about what to believe and how we can take charge of our nutrition.

LMAO: Obviously I don't have a great memory (though I did remember being on your show, once you reminded me). Would you recommend fish oil? Ginkgo Biloba? More sleep? Recording every conversation on my iPhone?

TW: Here's what the research shows: Move! (Not your residence...your body.) Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have shown in a study of 299 men and women, with an average age of 78 that those that walked six to nine miles per week cut their risk of dementia in half. The exercisers also had larger brains compared to couch potatoes (ever since that whole Dan Quayle deal I always have to really pay attention on how I spell "potatoes"). John Ratey, a psychiatrist at Harvard, and the author of Spark calls exercise "fertilizer," or "Miracle-Gro" for the brain. It increases braingrowth factors which help memory and learning and it also increases neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, which aid with attention, focus, mood, and emotion. There are literally hundreds of reasons to exercise but I feel one of the main reasons is that it makes you FEEL BETTER...assuming you stay with it long enough to improve your fitness level. As I love to say: Walk the dog...even if you don't have one! If you improve your fitness level, and EVERYONE can, then you'll sleep better, look better, manage stress better, and BE better at whatever it is you do...parent, spouse, employee, employer, friend, etc. The research says you'll also be better at sex (I'm not sure when or what competition takes place but I'll keep you posted).

Fish oil (i.e. omega-3 fatty acids) is GREAT for the brain. All fats are NOT created equal and the omega-3's are the healthiest of all. The brain is about 60% fat so take pride if someone calls you a fat-head! The key is to make sure you get enough...either from fish (especially fatty fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring, anchovies) or fish oil supplements. The two key ingredients in fish oil are abbreviated EPA and DHA (these are "long-chain" essential fatty acids). Combined, the research shows that we need about 1,000-2,000 milligrams of EPA + DHA per day. If you are eating salmon three to four times per week then you're probably getting enough but the problem is the average American only eats fish once every 11 days (btw, fried cat fish does NOT count). If you take a fish oil supplement make sure you are getting the proper does of EPA and DHA since not all fish oils are the same in terms of concentration (most are about 30% while the better formulations range from 50-70%). Omega-3's are also beneficial for those that suffer from mild to moderate depression and/or for those with cardiovascular issues. Basically, if you have a heart or a brain you should be eating fish or taking fish oil supplements.

Regarding Ginkgo...the data is very positive regarding dementia (multi-infarct and Alzheimer's type) but is mixed on age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and memory enhancement (in healthy patients).

Getting appropriate amounts of sleep, seven to nine hours a night, helps enhance all cognitive function but unfortunately most of us are not getting enough.

If all else fails then recording all conversations on your iPhone is not a bad idea...although you may want to check with your attorney first.

LMAO: As you pointed out, one of the times I was on Good Morning Texas I did kicked my leg over my head. What exercises and foods are good for the joints?

TW: Depending of course on your general health just about all exercise is good for the joints. It's a myth that exercise causes arthritis but it can be very helpful for those that suffer from arthritis. Be sure to "start where you are" as opposed to where you used to be or think you should be. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) then I'd suggest visiting: www.myrafitkit.com. It's a free resource developed by our non-profit Cooper Research Institute and it offers some really great advice. Keep in mind there are over 100 types of arthritis with osteo and rheumatoid being two of the most common.

In terms of food, stay away from foods that promote inflammation, e.g., fried foods and processed foods that are high in seed oils (vegetable oil, corn oil, soy bean oil, etc.). Fruits and veggies help to lower inflammation which is great (yet another reason to include plenty in your diet). The omega-3's also really help lower inflammation as does vitamin D. Many studies show that close to 80% of Americans are low in vitamin D so be sure to get it checked by your doctor. There's a researcher in Minneapolis, Dr. Greg Plotnikoff that is an expert in the relationship between vitamin D levels and chronic pain, including joint pain. He says that just about everyone that comes to him with pain issues is low, and sometimes REALLY LOW in vitamin D. Our doctors at the Cooper Clinic recommend that we all get at least 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day but the real key is to make sure your blood level is somewhere between 40-60 ng/ml (see attached if interested).

LMAO: Can you tell my readers what you told me about being a skinny sedentary person versus an active person who is overweight?

7 BILLION PEOPLE

TW: We have two epidemics in this country...obesity and physical inactivity. One is easy to see while it's usually impossible to tell how fit someone is just by looking at them (trust me, "looks" can be VERY deceiving). Don't judge yourself by the number on the scale. Weight is just one of the many components of overall health. Our Research Institute has been studying this issue since 1970 and we've published over 600 scientific papers in the past 20 years, many of them exploring the relationship of "fitness" and "fatness" as it relates to overall health and longevity. The bottom line is that while we certainly don't endorse obesity the data will show that it's actually better to be fit and overweight than "skinny" and unfit. Let's face it, losing weight and keeping it off is tough but improving our fitness level is something we can all do. I think the big takeaway is that "Your health is your responsibility!" Of the SEVEN BILLION people on earth there is no one that has more impact on your health than you do. Not your spouse, your employer, your doctor, certainly not the government. If YOU are going to improve your health it's going to take commitment from YOU and one of the best places to start is to get moving. If you eat right and increase your physical activity then the weight will ultimately take care of itself.

LMAO: This is my exercise plan: Every other day I do 20 minutes of either cardio or weight lifting. That's my PLAN -- haven't executed it yet. Seriously, what exercise would you tell my readers is the least amount they should do every day?

TW: There was a Scottish philosopher in the 1700s name David Hume who said: A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence. The "evidence" as it relates to exercise is that we need, collectively, 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. "Moderate" means something along the lines of brisk walking. If you want to be more ambitious, e.g., running, swimming, cycling then you can basically cut that total time in half (if you increase intensity then you can decrease duration). Obviously 150 minutes is less than three hours a week and since we all have 168 HOURS in a week "time" is usually not the issue...priority is the issue. As I tell my kids, our priorities are defined by what we do, not by what we say. If you have time to watch Dancing with the Has-beens then you have time for exercise. It's also critical to incorporate a balance of cardiovascular exercise (i.e. aerobic activities that elevate the heart rate....e.g., walking, running, swimming, cycling, Zumba, etc.) and strength training (i.e. weight lifting). Yes ladies, that includes you. Weight training is critical to help maintain muscle tone and bone density and since one out of every two women will eventually get osteoporosis then it needs to be a priority. 20-30 minutes of weight training two to three times a week is all you need if you know what you are doing. A great resource is Dr. Miriam Nelson at Tuft's University in Boston (www.strongwomen.com). Be sure to remember what John Kennedy said: The time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining! I encourage you not to wait until it's too late.

I must go now...it's time for me to walk the dog!

* * * * * *

THANK YOU SO MUCH TODD!

Here's to your good health :)

And if you don't have a dog, you can walk yourself!

More about Todd: www.cooperaerobics.com

Even more about Todd: http://toddwhitthorne.com/

http://myrafitkit.com/

FLOSSING: A LOVE STORY

2012-02-14T01:20:00.000-08:00

My dentist told me I had to floss.

HIM: "People who floss live approximately six years longer than people who don't floss."

ME: "Yeah, but then I'll have to floss for like six more years!

* * * * * *

In thinking about this post I read a bunch of articles and Wikipedia about flossing. It's pretty straight forward and here's a brief summary:

* If they had to choose between brushing and flossing, some dentists would tell you to floss.

* Brushing without flossing is comparable to washing only 65% of your body.

* Regular flossing can reduce the chance of heart disease.

* The American Dental Association suggests that you floss once or more every day.

* Dental floss was invented in 1815 by a dentist named Levi Spear Parmly in New Orleans. He suggested his patients use silk thread. Nylon was later used around World War II, and more recently Teflon (Glide).

* Flossing can help with breath.

* Flossing gets rid of the bacteria which collects between your teeth. If left there it becomes plaque, which turns into tartar, which can only be removed by the dentist, and if not removed can lead to gingivitis or gum disease.

* Only 10 to 40% of Americans floss every day. What about YOU?

IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HEART!

* * * * * *

For more than two years they were fixing a bridge near our house, the route we normally took to get home. It was really inconvenient (okay, not REALLY inconvenient, but a pain in the butt) to go out of our way after driving that way for years. The end date of the construction kept getting pushed back. So it started out as something like a 9 month project and it turned into much longer.

One day I was bitching to myself about it. And it dawned on me: I can either do this every time I get in my car, or I can just skip that angst-filled step, I can just step over that frustration and accept the new way home.

* * * * * *

My train of thought is: Just floss. The part of you that doesn't want to -- just let that go.

* * * * * *

I used to want to be rich and famous, but now I just wish I had all of my original teeth.

* * * * * *

Speaking of bridges, if you have one in your mouth like I do you'll probably need special threader floss.

* * * * * *

That's all for now!

xow

LMAO

PS: Don't forget to floss!

6+ QUESTIONS FOR...BETSY HAMMER: MUSICAL, WHIMSICAL, WONDERFUL

2012-02-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

Betsy Hammer is a singer/songwriter/actor/author, all around amazing friend and the person who makes the best cheesecake in the entire world. I'm sporting a muffin top to prove it.

I've known Betsy for 7 years (lucky me) and I've seen her transform herself before my eyes, losing 50 pounds in 11 months using a diet called MY FAT CURE.

Since I've known her she also got a dog, Allie, the cutest Maltese, especially when chewing on a treat, looking like Groucho Marx.

In addition to writing and producing original music (Little By Little, What Would You Write If You Wrote About Me?), screenplays (Saving Cleveland), and music videos (Hang Onto Your Dreams) Betsy is also an Associate Music Supervisor and Music Co-Producer for films. Oh, and she has recorded with Neil Young!

I'm so happy she agreed to answer my questions!

LMAO: Betsy! You are from Hewlett, Long Island, New York, my mother's home town! Are you my sister?!

BH: Yes. We were keeping it from you until now. We knew the day would come.

LMAO: Are your real sisters as musical as you are?

BH: Not quite as musical, but don't tell them. One does pottery, the other does pot (I keed).

LMAO: Did your mother really hear you singing in your crib?

BH: Yes, she called it singing. It probably was baby cooing. I guess they were musical coos.

LMAO: You starred as "Prudie Crupp" in the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes, "Maria" in The Sound of Music, the "Phone Sex Lady" in Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights, and (speaking of pot) Nick Swardson's mother in Smoking Weed. Prudie, nun, phone sex operator, marijuana mama. Elucidate.

BH: And you wonder why I have an identity crisis?

BESTY WITH ADAM SANDLER
DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN

LMAO: You recently sang in a gospel choir on the TV show The Good Wife. Do you think there are health benefits to singing with others?

BH: Yes, the pay check helped pay for my therapy. Seriously though, I think singing with others is a healthy activity. You rarely see people fighting in the middle of a wide open sustained vowel.

LMAO: Laughing with others?

BH: Laughing is my favorite sound in the world. I do believe it's the best medicine! You, Wendy, and your blog, are two of the best medicines around.

LMAO: I remember the weekend before you started the My Fat Cure diet you were eating everything in sight. Please explain.

BH: That was my favorite part of the diet. You get to pig out for two days, and stuff yourself silly. All this stored food becomes the "furnace" that stockpiles your carbs and sugars as you navigate through a 42-day regime. It's 500-calories-a-day for 6 weeks, My energy level wasn't compromised. In fact I felt extremely energetic.

LMAO: What is the food that has control over you?

BH: Pasta has the biggest control over me, spaghetti, specifically. A close second is chocolate.

LMAO: Your music video is on YouTube! Hang Onto Your Dreams, with a fun cast including Flava Flav (who wrote the entire intro), Shayna Rose, Patty Schneider, Rodney Allen Rippy (the Jack-in-the-Box kid!) and Yours Truly (playing baseball). Do you play baseball/softball?

BH: I love softball and used to play it as a child. I still have my batt and mitt.

LMAO: Do you work out?

BH: Occasionally.

ASSORTED PAPERWEIGHTS

LMAO: Lift Weights?

BH: Yes, dumbbells.

LMAO: Paper weights?

BH: Yes, paper weights, paper clips.

LMAO: Has having a dog made your life better?

BH: ABSOLUTELY. My little Allie is SUCH a joy to me. She's as sweet as sugar. So cuddly and loving. That's definitely changed my life for the better. Hugging my silky Maltese beats hugging my binkee.

* * * * *

Music City Live - 1984 video

Sammy’s Dreidel

Betsy's Facebook Page

xow
LMAO

PAST MY SEXUAL PEAK AND MY CREDIT LIMIT

2012-02-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Part of my blog is to write about happiness. I will be happy when I make a little more money :)

* * * * * *

I saw a homeless man with a sign in front of a cup that said: The secret to life is to accept change.

CHANGE MAKER

But the word "accept" was ~~crossed out~~ and the new sign said: The secret to life is to make change.

Then part of that was ~~crossed out~~ and the new sign said: The secret to life is to take credit cards.

And there was one of those new credit card swiping SQUAREs attached to the man's cup.

* * * * * *

If you haven't heard of the SQUARE, it literally attaches to the top of your iPhone, and you sell someone something and swipe their credit card. Just like that. Ta da.

Of course the SQUARE people take a percentage of the transaction. That's how they make their money. That's why it's freakin' FREE!

I just ordered one. Now I need something to sell! Ideas?!

(I'm not putting the website because I don't want to be held liable in case it's a phishing scam and I just gave my bank routing number to a hacker.)

* * * * * *

xow

LMAO

4 QUESTIONS FOR...JOSH FADEM: ONE OF HIS FAVORITE MOVIES IS CABIN BOY

2012-02-05T03:45:00.000-08:00

Josh Fadem is a superstar. And he makes me laugh out loud. He was recently (this past Thursday) on 30 Rock, in his recurring role as Tina Fey's character Liz Lemon's agent Simon.

Originally from Tulsa Oklahoma, Josh is now in LA doing stand up and acting. He has performed at The Groundlings and The Upright Citizens Brigade, has contributed to Funny or Die and was named Daily Variety's "10 Comics to Watch."

When I interview people I usually send them questions via e-mail, they send me their answers, then I format, add pictures, link websites and voila: BLOG POST! But I had to respond to some of Josh's answers. He's kooky and unique.

Punctuation was left unedited.

This is the most disjointed, off-topic and shortest interview I've done but I love this guy.

Click on the underlined purple links and additional bold text for more information.

Enjoy!

* * * * * *

LMAO: You work with Tina Fey on 30 Rock. I've heard she's a FOODY. Are you a FOODY too? What's your favorite comfort food?

JF: what's a foody? is that someone who likes food? (LMAO: Yes.) well i have the biggest trouble with cookies and ice cream I suppose. I have to draw lines in the sandwich with the cookies and ice cream. then I just wanna eat the sand which has the lines drawn on em cuz it all just looks so yum...you know? (LMAO: Um not really Joshy!)

JOSH'S DOG BOBBY THE DOG

LMAO: I know you have a dog. How much time do you spend with your dog? Will you always have a dog? Don't you think some dogs should wear glasses?

JF: I usually take Bobby the dog with me wherever I go. But he barks or cries if he doesn't get to always be with me while out of the house. Haven't figured out how to fix that yet. I think if dogs needed glasses they'd probably have to be like "sniffses" instead, you know? like to enhance a weakened sense of smell. Sense of scent? Since, you know, dogs use their noses about as much as we use our eyes. So I've heard. My dog told me that. (LMAO: Oooookaaayyy.)

LMAO: I met you when we taped a pilot for a game show. What kind of games do you play? (Playstation type games, board games?)

A SQUEAKY TOY

JF: hmmm... none really. Maybe "throw the squeaky toy" with my dog. I'm extremely not competitive, unless one of my few areas of expertise are threatened.. or unless it's with someone I feel compteitive with , then I'll bottle it up silently and tell no one and say "that son of a bitch..." but be like "HEY BUDDY' out loud. Speaking of competitive, remember that awesome speech in "There Will Be Blood" where Daniel Day-Lewis is like "I have a competition in me, I want no one else to succeed..." that movie rules from another planet. (LMAO: I think you're playing a head game right now.)

LMAO: You work in a video store (do they rent videos anymore or just DVDs?). You are a Walking Wikipedia of all movie trivia. What are 3 of your favorite comedies? What's a great movie we've never heard of?

JF: We rent DVD and Blu-Ray. We sadly retired our VHS rentals :( but since there are so many VHS titles that still aren't available on DVD we have been transferring them to DVD and making those available to rent so it's kind of like renting and watching a VHS.

3 comedies... my favorite.. I think I like too many movies to pick favorites but I'll just rattle off some comedies that come right to mind that I consider comedy classics or underrated nuggets of comedy genius

Blazing Saddles

A New Leaf

Cabin Boy

Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy

The Dark Backward

Modern Times

The Navigator

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Starting Over

Quick Change

Defending Your Life

Okay there's 11 non-definitive in no particular order favorites.

and a movie you've never heard of? How about... "Simone Barbes or Virtue". You heard of that one? (LMAO: Nope!)

* * * * * *

Check out Josh's video store: cinefilevideo, follow them on twitter (@cinefilevideo), like them on facebook .

Also, check out Josh!

6 QUESTIONS FOR... MY LOYAL READER KATIE: EATING DISORDERS ARE A SYMPTOM, AND MORE

2012-01-29T19:04:00.000-08:00

Katie first wrote on my blog about her addiction to red licorice, and we became cyber friends. Both of us have suffered from anorexia and when I asked if she would share her story with my readers, she graciously agreed.

I highlighted some things in this color.

If it looks like this, it means you can click on it because it's a link to more information!

Thanks for reading. We welcome your comments and questions!

* * * * * *

LMAO: There are many different kinds of eating disorders. What did/do you suffer from? And what is your first memory of your eating disorder?

KID PRETENDING TO SLEEP

KATIE: I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at age 18 but likely met the critera at age 12. My first memory of feeling ashamed of my body and avoiding food was at age 6. My sister, who is 5 years older, was tall and gangly. My aunt commented on my sister's thinness and said, "She should look more like Katie." I was a thin child but my 6 year old mind internalized my aunt's comment as, "Katie is chubby." I came up with the idea that if I pretended to be asleep at dinner time I wouldn't have to eat. I played that game into my preteen years.

I maintain a healthy weight now but that urge to restrict and over-exercise still haunts me. I admit, sometimes I give into it. Though, I work hard to keep this in check. I don't know how others define being recovered but if I could rid myself of that urge I would say I was completely recovered.

LMAO: You're 45 now and have been a vegetarian since you were 12. Have you ever eaten a piece of meat by accident?

KATIE: LOL! No, I don't think so. But I am reminded of that Seinfeld episode where George sneaked lobster into the scrambled eggs as revenge upon Jerry's (vegan) girlfriend for witnessing his shrinkage. Maybe someone has done the same to me?

I want to mention that being vegetarian has nothing to do with my eating disorder. I stress this because professionals are quick to say it can be a precursor to an e-d. I just never liked meat but came from a family where we were forced to eat everything on our plate. At 12 something shifted. One day I looked at the piece of ham on my plate and became fully conscious that I was eating a pig. I couldn't imagine eating something that was once a live animal. The image of Wilbur from Charlotte's Web popping into my head didn't help.

LMAO: Does anyone else in your family have an eating disorder? And were other family members a part of your recovery?

KATIE: I've been estranged from my family since I was 21 <sad violin music> so I don't know about their well-being now. However, when I was 19 or 20 I found out my (favorite) cousin was bulimic. She later committed suicide. I mention her suicide because this is not uncommon among those with eating disorders and is often discounted as being related.

In retrospect, I think my sister struggled with anorexia for a few years in her mid-20s. I believe her weight-loss was originally stress-related but she also seemed to thrive on the comments that she was underweight. Interestingly, she had always been skinny, as we come from a tall, thin, gangly family. I think that tells us that eating disorders aren't really about one's weight.

Unfortunately my family was not part of my recovery. My upbringing contributed heavily to my eating disorder and being a ballet dancer fueled it further. I believe the anorexia was my coping mechanism for the abuse I endured. In fact, I was punished i.e. abused further for having brought attention upon myself. I was a dance major in college and was sent home my 1st semester to be hospitalized. I paid heavily for that.

LMAO: Has your eating disorder affected your friendships and/or romantic relationships?

KATIE: My first response was that I wasn't sure but how could it not? Though, between my shyness, the eating disorder itself, and the uber-control my family had over me (while living at home), it would be hard to flesh out cause-and-effect. I'm sure relationships from my youth were affected. While I had a lot of friends I did isolate myself more as I got older. The ballet world is isolating so that didn't help. I'd be very curious to know how my childhood and college friends experienced our friendship. In fact, I'd be curious as to how people experience it now.

I will say I am hyper-aware now of how it could affect relationships. A bad body-image day can rule whether or not I go out or what kind of mood I'm in if I do go out. I am usually able to rise above this but the discomfort and self-consciousness is nearly always there swirling around in my head. I am fortunate that I've never lost a friend as a result of my neuroses :)

LMAO: Do you have other addictions/obsessions/collections?

KATIE: I think my food/exercise addiction took up so much of my time I didn't have time to develop another.

Last year I gave up caffeine. I miss it! There is nothing like that morning cup of coffee *sigh*.

A CUTE DOG FROM GOOGLE IMAGES

I think I obsess over my dog :) I want her to have a good life. She is a rescue who was mistreated and abandoned. I probably project a lot onto her but I don't want her to suffer. I try to make sure I'm doing right by her. If that means allowing her to wake me in the middle of the night because her blanket fell off, then so be it. *laughing* It's the lease I can do for this gentle, loving soul as she has played an important part in my healing.

I do have a collection: toilet paper tubes. I have thousands upon thousands. They are displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelves in my basement. I've been collecting them for years.

Kidding!

LMAO: What is something you've always wanted to tell someone who doesn't understand your affliction?

KATIE: First I would love to go to hospitals and doctor's offices and do an in-service (education) about eating disorders. Sadly, many doctors still don't understand and victims of this condition fall through the cracks. I was one of them.

But for the general public I'd tell them:

1 - Eating disorders are a symptom of underlying issues i.e. it is not about weight. However, it has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder so it needs to be taken seriously.

2 - Despite kind-hearted intentions, it is never ever wise to comment on someone's weight-gain, viewed as criticism, or weight-loss, viewed as a compliment. For the eating-disordered person either comment will be used to justify the need to lose weight or maintain the current weight loss.

3 - You do not have to be emaciated to have an eating disorder.

4 - The physical effects can last years after you've recovered or even last a lifetime. Eating disorders are serious.

And finally, 5 - If you struggle with your eating, are concerned about someone or simply want to learn more, I recommend (in addition to seeking medical & psychological help) visiting www.somethingfishy.com.

Be kind to yourself. You deserve it.

* * * * * *

Thank you Katie!

You're helping people by sharing your story!

xow

LMAO

CRACKER FAIL: THE PERFECT STORM OF STONED WHEAT THINS and THE SKINNY ABOUT EXPLOITATIVE TV FROM ONE OF MY READERS

2012-01-26T18:09:00.000-08:00

I started this blog in October, admitting that I was addicted to crackers. (I JUST realized how similar that sounds to being addicted to crack. Which is not funny. Neither is my addiction to crackers.)

I was encouraged by readers who made a similar commitment to put the kabosh on the foods they were powerless over, and I was able to QUIT ALL CRACKER EATING.... Until two days ago.

This is how it all went down: I humorously tweeted about Wheat Thins, and the Wheat Thins PR people SENT ME A BOX OF WHEAT THINS. I put them on the kitchen counter and watched as the box sat unopened for a week.

Then one day I came home. Box = opened. Me = hungry, mad about something, nervous about something else. It was THE PERFECT STORM of Stoned Wheat Thins.

It was a smallish box and it was already half empty, so I didn't go KRAZY, but I did finish them.

My revised commitment (because I'm fallible): I won't do that again for another three months. Promise.

* * * * * *

My loyal reader Katie wrote:

AH! What is wrong with TV shows that exploit eating disorders? Dr. Phil had a young woman on his show who just THE DAY BEFORE was in the ER NEAR DEATH. So, he thought it was okay to bring her to his studio for a SHOW? To be a hero? Why not say, "I can't help you if you're not in the hospital." Put her in, interview her from there, and if he feels so compelled, document her treatment?

He basically had a dying woman on his show! The ER said she was about to die just a day before. Why didn't the hospital commit her?! This is insane.

Between Tracey (Gold)'s show, Intervention, Dr. Drew and Dr. Phil...they exploit people near death for ratings. It's disgusting.

These shows prey upon vulnerability by offering free treatment. I understand some people can't afford treatment and agree to be filmed in order to get the help they need. Why don't these shows offer the treatment, film their process/progress, but air it a year later -- only if they're well into recovery?

* * * * * *

I agree Katie. I was anorexic 35 years ago. Except that it is raising awareness by people like you and me speaking out against it, I think this kind of exploitation is criminal.

xow

LMAO

FLUX

2012-01-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

Everyone I know's life is in FLUX right now.

BIG TIME.

Major upheavals.

Shifts.

Transitions.

Transformations.

* * * * *

I saw a homeless man with a sign on a cup that said, "The secret to life is to accept change."

* * * * * *

I hope you feel safe, grounded, focused and loved while you get your bearings, find your footing, catch your breath.

xow
LMAO

NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POST
BUT REALLY CUTE

6 QUESTIONS FOR...CURT SMITH: RENAISSANCE MAN (WHO LIKES SOUR SKITTLES)

2012-01-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

Curt Smith is the co-founder of the uber successful British duo Tears for Fears which continues to perform worldwide. You've heard him sing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Mad World" and many other hits.

Curt also has a successful solo performing career. In addition, he writes music for film, TV and the web, and is a regular speaker at creative, media and technology events including Tedx and the upcoming UCLA Gravity Summit. He recently produced and hosted STRIPPED DOWN LIVE WITH CURT SMITH, which you can find archived by clicking here.

His manager is a friend of mine, which is how I contacted him. I'm so grateful that he took the time!

* * * * * *

LMAOWW: I see on your website that you like Skittles when you're on tour. How did this become your candy of choice? Were there other contenders? Do you need an intervention?

CS: To be precise, they're SOUR skittles (the others are pretenders to the throne). A member of our road crew is a candy addict. As is normal, he gave me a packet or two fro free; before long I realized I just had to have them every night. Nothing else gave me the same sour but sugary buzz. Suffice it to say he now charges premium prices, especially when we end up in markets where they don't sell such a potent candy. Intervention schmintervention! You cannot take my candy away!

LMAOWW: If I can be shallow for a minute, you look extremely healthy in your website photos. What is your workout routine? What are your eating habits?

CS:I love shallow. It's a trait that we should take more pride in. I'm a Cancer, and I work out every day. Normally 1 to 1-1/2 hours of cardio a day (running + hiking my two dogs), plus 3 days in the gym for an hour, and 2 days of yoga for 1-1/2 hours (to stretch out all the bits that get pounded in the aforementioned). I know it may seem like a lot and while I don't always enjoy it, the upside is the answer to your last question: I eat whatever the hell I want :)

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL
PICTURES OF TUSCANY
AT GOOGLE IMAGES

LMAOWW: How did your rock and roll lifestyle change after having children? Also, I see you turned 50 in June. What changes, physically and/or psychologically have you noticed?

CS: It took me a while to lose the post-baby pounds, but other than that not much - having not lived a pre-child rock and roll lifestyle. I did indeed turn 50 last June and left these shores to quietly observe the event in Tuscany, on the off chance that my entire face & physique would collapse that day. Fortunately they didn't so I came back. Psychologically I'm still barely post-pubescent so no worries there.

LMAOWW: How did your Social Media Project (the album-length work of collaborations with artists you meet over the internet) come about? How do you choose your collaborators? When and where can we find it?

CS: It started with one song I recorded called "All Is Love" that I thought required a great cello player. In the old world order that would have meant a record company or manager hiring an orchestral leader to find someone and write for them. In the new world order it took me looking for cellists on twitter & then watching their work on YouTube. I found Zoe Keating in 2 minutes on twitter because of her popularity, took another 2 minutes watching her on YouTube, sent an open message to her via Twitter 1 minute later, she responded about 20 minutes after that. I thought f..k this - easy AND creative. I choose collaborators based on whatever the song requires and based on artists I find appealing. All my solo music streams on my website at curtsmithofficial.com.

LMAOWW: Born in England, you became a US citizen in 2007. What is the difference between the food in England and the US? New York and LA?

CS: Mmmm - a part of me says protect my homeland but......let's face it, English food is not that good (apart from Sunday roast). Most people in the UK eat food from other countries as do people in the US. Let's just bow to Italy, France & Japan for making the best food shall we?

LMAOWW: You were on the show PSYCH in 2010. Have you ever been to a psychic, tarot card reader, palm reader? Do you believe in ESP, clairvoyants, that stuff?

CS: No - none of the above. That's why I love PSYCH - James Roday (Shawn) is a pretend psychic. I may believe in ghosts, but that's another story for another time (insert spooky music to make people believe there will be a follow up where I tell you about my deepest darkest psychic experiences).

xow
LMAO

HAPPY NEW!

2012-01-04T01:55:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So far so good!

It's like getting a first down!

A mulligan.

A do-over.

An extension.
A second wind.

HE REPEATED THE DAY
UNTIL HE GOT IT RIGHT!

A clean slate.

Another chance to begin again.

But it's really just another day.

So if you think about it, every day can be all of the above.

So, HAPPY NEW DAY!

* * * * * *

I've been watching a lot of the TV show HOARDERS.

I, myself, am neat but I have a lot of stuff. I'm like MONK with junk.

So this month I am going to de-clutter what I can!

I got the inspiration from a book I'm reading called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

* * * * *

xow
LMAO

WHEN I WORK OUT, THINGS WORK OUT!

2011-12-31T14:08:00.000-08:00

(Click on the purple words for more info!)

Okay, so I thought of a resolution!

My resolution is that I'm going to sweat a lot this year.

Not from sitting in a sauna or getting audited. I'm going to exercise sweat this year.

Because when I work out, things work out!

* * * * * *

Love to you all for a fun and safe night of celebration and transition!

xow

LMAO

SLEEPING WITH THE LYING DOGS

2011-12-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

STEVE MARKWELL

(Click on the purple words for more info.)

A little off the topic of health, except that dogs bring me more joy in life than almost everything else, I saw a TV magazine show segment a few years ago about a guy (Steve Markwell) who takes in vicious dogs that would otherwise be killed. (Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, WA.)

In an L.A. Times article, Mr. Markwell said, "The secret of taming the untamable is not being tough."

It's giving dogs their space until they're ready to let him in, exuding quiet kindness and corralling like-minded dogs together -- that allows for socialization and management of bad behavior rather than trying to immediately eliminate it.

One of the things in the TV piece has stayed with me for the past couple of years, and that is, in order to forge bonds and foster trust with particularly ferocious dogs, sometimes Steve sleeps in their kennels.

I love that so much!

DOG BORN WITH
HEART MARKING

I love THIS too----------->

Sometimes I lie (lay?) down with my dog Asti and nap with her on the floor.

ASTI aka BEAR

xow
LMAO

SPINNING WHEEL OF ENERGY!

2011-12-28T15:46:00.000-08:00

(Click on the purple words for more info.)

I found this unique exercise video. You're supposed to do it when you wake up. I can't commit to that, but I watched it (it's 15 minutes) so that's a start! And I've been thinking about it and I'm sharing it with you! (CLICK HERE!)

The goal of the exercises is to awaken all the chakras.

Chakras are our energy centers (vortices which spin, receive, and transmit energy). Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning "spinning wheel of energy."

There are 7 major chakras throughout the body (each situated at a major endocrine gland and nerve bundle), including: The root or base chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus, the heart, throat, brow and the crown chakra. They are invisible to the eye, but can be perceived intuitively, and can be used to promote physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

xow

LMAO

COMEDY AND GAS

2011-12-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

I recently performed at the Helium Comedy Club in Portland, Oregon (there's also a Portland, Maine, and I'm sure a Portland something else and there's also a Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia -- owned by the same people). Anyway, Helium Comedy Club in Portland is my new favorite club, city, place to perform.

I did four shows. One Thursday, 2 Fri, 1 Saturday, which was also Christmas Eve. The other comedians on the show were Todd Armstrong and Ian Karmel, both phenomenal -- both only doing stand-up for less than 3 years, both SO at home on stage -- I can't wait to see them as time goes on!

Helium Comedy Club is an amazing space for hilarity. It's like a vortex of truth and humor, connection and healing. It's like they're pumping in laughing gas! The sister club should be called NITROUS.

* * * * * *

My only niece, Jessica, just moved to Portland with her bff Amanda, and the two of them are the cutest, figuring out life in their 20s, just becoming themselves, yet at the same time a million times wiser than I am (they matured at the speed of light)! Both Jessica and Amanda have jobs and are thinking about going back to school but in the meantime they make me feel safe that the world is ending up in the hands of their awesome generation.

"COOL PEOPLE IN PORTLAND"
GOOGLE IMAGES

* * * * * *

I observed the people in Portland to be nice, helpful, conscious, green, laid back, smart, creative, cool, fun, humorous, whimsical, musical, all-around great. Pet lovers. Pot smokers. Mentors and educators. Open minded, forward thinkers. Entrepreneurs. Health food eaters. Givers. Sharers. Soulful. And present.

* * * * * *

HELIUM, "HE", the chemical element, #2 on the periodic table, defined on Wikipedia as a clear, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, gas. It is the second most abundant element in the universe after Hydrogen. (Upper right hand corner of the chart.)

Helium, the chemical agent that makes your voice sound squeaky like the Chipmunks, is used today in cryogenics (freezing humans when they die), and is important to the study of quantum mechanics.

* * * * * *

NITROUS OXIDE (N2O) = LAUGHING GAS or SWEET AIR.

When inhaled it can make the user feel dreamy, sedated and euphoric.

In the 18th century, British upper class used nitrous as a recreational drug at "laughing gas parties."

Nitrous oxide was first used as a dental anesthetic in the mid 1800s, and is still used in conjunction with local numbing agents.

If used excessively N2O can seriously mess up your brain.

Controlling nitrous oxide is part of efforts to curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

* * * * * *

Randomness:

During my second show on Friday night at Helium Comedy Club in Portland, I engaged with a man in the front row name Jansen. He is the Executive Chef at E.B. SMOKEY'S Barbecue & Grill.

Well, the gas helium was discovered by two men, and one of them was Jules Janssen, a french astronomer.

* * * * * *

I hope I can make you smile,
because a smile can lead to laughter,
and laughter is a gateway to health.

xow
LMAO

RE-SOLUTIONS

2011-12-20T12:29:00.001-08:00

I DIDN'T EAT A WHOLE
WATERMELON....BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN

New Years' Resolutions are pesky, tired things I tell myself around this time of year on how I plan to live my life come January (e.g., "exercise more, stick to a healthy diet, limit my vices, sleep like a normal person, finish this, get rid of that"). But I've only ever kept one resolution, and that was to eat at at least one piece of fruit every day for a year!

There are many definitions of the word RESOLUTION, including "The act or process or RESOLVING." Most definitions I've read have something to do with the ACT OF SOLVING something that's not right, in order to CONCLUDE it.

* * * * * *

In MUSIC, RESOLUTION means "To cause a tone or chord to progress from dissonance to consonance."

* * * * * *

Synonyms for RESOLUTION include JUDGMENT, DECISION and VERDICT.

Antonyms = HESITATION, INDECISION, VACILLATION.

* * * * * *

Put through my wendy-brain, it all boils down to: Finding ANSWERS to alleviate PROBLEMS, or resolving the nagging discordances in my life/soul.

* * * * * *

So, this year, my list of resolutions is:

1. I want to feel better.

I can solve #1 by: Exercising more, sticking to a healthy diet, limiting my vices (you know who you are), sleeping like a normal person (6-8 hours a NIGHT! In a ROW!), finishing my musical about Stand-up comedy called HOME ON TUESDAY, and throwing stuff away that I don't need anymore.

I plan on being DELIBERATE, ASSERTIVE and DEFINITE,

instead of wishy-washy, tentative and half-hearted.

I will be RESOLUTE!!!!! BOLD!!!!! DETERMINED!!!

* * * * *

I'll report back around this time of year next year on how I did. I'm making this commitment to you.

Have a healthy, happy, full-hearted, heartwarming, delicious and cozy holiday!

xow
LMAO

THE FIRST FOUR LETTERS OF HEALTH ARE HEAL!

2011-12-18T18:31:00.001-08:00

BY SARK

I've read a lot of books by an inspirational artist/writer named SARK.

I just started following her on twitter. The other day she tweeted a link to a beautiful Tedx talk, given by an OBGYN name Lissa Rankin, about HEALTH! (*CLICK RIGHT HERE*)

It's about 18 minutes. If you can't watch the whole thing, start at minute 11.

DR. RANKIN
GIVING TEDx TALK

Once Dr. Rankin makes her points, that health is not only how we take care of our bodies, but is also all based on our close relationships, spirituality, financial and work stability and creative outlets, it makes tons of sense.

Have a healthy week!

xow

LMAO

MIXING IT UP

2011-12-16T17:37:00.000-08:00

You know how they say to mix up your exercising habits (so you use all of your muscles)?

How about we mix up our diets!? So we don't get bored! So we don't get sick! So we don't eat a box of donuts.

Every day I usually eat fruits and vegetables and a little chicken for protein. I drink a lot of coffee.

So, this week I will implement the following into my regular regiment:

Sunday: Quinoa with salad dressing. At least 6 glasses of water.

Monday: Only eat foods that start with the letter "C" (e.g., chicken, cauliflower, cake).

Tuesday: I'll use my juicer and make broccoli & carrot juice. And a smoothie for dinner!

Wednesday: I'll eat raw all day. I'll let myself eat a little chocolate at night.

Thursday: I will let myself drink a Coke (regular, not diet). And peanuts from a vending machine (I'll be on the road).

Friday: Fish! (Not the pretzel or cheddar kind.) I'll use a tiny fork and a little plate.

Saturday: I won't eat anything before noon or past 9 p.m.

xow
LMAO

LMAO