The Eden Diet

I first heard about The Eden Diet from MizB over at Should Be Reading. At first I thought it was just another fad diet book, but after researching it a bit I found my initial assumption might have been wrong. So… I gave it a try.

In The Eden Diet, Dr. Rita Hancock promotes a manner of eating that is both incredibly freeing and ridiculously simple. Are you ready for it? Here it comes…

If you’re not hungry, don’t eat!

I’ll give you a second to digest that one.

Okay, back with me? So, how are you able to write a 200 page book around that simple concept? Well, Rita doesn’t just address what you should eat, she instead encourages you to try to understand how you should eat. Her solution to understanding this is to look to the Bible, in which we are told…

1. We shouldn’t be gluttonous (Proverbs 22:2, 20-21)
2. We shouldn’t worry about or think too much about what we will eat (Matthew 6:25).
3. We can eat any type of food (Mark 7:15-19)
4. We should eat to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
(page 38, The Eden Diet by Rita Hancock)

The Eden Diet is no diet at all. Instead, it is a call to trust this area of our lives to God instead of trying to go it on our own. Instead of eating foods that bring you no joy or being caught in a calorie counting loop, we should instead be eating foods that we love and not worrying so much. When you’re hungry: eat. Eat something you enjoy until you’re full and relish every bite. When you’re not hungry but crave something anyway, just wait. Once you’re hungry again, eat it! Treats are not forbidden; instead they should be joyfully accepted and enjoyed with no feelings of guilt.

The goal of this book is to remove the reader from bondage to food. Instead of looking to food for acceptance, love, or consolation, the reader is encouraged to look to God. Food gets put on the back burner (pun only kind of intended) and God is put first. The Eden Diet is no diet at all, but a call to adjust your attitudes.

Of course, Rita does caution us not to throw common sense out the window. While treats are allowed, put some thought into what you’re eating and don’t live on chocolate cake just because you can. She also is a big supporter of regular exercise, citing it as the number one tool of keeping lost weight off.

So, has it worked for me?

I finished the book about a month ago, and eagerly put it into practice. I’d be lying to say I’ve been 100% successful at eating only when my body tells me I need to, but it has caused me to put a lot more thought into my portion sizes. It’s been paying off, though. I’ve lost four pounds in the past month, which for me is hugely exciting.

The Eden Diet presents a solid, Godly method for weight loss. It is not preachy, but it is written with the assumption that the reader is living with a Christian mindset. For me it’s been a wonderful way to evaluate my eating habits and get my mind back to where it should be.

The Magicians

I picked up The Magicians on a whim one day. The cover was pretty and I had read all the other offerings on the shelf, so I thought I’d give it a go. I assumed I’d be transported to a world of whimsy and wonder that I’d never want to leave. Instead, I was transported a few states over to a place that I could really do without.

“Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable,” the back cover says. It’s true. Mopey Quentin is smarter than his friends and feels like an outsider. The only place he feels at home is Fillory, a Narnia clone that’s the main focus of a series of books he loves. His giftedness does make him a perfect candidate for Brakebills, a college for magicians. There’s no wand waving here: instead, students are treated to five years of finger breaking, mind numbing repetitions of hand gestures and spells. Languages are learned and conditions are considered. It is not very exciting.

And perhaps that’s the whole point. Taking the wonder out of magic leaves room for drama, and there’s lots of that. Quentin falls downward into a pit of personal drama and moral decay. He drinks, he cheats, he does whatever he feels like. Through it all, though, he keeps Fillory in the back of his mind. If magic is real, he thinks, then Fillory must be too.

So it’s not much of a shock when we learn that Fillory is indeed a real place and is in need of help. Quentin finally gets a chance to put his magic to practice and do some good. This side of the adventure is disappointingly short, however, and feels just as depressing as the rest of the story.

And that’s really the problem for me. I don’t require a happy ending, but I couldn’t help but feel completely alienated by the entire book. The Magicians is extremely aware of its influences, but instead of embracing them Grossman has chosen the path of dismissal. Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings are all referenced, but in such a way that you feel foolish for ever liking them. There’s no slow unfolding of a new world fraught with adventure and meaningful journeys. Instead there’s a bunch of drunk college kids doing something with their hands. Who cares?

While the story was certainly well written and engrossing, by the end I just felt discouraged and empty. There is certainly a sense of realism here that is hard to find in the traditional fantasy genre. I appreciate the unflinching portrayal of what an average teenager might do if faced with a magical world, that’s not what I’m reading a fantasy book for. Give me hobbits, Quidditch, and giant talking lions. Keep the drunken orgies to a minimum. Thanks.

There's a sequel coming out next summer called The Magician King. Rumor has it there will be more emphasis on the fantastical element. Grossman does have an interesting style, so I'm looking forward to seeing if a bit more of the fantastical will lighten the story a bit. Time will tell.

The Final Word:

The Magicians managed to take the magic out of magic. If you’re looking for the next Harry Potter, don’t expect to find it here.

Oh man!

Crazy how things slip away, huh?

I've been super busy with work lately, which is awesome. Maybe I have a bit too much, actually, because it's been zapping all of my will to read and write. Instead I find myself cross stitching and watching Futurama a bit more more than one girl should. Oh well.

So I do not have an update for the Shakespeare project yet, but it is not dead! I stopped off on act three of Titus, but I'll get back in the game soon. Hopefully. Sorry Will.

But hey, I got the new Great Big Sea album! Thankfully it was better than their last one, but I suppose that bar wasn't set very high. Old Sean got to sing a bit more this time than normal, which I'm on the fence about, but there were a few songs that I really, really enjoyed.

Here's the tracklist:

1. Long Life (Where Did You Go?) : When I put on an GBS album, I'm usually much more interested in hearing Alan's voice, especially right off. That being said, this was a rather rousing way to start things off.

2. Nothing But A Song: Rather forgettable for the album's single, but a little better than, um, what was that one on Fortune's Favor? Um... (Looked it up: Walk on the Moon. Right. That one.)

3. Yankee Sailor: Pretty whistle, very melodic. Can get stuck in my head. A solid B.

4. Good People: Sean again. Not a huge fan of the simplistic lyrics, but a nice sentiment nonetheless. One of the more forgettable ones.

5. Dear Home Town: This track has been lauded by many as the best on the album. I think it's definitely in the top three. Great melody, great horns, and a lot of fun.

6. Over the Hills: Bob's track. Hard not to sing along too, even if you don't know the words. Makes me want to join the army, but only until the song is done.

7. Hit the Ground and Run: Haha, what? What is this? I think I like it, but what?

8. Safe Upon the Shore: More from Sean. I think I like his voice more the less it has behind it, which makes this a cappella track my favorite of his.

9. Have a Cuppa Tea: Did you know that tea is a cure for hepatitis? Me neither, but you should neither doubt Newfoundlandian wisdom. Absolutely my favorite song off this album.

10. Wandering Ways: Is it just me, or is this a sped up clone of Harbour Lecou?

11. Follow Me Back: Very pretty. Not much more to say than that.

12. Road To Ruin: Fun and jaunty. Reminds me very much of the good old GBS days. Perfect for all you recovering Catholics out there.

13. Gallow's Pole: One more from Sean in there. They took a chance with this one, but I don't really know that I like it. Maybe leave the channeling of Led Zeppelin behind on the next album.

14. Don't Wanna Go Home: This one's setting up to be one of my favorites, even compared to the rest of their body of work. It's bouncy, happy, and a perfect note to end the album on.

What is this? I know it's bluegrass, but what?

If you're new to Great Big Sea, I wouldn't recommend this one. Go listen to Up, Play, or even Sea of No Cares. However it's good to know they're still making music at a regular rate, and you best believe I'll be seeing them next month in Waterville.

Now excuse me. I feel like my knee's got some water on it: better go have a cuppa tea.

Freelance upswing

Freelancing has been much more exciting and profitable this week. Yay!

I've managed to grab a few more jobs that have the exciting characteristics of being both profitable and interesting. Or at least more interesting than what I was doing before. My biggest so far has been an hourly transcription job that pays more than what I was getting at my last place of employment. It's been keeping me pretty busy the last couple of days, plus it's more physically demanding than I thought possible. My arms ache. Should probably look into a better working setup than lounging in an armchair with my laptop, huh?

Oh well.

It's been a crazy week, with the work and with other things, so I haven't gotten as much reading done as I'd like. That's okay, though, because the weekend is just about here. We'll start with the farmer's market and coffee with a friend, and then who knows where things will take us.

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday, what fun!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should Be Reading and sounds like a lot of fun. Here's what you do:

-Grab whatever you're currently reading
-Share two teaser sentences from a random page
-Make sure to add the name of the book and the author (great way to get recommendations)

So here goes:

"By the end of the week, Carlos and the matron were bossom friends. In spite of his notorious shyness, whenever she brought us hot tea he would sit up in bed with a shirt on and give opinions on the infertility of her eldest daughter and the lung ailment of her son-in-law who worked in the glassblowing trade."

-From Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

How To Save Money On Your Wedding

When my husband proposed to me we were both still in college. I was a senior English major while he was chipping away at the third year of his PhD. Suffice it to say, neither of use were really rolling in dough. A few months later, Matt got a job an hour away from where I was living that required him to live where he worked. As his job was in the back woods of Maine, I figured my chances of finding work would be better if I stayed near Bangor. We’d live apart for a year, raise money, and get married that summer. Of course, we forgot the fact that we have a hard time being apart for more than a few hours, much less a week at a time. It didn’t take long for us to decide to move the wedding up from July to December. Looking back from shortly after our sixth month anniversary, I am very sure we made the right decision.

Of course, that left us with a problem. We had between the two of us over $60,000 in school and consumer loans, one job, and four months to plan a wedding. Yeah…

It all turned out alright. I’m told the wedding was beautiful (I honestly can’t remember much of it), and the experience convinced me that there’s really no reason to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your wedding. If you’re getting married soon and are hoping to keep all your arms and legs attached to your torso, some of the things I learned might be helpful to you.

1. “Off season” should be called “half-off season:” I think the number one thing that kept my wedding costs down was getting married in December. My wedding was on the 27^th, and I mean, come one, who gets married then? Most of the people I did business with were offering discounts on their wedding services. The hall was cheaper. The decorations were cheaper. I was able to hit sales on my dress. The general ideas behind supply and demand definitely apply in this case: if no one else is buying, chances are good you’ll pay less.

(Can't say much for the weather, but the sales were great)

2. Put in time: The amount of time you’re able to put into planning your wedding is directly related to the amount you’ll spend. If you have the time to search sales, research vendors, and make contacts you will save hundreds of dollars.

3. Get crafty: Labor is not cheap. If you’re willing to put in your own labor you’ll save that much more. Search the internet for inspiration for homemade centerpieces, favors, and invitations. Shop sales and buy in bulk. I found that the Oriental Trading Company was a great resource for favor and centerpiece materials. If you’re good with laying out text in word documents, invitations made from kits can look as gorgeous as a professionally made invitation at a fraction of the cost. Invest in a glue gun. Make your bridesmaids earn their keep and have crafting parties. The more you can do on your own the less expensive your wedding will be.

(Our hand made wedding program)

4. Take a chance on a lesser known vendor: I really wanted to have some great pictures from my wedding, but I was appalled at how much photographers charged for their services. I was getting ready to suck it up and use a quarter of my budget on a well known photographer when through word of mouth I heard of a someone just out of college looking for work. I looked through the Facebook page she made for her company and was blown away by her creative take to wedding photography. The best part? She charged fraction of what the least expensive professional photographer was charging. The pictures she took were gorgeous and she was willing to spend much more time with the project than any of the high end studios would. If you’re willing to take a chance on someone who’s just starting to establish themselves you’ll save a lot of money and likely end up very pleased with the result.

(Sam was great - she even let us pull of this crap)

5. It’s all who you know: If you’re currently planning a wedding two things are true about the people in your life right now. One is they all have a variety of unlikely and useful talents. The other is (especially if they’re female) they all want a part of your wedding. Don’t be afraid to take people up on offers to help you out. I saved hundreds of dollars on my flowers because one of my bridesmaids had experience arranging bouquets. If you resist the urge to take all the pressures of your wedding onto your own shoulders you’ll find that there are a lot of people out there who would love to help make your day a success.

(My bridesmaid Monica pumps the the bouquet she arranged)

6. (And this is important now, so I’ll put it in all caps) BE FLEXIBLE: If you’ve had your wedding planned out since you were seven and you’ll be crushed if it’s not just so, chances are good you’ll be paying more than you’d like. It is crucial to be flexible and make the best of what is given to you without throwing money at every little detail. Are the candies you ordered for your favors not the right shade of blue? Who cares? Did the florist neglect to add enough baby’s breath with your order? No big deal! Does the caterer not offer the exact kind of pasta you wanted with your chicken parmesan? Don’t worry about it. If you present yourself as a calm and flexible bride, people will be much happier to work with you and more willing to negotiate on price. Keep your own stress level down will make you able to enjoy your special day, plus it can save you a lot money.

The most important thing to remember is that no matter what happens, the event itself is not what’s important. If you’re making the commitment to spend the rest of your life learning and growing with someone, your relationship is what’s important, not the ceremony celebrating it. Make sure that you don’t let the stress and chaos of wedding planning get in the way of the number one relationship in your life.

…And of course, if you can save money on your wedding, you’ll be able to put it towards an absolutely phenomenal honeymoon!

What You Will

So once I took a Shakespeare course.

Well, "took" is a strong word. More like "signed up for and skipped half of" a Shakespeare course. You could use that substitution for "took" with most of my college classes, but that's neither here nor there. What is both here and there is that I ALWAYS wanted to take a Shakespeare course. When I was in high school looking through the lists of classes the UMaine English department offered like the overachieving twit that I was the Shakespeare course made the biggest impression. "Imagine that," I thought. "A whole class dedicated just to Shakespeare! I bet anyone who is anything in the literary world has taken a class that's just about Shakespeare! I bet that class kicks so much butt! Sign me up!"

Of course, it took about two and half years of prerequisites until I was allowed to enter that hallowed 400 level course. By that time I had pretty much lost all will to study and had become entirely disenchanted with academia in general, so I didn't actually spend much time in the classroom itself, per say. I handed in some papers when the syllabus said to and somehow pulled a B. I loved professors who didn't take attendance.

ANYWAY what stuck out to me most from that class was how much I enjoyed the plays we read... until we had to talk about them. Man, talking about Shakespeare with a bunch of other twenty-something liberal art majors is probably the worst thing ever! They all seemed like they had something to prove, but I was never quite sure what it was. All I knew was that I certainly wasn't proving it. Every little detail of every play had to be talked over and some new facet of meaning had to be discovered. On days I'd show up for class I'd usually sit quietly in the back, avoiding the professor's eye contact and feeling completely intimidated. I mean, seriously guys, can't we just like the story?

No. No we can't.

So that's how I realized I was never meant to be an English major. I'm mostly just a person who likes a good story. Coincidentally enough, Shakespeare made some really good stories. Yes, I realize all his plots are borrowed from previously written plays, but he has so much fun with them that I don't even register it. I mean, have you guys read Othello? The whole thing's a total soap opera! Every bit of it is so over the top: how can you not love it? And don't even get me started on King Lear...

Well, all this Shakespeare love has given me a goal... a dream, if you will. My dad gave me this big fat Shakespeare anthology for my 21st birthday (it looked great on the shelf next to the bottle of Jose Cuervo a friend gave me the same day). It was more than two years afterwards that I first cracked it open, and holy cow! There's so much good stuff in there! I'm thinking that now that I don't have to try to compete with a bunch of my peers it might actually be kind of fun to read his plays and, y'know, try to think of something to say about them. Not something important, for goodness' sake, don't get worried. I just want to try to find the fun in them. Will's got such a reputation for being hard to access, but he's not! He's just fun!

Maybe I'll make a little project of this. See if I can't write a few posts about a few plays. I think first up I'll try to tackle some of the plays I was supposed to read for that class but didn't (sorry, Professor Brucher). One of the ones I most regret not reading was Twelfth Night. I like its other name better: What You Will.

We'll see what I will. We will.

Mmmmmmmmwah!

The Happy Virus

I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars
It is remarkably contagious -
So kiss me.

-Hafiz

Freelance Duldrums

I made the decision to freelance without thinking too much about it. There's this weird contradiction in me: I hate the idea of working but I feel a constant drive to earn money. Freelancing seemed like the answer. I could write from home, make money. No coworkers. No boss I have to talk to. Just me and a keyboard. I had romantic visions of me sitting in coffee houses with my (new, shiny) laptop, typing away without a care in the world. Buyers would love me, lining up to shower me with requests for articles at a dollar per word.

(insert record scratching sound here as the fantasy stops abruptly)

Sadly, what it's turned out to be so far is me sitting in my kitchen slurping down cream sodas and turning out the most insipid content imaginable for a pretty negligible salary. Last week I was writing copy for a site about shopping hauls. If you really are interested in knowing what these are, look it up. I applaud the idea to make the site, but I have a hard time finding 500 words to write about some teenager in Arkansas (or whatever) who thinks she knows best about hair products. I got through it. Five stars. On to the next thing.

Now I'm doing rewrites. I assumed I'd be rewriting an article once or twice and be done. No. 6 templates: "the Kindle has gone down in price! Find the best way to look up a cell phone number!" Over and over again. No finite number. Two a day until he changes his mind. But hey, $2.50 a pop and each one takes me less than ten minutes. That's more than they'd pay me to be librarian. I guess I can't complain. No coworkers. No boss I have to talk to.

Hey, did you know that the Amazon Kindle has gone down in price? It's only $189 now! That's less than its competitors!

In a dream land I'd have a blog (just like every other twenty-something in America). But this blog would be awesome! People would read it! People would comment on it! They'd have things to say! I'd have things to say! But there's so much to it. The more I read about it the less I think I can. You've gotta have a niche, you see. You've gotta network. No one reads a little blog all out there in cyberspace. Unless you find a way to attract people with the right combination of words (Amazon Kindle E-Reader! Justin Beiber! World Cup!) you're not going to get too much attention.

Not attracting too much attention. I think that's a talent of mine.

So do you want to learn more about reverse cell phone lookups? Because apparently that's something I know a lot about now.

Only $189.