Walk on by...

New plan for exercise. Now that the worst winter weather is mostly behind us- I want to start walking again. My plan is to walk to and from work everyday, about 2.5 miles each way. Tomorrow I start. I'm very excited about this plan. I know I won't be able to do it every single day, because I'll need my car some days, but I'm hoping 3 days out of five to walk to and from work. I've been wanting to do this for months, and now I can finally start.

Mexican Veghead

Eating vegetarian in Mexico was much easier than I thought. After the big walk, we were taken back to the CASA compound by our hosts and fed lunch. I was amazed at how simple, yet delicious this meal was. They were referred to as tacos, yet this was not like any taco I had ever eaten. The tortillas had been dipped in a red sauce, filled with different fillings, folded in half, and served soft and warm. The fillings included: seasoned potatoes (this was my favorite), refried beans, chorizo and potatoes, or cheese. Shredded cabbage seasoned with cilantro and lime were served on the side along with salsa. We were each given a plate with 4 or 5 of the little tacos, to which we could add the cabbage, roll it up, and dip it in salsa. They were absolutely delicious, and so filling. Later that evening for dinner, I enjoyed chili relenos prepared with huge pablano peppers and stuffed with cheese, dipped in egg batter and fried. It was delicious, served in a light red sauce alongside brown rice. This delightful mean was prepared by my host's cook, who had a hot meal waiting for us when we returned at the end of the day- my hostess from her riding competition, and me from the fund raising walk. It was a nice end to a very busy day.

Living La Vida Carne

I´m here in Mexico for the San Miguel Walk. I thought it would be difficult to eat meat-free in such a carnivorous culture, but I´ve done quite well. Last night my hostess made grilled salmon for dinner. The day before I had tortilla soup (it is prepared with no meat here, but enough other stuff floating around to make a meal), and today for lunch I had homemade cheese flautas. I´m enjoying the local cuisine. Avocodos are a steal here so I´ve had homemade guacamole and tomatoe sandwiches twice! Tonight more culinary adventures await. Still have to try the local sopas and flan! Homemade bread is in great abundance. Eating my way through San Miguel- I´ll have to roll instead of walk! For my veghead kiddo, I left her stocked up with vegetarian frozen meals for the duration of my trip- unlike me she´s extremely committed to not eating meat and I was afraid she´d live off milk and cereal till I got back!

Adventures in animal-free eating

No, I didn't have tofukey for the holidays. I consumed the usual Christmas ham and New Year's turkey- BUT- I did enjoy discovering a recipe for vegan enchiladas and vegan spaghetti sauce, and vegan meatballs. I also had vegan tacos and Italian 'sausage' pizza. My thirteen year old has come along with me on this flesh-eschewing journey and it has been fun to have someone to do this with. Next week, we are planning a trip to the health food store together to load up on our next batch of new flesh-free meats to try. I'm also experiementing with cooking with tofu- totally new to me. I added some to the spaghetti sauce and really like it. Even my family ate the vegan spaghetti without balking (too much).

I'm in training for the San Miguel Walk(sanmiguelwalk.com), scheduled for Jan. 24th in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I've booked my flight and look forward to the one day mountainous walk. Hard to train for the mountains when you live on the plains, but I'm doing my best.

Book Orgy

MIND
Quite spontaneously, I stopped at the book store last month and without really thinking about it, purchased 6 new books to read. They are:
90 Minutes in Heaven- Don Piper
Tuesday with Morrie- Mitch Albom
A Mercy - Toni Morrison
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle- Barbara Kingsolver
Stephen King- Just After Sunset
Reading Lolita inTehran- Azar Nafisi
At the time I swerved my car into the bookstore parking lot, I was listening to NPR to a critique of Stephen King's new collection of short stories. I confess I hate horror and rarely read it- especially Stephen King who I find particularly creepy. However I was so intrigued by the review, that I stopped my car as I just happened to be driving by a book store as the radio program played. I found the Stephen King book very quickly and then perused the sale table where I found the others. They are all books I've wanted to read for some time. I read "90 minutes" "Mercy" and "Tuesdays" right away within a day or two. I got bogged down in "Animal" when it became less discriptive and more preachy (I normally love Barbara Kingsolver's novels- but of course this book isn't a novel but a work of nonfiction based on her family's experiment of living for a year on food they produced themselves or purchased locally). I still intend to finish it but its been a few weeks since I picked it up. I haven't started "Lolita" yet but I look forward to reading it over Christmas break. The best surprise read hands down was- you guessed it- Stephan King. These scrumptious short stories are not skin crawling physical horror, but more psychological thrillers and very cerebrally satisfying. My impromptu trip to the bookstore (and my unplanned raiding of the family budget) proved to be a success. I should visit the library or my favorite half price bookstore more often to give my mind a more diverse and tantalizing diet.

What I know for sure

Exercise
For the second time now, I have pulled a ligament in my foot while exercising and find myself limping around unable to exercise much at all. The first time, I was on crutches for 3 days after attending an aerobics class. This time, I walked for seven miles (about 4 hours) and the next day I found myself limping and having pain. Fortunately I can continue my yoga routine (a 15 minute morning workout with Rodney Yee) for now. It's a little disheartening to be so fat, that you injure yourself exercising- but I press on- with an emphasis on LOW IMPACT.
Food
On the food front- I purchased some vegan taco mix and veggie burger mix to try. I'm excited to give it a whirl. My 13 year old is doing the veggie/vegan experiment with me- so we are trying new recipes together. Tonight I want to try to find a vegetarian enchilada recipe that works for me. I'll combine the 'taco mix' with a recipe I found in Skinny Bitch in the Kitch and see how it works. I had lunch at my favorite vegan restaurant (SEED) yesterday and I still think their veggie burger is the best thing on dry land. Last night I splurged and made shrimp for dinner (I still eat fish and seafood) and it was a treat. We ate them steamed with cocktail sauce. Yesterday I made fish tacos with tilapia that I sauteed with mushrooms, onion, diced tomato, green chilis and corn. I'm always on the lookout for vegetarian meals I can make for my family that will fool them or make them forget they are not eating meat- they don't always eat fish and seafood very well either.
Mind
I'm reading Eckart Tolle's 'A New Earth.' I'm loving this book. I read it in no certain order starting in the middle and re-reading bits and pieces whenever I pick it up. I picked it up yesterday (I keep it in my purse so I can read at spare moments) and started reading near the beginning. It was like reading it for the first time again. I'm learning more than I can possible integrate. I like knowing that I can control my mind and it does not control me. Oprah always asks 'what do you know for sure?' I'm beginning to know that my life is whatever I believe it is- if I act on that belief. I know that life is good and that I embody life and that 'choosing the good' is my decision to make every day.
Spirit
My daily quiet time is very enriching for me. I light candles, burn incence, read the Bible and meditate. It's a lovely way to start each day. I'm looking forward to going the the Holy Land (my friend's spiritual retreat center in central Missouri) this weekend for her annual Winter Solstice celebration- if the weather holds and driving conditions are good.

Move

My exercise regimen consists mainly of 15 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of aerobics every weekday morning. I supplement this minimalist workout with stair walking. My office at the college is located on the second floor, so I have to walk up 23 stairs to reach it. My goal is to walk UP the stairs 10 times during the day. I'm trying to figure out a schedule for re-introducing my weights. I've now completed my first week full time at my new job and have a better understanding of how my time is organized. One unexpected consequence: I didn't see my husband AT ALL this week except when he was asleep. We didn't see one another awake not once this whole week. We did talk on the phone briefly everday, but I never got to touch him. That was strange and unexpected. I expect that to change when his schedule slows down- its the busy season for his job. Right now I'm focusing on how to revv up my exercise with the schedule I have. I'm sitting on my butt or standing in place lecturing most of my day. I need more movement incorporated in my day.