So after a week of major diet modifications, I ran into some challenges. Knowing what to eat is easy since I have a pretty narrow list of stuff I'm not allergic to, it's just weeding the other stuff out that has been difficult. These things were rough for me this past week:
1. Eliminating gluten. Although I'm not celiac, I am borderline and have a high intolerance to wheat gluten. I have come to discover that wheat or wheat by-products are in frigging everything! I was never a big processed foods person, but looking at labels made me realize I am going to have to start being really careful. Gluten-free baking mixes and products are more available than they've been in the past, which is lucky for me, so I will start using them.
2. Eliminating beef and dairy. Seriously, how am I supposed to get my cheeseburger fix on? Fortunately I am strong of will right now, so I am buying more poultry and seafood and not buying beef at all. I stare wistfully at the meat counter - the rib-eyes, the New York strips .. and lets not forget the t-bones. How I will miss thee.
3. Cutting down on grains. The doc said one serving a day of rice or grains that are not wheat or contain gluten. This narrows it down to things like quinoa and rice. I'm Asian, so this presents a challenge. But I am supposed to eat more potatoes, so it kind of balances out I guess. Still it's hard to make only a little rice in a big ol' rice cooker.
After the first week, although I am frustrated by not being able to just eat whatever I want, I am feeling a little better. I am experiencing a little less stiffness and swelling in my joints and am feeling pretty good about what I do eat. Let's see what this week brings. My goals are to eat all five fruits and vegetables every day and drink more water. And so it begins.
-3 -3
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Movie Review: Let the Right One In
Let the Right One In (2008, R)
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Genre: Forign, Foreign Horror
This oddly bittersweet coming of age story between a young boy and the not-so-average girl next door left me with strong feelings of nostalgia. We always remember our first love, but this takes it a step further - not only does Eli, the new girl in the neighborhood help Oskar, the neglected protagonist stand up for himself against a group of vicious bullies, but she lives on blood as well. I mean, bummer, right? Not so in this case.
Teenage (or in this case pre-teenage) angst isn't all with which Oskar must contend. He is also dealing with an emotionally absent mother, a flaky, irresponsible father, and getting a can of whoop-ass opened on him with dismaying frequency. With Eli, he finds a friend who not unlike himself feels confused and profoundly alone, and dealing with her own horrors. Because of what she is, she is at first distant with Oskar, but their relationship develops into a darling first-love experience, and the fact that she is capable of acts of stunning violence makes their budding relationship all the sweeter. They become dependent on each other, and the climactic pool scene affected me profoundly. It didn't scare me, but I felt hot and cold and trembly all over, like when I don't want a good book to end, and the love that Eli shows Oskar and her fierce protectiveness of him, although a little unnerving, was truly touching.
I can't say there is much that made me jump as I thought it would since this was marketed as a vampire movie, but I found much, much more than I expected from it. The scariest part of this movie was the reality of people's cruelty to one another. Ironically, I found the vampire to be the kindest, most vulnerable, and most moral character in the whole film. We should all have best friends like that.
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Genre: Forign, Foreign Horror
This oddly bittersweet coming of age story between a young boy and the not-so-average girl next door left me with strong feelings of nostalgia. We always remember our first love, but this takes it a step further - not only does Eli, the new girl in the neighborhood help Oskar, the neglected protagonist stand up for himself against a group of vicious bullies, but she lives on blood as well. I mean, bummer, right? Not so in this case.
Teenage (or in this case pre-teenage) angst isn't all with which Oskar must contend. He is also dealing with an emotionally absent mother, a flaky, irresponsible father, and getting a can of whoop-ass opened on him with dismaying frequency. With Eli, he finds a friend who not unlike himself feels confused and profoundly alone, and dealing with her own horrors. Because of what she is, she is at first distant with Oskar, but their relationship develops into a darling first-love experience, and the fact that she is capable of acts of stunning violence makes their budding relationship all the sweeter. They become dependent on each other, and the climactic pool scene affected me profoundly. It didn't scare me, but I felt hot and cold and trembly all over, like when I don't want a good book to end, and the love that Eli shows Oskar and her fierce protectiveness of him, although a little unnerving, was truly touching.
I can't say there is much that made me jump as I thought it would since this was marketed as a vampire movie, but I found much, much more than I expected from it. The scariest part of this movie was the reality of people's cruelty to one another. Ironically, I found the vampire to be the kindest, most vulnerable, and most moral character in the whole film. We should all have best friends like that.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Belated New Year, Belated New Me
But better late than never.
The holidays always put me in crisis - sad over the loss of the kids, bad holiday memories, depression (not in the clinical sense I suppose, but at the very least a severe case of the bummers that prohibit any kind of activity, happiness, or holiday cheer), you name it. I don't care for the holidays. To some they are a welcome break - and I admit I did appreciate having some time off, but whilst others see them as an occasion, I see them as a disruption. They memorialize terrible things, and I am always relieved at the weight off my shoulders when they are over.
Due to my state at my previous to last appointment at the nutritionist (December 20, right smack dab in the middle of a bunch of BS), I was given a reprieve. Survival mode kept me through, but now I can't make that excuse anymore. I went back on Friday and my numbers were pretty bad. The nutritionist was very nice about it, but said that she would really like me to start taking better care of myself. I know I should, we all should, so now I am.
It really hit home the other day when one of the neighborhood cats who conveniently frequents my back porch at mealtimes showed up after a few days of not seeing him. He was all beaten up - swollen, dribbly eyes, cuts and bites, skinny and stinky ... I got out the kitty first aid kit, got him all cleaned up and fed him. I feed the cats - all the cats, strays and mine own - really good cat food. On weekends they get a treat of really good canned cat food. They are getting good nutrition, so generally they are in good health, have clear eyes and wonderful coats. They get the best. I feed myself crap. Junk food, food I know I am allergic to, food with no nutritional value, and way too much of it. As I watched that smelly tom scarfing away, I realized that I take way better care of him than my own self. I don't feel healthy at all - I'm tired, listless, heavy and in pain.
Today is the first day of the year as far as I am concerned. I pulled out all of my food lists and plans that my nutritionist went over with me, planned for the week and packed accordingly for the day. School days are more of a challenge as I am gone from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., so I have to plan for not eating at home for the entire day, but it it is not impossible as the excuses I have been making would say. I am excited, encouraged, and empowered to finally be taking care of myself and making myself important enough to treat myself as well as I treat those cats.
I will look forward to my next appointment and see how my numbers have improved.
211:16
The holidays always put me in crisis - sad over the loss of the kids, bad holiday memories, depression (not in the clinical sense I suppose, but at the very least a severe case of the bummers that prohibit any kind of activity, happiness, or holiday cheer), you name it. I don't care for the holidays. To some they are a welcome break - and I admit I did appreciate having some time off, but whilst others see them as an occasion, I see them as a disruption. They memorialize terrible things, and I am always relieved at the weight off my shoulders when they are over.
Due to my state at my previous to last appointment at the nutritionist (December 20, right smack dab in the middle of a bunch of BS), I was given a reprieve. Survival mode kept me through, but now I can't make that excuse anymore. I went back on Friday and my numbers were pretty bad. The nutritionist was very nice about it, but said that she would really like me to start taking better care of myself. I know I should, we all should, so now I am.
It really hit home the other day when one of the neighborhood cats who conveniently frequents my back porch at mealtimes showed up after a few days of not seeing him. He was all beaten up - swollen, dribbly eyes, cuts and bites, skinny and stinky ... I got out the kitty first aid kit, got him all cleaned up and fed him. I feed the cats - all the cats, strays and mine own - really good cat food. On weekends they get a treat of really good canned cat food. They are getting good nutrition, so generally they are in good health, have clear eyes and wonderful coats. They get the best. I feed myself crap. Junk food, food I know I am allergic to, food with no nutritional value, and way too much of it. As I watched that smelly tom scarfing away, I realized that I take way better care of him than my own self. I don't feel healthy at all - I'm tired, listless, heavy and in pain.
Today is the first day of the year as far as I am concerned. I pulled out all of my food lists and plans that my nutritionist went over with me, planned for the week and packed accordingly for the day. School days are more of a challenge as I am gone from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., so I have to plan for not eating at home for the entire day, but it it is not impossible as the excuses I have been making would say. I am excited, encouraged, and empowered to finally be taking care of myself and making myself important enough to treat myself as well as I treat those cats.
I will look forward to my next appointment and see how my numbers have improved.
211:16
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Another School Shooting
Two students were shot and injured this morning at Gardena High School when a "gun in a 10th grader's backpack accidentally discharged when he dropped the bag." (Thomas Watkins, Associated Press.) I could go on and on about the way a firearm functions, but that would just take too much energy - but suffice it to say I have a hard time accepting it accidentally went off. Not having been there, I can't assume anything, but in my experience with handguns, and I've shot thousands of rounds, not one has ever just gone off, nor have the numerous other shooters I have worked with ever had that happen.
This makes me sad on so many levels. I didn't grow up rich, but I sure didn't have to go through what these kids are going through these days, feeling like they need to bring a gun to school. There was no fear of getting shot by other students, either. The two kids who were hurt are so young, they shouldn't have to feel mortal at this time in their lives. Sad, sad, sad. Who knows what the kid with the gun was thinking, but how he got possession of the weapon in the first place raises another host of questions. Madness! Insanity!
I'm not going to go off about gun control or gun rights or any of that, especially considering what the student did was against the law anyway. But as a gun enthusiast, seeing the comments that ignorant people make about those subjects makes me even sadder, as do people who hide behind their computers, cast dispersions on people of other races, and say the cruelest things imaginable. It's not my place to tell people what to say or what to think, but I am happy to know that I don't have to be one of those people.
I wish the two victims a speedy recovery and pray that they will get help for the emotional scars they will have.
If you are a gun owner, please, please, PLEASE be careful where you leave it if you have kids! Your kid may be responsible, but why take the chance?
This makes me sad on so many levels. I didn't grow up rich, but I sure didn't have to go through what these kids are going through these days, feeling like they need to bring a gun to school. There was no fear of getting shot by other students, either. The two kids who were hurt are so young, they shouldn't have to feel mortal at this time in their lives. Sad, sad, sad. Who knows what the kid with the gun was thinking, but how he got possession of the weapon in the first place raises another host of questions. Madness! Insanity!
I'm not going to go off about gun control or gun rights or any of that, especially considering what the student did was against the law anyway. But as a gun enthusiast, seeing the comments that ignorant people make about those subjects makes me even sadder, as do people who hide behind their computers, cast dispersions on people of other races, and say the cruelest things imaginable. It's not my place to tell people what to say or what to think, but I am happy to know that I don't have to be one of those people.
I wish the two victims a speedy recovery and pray that they will get help for the emotional scars they will have.
If you are a gun owner, please, please, PLEASE be careful where you leave it if you have kids! Your kid may be responsible, but why take the chance?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Movie Review: El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
El Orfanato (The Orphanage) (2007, R)
Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Starring: Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin
Genre: Foreign Thrillers, Spain, Spanish Language
It has been a very long time since a movie made me pull the blankets up to my nose and grab my man. This Spanish-language thriller, I am happy to report, scared the $#!+ out of me.
Laura and Carlos, along with their young son Simon, move into the house that was once the orphanage in which Laura grew up. Her fond memory of the house leads her to the decision to open a facility for children with special needs in the house. Soon, Simon begins to make friends that no one else can see and on the facility's opening day, disappears. Laura searches for Simon for several months, but it is scavenger game set up by Simon's "friends" that helps her unravel the mystery of her missing son.
Belen Rueda's portrayal of an inconsolable, tortured mother is completely heart-wrenching, and had I not been so terrified of the events the house was displaying, I would have reached through the screen and hugged her. Geraldine Chaplin plays the medium whom Laura calls on to help figure out what happened in the house after she was adopted, and I must say her Spanish is impeccable. She is able to tell them what happened to the other children, but does not see where Simon is. She admonishes Laura to have faith and she will find the answer.
Sadly, Simon's disappearance is not supernatural at all and when Laura discovers the truth, she has no one to blame but herself. Sad, tragic, scary as hell, this movie was a thriller from start to finish. If you want to get some adrenaline pumping, I recommend watching this with all the lights off. Thumbs up!
Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Starring: Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin
Genre: Foreign Thrillers, Spain, Spanish Language
It has been a very long time since a movie made me pull the blankets up to my nose and grab my man. This Spanish-language thriller, I am happy to report, scared the $#!+ out of me.
Laura and Carlos, along with their young son Simon, move into the house that was once the orphanage in which Laura grew up. Her fond memory of the house leads her to the decision to open a facility for children with special needs in the house. Soon, Simon begins to make friends that no one else can see and on the facility's opening day, disappears. Laura searches for Simon for several months, but it is scavenger game set up by Simon's "friends" that helps her unravel the mystery of her missing son.
Belen Rueda's portrayal of an inconsolable, tortured mother is completely heart-wrenching, and had I not been so terrified of the events the house was displaying, I would have reached through the screen and hugged her. Geraldine Chaplin plays the medium whom Laura calls on to help figure out what happened in the house after she was adopted, and I must say her Spanish is impeccable. She is able to tell them what happened to the other children, but does not see where Simon is. She admonishes Laura to have faith and she will find the answer.
Sadly, Simon's disappearance is not supernatural at all and when Laura discovers the truth, she has no one to blame but herself. Sad, tragic, scary as hell, this movie was a thriller from start to finish. If you want to get some adrenaline pumping, I recommend watching this with all the lights off. Thumbs up!
Off Centered
Feeling very off-centered today. Last night a judge came to guest-lecture for my class and it turns out he knew my biological father from when he worked as a public defender. He said if I call the PD office, there is bound to be someone there who worked with him and be able to tell me if there is any other family. I don't think I care so much to know about my father, but I would like to know if I have siblings and maybe see my aunt. I don't know. We'll see.
I also discovered today was a missed opportunity to see a friend who I love dearly and never get to see. Had I been told the opportunity was there, I would have taken it, but I wasn't. Don't know why that makes me so sad, but it does. Sad, disappointed and a little hurt. But I have learned that disappointment only stems from how I want things to be, not what they are, so it's really my own fault.
(c) klrenshaw 2011
I also discovered today was a missed opportunity to see a friend who I love dearly and never get to see. Had I been told the opportunity was there, I would have taken it, but I wasn't. Don't know why that makes me so sad, but it does. Sad, disappointed and a little hurt. But I have learned that disappointment only stems from how I want things to be, not what they are, so it's really my own fault.
On a lighter note, I took some great pictures in San Diego last weekend. This was my favorite, and illustrates how I feel about the world today.
(c) klrenshaw 2011Fortunately, I'm too shallow to be down for long!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Movie Review: Laura
Laura (1944, NR)
Director: Otto Preminger
Starring: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb
Genre: Film Noir, Classic Thrillers, Mystery
While police detective Mark McPherson investigates the murder of advertising executive Laura Hunt, he becomes obsessed with her as he interviews the potential suspects and her friends, and examines her apartment and letters. The top two suspects, a pair of metrosexual suitors - one her friend and mentor, and the other her fiancee, tell differing tales of what happened on that fateful night. This only strengthens his resolve to find the real perpetrator. In a surprise twist, which I will not spoil for you, oh my numerous readers, the urgency to solve the crime becomes greater and McPherson finds himself falling in love with the woman he believes Laura to be.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Vinny Price in such an interesting role - I usually think of him in scary movies, so to see him in his youthful exuberance was refreshing. His performance as Shelby Carpenter, the fop who finagles his way into Laura's world, was excellent. Carpenter recognizes his weaknesses and is able to make fun of himself, which charms others. Gene Tierney plays Laura Hunt wonderfully well. Her grace and beauty are admirable. Dana Andrews as McPherson was my favorite, though. I'm always attracted to the jaded, indifferent characters (as my former love life will attest), but he ends up being a lot more than meets the eye.
In my recent discovery of film noir, thanks to a dear friend, I have noticed that the speech, manner of dress, and lavish lifestyles may have changed, but the issues are remarkably relevant. Presumably killed in a jealous fit, the concept of Laura is not all that different from characters we see in movies today. Love, jealousy, violence, mystery and a touch of romance ... it's what the good stuff's made of.
Another winner, in my opinion.
Director: Otto Preminger
Starring: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb
Genre: Film Noir, Classic Thrillers, Mystery
While police detective Mark McPherson investigates the murder of advertising executive Laura Hunt, he becomes obsessed with her as he interviews the potential suspects and her friends, and examines her apartment and letters. The top two suspects, a pair of metrosexual suitors - one her friend and mentor, and the other her fiancee, tell differing tales of what happened on that fateful night. This only strengthens his resolve to find the real perpetrator. In a surprise twist, which I will not spoil for you, oh my numerous readers, the urgency to solve the crime becomes greater and McPherson finds himself falling in love with the woman he believes Laura to be.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Vinny Price in such an interesting role - I usually think of him in scary movies, so to see him in his youthful exuberance was refreshing. His performance as Shelby Carpenter, the fop who finagles his way into Laura's world, was excellent. Carpenter recognizes his weaknesses and is able to make fun of himself, which charms others. Gene Tierney plays Laura Hunt wonderfully well. Her grace and beauty are admirable. Dana Andrews as McPherson was my favorite, though. I'm always attracted to the jaded, indifferent characters (as my former love life will attest), but he ends up being a lot more than meets the eye.
In my recent discovery of film noir, thanks to a dear friend, I have noticed that the speech, manner of dress, and lavish lifestyles may have changed, but the issues are remarkably relevant. Presumably killed in a jealous fit, the concept of Laura is not all that different from characters we see in movies today. Love, jealousy, violence, mystery and a touch of romance ... it's what the good stuff's made of.
Another winner, in my opinion.
Monday, January 3, 2011
2010 Photo Rodeo
Beautiful lily in my back yard 
Evidence photo assignment 
Erin's hands
MINE! MINE! MINE!
What you did there - I saw it. 
Gorgeous baby giraffe
Someday ...
Be vewy, vewy quiet ... 
Definitely gonna get this when I get rid of my Toyota
Back yard still life
We shall not abide your shenanigans here. Good day, sir! 
The Maori symbol of new life
Whatchoo mean cheezburgers iz lie?
June Buggy stops to smell the roses
Aquarium of the Pacific
Gato and Jethro hangin' out
Have him bathed and brought to my chambers post haste. 
With love in mind 
'Shrooms on my eucalyptus tree
Gives you some perspective, don't she?These are just a few of my favorites from 2010. Merry New Year, everyone!
Movie Review: The Crimson Kimono
The Crimson Kimono (1959, NR)
Director: Samuel Fuller
Starring: James Shigeta, Glenn Corbett, Victoria Shaw, Anna Lee
Genre: Film Noir, Classic Thrillers
When an unseen gunsman shoots down burlesque dancer Sugar Torch, Joe Kojaku and Charlie Bancroft of LAPD Homicide are assigned to the case. A painting of the victim in a red kimono leads them to the artist and an intricate web of deceit and secrecy. While addressing racial tensions and a love triangle between the artist and the detectives, this movie was delightful in its recognizable areas of L.A.’s Little Tokyo District (lovingly known as J-Town to we of Japanese descent) and its gritty, cheese-bordering period dialogue.
The relationship of two best friends is tested when both detectives fall in love with artist Christine Downs, who flirts with both of them but later professes her love for Kojaku. Kojaku is tortured by her love as he knows Bancroft is in love with Downs and he refuses to hurt his friend. However, his feelings overwhelm his judgment, and he starts to question who he is – is he American? Is he Japanese-American? And where does a future with a Caucasian woman lie? Will his friendship with Bancroft survive?
As a mixed Japanese-American with, frankly, few Asian role models in American society, some of these questions struck home, and are still relevant today. Generally, Asian roles are criminals or whores, neither of which are particularly flattering, and the Asian races are interchanged, as if I wouldn’t notice. (Cases in point, Chinese actresses in Memories of a Geisha and Japanese actresses in The Joy Luck Club. Perhaps it is a necessity, but as an Asian, it kind of pisses me off – not all Asians look alike.) But I digress.
Besides some of the familiar locales and customs, (Nisei Week, a shot of Bun-Ka-Do, which is still in operation), and with the exception of a couple of cheesy professions of love, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone who likes film noir, mystery, and intrigue. It is also interesting in its sociological standpoint of fitting into society as a minority and the ramifications of encultation into American society. Have we progressed that much? Ah so, desu ne?
Director: Samuel Fuller
Starring: James Shigeta, Glenn Corbett, Victoria Shaw, Anna Lee
Genre: Film Noir, Classic Thrillers
When an unseen gunsman shoots down burlesque dancer Sugar Torch, Joe Kojaku and Charlie Bancroft of LAPD Homicide are assigned to the case. A painting of the victim in a red kimono leads them to the artist and an intricate web of deceit and secrecy. While addressing racial tensions and a love triangle between the artist and the detectives, this movie was delightful in its recognizable areas of L.A.’s Little Tokyo District (lovingly known as J-Town to we of Japanese descent) and its gritty, cheese-bordering period dialogue.
The relationship of two best friends is tested when both detectives fall in love with artist Christine Downs, who flirts with both of them but later professes her love for Kojaku. Kojaku is tortured by her love as he knows Bancroft is in love with Downs and he refuses to hurt his friend. However, his feelings overwhelm his judgment, and he starts to question who he is – is he American? Is he Japanese-American? And where does a future with a Caucasian woman lie? Will his friendship with Bancroft survive?
As a mixed Japanese-American with, frankly, few Asian role models in American society, some of these questions struck home, and are still relevant today. Generally, Asian roles are criminals or whores, neither of which are particularly flattering, and the Asian races are interchanged, as if I wouldn’t notice. (Cases in point, Chinese actresses in Memories of a Geisha and Japanese actresses in The Joy Luck Club. Perhaps it is a necessity, but as an Asian, it kind of pisses me off – not all Asians look alike.) But I digress.
Besides some of the familiar locales and customs, (Nisei Week, a shot of Bun-Ka-Do, which is still in operation), and with the exception of a couple of cheesy professions of love, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone who likes film noir, mystery, and intrigue. It is also interesting in its sociological standpoint of fitting into society as a minority and the ramifications of encultation into American society. Have we progressed that much? Ah so, desu ne?
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