The Monkey and the Fish...

1. I think I may throw this story at anyone who provides me with unsolicited advice or unhelpful advice in the future? Or anyone who says: "well, that's not what I would do if I had that problem". Actually I will throw this story at them, maybe even bash them over the head with it a few times?



"Here is the Buddhist story and its interpretation:

The story goes like this:
( Read more... )

The moral of the story is a caution against assuming that what is right or natural for one being necessarily applies to others. It warns us of the dangers of imposing our own perspectives and ways of living onto others without truly understanding their needs, their nature, or their environment. This parable also encourages us to develop a deep sense of understanding and empathy for the diverse perspectives and needs of different beings, recognizing that each has its own unique way of being in the world.

Or...just don't give unsolicited advice to folks on social media. It rarely ends well.

2. Long somewhat stressful week - glad it's over. Today was better - in part because I slept 7 hours and fifty-nine minutes. Yet, still dozed on the train and at work, while I didn't doze at all yesterday with just three hours of sleep. Go figure.

Realized something - I think the reason I've never had sleep paralysis - is I don't sleep on my back, I sleep on my side. I can't sleep on my back - due to back and neck issues. I also don't dream that much. I average about 50 minutes to two hours of REM or dream time nightly, four-five hours of CORE (which is light sleep, or step above Deep), and anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half of Deep sleep. It goes REM, CORE, Deep, or sometimes CORE, Deep, Core, REM.

I don't remember my dreams that much of late - because I'm not dreaming that much. I dreamed a lot more, and far more vividly when I was younger. Should I be concerned? I don't know. I have decided not to be. I am not going to worry about things that I can't control. Considering how worried I am about the ones I can control...and how many there are...

3. The Pitfalls of Being Gluten Intolerant (and Diabetic) in a world full of well ..glutens?

* Grocery Shopping is frustrating when you have dietary restrictions. Particularly certain dietary restrictions, such as sugar and gluten intolerance. Although I've gotten used to reading labels, I just wish the print were bigger. I couldn't find things I wanted.

Now that gluten free is no longer a fad (damn people - I want to curse the people who decided to undo the fad with gluten intolerance - can I do that? No, that would be mean and evil), it's harder to find this stuff in non-health food stores.

Yes, yes, I know it's in places like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc. Although, it should be mentioned that not all of these stores are created equal. Just because your Whole Foods or Trader Joes in your neighborhood has it - doesn't mean it will elsewhere. Shocking, I know, but there it is.
Also, not all health food stores are created equal. And health food stores are about twice as expensive as other grocery stores.

Met Fresh is a five minute walk from my apartment, and about five minutes from the subway, if that. It's close. Foodtown is about fifteen to twenty minutes. The CO-OP is about a thirty minute walk. The Frontiere Health Food Store is a twenty minute walk. Whole Foods, which isn't that big or great and insanely expensive is a twenty-five minute subway ride and fifteen minute walk (carting groceries on and off a subway isn't fun and I try to avoid, if possible - in short, I'll do it, but rarely, and usually en route home from work). Trader Joes is even less convenient, since it's about a twenty-thirty minute walk to a subway, and a twenty minute subway ride.

People who drive everywhere do not understand this. (Points to the Monkey and Fish story above). They also do not understand why I don't take cabs or ubers everywhere. (It's expensive. It takes forever. I get anxious in cars in the city, and am prone to motion sickness. Trains are free - perk from my job, and I can read, write, and watch people on them. Points to Monkey and Fish story again.) Sigh. This is what happens when all folks know about a place is what they see on television or on visits to just one small section of it.


* Trips - I was looking at G Adventures Solo-ish travels, and while more affordable than most, a lot of trips had culinary experiences on them that included making things like tortillas (probably flour not corn), and pasta.
Spain might be safe. Not certain. It had a lot of food excursions.

Every once and a while, I think, fuck-it, I'm going to eat whatever I want.
But I've gotten ill one too many times, and have a delicate digestive system as it is - so no. I think not. It's amazing what a great motivator pain and sickness truly is? And who wants to get sick while traveling? Particularly with digestive problems?

People ask me - don't you cheat? How can you stay off of it? And be that disciplined?

I don't like getting sick? Points at the Monkey and the Fish.

One friend didn't understand why I ate chocolate when it could give me heartburn or make me wired, etc. Well, the truth was - it didn't really? And it wasn't bad. Also I'd given up everything else. Points at the Monkey and the Fish story.

4. Here's a picture I took of the night sky at sunset in my neighborhood. Hopefully, it will appear below...