Day 83&84 ----> Becoming Younger

Tuesday July 7th

The scene: Rode a train back from visiting my friend in upper Illinois. Attended a unique Live concert at a gorgeous church downtown. The music was improvisational church organ and saxophone duet. Wowie! Rocked me to my core...

Upon Rising: 48 oz water
AM: ---
Breakfast: 1/4 lb cherries, 1/2 nectarine, 1 apple (skinned - cause my teeth are a bit sensitive)
Lunch: Karyn's deep dish pizza; bit o' salad; a few sweet potato chips; sprouted wheatberry crackers dipped in olive oil garlic concoction; bites of mint carob and pecan cakes
Dinner: small bit of Karyn's deep dish pizza; larger bowl o' salad; sprouted wheatberry crackers dipped in olive oil garlic concoction; bites of mint carob and pecan cakes

What was Walker about today?
Not a thing after breakfast

What did I discover today?

• I can always tell when I'm exhausted and ready to go home. Eating becomes all I want to do.
• I've had to make my trips shorter and one year didn't come home for Christmas because I was afraid of being tempted off my Raw diet. Which for me, my addictive nature and my past health with my body could spiral into something deadly.
• I'm gentle with myself and do what I need. This is the first trip I haven't been tempted at all with the cooked food I'm surrounded by here in the city and at my parent's home.
• Here in the city, I'm amazed at how drawn I am to any sign of Natural Life. Flowers, trees, pooping pigeons all look like Shining Jewels to me in this concrete jungle and abyss of busyness.
  
• What a pace! I know that there are people here and in the cities around the globe who are in heaven with Her dance. And while it feels like a violent jitterbug to me, I am happy for those who have partnered with the City in a sultry salsa or perhaps have found their reggae rhythm.
• As long as we're dancing in a way that makes us feel good and alive...I think we're probably right where we need to be.

Monday July 13th
The scene: Whew! Fast forward quite a few days. Needed to re-inflate after my trip to Chicago --- usually always involves being absent from the computer for a few days. Worked at the Raw World today - mulberry picked - watched a friend's softball game - and then *CRASH*. My energy was depleted so much by the end of the day I just couldn't be myself. Like a bank account getting too many withdrawls - there was nothing left. Time to fill the tanks, but first I had to get out of the Red Zone. Screamed a bit in my car (feels great), sang loud to the radio and spent a bit of time outdoors. Ah! Human again ;)

Upon Rising: 48 oz water; 2 tsp therapeutic enzymes
AM: 16 oz OJ; 1 T klamath crystals
Breakfast: ---
Lunch: 1 banana; 1/2 bag kale chips; nibble of new raw cookie samples
Snack: few mulberries
Dinner: 2 x power wraps; 1 x onion bread; 2 C tomato bisque soup from Ani's Raw Kitchen - used 1/2 the oil the recipe calls for and my body was so grateful - next time I'll use even less. Tastes the same to me!

What was Walker about today?

• Water
• Enzymes - took a double dose this morning because I ate late last night and woke up feeling hung over (food is so powerful)
• OJ

What did I discover today?
One of my favorite emails to get in the morning is from www.tut.com - stands for: Totally Unique Thoughts. Here is what I got today:
Notes From the Universe:
"Great big, ear-to-ear, open mouth smiles, Michelle, are responsible for far more sizzling romances, salary increases, life extensions, and calorie burning than your dentists, doctors, and financial planners will ever comprehend.

Show us your tonsils,
The Universe

Just be careful around flies, Michelle."

I Love the creativity and word play --- it opens my chakras and gives me a deep breathe of freedom and sunshine to start my day. Signing up to receive daily posts is Free. If you are drawn to check it out, I hope it makes your heart feel great and guides you closer to your dreams coming true!

Day 81&82 ----> Becoming Younger

Sunday July 5th
The scene: Vrroom Vroom back to the city on the motorcycle with papa. Ate at Karyn's Corner buffet - fabulous and unforgettable. {Karyn, now 60, is known for being one Hot Raw Lady --- I think the photo deserves a 'you betcha'!} My parents and two carnivorous buddies accompanied me to the buffet - they like to make fun of the strange substances I put into my belly (brats). My dad actually ordered the buffet with me this time. He smiled and had seconds. GAME DAY was right after the feast. We played until the wee hours of the night and I'm happy to say my sister Moose and I remain the Untouchable Undefeated Pictionary Champines. My voice went hoarse with laughter and the memories, well, they'll be with me for that thing called 'ever'.

Upon Rising: 32 oz water
AM: 20 oz veggie juice
Breakfast: ---
Lunch: Karyn's Buffet
Dinner: 1/2 lb cherries; 45 minutes later: 4 T guacamole, carrot sticks, 8 walnuts dipped in mustard, a few hunza raisins

What was Walker about today?

• Liquids in the morning...(had to stop my dad twice on the motorcycle so I could get out and pee!)
• Eating surrounded with the love of family - of course after dinner they started a heated debate about politics and I went outside to floss --- didn't want to disturb my digestion.

What did I discover today?

• Inspiring quote for me the last few days: "A good boundary is to talk about a person the same way we talk to that person." It's a bit humorous holding myself to this standard as I've had to reach out and clamp my mouth a few times!
• I learned that the salad bar at Whole Foods (at least here in Illinois, but possibly country wide) no longer carries Organic ingredients. Congress passed a law that requires Organic produce to be totally separate from Conventional foods (which Whole Foods cozily calls 'Natural'), rinsed in a separate sink with purified water, blah blah blah.
• Traveling in the Raw just got a bit trickier.

Monday July 6th
The scene: Dentist drilling, Chiropractic cracking and Muscle Testing. Then traveled upstate to my friend Jer-Bear's. Big day.

Upon Rising: 32 oz water
AM: 20 oz veggie juice
Breakfast: ---
Lunch: Whole Foods - 1/2 C seaweed and cabbage sesame oil salad; 1/4 C guacamole, 1/2 zucchini cut in rounds, and 1/2 head romaine in lettuce tacos. 1/2 bottle Strawberry Synergy Kombucha.
Dinner: 1.5 C green leaf salad; 2 bites nectarine

What was Walker about today?
Veggie juicey

What did I discover today?

• I was Novocained. One of my fillings needed to be redone. I'm actually writing this entry on Tuesday night and I still have a head ache and have felt lousy. It's fun to see how good I'm used to feeling!
• A few years ago Mr. Matt Monarch went to the dentist. He came back to Ojai and told me he had gone ahead and had his cavity filled WITHOUT LOCAL ANESTHETIC. He wasn't about to mess around with any side-effects that could happen.
• Our friend and mentor Dr. Fred Bisci had told us of his near-death bout with the Dentist...he was having some work done and needed to be knocked out. As the mask went on and anesthetic gas started pouring into his system, Fred (who has been Raw over 40 years) felt his heart racing and is certain he almost had a heart attack there in the dental chair. Luckily, he managed to S.O.S the Dentist to abort the procedure before it was too late.
• Raw is a Wilderness all its own. We need to discover or re-birth alternative healings for each other, especially for our children. I just don't see another way.
• My Chiropractor here does a version of muscle testing for food sensitivies/allergies and organ strength/weaknesses. Turns out my Spleen is feeling a bit down in the dumps. What does it need? Testing showed she wants Enzymes at every meal and a good quality Echinacea tincture. Works for me!
  
• I so honor those in this world who have learned to speak true "BODY-Language".

Day 79&80 ----> Becoming Younger

Friday July 3rd
The scene: Traveled up to our Cottage in Indiana. During childhood, I spent a lot of time in the country on horseback - and today had a hungered for reunion with my rolling hills of green. "Vrrooom Vrrrooom!" Later that day I rode on my dad's sweet Hog (motorcycle) to harvest sweet and tart cherries. I have pics, but will need to share after I get home.

Upon Rising: 24 oz Indiana country well water
AM: 16 oz water
AM: 8 oz water
AM: 16 oz water
Breakfast: Suck juice of 1 orange; 16 oz veggie juice
Lunch: CHERRieeees! My belly was like a bowl full of juicy sweetness :)
Dinner: Salad - 1/2 avo, almonds, 5 olives, organic mustard made w/ apple cider vinegar (Whole Foods Brand - one of the only raw mustards I've ever found - the others usually have acidic vinegars and sugar added), 2 cloves garlic, 3/4 tomato, zucchini strips, carrot chopped; Dressing
PM: handful soaked/dehydrated almonds

What was Walker about today?

• I could not get enough water this morning (as you can see)! It tasted soo good! Wonder if the clean well water had some minerals my body was craving. At home I trade off between reverse-osmosis water and distilled. But a friend just recently pointed me to a source for deep well water near my home. Gonna try that when I return.
• Veggie Juice - my darling parents juice 5 times a week and I LOVE when someone else (Mama) juices for me - what a treat!

What did I discover today?

• Day 76 I wrote about my goal to be Self-Centered: always living with my center in myself. After that post, one of you gentle men wrote me an email, sharing that in your observation, I was more self-centered than I realized. Who would have thought that being "self-centered and full of myself" would be one of the highest compliments I could ever hope to receive! HA!
• Cherry picking was fantastic...one of my absolute favorite things to do is harvest fresh fruit and veggies. While it was fabulous, I knew going in that the cherries weren't organic. However, the succulence called to me and I gave way. Later that day I broke out in itchy hives all across my skin, especially around my jaw line where the toxins penetrated under my tongue. The next day, I tried again as an experiment and I got hot flashes for 4 hours. Not having most of my "healing kit" with me, I took a hot bath with baking soda and sweat it out under the covers for a few hours.
• Any doubts about Organic being the best route for me and my loved ones was dispelled in a hurry under the gentle but firm teachings from my body.
  

Saturday July 4th
The scene: Shucked (de-pitted) cherries with my papa in the kitchen for a good hour plus. It ended up becoming a speed competition and the cherry juice went flying! Mamasita got hit with a flying pit more than once. Good Golly do me and my folks Laugh! Tears rolling down my face multiple times this trip. Laughter is one of my main values in life...one of the experiences I live for.

Upon Rising: 16 oz country well water
AM: 8 oz warm water w/ 1 lemon sqeezed in; 32 oz veggie juice
Breakfast: handful soaked/dehydrated almonds
Lunch: Bowl O' Salad - 1/2 avo, 5 olives, few almonds dipped in organic mustard, 3/4 tomato, carrot chopped; Dressing
Lunch #2 about 10 minutes later: 1.5 handful walnuts; 3 dates and small handful hunza raisins
Dinner: small bowl of cherries (which generated the hot flashes I wrote about above)

What was Walker about today?

• Water w/ lemon - gosh I forget - Norman Walker said cold water w/ lemon flushes the kidneys and hot water w/ lemon ???... it could be reversed - does anyone know - would you please write it in the comment section below?
• Veggie Juice
• Handful of nuts after or with a nice big glass of veggie juice was often a Walker meal - keep it light and keep it filling means energy energy energy - no sluggish sluggyness
  

What did I discover today?
The woods and the country always put me in a contemplative space. Misty rain began to fall and I walked for a good 2 hours, barefoot, nostrils open enjoying the air and letting Mama Nature tell me her secrets and counsel my heart. I hear myself in the quiet of the woods. What a Mighty Melody we are.

Day 77&78 ----> Becoming Younger

Wednesday July 1st
The scene: Traveling Day. Chicago!

Upon Rising: 32 oz water w/ alkalizing pH drops; 1/2 tsp therapeutic enzymes
AM: ---
Breakfast: 6 plums from neighbor's yard - freshly fallen juice droplets
Lunch: Small leftover salad from yesterday; 2 T chia cookie dough
Snack: 16 oz veggie juice
Snack: 32 oz veggie juice
Snack: 24 oz veggie juice
Dinner: 4 C curry cauliflower soup from Raw Foods For Busy People 2; 1 x curry power wrap; 2 T chia cookie dough
PM: 1/4 C chia cookie dough; 1 x banana


What was Walker about today?
Uh....veggie juice :)

What did I discover today?

• I was floating from drinking so much veggie juice.
• Usually I get a bit of a flu or migraine after traveling. This time I was determined to stay well. It worked! Although it did mean a lot of juice jar juggling and making sure to finish my liquids before going through security, it was a challenge I enjoyed.
• That Curry Cauliflower soup is one of my favorites. The bright yellow coloring makes it look like I'm eating an entire quart of mustard --- but it's fatty, filling, and spicy. Heats and comforts me like the soup from bygone days.
• This artwork is one of my favorite things about Chicago. The Crown Fountain displays every day people's faces on this large structure. It feels like a tribute to humanity and a connecting point for the 'little people' getting to be HUGE (literally)!

Thursday July 2nd
The scene: I have THE BEST Dentist in my home town. Once I flew home just to get cared for by him. Today he was in typical terrific form and my teeth got a good looking after. My mother reported that the temperatures would be in the 80s-90s...Nope! 60s&70s. So we also went to a discount clothing store to get me some warmer layers. I packed for the tropics! Then at night Taupe and I did back-to-back films at the theater (a tradition).

Upon Rising: ---
AM: ---
Breakfast: 2 slices cantaloupe; 4 x cherries; 16 oz pineapple juice - rind and all
Lunch: 1 x curry power wrap; 1/4 C guacamole and fresh salsa made into lettuce boats with sliced zucchini rounds and romaine. YUmmmm :) I kept exclaiming my approval to Mother Nature.
Dinner: handful soaked/dehydrated almonds; smaller handful of hunza raisins (the best raisins I've ever tasted); a few flax crumbs dipped in olive oil and salt (tastes like bread sticks); 3 x olives
PM: handful of cherries

What was Walker about today?

• My habits in a new environment take a bit of getting used to. Skipped the water this morning --- it's going by my bedside tonight!
• Pineapple juice, according to Dr.Fred Bisci is fantastic for arthritis, if done consistently and making sure to juice the rind as well.
  

What did I discover today?

• Anyone in the Midwest attempting to be 100% RAW - I BOW DEEPLY TO YOU. I'm always violently reminded how fortunate I am to live in the cornucopia of fresh foods known as California. The Whole Foods in the burbs was shockingly non-organic and the Greens were puny in their over-priced dwarf bundles. I felt the energy difference between my fresh Farmer's Market Produce and these near lifeless eats. Superfoods are making more and more sense....David Wolfe's book is coming at a great time.
• For one excited to step away from cinema life, I've sure seen a few movies lately. I'm happy to say my hook to them is lessened considerably. My dad had the TV on today and I wasn't tempted a bit. I ate lunch with my back to it, not in defyance...simply in non-interest. Freedom is why Angels can fly!