Booty camp check in

OK, I'm finishing up week #8, my second month - Monday through Thursday - at the Seattle Weight Loss Bootcamp, and has it been a challenge, but it has also changed my life.

As tough as the workouts are - always outside (no matter the weather) because your body eats up more calories when it's active outside - I'm getting better at most. In fact, after the first month, I was one of the most improved participants in all three groups!

It feels great to get up early, put my knee braces on to avoid injury, my head band because I sweat like the winner of the Kentucky Derby, and fingerless leather gloves because grass, mud and other natural elements of the ground and atmosphere abound and I'd rather keep my hands warm and dry.

I'm learning the perfect form for every exercise we do, so some time next year I should be downright buff!

In addition to pushing myself physically and psychologically every morning, I've nearly completely changed my eating habits. Our coach, Kimae, is an encyclopedia of nutrition knowledge, and has made my transition easy. It's an old story - fiber, fiber, fiber, flax, flax, flax, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, yadda yadda yadda. But she has a way of explaining how each individual can modify their nutrition that made it easy for me.

And there is so much stuff made with flax now that is downright delicious, even bread made without flour. It is more expensive to eat well, but I find I'm eating less so it evens out.

I've dropped a full size and recently started feeling lighter, stronger and more fit than I have in many years - before the big C hit. I'm far healthier now than I was before I had cancer; this is a similar story of many who have had to go through the misery of surgeries, chemo and radiation because we don't ever want cancer to return or go back to the days of sheer misery and pain with more surgeries, chemo and radiation.

The next month's series - it will be my third - starts Monday. I'm continuing my full schedule training there for at least another three or four months (for a total of 5 or 6) full time, then returning a couple days a week to maintain what I hope is an excellent state of fitness.

Currently, SWL booty camp is just for us females, but next year that might change. It all depends on how much more energy Kimae can summon.

Public expenses, private profits

Lots of folks are identifying what is so frustrating about the economic policies of the Bush administration:

All costs of his actions - whether for wars overseas or programs at home - are born by us taxpayers, while all the profits from his actions remain with private businesses, most of whom are selected without any bidding process.

How have he and Dick Cheney been able to get away with this?

The list is long, but it starts with an unquestioning news media whose profits depend on the advertisers who are the beneficiaries of those profits. I'm not saying the news media lapdogs were unquestioning because the advertisers are those flourishing war profiteers, but it just looks that way.

It started because they didn't do their job. They didn't question or challenge this administration because they actually believed the administration wanted to take care of a grieving nation. Nope, they only used the horror as leverage to push their agenda - go to war with Iraq.

There is proof that when our military had Osama Bin Laden in its sights for execution, they were called away from completing their task by orders from the Bush administration. Does that mean they kept Bin Laden alive to maintain the national emotional drive against Iraq?

If Bin Laden had been killed, perhaps the nation would feel a sense of relief - that a chapter was closed. That would not give Bush and Cheney the national emotional momentum they need to push the war on Iraq.

Fewer than 3,000 people - not all Americans and including many Muslims - were killed on 9/11.

Today, six years later? Nearly 4,000 American military men and women have been killed in Iraq; more than 25,000 have been injured, most of them seriously.

Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed.

Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11. It has only something to do with Bush and Cheney and what they want to procure for their corporate and oil buddies, regardless of how much it drives our economy into the ground, how many lives are lost - American or any nationality for that matter.

What are they after? It is *not* freedom - ask any Iraqi how free he or she is - or feels.

So then what could it be? I've never been a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe what they're really after has nothing to do with freedom, no matter how much the President pleads it is.

What they're really after appears to be money to achieve more power. After all corporations are after money and have no allegiance to a nation, just to profits.

But it's almost impossible for me to believe even *they* would be *that* greedy.

So what could it be? Something grander that has nothing to do with the well being of the US?

I'd say it deserves investigating, because every time their real agenda is mentioned, the administration has been brilliant about distracting the media and us from the subject at hand. Hmmmmm.

The Talented Mr. Jack Davenport

My next movieScope acting for the camera column will be an interview with the dapper and uberemployed Jack Davenport. His first breakout film role was as Matt Damon's love interest in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

His list of credits is legion in the UK and internationally - but he's probably best known by most audiences as Nottingham (Kiera Knightley's fiancee) in the Pirates of the Carribean series.

Like so many great British talents, he's quite humorously self-effacing, but dead serious about his work. The interview should be fun and be a great addition for anyone interested in acting for the camera -- or those who work with people who act for the camera.

Cheerio!

What's your identity?

A feature script I'm writing has become a journey by just about all its characters to find their personal identities, which in turn relates to how they wish to show who they are to others.

Interestingly, they all use significant addictions - to everything from tradition to religion to gambling, drugs and more - to distract themselves from discovering who they are.

Even the characters who seem to be "just fine" discover they are also immersed in habits that prevent them from seeking who they really are because their goal is only to fit in.

One thing is clear about our youngsters: when we don't allow and encourage them to develop their true core identity, they will find one - whether it has anything to do with who they actually are or not. But it will give them a sense of belonging and purpose - no matter how negative.

Interestingly, only one person in this milieu worked to find who he really is and lives in peace among all the others because of it. For he has nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to hide from - including himself.

Fascinating journey for me as well, creating all these characters and their dilemmas. Of course there's the drama of all this, but there's comedy, too. Usually a comedy of errors!

Pretty exciting stuff for this writer.

Ellen's adoption woes

His name is Iggy.

He's a little dog Ellen and Portia adopted from a nonprofit rescue operation.



















The Iggs didn't get along with their cats, however, so - unfortunately - instead of figuring out how to get the kitties to be socialized with him, she gave it away to her hair dresser/makeup artist, who has two girls, 11 and 12.

Ellen signed a contract when she adopted the dog that if the mutt didn't work out, she'd take it back to the adoption center. That's an ordinary policy for good breeders and rescue operations because some people who pass the interview and assessment form as "good homes" for adopted pets actually give them away to places that experiment on dogs or abuse them.

The contract is designed to protect both the new adopter and the pup. So the adopter knows she or he can take it back and the rescue operation knows the dog is safe and well cared for.

Further, the rescuers' policy is not to let homes with kids younger than 14 adopt little dogs for safety and protection reasons. Lots of rescue operations, animal shelters and humane societies have similar rules.

So where the problem came up: when the rescue operation discovered Ellen had given the dog away to someone the rescuers did not know or understand to be a qualified, safe home.

Then the problem was exacerbated because M&M, instead of inspecting the home and asking the family to fill out an application, just took the dog away. Ellen broke the contract and the kids are under 14.

On Ellen's side, she didn't take the dog back to M&M with the family, explaining what happened, having them fill out an application so they could make sure the dog got a great, loving and safe home.

Worse, both sides threatened the other. M&M said they'd go to the media if Ellen didn't return the pet, Ellen's publicist threatened to take legal action against M&M - which would never work because Ellen had broken the contract.

Now the rescuers are getting death threats - blamed for breaking the hearts of the two kids - which is ridiculous.

Unfortunately, this is the second time I am aware of that Ellen has adopted a dog and had to give it away. Previously, the dog named Lucy, was given away without an incident, so there's little wonder that she thought she could do it again.

I don't understand anyone adopting an animal believing they can simply take back or pass on to someone else. It's really tough on animals - especially cats. Homework and research (how to find the right pet for you, how it suits your family and lifestyle) should help you determine exactly what sort of pet you can bring home to keep.

Any pet adopted ought to be brought home with the idea of keeping it until it dies - or you do - unless an extremely difficult problem arises that was unforeseen, which is typical in puppy mill puppies.

Both sides screwed up, but they could have solved the problem if they hadn't allowed it to escalate.

I worked as a volunteer for the Seattle Animal Shelter for two years, and ran a petcalmer.com website for four years, which helped people with all their pet problems and sold a CD and cassette that calmed pets (it was me talking to their animals - it was shockingly effective).

Here's how to test if a new pet fits in with your current crew:

Rub a washcloth on your current pet(s). Rub it lots, so it deeply picks up every one's scent.

Rub a washcloth on the potential pet(s). Rub it lots, so it deeply picks up every one's scent. Use one washcloth for every pet you have at home.

Put the scented cloth of your pet(s) in the bed of the new pet and let the new pet sleep on it for one or two nights.

Likewise, set the scented cloth of the new pet in the bed(s) of your current pet(s), and let your pet(s) sleep with the scent of the new pet for a night or two.

Actually, if your current pets go crazy - disliking the potential pet's scent horribly - that's a pretty good indication these guys are not going to be too compatible. At that point you can pull the plug on the adoption or if you know how to socialize animals, you know your work is cut out for you.

All this takes place before the adoption is finalized.

Here's how to socialize a new adopted pet to fit in with your current pets, no matter if they're dogs or cats:

Keep the new pet isolated in a small area with food, water and toys; cats also need a kitty litter box.

The area should be dark as much as possible because dogs and cats see much better in the dark than bright lights, and they feel safer in smaller areas. That's why the only reason dogs and cats don't like to be in crates (for short periods of time) is that their human convinces them that it's a punishment or bad thing.

My four pets go into their crates with the door open all the time because they love the safety, quiet and darkness that's a throwback to thousands of years ago when we all lived in caves - they were the safest place to be.


















The animals will telepathically and vocally communicate with one another.

I visit the new pet every few hours, letting him/her know that I am the source of everything they get - food, water, walking or a clean kitty litter, love, freedom.

After a couple days (or more if the pet needs additional care/socialization) of this? You should have a socialized, affectionate pet.

My Allie Cat was a little wild girl, but after three days of this, she's the best kitty ever, and my three pups adore her. Two of them play with her every day and often - wrestling, playing tag and sharing toys. Mistletoe's a little old to play with the youngsters.

Note to everyone who loves animals: please love them enough to learn how to properly take care of them.

Cool, clear water

In the early 1980's - more than 20 years ago when I worked in television and radio news, I did several reports on the need to conserve water because if environmental scientists (don't believe that's what they were called then) were correct, we would be in for a horrendous shortage if we didn't start respecting our use of water, and consume it carefully.

If you know me, I was not reporting this story for any political reason or with any political slant.

Water, water everywhere? Not really.

I mean, how many thirsty babies can you identify as Republicans or Democrats or Socialists or Americans or Christians or...

Seems that we're all sharing the earth's land and water, and if we want to continue sharing it in good health, like our own bodies, we have to take care of them.

As you might guess, however, I was called an "alarmist, leftie, tree-hugger," and much worse for giving my audiences scientific facts and reasoned assessments and analysis.

So today there are several parts of the US suffering from droughts that have not experienced them before - mostly (but not all) due to squandering the resource when it was plentiful instead of planning its use wisely so it could be conserved for future use.

Then there's that green house gas story, global warming, etc., that received a similar response.

It always amazes me when people get so wound up when researched options are expressed. I just hear them as something to be further researched, and if they pass the whiff test, they get reported.



















This is a recent photo of a Kentucky lake that was once brimming with water.

Think of having a day when you are restricted to one tall cool glass of water -- when we are supposed to drink eight to remain in optimal health.

Just for the heck of it - think of just one way you can conserve water today. Like only running a little bit in a glass to use for brushing your teeth. Or not flushing the toilet every time it's used (when it's yellow, let it mellow, when it's brown, flush it down). Or using a recycling car wash to clean your wheels. Or take shorter showers.

Not all of them, mind you.

Just one.

So much to say, so little time...

Bloody hell.

When I have so much to say, my time is too limited to share all the thoughts, on-goings and good news going on here.

One thing I will say about understanding the state of a US in disarray: watch Lou Dobbs on CNN, and Keith Olbermann on MSNBC.

I knew Lou way back when. He worked at a Seattle TV station (I worked on the radio side) and he was regarded by my little circle as a pompous, knee-jerk conservative, sexist guy. If you asked me, "Does he think for himself?" My impression was no.

We knew of his great ambitions but were frankly surprised when he got his CNN gig. He came with his talking points, however, and stuck with them.

So, what happened that I recommend him now?

One thing that becomes clear to me: he became a man who chooses to think for himself. He is apparently a man who wants to learn, to dig, to know the truth even if it flies in the face of what he's said before, enough to grow as a person and as a media representative for all viewers, not the few who hold the purse strings of the lobbyists, political parties, corporate powers that be or advertisers.

Mind you, I don't agree with everything Lou says or does any more than I agree with everything Keith says or does.

But I do think he would be willing to learn if he finds he's on the wrong track. He's done it before. Likewise, Keith strikes me as someone who's more interested in the truth than in being "right." Or left.

Keep giving 'em hell, Lou, and looking out for all American citizens who feel so helpless and far away from any sense of power - especially since even the integrity of the vote is questioned since voting systems cannot be verified without an all-important but missing paper trail.

Keith Olbermann, has a terrific sports background, so I believe he sees politics more the way you and I do because he didn't get broken in to the national journalistic community through the typical channels: start small, know and socialize with the politicians about whom you report as you climb up the food chain, cut a few quid pro quo deals to get a scoop, and the list goes on.

The system has developed into one in which if you want to report on someone significant, if you want access to him or her, you have to toe the line or else they'll slam the door. The key is not to take no for an answer and not to get enmeshed with anyone to the point they owe you anything or you owe them anything.

The truth is the truth. An opinion is an opinion. I'm not threatened by either, but a whole lot of people are, and for a journalist to be threatened by either is dangerous.

Recently, a GQ Magazine article on Hillary Clinton was killed - apparently it had some pretty critical points to make about her as well as laudatory comments (the reporter said it was very balanced) - in order to secure a media seat on a plane traveling with former President Bill Clinton to Africa to show all the work being done there by him to help not only that nation, but others.

Part of the problem is that too many people are addled by a barrage of propaganda and spun data that the truth is very difficult to find, report or discern.

The biggest telltale sign of a poor, misleading report is one that simply quotes someone as fact, then quote someone else who disagrees with what was said. Neither is a fact, and in fact when especially someone from the Bush administration says something there is at least a 50-50 chance what they are saying is an outright lie.

For whatever reason, the President, thinking himself a king, not in an elected position; the Vice-President and other high level administrative appointees have no qualms about lying to make you do what they want you to do, believe what they want you to believe.

An unquestioning, unchallenging media provided the gateway to their hubris. To the point they actually convinced themselves they would never be caught in their lies; from there, they honestly think that no one would believe they would tell a lie.

They're wrong.

Some media have managed to get a spinal transplant. But too few to stop the partisan squabbling that may ultimately be the undoing of a genuinely great nation.

The world's best birthday massage!

Holy moly.

So, there I was, finishing up the fourth week at the Seattle Weight Loss Boot Camp, very happy with all the progress I made (I already signed up for a second month of getting up early and working out in the woods), when there was a drawing for one gift massage for our group.

At a place called Habitude in the northwest Seattle neighborhood of Ballard.

I'd never been there, nor had I heard about it (which shows how much I get out - I discovered later the place has national, regional and local awards for it's renowned massages!), and since I seldom win anything, I stayed busy putting my equipment away when Joy's hand went into the cap. After the faux drum roll, our boot camp leader, Kimae, joining Joy in announcing, "CP!"

I thought they were just calling me to get my attention, but no - *I* won the massage! On my birthday!

I was so happy - after working out as hard as I did the morning of my birthday, I needed a massage! I called immediately for an appointment and, luckily, got one with the masseuse recommended to me, Cory, for late afternoon.

I got the ultimate massage and oh, my goodness. I have never had such a complete, thorough, terrific massage in my life - and I get a lot of massages. This guy is in a spiritual, physiological awareness and physically powerful league of his own.

I told him I felt like a car being detailed by a superb body shop - every dent removed, the engine tuned to a fine point, my tires and chassis realigned, plus a new coat of paint. Muscles, bones and organs readjusted (he did some deep tissue work I've not experienced before, and became acquainted with every tendon and ligament in my bone structure).

What a gift! What an experience. Admittedly, after the workout yesterday morning and the muscular-skeletal makeover, I can barely move today ...

But it was worth it!

Interestingly, at the end of the 90-minute massage, he gave me stretching and icing information for any muscular discomfort I might experience. I thought he was giving me suggestions for dealing with aches and pains from working out at Boot Camp. Nope, it was also - perhaps particularly - for his reformation work, since it's the first time I've had such deep tissue work done.

Mind you, the choice of additional deep tissue work was mine, I could have also had a lighter pressured massage, but Cory was concerned that I get as effective a treatment as possible since I'm still recovering from chemotherapy, radiation, cancer ubermeds and working out at boot camp.

It was another surprising, outstanding and healthy contribution to the enjoyment of a pretty special and memorable birthday week-long celebration; with any luck I can drag this thing out even longer! ;-)

Happy Birthday to me!

Today's my birthday, and wow, it's been a fantastic birthday week. I'm very fortunate to have the friends and all the people who are in my life, to be able to do the work I love, to be as healthy, youthful, happy and energetic as I am.

A dear friend gave me an herbalist/acupuncture energy treatment as a birthday gift.

I told another friend about it when she took me for a fascinating and pretty sprectacular meal. She asked, "An energy treatment? For you? Can your friends vote on it?"

Hmph!

Here are my goals for the next year:

Honor the person I am – body, mind and spirit
Honor everything I do
Honor everything I have
Honor everyone in my life
Honor nature - flora and fauna

Pay attention to details
Meditate daily on these things