While you are reading this, I am in Vinalhaven with my 2 grandsons, and my brother and sister in law. Well, and my cousins who have lived there since we all were tiny. I remember taking a ferry across Penobscot Bay when I was eight to spend several weeks with the cousins - three girls and three boys two years older. In many ways, life on the Island is just the same 50 years later except perhaps for the gourmet ice cream place that serves espresso and high speed internet in the library. We swim in the quarry, an experience you cannot imagine unless you do it. Vinalhaven is granite and a hundred years ago was the home of many granite quarries. Now they are filled with spring water, icy cold and clear, clear deep water. Hot days, and swimming. Lobsters given by the fishermen who have pots in the cove below the cousin’s house. Nights with the sun going down over the other side of the bay, fog in the morning that makes everything soft. We are having soft days and quiet nights. My SIL is French and an exquisite cook. I serve as the soo chef and cut vegetables or mince herbs. She brought herbs with her from the mainland. Tommorrow we will make quiche and go down to the cove and picnic with the boys. Last year we did that and an islander’s dog finsihed off what we left for dinner when we went off on a quick hike. This year we know better. Wednesday night is the bean supper at the church. Naked hot dogs, baked beans and 500 different kinds of pies. Heh heh...sure makes me remember the old days. That is just like it was in 1953. The fishermen wear high white boots and bring the fish in from the boats. Living in New Mexico makes my appreciation for fish from the boats 1000% greater. Eating it in town on a red and white checkered tablecloth adds even more. And perhaps we will be going back to the used bookstore that supports the stone library. As you might gather, there will be no classes this week. But check the schedule for what is coming soon. And we have moved things around bit, so check for your dates. I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
July 17, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
You cannot heal addiction in isolation. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
I have gone to the Y 4 times both this week and last week. I have been swimming, walking, and kickboarding laps as well as participating in my aquatic wellness class and using an aquatics punchcard to participate in a couple of other classes when I can; aquacize and waterlates (pilates in the water). I am pleased that my balance is improving some in spite of my bad knees, and my body has much better muscle tone. My weight has also started to move a bit again for which I am very greatful. My thyroid function is starting to improve with this 4th increase in my medication as well as my heart inflammation decreasing, so hope that the continued movement with help both to keep moving in the right direction. I ordered and received a DVD called Healing Yoga for Aches and Pains which Val recommended to me, and a lot of the exercises can be done while sitting in a chair. I haven't been able to watch it yet but plan to soon. I had the opportunity to share this program with a couple of people at the Y this week which of course helps to reinforce my own. I am pleased that I have finally learned to really enjoy movement and that I am willing to make myself get up and go when I don't feel like it as I can now see the benefits. Looks like everyone is doing well and are moving in a way that is meaningful to them. Let's keep on keeping on. Carol ********************************************************************
**Recipe of the Week**
Cabbage, Apple & Cheddar SlawRecipe yields about 8 to 10 servingsDressing Ingredients:
In a blender, combine vinegar, sesame oil, mustard, soy sauce and cinnamon; blend until smooth. While blender is running, slowly add olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Add enough dressing to coat salad well and toss together until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Serve and enjoy! (adapted to be program friendly, original recipe from the Cabot Cheese newsletter) ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
 We are continuing our revisions of YLD to make it better, more exciting and interesting for all of you. Although last week I intimated the idea we would be disbanding it, I am recanting (smile)....By popular demand, we are not only keeping it in place, but we are adding to and developing expanded options. Come chat with us to hear the dreams. If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. It is not too late to get into the classes if you come right now. ********************************************************* ***********
**David's Corner **
 Here is a great addition to the store. One of our members was looking at alternatitve uses for the Cetyl M product we carry. She discovereed that the company has come out with a topical cream and asked if we would carry. I was on it and ordered some that day. Let me know what you think!
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
Hello, Do you like to visit with friends over a meal...chat with a buddy while going for scenic walks...adore the botanic gardens with a group of garden-lovers...enjoy a cup of decaf with friends...share everyday happenings with other folks who are in Radiant Recovery? Then you might be interested in joining your local Radiant Recovery geo list. There are currently 17 geographic lists available where it is possible to connect with people in your area who are active in the Radiant Recovery community. One of the most exciting things happening right now over on our Radiant North East list is a community clambake! So far, 24 radiants have signed up and are going to meet at Reid State Park, on the coast of Maine. They are organized and excited...and I hear they are going to have special activities...and a surprise! Are you interested in playing with us? Here's a link that will take you to all of the geo groups we have available. Now, you may notice that some of these areas are very spread out...and meeting together is not always possible...but we can still have fun and play with each other on the list. And play is a very important part of our healing, and that is the focus of our geo groups! Colette Liaison, Radiant Recovery Geo Coaches ********************************************************************
**Scooter's Place** Ann Margaret McKillop While I am on vacation, we will have some guest writers for your pleasure Scooter and I had a busy day today. We start with our usual morning ritual of breakfast, meditation and Warrior Wellness exercises. Scooter eats left-over salmon from last night, with kibble, veggies and supplements. While I meditate and do my exercises, Scooter snuggles on my bed, catching some extra ZZZZZZZ’s in anticipation of our walk/run. This morning, though, has a new twist. I add in another exercise that has me squatting flat-footed. I need to hang on so I don’t fall doing this, so I decide to hold onto the end of my bed. As soon as I squat down, Scooter leans over the end of the bed and pelts me with dog kisses! Hmmmm, I think this exercise is a keeper (smile). What a nice little BE lift. Because this is mosquito season, Scooter and I walk on the main road and avoid the tree-covered side roads. Not our favorite place to stroll, but the prospect of a bug-free walk cannot be dismissed. And anyway, rural roads in Vermont are always beautiful to walk on. As we pass our next-door neighbor’s house, we wish Miss Sophie a good morning. Sophie is a 12 week-old Golden Retriever new to the neighborhood. As the previous dog at this house used to rush out and attack Scooter for no reason, we quickly want to develop a good rapport with Sophie. Next down the road on the left are the two labs, a yellow and a chocolate. As soon as we get to their property line, I move Scooter to my right side. Carolyn, our trainer, says that by placing myself between Scooter and other dogs, I am signaling to him that I am in control, thus he will not feel he has to protect me or act out in any way. Since I started doing this, Scooter just keeps trucking, not even noticing the labs. And I have trained them pretty well, using some Dog Whisperer techniques. If one of them starts to bark (usually the yellow), I immediately point my finger and yell “Shhhhtt!” They stop right away. They used to bound off the porch and run at us, so one bark isn’t so bad. I will Cesar-ify them yet LOL! Farther down the road at our turning point is lovely creek with a nice little wading pool. I take Scooter in so he can cool off and swim around a little. He looks like a strawberry gold otter when he swims. We enjoy the bird sound and the calm awakenings of a summer morning. On the way back to the house, we run. As Scooter was injured last week, I want to test him. We are starting a jumpers’ agility class next week, so I want to be sure his foot is okay. We arrive at the house slightly winded and happy. Everything seems a-okay. Back at the house, we do some heeling exercises off leash in the kitchen, made more palatable by the string cheese enticement. I brush Scooter and head for work. He is happily ensconced in his new favorite place, my bed. (he only has 5 of his own to choose from (VBG)). I work only a half day as I have a service person coming to the house. While we are waiting, I mow the lawn. Last summer, Scooter would panic whenever I left the house but not the property. He would run along the fence and bark at me as I mowed. He just did not want to be separated. As he is more secure in our relationship, he has stopped this. He lies under a shade tree in his fenced in area while I mow the front yard. I say hi to him and tell him what a good boy he is as I make passes back and forth. When I am done, we head into the garden and do some weeding. I collect a nice bunch of strawberries for after dinner. We both love them and snarf them down!! After dinner we head out to the concert on the green. My little town sponsors a summer concert series. I have never brought Scooter to anything like this, but I know it is great for his socialization. We meet up with my friend Anne and her border collies Maggie and Luka, Scooter’s cross country ski buddies. We settle on lawn chairs and blankets, surrounded by friends all around. Scooter is very alert. I worry that he may get over-stimulated in this type of environment. But he is a very good boy. He does not relax like the border collies do, but he is fairly mellow as the local roaming dogs wind through the audience. When he is calm, I praise and pet him, trying to reinforce his good behavior. If I see he is getting keyed up, I sit quietly and wait for his attention to return to me. I reinforce this with praise. We listen to the concert and have a lovely evening. The weather is beautiful, 70’s and low humidity. The mountain setting at sunset is awesome. Scooter is wonderful for the hour and a half and my friend comments on how well he is doing. When we get home, I give Scooter his bedtime treat and a nice calming massage. I brush him and kiss him good night. It has been a lovely day. Dog days of summer indeed! ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2006. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster puts it all together Naomi, liaison for step 4 gathers the recipes David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm. ©2006 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Geraint Smith |
