When you just Click on our Sponsors Ads, you support the great Recommendations, Endorsements, and Commentary that this Blog brings to the Nanepashemet Peep Community. Thanks for your Support.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Luck of the Irish
Happy St. Patrick's Day, or Lá Fhéile Pádraig if you are conversant in Gaelic.
~
This is probably the most popular unofficial American holiday, and I'm told that it is more popular here than in Ireland.
~
Fully 24% of Americans claim they have some Irish descent in them, with another bump claiming the heritage on this day. The fact that this day is so popular would have been enigmatic in the earlier days of this country when the Irish were vilified and discriminated against.
~
Every Boston kid with an Irish name knows what "No Irish Need Apply" means as the Yankees sought to subjugate and hold back the surging Irish Immigrant population. I remember my mother clearly teaching me this fact at a young age. And if you look at the history of the Irish, the phrase "Luck of the Irish" is enigmatic to say the least.
~
The brutalizaton of the Irish and attempted genocide by the British over the past three centuries, causing widespread immigration to America, Latin America and Australia was a bit high on the unlucky scale. (And for the record, the potato famine of the mid 1800's could have easily been abated by the British, who stood by and watched millions suffer without offering aid).
~
Maybe the Irish are looked at as "Lucky" because they persevered over egregious treatment by the British and then the American Yankees. All the while, keeping their spirit, music, and culture alive and vibrant.
~
I guess if you have that stamina and persistence, you are indeed lucky.
~
The Americans and their friends who lift a brew and toast the patron Saint of Ireland today are the prodigy and embodiment of a people who could be bent but could't be broken.
~
This is probably the most popular unofficial American holiday, and I'm told that it is more popular here than in Ireland.
~
Fully 24% of Americans claim they have some Irish descent in them, with another bump claiming the heritage on this day. The fact that this day is so popular would have been enigmatic in the earlier days of this country when the Irish were vilified and discriminated against.
~
Every Boston kid with an Irish name knows what "No Irish Need Apply" means as the Yankees sought to subjugate and hold back the surging Irish Immigrant population. I remember my mother clearly teaching me this fact at a young age. And if you look at the history of the Irish, the phrase "Luck of the Irish" is enigmatic to say the least.
~
The brutalizaton of the Irish and attempted genocide by the British over the past three centuries, causing widespread immigration to America, Latin America and Australia was a bit high on the unlucky scale. (And for the record, the potato famine of the mid 1800's could have easily been abated by the British, who stood by and watched millions suffer without offering aid).
~
Maybe the Irish are looked at as "Lucky" because they persevered over egregious treatment by the British and then the American Yankees. All the while, keeping their spirit, music, and culture alive and vibrant.
~
I guess if you have that stamina and persistence, you are indeed lucky.
~
The Americans and their friends who lift a brew and toast the patron Saint of Ireland today are the prodigy and embodiment of a people who could be bent but could't be broken.
Erin Go Bragh!
Ireland Forever!
Weighing In
Lately, Peeps, everytime I run into one of you, I get asked about the status of my weight loss program. Which has it's own immitable message to me. Obviously it doesn't look like I've dropped anything substantial.
~
But that's ok... I started at a pretty hefty size, and this is a marathon, not a sprint. I've allocated a considerable block to time.... up to Katelyn's September wedding date... to acheive my weight loss goal.
~
The first three weeks or so, I was a bit manic....watching every morsel consumed, counting calories and weighing myself constantly. That was good to convince myself that weight loss was attainable. And it gave me a more indepth insight into the amount of calories that we can pack in without even knowing it. But it also brought on an unacceptable level of self awareness and guilt. Who wants to judge every bite that you take, then measure and fret that it might upset your daily goal?
~
The most important thing is balance. Watch what you eat, but don't obsess. Enjoy in moderation, and above all, exercise. It is the exercise that is the key to easing the manic issues of counting calories. Plus the exercise makes you feel good immediately... despite the discomfort and pain of the actual effort.
~
At this point, I don't know how much I've lost because I'm resolved not to let the scale set my state of mind. I will weigh in when I can fit into my old jeans comfortably. And I hope that is in a month or so of eating and drinking in moderation and daily gym sessions.
~
But that's ok... I started at a pretty hefty size, and this is a marathon, not a sprint. I've allocated a considerable block to time.... up to Katelyn's September wedding date... to acheive my weight loss goal.
~
The first three weeks or so, I was a bit manic....watching every morsel consumed, counting calories and weighing myself constantly. That was good to convince myself that weight loss was attainable. And it gave me a more indepth insight into the amount of calories that we can pack in without even knowing it. But it also brought on an unacceptable level of self awareness and guilt. Who wants to judge every bite that you take, then measure and fret that it might upset your daily goal?
~
The most important thing is balance. Watch what you eat, but don't obsess. Enjoy in moderation, and above all, exercise. It is the exercise that is the key to easing the manic issues of counting calories. Plus the exercise makes you feel good immediately... despite the discomfort and pain of the actual effort.
~
At this point, I don't know how much I've lost because I'm resolved not to let the scale set my state of mind. I will weigh in when I can fit into my old jeans comfortably. And I hope that is in a month or so of eating and drinking in moderation and daily gym sessions.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)