Month: May 2025

Forever ~ A Poem by Lucy Maud Montgomery

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Forever

Lucy Maud Montgomery

 I

With you I shall ever be;
Over land and sea
My thoughts will companion you;
With yours shall my laughter chime,
And my step keep time
In the dusk and dew
With yours in blithesome rhyme;
In all of your joy shall I rejoice,
On my lips your sorrow shall find a voice,
And when your tears in bitterness fall
Mine shall mingle with them all;
With you in waking and dream I shall be,
In the place of shadow and memory,
Under young springtime moons,
And on harvest noons,
And when the stars are withdrawn
From the white pathway of the dawn.

                II

O, my friend, nothing shall ever part
My soul from yours, yours from my heart!
I am yours and you mine, in silence and in speech,
Death will only seal us each to each.
Through the darkness we shall fare with fearless jest,
Starward we shall go on a joyous new quest;
There be many worlds, as we shall prove,
Many suns and systems, but only one love!

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Health Tip: It’s Not a Diet. It’s a Friendly Hijacking of Your Habits.

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Diets are like bad first dates—too intense, too fake, and never call you back. Habits? Habits are real. Habits stick around.

Health Tip: You’ve already changed four things this week: plate size, movement, water intake, and one food swap. That’s a habit stack, my friend. The key now? Keep doing them, imperfectly.

Momentum is the name of the game—not perfection. Life will interrupt you, cookies will tempt you, and that’s fine. Just get back to your slim-and-sane strategy.

You don’t need a six-pack. You need energy, comfort in your clothes, and confidence that says, “I’m doing something good for myself.”

Keep stacking wins. Keep it real. And remember:

You’re not failing. You’re evolving—with a sense of humor.

Fast & Featherious: Who Wins the 100-Meter Dash of the Animal Kingdom?

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You’ve seen sprinters blaze down the track—but could Usain Bolt outpace a bird with legs like turbo-charged pogo sticks? Let’s settle this wild footrace once and for all.

QUIZ START

Congrats, You Survived Crayons! The New Era of Grade School Graduations

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Back in my day, surviving sixth grade didn’t earn you a yard sign and a catered party. It earned you a C in penmanship, a half-day of freedom, and a reminder to water the tomatoes before playing ball.

There are signs popping up all over my neighborhood. Signs for students graduating from high school. Signs for the upcoming run-off elections, and signs for graduating from grade school. Whoa, did I just say grade school? When did getting through sixth grade become a big deal? I tried to recall my transition from sixth grade to seventh grade. It was just another day in the neighborhood. I went to school. There was a lot of recess and games and at the end of day, usually a half day, we received our report cards. I opened mine right away. I wanted to see the words, “Promoted to 7th grade.” Ah, those sweet words, Then the bell rang, and I was a free kid for the summer, “No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers, dirty looks,” ran through my mind as I ran home holding on to my report card. It was my passport out of the elementary jail and into the world of the big guys.

That evening when my dad got home from work, he looked at my report card and said, “You got a C in penmanship.”

I answered, “but I got an A in math.”

My dad said, “If they can’t read what you are writing what good is that?”

I knew I wasn’t going to win this argument, and it would only get worse for me if I resisted so I nodded.

My dad said, “Make sure you water the tomato plants before you play ball.”

That was my graduation day from grade school.

Mammal Mischief—Can You Spot the Impostor?

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Think you can outsmart Mother Nature? Let’s see if you can spot the odd one out in this lineup of curious creatures!

QUIZ START

Today’s Quote: Everyone Counts

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“A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it’s lowest ones” ― Nelson Mandela

Once for All ~ A Poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti

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Once for All

Christina Georgina Rosetti

I said: This is a beautiful fresh rose.
I said: I will delight me with its scent,
Will watch its lovely curve of languishment,
Will watch its leaves unclose, its heart unclose.
I said: Old earth has put away her snows,
All living things make merry to their bent,
A flower is come for every flower that went.
In autumn, the sun glows, the south wind blows,
So walking in a garden of delight
I came upon one sheltered shadowed nook
Where broad leaf-shadows veiled the day with night
And there lay snow unmelted by the sun: –
I answered: Take who will the path I took,
Winter nips once for all; love is but one.

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Healthy Foods: Bowled Over: A Tejano Poke That’ll Make Your Taste Buds Two-Step

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Forget pineapple and soy sauce overload—this poke bowl packs cactus swagger, a chili-lime punch, and a scoop of South Texas soul. It’s lean, clean, and salsa-dancing on your palate.

🍚 4 Healthy Reasons to Include Brown Rice in Your Diet

  1. High in Fiber = Happy Gut: Brown rice contains nearly four times the fiber of white rice. That means smoother digestion, longer satiety, and a belly that’s not bloated like a piñata at a kid’s party.
  2. Full of Magnesium & Selenium: Essential for bone health and thyroid function. Basically, it keeps your engine purring like a classic lowrider.
  3. Low Glycemic Index: Won’t spike your blood sugar like a churro at a rodeo. Great for sustained energy and for those keeping an eye on their glucose game.
  4. Antioxidants & Plant Compounds: It’s not just a filler—it fights inflammation and supports heart health. Brown rice = humble hero of the pantry.

🥗 

Tejano Poke Bowl with Brown Rice

Serves 2 hungry amigos

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Ingredients:

For the Base:

  • 1 cup cooked brown rice (cooled to room temp)
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • Pinch of lime zest
  • Salt to taste

For the Protein:

  • 8 oz sushi-grade ahi tuna (cubed) OR seared tofu (Tex Mex twist alert!)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • Dash of hot sauce (Valentina, if you’re keeping it real)

For the Bowl Toppings:

  • 1/2 cup black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1/3 cup diced mango or pineapple (go tropical Tejano!)
  • 1/4 cup pickled red onion
  • 1/4 avocado, sliced
  • 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup grilled corn (off the cob)
  • 2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeños or fresh for spice
  • Optional: chopped nopales (cooked cactus paddles)

Drizzle Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt (or plant-based alt.)
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1/2 tsp maple syrup or agave
  • Pinch of salt

🔥 

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Cook your brown rice with a pinch of cumin and lime zest. Let cool to room temp—it’s the cool kid in this bowl.
  2. Marinate your tuna or tofu in lime juice, olive oil, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and hot sauce. Let sit for 10–15 minutes.
  3. Sear your protein (if using tofu or you want a quick sear on tuna) in a hot skillet for 1–2 mins per side. Otherwise, keep it raw and chilled.
  4. Make the drizzle by mixing all sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
  5. Build your bowl: Start with brown rice, pile on your protein, then layer with beans, mango, avocado, corn, onions, and jalapeños. Sprinkle with cilantro. Optional: Top with nopales if you want to impress your Texan abuela.
  6. Drizzle and devour. Add sauce like you’re painting a mural—bold and with love.

Healthy Tips: Just Drop One Vice—Not Your Will to Live

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You don’t need to nuke your pantry or swear off chocolate for life. You just need to say goodbye to one troublemaker. Just one. For now.

Healthy Tip Weight loss fails when we go all-in, all at once. Instead, find your food kryptonite: soda, late-night chips, sugary coffee creamers, whatever’s been whispering sweet nothings to your belly. Then break up with it.

Don’t replace it with kale—just replace it.

  • Soda → sparkling water
  • Late-night chips → fruit and nuts
  • Dessert → a square of dark chocolate (you fancy, huh?)

Drop one vice this week. That’s it. You’ll feel in control, not punished.

Tomorrow’s finale: the mindset shift that keeps the momentum going (without ever using the word “detox”).

Taxing Conversations: When Small Talk Turns into a Full Audit

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Ever asked someone, “How’s it going?” and instantly regretted it? I did. What I thought would be a quick gym chat turned into an unsolicited deep dive into marital discord and overdue taxes.

What irritated you today? If something did, how long did you carry it around with you? There are times when we get irritated and our brain freezes and it refuses to move on. It’s like listening to a song on our favorite streaming service and it keeps repeating. No matter how many times we try to turn off the repeat icon on our phones or iPads, the song repeats.

This is how a conversation went down today between me and a gym buddy. My gym buddy was having one of those brain freeze moments.

Ray: “Hi, Tom. How’s it going?” (I should have thought twice before asking “how’s it going?”).

Tom: “I’m working on my taxes. I’m already six weeks late.”

Ray: “Ouch.”

Tom:: “It’s my wife’s fault. Getting her stuff is like pulling teeth.”

Ray: (I really need to change the subject). You see the ball game last night.”

Tom: “No. I had an argument with my wife over why she is so slow in getting the stuff I need.”

Ray: (Still trying to change the subject). “You have plans for the weekend?”

Tom: “Not if it involves her. I told her to go out with girlfriends Saturday night while I work on the taxes”

Ray: (Tom needs a marriage counselor and I don’t want to get caught in the middle). “I’m sure everything will work out. I see my machine is open, Have a great rest of your day.”

Tom: “You know I married her on the rebound.”

Ray: (Fist bumps Tom). “Gotta go, Tom. Hang in there.”

Tom: “There’s someone I’d like to hang.”

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