When you love someone, you love the person as they are, and not as you’d like them to be.” ― Leo Tolstoy
Month: May 2025
A Ship, A Plan, and No Panama: Can You Navigate the Long Way Around?
You’ve got a boat, a sense of adventure, and strict orders not to take the Panama Canal. From sourdough in San Francisco to scones in Plymouth, can you plot the high seas route that doesn’t cheat?
once like a spark ~ A Poem by e. e. cummings
once like a spark
e. e. cummings
(once like a spark)
if strangers meet
life begins-
not poor not rich
(only aware)
kind neither
nor cruel
(only complete)
i not not you
not possible;
only truthful
-truthfully,once
if strangers(who
deep our most are
selves)touch:
forever
(and so to dark)
Healthy Foods: Scallops Gone Wild: Tex Mex Hits the Beach!
They started off as elegant sea treats. But then they went to San Antonio, got a jalapeño tan, and now they’re sizzling with Southwestern attitude. This ain’t your abuela’s seafood dish.
🌊 4 Healthy Reasons to Eat Sea Scallops
- Protein Powerhouse: Sea scallops deliver over 20 grams of lean protein per 3-ounce serving, perfect for muscle repair and post-gym recovery—especially for a beast like you who lifts iron and tames the elliptical!
- Low in Calories, Big in Benefits: At under 100 calories per serving, scallops are a guilt-free way to fuel up and stay full—unlike that “healthy” salad drowned in dressing.
- Rich in B12 and Magnesium: Essential for nerve function, heart health, and energy production. Think of them as ocean-born vitamins with a buttery sear.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Yep, they’ve got ’em—these healthy fats help reduce inflammation and keep your ticker in top form. Your heart will thank you… in Spanish!
🔥 Recipe: Pan-Seared Tex Mex Sea Scallops
A spicy, healthy, protein-rich dish with that Lone Star sizzle.
🌮 Ingredients:
- 1 lb fresh sea scallops (dry-packed preferred, patted dry)
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (high smoke point = crispy edges!)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small jalapeño, finely diced (remove seeds for less heat)
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- Optional: avocado slices & grilled corn for serving
🔪
Instructions:
- Prep the Scallops: Pat them bone-dry (they won’t sear if they’re damp). Season with paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat It Up: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add avocado oil. Once shimmering, gently place scallops in the pan. Cook 2 minutes per side—no flipping till golden crust forms.
- Jalapeño Lime Finish: Right before removing from heat, toss in the jalapeño and squeeze the lime juice over the scallops. Let it sizzle for 10–15 seconds.
- Serve Tex Mex Style: Plate scallops with avocado slices, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, and grilled corn if desired. Optional: Serve over a bed of spicy quinoa or inside small grain-free tortillas for tacos.
¡Boom! Tex Mex meets the ocean—clean, mean, and spicy lean.
Health Tips: Drink Water Like It’s Gossip—Early and Often
Most people walk around mildly dehydrated and think they’re hungry. Plot twist: your body just wanted a drink, not another granola bar.
Health Tip: Before every meal, drink a glass of water. Why? It fills your stomach, wakes up digestion, and helps prevent overeating.
Pro tip: Keep water visible—on your desk, your nightstand, in your car cupholder. If you see it, you’ll drink it. If you don’t, your inner snack gremlin will pounce.
Want to feel fancy? Add a lemon slice and call it “spa hydration.” Your body won’t care—but your ego will love it.
Start a three-glass habit today:
- One when you wake up
- One before lunch
- One before dinner
Hydration, amigo. It’s your secret weapon.
Coming tomorrow: how to lose weight one vice at a time. Baby steps, not boot camp.
New Podcast: Arrival: That Quiet Moment When Grief Gives Way to Healing
In this episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Ray reflects on one of the most honest and painful parts of grief—missing. More than just absence, “missing” is a word that echoes through every loss. It’s not just that someone is gone—it’s that something inside us has gone with them.
Through personal reflections and the deeply moving words of poets Sarah Orne Jewett, Pablo Neruda, and R.S. Thomas, we explore the truth that grief has no timetable, but healing arrives when it’s ready. And when it does, it finds us quietly and completely—without fanfare, but with unmistakable clarity.
This is an episode about that moment—the moment we realize we’ve made it through the darkest part, and can, once again, look forward with hope. Stay strong. Stay open. Your arrival is on its way.
LISTEN NOW:
He’s Addicted to Exercise
My friend’s addicted to exercise. His wife wishes he was addicted to helping to clean the house.
A friend of my is addicted to exercise. He doesn’t miss a day. And, when he’s suffering from an injury he’ll work out. He recently went to his physician and discovered he has a broken bone in his foot and inflammation in his knee. The doctor told him everything will heal with appropriate rest. What did my friend do? After his MRI and doctor’s appointment, he went to the gym and road the indoor bike. There’s nothing anyone can say to him that will change his mind. He’ll continue on this path until the pain he feels becomes greater than the pain he believes will come to him if he misses a workout. I have a saying that I like to use when confronting important issues. I ask myself, “What do intelligent people do?” The answer is always clear. It challenges me to act like an intelligent person or choose to be a fool.
How Deep Can You Dive? Time to Dive In!
Ready to plunge into some deep-sea trivia? Hold your breath as we explore the depths—literally! Test your marine knowledge and see if you can correctly name Earth’s deepest ocean.
Today’s Quote: Take the First Step and Don’t Stop
The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. ~John Bingham
Healthy Foods: Four Healthy Reasons to Eat Onions Every Day
1. Natural Inflammation Fighter
Onions contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body. Less swelling, fewer aches, and joints that thank you.
2. Heart Helper
Regular consumption of onions has been linked to lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels. Your arteries will be throwing you a fiesta.
3. Gut Guardian
Onions are rich in prebiotics, feeding the good bacteria in your gut. A happy belly equals better digestion, immunity, and mood. (Yes, mood. Science says so.)
4. Cancer Combatant
Research shows that the sulfur compounds in onions may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, particularly those affecting the digestive tract. Spicy prevention? Sí, por favor.
🌮
Tex-Mex Star Recipe: Caramelized Onion & Black Bean Stuffed Poblano Peppers
🥄 Ingredients:
- 4 large poblano peppers
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup cooked brown rice or quinoa
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Juice of 1 lime
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Optional: avocado slices or a dollop of dairy-free yogurt
🔥 Directions:
- Roast the Poblanos: Set oven to 400°F. Place poblanos on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, turning halfway. Let cool, then slice lengthwise and remove seeds.
- Caramelize the Onions: In a skillet, heat olive oil on medium. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook low and slow (about 15–20 minutes) until golden and sweet. Stir in garlic for the final 2 minutes.
- Make the Filling: In a bowl, combine black beans, rice, cumin, paprika, lime juice, and half the caramelized onions.
- Stuff and Bake: Fill each pepper with the mixture. Top with remaining onions. Bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and add avocado or a cooling yogurt dollop if desired. Serve with a side of sass and maybe a cold agua fresca.
