Paleo Pals - Health, Weight Loss & Support

Good afternoon Cave Chicks!!

I'm dragging today.....too much goofing off. Looks like its casserole night ))))

Inna (godda davida) - Hang in there.....I'm working something up to solve your pork prob....gotta love a challenge! If it doesn't work out, you could always send him to boarding school ))))))

On to business...….

TWO CENT TUESDAY!!! - Looking for love in all the wrong places!

My Cavedude and I have a love of watching documentaries on anything and everything. Not only have we learned a ton over the years, but it is great fodder for discussions…..and even a few arguments )))) Sadly, I have to admit that on the nights that we want to watch something that doesn't require use of our grey matter,we turn to true crime…..even some of those prison reality shows. Yeah…pitiful eh? I must say we are highly entertained by these shows. Yeah….even more pitiful-er eh? ))

The last few weeks have been strenuous so we've had more than our fair share of viewing life in the U.S. penal system. One of the shows followed the saga of an inmate's search for love on the 'outside' brought to him by inmate penpal programs. There are many of these programs in place. Set up like any other dating website, Billy the Bank Robber can post pics, profile info and an introductory statement. Me being me, I couldn't resist the temptation to check out prisonpenpals.com, and spent probably a good hour flipping through profiles. I found each inmate profile included what the inmate was convicted of …but no further details listed. The site recommended never sending an inmate money or personal information, and to google the inmate's crime for details. So I did. I'm a 'why, what, where and when' kinda gal. After a few searches I found that I had a hard time putting "I like long walks on the beach" or "looking for a kind, loyal and gentle woman" together with the heinous nature and details of the inmate's gruesome crimes. Then I stumbled upon one that took my breath away…..cross border sexual sadist Charles Ng…..

• The profile read: "Because of these and other reasons, I constantly feel misplaced, sad and lonely — like a dolphin caught inside a tuna net."
• He lists among his interests: origami, spirituality, self-study, writing, reading and drawing. He says he is seeking sincere, meaningful friendships "from this dark hole of humanity."

Mr. Ng, we can well imagine your pain….being stuck all alone in an 8 X 10 cell….suffering in that "dark hole"…..writing to women….writing your blog (yeah, he has one). Take heart Chuck, it's a bigger piece of real estate than your TWENTY FIVE (known) victims have today….and you may want to delete the word 'humanity' from your profile……doesn't quite reflect you…..missing that certain, je ne sais quoi. Perhaps replace with evil torturer? Much better!

There are several other high profile inmates on these sites…..Scott Peterson & Richard Ramirez to name two. Charles Manson (now dead) apparently gave his pen and paper a regular workout. Back in the 80s he sent this picture and words in reply to a citizen's letter:....

"Look down at me, you will see a fool, look up at me, you will see your lord. Look straight at me, and you will see yourself."

I could look at that picture all day….and read his statement……creepy, thought provoking, like looking into his very sick soul. God complex anyone?

Ok so on to my point. Should they be allowed? Would denying the inmates these sites/programs be a cruel and unusual punishment? Would lawmakers be taking away possible love, friendship & hope?….is that part of the sentencing? There have been ongoing rumblings about these programs because it is such a contentious subject….many questions involved. It's not an easy opinion to form.

While I totally see the therapeutic & rehabilitative benefit from forming healthy written relationships, I have to think of the victims first….and their families. In the case of sexual/psychotic/violent offenders I say an emphatic no. Not to punish, but to protect the families of the victim from more pain, the unwitting public that may write them and the prisoners themselves. Why allow them to possibly continue their crimes by word? Who knows what Charles Ng's intentions are when he writes Sally in Arkansas. Con artists fall into the same category for me….too chancy….people have been completely ripped off by these programs (oh yeah, you can send them money). For lesser crimes I don't really have a problem, and do see a number of benefits. Happier inmates make life safer for corrections staff, gives the inmate a purpose to redeem & exposure to living on the straight and narrow. I guess I'd like to see some protocols put into place…..a grading system if you will….in order to weed out the 'dangerously undeserving'. Without even thinking of the possible costs, I'll say no-yes.

What say y'all?

ETA: You may wonder what the heck Two Cent Tuesday has to do with a Paleo thread. Paleo is a lifestyle.....not a diet. It includes exploration not just of food & health, but involves mind/body/soul. Shouting out our opinions and even debating them constructively is 110% squeaky clean Paleo living.….yup, good for ya!

Good day Ladies and …….ladies )))

As my mother would say..."today just went to hell in a hand basket". Whatever a hand basket is.....is there a foot basket? No idea...you get the point! Y'all will probably be pleased that Workout Wednesday had to be cancelled due to my busy schedule ) Sun is out, lil' cold, but good all round. So on to business.....

JuneBee - You never cease to amaze me. It would appear from what you wrote that on top of your frustration, constant tests, infection, elbow pain and you still manage to take a train for a total of 6 hours to make your appointments!!!! Lordy woman, you've inspired me never to complain about a 25 minute drive to my hospital appointments. Huge hugs, this is so unfair....please feel free to vent here as much as you like. Each and every one of us chicks have your back. As for the Thanksgiving meal.....you have a 'get out of paleo jail free' card. Enjoy that meal, it's so well deserved!! Kirby....awwwww, he is the SWEETEST lil' fella......and still lookin' all dapper with his latest hair cut. He must be such a comfort! Happy Thanksgiving right back to you....enjoy and come back and post about all the eating....make me pea green with envy )))))

Vampriella - CLEAR SCANS YAYYYYYY!!!!! Look at you rock the Imaging Department!!! SO happy...congrats!! the pen pal thing is a business.....I wasn't clear on that, sorry. The tax dollar doesn't pay for it, the inmates do and the prison has nothing to do with most of it......if it was paid for by tax dollars I'm thinking my 2 cents would have been a whole lot different and the same as yours. It's all done by snail mail and corrections Canada/ US only distributes the brochures to the inmates. I LOL'd at your "long walks in the yard" comment. I guess a first date would be dinner off a tray. They could match up Karla Homolka with Dellen Millard.....they seem to like to keep their killings within the family, how heartwarming *eye roll*

Inna (godda davida) - I'm working on that tenderloin tweak right now....stay tuned, it'll be up in the next 24 hours. It's going.....well....different ))))

Roll Call!!

Ksuze where ya be?? JKL you too..where ya be!! TwoH - Hope you're recovering well! Pebbles (our Flinstone newbie) did I do it again? )) Kathindc - Miss you! Jade it's been too long! I'm hoping the cancellation of Workout Wednesday this week might make the difference )))

Mornin' Peeps!!!

TUTORIAL TURKEY DAY – Get yo' gobble on!

Canadian Cavies celebrated TGday last month, but I'm still thankful.......thankful I don't have to cook a ginormous meal today for 42 people and wake up on Black Friday with mashed potatoes ground into my rug )))

IMHO Thanksgiving is one tough day for the cave cooks.....tougher than Christmas meal prep. Thanksgiving doesn't include the gifts, people coming and going all day, a few spiked egg nogs under the belt making everyone a little brighter....in other words, nothing to distract anyone from something like, say, burnt gravy. People are understanding at Christmas when you screw up. They realize you've had weeks on end of so many food/gift/family/party preparations for the day. Not Thanksgiving, na-ha. My sister still talks about the 'Burnt Gravy Affair'....like it's a story to be told after gathering small children together in a circle.....cracking open a big dusty book titled "The Egads that Stole Thanksgiving with Burnt Gravy".....the kiddies gasping, wide eyed with fear at the thought of dry mashed potatoes and, god forbid, nothing to top the turkey slices on their plate. This story has become a family classic told over most of our family's Thanksgiving tables. I don't mind. It was my first attempt at hosting a family meal back in the late 80s…..something was bound to go wrong and it's given us a few guffaws since, so all good. I'm thankful for another thing….thankful I can now make gravy without offending ))

My neighbors to the south amaze me at this time of year…..and I scratch my head wondering how y'all pull it off. First Thanksgiving, then Black Friday launches the very next morn….after which Christmas prep starts. December brings gatherings, parties etc. A few short weeks later and they are celebrating Christmas and preparing yet another meal on the same scale as Thanksgiving….don't forget New Years coming 6 days later. IMHO January 1^st should kick off an American all expenses paid week in the Bahamas to recover! So yeah, I'm thankful the Canadian Thanksgiving has just enough time before Christmas to prevent me from ending up in the local psych ward! I hear the gravy is boxed there, no fear of being burnt ))))

As our American friends prepare to tuck into their meal, surrounded by folks near and dear, my wish for them is for a house smelling gloriously of roasting food, visiting with those they don't often get a chance to sit and catch up with, laughs and that amazing relaxed feeling of belonging. Oh yeah, and a silky & delish gravy that comes through completely unscathed.

This is my fellow Canadian Vamp & I dressed as turkeys and doing a little soft shoe act for our American Cavies, in honour of the day.....Happy Thanksgiving!!

Good Monday A.M. Cave Chicks!!

So how was your weekend? Hopefully our American Cavies pulled through their turkey hangovers! The weekend in my cave saw the spice reorganization reno project almost come to a close and I hope to be posting pics in the next day or two. I'm proud of the hard work my Cavedude has put into this venture and I see an extended back rub coming his way. Did I venture into Vegas? No way….Christmas is coming and I'm making sure I leave room for a few treats during the holidays. Last night we had hot dogs & fries…..all paleo and purdy darned good if you ask me…healthiest 'junk' meal we've had in a while.

So on to business…..

Inna (godda davida) – Thank you for sharing your turkey secrets! The Christmas before last I wet brined a turkey, and it was really good, but I've never tried the dry brine......and am assuming it leads to the colour and juicy factor your turkey had……can't wait to try at Christmas!! I'm taking your directions but applying it to a goose this year (we are not fans of turkey, and since goose hit our table we've been honking with joy ))))) I doubt I can achieve the perfection your turkey has, but I'm gonna try!! I'll post pics! How you feeling now? Things getting back to normal physically & emotionally? How is your Cavehubs doing?….you two took a lot of 'hits' recently.

Vampriella – Did you ever try the ginger Kombucha? It's a great ginger ale replacement (and my go-to for upset tummy or GI issues. Ya' know, I think your Cavehubs and myself have a lot in common. First the 'sleep in' issue (from a few months back….still laugh at the gif you posted of the woman bashing pots together) and now Christmas trees. If I had my way Christmas decorations would be a wreath on the door and maybe a candle on the table…..put up Dec. 24^th and taken down Dec. 26^th)))) That said, in the last few years I've started getting into the whole seasonal décor thing…..probably because I'm semi-retired….whatever that means! LOVED the gifs….the lady in curlers could have been me!! Your apple quilt work is gorgeous….I so wish I could do that!! Keep posting as you progress please!! Eggplant….I hated it untill I tried the chinese type, but even then it has to be cooked in something. On it's own it squeaks on the teeth *shudder*.It was fine on the chicken, but as bacon….nope. Turkey or chicken bacon is the best sub. Macros….we should gab soon.

JKL – I forgot to reply your invitation to join you in putting up the ol' Tannenbaum. Tradition in our cave dictates that trees don't go up until December 16^th. ….partly because we always have a real tree…putting up in November would ensure a Charlie Brown Christmas tree by the 25^th))))), but most importantly, my son was born on the 15^th. Tough being a Christmas baby, so I wanted to make sure his his Bday felt unencumbered by any other celebration. Lemme' tell ya', it's always a mad dash on the 16^th of December….tearing around getting the decos up…..and probably why I feel what I posted to Vamp. The older he gets the closer we get to decorating on the 1^st. Baby steps ))I'm also considering an upside down installation this year…..like this…….

When I saw this set up I said "OH I HAVE TO HAVE THAT!!!"…..seems so different, modern & funky! My Cavedude is shuddering at the logistics )))) Turns out this is neither modern nor funky…..stems from eastern European tradition….representing the shape of Christ on the cross. Rumour has it that Prince Albert & Queen Victoria regularly hungtheir tree upside down (Bertie brought not only the tradition of dragging a tree in the house and plastering it with shiny stuff, but the upside down thing, from Bavaria). So this year we will be attempting to flip the tree skywards whilst I comment "We are not amused" in my best Queen Vic accent ))))))) If it works, pics are DEF being posted!

Ksuze – Yay!! You're still with us! Looks like you were purdy darned good during the Thanksgiving holiday….that deserves a gold star! Your busy schedule is our loss….you've been missed! Try not to work too hard on the grading & student meetings….although I know that's probably not possible….save room for us on occasion….we're keeping a seat reserved for you as always! )

TwoH – Sounds like you're recovering nicely and you had a perfectly compliant and delish meal happening the last time you posted.I have to give you full points for forgoing the dessert….not an easy task especially in cooler weather seasons. Cold & carbs are best buddies )))I'm kicking myself now that I didn't check out skin care deals online during the black Friday madness. Geeze….I'll have a new instant pot, some kitchen gadgets and wrinkles )))))))

………..and with that Cavies, I'm off to the gym and will be putting a dent into my Christmas baking this afternoon to round up my personal challenge. Oh it's gonna be so much fun (she writes sarcastically), BUT interesting. On the baking menu today? Sing 'we wish you a Merry Christmas' and you'll get an idea of what I'm making…or attempting….wish me luck!

Splendiferous day to y'all!!