Three-day Fast.

"The philosophy of fasting calls upon us to know ourselves, to master ourselves, and to discipline ourselves the better to free ourselves. To fast is to identify our dependencies, and free ourselves from them."

~Tariq Ramadan

Utah County (point of the mountain)
taken from the Frontrunner train

On Wednesday evening I started a three-day fast. What? Why would you do that? Well, a couple of reasons. One, I was going to be fasting for 12 hours anyway in preparation to get my blood drawn for my yearly physical. Two, my mom has talked to me about the benefits of long-term fasting for my health and resetting my system. And three, I read this article about the immune system benefits of a three-day fast. As you know, I have had my share of health problems and illnesses over the past two and a half years (has it been that long?) and the idea of resetting my immune system was appealing.

But three days?!? Oh my. That's a long time. I'm not very good and certainly not regular in fasting for 24 hours, which is a customary practice in the Mormon Church once a month on the first Sunday of the month. I was not sure I could make it. I knew I could expect physical and mental discomforts, but I also felt that it would be a good opportunity for personal reflection regarding my eating habits, determining my motivations when it comes to food and how much of that is mental, and figuring out ways to combat my mental relationship with food.

Day One: Actually not too bad. On a normal day, I drink a lot of water, so I knew that wouldn't be a problem. In fact, I added about 30 ounces to my normal intake. Although on a regular day I eat breakfast by 9am, this time it didn't bother me. I had my water. I was good. By lunch time, I was a little hungry and I was smelling the goods my co-workers were having for lunch in their offices. I went downstairs to my car with my water bottle and took a nap. (Sleep is my other self-medication.) After lunch, I was a little uneasy at my desk, since usually I eat a piece of fruit or a sweet treat to get through the afternoon. But I knew I was getting my blood-work done that afternoon, so I powered through and took hope in leaving at 4pm to get that done. Interestingly, after my blood-work, as I got into the car, was the hardest moment. Typically when I'm fasting for blood-work, I have a little something to eat right after I'm done. This time however, I suddenly felt like I was starving myself. It's okay. Though I considered going shopping that night to keep my mind off of eating, I decided to go straight home so I wouldn't have the temptation of any food places. Since I wasn't eating dinner, I went up to my room and began blogging -- I have a lot of catching up to do. At about 7:30pm, I heard KDJ downstairs preparing her dinner and then within minutes I smelled the lovely smell of tacos. But I was okay because at that point I was proud I'd made it past the 24 hours mark. But don't get me wrong... being online there are food enticements everywhere! I began thinking of all the food I could make next week, when I will be easing my way back into eating. But let's be truthful... none of the food I'm thinking about is going to "ease" me back into eating. Four-cheese lasagna, sushi, cherry cobbler?

Also, right at about 7:30 or 8pm, my stomach started growling for the first time that I noticed all day.

Day Two:

I am now constantly thinking of all the yummy food items I could make. One pot pasta. Lemon blueberry cake. Phở. (Ooh, pho would be a good way to ease into eating again.) Pizza.

Right now I'm feeling irritable and a bit angry. I'm also feeling a bit light-headed. Every time I refill my water in the break room (today I'm already at 64 ounces), I get really sad that I can't fill up a mini dixie cup with snacks. There are three snack jars in the break room that are typically filled with things like nuts, or trail mix, or dried fruit. Today, I wish I could be snacking on yogurt-covered raisins. Or are they craisins? I don't know, but I'm starving myself, so I can't have them. This is ridiculous.

It's funny how I feel unsure of what to do next at every turn when I can't eat something. It's funny because it's not like I'm constantly eating on normal days, but maybe I am grazing a lot or something. Like last night when I didn't even want to be downstairs because I couldn't eat, so what was the point? I just stayed up in my room. Drinking my water.

Tonight, I happen to know that KDJ is planning to make black bean and mango salad. I want some so badly. Yum.

Day Three:

Well, interestingly, Day Three is easier than Day Two was. I guess I also know that I'm going to be eating dinner tonight too. That may help. I've already planned it. Phở. Yum. I can hardly wait it sounds so delicious. If you've never had it, you must try it.

I guess the thing I've noticed most in the last three days is how much of my life involves food. Social gatherings, sitting at my desk at work. I just think about food a lot. My relationship with food is complicated, I've noticed. Apparently, I eat out of habit, boredom, stress, anxiety, depression. Often, I found myself going to the fridge and just opening it up.

Water is my best good friend.

This has been an enlightening experience, which I plan to do again. Focusing on the spiritual and mental side of it has been interesting and I'd like to do that again. Interestingly, I've lost about 10 pounds. I'm sure it will come back as soon as I have the cycle of food in me, but it's nice to see that it can come off. Challenging myself and making myself come to terms with myself (if that makes sense). Maybe in a month or two. Maybe I'll be able to be more mentally controlled this time. Practice makes perfect, right?

But for now, I'll look forward to my delicious phở dinner tonight. Maybe I'll even get some Vietnamese fresh spring rolls. Delish.

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A Bowl Full of Cherries.

"Happiness can be found in the smallest of things. Make it your passion to transform everyday routines into meaningful rituals."

~Unknown

Several years ago, (and I mean several), my mom and I were reading some personality book or quiz or something. I can't even recall. But what I do remember is that the description it gave for me included a line that said due to my realistic nature, I probably don't even really understand the phrase, "life is just a bowl full of cherries." Let's face it. They nailed it. My brain just doesn't get it. Could be in part due to the fact that I never really liked cherries much growing up, so I didn't understand the draw. I never really liked any pit fruits for that matter. But as I've gotten older, and really since Mom and Stephen have had cherry trees in the yard, cherries have grown on me. And eating around the pit and spitting it out doesn't bother me like it used to.

This year the cherry trees in Mom's yard were full of fruit and for some reason the birds stayed away long enough for us to pick about fifty pounds of cherries.

We just kept picking and picking and picking. They were everywhere. I think we managed to get everything within a short ladder's reach. The higher fruit would have to be left for the birds.

Still not really sure what the bowl full of cherries quote is supposed to actually mean, but I sure did enjoy the serenity provided by picking and eating a few cherries myself.

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On to Riquewihr, France.

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away."

~Eudora Welty

From Colmar, we drove north to Riquewihr, where we found yet another charming old town. Vineyards seemed to surround the city, blanketing the countryside. They were rather mesmerizing to me.

Riquewihr was largely untouched during World War II and is surrounded by medieval fortifications. Although the city looks, more or less, the same as it did in the 16th century I was told, we did see several things that probably would not have made an appearance back then.

Confetti lined the cobblestone sidewalks hinting at the joyful celebration which must have welcomed in the new year just two days before.

Just inside on the main street, we found a sad sight. We learned that the lights on a Christmas tree (or maybe candles in the house burning until late in the night, I can't remember) ignited one of the historic homes on fire and the older woman who lived there was not able to escape. She had died before the fire, which consumed 90% of her home and spilled into the adjacent home, was finally extinguished. A tragic loss of life, as well as a piece of history.

The demolished house stood between the bright blue one and the yellowish one to its left. You can see how the roof of the blue one was damaged.

Despite the tragedy and the solemn mood we felt in town, we were still able to see the quaintness of the community, which entices visitors all throughout the year.

And of course we couldn't leave without macaroons. Yum. Orange flavored, regular almond, and chocolate. And yes, the picture below tells the tale of our impatience... we each had one before we even got back into the car! They were SO good.

On our way home to Germany from Riquewihr while still in France, we stopped at a chocolate shop, Chocolaterie du Vignoble - Daniel STOFFEL.

Photo found here.

Photo found here.

Seriously, so much chocolate. Not that I'm complaining...

The overcast day was really beautiful to me because the clouds still had shape and the views were just spectacular.

Fred and Linda surprised us with a different (than their normal) route home, which included a ferry ride across the Rhine. Yes, we were driving. That meant that we drove our car onto the ferry, which only held three cars at a time and floated across the Rhine as the final snippets of daylight could be seen.

What a beautiful day and a beautiful night sky to end our day.

Tomorrow, is Rothenburg. Beautiful, quaint Rothenburg.
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A Day Trip to Colmar.

"Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities."

~Sue Atchley Ebaugh

France! I'd never been to France before this trip. The drive from Stuttgart across the Rhein (Rhine) River to Colmar, on Friday, January 3rd, was really beautiful. I didn't take any pictures in the car that day, but the rolling hills and fields were beautiful. Colmar is the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty. They even have their own replica of the Lady on the middle of a roundabout leading into the city.

Photo found here

It was a little odd to see a replica of Lady Liberty so far away from home, although it's obviously fitting. Certainly more fitting than seeing her in Las Vegas along the strip. Also, she stands as a symbol of hope, liberty, peace, and hope for continued good relationship between our two countries.

As we entered the town square, we came upon a statue of General Jean Rapp, a French Army general during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. General Rapp, apparently was born the son of the janitor of the town-hall of Colmar. Talk about working your way up the ranks. He started his education with the idea that he would be a clergyman, but soon found he was better suited to being in the military. Interesting, right?

Although I missed the real hustle and bustle of the Weihnachtsmarkts, the traditional French and German Christmas markets, most of Colmar was still decorated for the season. Apparently in both France and Germany, the decorations stay up through January 6th, Three Kings Day. So I definitely got a taste of the markets.

Christmas decorations were still up, but the crowns were out to celebrate Three Kings Day.

I loved the trees which were decorated simply in red balls. Next year, I will remember this and decorate my tree outside on my front lawn.

I love walking into churches in Europe, so we went inside this one as well. St. Martin's Catholic Church of Colmar. There were a few things that caught my eye: the nativity scene, a wooden sculpture of the Mother Mary holding the crucified Jesus, and the array of candles lit and waiting to be lit. Linda and I decided, after reading the prayer and plea to Heavenly Father, that we had to light a candle that day. And we did. There was something special about that candle in that church that day. That magical feeling I had while flying through the rainbow-filled clouds into Paris was alive in that church.

My candle is second from the left.

Linda knew exactly where to find the home, which was the birthplace of Bartholdi. The museum was not open that day, but there was a nice sculpture in the courtyard outside the home.

The sculpture, Statue des grands soutiens du monde, represents the three great supports of the world: labor (hold a hammer and an arm full of books), justice (holding a scale), and patriotism (holding a flag). I like how all three characters are on an equal plain. Not one is greater than the other. All three support the world.

Hansi's drawings are all over this part of France. I love the little faces and the colors in the drawings.

To end our tour of Colmar, we walked through the covered market, where we found cheeses, breads, nuts, fruits, and of course, pretzels.

Linda and Fred.

Despite the cold of winter, all the streets were teeming with colorfully painted buildings, one of my favorite things about Colmar. And though there was no real snow on the ground, you can see they made up for that by decorating with cotton quilt batting, you know... to remind you it was winter.

For the record, that was 60 pictures. You know, if you were counting.

Next up: same day, but on to Riquewihr, France.
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