Tuesday, February 28, 2017

I'm Not a Doctor And I Don't Play One On TV


I highly recommend you check in with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, especially if you're taking prescription pills.  The very first step you should take before attempting the Caveman Food Experiment is to consult with your doctor.  I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.  I do suspect something will happen to your body when you modify your eating habits.  The same thing happened to me and most of the others who volunteered for the experiment – change.  This can be healthy or unhealthy and that's why you need your doctor to be involved during the process.  For example, if you're taking pills for high blood pressure and your blood pressure suddenly drops, you may enter the danger zone when your blood pressure gets too low.

Your doctor will be able to measure your lipid panels during your food experiment.  This is the best way to objectively measure how you're progressing.  I'll be sharing more on May 1 about the food experiment that saved my life.  Today's disclaimer will be included to make sure any future readers who give the experiment a try have the best chance for a successful outcome.  Have a great day.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Why I Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk


I don't have aspirations of being a sumo wrestler.  If I did, I'd probably cry over spilled milk because it's a sure fire way to gain weight rapidly.  Other than the small amounts of milk my wife adds to her coffee, there's no dairy in our household.  I cut the cheese and the ice cream when I gave my cousin's caveman food experiment a try to see if I could reduce my blood pressure without using medication.  He had a feeling something I was eating may be causing my numbers to spike.  The idea behind his experiment was to cut out all the suspects and everything was a suspect during the 45-day trial except fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  The experiment worked.  I never went back to dairy.  Like most foods consumed in the US, it's been modified.  A single glass of milk can contain as many as 20 painkillers, growth hormones and antibiotics.  Although sumo wrestling is out, I'm happy to spar with anyone who tells me milk is safe for consumption.  Have a great day.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Improve Your Food Vocabulary by Eating Your Words


Want to be healthier?  Eat (or drink) your words.  I'm serving generous helpings for your consumption today.  Here goes:

Omega 3 – fatty acids needed for a healthy body found in plant foods
Omega 6 – more fatty acids, also needed for a healthy body and found in plant foods
Edamame – immature soybean used as an appetizer in China, Japan, Korea and Hawaii
Walnuts – excellent source for Omega 3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Flax seeds – one of the oldest fiber crops in the world and a great addition to smoothies
Winter Squash – where ABC's can be found (Vitamin A, B2, B6, C and K)
Black Beans – Legumes rich in protein
Kidney Beans – contain molybdenum, a mineral needed to support 7 enzymes in the body
Kale – filled with antioxidants to protect against various cancers
Chia Seeds – high in Omega 3 fatty acids
Caveman Signature Smoothie – You can find the recipe in the archives of this blog or in my next book, scheduled for release on May 1.  It's how I drink my vitamins and fatty acids every morning.

If you're serious about improving your food vocabulary, I also recommend refraining from eating or drinking any words derived from processed foods.  Consider them as slang for the soul and give them up forever.  Have a great day.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Do You Know What You're Made Of?


If you were to look at your cells under a microscope, you would find essential fatty acids, hopefully – healthy ones.  Sadly, when you eat trans fatty acids, an inferior substitute for repairing and maintaining your cells, your body misbehaves.  It's like putting the wrong fuel in your gas tank.  Isn't it ironic that your neighbor pays more attention to his automobile than he does to his own body?  He knows his auto mechanic on a first name basis but has no doctor.  He changes the oil in his car every 3,000 miles but refuses to go in for an annual check up.  The very least we can do is understand what we're made of and eat the kind of foods that will fuel us properly and keep our bodies on the road for a long life.  If you're not sure where to find essential fatty acids, visit the produce section of your neighborhood grocery store.  Greens are high-octane fuel for your body.  Give greens a try and your body will thank you.  Have a great day.

Friday, February 24, 2017

The 1/4 Pounder Silently Killing You


If you give up the 1/4 pounder after you read this, you may decrease your risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer.  It's not the 1/4 pounder you may be thinking about sold by your neighborhood fast food establishment.  I'm referring to something else hidden away in the common American diet that may be silently killing you.  It's everywhere.  I was shocked to learn the average American eats almost a 1/4 pound of it a day.  It started showing up in the 70's as a solution for food manufacturers to increase profits.  Your silent killer is high fructose corn syrup and you're probably eating 83 pounds of it every year.

Read the food labels on every product you're considering purchasing.  Imagine a skull and cross bones accompanying any product containing high fructose corn syrup and stay away.  While you're at it, go ahead and include Trans fatty acids, a close cousin to high fructose corn syrup that is also not nature made.  Share this message with a friend or loved one.  You may save a life.  Have a great day.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Anxiety Check


My blood pressure always goes up when I'm visiting my doctor.  I know why.  It's that scary feeling he's going to find something wrong with me.  I should know better.  I'm eating right, sleeping right and exercising right.  That doesn't matter.  Anxiety is something you can never fully control.  I do something to minimize anxiety.  It's called visualization.  The idea is to imagine a future scenario in your mind with your eyes closed.  Perhaps it's an exam in school or a meeting with the boss.  Pay attention to all the details.  The more vivid your mental picture, the easier it is to prepare yourself for the event.  Make a list of all the test questions you see in your mental picture or all the things your boss may say to you.  Preparedness trumps anxiety.  Give it a try.  Have a great day.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Your Best Daily Effort is All You Need


It's really easy to beat yourself up when you're working on a project and you're not sure how it will turn out.  That's why many people never start – they're too worried about how others may react.  I use a different approach to help me get over the jitters any time I'm starting something new.  I simply dive in.  Watch a baby learning to crawl or walk.  Do they appear afraid?  Nope.  Do they fall down?  Yep.  Do they give up?  Nope.  They crawl, they walk, they fall, they get up, they fall, and they get up.  Eventually, they run.  That first step is the toughest.  All that is required is you give your best daily effort every step of the way.  Be fearless.  Don't worry about the onlookers.  Learn as you go and never give up.  You can do this.  Have a great day.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Fireside Chat


Sometimes the stars are in alignment.  It was one of those days just 48 hours ago.  I reached into my pocket and captured the sun setting on a picture-perfect day at Fireside Winery near our Iowa home.  The local grapes aren't all that thrive in our home state.  It's also the place where dreams are cultivated, even for those like me who are now in the third quarter of their lives.  Some may say, "give up, don't you see the sun setting?"

My wife never gave up on me.  Others suspected that someone like me who was raised in the Valley of the Sun might not adapt to life in the Midwest.  It's been five years since my transplant from the West Coast and I'm feeling better than ever.  Iowa is the perfect place for a writer to grow grapes and harvest bumper crops.  This is my field of dreams.  I'm looking forward to sharing my 2017 vintage on May 1.  We can have a fireside chat.  I hope you like the flavor.  Have a great day.

Monday, February 20, 2017

3 Keys to Healthy Living


Stress can kill you.  You may be doing things unknowingly that may cause future health problems.  The good news is that you hold the keys to open the doors to healthy living.  Here goes:
  1. Sleep 8 hours a day.  If you're not doing this consistently, ask yourself why not.  Is it because you think you have too much to do and you need to cheat your sleep time?  Or you believe you don't need that much time?  In my opinion, your body may be operating at reduced efficiency when you are sleep deprived so it does take longer to get things done.  Sleep more and watch your mental alertness soar.  Yes, the work will get done without having to rob your sleep time.
  2. Eat like a caveman.  Once you cut out all the processed foods and eat the way your ancestors ate – a diet rich in fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds, you won't need to worry about calling in sick.  My immune system is stronger than ever and I can't even remember the last time I needed a sick day.  I attribute this to healthy eating.
  3. Minimize stressful situations.  This includes living in debt, surrounding yourself with negative people and failing to use your talents to help others.  Did the last one surprise you?  I believe it's true that not doing something can add stress to your life.  If you have a gift that you were born to use and you're not using it, you will feel guilty and this will add stress.  
You already possess these keys to healthy living.  It's your choice to use them or lose them.  I'm cheering for you to be healthy.  Have a great day.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Financial Stress Busters


High credit card debt is like mountain climbing when you're afraid of heights.  If you're seeking serenity, it's hard to find when your debt is overwhelming you.  Here are three financial stress busters to help you from falling over a cliff:

  1. Write everything down.  Track every penny of your spending for 30 days.  You're searching for leaks in your financial bucket.  Daily tracking will help you increase your awareness about where your money goes.  Plug the leaks and your financial bucket will increase.
  2. Use cash envelopes for your purchases.  I really like this one.  No money in the envelopes means no more spending until you replenish your funds.
  3. Make a plan.  Add target dates to your dream purchases and make sure you don't ever borrow money in advance.  If you come up short on your savings, defer the dream until you have all the funds you need to pay cash.
The only mountain climbing I do now is on nature hikes.  My wife and I are using one credit card provided the funds are already in the bank so we can immediately make a payment for the full amount when the bill arrives.  Our promise to each other is to stop using the card the day we have to pay interest.  We are now rewarded with an annual rewards check and there is no annual fee attached.  The funds will be placed in an envelope marked "entertainment."  Life doesn't get any better.  Have a great day.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Can You Do It Better?


Today is a new day.  Is it going to be any better than yesterday?  I have a simple idea to help you.  Take a few minutes to mull over the major highlights including your interactions with others.  Don't beat yourself up – the day is over.  You can't change the outcome.  Give yourself a pep talk after thinking of ways you could have done something better and try again today.  You get bonus points for going back to the people in your life that you need to apologize to for your own mistakes.  Yes, you can do it better and the people around you are aware of that.  If you're not sure, just ask them.  Have a great day.

Friday, February 17, 2017

A Few of My Favorite Recipes

Pregnancy has its privileges.  Onlookers are offering support.  Recently I asked readers to please share their favorite recipes that are consistent with my caveman food lifestyle for publication in my next book on Labor Day.  I'm sharing three today on this blog for you to try.  Let me know what you think.

Margie's Mango Salsa – the Perfect Caveman Appetizer

2 Mangos
1/4 Red Onion
1 to 2 Serrano Peppers
1 to 2 Lemons - squeeze as much as you want
1 Cucumber
2 Tomatoes
1 Avocado (optional)
Cilantro

Dice all ingredients.  Margie suggests dicing them as small as possible.  Squeeze in lemon juice and season with salt (I prefer no-salt seasoning).

This is good with grilled fish or chicken.  Also good with tortilla chips.

Teresa's Coconut Flour Banana Bread

1 pinch salt (I use no-salt seasoning as a substitute)
4 eggs
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 bananas, mashed (make sure they are on the dark side for best flavor)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup pecans (or walnuts)

Whisk the dry ingredients first, then stir wet ingredients until smooth.
Stir in your choice of nuts
Put in a greased loaf pan
Bake at 350º for 50-75 minutes.  Cover with foil after 50 minutes.
Cool on a rack completely before eating for optimum texture and flavor.

Michael's Caveman Signature Smoothie

With the exception of the avocado and the orange, I like to keep my fruits frozen and I find the recipe works best in a high speed blender.  My personal preference is a Vitamix.  I tried the Nutribullet but find the Chia seeds don't break down properly and the texture is isn't as fine as I prefer.  I've been experimenting with this recipe for over a year and notice a difference if just one ingredient is missing.  The multi-step process is necessary in order to keep the blender from freezing up.  This makes 4-5 servings.

1 cup of spinach
1 stalk of celery
1/2 avocado
3 cups of cold water
1 orange
1 banana (frozen works best to keep smoothie cold)
1 tablespoon of organic blue agave
1 tablespoon of Chia Seed
1 tablespoon of Flaxseed
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup mixed berries (I like blackberries and raspberries)

Start with spinach, celery, avocado and water.  Mix at high speed.  While blending, add orange, banana, agave, Chia seed and Flax seed.  Turn off and add frozen fruits.  Mix at high speed until well blended.

You can find these and other recipes in my next book, scheduled for release on May 1, 2017.  If you're interested in picking up a copy, bookmark this page and come back on delivery date.  All proceeds will be donated to Children's Miracle Network.  Have a great day.


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Writer Finds New Meaning For Labor Day


When I began telling friends and family members I was pregnant with another book, some took it literally and wanted to know more about the baby.  There's no baby.  It's a book and it's going to be birthed on... drum roll, wait for it – Labor Day (Mexico celebrates Labor Day on May 1).    My life is stranger than fiction.  Someone is writing the script and it's not me.  Whoever it is, they have a great sense of humor.  I'm not laughing.  That doesn't happen when you're in your third trimester of writing and your graphic artist isn't around to help with the sonogram of the front cover because her family is sick.   That's okay.  No need to panic.  There are seventy-four days to go until this baby is delivered at Children's hospital.

The questions are looming about what this baby is all about.  The size and weight are still unknown but I can share my hopes for the wee one.  It's all about being healthy.   My desire for the next generation that follows us is that cancer is cured, diabetes is curbed and all other food-related diseases are eliminated.  Change like this is not easy.  All I can say is I hope the delivery is smooth on May 1.  Please come back and visit my new baby.  Have a great day.


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

3 Danger Signs of Poor Food Choices


Food danger signs are like road hazard signs warning of trouble ahead.  I was driving too fast to notice the red flags or make a pit stop for a physical.  The quickest way to spot danger is to look at your waist.  That bulge in the middle is where most of the wrong foods are stored because the body doesn't know what to do.  Fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds never show up around your waist because they are easily converted into energy.

Your lipid panel readings serve as road signs.  Are they telling you danger is ahead or that you're going in the right direction?  Request this test when you schedule your next physical.  Poor food choices influence your good and bad cholesterol.  If your readings are in the danger zone,  don't fret.  You have time to make corrections.

The road sign that got my attention was my blood pressure reading.  In my opinion, many people ignore this road sign because they falsely believe their prescription pills will solve the problem and keep them out of trouble.  These pills should not be considered permission slips to keep eating foods that may eventually play a role in diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, or strokes.  Please pay attention to all the danger signs and use caution when your body flashes a red or yellow light on your dashboard.  Have a great day.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Irony


That's my dad pictured above handing my wife and me a copy of his first book.  It was one of those "areas of concern" I fought with him about during his short-lived time on this planet.  I wanted absolutely nothing to do with Bisbee dolls equipped with purple tongues or anything else that came from the right side of his creative brain.  In my opinion, writing was a distraction, not something people "do."  Isn't it ironic?  I'm at a point in my life where everything else is a distraction and I just can't stop writing.  Yes, it's true, I did vomit in the parking lot the first time someone asked me to write a letter to my wife in a 3-day retreat designed to help us in our relationship after my dad passed away.  Once I got over the puking, the recessive writing gene I inherited from dad and generations of deceased writers before him reared itself from deep within my soul and took over my mind.  I'm haunted by fictional characters who invade me in the middle of the night.  There's no cure for my condition except to keep writing lest these individuals force themselves upon me in the daylight hours commanding me to set them free upon the blank canvasses in front of me.

Irony has stages.  The first is denial.  Second is anger, followed by doubt and uncertainty about what lies ahead.  Then there is acceptance.  I'm at the period of my life now where I'm embracing my calling, just as dad did.  Irony is my best friend now.  I'm sure my dad knew him well.  Like it or not, our adult children may someday meet Irony.  They can decide if it's a blessing or a curse.  This is something every individual needs to discover at their own pace.  I don't have time to debate.  I must write.  Have a great day.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Glimpses


I didn't think I'd be watching the Super Bowl this year but I caught a glimpse of something really special while visiting family members during the game.  Coincidentally, I also caught a glimpse of Tom Brady's secret diet playbook.  He claims he's in better shape at age 39 than when he was 25.  I don't think a pro quarterback his age has ever achieved what he's done in his career.  I hope I can manage the 4th quarter of my life the same way he managed his 4th quarter comeback on Super Bowl Sunday.  What a thriller.  Brady's opponents may be plotting to steal his food playback.  If they do, they'll be seeing green – spinach, celery, avocado and more.  That's Tom's daughter in the photo above drinking her dad's top secret weapon for staying on top of the competition for seventeen years.

It's rare when famous people allow you to catch a glimpse of their private lives.  I'm thankful Tom Brady shared his secrets for healthy living, including going to bed by 9 pm so he can get eight hours of sleep.  The Caveman Food Experiment is surprisingly similar to the Brady Diet, although I'm a big fan of tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms – not in Tom's playbook.  You can catch of a glimpse of the 45-day Caveman Food Experiment that changed my life on May 1.  Unlike famous athletes who prefer who live under the radar, my life is an open book and I'm happy to share what I'm learning to maximize my health and wellness.  Please bookmark this blog and come back on Labor Day (Mexico celebrates Labor Day on May 1) for my next release.  It's created to change lives, one chapter at a time.  Have a great day.


Sunday, February 12, 2017

Prevent Vacation Hangovers


What do vacations and holidays have in common?  It's usually that terrible feeling you get when you step on the scale the morning after.  I left two things behind when I visited my family last week, my laptop and my weight scale.  I wasn't looking forward to the scale reunion but I do have something pleasant to report – there's no hangover.  Yes, the same childhood temptations were there but I went on vacation armed with an increased food awareness and it made a difference.


If you want to avoid a food hangover after your vacation,  pay attention to the details.  Skip the chips at the Mexican Food restaurants.  Ask your food server if there are other options besides what's on the menu.  I limit my liquids to water and wine and that seems to make a difference.  Desserts don't have to be off limits if you're willing to share or perhaps stick with dark chocolate.  Have fun while you're on vacation and exercise caution at every meal so you can say good-bye to the vacation hangover forever.  Have a great day.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Help Others and You Help Yourself


Zig Ziglar said, "you can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want."  I believe him.  Why?  Because it happened to me.  I really do have everything in life I want.  One of my best memories of helping someone else get what they want comes from a time period where my entire community was in danger of incinerating.  I truly believed my home was gone when my brother-in-law and I snuck back into our neighborhood and we saw the black smoke rising up from the point where my home was supposed to be.  All I could make out was some warped steel pillars that once supported my next door neighbors home.  It was a tragic day and yet a moment when strangers came together to help one another.

Patrick, a federal fire fighter who got separated from his crew during the chaos, immediately went to work recruiting a small team of volunteers to support his team-mates with food and water on the front lines of the worst California wildfire in history.  These people were working non-stop to save our homes and refused to come off the mountains to get food and rest.  I will never forget the female firefighter who made a request that took a full day to fulfill.  "I really need peanut butter," she said.  Our team rushed back to reload our trucks with everything these brave people needed, including one jar of peanut butter donated by one of the store managers who opened up his store to support the firefighters in their time of need.  By the end of the day we found her.  She looked like she won the lottery when she saw the peanut butter.  I felt so good inside.  Nothing else mattered.   My life was forever changed because I learned when you help others get what they want you help yourself as well and your life is never the same.  Try it.  Help others get what they want.  Have a great day.

Friday, February 10, 2017

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Mrs. Caveman and me with special relatives.

Twenty-eight years ago I got a phone call from my aunt Helen, pictured in the center of row one above with her husband, uncle Harry on the left, and my cousin John on the right, the creator of the Caveman Food Experiment that saved my life.  "Harry and I want to crash your wedding," she said after learning we were getting married in Iowa, not far from where her husband's relatives live.  She's the original Helen in my family.  Next to Mrs. Caveman and me in row two is my aunt Teresa and her son John's wife, Darlyn.  These relatives never seem to age.  I still can't believe my aunt Teresa just celebrated her 80th birthday.

I rarely post pictures of family for privacy reasons but I just couldn't pass on this opportunity to share a photo of loved ones who bring me so much joy.  Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words.  I'm so thankful they're always in my heart, no matter how many miles apart we may be geographically.

I'm officially back in the basement of my cave today where I will spend the next four days working on my next book project scheduled for release on May 1.  Vacation photos like the one above will keep the chill out of the air and a smile on my face.  I thank God for blessing me with the best family ever.  Have a great day.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

I'll Be Back

I may be able to pack one week's worth of clothes into one carry-on bag I share with Mrs. Caveman, but the one thing I can't do is see all my friends and family in seven short days.  That's the challenging part of coming from a large family.  Earlier in the week, my wife shared how she felt guilty sitting in Mama Bear's back patio doing nothing.  "This a part of our vacation," I said.  That brief moment was the only time we weren't doing "something."  Nothing is good for the soul.  I'm thankful for the "nothing" and I'm also thankful for all the "somethings."  For those of you I didn't get to see on this trip, I promise to return.

It's time to go back to my cave and get through the final trimester of my next writing project.  There won't be any time in these final months to do "nothing."  That will be postponed until the next adventure. Please put May 1 on your calendar and make sure to check in for something special. Have a great day.  I'll be back.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Chair Yoga


Mama Bear introduced me and Mrs. Caveman to one of her new discoveries, chair yoga.  We sat in the backyard of her Sunnyslope home, the place where I grew up, and followed her exercise routine while basking in the sunshine.  A family friend nudged her to give it a try and she's hooked.  I can't believe how good it feels to go through the routine, especially when the temperature is in the high 70's.  Chair yoga is a great way to relieve stress and stretch your muscles.  Try it, you'll like it.  Have a great day.  I'll be back online soon.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

My Home Away from Home

98% of my food items are purchased at my day job.  The other 2% comes from my home away from home while I'm on vacation.  Located just minutes away from Mama Bear's house, Sprouts is a dream place for people like me who thrive on assorted nuts and seeds.  Shoppers fill plastic bags and label them for a quick check out.  It simplifies the hunting and gathering process for caveman foods.  I'm in paradise.  The sunshine is a bonus.  I'm thankful I can maintain my caveman lifestyle while I'm on vacation.  Have a great day.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Why Mrs. Caveman and I Travel Lite


There's a reason we cram one week's of belongings into one solo carry-on bag on our travels, we are frugalites who refuse to fork over more than we need to get from point A to point B.  Missy, the passenger joining us in row 37, summarized our sentiments best when she said, "sitting in the last row of the plane is fine with me as long as I don't get nickel and dimed for all the upgrades Allegiant offers."  I could barely hear her over the roar of the engines located just outside our windowless seats that don't recline.  We gave her a thumbs up.  The one perk we did indulge in was the wine, a California Merlot we purchased to celebrate our luck for getting two seats together, another upgrade fee we declined.  I find it ironic that passengers pay extra to board early just to sit on the plane longer and watch all the fruglites like me and Mrs. Caveman board just in time for take-off.

By the way, I'm in Point B just long enough to see Mama Bear and my well-tanned siblings who reside in the Valley of the Sun year-round and to replenish my vitamin D levels before returning to my cave to finish my next book, scheduled for release on May 1.  I'll be able to respond to your emails when I return home later in the week.  Have a great day.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Real Cavemen Don't Watch Super Bowls


Mrs. Caveman and I won't be watching the Super Bowl today.  We won't be with Mama Bear either as she will be enjoying festivities with her life-long friends today.  I'm hoping for some outdoor fun in the sun.  It's not that I have anything against the Super Bowl.  It's really about priorities.  I realized just how much I was missing the sun the other day when my daughter looked at me and said, "What are you doing, dad?"  I was holding the back of my hands up in the direction of the sun as if they were solar panels while we were driving home.  The sun hadn't peeped out of the clouds for 13 days straight and I was starting to feel claustrophobic.  Real cavemen don't watch Super Bowls.  They would rather find their entertainment in more primitive surroundings.  It's time to take a hike.  Have a great day.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Lab Rats Collaborate to Produce Winning Recipes


Lab rats exude strange behavior when you take away their processed foods.  While their eating habits may seem peculiar to observers outside the maize, I believe their spunk and newfound energy is proof that what they're eating is good for the soul and for the waistline.  People keep asking, "what do you eat if you can't eat out every day and you're limited to mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds?"

You will see the answer to this question on May 1 when I reveal winning recipes created by the lab rats who got creative in the kitchen using only the ingredients featured in the 45-day Caveman Food Experiment.  I salute all the volunteers who are contributing their favorite recipes.  Have a great day.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Blog Vacation Begins Today


It's that time again.  I'm basking in the sun for a week before heading back to the Midwest to make the final push for my next book and much to Mrs Caveman's delight, the laptop is left behind in the the basement of our cave.  I can hear my little baby's heartbeat in my head and all the fingers and toes are showing up on the ultrasound.  I learned a valuable writing lesson during my first two book pregnancies – non-stop writing is not good for your health.  A one week vacation is just what I need to recharge my batteries and get ready for the final push for an on-time delivery on May 1.  Have a great day.  I'll be back in touch late next week.  Don't worry about what to do at 8:08 every morning for the next week – I crammed in some blog messages before leaving for my break.  Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Time for Change


Change isn't something most of us desire.  There's something safe in the familiar.  I believe the best time for change is when the road signs warn of danger ahead.  Isn't that the reason we see our doctors annually?  Although we're hopeful for a clean bill of health, we dread hearing our doctor say, "change is necessary."

I'm thankful loved ones intervened in my life and asked me to consider making lifestyle changes that are now permanent.  I'm no longer cringing when I read the road signs.  My hope for you today is that you recognize the warning signs before it's too late to change course.  Have a great day.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Final Trimester is Here for Next Book


Ninety days to go.  Am I nervous?  Let's just say I'm doing my best to get those butterflies in my stomach organized so they fly in the correct formation for an on-time delivery on May 1.  This isn't my first rodeo but the ride is a bit bumpy.  People are asking, "what's this book about?"  It's like asking parents, "is it a boy or a girl?" 

Every writer's dream is for their offspring to be accepted by others.  Please come back and share the joy on May 1.  Have a great day.