I wasn't going to blog about this but I'm bored of not eating and need something to do with my fingers.
The Master Cleanse diet is basically a ten day cleanse where you eat nothing, and drink a special lemonade, water, laxative tea, and herbal tea. (I have not opened my fridge in 4 days. I wonder what is mutating in there?)
The tea is made of
2tbsps fresh lemon juice
2tbsps organic maple syrup
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper
8 ozs fancy water
It actually tastes pretty good.
Oh I forgot the worst part! The AM sea salt water flush:( This is where you drink 32 oz of water with 2tbsp sea salt. You chug, and then run to the bathroom. TMI? It is not pleasant. Today was the worst because I had really really bad stomach cramps for a lot of the day but I really don't feel that hungry, just craving something crunchy and salty (that isnt salt water).
It is funny how you realize how much everything you do relies heavily on eating. Watching a movie without candy or popcorn, or god forbid, a giant diet coke? No thanks. Shopping on a Saturday without a latte? Pass. You have lots of free time on the Master Cleanse. It's not really something to subject your friends to.
I have been occupying my time on this lovely Saturday by watching the Food Network, Guy Fieri to be exact. I resisted for a while because I thought it might just make me hungry but its actually not bad at all. I am also watching Chopped because it is amazing and nothing on that show looks edible.
I have finally gotten over my Grilled Cheese Grill obsession. Kind of.
The Master Cleanse is my master plan to avoid the swin flu. Wish me luck!
Received from: Thomas Nelson.
Rating: 7 out of 10 (might have been higher had I read the first book -- this is the second)
Synopsis: The more than four hundred thousand readers stirred by the story of Ron Hall and Denver Moore will resonate with the all new, stand-alone true stories of hope and healing offered in this intimate, authentic follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different as Me. With new "Denverisms" and reflections from Denver on his personal dealings with homelessness and disrespect from others, additional insights from Ron on what we can learn from people not like us and from those dealing with a terminal illness, and the stories of readers who have been impacted by the book's central themes, this inspirational reader will generate a host of new fans.
My review: I really wish that I'd read the first book, Same Kind of Different as Me, before I read this one. I have it coming to me from the library, so I'll review it soon. This book says it's standalone, but I really think I would have benefited from reading Same Kind first, just so I could have known the background of the three people What Difference focuses on -- Ron, Denver, and Deborah. Half of the chapters of the book are written by Ron, and half by Denver. Both had a lot of interesting things to say on the subject of homelessness and Christians. There are also stories of people around the country who were inspired by the first book. There was even a woman from West Sacramento mentioned -- her story hit very close to home. Needless to say, I really got a lot out of this book. It shifted my views of homeless people quite a bit, and it challenged me to think differently about the people I pass every day on the street. I don't have enough space to quote all of the different passages that affected me, but this one that really stood out (it was written by Denver, in his own voice):
"Since I been visitin a lotta churches, I hear people talkin 'bout how, after readin our story, they felt "led" to help the homeless, to come alongside the down-and-out. But when it comes to helpin people that ain't got much, God didn't leave no room for feelin led. Jesus said God gon' separate us based on what we did for folks that is hungry and thirsty, fells that is prisoners in jail and folks that ain't got no clothes and no place to live. What you gon' do when you get to heaven and you ain't done none a' that? Stand in front a' God and tell Him, "I didn't feel led"? You know what He gon' say? He gon' say, "You didn't need to feel led 'cause I had done wrote it down in the Instruction Book."
Hello conviction, I'm Cori.
(Finished 10/30/09)
Borrowed from: the Sacramento library
Rating: 8 out of 10
Synopsis: This sequel brings back the young wizard-in-training to face suspicious adults, hostile classmates, fretful ghosts, rambunctious spells, giant spiders, and even an avatar of Lord Voldemort, the evil sorcerer who killed his parents, while saving the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from a deadly, mysterious menace. Ignoring a most peculiar warning, Harry kicks off his second year at Hogwarts after a dreadful summer with his hateful guardians, the Dursleys, and is instantly cast into a whirlwind of magical pranks and misadventures, culminating in a visit to the hidden cavern where his friend Ron's little sister Ginny lies, barely alive, in a trap set by his worst enemy. Surrounded by a grand mix of wise and inept faculty, sneering or loyal peersplus an array of supernatural creatures including Nearly Headless Nick and a huge, serpentine basiliskHarry steadily rises to every challenge, and though he plays but one match of the gloriously chaotic field game Quidditch, he does get in plenty of magic and a bit of swordplay on his way to becoming a hero again.
My review: Ah, the adventures of the young Harry Potter continue. Again, I listened on audio book and fell in love all over again with Jim Dale's reading. He just brings everything to life. Also, he sounds exactly like Maggie Smith. Which is weird and awesome. This book is a little more intense than the first, especially toward the end. The characters are expanded more in this book, as are the growing mysteries surrounding Voldemort and Hogwarts. It's was also really well-paced -- unlike some of the others in the series, this one doesn't really get bogged down in the middle (I'm talking to you, Deathly Hallows). Plus, we get to see more of Ginny. And I just adore her. (Finished 10/13/09)
- I was opening a can of cream of celery soup on Sunday and sliced the absolute hell out of my pinkie. Went-to-the-hospital sort of slice. Almost fainted sort of slice. Bloooood sort of slice.
- Barf.
- Would have thought it would have been a knife that would have done me in. But no, apparently I cannot work a can.
- I knew I couldn't be trusted in the kitchen.
- No stitches for the cut. Mostly because I didn't want to wait around in an emergency room full of the swine flu for three hours.
- The cut is healing better than I would have guessed, though. It's only moderately gross now.
- Because I cut my hand, I had to get a tetanus shot.
- The shot didn't hurt. But GOODNESS GRACIOUS, my whole arm is killing me now! It feels like someone is trying to yank my arm from my body. Pain pain pain!
- I am SUCH a wimp. And a complainer.
- I'm stopping now.
- I have been writing about my New Zealand trip, so I'll hopefully get that posted soon. Needless to say, I had an incredible time! Amazing! Phenomenal! If you'd like to see one of the many, many, many photos, visit my flickr.
- I want to go back! There was so much that I didn't get to see!
- I'm reading this really great book right now called Angry Conversations with God. It's so good!
- I miss Amy (my coworker) -- she's in Denmark. Work is just not the same without her happy face around.
- We are apparently world travelers around my office.
- Remember back when we complained because Thanksgiving was barely over and Christmas decorations started going up? Yeah, there's already trees and santas and candy canes EVERYWHERE.
- I had other things to hodgepodge, but the Motrin has made me all la-di-da.
- La-di-da.
October
55. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
56. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz
57. Going Home by Harriet Evans
58. Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans
59. Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
60. Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
Audio
8. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Happy Ducks!
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Borrowed from: that same Hannah
Rating: 9 out of 10
Synopsis: Throughout the world today Christians continue to face intense persecution, and Christian women are often the most vulnerable. In Pakistan, Christian girls are systematically kidnapped, tortured and raped. In China, underground church leaders are sent to labor camps for hosting illegal home meetings. In Sudan, Christian women are captured and sold into slavery or mutilated and left to die. And in many Muslim countries, a woman can be killed by her husband or father for converting to Christianity.In this deeply moving book, Kay Strom and Michele Rickett tell the stories of persecuted Christian women from around the globe. From Africa to the Middle East to Asia, they give voice to our sisters persevering under the yoke of oppression and injustice. Each section provides specific prayer points and practical action steps to equip us to respond.
Despite the challenges, God is active and present with his suffering people. Do not be discouraged. Take heart from these daughters of hope.
My review: I had a hard time starting this one because I knew it would be a difficult read. It's never easy to read true stories persecution, and these were no different. The stories of the women in this book were incredible, though. Reading about what they endure every day was inspiring. We live in such an isolated wonderland here in the US. Freedom of (or from) religion is something we shouldn't take for granted, no matter what we believe. The "persecution" we receive about our faith is nothing compared to what people go through in other countries. I have never been beaten, imprisoned, tortured, or raped because of my beliefs. My family have never disowned me. I have never had to hide my Bible, whisper at church, or sing silently. It made me extremely thankful to live here. It made me pray that if I am ever in a situation like the women in this book that my faith will stand strong. I liked this book, too, because it gave a lot of helpful suggestions for getting involved and helping the women in the book and around the world. Highly recommended! (Finished 9/25/09)Wants:
Needs:
Nothing
