We Are Who They Were - a 'guest' post :)

I had another blog, long ago. Like other neglected blogs, it has now been lost in the murky waters of unnoticed cyberspace. I wrote this post on that blog about two years ago. I still remember writing it, while I was working at the stadium, where I hardly ever did anything but transfer the occasional phone call and write papers for my homework.

In a swirl of history and literature classes that semester, a spark hit my mind and ignited: the reality of the continuity of human history, the multitude of events and ideas that shaped the past, and now shape us. The idea that we can't escape history, even when we're ignorant about it. The past isn't something that's gone; we all carry bits of it. I'm not just talking about simple traditions or stuff we blindly do because that's how it's done. I mean thousands of years of time and people, all doing things and having ideas, the way we think, how we view reality itself. History is not all in the past.

Nobody ever commented on the original post, which couldn't possibly mean it was uninteresting to everyone but me. The only possible explanation is that nobody saw it, or they couldn't comprehend it due to my poor capitalization skills.  So I've gone to the trouble of capitalizing the proper words (back in the day, I didn't do that) and have revised it VERY slightly.

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Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do? Either you and me individually, or maybe our entire culture? Why are we like this? Can we - individually or as a whole culture - develop independently of and differently than those who have lived before us?

I've come to be convinced that the understanding of current times, at least in a very large way, lies in the past. The study of history illuminates today with a clarity and wonder that cannot be otherwise manufactured. The more history I learn, the more I understand about today, my culture, myself. I make no exaggerations. Then was another time, another place, another culture. But we wouldn't be who we are without the ideas, expectations and behaviors set in place by those very long ago. We are who they were.

Smoothie Heaven

I love making smoothies.  I love how there aren't any hard and fast 'rules' per se, and...best of all, there's no recipe needed! It's just my style! I never liked store bought smoothies that much, either because there were chips of ice in there, or they just didn't have enough flavor. (Exception: the NuVibe smoothie with banana, honey, chocolate and peanut butter. Amazing!)  And just recently, Justin declared my smoothies to be better than purchased ones! HOORAY! (It was at that point I admitted that I'd always thought mine were better, too...although I'm very picky about most things involving food.) Here are the most important elements, in my opinion, of an excellent smoothie. I don't think I have any specific structure though...you just put in what sounds good together, with some exceptions.  Oh, and I'm not talking ice cream/chocolate smoothies here...those are shakes and malts, and in a TOTALLY different category. :) I still make those, but they aren't what I'm talking about here.

To me, a smoothie inhabits that sweet spot between Healthy and Tasty. In fact, it can be both Healthy and Tasty, which is always what I go for! I make smoothies for meals, usually breakfast a couple times a week, and occasionally for a light dinner. My aim is to get healthy stuff in us, and have a nice breakfast we can enjoy together. Put the right stuff in there, and you'll be full all morning. I'm usually pretty hungry well before lunchtime, but these keep me full.