Category Archives: August

Kill Our Negative Cravings

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“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether
the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.”
Carl Jung

Kill Our Negative Craving

Addiction can come in many forms. It not only encompasses drugs and alcohol but also addiction can include food as well as sex.

All forms of addiction floods the brain with the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. This dopamine effects the regions of the brain that control pleasure and self-control. Over time, the function and structure of the brain change and dopamine receptors are reduced, making drugs, food and other substances less enjoyable but still desperately desired.

Recently, the American Society of Addiction Medicine has made an important breakthrough on the effect all of these substances and behaviors have on the brain. By accident, researchers in Australia and the United Kingdom found that playing the game Tetris for at least three minutes can take up all the mental capability of the brain to the point that is has no more room for imagining other things. This results in having less cravings for food, drugs, sleep and sex

Apparently, Tetris can reduce cravings by simply forgetting about the cravings while engaged in the game. Tetris could potentially be used as a support tool to help people manage cravings throughout their daily lives.

This finding is the first demonstration that cognitive interference can be used outside the lab to reduce cravings for substances and activities. There’s more research to be done, but it’s an interesting beginning to help people with addiction.

Who would ever thought that such a simple thing as playing a game to kill time, could actually be used to kill our negative cravings.

Shine On

The Great Neil Simon

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“If you can go through life without experiencing pain
you probably haven’t been born yet.”
Neil Simon

The Chep Detective

There’s a small list of comedy writers that I’ve admired all my life. One of them is at the top of my list. That writer is Neil Simon.

Mr. Simon has written more than thirty plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly adaptations of his plays. He has received more combined Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer.

I thought I had seen every movie he had ever written, until today on TCM they showed, The Cheap Detective.  The movie is a combination of Steve Martin’s, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein style of humor.

Neil Simon began writing comedy for television for such famous shows as The Phil Silvers Show and Your Show of Shows, for which he earned two Emmy Award nominations. He’s worked alongside other young writers including Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. Simons first play was, Come Blow Your Horn which was followed by Barefoot in The Park and my all time favorite, The Odd Couple.

One of the most helpful writing books I’ve read is written by Neil Simon. Neil Simon Rewrites: A Memoir, was written in 1996 and I still have my first edition hard copy. I also recently bought the e-book edition and read it again for the fifth time. For any aspiring writer, this is a must read.

Neil Simons’ comedy writing was influenced by Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel and Hardy. Simon has said that he often took refuge in movie theaters to escape difficulties at home. “I think part of what made me a comedy writer is the blocking out of some of the really ugly, painful things in my childhood and covering it up with a humorous attitude … do something to laugh until I was able to forget what was hurting.”

The Cheap Detective may not be a traditional Neil Simon movie, but it certainly holds true to the Neil Simon style of writing. It’s packed with double entendres and funny one liners in the charming, classy, clean comedy style of the great Neil Simon.

Shine On

#Holy Shade Balls

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“Water is life’s matter and matrix,
mother and medium.
There is no life without water.”
Albert Szent-Györgyi de Nagyrápolt

Holy Shade Balls, Batman

Shade balls released into the Los Angeles Reservoir.

Unless you live on another planet, you must know that California is in a serious drought.

To combat the four years of drought, officials have released 96 million plastic balls. These plastic balls, shade balls as they are commonly known, are small black orbs that float atop the water creating shade to keep the water from evaporating.

The shade balls also help block sunlight and UV rays that promote algae growth, which would help keep the city’s drinking water safe. The balls slow the rate of evaporation, which drains California water supply of about 300 million gallons a year.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the balls are expected to safely float in the water without emitting dangerous chemicals.

Apparently, the black orbs are not new to California. They have been used for almost seven years. But, due to their name they are receiving huge attention from social media users. #Holy Shade Balls.

Shine On

Speedy Recovery

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“A Jewish woman had two chickens.
One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup
out of the other one to help the sick one get well.”
Henny Youngman

Speedy Recovery

This evening I wanted to roast a whole chicken, but I didn’t want to use the oven. So, I decided to try roasting the chicken on the gas grill.

I rubbed the inside and outside of the bird with a lemon garlic chicken marinade from Bristol Farms.

Then I took one orange, quartered it and squeezed the juice over the chicken. I then took the four orange slices, four sprigs of rosemary and placed them in the cavity of the chicken. Our grill has a temperature setting which I set at 350 degrees and placed the chicken on the grill for one hour. So the bird would roast evenly, I rotated it several times until it was a golden brown.

For side dishes, I made my famous mascarpone mashed potatoes, as well as my sautéd spinach with roasted garlic infused olive oil.

From now on, all my whole chickens will be roasted on the grill. The chicken was juicy, flavorful and you could taste the rosemary with every bite.

My husband loved the dinner and appreciated all the pampering. I love that my husband is feeling so much better. All this pampering with his favorite food is helping him to a speedy recovery.

Shine On

Comfort Food

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“Food is a lot of people’s therapy
– when we say comfort food,
we really mean that. It’s releasing
dopamine and serotonin in your brain
that makes you feel good.”
Brett Hoebel

Comfort Food

The past few days my husband was in the hospital with an infection. He must have dropped ten pounds in those few days. He just couldn’t eat the food they presented to him at the hospital. Why is hospital food so awful?

When I picked him up at the hospital, the first thing he told me is that he hadn’t eaten a good meal in days. He also told me he missed me and would I please cook his favorite Italian dinner.

It just so happened that I had all the ingredients to cook up an Italian gravy made with fresh Italian sausage, onions, tomatoes, Anaheim and Jalapeño peppers simmered slowly. The house smelled like one of our favorite Italian bistros.

Nothing warms one’s heart and makes you feel better than good old-fashioned comfort food.

Shine On