When I was living as a Buddhist monk in the backwater jungles of Thailand, I learned many important lessons that have made my life much easier. One of them was how to handle food. The rules of a Theravada monk include eating only once a day, and that is in the morning. Typically, we would walk to the surrounding villages at sun up and proffer our bowls to the farmers, who would fill them with the same foods that they ate - mostly sticky rice, bananas, vegetables, and an occasional smattering of protein, perhaps chicken, grasshoppers, or dried fish. And once in a while a treat of some fruit juice or mangoes to accompany the gallons of water that I drank in the sweltering climate.

We would then return and sit in the meditation hall and silently eat our meal, meditating on how we are eating, not for pleasure, not for health, not for strength, but just for fuel so that we can continue our efforts toward enlightenment. The first couple of weeks were rough, but I got used to it, and the surprising thing was that my meditation improved dramatically from what it was stateside when I would eat all day, and anything in sight!

I went in at about 220 pounds and in no time was down to 180, about right for my six-foot two frame. I never felt better. As a matter of fact, the experience has stuck with me all these years, and at 65, I now weigh about 185. This is such a simple thing. No money or programs involved, only meditation, which improves health dramatically, particularly the immune system - and the mind - reducing fear and worry. And meditation does something else, it curbs desires, all desires, so that you can live a more sane, peaceful life of few harmful indulgences, and less karma.

And it’s easy to begin, just start every evening sitting quietly for 15 minutes. Complete meditation instructions (posture and mental processes), are on our website: www.SouthWestFloridaInsightCenter.com, and as a former Buddhist monk, I don’t charge for any advice. The Truth should always be free; if isn’t . . . it might not be Truth!

Please email any questions to: EandJanetV@SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com

Copyright © E. Raymond Rock 2007. All rights reserved

E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com

There are as many meatloaf recipes are there are cooks. This one is my favorite, an easy meatloaf recipe that can be varied to suit your tastes. Start with the basic recipe and add seasonings from the list below to suit your family. You can vary the meats used and the seasonings.

To keep my meatloaf recipe easy, I use ground beef. Many cooks use a combination of ground beef, ground pork or ground veal. Some use sausage in their mixture. If you desire a mixture of meats, use 1/2 to 3/4 pound of pork, veal or sausage to 1 pound of beef. Using the seasoned Italian style bread crumbs seasons the meatloaf, making this recipe easy and quick to prepare. I don’t actually even measure anything. I just dump the ingredients together using a reasonable amount of each. If the mixture is too moist, add more bread crumbs. If too dry, add more ketchup. It really is an easy meatloaf recipe that is foolproof.

Basic Easy Meat Loaf Recipe

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck

3/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs

2 eggs

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder, optional

1/4 cup catsup + more for top if desired

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, optional but good

1. Preheat oven to to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large loaf pan or ovenproof baking dish, mix all ingredients.

3. Shape into loaf shape.

4. Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until done.

5. I like to cover the top with more catsup during the last 20 minutes of baking.

You can try additional seasonings such as diced bell pepper, chopped celery leaves, minced parsley and thyme. If using sausage, try adding finely diced apple, and eliminate the garlic, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Small diced vegetables such as potato, carrots, or peas can be added if you like. Some cooks add chopped olives or chopped pickles or hard boiled eggs. You can substitute canned soup for the catsup, pouring more over the top as it bakes. The variations are endless.

If you are blessed with leftovers of this easy meatloaf recipe, this makes a delicious sandwich filling the next day, but don’t count on it. My family eats this up.

Do you need more healthy quick dinner recipe ideas complete with menu suggestions and shopping lists? Join our newsletter list for more healthy quick dinner recipe ideas like this one at Easy Meatloaf Recipe & Dinner Ideas From Easy Southern Cooking

Diane Watkins is a traditional southern style cook. She enjoys cooking, teaching, and writing about good food and family. For more information on southern cooking and recipes for everything you need to complete a traditional style holiday meal, visit her website Easy Southern Cooking

Instead of getting a second job at your local retail store or pizza place, maybe you should try using freelance work to add to your income while acquiring customers and providing services in your spare time.

Twenty years ago, the only way to make a supplemental income was to go find a low-paying second job at night or on the weekends. Then you were always the person with the worst hours and the worst pay. Now there is a much nicer alternative with much better hours and pay. You can even do freelance work from your own home.

Things have definitely changed. With freelance work, you are not limited by transportation or geographical location. You can provide great work and services for someone half way around the world without leaving your home.

How do you get started doing freelance work part-time? Becoming a part-time freelance professional is as easy as this three step process.

First, find a good database like Freelance Work Exchange and search for jobs that interest you. There are thousands of different jobs currently posted. You will just have to find the one that suits your interests.

Next, from project or job listings, you will apply or bid on freelance work. You may not be chosen for every project, but with thousands available, you are certain to find the right fit.

Finally, you will collaborate with employers, perform services, and receive payment.

Because it has never been simpler to have a supplemental income, it is easy to see why freelance work has become the new part-time job of choice for people everywhere.

Eden Paul is a CPA and small business owner who enjoys helping others follow their dreams by using resources like Freelance Work Exchange. For more information and ideas on how to start working for yourself, visit http://www.freelanceworkreview.com

One can be as expansive or elaborate as one likes with your weight loss program, or your weight-loss regime could be as simple as your schedule or your budget allows. Let’s examine a few ultimate free weight loss tips and see how they can help you to shed those pounds.

There are a few things that you need to do right to lose weight. These include:

1. Reduce your calorie intake to be less than your energy consumption needs for you daily life and activities.

2. Properly hydrate your body so that it can function at its optimal level.

3. Perform a moderate level of exercise on a very consistent basis to burn energy.

4. Increase your body’s metabolism rate by eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.

You lose fat mass when the food that you eat does not provide your body with enough energy to perform its internal functions plus cope with the activities that you ask it to do. The situation causes your body to burn fat cells to make up for the energy difference.

If you try to lose weight only by reducing your calorie intake you run into the situation where you have to almost starve yourself to death. You are always hungry and cranky and easily cheat just to get rid of the feeling of hunger.

Therefore, you need to increase your exercise level, which enables you to burn fat without reducing your food intake to a starvation level.

This might sound strange to you but it is a fact; your body more easily burns fat when it is being fed regularly. This is why it is important to eat between six and seven smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to one big meal or even the regular three meals per day.

One last ultimate free weight loss tip is; you need to understand that your body burns fat from the inside out and on a relatively equal basis across your entire body.

Your body is not capable of zooming into a specific area and losing fat only in that area. For example, you cannot lose fat only on your belly or on your hips and nowhere else.

You can get ultimate free weight loss tips by the proverbial dime a dozen. What I have given you here are the basic essential tips. If you do not do these things right you will probably not lose weight, or you will have a great struggle with burning fat.

Tisha Diaz recommends this fat loss and weight control program that will help you get rid of those excess pounds and make you slim and trim

For me the real attraction in tracing your family history is in trying to build a mental picture of how our ancestors lived and worked, what there lifestyles were like and what kind of relationships they had. All too often when I’ve been chatting with other enthusiasts the emphasis has always been on how far back they’ve reached in a particular line or what (in)famous individual they claim to be connected with. Now, I’m not saying that this isn’t an exciting aspect of the hobby but it seems to me that in doing so, these researchers are missing out on a very rich part of this pastime. In short, they appear to be treating genealogy like the 100 metre sprint rather than the marathon!

Now birth, death and marriage (BDM) certificates can tell us something of the individual, e.g. occupation, normal residence, etc, but it is through the census information that we can begin to tell something of their life story in 10 year steps. Here’s what I mean…

I had been trying to track down my GG Grandfather a certain Thomas Cowan, I had his birth certificate and had identified his parents, place of birth, etc. Now this chap was fairly key in my research because he was the first in this particular line to move to the Partick area of Glasgow, (and where I duly arrived some 100 years later…) from Montrose on the east coast. Now Thomas married a girl called Susan Spankie, (what a gem, add that one to the unusual names list), and had a son Thomas (jnr) b.1873. Now, Thomas (jnr) was registered in two parishes, i.e. Montrose & Partick (another practice I wasn’t aware of at the time…). However, Susan Spankie died shortly afterwards and it was through the 1881 census that I managed to track him down, living with his three spinster aunts (siblings of Thomas snr. that I had been unaware of…). You see, Thomas snr. was a ships’ carpenter and would, presumably, spend periods at sea (hence the move to Glasgow where there was a thriving ship building community), and the young Thomas (having no mother), was raised by his aunts. The 1891 census then finds the young Thomas living and working in Glasgow with his father. It’s at this point that the story turns to living memory, my aunt often told me of her grandfather who spent long periods at sea as a shipwright, the son had followed the trade of the father and woodworking remains to this day, in the family.

Are you beginning to get the idea? Following young Thomas through the tragedy of losing his mother, being split from his father, brought up by spinster aunts (and other extended family members), his move to re-join his father and his chosen trade!

So the census helps us get to know these people, and better understand who we are today!

Bill Cowan has been a keen amateur genealogist for a number of years and has had great success with his, sometimes unconventional, approach to rooting out his past.

More of Bill’s work can be seen at: http://www.family-history-scotland.co.uk

Lobbying 101 What is Lobbying? Lobbying, quite simply, is:

-noun 1.an entrance hall, corridor, or vestibule, as in a public building, often serving as an anteroom; foyer. 2.a large public room or hall adjacent to a legislative chamber. 3.a group of persons who work or conduct a campaign to influence members of a legislature to vote according to the group’s special interest. -verb (used without object) 4.to solicit or try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body. -verb (used with object) 5.to try to influence the actions of (public officials, esp. legislators). 6.to urge or procure the passage of (a bill), by lobbying.

Many people with whom I correspond on forums and message boards profess to hate lobbyists and “special interests” and their influence in state and national government. However, anyone who has signed a petition, been involved in a demonstration, paid union dues, or written a letter to a legislator has been involved in lobbying. Like it or not.

Legislators are incredibly busy people. And, as a result many do not get the chance to hear what the people want from their government. That’s where the lobbyist comes in. His job is to get the client’s message across. If the client has a bill he or she wants to get passed into law, it is the lobbyist’s job to explain the benefits of the bill to the legislators, find an author for the bill, ask for each legislator’s support, and babysit the bill through the legislative process.

Contrary to popular belief, lobbyists as a whole are not shady, evil individuals. Yes, there are some who are entirely unethical and give the rest a bad name, but, for the most part, lobbyists are doing a job. In Oklahoma, where I live, the state Ethics Commission has strict rules for what a lobbyist can and cannot do. Woe to the lobbyist who does not abide by those rules.

Lobbying is a vital part of the legislative process. It allows legislators to make more educated decisions before voting on issues that will affect YOU!

For more information, or if you just have questions, please feel free to visit my website at S.E.G. Group, LLC and use the contact area.

To be continued……

Shawn Garza is president of S.E.G. Group, LLC, a lobbying and legislative consulting firm in Oklahoma City, OK.

The Act Of Marriage

Two bodies engaged as one holy flesh.
Pleasure beyond measure…intensely refresh.

Bring me forth my love as we tenderly embrace.
Two moves…one motion…before God’s face.

Two passions inflamed with one desire.
To enter the experience of an orgasmic fire.
Your fingers caressing…your tease keeps me guessing.
But at the swelling of our love…our hearts begin confessing.

There is no shame…no lustful game.
For we are two…called by one name.
A holy union…you and I entwined.
Artistic movements by God’s design.

By Joyce Rogers aka Sistah

And who is He that is responsible for such a beautiful expression of love? The following poem reveals a poetic image of who God is.

I AM

I am loved…I am hated.
I am joy anticipated.
I am instruction to the wise.
I am that which fools despise.

I am knowledge on the lips of few.
I am understanding which the diligent pursue.
I am the way which is often rejected.
I am the hedge of those protected.

I am your strength in times of adversity.
I am your peace in the midst of tragedy.
I am the crooked, made straight.
I am the reward of those who wait.

I am shelter in your pouring down rain.
I am He who is able to keep you sane.
I am the hand on the surgeon’s knife.
I am the very hand that saved your life.

I am the wind that encompasses your soul.
I am the only one who can make you whole.
I am the river flowing toward your drought.
I am He who breaks shackles with a shout.

I am the book of Genesis through Revelation.
I am the ONLY hope of your salvation.
I am the first AND the last.
I am the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit…all in one cast.

Who am I? I will tell you, even as I told Moses…
I AM THAT I AM.

By Joyce Rogers aka Sistah J

Joyce Rogers is the poetess and web author of http://www.SpicyPoems.com There you will find her sexually intimate poetry…a beautiful reflection of the holiness of sexual intimacy within the gates of marriage. She will celebrate her 28th wedding anniversary this year. She has written poetry since age 12 but started writing intimate poems on the night of one of her wedding anniversaries. Her first poem was The Act Of Marriage and since then she has written many and now runs a business from her home called Spicy Poems.

Copyright © 2007 By Joyce Rogers All Rights Reserved

We’ve all admired the gorgeous luster of a pearl necklace or a set of pearl earrings, but if you’re in the market to buy pearl jewelry, you should understand the basics about pearls and pearl jewelry. Here, then, is a basic guide to pearls:

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are farmed in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater sources. They differ from saltwater pearls in that freshwater pearls are almost entirely made up of nacre - the substance that gives pearls their luster and longevity. As a result, freshwater pearls will typically not experience the same amount of wear as saltwater pearls. A freshwater pearl necklace is also typically less expensive than other types of pearl necklaces. An added feature is that freshwater pearls come in a variety of colors, including pink, black, and purple. Those who trend toward nontraditional pearl colors will find the hue they’re looking for in freshwater pearls.

Tahitian Pearls

Tahitian pearls are also known as black pearls because they are cultivated in the black-tipped oyster. The truth, though, is that Tahitian pearls come in a variety of hues, from true black to gray, from blue to green, and from pink to brown. It’s difficult to match the colors of Tahitian pearls, so a Tahitian pearl necklace will cost more than its freshwater cousin.

Akoya Pearls

Akoya pearls hail from Japan, where they are cultured. More expensive than freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls are also typically more perfectly round and smoother than freshwater pearls. The luster of an Akoya pearl necklace and pearl earrings makes them the jewelry of choice for many brides-to-be.

Factors Affecting Price

The price of pearl jewelry can vary widely, depending upon a number of factors. Taking the price of the setting out of the equation, pearls are valued based on the type of pearl, their size, their roundness, and the absence or presence of flaws. If you are looking for affordable or wholesale pearl jewelry, freshwater pearls are your best bet. The most expensive pearls may be South Sea pearls, which are made by the pinctada maxima, or golden-lipped oyster. They are typically quite large and fairly rare.

Pearls are measured in millimeters, and typically vary from 5 mm to 18 mm. Needless to say, all other factors being equal, the larger the pearl, the more expensive it is. The same holds true for roundness or symmetry and the absence of flaws. A perfectly round white pearl with no mars will cost more than a pearl that is slightly asymmetrical or that has a mark on it.

That’s not to say, of course, that only pearl jewelry made from flawless, large, round, white pearls is desirable. Increasingly, people appreciate the special qualities that colored and differently shaped pearls can bring to pearl jewelry. As with all exquisite items, everyone’s taste is different. The one certainty is that you should know something about pearls before starting to shop for pearl jewelry.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Pearl Jewelry: Understanding Pearls or Majon’s Jewelry directory.

Notice the birds in your back yard that are searching out the availability of local Real Estate for nesting.

Todays birds are looking for new and different places to live. Would not it be nice if you could supply all the different homes right in your own back yard?

Some of the birds could be looking for a place at the seashore. What better a place than a Light House that beacons a bird to arrive at his home on a foggy night.

Or suppose that you were a bird that wished for a happy wife, a good season for your growing family - then why not take a home next to a Wishing Well? It may save time out of a busy flying routine, looking for food for your little peeps or your wife, to know that you did not have to take time out to wish that things would go well.

There are also bright happy birds who might perceive that building a home in a Flower Shoppe may even improve their lives that much more. It would save a male bird from bring home flowers, if he had them there all the time.

You have heard of some male birds having more than one wife. Well! We could suppose they made their nest in a Post Office so they could send a note to their next female -in-waiting. Might be something like the (King and I) where he had many wives and keep them all happy.

There are some times when you see a male bird acting rather dominantly and you can be sure that his home is in a Bell Tower. This can be an excellent place that he can nest, search his surroundings and know that he can see everything.

Last, but not lest, is the bird that has chosen a little old used church in which he can raise his family. A lot of us humans could use that principle to raise our own children.

We’ve all been there… we start a diet or what I like to call
a planned nutritional program and days after you get sick of eating
the same foods. The chicken or tuna makes you want to gag.
It doesn’t matter what you cover it with, you it’s still chicken and tuna.

Now, as an expert personal trainer and champion bodybuilder, I tell all
my friends that if you can make it past the first 2 weeks of the same
foods, your body will go through a type of detox and your senses will adapt
nicely to the same foods that your eating. Chicken will actually taste a lot
better.

Most people can’t last 2 weeks on the same type of foods and will make
every complaint not to eat them. I’d love to take these people to a poor
part of Africa for 2 weeks and let them hunt for food on their own.
I bet they would appreciate food a lot more, even if was the same types of all.

Wouldn’t that make a good reality show? Since I don’t have the money to
do that right now, I’ll list 10 Protein foods you can add or substitute in a weight loss
diet prepared by someone that thinks you might have been able to get past
the 2 week hump.

Substitutes for Chicken

1. Turkey
2. Wild Meats (Deer etc..)

Substitutes for Tuna

3. Talapia
4. Cod
5. Haddock
6. Orange Roughy

Substitutes for Oatmeal

7. ArrowHead Mills Rice and Shine
8. Cream of Wheat

Substitutes for Egg Whites

9. Whole Eggs
10. Whey Protein Powder

Enjoy these great tasting substitutes and steady as she goes up the road to meet your weight loss goals. The 2 weeks to make it past the hardest time for dieter is over with these 10 protein foods.

Robert Lagana
http://www.laganafitness.com

Robert Lagana has been weight training and helping people for over 16 years. He has competed in numerous bodybuilding competitions and is a multi-title winner. He currently holds the 2006 Mr. Canada Natural Bodybuilding title in the NFSO & IFSB. Along with experience, He teaches natural muscular development as a therapeutic approach.