So as a child my Mom always told me that I needed to listen to my body. Sure I was raised by a 1970's hippie Mom who loved organic food way before it was cool, was a vegetarian because she thought it was better for you not because she needed a cause and avoided things like pesticides, dyes and preservatives before science said they were bad for us. Way to go Mom! She was actually very cutting edge when I reflect back and I truly do appreciate all of the things she exposed me to...the Humboldt County culture is not what I am referring to here. She always tried to give me new experiences and let me make decisions for myself....yes I was that irritating child who at the age of five acted like I was 25...in vocabulary, social interactions and independent thought.

However, she did try to raise me to listen to my body and base my eating habits on what my body was telling me. So let me tell you a few things that my body has told me over the years.

1. I hate bananas. I always tell people that I think I ate too many as a child. But I hate everything about them-taste, smell, texture and sight. And I have learned that revisiting some foods doesn't mean that you will like them more....it just means you still don't like them.

2. Always be willing to try new food but its ok if you don't like everything...and just because a food is the latest trend doesn't mean it has to be a trend for you.  Such as raw squid at a local sushi restaurant. I read an article about how its trendy and such a great delicacy and so very yum. It was the nastiest, slimiest food that has ever touched my mouth. Sometimes you just need to chalk up some foods as an interesting experience or just read about them but do not put them in your mouth.

3. If you drink too much alcohol you will feel it the next day and there is nothing worse than waking up in the morning and telling yourself that you will never drink again...because even when you are saying it you know you are lying to yourself. Seriously just don't even try to reason with yourself when you have a hangover and don't make promises you know you won't keep.

4. Don't try to eat foods again once you threw them up. For example, at the age of 2ish I threw up powdered donuts all over my Grandpa. He deserved it as my Mom never fed me anything with sugar, preservatives and artificial crap (see above) and while visiting with him he tried to give me my first donut experience. Needless to say he got what he deserved...baby vomit that resembled a snow storm...truly lovely. However, unfortunately once stuff comes up it just can't touch your lips again. So no powdered donuts or tofu hot dogs for me...dang it on the tofu hot dogs...because don't those sound damn appetizing.

5. Just because you are told that foods don't go together don't believe "those people" until you try it for yourself. For example, 2 weeks ago I ran a half marathon and at the end I was craving sugar and carbs. So the normal runner would drink Gatorade, eat some gu and maybe some oranges and bagels, right? Nope my body was telling me I needed fig newtons and beer...sounds like a nasty combination huh? Yet I must say I listened to my body...thanks Mom...and I ate my fig newtons (8 of them actually) and then went in search of a bar that was open at 10am and drank beer. I have to say this was the best I have ever felt after a half marathon...other than some nasty blisters on my feet...I felt like a million bucks.

Guess I better call it a night so let me end with a random fact because I love randomness. Did you all know that the first oatmeal cooking recipe was published in 1896? Ok Marl I am sure you knew that but for the rest of you did you know that?