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I love Central Market. Today between conference sessions I went to Central Market, and it was fabulous again. There was live music and dancing when I got there, so not only does Central Market have the best most diverse selection of food ever, it also has that cool factor because of the other things that take place there. Not only was it live music and dancing, it was live swing/blues music and dancing--my favorite.

The Westies around here are like Norwegians. I checked out the West Coast swing scene last night and someone told me that the Westies are like Norwegians because they seem cold but it is a great environment once you get on the "in" side. They did seem cold from my standpoint, yet it seemed like they were having fun with each other. For some reason, I have found that the lindy hoppers in the area are more friendly than the westies. That's fortunate because lindy is really the better dance.

Dialysis is convoluted. I started working at a dialysis clinic this week. I feel really really bad for the patients because their lives must stink. Most of them go into the clinic for 4 hours, three times a week to have their blood cleaned. They have to take a ton of medications and watch their phosphorus (processed meats, dairy, chocolate), potassium (many fruits and vegetables), sodium (eating out, prepackaged foods), and fluid intake. So what on earth can they eat???? (It's my job to answer that question.) This diet does not provide very well for a good quality of life. But the alternative would be death due to consequences of kidney failure. My main job this week has been to talk to patients about getting their phosphorus level down.

Symphonic Band kicks my bum. But now I have someone to talk to about it!! Janet joined band with me Thursday and it was really fun having her there. We have a concert coming up in May and another in June, I think. Anyway, we still don't know what we're playing in the concert... but we do have a folder full of crazy music. (Which pieces to practice???)

Live simply so others might simply live. That is something Gandhi said and is quoted in John Robbins' book, Diet for a New America. This is an excellent book, and discusses the different reasons for vegetarianism. I just finished the book last night and I am glad I read it. I actually read it previously in High School and that is what got me into veganism in the first place. Now I remember why I started, and I am glad to have resumed this diet-style. Nobody in the world would go hungry if meat and other animal products weren't such a staple in the Western diet. If you don't understand vegetarians and would like to know more of the reasoning behind this diet-style, Diet for a New America is the best book out there to answer your questions.