would you like to supersize that?

As I type this, I'm watching the documentary "Supersize Me." I never really wanted to see gastric bypass surgery, but I just did. Disgusting.

At day 21 of 30, Morgan Spurlock, the guy who decided to try eating McDonald's 3 times a day for 30 days to see what would happen, woke up at 2:00am with heart palpitations and could hardly breathe. His liver was being affected as if he were binging on alcohol. The doctor told him to stop immediately. He said he only felt great when eating. He was addicted to McDonald's.

This was a guy who previously ate mostly organic food (quasi-Vegan) and exercised regularly. In this experiment, not only could he not exercise, but he could take no more than 2,000 steps per day (about a mile). Oh, and no vitamins.

On day 29, he said that walking up the stairs to his apartment was really hard.

By the end, he had gained 24.5 pounds, his body fat went from 11-18%, his cholesterol went up 65 points, he doubled his risk of coronary heart disease, and he was depressed most of the time.

He had consumed 30 pounds of sugar and 12 pounds of fat in 30 days.

It took 8 weeks for Morgan's cholesterol and liver functions to get back to normal.

It took 5 months for him to lose 20 pounds, and 9 more for the the other 4 1/2.

Near the end, he made the comment, "Why not do away with your Supersize options. Who needs 42 ounces of Coke, a half-pound of fries? And why not give me a choice besides french fries or french fries?"

6 weeks after the movie was released, McDonald's did away with Supersizing, and they announced their "Go Active" program about a year later.

the last battle, post the second

I finished reading this book just moments ago. Ever wonder what heaven might be like? I don't know, but I certainly find C.S. Lewis' imagination of it agreeable. This world, just an ersatz place. A copy and mere shadow of the real one. I dare not give it all away, but I must quote Lucy and Digory:

"'Those hills,' said Lucy, 'the nice woody ones and the blue ones behind—aren't they very like the Southern border of Narnia? ... And yet they're not like,' said Lucy. 'They're different. They have more colors on them and they look further away than I remembered and they're more ... more ... oh, I don't know ...'

'More like the real thing,' said the Lord Digory softly."

vacation wrap-up

saturday, july 8
After stopping by the Holland Farmer's Market, we met Robin in Grand Haven. While trying to park, Monica's car got stuck in a sandy spot. Very stuck. After help from a couple of men, we finally got it out.

After lunch, we walked out to the pier, got some ice cream, and walked around downtown. That night, Monica & I finished Pride and Prejudice.

sunday, july 9
Monica and I had the opportunity to visit Mars Hill on Sunday. It was a good experience. Many times, when I visit another church, it is hard for me to get out of critique-mode and truly worship, but I was able to do it there. They had a creative time for prayer, in which the worship leader incorporated a musical responsive chant with silent prayer for families, the church, community, city, country, and world. Their passion for helping the oppressed and needy was evident in everything they did.

After church, we met Robin for lunch and then went to the Meyer May House, which was built in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was very cool.

We went back to Monica's that night and ate at Hacienda. Yum! I miss Hacienda.

monday, july 10
I went through Warsaw on my way home, had lunch with my friend Tiphanie, saw the staff at Presby, and caught my friend Caroline at work on my way home.

It was a fun vacation with perfect weather, great friends, and good food. I am so thankful for the chance to see my friends and for a terrific week!

the last battle

I have loved The Chronicles of Narnia since I was a kid. I thought I had read them all. I own them all. A few months ago, however, I was discussing them with someone (Kenton, I think), and as he talked about The Last Battle, I realized I didn't know what he was talking about. And then I had this realization: I don't think I've ever read it. So now I am reading it!

vacation journal

sunday, july 2
I traveled to Indiana to my friend Monica's and spent the night. I'm on vacation! Woo hoo!

monday, july 3
Monica and I took the train to Chicago. We ate lunch at Giordano's Pizza in Hyde Park. Then we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. Then we took the Metra to Randolph Street and walked to Navy Pier. We saw the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows. If you ever have a chance to see it, do. It's free.

We walked back to the train via the bike trail below Lake Shore Drive and Millenium Park, and we grabbed Baja Fresh to eat on the train. Then we stayed at Monica's house again that night.






tuesday, july 4
We left for Grand Rapids to visit our friend, Robin. We ate lunch at Max & Erma's, then we headed to Robin's and saw her new house. That afternoon, we went to Frederick Meijer Gardens.
We ate supper with Robin's sister, Beth, at Pizza Hut, and then we went to Robin's building downtown and watched the fireworks from her seventh floor balcony. We were right by the Grand River and was the display was quite impressive. So were the bugs.

wednesday, july 5
Monica and I left Robin to go to work and made our way to our hotel, a Holiday Inn with a Holidome in Holland, MI. After checking in, we went to downtown Holland, which is a quaint downtown with lots of shops, parks, and a farmer's market. We ate at the 8th Street Grille, then walked around the shops.

That night, Robin met us at our hotel just as we were allowed to go back in after someone had set off the fire alarm. We had supper at the Crazy Horse. After Robin left, we relaxed in the hot tub and pool in our hotel, and the fire alarm went off again. We hoped it wouldn't go off in the middle of the night.


thursday, july 6
Monica and I ate breakfast in the Calypso Restaurant at our hotel. Let me tell you, the decor makes you feel just like you're in Aruba.

We went to Windmill Island and paid $7. But we did see cool candlemaking and tour the only windmill from the Netherlands in America.

For lupper, we went to Pietro's. I highly recommend it.

Then we went to Tunnel Park, to the beach. For a snack, we had Coldstone Creamery, then watched the first three hours of Pride and Prejudice.

friday, july 7
We went to Saugatuck for some shopping and ate at Phil's. I had a chicken sandwich with green peppers, artichokes, feta cheese and pesto. I had never had anything like it; it was very tasty.

Later, we came back to Holland and went to Holland State Park Beach. We agreed that we liked Tunnel Park better.

We ate dinner at Curragh's Irish Pub in Holland. I had a very good pot roast.

Lydia came from Detroit and we watched the sunset (sort of) at Tunnel Park. It's really cool because you're way above it and looking out over the lake. After, we went to Ben & Jerry's.