tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52668241182535406962012-02-02T10:00:02.002-05:00Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-89837790459629756532012-02-02T10:00:00.000-05:002012-02-02T10:00:02.021-05:00

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Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-15570462897971024492012-02-01T08:20:00.001-05:002012-02-01T09:06:56.989-05:00

I was doing so well yesterday, feeling super good, my appetite back, and I thought for sure I’m on the mend. But by late evening the pain in my joints had returned in full force making for a miserable sleep. I woke up with yet another fever and more pain in my neck, my ankles, my left hand, and my shoulders. And now my liver's swollen and painfully pressed up against my rib cage.* Ugh. It’

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-14247292886425345012012-01-29T12:30:00.000-05:002012-02-01T07:36:26.341-05:00

You know that feeling like you’ve been down and out and not sure you’re gonna be able to take another step* but then something happens that makes you think, okay, I can do this? Last night I was playing around on my laptop. It’s been a week with no internet at home, so I was just figuring out what music I had on iTunes. I don’t have much. My iPod Touch was stolen back in July, which had

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-30976631128724502512012-01-25T12:08:00.001-05:002012-01-26T18:01:36.964-05:00

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } I had to face some hard facts when I woke up this morning. It was the first morning in what feels like too long that I didn’t wake up uneasy or anxious about other things I don’t feel good about in my life. Instead I was able to hone in on exactly what’s going on with me. I’m getting ill again. No, not the cold or flu or food poisoning kind. The my-body’

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-74264891642774538632012-01-24T14:00:00.000-05:002012-01-25T19:18:46.462-05:00

jajajaj. cats. Well, I guess this year so far is all about processing. I think I should have been doing all this last year, but apparently my life was busy making other plans. I was telling one of my best friends here about how I think I have inappropriate responses to certain situations. This has occurred to me over the years that perhaps the way I respond to situations may be out of

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-38058217466876623802012-01-23T19:15:00.000-05:002012-01-23T19:15:18.414-05:00

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Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-3991933357268102762012-01-21T07:51:00.000-05:002012-01-21T19:51:23.911-05:00

Lima Center (Jan. 2011) Earlier this week Björk posted her Homegenic (1997) album cover on Facebook, explaining that "Homogenic is a woman who was put in an impossible situation with a lot and lot of restrictions, so she had to become a warrior, but she fought back not with weapons but with love." Björk is one of those artists, for me, who manages to capture every emotion I've ever

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0Lima District, Peru-12.0478158 -77.0622028-12.0788738 -77.1016848 -12.0167578 -77.02272079999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-44422610366003513232012-01-20T15:58:00.002-05:002012-01-21T07:41:30.051-05:00

I came across this tune today, and I just have to share it. It's about Home. Home! Let me come Home Home is wherever I’m with you  ♥  I think of so many things when I listen to this song and my heart fills with joy of all the places I've known that have been my home. I think of that time driving from Florida to back home in Virginia when my husband and I sang real loud to

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-30219558186529288372012-01-18T12:28:00.000-05:002012-01-20T13:25:02.031-05:00

singlemindedwomen.com Two news articles recently caught my attention, and I so wish I was back at the clinic in San Diego so I could talk to my patients and fellow health care professionals about what's going on. Instead, I'll blog about it, and maybe you'll even comment on it, which seems like a fair compromise. First, the scuttlebutt. Paula Deen, the queen of Southern home cooking,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-64752453768131446122012-01-16T23:25:00.000-05:002012-01-18T08:25:45.367-05:00

and this is what we call wishful thinking. So this entry is on the personal side, but it's about adjusting to living here, so I've decided that it's fine to post publicly. Tonight my boss set me up with a new student. She highly recommended this guy, so I kinda felt like I was being set up on a date rather than going for a first class. She said she's known the family for 30 years, this guy

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-72123700363356115892012-01-15T23:02:00.001-05:002012-01-16T13:03:00.429-05:00

This is mainly a photo entry tonight cos I'm tired from a lovely weekend at the beach. I know, tough life. Per usual, I spent a lot of time thinking. This weekend opened my eyes more to how heavily divided Peru is into social classes. Last week four people at different times brought up class and/or racism with me, completely unprompted, all of which seemed unusually coincidental. So I decided as

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-36350147439019925242012-01-14T16:23:00.001-05:002012-01-16T14:21:28.676-05:00

This has got to be the best name for a soap opera ever: The Rich Also Cry. blog.cablevision.net.mx Over the past couple weeks, maybe months, I've had a bunch of unrelated observations and needed to dump them into a document until I figured out what to do with them. I thought I'd flesh them out, but really, I just want to share, and maybe I'll get around to reflecting more about them at a

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-68556854223298251592012-01-12T17:54:00.000-05:002012-01-12T21:14:49.810-05:00

dnainfo.com At this point, I don't think much surprises me anymore. So when someone tells me they saw me the other day walking in a neighborhood that's not my own, my usual response is, "Oh really? Why didn't you say hello?" The answer never quite makes complete sense to me, but I guess the point is that the person saw me and now they're telling me, and that's all that's needed. The owner

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-44304992234650976302012-01-11T17:25:00.000-05:002012-01-11T17:45:38.395-05:00

Well, I've finally made a decision, which means I'm about to check off one of my goals as completed for 2012. Oh wow, I just looked at the date, and it's only the 11th day of the year. Sheesh, that's gotta be a record or something. But let's start with something or two slightly less stellar but which make me feel good anyway.  Goal 6. Travel to one city in Peru.  San Bartolo I haven't

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-4426662947871095732012-01-09T16:25:00.000-05:002012-01-09T21:28:44.051-05:00

Here you go, a double whammy today. A friend invited me to check out Pinterest.com, a cool website where you and a bunch of other people post things of interest to you. I was searching for another pic I had seen a few days ago when I came across this one: pinterest.com Though I'm not exactly sure which society I'm supposed to fuck, what more can I say that I haven't already?*

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-33260032066417106652012-01-09T15:48:00.000-05:002012-01-09T15:57:40.508-05:00

One of my favorite subjects to write about and to discuss with friends, family, students, patients, and strangers alike is the state of happiness.I have the pleasure of getting to discuss this very subject with some of my English students. The first chapter in my advanced English book is on lifestyle changes. Students are given a list of 16 vocabulary words and asked to check off which they have

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-80715342178703968622012-01-05T16:29:00.001-05:002012-01-05T16:59:11.103-05:00

Yeah, already. Can you believe it?It's only the 5th day of the New Year, but I'm sorta determined to accomplish all my goals this year. I need to have some things to work on instead of just working and hanging out with friends and going to the beach. You know, something intellectually stimulating and spiritually fulfilling.Well, let's see where I am (not in correct numerical order):Goal #13.

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-44417353414718391722012-01-01T08:32:00.000-05:002012-01-10T12:19:54.010-05:00

I started writing these bad boys in mid-December cos I was so ready for 2011 to end and 2012 to begin. You know what's awesome? That I already started on them the last two weeks of December. Yeah, baby! These goals could be for the entire year, but probably the most important one of all is my self-imposed deadline of April 1 to determine whether or not I'm staying in Lima. April 9, 2012

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-81111223446307654322012-01-01T08:19:00.000-05:002012-01-01T08:39:11.619-05:00

I woke up after only a couple hours of sleep somehow feeling rejuvenated and alive. And the loveliest song was playing through my mind. Do You Realize - The Flaming Lips Do you realize That you have the most beautiful face Do you realize We're floating in space Do you realize That happiness makes you cry Do you realize That everyone you know someday will die And instead of

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-71815562005737189292011-12-27T09:55:00.000-05:002012-02-01T07:30:59.602-05:00

I hope you had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate Christmas. I had a spectacular one. It was my first Christmas in another country, and it was definitely a different experience. I loved every minute of it. My contribution to a delicious Noche Buena feast was apple pie. Alas, this was not quite the version of apple pie I make in the U.S. This was definitely the

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-10163625544625132752011-12-24T16:09:00.002-05:002011-12-24T17:34:32.356-05:00

Last year I helped my best friend in San Diego make rum balls for Christmas. I never thought I'd like them, maybe because I had tried them when I was a kid and hated the taste of alcohol back then. But last year, they were positively heavenly and I ate way too many. This year I decided since they were relatively easy to make that I could make them with the kids I've been baking with all week

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-29358746311714210112011-12-22T00:11:00.003-05:002011-12-22T06:06:06.300-05:00

I have this strong desire to put my house in order for year end to start fresh for the new year. Alas, we have 10 days left of 2011, and it seems like my house, aka me, will never quite get as organized as I'd like. On the other hand, 10 days for me this year could sometimes result in the most dramatic of changes, so I know better than to say for certainty whether something will or won't happen,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-4923585120734688402011-12-20T21:25:00.004-05:002011-12-20T21:53:36.718-05:00

Coconut Bark and Peppermint Bark One of the easiest things to make for Christmas is Peppermint Bark. I found a recipe several years ago and I've been making it every year since to give away as gifts. This evening I shared my version of this recipe with the kids I've been baking Christmas goodies with. Somehow with the five of us working on making the bark, something that usually took me an hour

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-75992708097648135552011-12-19T21:27:00.004-05:002011-12-19T23:53:08.657-05:00

With my favorite Peruvian family decorating Christmas cookies. Every year I think and think about what I can possibly afford to buy as Christmas gifts. And then finally it hits me that I can give the gift of baking. I can't even tell you how many years I go through this exact same process. It's actually ridiculous. I even blogged about this same thing a year ago. Duh! This year after going

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-10814574767452734842011-12-18T21:14:00.005-05:002011-12-19T22:38:54.884-05:00

 Yes, there are two paths you can go by / But in the long run / There's still time to change the road you're on--Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" They always say, "Things happen for a reason." Even if you aren't aware of it at the time, the reason will show itself to you clearly when it's time. Sometimes you realize that a path you were thinking would be the right one turns out to be too

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-51286211751599968982011-12-16T15:57:00.004-05:002011-12-18T00:09:55.689-05:00

Well, that fire that got lit under my ass yesterday? Apparently, it's a flamin'. I spent a couple hours this morning walking around Miraflores in the glorious sunshine with one of my best friends, catching up with each other over the past week. And as usual the conversation turned to wondering aloud why I'm here, what I am doing, what are my goals for the new year. Finally, we stepped into a

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-76393647458005341102011-12-15T18:42:00.008-05:002011-12-17T10:17:02.838-05:00

zeldalily.com Ok. Here we go. As of 5pm today, I've officially decided to start writing my book. I've been writing my story all year by blogging, journaling, emailing, Facebooking...the list probably goes on for awhile. So the process, as a friend described to me a few months ago, is actually a pretty simple one. I already have all the material. I just need to compile it into one document

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-23050180139820548552011-12-13T00:01:00.002-05:002011-12-13T21:47:30.300-05:00

thethrivingsmallbusiness.com So let's start with what I *thought* was going to happen in 2011. But as John Lennon is often quoted as saying, "Life's what happens when you're busy making other plans."For the first six months, my focus will be on healing and exploring and finding joy in every day. After I've spent these months continuing to feel grounded and secure with myself, I will

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-70050105147088706482011-12-10T08:33:00.007-05:002011-12-11T00:21:07.219-05:00

"Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today."--Ralph Waldo Emerson If you've been following this, along with my other more personal blog, you will have noticed that I've been going through a big change in my life, a metamorphosis, if you will. I've been searching for the reason why the

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-45142090666141518862011-12-09T20:50:00.008-05:002011-12-09T22:31:31.073-05:00

modernman.com You probably can tell I've had relationships on the brain for awhile now. In fact, I think it'd be an honest assessment to say that I've been relationship-obsessed for nearly 1.5 years since I separated from my husband. Being single for the first time in nearly a decade and having to relearn the dating and relationship basics in my mid-30s has been a fascinating, if headache- (and

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-67302645005590234702011-12-06T21:00:00.005-05:002011-12-07T06:39:46.907-05:00

Spring along the Malecon in Miraflores. I never get tired of this view. I wrote last week about how we spend our time, suggesting that we find happiness and contentment in the little pleasures in life. Coincidentally, I've come across a recent NPR interview with Dr. Andrew Weil that also suggests just that. Dr. Weil, who admittedly I'm a huge fan of, having followed his anti-inflammatory diet

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-30820055994255319892011-12-04T08:24:00.005-05:002011-12-07T19:23:03.079-05:00

"Ahora contare hasta doce y tu te callas y me voy." -- "A callarse" de Pablo Neruda* I promised in my previous entry that I'd write about the value of keeping quiet. I've lived here long enough to know that the way to survive here is to just wait things out. Quietly. Peruvians don't know how to handle Americans who get anxious. They will drop us anxious Americans like a hot potato. I've seen

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-56209063275436844182011-12-03T18:00:00.013-05:002011-12-06T19:46:47.142-05:00

americanhell.com I've already written about the less wonderful side of living in Lima. There are people who stalk you, the people who will spread stories about you, and the people who lie to you. It's not like we don't have these types of people in the U.S., but here it's to another level that's something you have to get used to as an American acculturating to life in Lima. The stalkers come

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-18286511158619554012011-12-03T10:28:00.002-05:002011-12-03T11:18:20.041-05:00

I've been writing today's entry in my head for months now. It's nearing my 8th month anniversary since moving to Lima, and I think now is as good as time as any to share. This is advice for anyone contemplating a move to Lima. I can't tell you that all of what I'm about to write applies to Latin America. I have a feeling a lot of it does, but I can only tell you what it's like as an American

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-73858024374908156232011-11-30T12:00:00.006-05:002011-12-14T11:52:42.009-05:00

http://2dreviews.ca/afb-the-goonies/ It's a friend's birthday, and talking with him recently I started thinking about how each of us looks at life, our perspective on life and how we go about living it. For my friend, he sees time passing him by. And he's unhappy about it, but I'm not too sure what he's doing about it to fix this or to change it, or even if he wants to change it. He used to

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-42217599540213178592011-11-28T23:55:00.003-05:002011-11-29T06:47:46.010-05:00

blog.extremesportscafe.com I've written many times before in another blog how Lima is a city of extremes. Limeños will be the first to tell you how ugly and beautiful it is. And it's all very true. The people are extreme, too. I've been thinking a lot since I moved here nearly eight months ago about trust. It's a topic that's constantly on my mind, as it seems on everyone's mind who lives here

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-9036862862014806642011-11-23T11:45:00.002-05:002011-11-23T11:50:24.342-05:00

I saw a couple things that amused me here in Lima. Actually, make that more than a couple but I've only taken photos of two things for now. The first is something I've been laughing about for a few months now. In the grocery store near one of the offices I teach at, there's a massage place. Yes, grocery store goes with massage, apparently. I must admit that I'm tempted to go, especially when

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-71160400302385615922011-11-20T15:21:00.006-05:002011-11-21T21:50:17.405-05:00

Woohoo! I did it! I ran a race in another country!!! I got up around 6:10 this morning and piddled around a bit before finally figuring out that the starting line was NOT as close as I originally thought. I honestly thought it was just down the street from me at the Nextel San Borja office, but alas, it was another mile or two away. So I hopped to getting ready and jumped into a cab. The

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-18107659095028749992011-11-19T15:55:00.002-05:002011-11-19T16:06:47.678-05:00

 Tomorrow's the Nextel 10k here in Lima. I didn't officially sign up, but that's okay, cos I'm gonna run it anyway. All I have to do is wake up early, haul my butt out of bed, and walk across the street to the starting line. I plan on mixing in with the people and just doing it. No problem. I've been running regularly, and though I'm sure I won't be able to run the entire 10k course, I

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-65036406818614714422011-11-18T15:27:00.002-05:002011-11-18T15:45:53.674-05:00

Lomo saltado, my personal favorite Peruvian meal, with sautéed beef, tomatoes, and onions, mixed with French fries, along with a side of rice, courtesy of julianemolesworth.blogspot.com You would never know this if I didn't share, but I've been trying to write about another topic for a few weeks now, but I'm not getting anywhere with it. Maybe it's way too personal and it's bringing up a lot of

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-29693637560089696222011-11-13T20:27:00.002-05:002011-11-13T20:43:13.416-05:00

I've been giving a lot of thought in the past few weeks about what I want to work on while I consider how much longer I'll stay in Peru. And in talking with friends and doing some research on my own, I've come up with a couple ideas. First, I'd like to get back into taking Spanish classes. I have at least two ideas of how I'll be able to do that financially and work schedule-wise, but need to

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-40488324854795201542011-10-27T16:54:00.002-05:002011-10-27T17:49:01.219-05:00

Shortly before I left the U.S., I had a patient from Nigeria. He was a refugee living in San Diego on his own. Maybe he lived with his sister or some relative, but I can't remember exact details. His story was super intriguing, as he described his living situation in Nigeria within the context of the sociopolitical climate at the time. He talked of warring tribes, and how he was from one tribe

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-15153227898196641412011-10-18T09:16:00.004-05:002011-11-12T19:22:14.383-05:00

In my room on a better health day, better being relative... I'm having a hard time right now. My body's failing me, and I don't know what to do about it except just rest. I've been struggling with my health since March when I got seriously ill with a flare (relapse) of my chronic liver disorder. It took me several weeks to recover, but I've never been entirely sure I've recovered completely.

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-31749149760790649972011-10-15T19:11:00.000-05:002011-10-15T19:11:46.078-05:00

A Proposal to Study Concurrent Autoimmune Diseases for Patient Education  Background. Approximately 38 percent of people with an autoimmune liver disease have at least one other concurrent autoimmune disease, and research shows that the most prevalent concurrent autoimmune diseases are irritable bowel disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, Celiac disease,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-34797722532861896952011-10-15T19:09:00.000-05:002011-10-15T19:09:22.120-05:00

I compiled and analyzed data on Prince George's County, Maryland, including sociocultural demographics, education patterns, county government resources, health services, environmental issues, and crime and violence. Papers Jackie Donaldson-Lopez 2008 Profile of Prince George's County, Maryland. College Park, MD: University of Maryland. --- 2008 The Students of Prince George's County Maryland

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-66259012811597174672011-10-15T19:06:00.000-05:002011-10-15T19:06:55.293-05:00

When I began this qualitative methods project in Fall 2006, I anticipated being able to speak directly to patients in community health clinics to understand whether or not patients’ cultural beliefs and behaviors influenced their care and treatment. From the literature and from personal experience overhearing patient-provider exchanges in an emergency waiting room, I had a preconceived

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-59912921811431618282011-10-15T19:01:00.001-05:002011-10-15T19:01:23.950-05:00

I developed a health education intervention for Latinas with gestational diabetes in a culturally-diverse, low income area of Prince George's County, MD. The intervention not only focused on education the women, but also involved their families to strengthen support for the women, as well as provide prevention education, since children of Latina gestational diabetics are 50 to 70 percent

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-25486386568085697772011-10-15T18:51:00.001-05:002011-10-15T18:57:49.135-05:00

From 2006 to 2007, I developed, implemented, and evaluated a culturally-appropriate pilot health education intervention at a community health clinic for an ethnically diverse low-income population of Prince George's County, MD. My methods included identifying potential clients with indicators of high cholesterol, hypertension, and/or diabetes, developing curricula and offering both

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-9095101186281483012011-10-15T18:44:00.000-05:002011-10-15T18:44:18.311-05:00

Since I had to delete my website last year due to lack of funds, I thought maybe I should utilize this free blog service to share my research. It's so neat finding out how people have used my research. A friend of mine in nursing school just asked about my work on explanatory models, so I figured what better way to share than post here.  And earlier this year someone from the University of

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-51553106723464943272011-09-21T16:09:00.005-05:002011-11-12T19:26:35.435-05:00

My Peruvian-American cookies aka zapallo chocolate chip oatmeal cookies Going grocery shopping this morning reminded me of the first week I got here. In my first apartment, I only had a hot plate to cook on, but I was determined to make something delicious for the boyfriend I moved to Lima to live with since I know how much Latin men love their women to cook for them. So after talking with my

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-62773222036504373982011-09-12T21:10:00.008-05:002012-01-09T16:23:22.395-05:00

Running a 5k on the beach last September in San Diego Lately I've been running more and it feels great to get out there and move. Just move. I don't have any set mileage or time I'm trying to accomplish. I just want to get out there. I give myself at least 20 minutes. Today I had a break between classes so just wanted to get moving. I ended up running 2.6mi (4.2km), so not bad.   Running got

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-81322464538944273552011-01-03T22:32:00.000-05:002011-01-03T22:48:56.868-05:00

I love these single girl (woman?) days. I pick out a recipe to make, pick up a couple items at the grocery (including a yummy bottle of pinot noir), and bike home to prepare dinner for someone who absolutely adores my cooking. That would be...me. And myself. And I.  One day, and who knows, maybe one day this year, someone's going to be impatiently waiting for my beloved meals, and while I ply

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-21648112511238117952010-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:002010-12-19T13:36:51.368-05:00

Visions of walking casts dance in my head I'm no novice when it comes to injuries. I've been injuring myself for years, but this latest happened during a particularly tough time. Sometime in September, I started training for a Thanksgiving Day 5k in hopes I'd run it with my clients. Although I run at least twice a week, I picked up the mileage and speed and thought I was doing just fine. My

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-72534889603396862242010-12-18T11:00:00.000-05:002010-12-18T13:38:49.519-05:00

Decorating sugar cookies with the lil nephew, 2008 This year I haven't felt much of the holiday spirit. This isn't a surprise given that I'm in the midst of a divorce with very little in finances. The only reason I managed to put up any Christmas decorations was to festivize (new word?) my apartment for a get-together I hosted last weekend.  However, I cannot imagine a Christmas in which I

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-32762216953613550002010-12-17T12:38:00.000-05:002010-12-17T21:52:38.371-05:00

One of the things I've been trying to do is make a new recipe on average every two weeks. Some are winners and some most definitely are not. Even if the meal isn't the tastiest, at least I get something nutritious to eat for a day or two. (I gotta admit, eating something that's not tasty for more than a day is killer, but when you're on a tight budget, you gotta do what you gotta do!) Speaking

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-69883159172128860342010-07-04T11:15:00.000-05:002010-07-04T11:18:29.737-05:00

While browsing the Whole Foods Market Recipes iPhone app the other day for vegetarian dishes, I came across a recipe for Homemade Black Bean Burgers. I had all the ingredients stocked, so I decided to make up these burgers for a BBQ my husband and I hosted for our friends and family. These burgers were delicious, but what I got most rave reviews about were a variation of these made from kidney

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-36914966651416199392010-06-19T11:22:00.000-05:002010-06-19T11:29:32.671-05:00

It's three months later, and I'm still going strong with my vegetarian challenge. My commitment to the anti-inflammatory diet has of late fallen by the wayside, which is topic for another blog. This week I've re-dedicated myself to the diet and in this spirit have enjoyed experimenting with different flavors. Lately, my favorite breakfast starts with a base of a small omelet. I top it with a

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-4356978874863155332010-04-11T16:04:00.000-05:002010-04-11T16:08:01.963-05:00

As part of this month's 30-day vegetarian challenge, and overall anti-inflammatory diet, I've focused on making my own meals to eat throughout the week. Last weekend I made this Black Bean Chili. Delicious on its own,  I prefer it best as part of a larger meal, such as a Black Bean Omelet (see below for the recipe) or Black Bean Burrito. This nutritious chili's chocked full of fiber and protein,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-24573004638169185552010-04-10T15:30:00.000-05:002010-04-11T15:36:11.806-05:00

 It just occurred to me that today's April 10, which means the month we're through a third of the month already! Sheesh, how time flies. Anyway, this means I'm a third done with my 30-day vegetarian challenge, and I'm happy to report that so far I don't miss meat! At least not *that* sorely. The other day I passed by the pork area of the Whole Foods meat counter and started to salivate, but I

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-87621705358544496562010-04-01T09:00:00.000-05:002010-04-02T12:38:13.029-05:00

Recently, I’ve been asked to write a column on health topics for the Village News, the quarterly newspaper for St. Vincent de Paul Village, which provides integrated services for San Diego's homeless and low income populations. I thought I’d share my column for April since stress awareness is applicable to so many of us! Simple Ways to Destress This Month April is Stress Awareness month by

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-1698479047595596762010-03-29T09:00:00.000-05:002010-04-02T12:41:22.824-05:00

Those of you who know me well know that I’ve stopped eating meat when I was 15. A childhood friend was interning at an animal right’s organization in our hometown of Fredericksburg, VA, and at dinner one night she mentioned how cruelly animals are treated as future food sources.  I’d never been a big fan of red meat, picking out the grisly pieces of meat in the beef and vegetable soups my mom

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-71674919152482978552010-03-27T10:00:00.000-05:002010-03-27T12:24:43.931-05:00

As I blogged back in December, I started using the Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet as a guideline for my own nutritional health. It’s been so successful for me over these past few months that I’ve begun to teach it in my Living with Chronic Illness class that I teach at San Diego’s St. Vincent de Paul Village. The week I first started the diet, I came down with a cold and then pulled a lower

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-10349184079747994162010-03-25T23:00:00.000-05:002010-03-27T12:13:14.990-05:00

The day started off with a gift from a stranger. I was determined to make it into work on time but knew I needed caffeine to get my day started. So I headed out early and stopped by Starbucks for chai. While I was in line, the man in front of me turned and asked if I had parked across the str eet. Confirming this, he pointed out that no one's allowed to park on this block on Thursday mornings

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-45646892448560925912010-03-24T19:00:00.000-05:002010-03-25T09:19:15.429-05:00

After reading a thought-provoking blog about how a SparkPeople health educator found the path to her passion in life, I took time to comment on how I had discovered my passion, too. I know too many people, from coworkers to friends, who are stuck in a revolving door of working to make money but never being too thrilled with their work. A job doesn’t just have to be a job, as I’ve discovered for

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-68491521672532108942010-03-11T21:50:00.000-05:002010-04-11T15:46:50.858-05:00

I pulled this recipe from a holiday recipe book I found at the grocery store. This ended up being the simplest soup I've ever made! It takes about 13 minutes from start to finish. All the ingredients are simple to find. I even found coconut milk at my neighborhood market the other night when I wanted something easy to make for dinner. Not only is this savory soup easy to make, it's very healthy

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-68207093183482785172010-03-01T22:09:00.000-05:002010-03-01T22:12:00.920-05:00

Just over 7 years ago, I found a recipe for bruschetta online and surprised my husband, then my new boyfriend, with it for Valentine's day. We ate so much of this amazing bruschetta that we hardly had enough room for dessert. We bring this recipe out for special events, family outings, and sometimes just for dinner for the two of us. So whether this is your full meal or simply an appetizer,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-25456268504784078202010-01-23T12:16:00.000-05:002010-01-23T12:22:33.540-05:00

Last week after reading a SparkPeople friend's blog on being a Royal Purple fitness color, I took a couple fitness personality quizzes to find out my own fitness color. The results were interesting and though they weren't a surprise by any means, it was still fun to categorize myself. As any anthropologist knows, human nature demands categorization! Check out the Experience Life article on "

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-55798505367013437692010-01-08T13:10:00.000-05:002010-01-08T13:10:58.127-05:00

I've been thinking about these for a couple weeks now and finally am setting them in stone. Here go my goals for 2010! 1. Continue the Anti-Inflammatory Diet 7x/week. Action plan: Pack my lunch 3x/week, eat trail mix and/or fruit for snacks, eat dinner that we've prepared at home 6x/week. 2. Run two 10k races. Action plan: I've signed up for the Feb. 27 SuperRun 10k around Mission Bay in

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-9731216934283012732009-12-25T19:00:00.000-05:002009-12-25T19:00:54.277-05:00

Christmas Breakfast has been a tradition in my family as long as I can remember. I used to hate it when I was a kid, but now I can't even imagine Christmas without it. My mom would prepare it before us kids went to bed Christmas Eve, and in the morning between browsing through the presents Santa left and opening our stockings, my mom would place the baking dish in the oven to bake. To a kid

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-51226729682967546552009-12-08T20:48:00.000-05:002009-12-09T00:29:08.491-05:00

Rocking my new, oh-so-soft bamboo SparkPeople tank before this past weekend's brick workout! When I thought of writing this training update yesterday, I was on an exercise high. I had just kicked butt with 87 minutes of exercise in spurts throughout the day, burning a total of 926 calories. From Fat Burning Yoga first thing in the morning to a physical and health education class for

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-8172971018608736222009-12-07T23:59:00.000-05:002009-12-08T10:24:44.037-05:00

Now that the Tinsel Triathlon goal is near, I can't help but start planning for my next set of goals. That's so typical of me! Recently, the Eating Clean movement has been on my mind. So I decided to do some research today to find out more about it. I remember that some of my fellow SparkSanDiego team members tried a clean eating challenge earlier this year, but I didn't join in. The commitment

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-75579392089497841022009-12-01T10:10:00.000-05:002009-12-01T10:18:31.918-05:00

My über low-income clients need your help this winter. So many of my clients at St. Vincent de Paul Village in downtown San Diego have skin care issues, from medication side effects to severe dry skin from living in dry San Diego to winter sunburn from the nearly always sunny locale. But they don't have much money, and the money they do have goes to rent, food, and taking care of their

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-36927994100499523282009-11-30T22:09:00.000-05:002009-11-30T22:11:03.946-05:00

Some days, and quite honestly, lately it's been most days, I don't have the energy to cook. So instead, in the morning before heading out, I chop up a bunch of veggies, throw them along with chicken breast together with some gravy and ketchup, and slow cook everything while I'm at work. This recipe is easy, hearty, and tasty. And perhaps best of all, super good for you since it's low fat, low

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-74677556993385264932009-11-30T21:29:00.000-05:002009-11-30T21:30:12.047-05:00

This is a gift that keeps on giving. Several years ago, my friend Beth gave my husband a recipe, which was handed down from one of her friends. Beth attributes this recipe "from the kitchen of Jenny Moe's mom, Judy." I think these Special K Bars are a Midwest tradition, as through the years I've only heard Midwesterners rave about these bars. No one else from any other region of the US have

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-69164251737365362192009-11-28T10:59:00.000-05:002009-11-28T11:03:39.889-05:00

The Father Joe's Thanksgiving Day 5k proved a lesson in adversity and gratitude. I signed up for the 5k a few months back, before I even signed up for the Tinsel Triathlon. Although I started training for a 5k back in July, this particular 5k was my end goal. I run at least 1.5 to 2 miles two to three times a week, and I usually run 3 to 4 miles every Sunday as my long-distance run. But I

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-15377765555754869312009-11-24T21:51:00.000-05:002009-11-24T21:54:59.625-05:00

You may be thinking about what to make for Thanksgiving, gathering together your list of items to purchase at the grocery store. Or perhaps you've already gone shopping and have stocked your pantry with enough food to feed an army. Either way, you deserve a treat to relax and refreshen your holiday. This fruity sangria is just what you ordered! Using frozen peaches and mangos and fresh apples

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-1745749188610380202009-10-20T13:56:00.000-05:002009-10-20T14:28:40.114-05:00

Many of you know that I've signed up for a sprint triathlon this December. The Tinsel Triathlon in Hemet, CA, about 90 miles northeast of San Diego, is supposed to be a fun one, with people eccentrically dressed up in Santa and elf costumes and more. I don't know that I'll actually get dressed up in anything more than my workout clothes, but I'll definitely enjoy the Christmas spirit and

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-5243480386068258452009-10-20T12:34:00.000-05:002009-10-20T12:34:30.935-05:00

I'm not one to slave over the stove, and when it comes to cookies, my family wants them now instead of later. By using a cookie mix and only four additional ingredients, these cookies are extremely easy and quick to make. Pumpkin gives traditional chocolate chip cookies an orange Fall hue while adding vitamin A and a serving of veggies. And by using a butter substitute and cornstarch instead

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-61806865550607679092009-10-19T12:00:00.000-05:002009-10-19T12:00:04.224-05:00

I've declared my love for pumpkin in an earlier blog about how to make Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread. Now here's a recipe for pancakes you can serve any time of year. Your kids are sure to love them with the chocolate chips, and they'll never know they're getting a serving of veggies (vitamin A! potassium!) along with a healthy dose of fiber in each portion. Buckwheat Pumpkin Pancakes w/

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-73390151938993194952009-10-12T13:00:00.000-05:002009-10-12T13:00:00.705-05:00

A former boyfriend, whose Italian family hailed from western Pennsylvania, introduced me to Italian Wedding Soup about 15 years ago. It's one of those traditional soups that you keep in your recipe box for years and years to come to take out each Fall. My family fell in love with this soup, and I love sharing it. It only comprises eight ingredients, so it's very simple and relatively cheap to

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-53818208812000932772009-10-08T17:19:00.000-05:002009-10-09T15:54:33.396-05:00

Fall is my favorite season to cook. Due to an evolutionary process, most people begin to crave high fat foods come cooler weather. In our hunter-gatherer days, we would store calories as fat for potential starvation periods in winter. Like my ancestors, I, too, begin to crave foods with a lot of fat and flavor, and through the years I've found that I can fool my body into thinking it's

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-10610487005462299602009-10-08T15:46:00.000-05:002009-10-08T16:28:18.014-05:00

I'm a sucker for anything pumpkin. Add pumpkin to any cookie, including one with nuts, I'll gobble them all up. I don't eat pie that often, but offer me pumpkin pie, and it'll be gone in minutes. Same with muffins (mmm, pumpkin muffins with cream cheese!), ice cream (who would've thought pumpkin ice cream or pumpkin frozen yogurt could taste so good?), and even pumpkin martinis topped with

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-65089857076251185992009-09-23T13:54:00.000-05:002009-09-23T13:57:18.927-05:00

 Last summer I spent an inordinate amount of time and money in Jamba Juice. A retailer that creates blended drinks from fresh and frozen fruit and juices, Jamba Juice's smoothies are simply delicious. But at about $3.50 for a 16-oz size, they're a tad pricey for a more than once a week fix. At least for someone on a tight budget. So I decided to look up the ingredients of my favorite all-fruit

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-50235472581250960972009-09-13T23:38:00.000-05:002009-09-14T10:09:25.366-05:00

Over the past month, the Internet's been abuzz with news of "gender testing." The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) mandated that South African runner Caster Semenya to undergo "gender testing" to determine whether the 18 year old is female or male after critics criticized her "manly" features after setting a world record for the 800m in August. I've put some of the

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-73521449898801340492009-09-01T16:06:00.000-05:002009-09-01T19:48:06.120-05:00

In the past couple weeks, running has become this frustrating yet addictive process for me. I love it, but I hate it. Well, I hate certain aspects of it. Allow me to break it down.Loves:I burn about 200 calories per 30-min session.Most days I run farther than the previous session.I really enjoy running past the lovely gardens and houses.I can run either in my neighborhood or on a treadmill or

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-51461045913828288082009-08-11T20:18:00.000-05:002009-08-11T21:09:13.264-05:00

Last month I posted an entry on suggestions for how to train for a 5k. I actually took my own advice and implemented a few suggestions to make my training sessions more enjoyable rather than feel like actual work. In fact, I like training so much that I've signed up for a 10k later this month!The best suggestions I've implemented so far are these:If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, use the C25K

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-62234068312876160492009-08-11T09:00:00.000-05:002009-08-11T09:00:03.525-05:00

Earlier this year I began research on how healthcare providers view inmates' right to healthcare in jails. This research was stimulated by a comment a healthcare professional made at the American Association of Public Health conference last year. Addressing a World Health Organization consultant, the woman asked why prisoners received healthcare when, as she stated, "the rest of us" don't get

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-26893555554683701132009-08-11T00:55:00.000-05:002009-08-11T01:10:03.496-05:00

I'm very behind in posting, as my life seems to have picked up a bit more over the past couple weeks! My apologies! This is all good news, however, as I'll have lots of stories to share with you very soon.The biggest news is that I've started volunteering at the St. Vincent De Paul Family Health Center in downtown San Diego. This work has reignited my interest in the lives of the homeless, and I

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-77986140046370004672009-07-30T12:54:00.000-05:002009-07-30T13:53:38.028-05:00

My husband apparently thinks I can whip up anything regardless of what ingredients we have. At the grocery store this past Sunday, he picked up a package of chicken breast, four baking potatoes and four crowns of broccoli, and then informed me that I could create a dish just using some spices we have on hand. I was too tired to try to think of other ingredients we needed, so I just agreed. Ha!

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-37745374991415026042009-07-28T19:22:00.000-05:002011-01-03T01:02:30.491-05:00

One of the tips I always give patients is to pepper a plate with color. A meal for dinner should include a variety of colorful foods spanning the color spectrum. Recently, quite a few health articles have mentioned this tip, too. CNN.com reports today on how to "color yourself slim": An apple a day will do more than keep the doctor away -- it'll keep pounds off, too. Filling up with a range of

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-18282341193606632092009-07-23T23:35:00.000-05:002009-07-24T13:55:55.332-05:00

As I flipped through O magazine a couple months ago, I came across an unexpected enlightening blurb explaining "clutter" culturally. The researcher quoted explained that Americans have a clutter problem due to a cultural phenomenon called "Just in Case."The concept is simple. We as Americans like to buy, save, even hoard "just in case we need it." How often do you go to a store and see something

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-28515061098291970762009-07-20T11:41:00.000-05:002009-07-23T14:24:22.782-05:00

Portobello Burgers Recipe from SparkPeople.comTo make a tasty burger for lunch or dinner, slide the burger between two crispy slices of whole wheat toast and add a slice of tomato ( I used a yellow heirloom tomato) and a sweet side of fruit like mango or cantaloupe!Ingredients4 large Portobello mushrooms2 cloves garlic, sliced into very thin slivers1 tsp. fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp. dried, (

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-68472608706711055192009-07-16T16:49:00.001-05:002009-07-16T18:19:09.091-05:00

If you had met me two years ago at the time this photo was taken, you would have met one harried woman. At that time, I juggled two semesters of an overload of grad school courses, a full-time internship, designing invitations and planning my Nov. wedding, a part-time consultancy, caring for two sick cats, family crisis, bi-coastal travel, and social events with friends. I figured I could handle

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-91075410663043373012009-07-14T20:56:00.000-05:002009-07-14T23:03:42.445-05:00

Today you'll get two recipes for the price of one. Jamaican Jerk Turkey Burgers with Mango Lime Salsa with a side of Corn-on-the-Cob with Lime Butter are two of my favorite for summer and absolutely perfect together. They're simple to make, the ingredients are seasonal and relatively inexpensive. Enjoy!Jamaican Jerk Turkey Burgers with Mango Lime SalsaThis is taken from a Cooking Light recipe,

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-79379976519511182252009-07-14T20:02:00.001-05:002009-07-14T22:49:05.587-05:00

Recently I reconnected via Facebook with a friend of mine from high school. Dr. Laura Gogia is the Director of Gynecology at the Tappahannock Women's Center and Riverside Laser and Skin Solutions in Tappahannock, Virginia. She's kept up with my blogs, and in addition to commenting on several of them, she emailed me with her thoughts. With her permission to post her message, here's an except:I'm

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-45271531863845217782009-07-13T15:23:00.000-05:002009-08-11T11:39:55.262-05:00

I've noticed on Facebook that a couple friends have taken up running--one is doing it for pleasure and one to participate in a marathon relay team this Fall. I also have a couple friends on SparkPeople who ran a marathon this past May and are continuing their training for another marathon this Fall. And I've considered starting training for a marathon, although joining a training team at present

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-29566268655895251092009-07-10T16:09:00.000-05:002009-07-10T20:03:21.033-05:00

Thanks to a link Health magazine tweeted this morning, CNN.com reports on clothing size change, which I covered in a blog earlier this week. This article provides an interesting look at the historical trend in the U.S. of what size women are perceived as attractive.It turns out that the perception of woman's body correlated with age. Historically, slender young women were perceived as most

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-5494923230711622592009-07-10T15:21:00.000-05:002009-07-10T18:52:55.456-05:00

It's about time I did something with myself. Writing these daily blogs has allowed me to focus on my real passion in life: health education.Two years ago I trained as a health educator for my grad school internship/practicum. It was the most fulfilling experience in my professional life. On an ego-centric level, meeting women who needed my help and expertise was exhilarating. Some of these women

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-51390298751102660822009-07-09T14:48:00.000-05:002009-07-10T15:49:09.210-05:00

The NewYorkTimes.com offers an intriguing look into the lives of ordinary people living with extraordinary illnesses. In its monthly series, Patient Voices, blogger Tara Parker Pope offers a cross-section of Americans who discuss their personal experiences with living with a chronic illness.Today's Patient Voices focuses on a relatively common autoimmune disorder, lupus. (Very simply, an

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266824118253540696.post-17797406120136684572009-07-08T15:01:00.001-05:002009-07-08T16:37:30.025-05:00

Over the past couple years, I've had several discussions about BMI, or body mass index, with friends. BMI is another one of those measurements we use to compare ourselves to what's considered "normal" for our weight and height. Although I typically use an online caluculator to determine my BMI, the formula is actually simple: BMI = weight in pounds/(height in inches x height in inches) x 703.One

Jackie Amidon Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433355774099034794noreply@blogger.com4