Where I don't belong

I've always been one to ask, "why not?" There has to be a reason someone would say no and to me, it needed to make a lot of sense before I agreed to it. I'm not a big fan of the word no.

Maybe that's why I like fences. Besides the fact they are pretty, there is always a way to get to the other side even if the entire reason for the fence is to keep you out.

When I was in 7th grade, I didn't have many friends but I always enjoyed playing sports. Why not try out for the school's flag football team? Who cares that I'm a girl? It's a good thing my mother didn't mind me pushing the envelope at a young age and agreed to take me to the football tryouts where it was very apparent that I was the only girl doing so. Being that I didn't have many friends at that age, I made the decision not to try out at the last minute, but it was my decision weather or not I wanted to do it. Four years later, I ended up being the quarterback for the powder puff football team in high school for two years.

I feel that we can do anything we set our minds to. Why not? It seems that the only person saying no to our dreams is that little voice inside of our head that is believing that we can't. If you feel that you can, then you should do it...whatever it is that you want to do.

Tonight I went out to enjoy a nice hot and steamy bowl of pho. It's one of my favorite comfort foods. On my way to a coffee shop after dinner, I passed by a barber shop. It wasn't just any hair cutting place, it was one of those, "men only" shops. I have always wanted to take a picture of men getting their hair cut! Not just any cut, but an old fashioned parlor where women aren't allowed. In fact, as I walked in wide eyed with a big smile on my face they knew instantly that I didn't belong. I knew I wasn't supposed to walk inside, but maybe that's what drew me in. Of course I walked in and didn't have a camera in tow. I asked if it was ok if I snapped a few pictures. He looked at me puzzed. After a long pause, he shrugged his shoulders and then said, "ok, why not." I was thrilled!

I ran back to my car to grab my camera and ran back to the shop. As I arrived, the same gentleman nodded his head to say, "be our guest." I was so excited! I started snapping away without thinking. After a few shots, the gentleman walked up to me and said, "um...you know, this is a male owned and operated store." I said, "that's fantastic!" He looked at me as if I wasn't getting the point. He than said, "well, men are only allowed here and woman are not allowed to come inside." I smiled and said, "you mean, I can't get my haircut here tonight?" I don't think he appreciated my enthusium with a slight hint of sarcasm. After that, he brushed his hands towards the floor, pointing to the door (very polietly, I might add) which meant that it was time for me to leave. I understood and left.

I love a barbershop. It's where men can gather and groom each other, talk about boy things and be together in their "manhood." So facinating. I think I will continue to wander where girls are "not allowed."

Sorry boys.

Don't worry, I will ask first...I think.

Most of the time.

Piers and Pelicans

There is something about a pier that brings everyone together. People walk on the pier, under it, surf alongside it, fish off of it, grab lunch on it, and of course...take pictures of it. Yesterday, I took a stroll on the pier in Oceanside and took pictures of things that I found on it, around it, and under it. People enjoying the day...just being in the moment.

As you know, I love birds and water so I had a nice time taking pictures of both, along with people doing what they love. I walked along the beach to find a young man playing his guitar and singing while an older gentleman was looking for treasure in the sand. As I walked on the pier, I was shocked to see pelicans sitting on the rail watching the people walk by. They didn't mind people getting close to take pictures so I took the opportunity to snap a few for myself.

As I looked away, perhaps I approached one too close (or he was hungry) and I felt a slight pinch on my arm as if someone was grabbing me arm from behind. Looking back, I realized that the pelican was biting my arm. Not once, but twice! So, I took the hint and scooted away.

Pelicans are amazing creatures. Their wing span is longer than a teenager and they can soar across the water so gracefully and effortless. Wouldn't it be great to be a pelican for a day? They are so beautiful to me.

Here is a moment in time of people and animals enjoying the day together in Oceanside, California. For more, click HERE

Saturated Fat and Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin sensitivity is a measure of the tissue response to insulin. Typically, it refers to insulin's ability to cause tissues to absorb glucose from the blood. A loss of insulin sensitivity, also called insulin resistance, is a core part of the metabolic disorder that affects many people in industrial nations.

It is commonly asserted in journal articles and on the internet that saturated fat reduces insulin sensitivity. The idea is that saturated fat reduces the body's ability to handle glucose effectively, placing people on the road to diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Perhaps this particular claim deserves a closer look.

The Evidence

I found a review article from 2008 that addressed this question (1). I like this review because it only includes high-quality trials that used reliable methods of determining insulin sensitivity*.

On to the meat of it. There were 5 studies in which non-diabetic people were fed diets rich in saturated fat, and compared with a group eating a diet rich in monounsaturated (like olive oil) or polyunsaturated (like corn oil) fat. They ranged in duration from one week to 3 months. Four of the five studies found that fat quality did not affect insulin sensitivity, including one of the 3-month studies.

The fifth study, which is the one that's most commonly cited, requires some discussion. This was the KANWU study (2). Over the course of three months, investigators fed 163 volunteers a diet rich in either saturated fat or monounsaturated fat.

The SAFA diet included butter and a table margarine containing a relatively high proportion of SAFAs. The MUFA diet included a spread and a margarine containing high proportions of oleic acid derived from high-oleic sunflower oil and negligible amounts of trans fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids and olive oil.

Yummy. After three months of these diets, there was no significant difference in insulin sensitivity between the saturated fat group and the monounsaturated fat group. Yes, you read that right. Even the study that's commonly cited as evidence that saturated fat causes insulin resistance found no significant difference between the diets. I'll be generous and acknowledge that the small difference was almost statistically significant (p = 0.053).

What the authors focused on is the fact that insulin sensitivity declined slightly but significantly on the saturated fat diet compared with the pre-diet baseline. That's why this study is cited as evidence that saturated fat impairs insulin sensitivity. But those of you with a science background may be able to spot the problem here. You need a control group for comparison, to take into account normal fluctuations caused by such things as the season, eating a new diet provided by the investigators, and having a doctor poking at you. That control group was the group eating monounsaturated fat. The comparison between diet groups was the comparison that matters most, and it wasn't quite significant.  I think the most you can say about this study is that it provides weak evidence that saturated fat decreases insulin sensitivity.

So we have five studies through 2008, which overall offer little support the idea that saturated fat reduces insulin sensitivity in non-diabetics. Since the review paper was published, I know of one subsequent study that asked the same question (3). Susan J. van Dijk and colleagues fed volunteers with abdominal overweight a diet rich in either saturated fat or monounsaturated fat. I e-mailed the senior author and she said the saturated fat diet was "mostly butter".  After 8 weeks, insulin sensitivity was virtually identical between the two groups. This study appeared well controlled and used the gold standard method for assessing insulin sensitivity, called the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique***.

The evidence from controlled trials is rather consistent that saturated fat has no major effect on insulin sensitivity in humans, at least on time scales of a few months.

UPDATE: other trials have added to this finding.  The large European LIPIGENE randomized controlled diet trial found that substantial differences in SFA intake had no effect on insulin sensitivity over 12 weeks in people with the metabolic syndrome (3b).


* For the nerds: euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (the gold standard), insulin suppression test, or intravenous glucose tolerance test with Minimal Model. They didn't include studies that reported HOMA as their only measure, because it's not very accurate.

*** They did find that markers of inflammation in fat tissue were higher after the saturated fat diet.

Adopt A Best Friend For Life

I can't imagine my life without a dog. Max is a part of my life and he brings me so much joy. When I adopted him last July, he had no idea that he was in for an adventure of traveling across the country with me. I think he had a good time. Well, most of the time he did. Once he realized that buffalo can roam right next to the car, he wasn't too thrilled with that and went crazy each time I stopped on the side of the road to take a picture. It didn't matter if there was an animal nearby, he didn't want anything to come near.

Yesterday we went to our local dog park to play...I mean, Max went to play. OK, I enjoy it too. A lot.

I have to admit that it's one thing I do that brings me joy. It's a place where all of the dogs get to run free together and play. I can even see them smile. All of the lucky ones who found a home. Unfortunately, there are thousands that need homes. I found Max with a rescue organization and I would suggest you adopt one from a rescue as well.

When Max and I were in Utah, we visited the Best Friends Animal Shelter to see all of the animals rescued for life. They are lucky to be able to live in this beautiful place forever, but they still need a home.

Adopting a pet is getting a friend for life. They bring more to your life than you could ever imagine. Who else will be so happy to see you each time you get home? Even if you leave for 5 minutes, it's like you've been gone forever. If you are interested in adopting, visit ASPCA.You can find animals wanting you in your area.

Here are a few of the happy dogs we came across yesterday at the dog park:

Getting My Feet Wet

I think we all tend to gravitate to things that make us feel good. I love walks on the beach, and I have been doing a lot of that lately. I've also been working to get ready for a little art opening to show some pictures I've taken of Long Beach. It's been quite the learning curve, which I enjoy.

I tend to try and be a perfectionist in what I do. Believe me, it is not always perfect but I try to do the best I can with making it so. I enjoy taking pictures and being outside. This week has been interesting working on the printing and framing aspect of a completed photograph. I love to see the finished product brought to life but there are details sometime you don't think about.

Searching for the perfect frame has been an experience. Then once you try to frame a picture, there is always that little dark dust particle that decides to fly into the frame right when you secure it, only to see it when you turn the frame around to look.

So, getting out and walking around is a huge help. Last night I put on my rain boots and headed out to the beach to watch the sun go down and see the dogs play. The storms left beach "pools" in the sand and since I had my boots on, I decided to walk in the pools..scrunching down and take pictures from there. I think a few people thought I was crazy, but the dogs thought it was a good idea and joined me in the pool.

There are bright blue skies today so I am going to go out and see what I find. You can see more of my puddle shots HERE.

Art:21, Walks And Lists

Each day I try and get out to take a walk on the beach. Usually, it's when the air is cooler, the sun is setting and I can feel the salty ocean breeze on my face. That is my favorite time. I like to walk where dogs are allowed too. I can't help but smile seeing how happy they are being on the sand,running around and splashing in the water...unlike their owners who are standing up on the bluff, waiting for them to come back.

I don't know if the owners mind that I take pictures of their dogs. I ask sometimes but usually they don't seem to mind.

The birds don't mind. I tend to take a lot pictures of them too, as you may have noticed. I wonder if they think, "oh great, here comes that crazy lady with the camera again."

For me, it's the best way I know how to relax. At least I try to relax. My mind sometimes wanders and I think about lists. You know, the constant "to do" lists that you try to remember to write down so you don't forget and then you check them off and more things come to mind that you have to write on the list that's stuck in your brain because you don't have a pencil? No? Ok, well...maybe it's just me.

One other thing I enjoy doing before I go to bed is watch at least one artist story on the PBS series Art:21. You can watch for free on your computer by clicking HERE

As they describe it, ""Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century” is the only series on television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the United States. Fascinating and intimate footage allows the viewer to observe the artists at work, watch their process as they transform inspiration into art, and hear their thoughts as they grapple with the physical and visual challenges of achieving their artistic vision."


Or it can be described..."You think you're crazy? Take a look at these artists! You'll feel completely sane after watching their process." Maybe it's that I feel at home with some of their stories. This one woman focused solely on water. She loved taking pictures of water.

That's it.

Someone who likes what I like! There must be others out there in the world that love to look at and take pictures of some obscure things as much as I do! It's a great place to go to if you are in a rut and want a new way of looking at things. Just like looking at art, these short stories take me through the process with them and I start to believe that whatever they are talking about is genius! Perhaps I watch it late at night in the hopes that the creativity will seep into my brain as I sleep. In any case, it's a great show. I would recommend a look.

Here are some things I saw on my walk of list making.

My First Art Show

You know how I've been talking about fear of the unknown, taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone? Well, I am certainly putting that to the test soon. I have the opportunity to showcase my photographs at The Wine Crush in Long Beach, California. I am going to put up a collection of images that I've taken of Long Beach for a show on Saturday, February 20th.

Easy enough, right?

Since I've been traveling, I love sharing my experiences with you here showing photos I've taken and telling you stories about where I've been. Of course, that is in the comfort of a campsite, hotel room or a cafe' somewhere. I like to wander and take pictures of what I find interesting. They might not be interesting to anyone else but me and that's ok. I like taking pictures of bird feet, patterns in the sand, art on water tanks, fences, the same house over and over, etc. It didn't matter if anyone liked it because I did and I was on the other side of the computer so I couldn't hear people say, "that's stupid."

Now I am putting myself out there with the images I've taken in Long Beach. It's a little vulnerable putting your art on the wall in a public place for all to see right in front of you.

Ok, maybe more than a little.

Each image I will show has a story of when I took it, what I was doing and what I was thinking at the time. I love this city and I hope it's reflected in the photographs I will show.

So, another foot in the pool of the unknown. I know it will get easier, but I have to say that I am nervous and excited at the same time. Of course this comes along after I tell you that I dread public speaking. I will be in a room full of people (hoping for the best), with many of of them in attendance to see the art specifically so it should be interesting to say the least.

Thank you for all of your support. I hope you can make the event if you are in the area. Click HERE to see the invite on Facebook.

If you are unable to RSVP on facebook, here are the details:
What: Images of Long Beach by Alison Turner "LBC through my POV"
When: Saturday, February 20th 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: The Wine Crush 3131 East Broadway Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803

The image of the sunset in this blog will be included in the show along with others from Long Beach. The other pictures on this blog are just to give you an idea of what I like to look at. You will have to come to see the rest for yourself.