never-ending gallery

[Geoffrey]

sketch of university student

[Geoffrey]

'beautiful losers' book illustration.

apropros lunch bag: information from my kitchen wall.
to live a sensible life, walk 30-45 minutes every day (regardless of weather),
and eat properly - not until you feel bloated.

[its4inthemorning]

G, you might want to take note of an egregious error on your kitchen wall dietary tips: Pizza should obviously be on the "Eat More of This" side. Other than that, these are good eating tips.

It's been a long time since I read Leonard's novels. My favorite "Beautiful Losers" scene is the banquet where Catherine T spills her wine. When I try to recall "The Favourite Game," my mind always wanders to the ghastly cat-killing scene, wish L had not included that.

Happy 2026!

4

[Geoffrey]

its4inthemorning wrote:
>G, you might want to take note of an egregious error on your kitchen wall dietary tips: Pizza should obviously be on the "Eat More of This" side. Other than that, these are good eating tips.

there is nothing wrong with pizza if you make it yourself using healthy ingredients. i prefer chicken or tuna pizza, with a crust using kefir milk.

>It's been a long time since I read Leonard's novels. My favorite "Beautiful Losers" scene is the banquet where Catherine T spills her wine. When I try to recall "The Favourite Game," my mind always wanders to the ghastly cat-killing scene, wish L had not included that.

i agree, but leonard's work is so chock-a-block with remarkable stuff that it's almost impossible to choose something.

>Happy 2026!

and to you! always nice to hear from you!
--------------------------------------------------------------
"i've seen the future, brother - it is murder."

[LisaLCFan]

...information from my kitchen wall [eat/avoid lists]...

... these are good eating tips...

I have always been drawn to the Ancient Greek idea that "moderation" (or "sophrosyne," to transliterate the Greek word) is a virtue, and that it can be applied to all areas of life, including lifestyle habits. For the Greeks, virtues exist on a continuum between two extremes: one end is characterised by excess, the other is characterised by deficiency, and to be virtuous, one must aim for a mean between these two extremes.

Depending on the thing in question, and also depending on the specific circumstances at any given time, the location of the "mean" (and thus, the most virtuous point) on any given continuum can vary: sometimes the most virtuous point is closer to one extreme or the other, while at other times, it may hover near the centre. One must use practical wisdom (phronesis) to determine, in every different instance, where the mean lies on the continuum (which involves education, practice, personal experience, seeking advice and examples from those who are more virtuous, etc.).

Therefore, to apply this idea to the things that a person chooses to eat or drink, it may not always be necessary for one to completely abstain from consuming certain items (such as those on Geoffrey's "Avoid" list), for it may be fine (on occasion) for them to do so in moderation. The "mean" for the least healthy items on the list may well exist close to the deficient end of the continuum, but life is complicated, and sometimes it is not simply a question of how intrinsically healthy (or unhealthy) something is, but also, how it makes one feel, and what it contributes to their life and to their overall sense of well-being. Thus, the list of things to "avoid" that Geoffrey posted may more reasonably (and perhaps even virtuously!) be considered a list of things "to enjoy in moderation", if one is so inclined.

Also, if one applies this idea to their entire life, then one can aim to find a balance: for instance, if one gets a lot of exercise and eats/drinks very healthily most of the time, then perhaps enjoying the occasional "unhealthy" treat will be less of a problem for them than if they regularly consumed unhealthy things (and, of course, that is something for each person to decide for themselves). It's similar to carbon offsets for the environment.

The thing is, most people are not perfect, life is often not perfect, and psychologically, aiming for perfection is usually destined for failure and disappointment. One wonders how many people make "New Year's Resolutions" (or similar goals), in which they compile lists of things to do and things to avoid, but which may differ quite considerably from their previous/usual habits, ultimately proving to be too difficult for them to sustain after a few weeks (or a few days) of trying. It seems more reasonable to try to aim for "moderation" and smaller changes, which can be much easier to attain.

If one can attain and sustain a small change in their life over a period of time, it becomes a habit that is easy to do, and perhaps even one that a person enjoys and wants to continue doing. At that point, a person can reassess their habits and goals, and see if further changes are in order: maybe they haven't reached the level of virtuousness that they would like, still being either too extreme or too deficient (by their own personal determination, and not necessarily based on what anybody else says or does), and then they can once again adjust their behaviour, possibly leading to further improvements (if that is something that they wish to do). Incremental changes are usually easier to accomplish and easier to maintain, and over time, large changes may occur.

Undoubtedly, it requires discipline and patience to make changes in one's life, however small or large, and thus any effort that a person puts forth, and any accomplishments that they achieve as a result, are worthy of commendation (and I include self-commendation -- I don't care what other people think!) -- it is very difficult to change, especially for things/habits that are well-established and ingrained in a person's life. I think it may be the case for some people that if they fail to achieve a large goal in a short span of time -- i.e. if they fail to be "perfect" right away! -- then they may become discouraged and give up. However, if one can learn to rejoice in small victories, rather than being disheartened over small defeats (for example, if one makes healthier lifestyle choices more often than they did before, even if they sometimes have small lapses), then they may be motivated to continue, when they learn to recognise that small changes are better than no changes!

Of course, everyone must find their own paths, and find what works (or doesn't work) for them, and if anyone truly wants to change, for whatever reasons and however they choose to go about it, then I wish them all the best in their endeavours!

I also wish everybody a very Happy New Year! Cheers!

[Geoffrey]

thank you for this, lisa - a very interesting read!

yes, it's important not to get carried away with dietary suggestions. it's perfectly fine to relax every now and then and enjoy whatever we fancy. the information on my kitchen wall serves as a helpful guide, not to encourage fanaticism. it's helped me become more aware of what is healthy and unhealthy, and to change my lifestyle. in the past three months, my bathroom scales have shown a significant weight reduction, which is exactly what i was aiming for - so it works for me.

when we shop, it's so tempting to toss all sorts of items into the cart, especially since we're constantly bombarded with advertisements for products that contribute to obesity. luckily, i'm fortunate enough to have both a university and a supermarket within a 20-minute walk from home. the supermarket knows that students tend to be more conscious about nutrition, so they've set up a 'salad bar' area. i walk around and fill a container with fresh, delicious fruit and vegetables, then walk home and make a dressing with dijon mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, virgin olive oil, and black pepper. the result is heavenly, especially when paired with grilled salmon or chicken breasts. for dessert, i usually enjoy an avocado with crispbread and a cup of green tea.

local resident

[Geoffrey]

sketch

detail

[Francy]

Acryl on Canvas 125cm x 95cm

[Geoffrey]

hello francy. what a great surprise! i admire and envy expressionistic work, probably because i am hopeless at it myself. leonard would have loved it, i am sure. it would be good to see more like this!

[Geoffrey]

visitor to london

[LisaLCFan]

[acrylic painting]

That is a wonderful painting -- thank you for posting!

[Geoffrey]

'field commander cohen'

[Geoffrey]

some say he's the nicest person in hollywood.

[Geoffrey]

[Geoffrey]

" 'The sound of silence' is a song that will last forever." -Paul McCartney

https://youtu.be/NAEppFUWLfc?si=23VzjgRhE9XZ2a30