PastaQueen - Comments on 'Changes in my American life'

dietgirl commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:12:13 -0500

By dietgirl]]> OH how I love that you hate that phrase! Hehe.

Such a wise post. Don't know how many times someone's said to me, "You're a completely different person" since dropping some lard. Sure, there's some things that changed in order for that to happen, but some fundamental qualities will never waver. And that is a comforting thought somehow :)

Kate commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:15:57 -0500

By Kate]]> That's because the actual expression is "I couldn't care less". So you are definitely right to be annoyed when people say "I could care less". It doesn't make sense.

Comrade GoGo commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:19:48 -0500

By Comrade GoGo]]> In a way, this post seems to speak directly to me, PQ. I've wanted to be lots of "types" of people in my life. . . . Sometimes I've even made close approximations and seemed to fit in with others of that type, whether they were club kids or goody-two-shoes. I've modeled myself briefly on close friends I admired. I'm one of those people who's tried dozens of perfumes looking for the perfect fit. It's cool that you seem to be at a place where you know and accept who you really are. Sometimes I'm not sure if I have that knowledge of myself, despite all the years of exploration. And sometimes I'm afraid the real me is too horrible to contemplate, and so I just look away. . . .

Rah commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:49:10 -0500

By Rah]]> So wise, so wise. Who has not surrounded herself with the accoutrements of woman-I'd-like-to-be? You wisdom is in realizing it and getting rid of the sham props (the courage to change the things I can). Brilliant post. Thank you.

Natalie commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:07:24 -0500

By Natalie]]> I know people can change. I need to believe that because I don't want to live in a world that excludes progress. For me, it's a choice. I think we get what we really want and the question is, "How bad do we want it?" Plus, I'm secretly in love with Ira Glass!

Thanks for the continued posting Pasta Queen!!

coraspartan commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:30:09 -0500

By coraspartan]]> Just dropping in to say I received your book in the mail on Saturday and started reading it that night. I'm not too far in yet, but I started enjoying it on page 1! Great job PQ!

victoria commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:42:18 -0500

By victoria]]> I read your book over the weekend. Nice work! I hope you make a lot of money from the book sales and splurge on a live show by someone from TAL (I've heard that David Sedaris's live readings are more than worth the price of admission). ;-)

Red commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:20:36 -0500

By Red]]> WRT "I could care less". As a youngin' I rationalized that this was an abbreviated version of a joke, specifically:

"I could care less, but it's not worth the effort."

To this day I assume this is what people mean by "I could care less."

nolafwug commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:02:35 -0500

By nolafwug]]> I thought I would always be a skinflint as well, but I moved to New Orleans and it's a different world down here. DH would rather get a second job than spend a second looking at - nevermind clipping - coupons. It's rubbed off on me a bit and it's kind of nice to let go of some of my yankee frugality and treat myself to things I never would have dreamed of 10 years ago. And I haven't gone broke. I may even be a bit happier. So, never say never. :)
Can't wait to get your book from Amazon! Rock on, PQ!

Cindy commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:27:51 -0500

By Cindy]]> Hi PQ,
Two things:
First, I got your book in the mail today. This is good news and bad news, as my semester isn't quite over yet...I can't afford to start reading it for another two weeks. Its going to KILL me to wait, but I am "old" for a student and the brain doesn't fire at 47 in quite the same way as it does at 27, so I can't be distracted! I'll get to it, though, and then I will be SO pleased!

Second, great post! I have worried and wondered and worried some more over the whole idea of change. When I first lost the weight and people started treating me differently, I positively freaked and resisted ANY kind of change in myself, demanding that I was the same person. I have modified that some in the last year or so, as I've eased into maintenance, accepting that I have changed a little. The important parts of me haven't changed and I maintain that my "worthiness" hasn't changed,despite how some folks see me differently (this is one of the insidious aspects of the weight-loss journey ~ I've had to deal with my feelings around how others see and feel about me. It hasn't been easy...). So thanks for this post and I will think some more on the idea of change and what changes are worth making, perhaps after I read your book...which is after I write my final paper...Whew! That is a lot of important stuff to be doing!

Jen commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:39:17 -0500

By Jen]]> I love This American Life. Thanks for letting me know about the live show in movie theaters. I have such a crush on Ira Glass. Yes, I'm a nerd.

cara commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:09:56 -0500

By cara]]> I just got back from the mail box and got your book. Woo hoo! "Yellow noodles of fat...", huh? What a way to start a book.

Can't wait to devour it!

I haven't even ready your blog, yet, I just wanted to tell you the good news!

Tricia commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:18:05 -0500

By Tricia]]> Great post as usual PQ. I really enjoy listing to NPR. I feel it is much more informative then local news. My psychology teacher informed me that a recent study indicated that the local/natonal news comprehension base is geared for a six year old. I enjoy NPR, because i feel that they speak in intelligent sentences, and have very informative topics. It makes me feel good that such a savvy author such as yourself listens along with me =).

Amanda commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:46:30 -0500

By Amanda]]> First, I just answered the door and met the UPS guy and GRABBED my copy of your book out of his hands! Really looking forward to it.

I am 41 pounds into my weight loss "journey" (a phrase the bugs the crap out of me)...and have already received some of those types of comments. Great post.

PastaQueen commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:50:31 -0500

By PastaQueen]]> Don't worry, the book will still be there after your finals. Your school work is more important!

Andrew is getting fit commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:03:10 -0500

By Andrew is getting fit]]> I've changed quite dramatically in both my physical and emotional makeup as I've made my transformation but only for the better I think. And yes, some parts of me will never change as well. And that is good too.

Michelle commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:00:16 -0500

By Michelle]]> I too was excited to hear about "This American Life" was going to have the one night only live event... but I'm flying to another state that day, so I can't do that. :(

Did you know it's also a Showtime program? There's six episodes in season one... but beware "Pandora's Box" I've been vegetarian since I watched it two months ago. (OK, ovo-lacto (plus fish) vegetarian... but should I ever go back to eating meat, it will be organic meat!)

starbird commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:33:39 -0500

By starbird]]> Here's the cool thing I learned about finally changing something - in my case, I stopped drinking. Like learning your third language, each subsequent change is just a little easier to accomplish. So, next I tackled smoking - becoming a non-smoker. Then, I started a freelance writing career with multiple magazine clients after nearly 10 years of being a newspaper correspondent for a single publication at a time.

Finally, I began to deal with my weight. I had to lose "only" 20 pounds, but as many posters on this site have confirmed, sometimes that's harder than the big weight loss effort. The rewards are smaller and so less-reinforcing of your effort. Anyway, I've done that. I don't know what personal defect I want to work on next! Probably talking/posting too much. ;-))

PastaQueen commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:37:36 -0500

By PastaQueen]]> Actually, I think I found out about the radio series because of the press they got about the TV show. And yeah, that "Pandora's Box" ep was rather disturbing.

psychsarah commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:13:07 -0500

By psychsarah]]> I love this post. As a clinical psychologist, I simply have to believe that people can change. I think its part of the job description to believe that, or else it would be impossible to counsel people on how to change behaviours. That said, I know its not easy-if all change was easy, some people wouldn't need my help. Furthermore, while I firmly believe that people can change their behaviours, I think there are aspects of personality that generally don't change, and I don't think that's a bad thing. While you can learn the skills to change your behaviours to reach a goal (be it to lose weight, alter depressive thoughts, run a marathon, finish writing a book) you can still lean towards being introverted, frugal, or someone who thrives on routine. Sometimes those traits look different in a person who has changed their behaviours, but it doesn't mean they have completely changed who they are.

MizFit commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:19:30 -0500

By MizFit]]> laughed at this as I had the same thought (20?! gee, lemmie see what else I could buy with that money).

I do listen to npr in the car though...I think because I tend to sing when music is on and ZONE OUT when Karl Castle is yammering.

PastaQueen commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:04:13 -0500

By PastaQueen]]> Why do I feel like I was just psychoanalyzed? :)

Sexy at any Size commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:51:29 -0500

By Sexy at any Size]]> Very inspirational post, and inspirational blog really for all the people trying to get fit, trying to get healthy. By sharing your personal trials and tribulations you are giving a lot of courage to others.

sportmom commented on 'Changes in my American life'

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:39:08 -0500

By sportmom]]> That's why she wrote that - she knows it.