What Would Women Say...

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt...Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me "What setting do I use on the washing machine ?  "It depends," I replied.  "What does it say on your shirt?"  He yelled back, "Ohio State".

And they say blondes are dumb!

A couple is lying in bed.  The husband says, "I'm going to make you the happiest woman in the wold."  The women replies, "I'll miss you..."

"It's just too hot to wear clothes today,"  Jack said as he stepped out of the shower. "Honey, what do you think the neighbors would say if I mowed the lawn like this?"  "Probably that I married you for your money," she replied.

What do you call a an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?  A rumor.

A Wife's Prayer

Dear Lord,

I pray for Wisdom to understand my man

Love to forgive him,

and Patience for his mood

Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll beat him to death.

Amen.

Why do little boys whine?

They are practicing to be men.

What do you call a handcuffed man?

Trustworthy.

What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?

You did not hold the pillow down long enough.

How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?

Rename the email folder "Instructional Manual".

(Thanks to Bob A. for this bit of humor.)

Is a Personal Trainer or Nutritionist for You?

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Certified personal trainers and/or nutritionists might help you lose that stubborn 30 pounds (or more). They may help to alleviate that back pain when all else has failed.  And sometimes you can make more strides without either one.

Lisa  Celeski, a teacher and personal trainer in the northwestern PA area cautions that we need to pick a trainer with care.  First , look for certifications in the area. The trainer needs to be knowledgable in exercise and also in nutrition. Second, pick someone who  matches your personal goals, not theirs. She emphasizes that your goals can be met best by following a gradual process, not a series of quick, hard exercises.  Know that the process will involve help but also discipline.  The client must eventually move away from the trainer and continue the regimen individually. Lisa reflected that in this area, the average cost for a personal trainer is $40 per hour, realizing that the cost of an in-home personal trainer help will also depend on travel time. Lisa has helped several women of all sizes in the northwestern PA area.

A review of YMCA locations across western PA, in Tampa, FL, and in San Antonio, TX showed just one Y offering the interesting Mobile Fit program (Sewickley, PA YMCA).  The client and the trainer work mainly by communicating through the laptop, ipad,  iphone or other web-based contact process. This could work well for those of us who are way too busy to travel to the Y three times a week while we attend to jobs and family.

Sometimes, having a bouncy, size 0  22-year-old trainer or nutritionist can be very depressing.  One of our contributors began with a nutritionist, became disillusioned and decided to tackle her weight problem by another means.

She remembers, " It began one day when I saw myself in a mirror, stuffing my face. It was not pretty, and during the next 10 months, I committed to reducing my food intake and increasing my exercise. I don't do any of that now. I still rarely drink sodas, very rarely eat ice cream, eat slower and quit when I feel full. I tried going to a nutritionist, but I would pig out before going to her.  She seemed so critical with her size 3 attitude.  More stress was created by knowing someone was judging my progress regularly.  This is also the reason a personal trainer would not work.  I did not want anyone seeing the fat.  At Curves, it was just women."

Dottie continues, "Drinking 8 oz of water before each meal, did not drink for 1/2 hour after my meal.  I did "Walk-a-Way the Pounds" tape and 3 times a week at Curves.  I ate healthier, making sure I ate from all food groups.  When I went a period of time with little protein, I did not lose at much weight.  So I had to make sure I ate at least the minimum portions.  When I cheated, I ate more veggies, cut out sodas and ice cream all together. (Note:  Dottie has lost more than 30+ lbs and has kept it off for two + years. She looks fabulous!)

But, then, there's good news about using a nutritionist.  Many insurances will pay the cost.  Joan D. has just begun with a nutritionist.  She's in her second month and says, "Regarding the nutritionist—I see her once a month.  So far the cost has been absorbed by a program that Highmark does at St. Vincent.  I am supposed to do my log which I must confess I didn’t do all last week.  I woke today and measured, wrote down, etc.  We review the log and the problems I am facing with this process.  The nutritionist gives me an honest overview of how she sees my past weeks and then gives me some tips on how to face the challenges that I might face during the days ahead."

Snap Fitness advertises that they participate in the Highmark Silver Sneakers program as do many other fitness centers and Ys-and many former teachers have one of the Highmark plans offering it.  The Snap Fitness free month offer includes a session with a personal trainer.

Finally, Dr. Jim R. also adds that there is an online certification process for those of us who might consider becoming personal trainers ourselves. Those of us already teaching yoga classes or those having background in physical fitness and exercise might help women start on the path of better health and fitness(  with the incentive of adding a little income to the personal coffers!)

(Our thanks to Dottie, Pat, Joan D.,  Lisa  and Jim for their insights into personal trainers and nutritionists.)

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Finally! Time to Read: Recommendations: Books and Websites

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

We have seven new recommendations for fall reading plus the bonus of website referrals as well.

The Shift: How I Lost Weight & Discovered a Happier Life, by Tory Johnson By ABC News, Sept 10, 2013 8:06am. “Good Morning America” contributor Tory Johnson says she’s been fat forever. She finally got her act together and lost more than 60 pounds in a year. She shares her candid journey of exactly how she did it in her new book, “The Shift: How I Finally Lost Weight & Discovered a Happier Life.”  Here’s an excerpt for you:

"Throughout my childhood our freezer was stuffed with ice cream, pizza, and assorted frozen, microwavable packages. We never used the bottom oven on our stove because it was stuffed with snacks like Funyuns, Oreos and Chips Ahoy! Other kids would make a beeline for it, just as I did many times a day. 

By second grade, I was already a good twenty pounds overweight, a direct result of unhealthy eating habits. We equated food with comfort. Good day? Celebrate with snack. Bad mood? Nothing that a microwave pepperoni pizza couldn’t cure.

Throughout childhood and into my teen years, when I wanted to make a “healthy” drink choice, I downed glass after glass of fruit juice, oblivious to calories or carbs. I had come to believe that anything with fruit was healthy: Tropicana orange juice, Ocean Spray cranberry, Welch’s grape juice, and all those small Capri Sun packages. Liquid sugar.

This was the late seventies, and health clubs were catching on. Home was Miami Beach, where
people show off their bodies. Yet in our house, we didn’t talk about any connection between regular Coke, calories, and obesity or link food choices to our expanding waistlines.

One day my dentist asked Mom if she was “gaining or expecting,” as if inquiring about the weather. My mother was not pregnant; my brother, David, was already three. She and I never acknowledged his comment. Instead, we headed to Carvel for ice cream. Today I think about that incident often
when I try on a blouse that makes me look not just fat, but pregnant. “Gaining or expecting?” All these years later, I’m still bothered by his cruel and thoughtless comment.

Whenever I’ve thought about changing my future, I’ve let my past weigh me down. If you’ve always been overweight, or been fat for many years, it’s quite a hurdle to envision living any other way. The difficulty of fixing it— fathoming even where to start—seems too high. At times, the weight of the past threatens to derail me.

I’ve hidden behind the same habits and excuses for years. I blamed my parents for making me fat and allowing me to become addicted to overeating. I blamed McDonald’s for serving fattening burgers and fries. I blamed my compulsive eating on the mean kids in school, sadistic gym teachers, and even the former boss who fired me without warning by saying, “Tory, it’s a big world out there and I suggest you go explore it.”

I’m sick of dodging the blame and pinning excuses for my actions on other people and situations. I can see now how I have let the comfort of complacency carry me from fragile teenager to forty-one-year-old adult, and how easy it would be to stay the course, just as I have my whole life. But I can’t. I won’t. As I make this simple shift in my thinking, what once seemed daunting becomes much more doable and manageable."

Click HERE to get Tory Johnson’s weight loss tips.

Copyright (c) 2013 Tory Johnson.  All Rights Reserved.  Used with Permission. From the hardcover book “The Shift”  published 9/2013 by Hyperion Books, a division of the Hachette Book Group, Inc.  Connect with Tory Johnson at www.shiftwithtory.com.

And also we have two recommended readings and a great website referral. JoanD, one of our contributors writes,"Since the first of the year, I HAVE BEEN ON A REAL TYRANT to self improve, lose weight, move more, etc. Here are some of my findings to add to some of the topics covered in “Some Beauty Tips." Some additional books on the subject that I have found very useful (and I have copies of and am willing to share) How Not to Look Old—fast and effortless ways to look 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter, 10 times better by Charla Krupp and Forever Cool—how to achieve ageless, youthful, and a modern personal style for men and women by Sherrie Mathieson. "

She adds,"Another good website that I have subscribed to, and it has been great for in-depth information on diet and nutrition as well as many other health topics is www.everydayhealth. The website has several newsletters that are free for the latest health facts, tips, advice and even some recipes! A third website  worth a look that you also can get just by registering is www.vibrantwomen.com .  It is the leading online community for women  over 45—which is advertised as a place where they can connect and support each other on issues unique to their stage of life including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, health, fitness, spirituality and growth, money and sex.  Not only do you get periodic updates, but you can also download free e-books such as What to eat at Midlife, What to Wear after 50, Style for Special Occasions, and Adult Children and Your Money.  THERE IS SOMETHING ON THAT WEBSITE FOR EVERYONE!"

(Our thanks to Pat D. for steering us to Tory Johnson's The Shift, and to Joan D. for her own review of books and websites we might enjoy.)

Want Places to Camp? Try These!

Many of us enjoy camping and hiking.  Are any of us up for a real challenge?  If you decide to go, take pictures for the rest of us.  We'll stay home and wait for them!

Camping.and other crazy things... Not for me!

These look like things you would like to do…  real adventures….If you suffer from acrophobia, these adventures are probably not for you!!!

Like...

• Cliff Camping 
• Portaledge Camping in Yosemite 
• Climbing Redwoods
• Jumping on the Trolltunga Rock in Norway
•  Sitting on the Trolltunga Rock in Norway
• British climber John Roberts in South Africa
• Ice Climbing a Frozen Waterfall

Just click on the link to see these daring people doing really crazy things in the name of camping and hiking

 http://lucy4wellness.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/looking-for-a-non-boring-vacation-this-summer/

(These pics appear on many websites such as the one above.Thanks to Bob A. for leading us to  these astounding camping and hiking shots.  The original website is unknown.   Any info forwarded will be published right  away.)

The 5 Rules for Men to Follow for a Happy Life

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Things haven't changed much for men who want to live a happy life.  Russell J. Larsen's headstone provides all instruction any man needs to know...and follow.  If a man wants to wear the happy smile of the cowboy on the left, the word 'follow' is extremely important.

 COWBOY TOMBSTONE:

Here are the Five Rules for Men to Follow for a Happy Life that Russell J. Larsen had inscribed on his headstone in Logan, Utah. He died not knowing that he would win the "Coolest Headstone" contest. 

FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW FOR A HAPPY LIFE:

1. It's important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from time to time, cleans up, and has a job.

2. It's important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It's important to have a woman who you can trust, and doesn't lie to you

4. It's important to have a woman who is good in bed, and likes to be with you...And finally,

5. It's very, very important that these four women do not know each other... 

or you could end up dead like me.

 
 (Posted on Mens' Health "Forums," 09/07/2012 by KingBiscuit)


(Our thanks to Bob A. for this very sad tale.)

Water: We Know We Should Drink It,But When?

Please read! This could save a life... Maybe yours...

HEART ATTACKS AND WATER

How many folks do you know who say they don't want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night?

Something else I didn't know ... I asked my doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my cardiac doctor - Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement.

I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. 

Correct time to drink water...
Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist! Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness.

2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a charlie horse. 

And also...
Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Most heart attacks occur during the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.

If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night. The reason: aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the aspirin would be strongest in your system.

FYI, aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest, for years, (When it gets old, it smells like vinegar.).

Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue.

They work much faster than the tablets.

Why keep aspirin by your bedside? It's about heart attacks.

There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.

The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.

Afterward: - Call 911. Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by. Say "heart attack!" Say that you have taken 2 aspirin.

Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN!

A cardiologist has stated that if each person after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life could be saved!

The writer concludes, "I have already shared this information. What about you? Do forward this message. It may save lives!"

OUR NOTE:  Check with your doctor to find out if the info above is right for you before you adopt any suggested medicinal change.

(As often happens with info found and forwarded from web sources, we do not know the identity of the person posting.  However, we thank Tom Z. for sending this to us.) 

Take a Few Minutes Out for A Must See Video: Gorgeous Photography and Beautiful Music

Do you love music, or is photography a major interest?  This video has both.  Titled "Remember to Breathe,"  by cautious.  It might take your breath away!


Is there a problem with viewing this?  Absolutely!  You'll want to pack your bags and leave for Alberta right away.  Gorgeous!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ThFCg0tBDck

( Our thanks to Bob A. again for his great contributions to the blog!)

Never Assume!

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Have you seen those ads for free samples on the web?  They pop up everywhere, and now they seem to appear frequently on Facebook.

Just a word of caution if you decide the product sounds interesting.  When you request a free 30-day sample, you pay only a shipping cost.  But once you make your request, make sure you take the time to read the 'terms and conditions'.  Sometimes they pop up quickly, and sometimes they don't until you submit your payment for shipping info, and sometimes they are tiny and at the bottom of the page.

Not checking the 'terms and conditions' can cause misunderstanding.  For example,  one product advertises a free 30-day supply with no obligation to continue ordering.  But don't assume that you have 30 days to see if you like it and to decide whether or not you want to continue with the product.

In this case, the 'terms and conditions' indicate that you have to notify the product's website within 14 (not 30 ) days to cancel your intent to order again.  One of our readers noticed a charge of $89 on her credit card two weeks after receiving the free sample in the mail! The next month's order had already been made automatically.

And a call to the website's help center on the 15th day was surprising.  The very nice representative informed her that the charge could not be deleted unless the following were to happen:

1) She could have  $49 of the total remitted immediately with the cancellation while on the phone
                                                     OR
2)She could have the entire amount deleted from her account if she first returned all unused product to the company's warehouse(another mailing charge).  The warehouse personnel would use that return to begin processing the deletion of credit card charge.  But that would take at least a month.

So, her advice to us?  Don't assume that a 30-day free trial gives you 30 days to cancel if you are dissatisfied.  Does that mean we should never try free samples?  No, sometimes that free sample can lead to satisfying future purchases.  But, no matter what, read the 'terms and conditions' before you hit 'submit'.  

You Want to Know What?

(Microsoft ClipsOnLine)

Toddlers, older kids, teens, adults, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, friends- Whew! Now that's an exhaustive list of people!  What questions appeal to all of us?

Take, for example, some info that you or your children and grandchildren might like to know:

•   What is an aurors?
•   Sponge Bob's house is not a pineapple. 
•   Medicine's future-There's an app for that.
•   If superheroes were real:  Invisibility, immortality, super speed, super strength. 

Or how about...

•   How two decisions led me to Olympic glory:  Steve Mesler 
•   Animation basics 
•   Superhero science 
•   The big questions 
•   Math in real life 
•   Questions no one (yet) knows the answers to 
•   How big is the ocean? 
•   The contributions of female explorers 
•   The Writer's Workshop
•   What color is Tuesday: Exploring Synesthesia 
•   The perils of plagiarism   

      And TONS more!  Just go to   ed.ted.com .   Browse the categories or

              type in a word. (Typing in 'games'  brought up the video on the Olympics.)

              It's a fantastic site for all of us to bookmark.

(Thanks to Penny for directing us to this resource.)

The Best Way to Decide on Marriage Material: Ask the Kids!

                                                      WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!

(Microsoft ClipsOnline 

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

                                                       
    

-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.  -Alan, age 10  -No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.  -Kristen, age 10 2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.   - Camille, age 10 3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.   -Derrick, age 8 4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? Both don't want any more kids.  -Lori, age 8 5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? -Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.  -Lynnette, age 8 (Isn't she a treasure!) -On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.  -Martin, age 10 6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? -When they're rich.  -Pam, age 7 -The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.  -Curt, age 7 -The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry  and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -Howard, age 8 7.  IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys.  Boys need someone to clean up after them. -Anita, age 9 (Bless you,Child ) 8.  HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -Kelvin, age 8                                       And the #1 Favorite is... 9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? Tell your wife that she looks pretty,Even if she looks like a dump truck.-Ricky, age 10 (Thanks to Bob A. for forwarding this gem!)

A Few Beauty and Fashion Tips

Beauty Tips

1.  Once you wash your face, the window of opportunity for retaining as much moisture as possible is 2 minutes.  So apply your moisturizer withing that 2-minute time limit.

2.  Making lips look better:  Those nasty lip lines arrive at some point in all of our lives-earlier if we smoke.  Lip balm made with beeswax seals in moisture.  And, if you're a lipstick woman, it forms a barrier to prevent the color from bleeding.

3.  Would you like fuller lips, but don't want the brown lip-liner look? Tim Quinn, a makeup artist, recommends " applying lipstick with a brush. A dab of gloss in the center of the lower lip grabs the light, making fat pad appear  fuller. Finish by tracing a bit of concealer just below the lip line and at the cupid's bow."  He indicates that "the lighter color creates a 3-D effect and gives the illusion of puffier lips that are more pronounced."

Fashion Tips

1.  Lots of us think that, if we wear bigger garments, we'll appear thinner.  But celebrity stylist, Robert Verdi, observes "Everything should be body skimming.  Wear lightweight vertical pieces(think long cardigans, scarves, and necklaces) to build a body-lengthening look without the bulk."

2.  When we tuck in blouses or tees, we emphasize belly fat/exaggerate a somewhat plump posterior. Better?  "Wear a blouse with fitted seams over slim pants to give you the illusion of shape in your middle. Or pull a tailored tunic on over slim jeans for a flattering, streamlined  look."

3.  Wear 3/4 length sleeves or roll up your sleeves.  "Exposing the thinnest part of your arm (from your elbow to your wrist) not only says young and stylish but also gives the illusion of a slender shape," says Kim Johnson Gross in What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life.  She also recommends that a woman  turn up her collar.  "An upturned collar elongates your frame and de-emphasizes a double chin." (collar width-no more than 3 " and with some weight).

4.  Kristen Rawson, Style Director of Ann Taylor, recommends that we "lose the pleats.  Flat-front pants slim your tummy and lengthen your legs, so you seem taller and better proportioned."

Some of these we knew; some we didn't.  All are taken from the "Fresh Face"(8-9) and "Well Dressed"(16) sections of  The Two-Day Diet Reports, Rodale Press, March, 2013).

apps You Might Find Useful for Exercise, Healthy Eating Choices, Stress Relief

apps For Exercise, Healthy Eating Choices, Stress Relief

1.  We're all trying to fit in some exercise each day-or wish we had at the end of the day.  Here's an app to help with that motivation.

For the runners, hikers, elliptical trainers, bikers and those who find the best exercise is just walking the dog, Kim McM shares her impressions of Runkeeper (a free app from FitnessKeeper, Inc. for the iphone):

"I do really love this app! I use it whether I'm doing training runs, gym workouts or even walking the dog! There is something about tracking the miles you put in! The other thing that I really like is being able to track my elapsed time and distance. Although my running buddy and I aren't training to "win" a marathon, we do keep track of our pace and try to better ourselves! I've recommended RunKeeper many times and will continue to do so!"

2.You can make healthier packaged food choices at the grocery store when you know whether and to what extent nutrients are included.  On the other hand, you can determine what suspect additives like high fructose corn syrup, unhealthy fats might be lurking among the ingredients.  The app allows you to scan the product; then it rates the packaged food from A to D according to its healthiest or unhealthiest content.  Fooducate (a free app available for smart phones from Fooducate,Ltd. ).

3.  Is it hard to pick restaurants offering healthy choices for your family or for restrictions that your doctor has suggested you follow?  Are you trying to avoid salt?  Maybe your specific focus is on gluten-free choices, or you're trying to stick to a certain type of diet. Eating out might be easier with HealthyOut, another free app for the iphone.  It uses your location to list any restaurants or even specific dishes you can find near you. 

3.  So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you describe your stress level?  If it's in the "It exhausts me!" or "All the time!" range, you might consider an easy strategy to ease up on that frazzled state. It seems silly, but it must not be since Buddist monks have used it to promote "mindfulness" for centuries. What part of the normal work day seems to mark your exhaustion high points? This app allows you to set your phone at certain times of the day, and it "dings" to remind you to step back, take some deep breaths and regroup.  The Mindfulness Bell is a free app to try (as listed in Prevention, May 2013, 139.)

(Thanks to Kim for the exercise suggestion. By the way, if you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, check out Kim's business,  Elegant Design, located in Fort Worth. )

Battling Those Pesky Wasps and Flies: A Really Cheap Fix

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Battling Those Pesky Wasps and Flies:  A Really Cheap Fix

 " We went with friends to a restaurant on Sunday for lunch
 and sat in the patio section beside the store. We happened
 to notice zip lock baggies pinned to a post and a wall. The

 bags were half filled with water, each contained 4 pennies,

 and they were zipped shut. Naturally we were curious!

 The owner told us that these baggies kept the flies away! So naturally we were even more curious! We actually watched some flies come in the window, stand around on the window sill, and then fly out again. And there were no flies in the eating area! This morning I checked this out on Google. Below are comments on this fly control idea.  I'm now a believer!

 #1 says: I tried the zip lock bag and pennies this weekend.. I have a horse trailer. The flies were bad while I was camping. I put the baggie with pennies above the door of the LQ. NOT ONE FLYcame in the trailer. The horse trailer part had many. Not sure why it works, but it but does!

 #2 says: Fill a zip lock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight passage way for insects. Ever since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some other insect nest and are threatened.

#3 says: I swear by the plastic bag of water trick. I have them on porch and basement. We saw these in Northeast Mo. at an Amish grocery store & have used them since. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection & won't come around.

 #4 says: Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that each of the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and, given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it's like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs,animals, birds, etc., they simply won't take the risk of being around that much perceived action.  I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn't hang around long"

(Thanks to Joan H. for forwarding this tip.)

Bungee Jumping? Seriously? A Little Humor for Your Day

                                              Subject: Don't Bungee Jump Naked
As posted by jk:  

"Do watch this, it is so funny! It gets even funnier toward the end so be patient! It is a great giggle--turn on your sound and click on the link below. Her comedic focus is for seniors. She is HILARIOUS and her humor is clean. She calls her husband 'Left Brain', so you will know who she is talking about. She was Miss North Carolina in 1963, and she is still beautiful! jk"

Click on link below

Don't Bungee Jump Naked!  http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=L1_W0LCHwK4 (Thanks to Joan H. for forwarding this YouTube clip.)

A Bit of Humor to Add to Your Day

The next time you feel irritated with a woman driver-especially a female senior, watch out.   

       Better yet, pray that you don't repeat her experience!

Don't Mess With Grandma! An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.  She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it!  Get out of the car!!!"  The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad. The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her bags into the driver's seat.  She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.  She tried and tried, and then it dawned on her why.  A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.  She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station.  The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.  He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it a memorable one!

(News report verified by Snopes.com)

(Our thanks to Pearl for sending us this gem)

What's in Your Backyard?

We've had a fantastic spring, blossom-wise in Pennsylvania.Weather-wise?  Maybe not so much!

Rosebud  and Dogwood

Dick's rhododendron

Chris H's yellow iris

Chris H's purple iris

 But we do take time to make sure we 
don't forget just how 
spectacular the trees
 and spring flowers have

Joan H's double white iris

 been.

Luckily, we have lots of amateur photographers willing to share the images they've captured.

So, what's blooming in your backyard?
 
We'd love to see your photos.

Peggy's white rhododendro

Budding Rhododendron

Send them to smartnsassywoman@gmail.com.

(Our thanks to Joan H, Chris H, Dick B, and Peggy who ran out between the raindrops to take these photos.)

Exquisitely Beautiful Photography

For everyone who enjoys photography, we have two links that shouldn't be missed.

The first shows outdoor nature shots in reflections, posted on Spiegelbilder,com-a site similar to iphoto.com.

ReflectionsSpiegelbilder.pps 7794K   View   Download

If you like "Reflections," you'll be astounded at the photographs and music entitled Rain_drops.pps
Tracking down the photographer has led us to the what we think is the earliest posting by RHK155 on youtube.com.  The mustic is "Secret Garden." Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=chu-lonDt4cwww.youtube.com/watch?v=chu-lonDt4c


Once you view this amazing photography, it'll be time to grab the camera or iphone to see what you can create.  For some pointers on creating great photos with digital cameras in the $100 range, read the short article on shutterhedge.com.

http://flowersmacropics.colormagicphotography.com/2010/06/macro-flowers-saturday-15-capturing.html?m=1http://flowersmacropics.colormagicphotography.com/2010/06/macro-flowers-saturday-15-capturing.html?m=1

(Many thanks to Bob A. for sending "Reflections" and to Mary F. who first forwarded Rain_drops.pps)

ClipsOnline

Finally! Time to Read: NonFiction and Fiction for Your Enjoyment

If you're like the rest of us, you're always on the hunt for something new and interesting to read.  Here are four suggestions to consider. As the most recent installment in our 'Finally!  It's Time to Read' series, here are 6 suggestions for those who love both the bookstore and the ebook selections.

NonFiction
1.)  Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever is a book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (2011).   Kip says it was well done and had good information. His next choice will be the Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot (2012) also by O'Reilly and Dugard.

2.)  Jon Meacham's Thomas Jefferson:  The Art of Power (2012). Meacham's meticulous biography chronicles Jefferson's life, and it also gives great insight into other major figures who joined the struggle for American independence.  A complicated man, Jefferson championed the cause of the new republic in the face of continuing opposition from those who wished to return the new republic to the English monarchy model.  He was a pivotal force, guiding the young nation, building it and seeing it through challenge after challenge. The struggle definitely did not end with the signing of the Declaration of Independence!  Insight into his personal life gives us some measure of understanding regarding the causes that he espoused, then dropped, the perceptions of the Virginia landowner, and the dynamics of his family.  And what a picture of our legislators of the time! Yikes!! This is a biography not to be missed.

3.)  Sheryl Strayed's personal saga of her hike over the Pacific Crest Trail, Wild (2012) won A Best Nonfiction Book of 2012: The Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly;  A Best Book of the Year: NPR, St. Louis Dispatch, Vogue.  Strayed's background of struggle, loss, addiction,and betrayal-her own and that of others she has loved- have led her to the lowest point in her life.  She decides to pull her life together by attempting to strike out with an overwhelming challenge for a novice hiker; the Pacific Crest Trail. Strayed's naive approach to the grueling trek and her inadequate preparation make her goal even more challenging.    Her adventures on the trail and the hikers she meets lead her to new insights about her limitations, her ability to cope with the unknown, and ultimately to a deeper understanding of herself. 

Fiction

1.)  Cheryl A. recommends The Mermaid Chair (2006)by Sue Monk Kidd.  Cheryl notes, "If you like coastal stories, The Mermaid Chair is good, thought provoking and provides a glimpse into finding yourself (with a twist). Remember, it is fiction. "  Now, it's Cheryl's last caution that really pushes us to run out and buy this book! Hmmm.......(If you enjoyed Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees (2002), you'll love this book, too.)

2.)  Lisa Gardner's Catch Me (2012). This is the sixth in the series featuring Boston detective, D. D. Warren.  She is really stumped when a young woman asks her to investigate her own death, sure to occur in a few days. Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant appears convinced that she will be killed in just 4 days, on the anniversary of two other murders.  Both of her best childhood friends were murdered, one last year and one the year before-and each one on the same date.   Positive that she won't escape her death,  'Charlie' has decided that she will be as prepared as humanly possible for the assault.  She races the clock with her strength training, target practice, boxing, and self-defense tactics, intending to fight to her last breath.  As Warren struggles with other homicide investigations, sometimes she suspects Charlie and at other times senses that Charlie is telling the truth. And the reader has no idea which is really right until the last chapter!   A great story.  Peggy bought the hard copy and is glad she did as she has now loaned it out to other fiction buffs.

3.)  Any Jack Reacher fans among us? Jason Bourne?  The Ted Bell heroes?  Here's a debut novel by Brad Taylor, Retired Lt. Col., Special Forces:  One Rough Man (2012). Taylor introduces the story with a George Orwell quote, " 'People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would do them harm.' "  Pike Logan is one such man, a member of  a clandestine organization commissioned by the President.  Those in 'The Taskforce' describe Logan as their "most successful operator."  He is torn between duty to his country and the overwhelming personal need to protect its people on one hand and his love for his own family on the other.  After a cataclysmic personal tragedy, Logan disappears.  He is dragged out of hiding by a young archeology student, Jennifer Cahill, who is trying to find her uncle.  Professor Cahill is a discredited archeologist hunting for a Mayan temple in Guatemala and has not checked in with his niece as he always has.  The quest to find her uncle pulls both Cahill and Logan into frightening intrigue across the world and corruption on the homefront.  Peggy highly recommends One Rough Man and looks forward to Brad Taylor's next book.

(Our thanks to Kip, Cheryl A. and Peggy for sharing some suggested readings.)