A Little Humor to Brighten Your Hectic Holiday

Life is short, that's true.  And in the busy holiday season, we might lose sight of the need to take a few moments to appreciate and to laugh. Consider these most insightful messages sent by Rose and downloaded from  the Fight Like a Girl Club:

                                                                  Happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts.. Let's enjoy life and don't live a complicated life.

Life is too short. Work as if it was your first day. Forgive as soon as possible. Love without boundaries.

Laugh without control and never stop smiling.

A Few Days Until Christmas. Need Some Ideas?

Last -Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

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If you're like many of us, last-minute gift ideas are a godsend.  Several of our contributors have given suggestions that we might want to try. in This article, we combine suggestions from a few years ago with current ideas to help with those last-minute gifts.

For Children:

• Recording a nursery rhyme or your own rendition of The Christmas Story for the child to listen to before bed is a good way for him or her to hear your voice when you can’t be there. Or check below under "For Everyone" to view the special " Best of 2014" children's books.
• Although money done up in an origami creation isn’t usually for children, the child you’re thinking of may have had origami in an art class at school. Then it would be fun as he tries to recreate your original design after unfolding it. (See For Teens).
• What about giving a child a gift that has long-term rewards?  Pick a gift child from the local bank or church's gift tree for underprivileged children.  Try to pick a child of the same gender and a year or two younger than your child or grandchild.  Give your child what you can afford and have him or her go with you to pick out toys or clothing for the gift child.  If you give him $20, tell him he can pick two gifts for a younger child.  Watch as he looks for items he loved receiving at that age.  In years to come, he'll do the same with his children because you taught him that the holidays are about giving.   If your little loved one can help to deliver the presents, so much the better.  Just make sure that the shopping trip does not include a gift for him or her.  Bribery for charity isn't really productive.
• Here's a  great idea. In Kristin Bock’s “To-Do Gift Is Great Idea for Kids” from FamilyFun Magazine, she suggests an “experience gift” for children. Instead of too many toys, parents can present a card with a list of 2 or 3 experiences that each child might like. A child into clay class at school might have as one suggestion a trip to Claytopia or to the local children’s art museum. For those of us lucky enough to have university art programs or a larger city nearby, the list might include a visit to the studios or the university ceramics students. The Museum of Natural History might be a choice for a child interested in dinosaurs or Egyptian mummies. A trip to the zoo as soon as it opens for the spring season could be on the list. A child into sports might have the choice of inviting a friend to the opening-day local high school, college, or pro game. The child who’s into movies might have a movie with three friends on his list. And the child who loves horses might see a trip to a farm or the local stables for a pony ride as an exciting possibility. The aim of an experience list is to tap into a child’s main interests, to provide reasonably-priced (in some cases, free) choices, and also  togive him or her an event to anticipate once the holiday season is over. Bock comments that giving these experience gift choices has developed her children’s view of “giving and receiving” and says that “Our family is really learning the value of doing rather than having-and that’s a true gift”(Erie Times-News, Section D, 19, December 13, 2012).  See below for other suggestions for the family as 'experience gifts'.

For Teens:

Can you believe that teens love tye-dyed t-shirts? We remember them from the ‘60s! Money and gift cards to their favorite stores and online boutiques are a good bet as well. And don't forget that ITunes cards are like gold.

• If you’re thinking about giving money, why not give it in a way that they’ll also enjoy as they open your card? This idea is great, and really isn’t as hard as you might first imagine: Origami the bill into something fun or meaningful. Think you have no ability to do this? We know someone dear who insists that it’s easy if you just follow the step-by –step instructions on this free website: http://www.origami-resource-center.com/money-origami.html.  Whatever the bill’s denomination, the origami heart, peacock, elf shoes, Christmas tree, butterfly, angel fish or even a bouquet of origami roses enclosed with your best wishes shows that you’ve spent time creating a special gift.  
• Do the older children ask you where you grew up, what led you to pick your spouse or other information? What about writing or recording a story of family for them?
•  Consider a charm bracelet for preteens or other female relatives to begin a tradition of memories.

For Parents and Family:

• Parents might like a gift of weekend phone minutes to keep in touch, or a camera to attach to their out-of-date computer for free Skyping.
• A few years ago, one of our contributors gave her parents a hot air balloon ride! They got to chose to go at either sunrise or sunset (they chose sunrise) and they provide a glass of champagne! Sweet!
• Are you trying to decide on a gift for those “fixed income” folks? They might appreciate the payment of their utility bill or car wash coupons for older relatives who would wash the car in the cold weather rather than spend money on the car wash in town. A real treat could be spa treatments for old bones, but make sure you don’t include ‘for old bones’ on the card! For the older set not into computers, consider a sheet of stamps so that they can send cards and letters without stepping farther than their mailboxes.
• (Submitted by an unnamed contributor) "I love the idea of giving experiences. Every year I take my mom to see a show for Christmas and her birthday. I love membership gifts too. An annual membership to our local aquarium is $90 per couple and $110 per family and that allows unlimited visits for a year with no blackout dates. Incredible value since a family of four could pay $80 for a single day admission. Museum memberships can be as low as $40 per year."
• If you can swing it, consider a special trip for the entire family. The arrangements can be done quickly…a winter ski trip, a warm-weather destination vacation, or a shore house, or an offer to host a family picnic to be held on a special day later in the year.
• What would your adult children appreciate? How about a coupon for a night of baby-sitting while the couple goes out or away for the weekend. What about Mommy time with an appointmentat her favorite hair salon? 
• And for your family living far away, an iPad with Facetime  can help the family keep in touch.
• Don’t forget this important idea: Start sharing your own treasures…tools, linens, decorations, jewelry, books, china, a special poem that you frame, archives, and include a note to give background such as "Your great grandmother spent all summer 40 years ago on this embroidered Christmas tablecloth."
•  A Christmas sweater could be an option, especially if you have a family gathering during the holidays. Of course, there's always the "Ugliest Christmas Sweater" contest with everyone in the family vying for the prize.   

                                                                                                                                 
For Relatives and Friends: What about an artistic gift? Do you love browsing through the offerings at art festivals or museums? Beautiful artwork, unique art glass and jewelry with a variety of prices are usually available.

• Are you into photography? Many larger stores and drugstores have photo centers, and your loved ones may appreciate a canvas picture made from a photograph that you’ve taken. CVS, for example, will create one (8x10)from your online order for under $20-and the turn-around time is amazingly quick. If you want a choice of bigger sized canvas prints at a reasonable price, try Costco. A 30x30 canvas print of a favorite scene (think the lake after a winter snow or that photo you took on your recent vacation) at Costco may run less than $100.

For Women:

• Looking for something different to give to a favorite female friend?  How about gifts for women invented by women.  Just access the web address here for unique last-minute presents. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marlo-thomas/holiday-gifts-invented-by_2286463.html

And for Everyone:  What about books?  Consider the "Best Books of 2014" including illustrated children's books and picture books; history books; art; design; psychology and many other categories.They can be found by accessing the web address below.  Then grab your keys and head to your favorite bookstore for that last-minute surprise gift. Want to know which books elementary students say are their favorites?  Find out at   www.brainpickings.org/?s=Kids 

• photo books, calendar, albums for special memories…either to trace the lineage of the family or to acknowledge a special event (wedding, anniversary, birthday, or trip).
• Your homemade items can be the best gifts loved ones receive: A stepstool, blanket, jams, quill, scarves, gloves, cookbook, bookcase, and hand-crafted notecards to carry on traditions.
• Consider  preparing small meals to freeze and then present to an older friend who may not do so well at cooking for him/herself.
• Are you already serving at the local foodbank to bring extras to those in need?  Combining foodbank donations with books to give to the children of those families encourages reading and also provides an extra present under the tree.

AND FOR ALL…TIME TOGETHER. Be well, safe and happy this holiday season and always.
Thanks to Cheryl A., Sherry,  Rachel, Jo, Karen; to Elaine, Ruth, Joan .D and Joan H. and Lonee,  and, yes,  to Kristin Bock and our unnamed contributor as well for the great last-minute  that we can use in the last days before the holidays arrive.

What Must This Place Have Been?

(Drawing by Author)

How many times have we passed a boarded-up dwelling and thought, "How sad that a place has no one to care for it."  One of our contributors put those musings into poetry.

       Deserted House

I stopped to visit the other day
An old, deserted house along the way.

It once stood proudly, sturdy and clean.
The roof sags now, the walls do lean.
 
Windows through which those inside did peer
Are shuttered or broken, unsightly, unclear.

The siding is loose, boards broken, worn thin,
Once kept out the weather, now everything gets in.

The porch onto which visitors trekked
With holes in its stairs, time has since wrecked

What was surely a home once painted brightly,
But now faded, derelict, unsightly.

Grass and flowers back then did grow there.
Weeds have replaced them, needing no care.

Where are the people who spent part of their lives there?
Did they hasten to leave, did they die, or not care?

Someone once built it with nails, love, and wood.
Couldn't someone remain there? Was there no one who could?

The shelter, this refuge with people did share,
Now abandoned, forsaken, beyond all repair.

This house deserved better. Is there someone to care?   By Ronald Paul Sturga

(Our thanks to Ron for sharing his writing and artwork with us.)

Children Do The Most Amazing Things! A French Holiday Gift

The holiday season can be very stressful.  Bob A. has sent us an early holiday gift to watch and enjoy.  Brew a cup of tea or sit with a glass of wine and tune in to this short, but beautiful holiday gift. And marvel at the talented children who created it.

(Microsoft ClipsOnline)

Subject: A French Holiday Gift

Here is an early feel good holiday gift for you!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=eee4-d7FUis



 

Considering A River Cruise? Advice From Friends Is Priceless.

(Rhone River Cruise Photo by Bill Cook)

If you've never experienced a river cruise in Europe or in the USA, advice from friends who have can be your best guide.

For their second river cruise, Ruthanne and Ted cruised the Danube this summer with Grand Circle Tours(www.gct.com); in 12 days, they visited the capitals of 4 Central European countries and highly recommend the experience.

"River cruising provides a view of the countryside not possible on ocean-going vessels
and not similar to road trips. Civilization’s dependency on waterways for communication and growth is evident in the way villages, towns and cities emerge in various fashion along rivers. Travel from this vantage point makes river cruising fascinating."

Ruthanne points out that many travel companies offer these cruises.  She continues,  "The ships range in size to accommodate the type of travel and geographic region as well as the traveler’s personal preferences for amenities.  One big advantage of cruising is that your cabin is your home for the duration of the trip. No hotel hopping/packing and unpacking necessary! It has been our experience that the ship’s crew and staff become as familiar as your fellow travelers. Every effort is made to make you feel like the ship is your home away from home. Fellow travelers are friendly, ready to see and explore new places. There are daily opportunities at mealtimes, during shipboard activities, and on bus excursions to mingle and interact with folks. "

"Throughout this 12-day tour we had city tours, side trips, and personal experiences with the locals. As first-time travelers to areas which were once dominated by the Soviets and as we heard stories and saw places where political unrest prevailed, we marveled at the resilience of the human spirit.  At all times we were constantly in awe of the culture and history and differences among the four capitals and the towns and villages in between them."

"Our trip began with three days in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Since it escaped WW2 bombing. Prague is a glorious example of a modern city built around the original medieval city. From that location we traveled by bus to Linz, Austria where we boarded our ship to begin the Danube river cruise. A highlight of the river journey was the day we cruised along the Wachau Valley viewing sculpted hills and medieval towns built along the river. Vienna, Austria’s capital, offered many grand architectural examples from the Hapsburg rule as well as a setting for a visit that could have easily focused exclusively on the musical heritage of the city. Slovakia’s capital city of Bratislava provided a very personal experience for us. In addition to seeing the ancient city’s Old Town, we travelers visited an elementary school and were guests for afternoon coffee and cake at a resident’s home. In Hungary, we marveled at the beauty of its capital city, Budapest. Magnificent historical buildings flank both sides of the Danube. We ended our tour with a magical night cruise along Budapest’s portion of the Danube."

Their recommendation to the rest of us?  The unique experience of traveling via riverboat to any destination is one that we feel any traveler would enjoy.

This summer, Jan and Bill chose a Viking cruise on the Rhone River. Jan explains,

(Place St. Nicolas, Auxerre-Photo by Bill Cook)

" We took their cruise on August 23-31 on the Rhone River from Marseilles, France to Chalon sur Soane just beyond Lyon with port calls at all the old  villages, cities and towns along the river. Wonderful guides. Three gourmet meals a day with free  beer and wine. The service was superb. Accommodations new and well thought out for a boat journey. We had a small veranda. The river was calm, serene and beautiful. There were locks and dams to pass through but no disturbance at all. We had excellent weather the whole seven days. We added a three day extension and visited Paris. The cruise arranged all that, hotel, transportation and a tour. We arranged a trip to Giverny to see Monet's home and gardens ourselves. In Paris, we ate at bistros and enjoyed that fare."

Jan gives us excellent advice on booking. "For us, the downside was getting there and back. The airlines were on time but we lacked good connections which resulted in being awake for nearly a day, counting the six hour loss due to time zone. Being seniors, this didn't sit too well. We felt perhaps we could've done better by booking ourselves. We went with the cruise because of being sure to make the boat connection in port etc."

Is this cruise one that the rest of us should consider?  Yes.  Jan comments, "We would highly recommend the cruise otherwise."

Are you interested in river cruising but want to stay stateside?  Carol and Ray have had great experiences on three  US trips with American Cruise Lines. The company boasts that they do "small ship cruising done perfectly," and our friends agree.  The Maine Coast and Harbors Tour was their most recent, just this summer. They enjoyed cruising the Maine coastline with stops in Portland, Bar Harbor, Castine and Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, and Bath.  In addition to great accommodations, wonderful food, and entertainment, the tour provides opportunities to tour  Arcadia National Park, the Maine Maritime Museum, Boothbay's Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and Rockland's "thriving lobster fishing town." The tour included an expert guide on board and also featured experts at each port. Not to be missed is the Lobster Fest on the beach.

Carol and Ray also recommend the Historic South and Golden Isles cruise and the Mississippi tour St. Louis to New Orleans, round trip.

(Arles-Photo by Bill Cook



(View of Old Village and Castle from
 Ship-Photo by Bill Cook)

Our thanks to Ruthanne and Ted,
 to Jan and Bill, to Carol and Ray for their advice, and to
Bill for his great pictures of the Rhone River trip.

 

Six Strategies for Raising Caring Children (and Grandchildren)

Reading the 6 strategies for raising caring children accomplishes more than one goal.  First, you'll find that you already do most of them. That's nice to know!  Second, one or two could be those we feel we need to emphasize.  And third, we can all help our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and those young friends we meet to evolve into the caring adults we hope they will become.

Six Strategies for Raising Caring Children Submitted by JNJParents on Mon, 09/29/2014 - 10:00 
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Raising caring children takes focus and effort on the part of parents. But we’re here to help – with some great tips you can start using today.

If someone were to ask your child what you think is the most important thing for them to be—morally sound or a high achiever—what would your child say in response?

Harvard psychologist Richard Weissbourd, co-founder of the Making Caring Common project, has posed this very question to thousands of children, parents, teachers and coaches through his research.

What he discovered: A pretty significant gap exists between what parents say their top priorities are for children, and what their children perceive these priorities to be.

So what can parents do about it? And perhaps even more notable, why is it important that parents and caretakers make caring a priority? Below, Dr. Weissbourd shares six tips that he views as key “guideposts” to raising caring, respectful, and ethical children.


1.  Lead by example: Children learn ethical values and behaviors by watching our actions and the actions of other adults they respect, so it’s critical for parents to be strong role models and mentors. Doing community service with your child, and/or talking with your child when you make a mistake that affects them are just a couple ways to serve as a strong role model to your kids.

2.  Prioritize caring for others, set high ethical expectations: It’s crucial that children hear from you that caring about others is just as important as their happiness. Parents and caretakers can work toward this by holding children to high ethical expectations, such as honoring their commitments, doing the right thing even when it is difficult, standing up for important principles of fairness and justice, and insisting that they’re respectful, even if it makes them unhappy.

3.  Practice, practice, practice: Becoming a truly “good” person takes practice. Set the expectation that your child routinely helps, for example, with household chores, and only praise uncommon acts of kindness. When these kinds of routine actions are simply expected and not rewarded, they’re more likely to become ingrained.

4.  Work to expand your child’s “circle of concern:” This is one of the most important principles in raising caring children. It’s no surprise that almost all children empathize with and care about their immediate circle of families and friends. Parents and caretakers need to coach children to have empathy and care about someone outside that circle—such as a new child in class, someone who is unpopular, doesn’t speak their language, the school custodian, or someone who lives in a distant country.

5.  Harness your child’s natural inclination to be a force for good: Children are inherently interested in ethical questions and they often want to take leadership to improve their communities—they want to be forces of good. Parents and caretakers have the innate ability and opportunity to help children become ethical thinkers and leaders by, for example, listening to and helping them think through their ethical dilemmas, such as “Should I invite a new neighbor to my birthday party when my best friend doesn’t like her?”

6.  Teach your child how to manage their feelings: Often the ability to care for others is overwhelmed by anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings. It’s important for parents and caretakers to be in tune with why their child is not being kind, and identify the root of the problem. Practice with your child how to resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.

Why is it so important to prioritize caring?

According to Weissbourd, “We’ve seen a shift in our child raising culture in recent years that puts a huge emphasis on how a child is feeling, rather than providing the child with the right guidance to be ethical. I’m not dismissing feelings, or achievement as being unimportant. However, when children do not prioritize caring and fairness in relation to their self-concerns…there is a lower bar for many forms of harmful behavior, including cruelty, disrespect, dishonesty, and cheating. As parents and caretakers, we have a unique opportunity to work closely with our children to ensure that they are prioritizing and embodying the qualities we most value.”

For more information about Dr. Weissbourd’s research, check out the Making Caring Common website.

We Know Technology Has Gone Too Far When This Happens!

Most of us have chargers for phones, for ipads, for laptops, and ereaders all over the place.  We are tuned in to technology on many fronts.  However, we might want to back away if technology goes this far.

Enjoy the video and be happy that it's all in fun.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/internet-baby-mts-video-watch-3209310

Our thanks to Chris H for sending this very cute-and potentially  a tiny bit scary- video.

Symptoms That We Women Need to Know

(Bing Images)

I thought I had read everything there is to read on the symptoms of heart attack and what to do.  True, I did know that the symptoms for women differ from those experienced by men.

What I didn't know is that we women may be totally fooled by the symptoms we have, so much so that the words 'heart attack' don't occur to us.

 

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS:  A Nurse Describes Her Experience.

She relates, " I had a heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up."

 "A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m."

"After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR)."

"This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!"

"I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment."

 "I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in."

"I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery."

"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents".

"Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first-hand. 

1 . Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be! 

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics .' And if you can, take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road.

Do NOT have your panicked husband drive. He will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.

Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.  

 3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the causesystem to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw (or back) can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive."

Thanks to Joan H for sending this.  We might add that keeping the cell phone nearby when home alone could be a life saver.

 

Would Your Doctor Say This? If So, It's Time to Take Your Health Issues Elswhere.

(Bing Images)

It's true that we all watch what we eat...mostly, exercise... somewhat, and follow a healthy lifestyle( Say 'Om').

In fact, the Cleveland Clinic Health Hub gives the 9 ways to best guard our health: 1.  Eat like a champion 2.) Get your cholesterol checked. 3.)  Watch your blood pressure. 4.) Pursue and ideal body mass. 5.)  Keep safe blood sugar levels 6.) Get moving. 7.) Quit smoking. 8.) Sleep well. 9.) Keep pace with health screenings.

But if all of the above is becoming tiresome to think about , you could give in to the very, very wacky advice from a very, very suspect doctor:

NEW PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Love this Doctor! 

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true? A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two body, your ratio two to one.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain...good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?

Q : Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? A: Oh no! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me? A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure? A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle? A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!

Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"

AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans...

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: 

 

Eat and drink what you like. 

Note:  Wow! And you  paid for this advice? Wait a minute.  I think it's time for this patient and our readers to schedule a second opinion!  

 

Our thanks to Joan D for the sane advice and to Tom Z for the zanier approach to living well.

Traveling through theSoutheast or Southwest? Keep An Eye Out...

(Bing Images:  mawdizzle.com)

Hitting all of the news agencies is information on a pesky critter that can be a problem:  the venomous Puss Moth (ASP) Caterpillar.

Usually, they chomp away on leaves high in the trees, but some have been spotted crawling in many outdoor spaces. Warnings have been issued in Florida and Texas, but they have been spotted in several other states. 

What do they look like?  They have long silky hair that resembles fur in shades of yellow to reddish brown, making them a curiosity for children interested in creepy, crawly things. Some of us have children in our life circles who love to investigate and who want to show us any creature they can get their hands on.  This is one  creature we want them to avoid.

And, because they do fall from the trees, anyone doing outdoor work should be on the lookout.

The Puss Moth Caterpillar has  spiny hairs that embed themselves in the skin of someone unlucky enough to touch one. These venomous spines cause reactions that  range from pain and rashes to nausea, belly pain, and headache, to more severe shock and respiratory problems (merckmanuals.com).

To see what they look like, click on the link below:  http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/26437401/florida-scientists-dont-touch-this-bug

Dr. Nancy Hinkle, Entomologist, University of Georgia, recommends removing the spines from the skin with scotch tape.   Washing the skin with soap and water and applying ice packs help.  More severe reactions warrant a trip to the doctor.

Don't Underestimate Women Who Read

(Bing Images:  http://vintageboatparts.info)

We know tons of avid readers among us.  This little story illustrates that we're quick thinkers as well.

Subject: In Praise of Women Who Read

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.  Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.  She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat.  He pulls up alongside and says, " Good morning, Ma'am, what are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, thinking, Isn't that obvious?

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment.  For all I know you could start at any moment.  I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"For reading a book," she replies.

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.  I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman."

"But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment.  For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left. 

MORAL:  Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

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

Any Young Girls in Your Life? Read This.

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We are grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, and friends of many young girls.  Below is a list of 10 things a girl should know or be able to do by age 10.  These suggestions resonated with those of us who previewed them.  Some of us may agree or disagree with Usky's list, but they give all of us something to think about. Take a minute to look at them. They were posted by Laura Usky in the Huffington Post's HuffPostBlog.

   

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-usky-/10-things-your-daughter-should-know-by-the-time-she-is-10_b_5644806.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents&utm_source=babycenter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange

Usky's own blog is listed below:

Laura Usky Become a fan Mom and daughter divas who enjoy fashion, makeup, fun hot spots and travel.

 

Finally! Time to Read-New Recommendations

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Four recommendations this time span non-fiction and fiction choices. 

Pearl sends us both fiction and non-fiction possibilities.  She writes, "Here are some titles of books I have greatly enjoyed.

1. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri.  It is a book of 8 stories. Lahiri is the author of The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies, also wonderful books.  I have found her a terrific writer."

2.  She continues, "A book I would not have expected to like was The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It is about the rowers from the U. of Washington and the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  It combines a history of the times, higher education, and divisions of social class into an intriguing book."

3.  And, thirdly, she notes, " I have been enjoying Daniel Silva's books about Gabriel Allon an art restorer and Israeli spy.  The most recent one I've read is The Messenger, but I've enjoyed them all.  I would define them as spy thrillers but found them in the fiction section of the book store.

Another non-fiction study comes as a recommendation of one of our adult children.  And it would be embarrassing not to read a book on education that he has recommended to his 1000+ LinkedIn contacts, right?  It is The Smartest Kids in the World and How They got That Way by Amanda Ripley.


Ripley's editor at Time asked her to do a story on Michelle Rhee, leader of Washington DC's public schools. The author sat in on classes in which students were excited and engaged, and she worried through classrooms full of disengaged students. Beginning with that assignment, Ripley went on to investigate the vast amount of information on achievement in the US and around the world. 

 

She investigated the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), its test content , its emphasis on creativity, and the results of  approximately 333,000 teens in 43 countries who took the test in 2000.  She followed three foreign exchange students, who were from Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania as they experienced student life in the three top-scoring countries.  Her resulting observations are cogent and helpful. 

 

An unanticipated gem in this book is  Appendix 1: " How to Spot a World-Class Education"- a powerful guide for any of us analyzing our own schools or the possibilities for the children in our lives.

 

(Thanks to Pearl and to Eric for these recommendations.) 

To Share With the Children (or Adults) in Your Life

Summer is a favorite time to pack bags and travel-or to enjoy more time exploring the treasures close to home.  Whether you decide on the East Coast, the West Coast, or somewhere in the middle, it's a great opportunity to spend a little time with the important people in your lives.  What can we share with the children in our lives wherever we are? See Jason English's take on answering the questions of childhood (As posted on mental_floss.com filed under: The Afternoon Map

 

Credit: Eric Odenheimer

 

Jason writes...
As we sat on the beach last weekend, my daughter asked what was on the other side of the ocean. "Europe!" I said, buying some time to Google specifics. She went back to building her Olaf sand sculpture and I found this map. (The better answer is Portugal.) In case you're ever on a beach and curious what would happen if you had superpowers and could swim perfectly straight, now you know. The Afternoon Map is a semi-regular feature in which we post maps and infographics. In the afternoon. Semi-regularly. Thanks to Eric Odenheimer for this one, which was recently featured by The Washington Post's Know More.

(July 8, 2014 - 2:00pm)

So now, you are prepared to answer those unexpected questions streaming out of the curious minds of  the children-and adults-in our lives.  Where did you go this summer. Looking to the east or west, what countries would you see?  (Our thanks to Jonathan Danylko who posted this on his Facebook page.) 

Have We Seen Everything Close to Us?

(Microsoft ClipArt)

Having lived many years in Pennsylvania, I'm truly embarrassed to say that I've never traveled to many of the beautiful places around me. Summer is a perfect time to right those wrongs.  These places are less than or a day's drive from those of us in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Delaware, and Virginia. How many of these 13 sites have you seen? Surely, you can say you've seen more than I have!

Click on

http://www.pennlive.com/projects/2014/pennsylvanias-best-views/  to see what I mean. (Thanks to Joan H. for sending this.)

While you're at it, consider what's blooming all around us this July.  Thanks to Chris H,  we'll be on the lookout for these beauties while traveling through Southwestern PA.

                                                    

                                    

Why Meditate? Does It Really Have Benefits Beyond Relaxation?

Some of us have dabbled in meditation strategies or taken a yoga class or two.  Others have succeeded in making meditation integral to their daily lives.  The questions are these:  Why do it?  What benefits can we hope to achieve? Does it have to be yoga? (No, but  right now, a yoga class is taking place in the Crawford Barn, Edinboro, PA with some of our contributors participating.)  

Benefits, Brainwise  Whatever meditation you practice from yoga to mindfulness, to transcendental meditation, to prayer, doing so wakes those systems that seem to access empathy for others.  "Being still can make you more compassionate"(Prevention, July, 2014, 23).

Benefits, Heartwise  Transcendental meditation (2X a day) may lower your blood pressure-a key factor in heart health.  And those of us working out on stationary bikes with digital readouts can experiment with  effects of deep breathing on heart rate  Note your heart rate while pedaling; then concentrate on 4 or 5 deep belly breaths.  Does your heart rate slow a few points?  Mine does. So add cardiovascular benefits to the list.

Benefits, Skinwise  Because meditation appears to lower stress levels, skin disorders can be lessened.

Benefits, Bellywise  One of the culprits in adding belly fat (Gr-gr-gr!) is the hormone, cortisol.  We've all experienced stressors, and they kick up cortisol production. By lowering stress, meditation also lowers the levels of cortisol in our systems.

Benefits, Bonewise   Are you taking anti-inflammatory drugs for joint pain?  Two types of genes linked to inflammation are shown to be reduced by long-term meditation.

Benefits, Copingwise   Carnegie Mellon's Health and human Performance Laboratory recommends mindful meditation to help those of us who have had or are coping with cancer.  MM "can help cancer survivors and those going through treatment stave off symptoms of depression, loneliness, wipe out repetitive thoughts, and can even decrease the body's inflammatory response which is linked to serious illness and is helpful before, during, and after treatment as a coping mechanism"(Deardoff). (Access "Mediation: More than Just Relaxation," in Prevention.com/July/2014/You-Can-Thrive. The article appears in the Monthly Archives: July, 2014.)

So, in addition to all the energy we expend walking, pedaling, spinning, we might consider that meditation needs to be part of our everyday experience. At prevention.com/start-meditating, has "three easy meditations to try."

(Prevention, July, 2014, 23)

Coming to the Big Screen Soon: The Hundred-Foot Journey

If you've seen the ads for the upcoming The Hundred-Foot Journey, starring Helen Mirren, Minish Dayal, and Om Puri, you may be interested in reading the book as well.

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais was published in 2008 and is the story of Hassan Kadam and his family. Hassan tells of his first 14 years in Bombay (present-day Mumbai).  From early childhood, Hassan has been fascinated with Indian cuisine. He has studied with his mother and grandmother as they prepare food for pushcarts and for allied soldiers.  Hassan's mother has  always encouraged him to try new foods. She takes him to restaurants offering foods very foreign to him, and he savors the unusual tastes.  His mother always questions the allied troops to discover what foods they miss most and then endeavors to adapt the new information to her dishes. Her teaching creates the basis for his burgeoning career.

When tragedy befalls the family, Papa sells their land in Bombay, packs up, and moves everyone to England.  Not satisfied with life there, they leave for a trip across the continent.  They find Lumiere, a village in Southern France-the site of an internationally known restaurant, Le Saule Pleureur, and Madame Mallory, its 2-star chef.  100 feet across the road, they create Maison Mumbai-much to Madame Mallory's disgust.  She attempts to shut them down, to harass and threaten shop owners into selling their wares only to her, to have their garden restaurant closed, and to poison the minds of the villagers against them. 

Hassan's life story and growth as a truly gifted chef who embraces both French and Indian cuisine as well as the unique cultures of both parallels and extends beyond the bitter rivalry between Madame Mallory and his Papa. 

(Seeing the ad for the film made me seek out the book, and I've enjoyed it.  Happy reading!)

Finally Time to Read! Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman

A Very Favorite Friend

If you'd like some humorous reflections on life by noted author, Lisa Scottoline, this is the book. Scottoline is also the author of the the Rosato and Associates mystery series featuring Benny Rosato and her female lawyer associates and several internationally known best sellers.

In Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog (2009), she has collected short articles on her life as a 50-something, twice-divorced, Italian woman, who juggles her profession,her young-adult daughter, her mother and a gay brother as she dotes on her beloved dogs.  She writes briefly of husbands, more about dogs, pointedly about growing older, and grudgingly about migrating fat and the inevitable wrinkle or two...or three

In the collection , much of which was written for "Chick Wit" in the Philadelphia Inquirer,  Scottoline pens the dedication  "for extraordinary ordinary women everywhere".  And she credits Eleanor Roosevelt as describing the incredible strength of ordinary women:  "A woman is like a tea bag.  You never know how strong she is until she's in hot water."

Titles such as "Everything Old Is Nude Again" give the reader a delightful glimpse into what follows. Scottoline writes, "Something dangerous is going on in the world of women's underwear, and I want to nip it in the butt."  In "Fashionista," she observes that "I'm not sure when I officially stopped mattering, but I think it began at age 40.  I know this because I'm a great reader of fashion magazines, and InStyle recently told me that I no longer mattered, if indeed I existed at all.  They didn't even let me down easy. And I subscribe."

Fun and great summer reading. Don't miss it.

Now... if you read Scottoline's book, and you are a nonjudgmental, liberated woman (like the rest of us), you might want to balance your outlook by noting "Why Some Men Have Dogs and Not Wives." Just click on the "Humor For All Occasions"  link below.

http://hfao.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-some-men-have-dogs-and-not-wives.html

(Thanks to Bob A. for sending this link.)


  

 

What Makes Happy People Different?

Maia McCann, commenting in Distractify, puts together 35 traits that make happy people different from the rest of the world. Contributors are acknowledged at the end of each point.

She asks what we might cherish and what we might regret as we take stock of our lives.  One characteristic of happy people is that they realize "Getting even doesn't get you ahead in life"(Marc Chernoff) ; another is "They pay attention to how people treat their parents" as a good predictor of how they will be in a marriage. Also "the way they treat a waiter (or any service person) shows you their character."(Dr. Karen L. Smithson)

And  "They're authentic, and they listen to their 'small, still voice'.  Your intuition is your superpower." Next, they enjoy "being in the moment. You will have to focus on the future so much as you get older--being mindful to the moment is a lost gift."(Dr. Karen L. Smithson)  Also,  "They're excited about other people's success"(Scrawnytobrawny.com).

Other characteristics of happy people  include "They're always, always, always honest"  (yannis_volta); "They ask questions"(nik3daz); They give their parents a chance" (igotnothineither); "They know they aren't the smartest person in the room"(selfstairway.com)

For the complete list of 35 traits and the great examples within each, click on
http://news.distractify.com/people/20-things-i-wish-i-knew-earlier-8-is-absolutely-vital/?v=1