Summer's Over. Now What?

(Photo by Dick Bevevino)

OK, we've had our morning coffee.  It's time to face reality.  Summer is almost a memory, and if we've been lucky, we've been able to spend time with those we love best, both at home and on vacation.

So what now?  It's time to think about one of our favorite topics again:  VACATIONS !  Last summer we had some great advice on river cruises from Pam and Alan, Carol and Ray, and Ruthanne and Ted.  Now let's consider other ways to enjoy getaways, both close to home and abroad.

Our friend Terry has just returned from a trip to France, Italy, and Switzerland.  On a tour?  In a manner of speaking.  Terry and friends booked a guided walking tour with www.northwestwalks.co. Their hike covered 112 miles in 10 days.  But wait!  Before you scream, "Yikes, who can do that?" remember that the group hiked 12 miles a day with the following schedule:  Hike/break/hike/lunch/hike/break/hike/dinner with ice-cold beer.  Terry's advice?  Add squats and lunges to your exercise routine for 6 months before the trip. That strengthens your legs for those inclines.  Take your hiking sticks with you, too. A side benefit?  Using those hiking sticks makes the hike more doable and also burns more calories at the same time.   And best of all, enjoy the magnificent vistas all along the way.

Would you rather walk this winter or spring instead of in the summer months?  www.macsadventures.com offers walks in places like Southern Spain and Portugal as well as trips through the British Isles, their base of operations.  You can explore the site by putting in your level of ability (Whew!  There is an "easy" category.), the dates of interest, and other info that will aid in showing you their offerings.

Microsoft ClipArt

Many of us like to stay closer to home.  If you would, consider this.  Bob A. has just returned from a bike trip starting in  Burlington,Vermont and ending in Quebec City. Bob was on a Sojourn tour. And they offer a number of different bike tours to various locations within the USA. The Sojourn tours are in Canada and the USA are ranked:Bob's was an "intermediate tour" covering an average of 55 miles per day. Bob felt the tour guides were very knowledgable, both from a historical standpoint and also about cycling tips. Starting on Sunday, the riders experienced some "rather easy flat ride days along Lake Champlain on lightly traveled roads and some scenic area as well as lots of very green pastures and farm land.  Most breakfasts, a few lunches and several dinners were included in the trip fee. The tour ended in Quebec City, and on Thursday, we had a day off the bike and all of us participated in a Walking Tour of Quebec City with an interesting guide." On Thursday, Bob joined 4 others on he optional  long ride:  85-90 miles."  Since it was Bob's 16th tour, he was well able to finish, but he cautions that this option was "arduous."  There are loads of US bike tours for all levels of riders so there's no need to shy away because of the challenges of his trip.

Other tours?  Walking?  Camping?  Kayaking?  For families?  For couples?  For singles?  Many tour companies serving the USA offer these.  http://grandamericanadventures.com/tourtypes There are even tours for those of us who prefer to amble along at a slower pace.  Now, that sounds great to me!

(Our thanks to Terry and Bob A for sharing their amazing adventures.)



You Think You've Had a Bad Day? Think Again!

Your day hasn't been as bad as this...AND your hair definitely looks better!

(The Chicken Chick)

Living Our Lives Well and Brightening Every Day

                    6 Little stories 

(Microsoft ClipArt)

 

1. Once all the villagers decided to pray for rain.  On the day of the prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella. That's faith. 

 

2.  When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her. That's trust. 

 

3.  Every night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning but still we set the alarms to wake up. That's hope. 

 

4.  We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That's confidence. 

 

5.  We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children. That's love. 

 

6.  On an old man's shirt was written a sentence, "I am not 60 years old...I am sweet 16 with 44 years of experience." That's attitude. 

 

Have a happy day and live your life like these 6 stories!

 

(Thanks to Cheryl who forwarded these six stories from her cousin, Jane.)

On the Road...With Caution

(Microsoft ClipArt)

Sometimes we need to post information on the recent ploys by criminals to stop us on the highway.  Sadly, we all need to be even more aware now.  Careless drivers, inattentive drivers, and impaired travelers are already on our radar, but the three situations below definitely deserve our attention, no matter where we drive.  This applies to drivers in all 50 states and is taken from a message by the Office of Attorney General:  State of Michigan.

Ploy I:  A child's car seat covered with a baby blanket is placed on the side of the highway-usually in a secluded area of the highway.  Thieves hope you will stop.  If you do, the consequences could range from robbery to physical assault to death.  Instead of stopping, call 911 and tell the operator about the car seat.  Do not stop and do not even slow down.  The police will send someone to investigate.

Ploy II:  Thieves will throw eggs at the windshield of a car, hoping the motorist will activate the wiper solution.  That coats the windshield with a smear that can keep you from seeing virtually 100% of what's ahead.   They wait for you to pull over so that you can clear the window.  If it happens to you, don't try to use the wipers/wiper fluid.  Drive carefully, but do not stop.

Ploy III:  Many of us are already aware that thieves are using the unmarked car/flashing lights ploy to make drivers think they are being asked to pull over by a policeman.  The rule is to never pull over for an unmarked car with lights flashing.  Instead, the traveler should keep driving until he or she is able to pull in to a gas station or similar safe place.  But many of us aren't aware that we should use our cell phones to call 112. This number reaches a police dispatcher.  Tell the police dispatcher about the unmarked car with lights flashing and explain that you will not pull over until you find a safe place to do so.  This emergency operator will check to find out if a valid unmarked police car is in the area.  Most of us are unaware that police must respect the motorist's right to continue driving until a safe place like a gas station appears.  The number 112 is a "direct link to state trooper information" and applies to every state.

(Thanks to Joan & Len H for sending this valuable  and potentially life-saving information.)

So Many Ways to Have Fun!

So many ways to have fun.  Here are just a few...

(qwest27,boredpanda.com)

(Thanks, as always, to Bob A for sending these to us.)

 

(imgur, boredpanda.com)

 

Want to see more?  Click on http://www.boredpanda.com/elderly-couples-having-fun/

(Julija K, boredpanda www.reddit.com)

 

Want More Energy, Fewer Hunger Pangs, Better Skin AND a Cholesterol Buster? Three Friends Recommend This Approach.

(MicrosoftClipArt)

Sherry, Trish, and Jerra are taking a natural approach to increasing energy, combating weight, looking healthier, and lowering their bad cholesterol numbers. They retrieved the recipe for this morning detox drink from the website, http://thecrunchymoose.com/my-morning-detox-drink. 
As with any approach to our health, a consultation with our family doc is the first step so that we aren't counteracting some meds that might be on our 'have to take' list.

But one of our friends' sister has been using this detox for 2 years and swears by it.  All three friends are reporting good results. As Sherry says, "From about 2 months' experience, I know it has reduced my appetite and made 'digestive issues' almost unknown.  overall, I have felt better, perhaps a placebo effect, but good nonetheless.  I drink it first thing in the morning-before breakfast and usually my most healthful meal of the day-and follow almost immediately with a banana to cleanse my palate"(email correspondence, April 14, 2015).

As described in the website listed above, the detox is 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, juice of one lemon, 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1 or 2 tbsp. honey, and 1/4 cup of water(more or less to suit your taste).

The author of the CrunchyMoose website lists the benefits of each ingredient in the vinegar/ lemon detox drink:  We list some quoted benefits below, and a review of the website address will fill us in on more detail.

Apple Cider Vinegar (acv) has lots of minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.. ACV is great for digestion. If you suffer from indigestion, don’t get commercial antacids. Drink acv daily instead. Here are some benefits of acv:
 Balances pH levels
Lowers cholesterol.It’s pretty magical stuff
Cleanses your system leaving your skin glowing and clear
Gives you more energy.
Reduces bloating and water weight
Suppresses appetite (because it balances your pH levels and thus your glucose and insulin levels making you feel satisfied longer).
Can help with muscle aches and pains
Lemon Juice: Another acid and works very similar to acv. You can drink either one or mix both together. I mix them both together.
Cayenne Pepper: Lots of good stuff in this little spice.
Improves digestion
Reduces bloating
Increases blood circulation.
Breaks up mucus and toxins in blocked and clogged arteries, making it great for heart health
Honey: It is ideal that you use raw LOCAL honey. It will help tremendously with seasonal allergies. Since you are ingesting what you are reacting to from allergies, you are building an immunity. Raw honey has probiotics which are great for digestion.

He explains, "I do not use all of those every morning. I typically do lemon and/or apple cider vinegar with cayenne pepper."

(Our thanks to Sherry, Trish and Jerra for introducing us to this all-natural healthy alternative.  Once we've run this by our family physician, it could be a real find for many of us.  And of course, thanks to The Crunchy Moose website for providing such detailed info on the detox drink.) 

Strengthen Your Game

(mywomensgolfclubs.BlogSpot.com)

According to Dana Santas in "Swing Like Spieth: 3 Yoga Moves to

(dailyclipart.net)

improve Your Golf Game," current thinking about improving your golf game, emphasizes "the functional movement required to execute the perfect swing, which is why yoga is increasingly appealing to golfers."

Santas is the yoga trainer for numerous pros in golf, baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. He describes Spieth's movement in the Masters as exhibiting "optimal movement in two key areas that enhance swing power and fluid control while decreasing the risk of back and knee injuries: mid-back mobility and internal hip rotation...while maintaining a stable low back and integrated core strength as the foundation for expressing his swing mobility."

 

Want the mobility to swing like Spieth and avoid the back and knee issues that commonly plague golfers? Santas recommends " Three yoga-based moves I use with my PGA clients to address the key areas of the swing."  He points out that the moves will not only help your swing but will also help to alleviate or sidestep altogether problems with knees and back.

• Half child's pose with internal hip rotation   Trains internal hip rotation; stabilizes and lengthens lower back muscles; stretches upper back and shoulders; encourages ankle mobility.
• Sphinx  Promotes proper mid-back extension; strengthens shoulder girdle, opens front of shoulders and chest; lengthens low back.
• Twisting Chair  Promotes thoracic spine rotation and shoulder girdle function; stabilizes low back; activates glutes (primary muscles of the buttocks); encourages ankle mobility, strengthens adductors (groins), core and legs (Santas, April 23, 2015)

Interested?  The moves are explained with detailed instructions and pictures in

 http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/23/health/yoga-for-golf/