Fish on Friday, for some, but not ME, ever!

Date:                                       Friday, Decembere 31st, 2010
Word of the Day:                    dithyrambic(dith\uh\RAM\bik); wildly enthusiastic
Weight:                                   206 pounds
Goal:                                       lose 100 pounds in one year duration

Cover of Summer Magic

Pounds to lose:                       74 pounds
Waist Size:                              41 inches
Rowing Duration:                     74 minutes, twenty-three (23) seconds

I had an excellent workout, again, on CC this morning, I hope I don't jinx what I'm about to say,  and that is that I think I finally have got the knack of combining time endurance and spurting whilst I row on CC, I sure hope I do, and if I don't have it just now, I won't lose heart because I know I'm getting better at my workouts, so there!


Well, here we are people, the very last day of that year, for me, I will quietly reflect on everything that has happened this past year, there were so many noteworthy news stories, do you remember them?, I can think of a few.

I believe the one that most touched me  and resonated me for quite awhile was the tory of the Chilean miners who were trapped in a mine.   It was a chilling scenario with a survival story for the ages:  A main ramp in the San Jose Mine, near Copiapo, Chile, collapsed on August 5th, 2010, trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet below ground.

 For days, anxious relatives braced for the worst, gathered around the mine as rescuers tried to locate the miners to no avail.   Then on August 22nd, a note was attached to a drill bit when it reached the surface: "Estamos bien un el refugio los 33."   All of the miners were well in the shelter.   

After initial, depressing predictions that a rescue may not happen until Christmas or longer, all 33 miners came to the surface one by one through a specially drilled hole and rescue capsule beginning on October 12th, 2010.  The miners inspired all and became instant celebrities, for me, I was so happy because it once again reaffirmed my knowledge that miracles do happen and God is everywhere thank goodness.


There were other stories, I mean, who among us is not affected by Economy busts and European Union (EU)  Bailouts,  money is vital to all of us,  and as the world struggled to recover from global recession, entire countries took a hit and extended a hand for help.  

In May, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU agreed to extend a $145 billion bailout package to Greece.   In November, a $113 billion bailout package was extended to keep Ireland afloat.   Fears abound about Portugal being the next to need a bailout, or Spain, Europe’s fourth largest economy, whose need for a bailout would likely exceed the $980 billion bailout fund set up by the IMF and EU in May. 

Countries trying to tighten their belts didn't go over well, either:   In October, a vote by French lawmakers to raise the retirement age to 62 was met with rioting, as was a December decision in Britain's parliament to hike college tuition fees.  I think I would have been among the rioteers, yes indeed, I would have been ative and I think I would have done more than just carry a picket sign!

A year is a long time and I also got caught up in what was happening in South Africa, during, of all times, The World Soccer finals.  As teams gathered in South Africa for the summer's World Cup, soccer fans from the world over eagerly seized upon an African horn that made jubilant footie fans sound more like an angry beehive.   I know, I know, this is not perhaps what you deem exciting news, but you salt your beets and I'll salt my beets.

The controversial horn, which caused many television (TV) viewers to hit the "mute" button, emits 127 decibels, louder than sandblasting or a pneumatic riveter.   FIFA president Sepp Blatter jumped into the din and said the vuvuzela would not be banned from venues, but some countries took preventive measures:   The Spanish city of Pamplona banned vuvuzelas during its famous running of the bulls.  The chief of the 2012 Olympics in London wants vuvuzelas banned there.  And the top fatwa authority in the United Arab Emirates issued an edict against the poor vuvuzela.  Think about it, just think of what I relayed to you, all varied, yet thought-provoking stories, you're welcome!

I am rather dithyrambic about the word of the day today, I do believe it has cache and seems to go nicely with my personality, don't you think?

Zac, Winter and I had the pleasure of babysitting Sally, Jessie, and Raphael last night, and even though we didn't get to do very much, because of time constraints, having to get dinner, etc. we still tried to make the time as enjoyable for the children, and us, as we could.

By the time we finished dinner at the Perkins Restaurant, it was well past seven-thirty, and then, after visiting the Steak N Shake, which is where Sally wanted to go for dessert, (and we of course acquiesed,) it was eight (8) forty-five, which did not allow too much time for socializing and playing.


Upon our arrival at the house, it was discovered that my nephew, Raphael, had forgotten to bring the bag that contained his medication that he needs to take at night, consequently Zac drove Raphael back to his house so that they could retrieve the necessary medication, which they did.


I put the movie "In Search of the Castaways," starring Hayley Mills on the digital video device (dvd) player so that Jessie, and all of us for that matter, could watch a movie that wasn't X rated, and the movie is quite good, for those of you who have not seen it. 

Naturally, you can't please all the people all of the time and Sally said that she wanted to watch something else, fortunately for me, I had backup, and I put another film starring Hayley Mills on another dvd player, and this film was "Summer Magic and as luck would have it, Sally liked the movie!

Oh my, I need to end this post as I have two hungry children, and Zac, that hace been waiting patiently for me to finish writig so that we can go to a restaurant and eat our breakfast. 

Happy New Year's Eve everyone, if you are going out tonight, I hope you have a great time, I, Zac and winter are staying home to ring in the New Year, and whether you're traveling or staying at home, make sure you take measures to stay safe through the holiday season.

Once again, all the best, and I'll talk to you next year again.

Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Technology

Thursday Tongue

Date:                                        Thursday, December 30th, 2010
Word of the Day:                      engram (EN\gram); the supposed physical basis of an individual memory in the brain

Weight:                                     206 pounds
Goal:                                        lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                         74 pounds
Waist Size:                               41 inches
Rowing Duration:                      72 minutes, one (1) second
                                                        
DARN, DARN, DARN, it happened to me again, I lost my previous draft of the post I was going to publish today, and it was informative and I thought interesting.   I shall try and restore some of that work because it really was some of my better writing, gosh that makes me so angry, and it wasn't really my fault.

Cover of Andrea McArdle

Currently,  I am using Zac's computer because of the problems with my computer having had a drink spilled into it, forcing me to use a  virtual keyboard, which, for the record people, you may use in a pinch, and it will eventually get the job done for you.  I mean, I guess its better than nothing, but be forewarned, it takes an awful long time to get any writing done whilst using it, and I mean, a long time.

Since we are all still amidst the holidays, I wanted to say one more thing regarding Christmas, and that is, one of the things that I love most about Christmas-time, is that you get to see people, and not only relatives, that you have not seen in a long time, no, really Efrem, you really love stating the obvious, don't you?

The people that I enjoyed seeing this past Christmas, and who I do not get to see regularly is Louise's Brother's family.  Louise is my sister-in-law, remember?  Anyway, Louise's brother's name is Aaron, his wife is Tonia, and their two daughter's names are Amanda and Annie.  Amanda is thirteen (13) years old, and Annie is only nine (9) years old.  For the record, and for clarification, the surname of that family is Spring and the Spring Family live in North Carolina.

Zac and I are not blood family of The Spring Family, but we do think of them as our extended family,  and we always enjoy getting together with them, which frequently happens over holidays, as that is the most popular time for Aaron and his family to visit Gaines ville, Florida. 

So, what does that have to do with the price of girdles, you ask.  On Christmas  Day, I received an extra special gift via Annie Spring, who sang the song "Maybe" for me, "Maybe" is from one of my very favourite musicals, and that of course is "Annie!" 

I thought it was very brave and thoughtful for Annie Spring to sing to me, I mean, she did sing in front of sixteen (16) people and she is only nine (9) years old, I mean, thank you very much Annie Spring, I'll never forget your singing that song to me, okay, she also sang to the others as well, but it was mostly for me.  The story gets better, eventually, just call me Virtual, he he.

Annie Spring, this past year, had recently tried out for the role of "Annie" for the musical show of that same name ("Annie!") which was staged in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Annie Spring did not get the role, but she did get to meet one of my idols, who co-incidentally, not only was the Original Annie, but the actress was also now going full circle by being in this version of the show and playing the role of "Miss Hannigan."

If you do not know who I'm talkiing about, nor know anything else of the world in which you live, I am talking about the one and only Miss Andrea McArdle, whose voice transcends me, and for whom I would do absolutely anything, yes, absolutely anything, that is the depth of my admiration for Miss McArdle.!


For those of you who don't have alot of knowledge on my idol, I thoght that today would be a good time to educate you on my Andrea.  Andrea McArdle was born in Philadelphia.   While studying dance as a child, Andrea was spotted by a talent agent who got her work in a number of television commercials.   This led to McArdle’s two-and-a-half year stint on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow."  Andrea McArdle also appeared on Al Alberts’ Showcase, a local televised talent show in Philadelphia.

Andrea’s big break came in early 1977 when she was pulled from the chorus of orphans to replace Kristin Vigard, the original star in the Broadway musical Annie, during rehearsals.   The show was a critical and commercial smash, and Andrea McArdle became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical.   Andrea lost to co-star Dorothy Loudon, (she should't have,) who played Miss Hannigan, but did receive the Theater World and Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for her performance.

In April 1978, Andrea opened in London’s West End production of Anne. Andrea appeared several times on "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson in 1977-79, on one occasion accompanied by Liberace, naturally I saw that show and I believe I even have a vhs copy of it somewhere!   Andrea  also appeared more than once on the Mike Douglas Show, singing with Kristy McNichol, Stephanie Mills, Liberace and Don Rickles, but I saw Andrea McArdle the most on the Merv Griffin show, it was whilst Andrea was singing on Merv Griffin that I really fell hook, line and sinker for Andrea's singing. 

Andrea was a frequent guest on Merv Griffin, I do believe that the late Merv Griffin loved Andrea as much as I, he always had her on his show, anyway, on one of those shows, Andrea sang two songs and they were:  "New York, New York, which she sang differently from that of Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra, she put her own spin on it and I really enjoy her version, of course, and the other song Andrea sang was the gorgeous "Don't Cry out Loud" and yes, Melissa Manchester sings that song well, she should, the song was written for her, but people, I'm here to tell you that Andrea McArdle sings "Doin't cry out Loud way, way better.

Andrea can hit such high notes and with such ease that she truly is amazing to watch, I never get tired of watching and listening to her sing.  I have seen Andrea in two musicals, they are:  Beauty and the Beast, Andrea played Belle for at least two years on Broadway, and that is where I saw that production, I also saw her play Sally Bowles in Cabaret in Toronto. 

Believe it or not,  Andrea's Sally of the musical "Cabaret,"was good and it was very brave of Andrea to change her image as a sweet young lady to a tarted up tramp!  Some of the pictures that Andrea took for promotion as Sally are a little risque and I have a friend who still retains those tarted up pictures of Andrea on his bedroom wall!  How about that?, I wonder if I still have that souvenir program of the show!  Hmmm!

Andrea McArdle's first assignment after returning to the United States, after playing in the West End version of "Annie," was the plum role of Judy Garland in NBC’s telepic Rainbow (1978).

Ask anyone who has seen the biopic "Rainbow" and they will tell you that Andrea was amazing in this movie and she should have been awarded an Emmy for her very truthful portrayl of a young Judy Garland.  Andrea also played Arnold Horschack's sister on the television show "Welcome Back Kotter," but throughout her career,  Andrea McArdle has concentrated primarily on performing in musical theater and cabarets.

Getting to play two (2) significant roles from one (1) play or movie, at different times of course, is a very rare thing and the only other actress that I know accomplished this great feat, besides Miss Andrea, is Miss Patty Duke, who not only played the role of Helen Keller in both the play and the movie of  "The Miracle Worker," but she also got to play the role of Annie Sullivan, in a television remake of the movie, and play, "The Miracle Worker!" 

Melissa Gilbert played the role of Helen Keller in that television remake, and she, and Patty Duke were nominated for an Emmy for their excellent work, but only Patty Duke went the distance, winning the Emmy for Best Actress in a dramatic role for a movie made specifically for television, but you all knew that, didn't you?  (For the record, when it comes to banal trivia of  Hollywood, some people call me a walking almanac!, is that bragging?  I mean I said it was banal!)

I just love Patty Duke, I met her once, it was when The Workplace and Safety Insurance Board was still located at 2 Bloor Street, East, and Patty Duke was filming a movie, "Mom, The Werewolf and Me, (I know it is truly bizare that I can sill remember the name of that movie, but that is the type of hairpin that I am!) and on my lunch, I went over to where they were filming and just by luck, I met the Academy Award winnbng actress!

After Patty Duke, yes the award-winning actress was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was able to take control of her depression and mania.

 Patty Duke is best known for her roles as identical twin cousins in The Patty Duke Show and her portrayal of Helen Keller in the movie The Miracle Worker at age 16, as aforementioned, which earned Patty Duke an Academy Award and made her the youngest winner at the time.   Patty's earned three Emmys from six nominations, two Golden Globes, and a People's Choice Award during her career.

But behind the scenes, Patty's behavior was erratic, earning her a bad rep with Hollywood insiders, not to mention her own family.  It took many years, but in 1982, at the age of 35, Miss Duke was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder.   Since then she's become the bestselling author of "Call Me Anna" and "A Brilliant Madness" (coauthored with Gloria Hochman).  Patty currently travels around the country to educate others about this often devastating disorder.   Miss Duke shared some of her experiences and insights with Everyday Health. 

Patty Duke had an usual pattern to be different, meaning and she felt isolatedf for so long as it seemed as if she was the only one who had these feelings.  The fact that what Patty was feeling had a name meant other people knew about it.  And then to know that it had a treatment, Patty Duke was over the moon.   The sense of relief for Miss Duke was immeasurable. I expect so!

Well folks, I'm now absolutely frustrated with having to go back and forth using two (2) computers, Zac got up whilst I was creating my post and I have had to go back and use my own ccomputer, and you know what that means, ugh, virtual keyboard again, so consequently, I am now finished today's post, besides, this is the second time that I've tried to put out this post!

I hope you all have a good day, Zac and I are scheduled to babysit tonight, I know that were definetly getting Jessie and Raphael, but I'm not sure if Sally will be joining them, I hope she does, we have not seen much of Sally on this trip, as she is so very busy with activity, this is only going to intensify as in 2011, Sally will become a teenager, oh no!!!!!!!


Take care, and you all come back now, you hear/read!


Topics coming soon:


Art
Politics
Technology

Wondering What Kind of Wednesday it Will Be

Date:                                                     Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
Word of the Day:                                   gambrinus(gm|BRAHY|nuhs); A mythical Flemnish King, the reputed inventor of beer

Weight:                                                  206 pounds
Goal:                                                     lose 100 pounds in one year duration

Pounds to lose:                                      74 pounds

Waist Size:                                            41 inches
Rowing Duration:                                   95 minutes, four (4) seconds

I had a much better workout on CC today, I was not suffering from any stomach cramps as I did yesterday, that must be the difference, in any case, I'm glad to have had a good workout, I need it, I have been consuming much too much food.

Image via Wikipedia

I know it will seem kind of contradictory to you, the fact that I eat so much, and then I also work out quite regularly to control the weight.  The reason is that one of the side effects to taking depomedrol, (as I have previously told you,) is that taking liquid prednisone causes one to overeat, anyone who has ever taken prednisone will tell you that they gained weight whilst on this drug. 

It is horrible being on depomedrol,  as even after you have just eaten a full-course dinner, your stomach feels as if it hasn't had a morsel of food in weeks,  and you want to eat all over again.  I kid you not, I am always, always hungry!  Naturally, your brain does tell you that you have just eaten, but, try to imagine feeling like you have not had any food in a long time, and that is the feeling that I carry all of the time.

Add the other side effects of liquid prednisone, such as your entire body swelling up, you are always bloated,  and your shoes and clothes don't fit, your feet hurt because of the intense swelling, and then you also have difficulty walking!  There is even the realization that you will fall down from time to time, believe me it is no picnic being on this medication, but it is necessary for me to take, if I want to breathe normally.

I hope that explains why I am overeating, you should also add to the equation the fact of all the good food around at Christmas-time, and I think you will get a full comprehension on just why this trip I will no doubt gain some weight, but I will also lose it, when things get back to normal and I don't need to take the depomedrol!

Okay, there are now only two (2) days left until this year is over, yup, in two (2) days we are all starting a brand new year, and  as Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables would say, there are no mistakes in the new year, so lets all of us get off to a great start.

I am not making any new resolutions, but I am going to try and sustain the things that I set out to do this year, which is eat better and continue to exercise on a daily basis!

Here it is Florida, but it is also the season of Winter, and down here in Gainesville, Florida, we are all experiencing a cold spell, for two (2) days now we have had frost on the ground and things do not warm up until about ten o'clock in the mornng, which isn't too bad.

Raphael and Jessie came over to our house in the afternoon yesterday, and they spent the time playing with Winter, watching television, and playing WI games, I don't know if WI stands for anything, but I'm sure most of you will know what I'm talking about when I refer to WI!

I was still feeling unwell,so unfortunately, I did not play with the children, they didn't seem to mind too much, and I think they enjoyed the diversion of being at our place and playing on their own.  Later, Zac, Winter and I took the kids back home so they could be home at dinnertime.

Zac and I have not made any plans to go out on New Years Eve to celebrate the onset of a New Year, we have found that we much prefer to ring in the New Year at home, and in a quiet way, most likely in bed!  If my sister-in-law, Louise and my brother, Biff, however, want to go out and ring in the New Year, Zac and I would gladly babysit the children, we never tire of taking care of the children.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I don't have very much on my mind these days, but recently I started reading from the Oprah magazine a series of articles that relate to forgiveness,  and I thought I would give you a sample of that series, as this is time for forgiveness, so here goes:

To transcend limitations and form positive new patterns of life based on who you know you can be rather than who you were yesterday, you must give up the modes of thinking, feeling and behaving that only keep you chained to your past. 

Although you may have felt at a loss as to how to make this liberating shift, you've been holding the key all along:   It is forgiveness, your next agent of change.   Releasing the invisible ties to those who have left you, betrayed you, disappointed you or hurt you, you open up to higher realms of love, peace and joy.  

Without forgiving them and cutting the cords of resentment, you continue to be imprisoned by the very people you've spent years (or a lifetime) trying to get away from and you are bound to the incidents that caused the resentment in the first place.   And because the outer world is a steadfast reflection of your inner world, these resentment and grudges ensure that you re-create situations that spark the same bad feelings you want to escape from.  

Resentments and grudges are two of the main culprits that perpetuate cycles of self-abuse and victimhood.   Stowed away inside you like parasites, they deplete you of your God-given life force and separate you from your inherent worth, your joy and the love in your heart.

Today, I want to ignite the fire in you to fight for your freedom, to fight your way out of the prison of the toxic beliefs and emotions that keep you exiled from your own heart.   As you say goodbye to lingering disappointments and unattended grief, you will discover that every person, situation and painful incident comes bearing gifts.   Free of the pain that has caused you to react instead of act, to shut down instead of open up, to push away rather than allow in and to judge instead of love, you can begin your life anew.

As the gifts are often hidden from you until you take the courageous step into forgiveness, you are about to discover that now is the time of the consciousness cleanse and is a turning point in the process.

Listen to your meditation on forgiveness (5 minutes) and then begin the Cleansing Ritual, continue by writing a letter expressing all the pain and grief you've been holding on to and then in your letter, ask your highest self for release from the prison of your resentments, grudges and disappointments.

What could you do today to forgive?  What is one action you could take in the outer world today that will bring you closer to your goal?  Schedule a time to take that action.

Forgiveness is my ticket to freedom.

I really believe in forgiveness and I try to practice what I preach, I started by forgiving myself of all the things that have held me backin my journey of this life, I believe, I have made a good start and will continue to improve by continuing to not only forgive others, but to forgive myself, gee, one only needs to say the Lord's Prayer to learn this lesson, doesn't one?

Have a good day, take care of yourself, and if you are currently at odds with someone, why not open the door before the New Year, and invite that person back into your life by forgiving them, you really will be better for doing it, and I know it will make a big difference to them as well.


All the best.


Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Technology

Tiddely winks on Tuesday

Date:                                         Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Word of the Day:                       eschatological(es\kuh\ti\OJ\i\kuhl); regarding last or final matters, often of a theological nature
                                                                                                             
Weight:                                      206 pounds

Goal:                                          lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                           74 pounds
Waist Size:                                 41 inches
Rowing Duration:                       74 minutes, twele (12) seconds

I could not spend alot of time on CC this morning as I was expereincing cramps in my stomach, and had to stop shortly after I had completed one hour, oh well, an hour is better than doing no time at all!

Cover of Patti LuPone

Yesterday, was rather cold down here in Gainesville, Florida, this is about the second day that we have experienced cold temperatures around here, I can't complain, the coldness is nothing like the sub-zero temperatures that all of you are experiencing back home in Ontario.

I didn't do much yesterday, other than read Patti Lupone's memoir, and watch television, oh yeah, I also spoke to a few people on the telephone.  I am so frustrated at trying to reach my sister Judy on the telephone. 

Judy likes me to call, and often, which I also enjoy doing, the problem is that sometimes Judy will turn off her telephone very early in the evening, which I don't know she is going to do, and I end up spending the night calling her back because I think she may have gone out to do some activity.

Recently, my other sister, Yvonne, also complained to me that she too gets a little upset about not being able to reach Judy on the telephone.   Judy, however, says that she goes to bed early because it takes her a long time to get to sleep.  Judy said that sometimes it can take up to three (3) hours for her to fall asleep, which I think would be rather frustrating.


I have suggested to Judy that she speak to her doctor about her difficulty in getting to sleep, but Judy has informed me that the doctor can do nothing more to help her,  as he has already increased her medication.  I think that part of the problem may also stem from the fact that Judy takes an afternoon nap and that she shouuld trp and stop doing this, but, Judy can be rather stubborn about not changing her routine and her habits.  Do any of you have any ideas?, if so, please advise accordingly.

Are any of you aware that the phyisical ramifications of exposing children to secondhand smoke have  received much attention in recent decades.  Possible psychological effects, meanwhile, have not been as  widely explored.  However,  a new study involving 901 children between the ages of four (4) and eight (8) find that children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, particularly hyperactivity and conduct disorder.  The greater the children`s exposure to the smoke, the more poorly they scored on an assment of mental health.

This information is new to me, and I think rather important, so I hope all of you who smoke are paying attention!  It seems every day now,they are coming up with new information as to the hazards of smoking and they are giving new reaons on why you should stop smoking!

While the findings add urgency to the push for parents to quit smoking or at least smoke outside the home, it remains unclear whether tobacco fumes actually take a toll on childrens' brains or if something else is at play, said researchers led by Mark Hamer of University College London. 


"We know that exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with a lot of physical health problems in children, although the mental health side has not been explored," Hamer told Reuters Health in an e-mail.


In the United States (U.S.,)  two of every three children between the ages of three (3) and eleven (11) are exposed to secondhand smoke.   Meanwhile, one (1) in five (5) children aged nine (9) to seventeen (17) have been diagnosed with some kind of mental or addictive disorder, according to the U.S. department of Health and Human Services.

Hamer and his colleagues studied 901 nonsmoking British children between the ages of four (4) to eight (8) , measuring levels of a byproduct of cigarette fumes in the childrens' saliva to gauge smoke exposure and having parents fill out a questionnaire about the childrens' emotional, behavioral and social problems.


The more secondhand smoke a child took in, on average, the poorer their mental health -- particularly for hyperactivity and conduct disorder, or so-called "bad" behavior, the study said.   Overall, about three (3) percent of all children received "abnormal" scores of 20 or more on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, a 40-point scale with the highest scores representing the poorest mental health.

Compared to the 101 children who breathed in the least secondhand smoke, the 361 with the most exposure scored an average of 44 percent higher on the questionnaire -- 9.2 versus 6.4.   Children were most likely to breathe secondhand smoke in their own homes.   The gap remained after researchers accounted for other factors that could affect mental health such as asthma,  physical activity and the families' income and housing situations, although they noted that some unmeasured factor also couldn't be ruled out.

It also isn't yet clear how secondhand smoke might trigger mental troubles, though researchers suggested it could be due to genetics or possibly related to smoke's effects on chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, and Hamer noted further research is needed.   But Michael Weitzman at New York University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, said the results strengthen the evidence that secondhand smoke, and possibly prenatal exposure to tobacco, causes mental health problems in children.

Many people now recognize that childrens' secondhand smoke exposure increases their risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, ear infections and asthma," he told Reuters Health in an e-mail.  "But secondhand smoke also poses a huge burden on the quality of life of children, their families and the larger society due to increased child mental health problems."

Yesterday, I also contacted the manufacturer of my computer, that is, Dell, and after talking at great length to a couple of support people, it has now been arranged that parts are being mailed to this house , and upon receipt of the parts, we are supposed to contact Dell again, and a technician will then come out to this house and repair the keyboard on "The Camden Plus."

I will be so relieved when my computer is back to working normally, I hate using the virtual keyboard, it takes so much of my time and effort that it really demotivates me to continue writing.  As a result, I am now finished today's post, I know you understand.  Hopefully, Dell will come to this house soon and I will be able to resume activities in a normal fashion, gee, have I ever done anything in a normal fashion?


Alll the best to you.  Have a great day!


Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Technology

Mayhem on Monday

Date:                                                     Monday, December 27th, 2010

Word of the Day:                                  celerity(suh\LAIR\uh\tee); rapidity of motion of action; quickness; swiftness

Weight:                                                206 pounds

Goal:                                                    lose 100 pounds in one year duration

Pounds to lose:                                     74 pounds

Waist Size:                                           41 inches

Rowing Duration:                                124 minutes, nineteen (19) seconds

I am absolutely exhausted, I gave everything I had in me on CC this morning, and I was able to do alot of spurting and time endurance,  which is a good thing as I need to really pour on the exercise, especially after all of the extra food and goodies I ate over the holidays.  I really did eat too much over this past holiday, oh well, onward and upward, but, its a good thing that Christmas does only come once a year otherwise I would be done in, how about you?

Image via CrunchBase

Things seem to be getting back into the regular swing of things, I know I am, and it wasn't too long a transition for me either, I love things back to normal, whatever normal is, I'm sure that I have no idea!

I spent yesterday just taking it easy, making telephone calls to people that I forgot to call on Christmas Day, I know how thoughtless!, I also watched television, specifically watching movies and copying those movies onto digital video device (dvd).  I do have my collection of films that I love to contribute adding movies to,so that is something I do on a daily and regular basis, it is myj job!


I did manage to speak to my nephew, Raphael  yesterday, who was very pleased that I telephoned him.  In addition, my brother Biff and his family spent part of the day visiting the stores and looking for bargains, and then in the afternoon, they all went to see the movie, "Gulliver's Travels,"  We were invited to go to the show with them, but Zac and I thought it best that I should stay home and keep my feet elevated as ;they are still very swollen!  Anyway, later when I talked to my family, I was told that they enjoyed the movie!   It was good to know that one of the  gifts that we gave to my brother's family at Christmas was the gift of movie certificates so Zac and I were pleased that the opportunity to use the certificates already presented itself!

My keyboard on my computer is still sick, I am going to contact the manufacturer of the computer, Dell, today, to see what can be done to fix "The Camden Plus", don't you remember?   "The Camden Plus" is the name of this computer.

There might be the possibility that Dell will want me to send my computer back for repair; if that happens, obviously my blog will not be published for awhile, but I will try to make it up to you and/or I will see if I can use Zac's computer in the interim, but, Zac does use his computer for a large part of the day so I am not making any promises, we'll see.

During the winter months, the weather can turn from dull to disasterous.  Sometimes the sun barely gets a chance to shine through the clouds, and it gets so cold that weather stations advise the public to stay indoors.   Gosh, I hate days like that!   On cold, dark days like these, it can be difficult to find the motivation to complete your errands, finish your work, exercise and eat healthy.   In the winter, you have to avoid the urge to hibernate, because it only leads to procrastination and weight gain.   Hmmm. maybe you've heard me talk about weight gain from time to time, for those of you who don't know,  it is the reason that I started this blog! 

Plan outdoor events that get your heart rate up.   Skiing is an activity that beginners and experts can enjoy, and it works muscles that you probably don't usually use.   Other ways to get more rigorous exercise is to go on hikes in the woods with friends or jog up and down your street.   Just remember to wear insulating clothing.

Limit the amount of television you watch, yes, I know I have to apply this advice to myself,  because it's easy to get comfortable on the couch and eat all of your groceries.   Put on the radio instead to keep you entertained while you pay the bills and clean the house.

Eat well balanced meals to keep up your energy level.   For the record, potato chips, burgers, french fries, and other things/foods in this fashion do not count towards being balanced.  Avoid eating too many carbohydrates and sugars, because these are comfort foods, which can be enticing.   Have oatmeal for breakfast and a warming tea with your lunch and dinner.   Drinking water throughout the day instead of soda can keep you hydrated too.

Wake up in the morning and open the blinds or turn on some lights to brighten the room.   Too often people, like me, suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).    Symptoms of SAD include depression, lethargy, over sleeping and overeating comfort foods like carbohydrates and sweets.

Cover of St. John's Wort: The Miracle Medicine

Some remedies for SAD involve getting outside in the fresh air, taking St. John's Wort as an herbal anti-depressant to enhance your mood and light therapy options.  Light therapy (phototherapy) involves sitting by a light therapy box, which uses full-spectrum lights (comparable to sunlight).   The light is meant to mimic sunlight, so it will cause a biochemical change in the brain by reducing the production of melatonin.   I, somtimes wear a lamp tht gets attached to my forehead, I look ridiculous wearing it, but it works and that is what is most important.

Melatonin is produced during your sleep cycle or when the environment is dark, but when an above normal amount is produced, it can cause the symptoms of SAD.   Another remedy is to exercise, because it causes your body to release endorphins.  This boost of energy can relieve the symptoms of lethargy and keep up your metabolism.

Stay in good company.    Sometimes it helps to do your errands or exercises with friends and family.  Just make sure that you don't pick a person who is going to persuade you to skip out on your kick boxing classes.   If you don't have someone to support you, join a gym and attend a yoga, pilates or cycling class.  This can help get you out of the house too, and sometimes it's getting out of the house that is the hardest part of winter, yes indeed!

Well I need to end my post now as I am getting rather confused and frustrated at applying the virtual keybvoard, what happens is when I go back to insert letters that don't get typed in because of the damage to the keyboard, I don't know how to make out all of the words that I had already typed in, and it is very, very frustrating, (I hate being frustrated,) oh well, at least I am able to get a small post to you.

I hope you all have a good day and that you continue to bask in the Lord's greatness!  I know, aren't I something?

Take care.

Topics coming soon:

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Politics

Technology

Sunday Salute, back to normal

Date:                                       Sunday, December 26th, 2010
Word of the Day:                   nadir(NEY\der); the lowest or deepest point                  
Weight:                                  206 pounds
Goal:                                      lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                      74 pounds
Waist Size:                             41 inches
Rowing Duration:                 108 minutes, ten (10) seconds

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Well, were back to a regular day, at least down here, (they don't celebrate Boxing Day,) and things can resume normally as they should, however, before we leave the subject of Christmas Day for this year, I want to tell you about my Christmas.

I got up as early as I normally do yesterday, and I then completed my rowing on CC, as I did today, after the exercise, I went to the men's room and got myself all cleaned up,  and ready to go to my brother Biff's house as we were expected there to complete opening up Christmas stockings,  and have a Christmas breakfast.

Unfortunately, I, getting dressed took alot more time than any of us expected, (especially me,) as the depomedrol was working its side effects on my entire body, and I had quite alot of difficulty getting a pair of pants on.   Of the three pairs of pants that I tried to get on, none of them fit, as my stomach was much too swollen to get the pants over the rim,  and, I ended up having to wear a pair of my shorts.  Thank goodness that we're in Florida and that it is very normal for one to wear shorts!

I was ultra disappointed that I had to wear shorts because I especially wanted to look nice on Christmas Day, and I didn't look bad, I just didn't look as nice as I could have if  I had been successful in getting a pair of dress pants on, oh well there's always next year!
By the time I got  my shorts on, I felt like I needed another ;new shower as I had worked up quite a sweat and perspiration was falling off my entire body.   I really didn't have time to take another shower so I gave myself a quick stand-up shpwer and shortly afer, I was ready to leave.


Naturally, when we arrived at Biff's house, breakfast had been served and was finished, Louise did very kindly leave the breakfast food out for us to eat , which was nice of her since we arrived were so late, and now people were going on with their day.


Louise, had gone back to bed to catch up on so much needed sleep, and the children were busy playing with their new toys, and electronics and my brother Biff was busy trying to put together some of the toys that require an engineer's degree.


We left Biff's house to go back to our place to pick up the wines and pies that we were going to bring to my brother's in-laws, which is where we were going to have Christmas Dinner, in addition, we had to drop Winter off at our house as she was not able to go to the "in-laws" as there was a dog already there, and people were afraid that the two of them would not get along, it was okay, we brought home Winter some turkey and ham, but both Zac and I did miss her terribly.

Good news, although not great news, I can even use my own computer now because Zac arranged for me to have a virtual keyboard???(don't ask me how,) so at least now I can get out my posts to you iby using my own computer and not have to rely on using Zac's computer. 


Well, my computer certainly does have the virtual keyboard, but the computer certainly does not work like normal, far from it.  What I have to do to write my blog, or anything for that matter, is key in my script as usual, and when the time comes for me to use a key that had been damaged from the drink being spilled into the keyboard,  I stop the computer, and, I, then have to pop up the virtual keyboard, and choose the damaged key to go into my script, apply the key, and then continue on my merry way, except it isn't too merry!!!

Using the virtual keyboard is very time consuming,  you start typing, stop, pop up the virtual keyboard, continue typing until finished, however, it does make things possible for me to work, and I guess that is what is most important, so thank you Zac for fixing the virtual keyboard for me.

However, because things take so long to do, I will not feel too encouraged to write at length, and as a result,  until I arrange with Dell to get a new keyboard, the posts are in all likelihood going to be short, and may not be published until late in the day, so please remember that fact.

So, did you overeat yesterday?  You read how difficult it was for me to get dressed, but what do I do anyway when dinner is served?, I eat like its going out of style.  The food that Dina Spring served for Christmas Dinner was amazing, Louise had helped her with bringing a couple of delicious dishes and I ate: turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, a corn souffle which was my favourite dish, green beans, a roll and one glass of Zinfandel, I ate way too much food, but it was all delicious and I want to thank all of those responsible for putting on one of the best Christmas diinners that I ever had in my life.

I hope you all have a good day, and if you are going out to some of the Boxing Day sales, good luck to you.

Topics coming on:

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Politics
Technology

Special Saturday; it's Christmas Day, Jesus's Birthday

Date:                                        Saturday, December 25th, 2010, CHRISTMAS DAY!
Word of the Day:                     chaffer (CHAF\r); to bargin; to haggle
Weight:                                    206 pounds
Goal:                                        lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                         74 pounds
Waist Size:                               41 inches
Rowing Duration:                      91 minutes, eight (8) seconds

Merry Christmas!, and it is truly magniificent that our Saviour, Jesus Christ ,was born to all of us today, and what a wonderful gift we all get in his coming, gosh, what a great, great day.  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Today, you are all probably waking up to a room full of Christmas presents, not I, and that is because Santa Claus came a little early to those of us in Gainesville, Florida, and we all got to open up Christmas presents last night.  I received everything that I wanted, and then some more, lucky me, but then, you know I've always considered myself the luckiest man in the world, and I am, truly!

My kids had an excellent Christmas as well, but the most happiest  with the presents was our beloved Winter, who was just ecstatic to receive new toys, especially a new chicken she got from my nephew, Raphael.  Winter wore a Santa Claus Suit last night, and not to bragg, but my child stole the show, and deservedly so, Winter really was adorable!

I am keeping today's post short today as you should be spending Christmas Day with your family and you should not be on your computer, are you paying attention Lily?  I will also not be on the computer and will log off as soon as I finish this post, in addition, I am still using Zac's computer because mine is out of commission.  There will not be any pictures to go along with this post as Zac does not have Zemanta on his computer, I know, what an absolute tragedy!

Take care, have a great day, be safe, count your blessings and for the final time this year, Merry Christmas!

Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Technology

Fabulous, Fantastic FRIDAY and it`s CHRISTMAS EVE!

Date:                                                          Friday, December 24th, 2010
Days until Christmas:                                  one (1)
Word of the Day:                                       zenith(ZEE\nith); a highest point or state; culmination
Weight:                                                      206 pounds
Goal:                                                          lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                                           74 pounds
Waist Size:                                                 41 inches
What does Efrem wish for the world:          Peace, love, good health, water and food for everyone
Rowing Duration:                                       91 minutes, fourteen (14) seconds


Yesterday afternoon I started to setup a page on MS Word that will eventually be my layout for future posts of my blog.   I have not used Word in a long time, and there are many new features on it that I need to acquaint myself with, such as, setting margins, tabs, and wraparounds so that my copy can look its best.  I like giving you the best that I can give to you.

I'm sure I'm not the only one around that has difficulty understanding the "HELP" features on MS Word and I know I'll eventually figure everything out, it is just going to take some time.

I also forgot to mention that yesterday was the anniversary of the death of my sister Janet, who has now been gone for thirty-seven (37) years,  I miss Janet as much today,  as I did then,  as Janet was the one person in my family who always took care of me, protected me, and showed me that I was loved.

Image via Wikipedia

In addition to the death of my sister, yesterday also would have been my brother John's birthday, unfortunately, Johnny too passed away in1988, I miss both of my siblings alot, but they are always in my prayers, thoughts, and heart and I thought I would salute them both today.

I have been a little preoccupied lately with a big decision that I need to make, a decision that in all likelihood is going to be painful and will leave me sad for awhile.  I don't know if I ever told any of you, but Gainesville, Florida is known as "The Tree Town" and should you ever come here for a visit, you'll agree that the town is aptly named,  it is the tree's, I think, that are causing me a problem.

All of you know that I suffer badly from severe asthma, and even though my asthma has been somewhat controlled these past two (2) years, it is always a concern for Zac and I to keep it under control.  And this, my good friends, is the crux of the problem.

Every single time that I visit Gainesville, Florida, I need to get more than my regular share of depomerol injections (liquid prednisone,)  because my asthma flares up.  Zac and I believe the contributing factor is that of the leaves on the trees, they seem to provide or give off mould that gets into my lungs, or I have an allergy to the mould, whatever it is, it seems to exacerbate the asthma.

Getting the asthma is only half of the problem.  The other part of the problem is, that even though the depomedrol works wonders on my lungs, it is the side effects of the medication that cause even bigger problems for me.

I tend to get very swollen legs and feet from being on the liquid prednisone, and sometimes it is extremely difficult to get my feet and legs to return to a regular size.   I have to take two (2) water pills a day, leaving me with the exciting activity of visiting the washroom for the bulk of the day, in an effort to try and reduce the swelling, and sometimes that isn't enough and I am forced to lay down and keep both of my legs elevated higher than my heart, not the most comfortable position, but it is manageable.


It's almost showtime people, yes, there is just one (1) day left until Christmas Day, and today is absolutely the last day that you have to complete your Christmas Shopping.  Please advise if you need me to include you in my prayers, hehe, really good luck to you if today is the day that you start your Christmas Shopping, I have heard of people that do like to wait until today to start, I'm glad I don't personally know any.

It is always something with me and today I've encountered a really big problem, a drink got accidentally spilled into the keyboard of my computer, consequently, it is not working properly and I will have to most likely send it back to Dell for repair,   I will also be ending this post sooner than I wanted, but I'm using Zac's computer at this time, and he needs it back to do his work.

Later today, I will be going to a Christmas Eve service at church, following that, Zac, Winter and I will all head to my brother Biff's house where we will feast on food and open up Christmas presents, it should be alot of fun.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas holiday, remember to be safe if you are travelling somewhere, actually you should just be safe in everything that you do.

I wish all of you good things, only good things, and God Bless You.


Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Technology

Tinkling on Thursday, encore

Date:                                                         Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
Days until Christmas:                               two (2)
Word of the Day:                                     lagniappe (LAN\yap); a small gift given with a purchase to customer, for good measure

Weight:                                                     206 pounds
Goal:                                                         lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                                        74 pounds
Waist Size:                                               41 inches
Just for Louise, Efrem's ambiton:            to be shy
Rowing Duration:                                     88 minutes, twelve (12) seconds

Image via Wikipedia

Good day, try to be careful with the word of the day, the word looks like it should have a different pronunciation, other than the one that is given in brackets, but be assured that the pronunciation in brackets is correct, it just looks a little odd, never mind that though, now you just have to use it in a sentence.

I have finally completed my Christmas shopping, (with two (2) days to spare,) as I mentioned in yesterday's post, I went Christmas shopping with my sister-in-law, Louise, with Louise's mother, Dina Spring, and as it turned out, an extra person came along, Louise's daughter, and my niece, Sally, and we managed to go to a lot of stores and get a lunch at the ever popular Chick Fill A, which I absolutely love!!!


I am getting into some rough shape again, physically speaking, yesterday my feet started swelling up and I had difficulty wearing my shoes. Today, I could not wear my sneakers when I did my rowing, which is very upsetting as I kept my feet elevated all afternoon and all night yesterday, and it seems to have accomplished very little, maybe today they will improve.   Here I go again, my breathing is becoming difficult and Zac is going to have to give me another shot of depomedrol, great, just in time for the holidays, never mind, I know it could be worse, so I don't wear shoes for a few days, at least I have an excuse to go barefoot!!!

In the vein of taking care of one's self, alot of people neglect taking in as much liquids into their body as they shoud during the season of Winter and hydration concerns shouldn't stop when the temperature drops. In fact, dehydration can be just as common in the winter as in the summer.   Because your body is not sweating as much, it's easy to overlook the signs of dehydration.  A dehydrated body can lead to exhaustion, muscle fatigue, cramps, loss of coordination and even stroke. Dehydration can also leave your body more susceptible to common colds and flu, which are both more prevalent in the winter.

The rules of hydration are essentially the same no matter the weather.  Pay attention to the warning signs of dehydration and make sure to drink plenty of water.  Keep a bottle of water handy, and drink even before signs of thirst appear.  Thirst is a signal that your body is already on the way to dehydration, that and a bunch of white stuff coming from your mouth!

Monitor your urine, which should be light to clear.   If you are taking supplements, expect your urine to darken in colour for several hours after consumption.  I know that this task is much easier to do for men, (men frequently stand at the urinal/toilet when voiding and view their urine quite naturally/women have to stand up from the toilet and then look back, which I think isn't as natural to do,) in any case, look at the darn stuff and monitor it.

Drink before, during, and after exercise.   Drink one (1) to two (2) cups of water at least one (1) hour before the start of any exercise.  Drink four (4) to eight (8) onces of fluid every twenty (20) to thirty (30) minutes during exercise.  This is much harder to do when it's cold outside since you may not sweat profusely or feel particularly thirsty, but do it, if only for the reason that I tell you to, you hear me Lily?

Drink water throughout the day and especially at every meal.   If you are craving a hot chocolate or coffee to warm you up, pair it with a glass of water without ice.   Tepid water won't make you feel too chilled, and it's also easier for your body to absorb than a cold drink, but if you are anything like me, you hate drinking warm water, obviously you will just have to suck it up.

When exercising, pack water with you.   Depending on your workout, you may need to carry water with you.   If you're snow skiing or exercising outside, keep your water bottle or camel from freezing by insulating it or tucking it into your warmest layer of clothing.  I know what you're thinking, great, just another thing to help me look heavy.

Aim for a gallon of fluids every day, which includes liquids from vegetables, juices and soups.   I know this sounds like you have to drink an awful lot, YOU DO!, but your body requires it.

Both caffeine and alcohol have a diuretic effect on your body, so be sure to compensate for this additional water loss.  Keep track of your water consumption by drinking from a water bottled marked with measurements.  This advice should not replace that of a physician. Always consult a physician before beginning an exercise program, but you already know that, I mean, how many times do I have to say it, consult your doctor, consult your doctor, CALL ZAC, and have your health card number handy, hehe.

Can you believe it people?   There are now only two (2) days left until Christmas Day, which means, if you don't count today, there is only one (1) day left to complete your Christmas Shopping.  Remember, money is usually welcomed by most people, so if you don't have alot of choice, and time left, buy some Christmas cards and put a cheque in it, and, as always, good luck to you.

This morning whilst I was rowing on CC, I watched the movie musical Grease, which stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Doesn't anyone out there, besides me, think that most of the people that went to Rydell High School were a little too old to be in High School. I mean, come on, Stockard Channing, who played the part of Rizzo had to be at least thirty-five (35) years old!  I guess it is just me, because they obviously got away with those little discrepancies, the movie made a fortune at the box office.

That's one of the things about movies that I love, they can do anything in them and we buy it, more often than not, there is a happy ending, and, lets face it, we all want and love the happy ending.  But, what of the people, who because of circumstance, will never have a happy ending?
First, I think that happiness is a state of mind, it is attitude, and that that is controlled by each and every one of us,  quite realistically, it is hard to be in a merry mood when there are so many bills to pay, children to feed, and you are out of work.

I am not a magician and cannot make your troubles disappear, I really wish I could, but you and I know that this simply is out of everyone's realm.  However, I can relay to you how I faced my hardships, and there were plenty of them for me, and the first thing that I want to communicate to you is that you have to try and not let your problems overwhelm you, you are not identified by your problems, and you have to try and not let your problems affect your spirit,  I know this is easier said than done,  but it is possible.

And if possible, try to do those things first that need immediate handling, yes, you have to prioritize your problems, and then you go about fixing them and they can be handled, with a little imagination and knowledge, sometimes it just takes thinking out of the regular box that you have got yourself in.

For example, if one of your problems is feeding the children and you don't have any money to buy groceries, clearly, one of your options will be for you to go to an organization that provides food and there are plenty of these food banks, or food shelters around, just look in the phone book.   And please, do not feel guilty about using these organizations, many of them are paid for by our taxes, and we all pay taxes so if you need to use a food bank from time to time, remember, you, in essence pay for this service.   The money you save from not having to buy food, can be applied elsewhere, so just think a little bit about that, not so bad now, is it?

In addition, if you are temporarily out of funds, and trust me, everything is temporary (it just seems forever,) share this knowledge with your friends and family as they may be in a position to help you out.   Do not assume anything, especially when it comes down to finance!  People like helping out people, so put your pride on hold and let other people have the opportunity to help you make things better.

I am not trying to tell you that you can't have pride, it is all relative, and just because you can't afford to buy food, at this time, is no reason for you not to have pride, take pride in the fact that you managed to feed your children and they will now be able to have the nutrients necessary to sustain them.

I know I may be thinking simplistically, but I believe that sometimes things do not have to be as complicated as we make them, and I really believe with my whole heart that there is a solution to every problem, and that just because you haven't thought of the answer, does not mean that there isn't one. Just ask me, if you need to and I'll try to help you out, just please do not call me Pollyanna, I much prefer Polly!!!!!!

Have a great day.

Topics coming soon:

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Politics
Technology