The past few days have been filled with hurricane preparation stories as Hurricane Irene moved into position to coming up the east coast of the US. Since I live alone, I utilized several evenings and Saturday morning to move patio furniture, take down some outside decorations, move trash cans into the shed, buy ice, line up candles (and matches) buy water and fill up my gas tank.
I also cut my grass Saturday morning, and finally wrapping up the preparations, got a pedicure which involves sitting in a massage chair and having great conversations with my Vietnamese friends that own the salon.
It is always a great time catching up with their oldest daughter, now working on her doctorate and still giving pedicures. Conversation at one point turned to my work with Reach Academy for Girls and the plight of US students who are graduating but are not very knowledgeable.
The conversation turned towards the time when very intelligent women could only choose teaching, nursing or motherhood as a choice for after high school or college graduation. Believe me that was true in 1969 because though I wanted the Peace Corp I was steered toward teaching.
So back then we had were extremely gifted women teaching in our classrooms and challenging a generation of students. Times have changed and newly gifted women have lots of career choices. Not many want to teach and earn the salaries that are given to teachers. Instead, they wait to inspire students that arrive in their places of work after graduation.
So what is our society saying when some woman named Kim can "earn" $18 Million to have her wedding covered in the press and our teachers with a Master's Degree and 17 years of teaching earn $50,000?
And, what does it say about a country that says supporting a family of four on $27,000 a year and having a refrigerator or a cell phone is a "luxury"? I really need to have this "logic" mapped out for me.
But, I digresss.
So after the pedicure I came home to wait out the storm. Kept checking emails, watching reruns on TV, checking the news. Checking in with my step-father and daughter.
Kat had left the Jersey shore on Friday traveling north but inland. Worried about me being here alone, she kept checking in. Nothing to report but wind and rain.
Then the tornado warnings started arriving. I decided that this time I would head to the basement leaving the door open so that the cats would follow which they did. And, I lit a candle in case the lights went out.
What I discovered was that you cannot hear a thing in my basement. Too quiet. I could not hear the wind or the rain. And, that made me more anxious than being on the second floor in my bedroom watching TV. Called a friend but reception in the basement was not good. However, they were playing games on the computer, watching TV and cooking.
Was I the only person in the basement?
Warning over I emerged, leaving the door open. Back upstairs to more reading, TV and staring out of the windows.
How was Pat, another single woman, doing in Lewes? Did she leave? What about all my friends from St. Martha's, All Saints and St. Peter's? What about all the homeless men and women around Wilmington? Did extra shelters women as in Code Purples during the winter?
I actually slept through the night with the TV on low in case of another emergency warning. And I awoke to a damp world with electricity.
So, no church this morning. State of emergency in effect.
Kat called from her "safe" place in northern New Jersey to a world without electricity or coffee. No ice was purchased so everyone will be outside grilling the meat in the freezer.
Me, I have opened windows and let the clean air in. The house is breezy and it feels wonderful.
I have cleaned debris out of the pool and did my walking, still in circles.
Trees may still come down in this wind, but all in all I am lucky. Nothing much has changed for me.
So I will think on and and hold in prayer the millions for which this is not so.
So what do I take away from this?
Not that God has blessed me and not someone else, but rather the longer the world keeps pissing off Mother Nature, the more she is going to retaliate.
Delaware in the past month has witnessed rare tornadoes, an earthquake and now hurricane.
It's Mother Nature stupid and not the fact that Joe Biden comes from Delaware.
Laugh people. It is a great gift from God.
Love you Joe.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tips from the TopHealth News letter
Simple Tips to Slimmer Waists
- Eat an Energizing Breakfast of high-fiber cereals, whole-grain bread and fruit.
- Fight Boredom and the temptation to snack by posting a list of small projects on the refrigerator. Tackle an item, fight boredom.
- Eat 50 % less than you normally eat. Use smaller plates.
- Regular aerobic exercise raises your metabolism during and after your workout.
- Bite into a pickle or lemon. Not available, brush your teeth.
- Eating slowly for 20 minutes allows your brain to know there is food in the stomach.
- Cut back on salt intake.
- The Scalp Soother Place thumbs behind your ears and spread your fingers on top of your head. Move your scalp back and forth slightly by making circles with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds.
- The Eye Easer. Close your eyes and place your ring fingers directly under your eyebrows, near the bridge of your nose. Slowly increase pressure for five seconds, then gently release. Repeat 2-3 times.
- The Shoulder Saver. Place your left hand on the right side of your neck by your shoulder. Press fingers firmly into the muscle while tucking your chin in toward your chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds, release, then repeat on the left side.
- The Palm Pleaser. Lace your fingers together, leaving thumbs free. Slowly knead your left thumb into the palm of your right hand for 20-30 seconds. Then repeat on your left hand.
- Sensitive to pollen? Washing your hair before bedtime removes any pollen and will keep it from settling on pillows and bedding.
- Fight dust mites which love to nest in area rugs by placing the rugs outdoors in direct sunlight for a few hours until they become warm and dry. Dust mites will dry up and die.
- Though 20% of Americans believe they have a food allergy, true food allergies are very rare. Most of the reported systems are due to digestive problems, food poisoning or stress.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Colorectal Awareness Month
Nutritional TipsA balanced diet can help to promote colon health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Their tips below provide information on foods that will maintain a healthy colon and overall health. What do most of these foods have in common? A high dose of fiber. Fiber, or roughage, can also lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Fruit - Fresh fruits contain antioxidants, fiber and water, all of which can keep your colon healthy. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries can provide all of these nutrients. Bananas, apples and pears are other options that are rich in fiber.
Vegetables - Vitamins B6 and B9 can help lower the risk of colon disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Carrots, potatoes with the skin on, peas, spinach and dark, leafy greens all contain healthy doses of B vitamins
Whole Grains - Whole and multi-grains contain fiber that promotes the regular passage of waste products through the colon. Brown rice, whole grain bread and whole wheat pasta can be beneficial to colon health. Ready-to-eat cereals made with whole grains and oatmeal are other good choices.
Legumes - Kidney beans, black beans, split peas and lentils can promote colon health. Each of these foods contains at least 15 grams of fiber per cup.
Nuts - Nuts can provide fiber and also satisfy the craving for a salty snack without compromising the health of your colon. Pecans, almonds, pistachios and sunflower seeds are high-fiber snacks that, when eaten with a healthy diet, can reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Dairy Products - Low-fat dairy products may play a role in colon health due to their calcium content. Skim milk and low-fat cheeses and yogurt may be linked to lower risks of colon cancer.
The link below provides additional information on the benefits of fiber.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Good News for Diocesan Employees
New for 2010 - 
$0 Preventive Care Copay
The following links will take you to UnitedHealthcare’s Screening & Immunizations Guides, but all of our healthcare partners’ websites feature these guides, and we encourage you to explore your plan’s website. Remember, some tests may be more or less frequent based on individual medical needs. Accordingly, please check with your doctor.
Another important exam to set up early in the year is your annual eye exam, which is also a $0 (in-network) copay through your Medical Trust plan.
RECOMMENDED SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN
For women in their 50’s and older:
Screenings & Immunizations for Women: In Your 50s+
For women in their 40’s:
Screenings & Immunizations for Women: In Your 40s
For women in their 20’s and 30’s:
Screenings & Immunizations for Women: In Your 20s & 30s
Screenings for Young Adults and Teens:
Screenings & Immunizations for Teens and Young Adults
WELL CHILD VISITS
Well-child visits help physicians screen for diseases and assess a child's risk for future health problems, as well as for providing a window of opportunity for age-appropriate vaccinations.
Screenings for Infants and Toddlers:
Screenings & Immunizations for Infants & Toddlers
Screenings for Children ages 3-12:
Screenings & Immunizations for Children Aged 3 to 12
FOR MEN:
Screenings for Men:
Screenings & Immunizations for Men
Sunday, December 6, 2009
You Only Think You Know the Story
This is from my friend, Major Saif, living in Bangladesh.
Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster. They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race.
The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep. The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ. The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race.
This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with. But then recently, someone told me a more interesting version of this story. It continues.
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching. He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been over confident, careless and relaxed.
If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.
The moral of the story ? Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady.
If you have two people in your organization, one slow, methodical and reliable, and the other fast and still reliable at what he does, the fast and reliable chap will consistently climb the organizational ladder faster than the slow, methodical chap.
It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable.
But the story doesn't end here. The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way he can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted. He thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometers on the other side of the river .The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral of the story? First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency.
In an organization, if you are a good speaker, make sure you create opportunities to give presentations that enable the senior management to notice you. If your strength is analysis, make sure you do some sort of research, make report and send it upstairs. Working to your strengths will not only get you noticed, but will also create opportunities for growth and advancement.
The story still hasn't ended. The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together. Both realized that the last race could have been run much better.
So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time. They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the river bank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral of the story? It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well.
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership.
There are more lessons to be learned from this story.
Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures.
The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure.
The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could. In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort. Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different. And sometimes it is appropriate to do both. The hare and the tortoise also learned another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
Here is the story of the Real Life Tortoise and Hare.
When Roberto Goizueta took over as CEO of Coca-Cola in the 1980s, he was faced with intense competition from Pepsi that was eating into Coke's growth. His executives were Pepsi - focused and intent on increasing market share 0.1 per cent a time.
Goizueta decided to stop competing against Pepsi and instead compete against the situation of 0.1 per cent growth. He asked his executives what was the average fluid intake of an American per day? The answer was 14ounces.
What was Coke's share of that? Two ounces.
Goizueta said Coke needed a larger share of that market. The competitor wasn't Pepsi. It was the water, tea, coffee, milk and fruit juices that went into the remaining 12 ounces. The public should reach for a Coke whenever they felt like drinking something.
To this end, Coke put up vending machines at every street corner. Sales took a quantum jump and Pepsi has never quite caught up since.
To sum up, the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us many things. Chief among them are :
That fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady;
Work to your competencies;
Pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers;
Never give up when faced with failure; and,
Finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.
Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster. They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race.
The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep. The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ. The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race.
This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with. But then recently, someone told me a more interesting version of this story. It continues.
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching. He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been over confident, careless and relaxed.
If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.
The moral of the story ? Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady.
If you have two people in your organization, one slow, methodical and reliable, and the other fast and still reliable at what he does, the fast and reliable chap will consistently climb the organizational ladder faster than the slow, methodical chap.
It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable.
But the story doesn't end here. The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way he can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted. He thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometers on the other side of the river .The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral of the story? First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency.
In an organization, if you are a good speaker, make sure you create opportunities to give presentations that enable the senior management to notice you. If your strength is analysis, make sure you do some sort of research, make report and send it upstairs. Working to your strengths will not only get you noticed, but will also create opportunities for growth and advancement.
The story still hasn't ended. The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together. Both realized that the last race could have been run much better.
So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time. They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the river bank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral of the story? It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well.
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership.
There are more lessons to be learned from this story.
Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures.
The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure.
The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could. In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort. Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different. And sometimes it is appropriate to do both. The hare and the tortoise also learned another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
Here is the story of the Real Life Tortoise and Hare.
When Roberto Goizueta took over as CEO of Coca-Cola in the 1980s, he was faced with intense competition from Pepsi that was eating into Coke's growth. His executives were Pepsi - focused and intent on increasing market share 0.1 per cent a time.
Goizueta decided to stop competing against Pepsi and instead compete against the situation of 0.1 per cent growth. He asked his executives what was the average fluid intake of an American per day? The answer was 14ounces.
What was Coke's share of that? Two ounces.
Goizueta said Coke needed a larger share of that market. The competitor wasn't Pepsi. It was the water, tea, coffee, milk and fruit juices that went into the remaining 12 ounces. The public should reach for a Coke whenever they felt like drinking something.
To this end, Coke put up vending machines at every street corner. Sales took a quantum jump and Pepsi has never quite caught up since.
To sum up, the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us many things. Chief among them are :
That fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady;
Work to your competencies;
Pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers;
Never give up when faced with failure; and,
Finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Brain Exercises
I know lots of you work Sudoku puzzles, but they give me a headache.
That said, I have added a new item for my blog.
Jig Saw puzzles that you can do on line. You can sign up to have one sent to you daily.
You can increase the number of pieces.
You can compete with others and yourself.
And, you get to look at great pictures.
Enjoy.
That said, I have added a new item for my blog.
Jig Saw puzzles that you can do on line. You can sign up to have one sent to you daily.
You can increase the number of pieces.
You can compete with others and yourself.
And, you get to look at great pictures.
Enjoy.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
5 Common Headache Triggers (TopHealth)
Headache sufferers spend more than $4 billion a year on over-the-counter pain relievers.
But prevention costs you NOTHING. What follows is the top five list of culprits:
1. Stress - DUH. Relief? Take 30 minutes a day to daydream, meditate or relax. And, the wonderful old stand by EXERCISE.
2. Eyestrain. Take occasional "eye breaks" by gazing out a window. And, since eye exams for those of us insured with The Medical Trust, get a annual eye exam, It costs you $0 in 2010.
3. Diet. Not the amount of food you eat but what is in the food you eat. Caffeine, red wine, processed meats, chocolate (Say it ain't so), cheese, citrus, lentils, snow peas.
4. Sitting, not that you sit alot, but how you sit, hunched over or talking on the phone a long time. This leads to tensed muscles and headaches. Stretch, shift, walk and talk.
5. Sleep, too little too much. Pay attention to your internal clock. Rise and retire at the same time each day.
But prevention costs you NOTHING. What follows is the top five list of culprits:
1. Stress - DUH. Relief? Take 30 minutes a day to daydream, meditate or relax. And, the wonderful old stand by EXERCISE.
2. Eyestrain. Take occasional "eye breaks" by gazing out a window. And, since eye exams for those of us insured with The Medical Trust, get a annual eye exam, It costs you $0 in 2010.
3. Diet. Not the amount of food you eat but what is in the food you eat. Caffeine, red wine, processed meats, chocolate (Say it ain't so), cheese, citrus, lentils, snow peas.
4. Sitting, not that you sit alot, but how you sit, hunched over or talking on the phone a long time. This leads to tensed muscles and headaches. Stretch, shift, walk and talk.
5. Sleep, too little too much. Pay attention to your internal clock. Rise and retire at the same time each day.
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