my new BFF.
That would be Jody at Infinite Health.
I feel SO. MUCH. BETTER.
Earlier today, the right side of my trapezius muscle felt like someone was holding a match to it. Burning pain. Not a happy day. The numbness and tingling in my arm were gone, but this was obviously some kind of sick side effect from the traction and the hanging upside down. I’m thinking the bones are slowly moving back to their correct address, but the muscles are slow to catch up.
Since taking a muscle relaxant in the middle of the day today would have totally messed up Little Red Riding Hood‘s Halloween, I called Infinite Health to ask about medical massage. Long story short, I got an appointment less than 30 minutes later. I called my doctor’s office, which was closed for lunch and left a message asking them to please, please, pretty please fax a prescription for massage therapy to Infinite Health before the massage appointment was over. I was willing to pay for the massage no matter what, I’m telling you. But when I came out, the fax was waiting. My Doc is the BEST. I actually did have to pay up front, but we’ll see what the insurance company does. Infinite Health is listed as a provider, along with my new BFF, Jody. Even better? After we deciphered my Doc’s handwriting, do you know what the prescription said?
“Massage Therapy 2x week for 1 month.”
I can do the math on that one baby! EIGHT massages in ONE Month? Now I just need the insurance company to approve it. (oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please.)
I came home and drank LOTS of water to supposedly “flush” out the toxins (lactic acid). Admittedly, there’s controversy about whether this is beneficial, but how can it hurt to drink lots of water? Then I sat in my sauna to sweat it out. Drank more water and went in again.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my dry sauna. I got it on eBay years ago, when I was working full time and had disposable income. Someone went to a home show and won it, didn’t want it and I snapped it up. It’s my own little 4×6 foot cedar box of paradise.
So in case you’re keeping track:
One ruptured disc
VS.
cortesteroids
muscle relaxants
cervical traction
inversion table
massage therapy
gallons of water
dry sauna
strength training
I am competitive. I will win. Ruptured disc. pshh.
Would You Like Chocolate With That? Spiders and Ghosts
The Ghosts are adorable!
If you have anything chocolaty to share, post and link to Would You Like Chocolate With That? hosted by Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate
“. . . therefore I quote” Dianna Booher
I read, therefore I quote.
Today’s quotes come from Well Connected, Power Your Own Soul by Plugging Into Others
“. . . in times of tragedy, even total strangers come to others’ rescue. but what about the tragedies that aren’t apparent to an onlooker – internal, emotional upheavals in our lives? And what about times of “ordinariness?” How closely do we connect with people on a day-in, day-out basis? How often do we get below the surface of our “Hi, how are you?” and “Fine, thank you.” interactions? . . .
. . . Why is connecting with people so vital to our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being? Because a woman fells more like a woman when she builds and enjoys relationships. Her contentment comes from connecting with other people. As a result, that inner connection makes her more creative, energetic, persuasive, and powerful in the lives of those she can influence for good – her family, her coworkers, and her community. (I believe the same is true for men, by the way. – by JSM)
But the typical woman has so many things vying for her attention that she often misses hearing God’s voice through her relationships. In other words, they compete with, rather than reflect, Gods’ truth. For lack of reflection time, we miss the opportunity to connect others to God’s love and resources. And the most important “connection,” our daily interaction with God, becomes the source of our power to inspire, mold and nurture others . . .
The connecting process is much like photosynthesis. As plants take in sunlight to create nourishment, we take in the behavior and words of people. We filter them through our psyches and systems, drawing nourishment and insight from them while discarding the unusable. As plants need the sun, so we need each other.
As we talk, work and play with others around us, our interactions can lead us to valuable insights about life in general and ourselves in particular. And certainly God can speak to us about our direction and decisions in such encounters . . .
. . . God can teach us much through our daily interactions with other people IF – and that’s a big if – we take the time to listen, consider, learn and obey.”
Both my kids are in school these days. FavoriteSon is in 8th grade and PinkGirl is in 2nd grade. But it wasn’t that long ago that PinkGirl was with me nearly 24/7. I remember. I remember how isolating it could be. How overwhelming it could get. Thanks to my journal, I remember quite a bit. I remember asking myself, “Did I take a shower today?” or maybe even, “Did I take a shower yesterday?” I remember how difficult and overwhelming it was to accomplish even the slightest task. The fragmentation was debilitating. I remember. My house wasn’t fit for visitors, much less inhabitants. My freakish organizational plans often remained just that – plans. When you are so completely responsible for another person (or persons) to the point of bathing and feeding and carrying them everywhere . . . it was a totally different life. (Sometimes resulting in what you see HERE from minute 7 through 8)
Now, I drop the kids off at school and have at least 6 hours a day to throw at all I want and need to accomplish. Now that my daily life isn’t reactionary (reacting to what my children do), my focus is to make sure I’m spending this newly granted time and energy on the stuff I believe is important. Stuff that supports my personal, spiritual, family and professional goals. I guess my biggest goal is to figure out what I believe is important.
Sure, I work a little more (outside the home) and I clean and I cook and I take care of my family’s “stuff.” More recently (for the last two years), I’ve also begun putting myself on the list on a regular basis. I’ve finally come to a place where I actually BELIEVE that I’m a better wife and mother when I take care of myself. I finally BELIEVE and am motivated to ACTION by the understanding that I don’t want my kids to adopt my previous habits of caring for myself. I want to model and proactively teach my kids to make good nutritional choices and to “move their body” every day. I very much want to have the energy and ability to participate in my family’s activities without physical limitation. But that’s another post.
When my friend was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, I realigned my vision. As I became involved in the care group supporting her and her family, I started to see – really see – others. Over the last year, I’ve begun trying to reach outside my own life more. To pay attention to opportunities to serve. To respond to opportunities to serve.
So today, I called my neighbor two doors down and offered to watch her baby while she took some time to get ready for visiting family. I knew she had a lot on her plate today and I had an unexpected, easy, flexible day.
Last night, I had no plans to do this. I picked FirstHusband up from the airport around 11:30 p.m., we got home after midnight and went to bed just before 1:00 a.m. When I got up this morning, I had no plans to do this. I drove the kids to school and took FirstHusband to pick up his truck from the shop (We had some maintenance work done while he was out of town.). When I sat down to the computer this morning, I had no plans to do this. I came home, had some coffee, blogged a little and then, as I was thinking about walking (because, I put myself on my list, remember?), it occurred to me that I could take BabyK on my walk with me.
It was a spur of the moment thing. But I had a nice morning, I think BabyK had fun and I know my neighbor benefited – she flat out told me so. Even though it was a slower pace than normal, I got to walk two miles, Baby K got to touch trees and giant furry spider Halloween decorations and her mom got some stuff done around her house – stuff that is difficult to do when a baby is constantly demanding attention. I even got to do some light cleaning myself. It was a good day.
“By connecting with others, we gain insight, we feel contentment, and we offer comfort and hope for the future.”
It wasn’t the day I planned. But I believe I responded to God’s prompting. So it was a good day.
“. . . therefore I quote” Thursday: If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “quote” post.
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he is my density.
FirstHustband “gets” me.
His job requires some travel. Some weeks more than others. Last week, he went up to Ft. Walton on Monday and was supposed to come home Tuesday evening. This in and of itself is annoying because there USED to be a direct flight from Orlando to Ft. Walton on USAir. He USED to be able to go and come back on the same day. NOW, he has to fly Delta through Atlanta. We call Atlanta the “Black Hole of the Delta Quadrant.” Star Trek geeks fans will understand.
Unfortunately, he and his traveling companion missed their flight home Tuesday night, so they rented a car and drove home. Instead of coming straight to the house, he had to drive to the airport to get his truck, about 30 minutes past his exit to our house. Then he had to check in the rental and drive about 45 minutes home. He got in the house after 3:00 a.m. The reason he couldn’t wait for next flight out of Ft. Walton on Wednesday morning was because he was flying out of Orlando AGAIN on Wednesday around noon. I had to drive him to the airport on Wednesday because I put my car in the shop and needed to keep the truck.
So his Wednesday through Friday trip was to Knoxville, Tennessee (and yes, I pronounce it “KNOCKSv’ll, TEN asee”). Since I have the truck, I’m supposed to pick him up from the airport Friday afternoon. Then we are off to the varsity football game, hoping FavoriteSon will get some time on the field even though he’s only an eight grader. Friday morning, I’m on a field trip with PinkGirl and the text messages start coming in at 10:36 a.m.:
Him: “Weather problems getting out of Knoxville. I re-ticketed to a flight landing just before 3:00 p.m. If there is a problem there, I’ll have to drive.”
Me: “Drive from where?”
Him: “Atlanta.”
Me: “What time would you get to Atlanta?”
Him: “Not sure. We’re doing the math now on if we’re better off driving from here (Knoxville). If we drive from here now we’ll be home around 9:00 p.m.”
Me: “Get these mutts away from me.”
Him: “I don’t find this stuff amusing anymore.”
Me: “yep.”
It was an immediate and correct response. Like I said, he totally gets me.
Anyone else “get” me?
Hint: We were talking in song lyrics. Any guesses? (Click HERE to find out what song. )
I feel like a bat.
I spent some time hanging upside down tonight and let me just say . . . ahhhh. My friend Heidi let me borrow her Teeter Hang Ups F5000 Inversion Table
I went to see my doctor on Thursday, and he believes I have a ruptured disc in my neck. I’ve been on some serious cortosteroids and a nightly muscle relaxant. Before Thursday, there was numbness and tingling from my neck to my fingertips on my right arm and hand. My doctor, an osteopath (they also do chiropractic care) performed some serious neck cracking. And some more. And some more. ahhhh.
His words? “I don’t think there was one bone in your neck that was where it was supposed to be.”
and
“No more jogging. You can walk. But no more jogging.”
I’m not sure what happened, but I would bet it started with sorting hundreds of books at the Whale of a Sale. Then I upped my cardio workout by including some jogging. I had been walking 3 to 5 miles a few times a week, but for the last four weeks, I’ve been doing interval training. I would jog for about 30 to 45 seconds to increase my heart rate and then walk for a few minutes. Rinse and repeat a few times in my 30 to 60 minute walk and I thought I was doing pretty well. I was jogging longer without wimping out. Unfortunately, my neck and arm pain, the numbness and the tingling were getting progressively worse. And for some stupid reason, I didn’t make the connection.
The neck, shoulder and arm pain aren’t new. I have arthritis in my neck, stemming from an old MBA injury. It was 1994. There was a full book bag hanging on one shoulder and a prehistoric laptop (which weighed as much as a dinosaur) hanging from the other shoulder. There was wrenching and pain. A doctor visit and muscle relaxants. Over the years, there have been stupid choices, resulting in a few days of rest (on muscle relaxants). And for the last few years, there’s been arthritis.
But the numbness and tingling made me nervous. Doc says that if I’m not feeling better in 10 days, I have to have an MRI. I HATE those. Listening to a jack hammer while I’m trapped in a torpedo tube is NOT my idea of a good time. If I have to have one, I’m finding one of those open MRI places.
But I digress and the muscle relaxant is kicking in. What was I saying again?
I remember. I’m going to do EVERYTHING I’m supposed to do to heal. I’m taking the cortosteroids and the muscle relaxant. I’m not jogging or jumping on a pogo stick or doing anything “jarring” to the neck. I’m using my Pronex Cervical Traction Device
And just a few notes. First, no, that is not me in the Pronex device. That is not how I look when I’m in traction. That is not the facial expression of anyone in traction. Secondly, I did NOT pay $339 for mine. They were even more expensive before the Pronex II came out. Back then, they were $450 and you know I am WAY to cheap to pay that much. I got mine on eBay for $80. Somebody was in a car accident, completed treatment and then sold it. Back then, you were supposed to get a doctor’s prescription for it. (I don’t know about now.) I figured his order to go to a physical therapist for traction twice a week was close enough.
So in addition to all that, now, thanks to Heidi, I’m also hanging upside down like a bat.
Does anyone know how to blog upside down?
Want to learn “what works” for lots of different people? Click on over to Works for Me Wednesday hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer!
Would You Like Chocolate With That? Chocolate Speed Painting. With a spoon.
I like charcoal drawings, but if this is real, this is AMAZING. The finished image is unbelievable!
If you have anything chocolaty to share, post and link to Would You Like Chocolate With That? hosted by Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate
“. . . therefore I quote” Kubler-Ross, Cloud & Townsend
I read, therefore I quote.
Today’s quotes are taken from The Mom Factor
On Death and Dying
I’ve been writing about my relationship with my mom and her current health issues and I want to explain where I am with all this.
Stage 5.
Most people are familiar with the phrase “stages of grief” although, I admit, I wasn’t exactly sure what they all were until I looked them up earlier today:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance“On Death and Dying”
by Elsabeth Kubler-Ross
I’m sure that when my mother dies, I will be sad, but right now, I’m not. I believe I’ve already worked through the bulk of the pain associated with the loss of my mother.
I discovered I was at Stage 5 when this latest “mama drama” began in September. My mom was supposed to have a triple bypass and a valve replacement. And I wasn’t upset. At first I was concerned that something was wrong with me. How could I be so desensitized? Am I in denial? No. I knew she might die. And I wasn’t upset. I had processed this new information and accepted it as fact.
weird.
liberating.
I know the grief I experienced was not the grief of losing someone through death. It was the death of a relationship. Grieving the relationship that was never what I wanted it to be. What I needed it to be. Grieving the relationship that would never become what I wanted it to be. I don’t need it so much anymore. What that relationship didn’t provide, I’ve found in other relationships.
. . . you may not have received everything you need from your mother, and only when someone gives you those ingredients can your life work correctly . . . This is what friends do for each other every day. This is what it means to be restored to the mothering process.
. . . As you begin to see and understand the missing elements in the mothering you received, your responsibility is to grieve and forgive so that way you may be healed of whatever you mother might have done wrong. Then, as you see and take responsibility for your side of the problem, you will be able to receive what you did not get, gain control, and change those areas where life has not worked for you thus far. In this twofold process of forgiveness and responsibility, you will find unlimited growth.
. . . The essence of an adult relationship with a fragile mom is this: If she cannot contain feelings, then relate to her in a way that she can handle. Take your need to be soothed and validated somewhere else. Do not continue wanting what she can’t give. Relate to her in the ways that she can relate.
. . . If you had a fragile mother in real life, you are still in need of containment. You need soothing and structuring, and you can get this from other people in your life and from God. They are there to help, but you have to ask. And you have to learn to receive what is given as well. Do not only place yourselves in good mothering relationships, but make use of them as well. Risk, open up, depend on them, and receive the love and containment that they can bring. If you will respond to mothering in this way, you will find great healing.
“The Mom Factor”
by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
So what if the grief I experienced was in losing my mother, not to death, but through a completely different departure? A chosen departure.
It’s taken years to move through the stages and I hung around in “anger” for a very long time. But really, the last 12 months have been the most intense and the most healing. It started when my mother bought a house in Arkansas and asked my dad for a divorce, nearly a year ago. I went straight into denial. I would actually call it disbelief, because I cannot tell you how many times over the course of my life she has told me she would leave my father. A recurring game of “cry wolf.” When I was younger, it was an emotional, unstable, roller coaster ride. Now I’m 44. I’ve had a lot of experience with this game. I didn’t sit around saying to myself, “This isn’t really happening.” I didn’t sit around at all. I didn’t believe her and didn’t want to play this latest game of “cry wolf.” When I didn’t want to talk to her about it, she would say, “I’m really leaving this time.” and I would say, “You’ve said that before.” and she would follow, “This time I really mean it.” and I would sigh and say, “You’ve said THAT before.”
When the game lingered on . . .
I can distinctly remember going through all the stages since then. Except for “Bargaining.” I never did ask her to change her mind and stay. Because I knew it was pointless. When she wants something, she does not stop until she gets it. And she wanted that house in Arkansas. I knew she wouldn’t change her mind. So the “Bargaining” stage? Waste of time. And I’m pragmatic, remember?
I left the “Anger” stage behind before she left. Abandoned it is more like it. Anger was not serving me well. I wrote about that transition already in “therefore I quote . . . Po Bronson” It took a while, but I discovered that I didn’t need her to apologize to me in order to forgive her. I also discovered that I didn’t actually need a relationship with her. Sure, I wish I had a mutually edifying relationship with my mother, but I don’t. No use whining about it. When I’m done whining, I still won’t have a one. Whining would be a waste of time and effort. I don’t like wasting time and effort.
Since my mother moved away in May, I’ve had very little personal contact with her. I’ve used the time to read and learn and work on my own personal restoration – without her involvement.
So, now I find myself in this surreal place. I have boundaries. And I’m sticking to them. And I don’t feel guilty. I know she is very, very sick and I’m not rushing to her side. I made my decisions months ago:
- I will accept any decision she makes about her own health care.
I will not tell her what to do.
I will not tell her what NOT to do.
I will not criticize her choices.
I will allow her to be responsible for her own choices.
She can not live with me.
Why would I have made these decisions months ago?
I’ve written a little about her before, but let me give you some more background info. I’ve known this was coming for a very, very long time. She’s a non-compliant diabetic, with a heart condition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol . . . I think she’s on 14 medications right now. I can’t tell you how long she’s had these conditions or how long she’s been dependent on on multiple prescription drugs, but it’s been decades.
My entire family has tried to get her to live a healthier lifestyle. We’ve tried reasoning, begging, anger, tears, manipulation . . . nothing. I had to stop going to restaurants with her. It was just easier. We would all order salad, grilled chicken, broiled seafood . . . she would order Fettuccine Alfredo and make “mmmm” noises. I’m not making this up. All I could think about was her heart clogging up and her blood sugar spiking. And I can never eat at Denny’s again. ever.
So, I’ve been at a place of acceptance about her health for a very, very long time. I no longer disagree with her about ANY health related decision she makes. I do not tell her what I think she should do about any aspect of her health. I liken it to this. Let’s say someone is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The person has a choice (in this case, my mother). Do they fight for a few extra years or do they live with abandon, enjoying the little time they have left? By her inaction and refusal to alter her diet and lifestyle, she’s essentially chosen to live a shorter life – on her terms. I had a choice. Do I accept that? Or do I put another nail in the coffin of our relationship by never letting it go?
I accepted it. stage 5.
“. . . therefore I quote” Thursday: If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “quote” post.
Need help making your link look pretty in the comment? Copy and use this code.
conversations with my mother . . . pie and gum
My mom didn’t go into the rehab center. She’s in the hospital instead. She’s taking diuretics intravenously (80 mg Lasix) and has a catheter. Trying to get that 20 plus pounds of water off. They are trying to figure out the pulmonary hypertension and the heart rate of 120. I just spoke with her and she sounds like she’s running a marathon while she’s talking. MrJAK is not sure she’s going to turn this around. Here is an example of her determination to get better:
Mom: I think they brought me the wrong lunch.
Me: Why?
Mom: I’m supposed to be on a low fat, low sodium, diabetic diet, but they brought me a piece of coconut cream pie and I ate it anyway.
I say nothing. NOTHING. I’ve learned.
Later in the conversation:
Mom: I’m not being a very good patient.
Me: Why?
Mom: I’m kind of high maintenance.
I say nothing. NOTHING. I’ve learned.
Then this:
Mom: I found a red pen in my purse, so I wrote a sign that said, “Please leave door open, I’m claustrophobic.” I hung it on the door with chewing gum.
What do I say about that? You got it.
nothing.
welcome to my world, MrJAK
My mom didn’t go into the rehab facility yesterday, something about being evaluated and the doctor needing to order it . . . anyway, my mom’s friend, MrJAK called to update me today.
He took her to the emergency room to force the issue. Currently she is in the ER, waiting for someone to authorize rehab. She still has severe edema – about 20 pounds of water. She’s breathing with difficulty and oxygen. While she can walk, it’s is slow and difficult. Her blood pressure is high and her heart rate is around 120 – while she’s on XANAX! So in addition to learning about HFCS today, I’m also reading up on Tachycardia.
I did get a laugh today, though. MrJAK, while talking about my mom, said:
(sigh) “You know, Julie . . . your mother has a little bit of an attitude problem.”
I swear, I’m glad I did not have a mouthful of coffee or I would be smelling hazelnut for the rest of the day.
An attitude problem.
really?
I’ll keep that in mind.
a response to Ms. CornRefiner’s comment
Last week, I wrote a Works for Me Wednesday post on my family’s reduction of high fructose corn syrup in our diet, entitled “high fructose corn syrup “in moderation.” My focus was on learning about nutrition and the dietary changes which are working for our family. However, the linked videos contained some references to the Corn Refiner’s Association. Today, a new comment appeared on that post. From Liz at the Corn Refiner’s Association. (sorry CRA, no link love for you.) She wanted to set me straight and provide additional resources for my research. How sweet. (pun intended)
Given the nature of her comment the blatant post highjack, complete with advertising links, I felt my response warranted an entire post rather than leave it buried in the comments of an older post. Although she ends with a different agenda, MY focus is still on nutrition. I’ll leave the economic and political commentary on this particular issue to those who have a passion for it.
“Hi, my name is Liz and I work for the Corn Refiner’s Association.”
Give me a sec. I need to re-read last week’s post to see if your lawyer will be contacting me next. No. I think I’m good. (by JSM)
“I wanted to share some information about High Fructose Corn Syrup.”
oh good. I get to heckle. I LOVE doing that! Just ask Mr. Ofori and Mr. Sunday (by JSM)
“High fructose corn syrup, like table sugar and honey, is composed of fructose and glucose, which are found in many naturally-occurring fruits, vegetables and nuts.
(you can’t see it, but Liz is patting me on the head right now.) Gee, thank you for telling me that! Because I hadn’t done ANY research before you stopped by. And I certainly didn’t know anything about fructose or glue . . . OH! No, it’s spelled glucose, right? How silly of me. I can spell Alpha-Amylase and Glucoamylase, and Xylose isomerase, but I can’t find them in the grocery store. Maybe they’re in the produce department. or the pharmacy.
And I’m definitely going to look for “naturally-occurring fruits, vegetables and nuts.” I’ll ask the produce manager at my grocery store to point them out to me. But, please. Continue. (by JSM)
“And high fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and honey – 4 per gram.”
Well, then it must metabolize the same as sugar and honey. Right? No? Oh, that’s right, HFCS metabolizes in the LIVER. But that’s “of little consequence” like it says on the website you recommended:
“Though the individual sugars are metabolized by different pathways, this is of little consequence since the body sees the same mix of sugars from caloric (nutritive) sweeteners, regardless of source.“
What a relief. Somebody should tell Scott Kustes, over at Modern Forager. His has no idea that this is of “little consequence.” He wasted his time writing an article. If he had only read the Corn Refinery’s Frequently Asked Questions page first. He could have spent the time consuming HFCS in moderation. Instead, he wrote this:
“There are five sugars known as monosaccharides: glucose, fructose, galactose, xylose, and ribose.(1) These five sugars serve as the building blocks of the disaccharides that we all know and love: sucrose, lactose, maltose, trehalose, and cellobiose.(2) We’re going to focus specifically on two of the monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, and one of the disaccharides, sucrose.
Glucose is the main energy of cellular function, metabolized by most every cell in the body. It fuels your cells, and while not technically necessary for the body to function (it can operate on fuel derived from fat and protein), some level of glucose from carbohydrates is a nice to have, especially if you engage in high-intensity activity. The body works very hard to keep blood glucose in a narrow range, through careful administration of insulin. Too high and all kinds of damage can be done, too low and all kinds of death can occur. So really only one kind of death, but in the grand scheme, isn’t one enough?
Fructose is a sugar found mainly in fruits, which undergoes metabolic processing in the liver. The main problem with fructose is that little piece about needing to be metabolized by the liver. Studies have suggested that consuming too much fructose messes up all kinds of things in the body.(3) Some show a correlation with obesity. Fructose tends to promote an increase in triglycerides in the blood, which are a definite marker for heart disease. Other studies have shown that fructose pulls important minerals from the blood, chelating them out of the body. This little gem also increases levels of uric acid in the body, an abundance of which brings about the symptoms of gout. Studies have shown fatty liver disease from too much fructose, making the liver look like that of an alcoholic. And finally, fructose reduces circulating insulin, leptin, and ghrelin levels, hormones which control satiety and appetite.” read more . . .
So, Scott, you’re saying it’s not fructose, it’s TOO MUCH fructose that’s the problem. Like in high fructose corn syrup? So, I can still eat fruit, because the AMOUNT of fructose in my apple would be “moderate” whereas the AMOUNT of fructose in HFCS Apple JUICE would be . . . higher? Thank you. (by JSM)
(Back to you, Liz:)
“For the most part, you’ll find high fructose corn syrup in the same kinds of products in which you would find sugar or other sweeteners.”
I know! I buy those other products! Do you have any recommendations? (by JSM)
At the same time, corn sweeteners offer some unique functional benefits that help companies offer more choices in food products.
Oh! Do tell! I always like products that help companies. And I want more food choices containing HFCS (by JSM)
“High fructose corn syrup keeps foods fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages, and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments.”
Really. It’s amazing. Those are some “unique functional benefits,” alright. How do companies making the products I buy do it? I never realized the products I buy aren’t fresh, have diminished flavors and are stale. And I just need to pay more attention when I drink my soda or juice. I’ve never noticed inconsistent flavors. Oh! I forgot. I don’t drink soda or juice. And I must have overlooked my lumpy condiments. (by JSM)
“Price may have prompted manufacturers to switch from sugar to high fructose corn syrup 30 years ago, but it is no longer a primary factor, since high fructose corn syrup has specific and unique functional qualities not shared by sugar. In addition, the price of corn is rising substantially due to demand.”
I’m sorry, what are you babbling about? manufacturers and the price of corn? We’re talking HEALTH here at Pragmatic Compendium. Focus. (by JSM)
“There’s a lot of solid research and information at
wait, those links don’t look quite right. Let me help. (by JSM)
” www dot Sweet (Sneaky) Surprise dot com and www dot HFCS (Twisted) Facts dot com. Thank you for your consideration.”
Oh no. Thank YOU. For the blog fodder. And more learning. (by JSM)
So, Corn Refiner’s Association? I said it in my first post. I’ll say it more slowly this time: Sell. It. Walking.
I’m going to learn a little more. But I’ll be sure to stick with what I can understand. Big words are scary.
Find great recipes and helpful kitchen tips at Kitchen Tip Tuesdays hosted by Tammy’s Recipes!
Want to learn “what works” for lots of different people? Click on over to Works for Me Wednesday hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer!
defining “honor thy mother”
My blogging has been light in substance the last few weeks. I’ve had some stuff happening. On Monday, October 13th, my mother had two stents and a balloon angioplasty placed in her heart. She was released from the hospital two days later and was staying with friends (in Arkansas). She didn’t get better. She got worse. Today, she will be admitted to a rehab facility for a maximum of 21 days. After that, we’ll see. If she’s better, she will go home to her own house and continue to live in Arkansas. If she’s not, well . . . That’s another post.
Let’s go back. In a nutshell.
My mother went to a high school reunion and reconnected with a friend. He and his wife live in Arkansas. They stay in contact after the reunion. Skip ahead. My mother asks my dad to move to Arkansas after she retires. He doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to leave his family. (My two sisters and I, along with our families live in Central Florida. My parents moved here in 1966, when I was two.) Skip ahead. Over a year passes and my dad still says no. Skip ahead. A few months more and my dad still says no. Skip ahead. My mother visits her friend and his wife in Arkansas. She comes home. She says, “I bought a house in Arkansas and I want a divorce.” Skip ahead. In May of 2008, the divorce is final and she moves to Arkansas. Skip ahead. It’s September 23rd. My home phone rings, caller id shows my mom. I’m on my way out the door to work the Whale so I let it go to voice mail. My cell rings, and I’ve got my hands full so I let it go to voice mail. I check caller id in the car and it shows it’s my mother’s number again. I get to the Whale, unpack my car and my cell rings. It’s my dad.
My mother’s friend had called my dad, using my her cell phone. He called to tell my dad that my mother needed a triple bypass and a valve replacement. Would my dad consider coming to Arkansas to take care of her after the surgery? My father, the most gracious man I know, says he can’t do that.
I call my mother. I get the details of her condition and the surgery. I spend DAYS deciding what to do. How do I “honor my mother” and at the same time, not take on the consequences of her actions? How do I “honor my mother” while still making sure that SHE is responsible for her choices? In the end, a friend lost her mother and somehow, at the exact right time, emailed me with some powerful insight. My husband’s input? He wanted me to have no regrets.
I called my mother.
Me: “Mom, forget convenience, forget money. How can I help? What do you need me to do for you? Do you want me to come to Arkansas for the surgery?”
Mom: “Well . . . “
Me: “When do you want me to come?”
Mom: “Well I’ll be asleep for two or three days after the surgery.”
Me: “Do you want me to be there before you go under?”
Mom: “But then you would just be sitting there for days while I slept.”
Me: “I’ll bring a book.”
We discuss care options for after the surgery. I’ve already Googled the hospital in Little Rock. They have a rehab center. I tell her I feel like the rehab center is the best place for her post-op recovery. She replies, “A NURSING HOME?” “No, mom, it’s a rehab center. Just to help you recover. It’s a short term facility. You wouldn’t be allowed to stay there.” A few days later, her doctor confirms my explanation and agrees that would be the best place for her after surgery.
Skip ahead. Friday, September 26th. The surgery, scheduled for Monday, September 29th, is canceled. Records have to transfer from her Florida doctors to her Arkansas doctors. She has pulmonary hypertension and nobody knows why. More tests. Everything is on hold. She will call me when she knows something.
Skip ahead. It’s Monday, October 13th, a little after 8:00 a.m. She’s calling to tell me that she will not be having open heart surgery. The doctors have decided to do stents instead. At 10:00 a.m. She’s in the waiting room at the hospital in Little Rock. I tell her I love her and I will pray for her at that time. Because I do. And I will. Skip ahead. Her friend calls me using her phone to tell me the procedure went well. She is released from the hospital on Wednesday and goes to stay with her friend and his wife. Skip ahead. Thursday night I call my mother. Her voice is breathy. She is winded. She says she feels terrible. Severe edema. Can’t eat. Can’t sleep. She’s shuffling when she walks and is on oxygen 24/7. I ask her when she sees her doctor again. Tomorrow (Friday). I take a risk. I ask her to ask her doctor if she could go into the rehab facility. Skip ahead. Her friend calls me Friday afternoon to tell me that she will go into the rehab center on Monday.
That’s today.
I won’t be going to Arkansas. But I will call her every day. Here are my boundaries:
Honoring my mother does NOT mean I need to personally take care of her. I just need to make sure she is taken care of, while accepting the decisions she makes about her own care.
Honoring my mother does NOT mean I need to make sure she is not alone. She moved to Arkansas. Alone.
Honoring my mother does NOT mean I need to make sure she is happy. Her expectations of me will escalate.
Honoring my mother does NOT mean putting her before my children and my husband. By moving to Arkansas, she has put me in a position where I have to choose. I must choose my family.
to be continued . . .
i hate picking out tile.
This floor is was 8 years old. What were we thinking? Wood floors? Our house’s nickname is Casa Aqua, for cryin out loud.
This is all from a pinhole leak in the line coming into the ice maker. How long was it leaking? Too long, I’m thinking. This photo doesn’t show it, but the water damage continues three to four feet on both sides of the fridge. I hate picking tile.
I’m thinking about tiling it myself. I have two friends (women) who’ve tiled their house and they both tell me I can do it. Maybe. It would be nice to save some money on this.
But, I’m NOT replacing this before the holidays. No way. No how.
Would You Like Chocolate With That? Calculate Your Age with Chocolate
(Compliments of http://www.wikihow.com)
1. Determine how many times a week you eat or want to eat chocolate. It must be a number between 1 and 10, including 1 or 10.
Let’s say you eat chocolate 8 times a week. (what? is that a lot?)
2. Multiply that number by 2.
8 x 2 = 16
3. Add 5 to the previous result.
16 + 5 = 21
4. Multiply that by 50.
21 x 50 = 1050
5. Add the current year (Gregorian).
1050 + 2008 = 3058
6. Subtract 250 if you’ve had a birthday this year. If you haven’t had a birthday this year, subtract 251.
Let’s say your birthday hasn’t passed yet.
3058 – 251 = 2807
7. Subtract your birth year.
Assuming you were born in 1975…
2807 – 1975 = 832
8. You’ll end up with a 3 or 4 digit number. The last two digits are your age (if you’re under 10 years old there will be a zero before your age). The remaining one or two digits will be the number of times per week you eat or want chocolate (the number you specified in the first step).
CLICK HERE to Find Out Why it Works
If you have anything chocolaty to share, post and link to Would You Like Chocolate With That? hosted by Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate!
“. . . therefore I quote.” Memarie Lane and Kathy Peel
I read, therefore I quote. It’s what I do.
I’ve been quoting books, but this gem from Memarie Lane was just too good to pass over just because it didn’t come bound or with an ISBN number:
“A day for me is like a Rubix Cube. Several patterns in several dimensions that have to be solved in tandem. Lining up one pattern may discombobulate another, so I have to keep it all in balance. Hopefully, by the end of the day I’ll have it all sorted out, though the next morning all that work will be undone again.”
Marie Du Jour
by Memarie Lane
Thinking about my main job these days – not my consulting, but my main job as a Family Manager, I have Kathy Peel to thank for the way I view it and the consistent awareness that what I do has value. My quote today is the crux of Kathy’s (and subsequently my) philosophy on the role of Family Manager.
Although there are days when I miserably fail to meet my goals (and I mean MISERABLY), I start over again the next day with a clean slate. Every little change adds up. It was much more difficult to consistently pair my goals with action when my kids were toddlers and preschoolers. There’s so much “reaction” parenting sometimes. You have to react to something you didn’t expect, like a golf ball through the fish tank. (That’s another post.) Now that my kids are taking more ownership of their own lives, washing their own hair and wiping their own . . . It’s easier.
So, although I don’t always meet them, these words have been the cornerstone for my goals for many, many years:
“I wrote down all of my chores and responsibilities – whether they had to do with our house, clothing, children, relatives, bank accounts, pantry, schools, vacations, furniture, holidays, etc., (the list was very long) – and studied them. Then I tried to place each item on the list into a general department, similar to those of a business. I wanted to see if any patterns emerged. The did. As a matter of fact, seven distinct departments emerged that made a lot of sense to me as a Family Manager.
Time – managing time and schedules – getting the right people to the right places at the right time – so that our household can run smoothly. (UPDATED VERSION INCLUDES: with the right equipment.)
- Goals: To see each day, each hour, each minute as a gift, not to be irresponsibly “spent,” but “used” in a purposeful way. Learn to use small blocks of time to accomplish big tasks. To stop wasting time with meaningless activities. To think and plan ahead so as to eliminate as much chaos and stress as possible from our daily life.
Food: efficiently, economically and creatively meeting the daily food and nutritional needs of my family.
- Goals: To provide tasty, nutritious meals for our family. And even if the food isn’t gourmet, to make mealtimes especially enjoyable times when we share laughter, tears, dreams, ideas – our worlds, as a family.
Home & Property: overseeing the maintenance and care of all our tangible assets, including personal belongings, the house, and its surroundings.
- Goals: To appreciate and take care of all of our belongings in such a way that we can enjoy them as much as possible and they will last as long as possible. To create, through the decor and furnishings of our home, a warm and welcoming atmosphere for family and friends.
Finances – managing budgets, bill-paying and a host of other money issues.
- Goals: To be alert for practical ways every day to live by the motto “Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, give as much as you can.” To live within our budget and spend less than we make.
Special Projects – coordinating large and small projects—birthdays, holidays, vacations, garage sales, family reunions—that fall outside the normal family routine.
- Goals: To plan occasions and events to celebrate the special moments of life, and create and carry on family traditions. To put making memories high on our priority list. To make sure I (and others) aren’t so overwhelmed with trying to do it right we don’t have any fun.
Family Members and Friends – dealing with family life and relationships, and acting as a teacher, nurse, counselor, mediator, and social chairman. (UPDATED VERSION INCLUDES: child rearing, education, marriage, friends, neighbors, and aging parents.)
- Goals: To always remember that relationships are the most important thing in life, that people are more important than projects. To help those closest to me develop their full potential by providing opportunities for their growth and valuing them as individuals. To be, to the best of my ability, a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, relative, friend, and neighbor.
Personal Management – growing and caring for myself physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. (I figured that if I’m going to manage everything else, I’ve got to manage myself.)
- Goals: To strive to develop my full potential as a woman. To be an avid reader and a lifelong learner, to exercise regularly and eat wisely, to schedule times for personal recreation and refreshment, to grow in my knowledge of God. To take good care of myself and remind myself regularly of my value as a human being.”
The Family Manager
by Kathy Peel
“. . . therefore I quote” Thursday: If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “quote” post.
Need help making your link look pretty in the comment? Copy and use this code.
high fructose corn syrup “in moderation”
Have you seen this commercial promoting high fructose corn syrup? What about this one?
The gist? High fructose corn syrup is “fine in moderation.”
Considering that high fructose corn syrup is in so many products, consuming it “in moderation” requires some serious learning and consistent effort. I’m not sure if it’s even possible for me to eliminate it from our diet. But I can reduce our intake. Our pantry and fridge probably hold WAY more HFCS than I realize. But I’m learning. Reading labels. Comparing products. Changing products. Changing brands. One product at a time. This is one job I don’t think I will EVER “finish.”
Seriously. And who paid for those commercials? Who thinks we are all stupid? Who thinks there is not an answer to the question:
“What do THEY say about high fructose corn syrup?”
There are many people who would NOT be reduced to dumbfounded babbling if they were asked about high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup in general. Like THIS mom. And THIS guy:
“In the past, fructose was considered beneficial to diabetics because it is absorbed only 40 percent as quickly as glucose and causes only a modest rise in blood sugar.5 However, research on other hormonal factors suggests that fructose actually promotes disease more readily than glucose. Glucose is metabolized in every cell in the body but all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. The livers of test animals fed large amounts of fructose develop fatty deposits and cirrhosis, similar to problems that develop in the livers of alcoholics.” (click here to read his entire article)
I believe that sugar is bad for me. I believe that high fructose corn syrup is worse. I used to consume many more foods made with high fructose corn syrup than I do now, but not intentionally. I was completely uninformed. Then I began learning more about it. Now, I’m taking active steps to minimize the amount of high fructose corn syrup in my diet, and my family’s diet. Whenever I have a food alternative which does not contain HFCS, I choose it. It’s usually more expensive. But the last thing PinkGirl needs is a CapriSun.
Water is first, but when we do give her juice, it’s Juicy Juice. We put One Carb Ketchup on her Oscar Mayer hot dog, tucked in her Snuggles hot dog bun. FavoriteSon’s PB&J is made with Smart Balance peanut butter and Smucker’s Sugar Free preserves, on Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat bread. (Not all Nature’s Own breads are free from HFCS, check the labels.) Little changes move us a little closer to that “in moderation” goal. I’m sure we all still consume a lot of HFCS, but we’re working on it. PinkGirl had cotton candy at a Magic game Friday night and I didn’t freak out. FavoriteSon had a Gatorade after football practice a few days ago. No freaking out. He prefers Smart Water anyway. FavoriteSon is starting to make his own food choices, so we’ll have to wait and see how much of all this is is sinking in.
(I’ve only listed a few of our HFCS Free family favorites, we’ve found more. But we’re always on the lookout, so if you know of any products which are HFCS FREE, please share!)
So, I’m learning. I’m making changes. I’m NOT, however, belittling anyone for consuming HFCS or giving it their kids. Ask me what I think about high fructose corn syrup and I’ll talk, but I will not initiate the conversation by saying to you:
“Wow. You don’t care what the kids eat, huh?”
Who is that obnoxious?
Learning about HFCS Works for Me. I’m not going to stop. And I’m not going to babble like an idiot if someone asks me what “they” say about HFCS. I may not know everything about it, but I know more today than I did a few months ago. Changing the contents of my grocery cart Works for Me too. I just need to remember to bring my reading glasses to the grocery store with me. So, Corn Refiners Association? Sell it walking. I’m learning here.
I spent some time yesterday researching and learning more about HFCS. In all my previous reading and learning, I had not heard about the documentary, “King Corn
A Conversation with “King Corn
A Conversation with “King Corn
A Conversation with “King Corn
And this series by Peter Jennings “How to Get Fat Without Even Trying” provides a lot of food for thought as well.
Want to learn more from lots of different people? Click on over to Works for Me Wednesday hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer!
trading a hug for a link
PinkGirl’s BACK!
She disappeared from the blogosphere there for a few weeks, but she just posted today. I’ve been sweetly asked, with a hug, to post something on MY blog pointing to her new post, entitled “WHICH ONE?”
I know. I’ve been bribed. But it was a really sweet hug.
the chop wizard dices again!
I’ve already posted my contribution for Kitchen Tip Tuesdays for this week, but Tammy asked for other ways to dice carrots, so . . .
or
I did need to cut the carrot in half to fit on the grate and the smaller grate needed extra pressure, but it worked great – as usual! I’ve posted before about what my Vidalia Chop Wizard! can do.
5 minute diced peppers
5 minute onions in a flash (freeze)
It’s the handiest gadget in my kitchen. Besides the speed, do you know my favorite part? It’s dishwasher safe.
bake ahead egg patties
Back in March, I posted a recipe for Bake Ahead Egg Muffins (with a print friendly PDF version). The Sunday before last, I took about 20 to 30 minutes to whip up a batch of egg/cheese/spinach/sausage goo – but I didn’t bake muffins. I baked two 9×12 pans and then cut squares. The squares fit nicely on a piece of toast.
This week, I again used the two 9×12 pans, but I used an empty (and clean) tuna can to cut circles to fit on an English muffin. I punched a hole in the bottom of the tuna can because I cut them hot and there was sputtering when I pressed down. I layered the patties between paper towels in containers to prevent sogginess and FavoriteSon had the first one this morning. Score! We now have 14 more patties in the fridge. Along with the leftover remnants after cutting all those circles.
Me? I put the remnants on a piece of toast. Such a visual example the wasted space resulting from round containers. I’ll say it again. I HATE round containers.
Find great recipes and helpful kitchen tips at Kitchen Tip Tuesdays hosted by Tammy’s Recipes!
And click on over to check out the recipes at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed With Grace
toe walking advantage
FavoriteSon is FAST. I mean REALLY fast. Check out the photos on Pragmatic Commotion in the post “that’s what I’m TALKIN’ about!“. (I take better photos when I’m not screaming “GO! RUN!! RUN!! RUN!!! THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!!” I should probably also look through the lens instead of directly at the field.)
While I am hugely proud of him, I must be honest. He’s got an advantage.
Idiopathic toe walking.
There are a few causes for toe walking, including autism and cerebral palsy, but in this case, FavoriteSon gets it from his dad. The physical condition is caused by tight/short heel cords (Achilles tendon). FirstHusband doesn’t walk on his toes anymore, and we always figured FavoriteSon would also outgrow it. And he has, somewhat.
A few years ago, when he was 9, he had a few months of physical therapy and it really helped. After years of toe walking, his body had adjusted and his hip flexors were tight also. So when he stood on what we, in our family, call “regular feet” with his heels on the floor, he was bent forward at the waist at about a 45 degree angle. As he went back up on his toes, he stood straight and tall. We had been monitoring the condition since he began walking and he always hated going to the pediatrician because he would be asked to walk on his heels and it was very uncomfortable. His condition had remained fairly constant until he went through a growth spurt at around 9 years old. When he dropped to his heels and bent over at a 45 degree angle, we determined he needed to see a specialist. The specialist first recommended physical therapy and if that failed, possibly surgery. When the doctor explained that the surgery would involve poking lots and lots of holes in the muscle and then wearing braces on his legs as the muscle healed, FavoriteSon decided he did NOT want surgery. Thankfully, the physical therapy made a huge difference. It was hard work. And it was very uncomfortable. And he complained. But after a few months, he bent forward at about a TEN degree angle when he dropped down onto his heels. A ten degree angle wasn’t enough to warrant surgery. FavoriteSon was VERY happy. And he knew exactly what he had to do when he went through another growth spurt. He had to stretch those muscles to catch up with the bone growth.
This is the winning stretch for him:
And how is he now? Walking on your toes for 13 years makes for some strong calves. And running without putting your heel down first? Makes for some FAST sprinting. So the boy can SPRINT. Sustained running? no. He can’t run much farther than a mile at a time without his heel cords “burning” as he puts it. So, he runs track, not cross country. And he HATES jogging. I was talking with a friend (who is a runner) about his condition and she said, “OH! So he’s already up there!” Yes. He’s always up there.
I can pick him out in a crowd or across a football field because I can recognize his gait. He still walks on his toes, but only slightly. And he can stand heels down without bending over at the waist.
His biggest problem now? His nickname on the football field. “Prancer.” pshhh. A fat man in a red suit can catch “Prancer.” Don’t be calling him Prancer when I’m in earshot. I protect my young.
my official guess is . . .
byran sausage.
If you’re just catching up, we’ve been on a quest to decipher the missing ingredient from FirstHusband’s handwritten one pot hit recipe. To see the entire recipe, check out “guess (or suggest) the missing ingredients, win a cookbook.” To read about our clues and continued thought process, check out “It’s a Cook-Off!” We’ve had LOTS of guesses and suggestions, none of which really seemed just right.
But I got to thinking about it. FavoriteSon LOVED it. Loved it? It had tomatoes in it. Spinach. Chick peas? big whoop. What would make FavoriteSon – my little carnivore – LOVE it?
Meat.
I typically buy and keep one of the following on hand almost all the time:
Healthy Choice Smoked Turkey Sausage.
or
Oscar Mayer Smoked Sausage
or
Bryan Smoked Sausage
So am I right? I have no idea. But when I mentioned it to FirstHusband, he relied: “Could be, I’ll give it a try.”
It sure would explain why FavoriteSon loved it.
So, this is the first version we’ll try and I’ll let you know how it turns out. But, DON’T LET THIS STOP YOU from making additional suggestions! I’m not sure I’m right. It’s just a guess.
This is a follow-up from my previous entry at Kitchen Tip Tuesday hosted by Tammy’s Recipes. Go on over and check out the great tips and recipes!
New to Compendium? Peruse my topics & my “little known facts” page to see if we have anything in common, watch a short video of my testimony or check out my website, vocal samples or speaking samples.
Feel free to steal my ideas, ponder my musings, disagree with my rants, jump on my bandwagon, read my favorite books, comment, email me, or just lurk. Whatever works for you.
Most Recent 10- the efficacy of prayer.
- conversations with a born-again atheist: abandoning Santa.
- comfort zones.
- conversations with a born-again atheist: some behind the scenes banter
- conversations with a born-again atheist: the Santa comparison
- that’s just sad, that’s what it is.
- conversations with a born-again atheist: comparing belief in God to belief in Santa. and faires. and WibbleFoo.
- conversations with a born-again atheist: the “shotgun” email (more reasons why faith is unreasonable, illogical and irrational.)
- conversations with a born-again atheist: why faith is unreasonable, illogical and irrational.
- sanctimonious.
Fitness Log: April
April Totals as of 4/3
HIIT Incline Days: 2
HIIT Incline Miles: 7.5
HIIT Incline Hours: 2.5
Strength Training/Yoga Days: 1
Forearm Planks: 2Recent Comments
multiplemom on the efficacy of prayer. Alberto Mason on sanctimonious. grace on sanctimonious. Julie Stiles Mills on conversations with a born-agai… Atomic Mutant on conversations with a born-agai… -
Where Ya’ll From?
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