A Step In The Right Direction March 26, 2023
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Health & Wellness, Life Balance.15 comments
I tend to steer clear of controversial topics here on SLTW. Most of the time, anyway.
In point of fact, even a charitable observer might point out that I have steered clear of any and all topics here on SLTW. Since January, anyway.
Point taken.
Anyway, I hope that what I say here will not anger my readers unduly, but I feel it must be said:
Getting Old . . . isn’t always a step in the right direction.
Yesterday, I was prepping salad fixings in the kitchen when I noticed that the back of my left heel was complaining vociferously each time I shifted positions.
The pain had materialized out of the blue with no warning shot fired.
It was as if my body had commanded:
Let there be pain.
And there was pain, and it was NOT good.
I scanned my activities of the previous day to see if I had over-used or abused my Achilles Tendon in any way, shape, or form and saw nothing that would explain the pain.
At first.
I had engaged in normal ADL’s all day ~ rising ablutions, a light break fast, brain games, paying bills, checking e-mails, fresh fruit for lunch, biking to the clubhouse to play Bridge, shelving books in the communal library . . .
Something niggled at the edges of my admittedly aged memory.
Had I over-stretched my reach when reshelving books on the top shelves?
Perhaps.
Could I have stretched my Achilles Tendon to the breaking point?
Perhaps.
Ach! What to do with an aching Achilles Tendon?
To stretch, or not to stretch, that was my next question.
Instead of racing to the Bat Cave for answers, I hobbled from the kitchen to my office to confer with that sage giver of advice . . .
Google.
Google advised me that IF it was torn or ruptured, I was going to be side-lined for some time.
I decided to take it easy for the rest of the weekend to see if there was any improvement before contacting an approved medical provider for assistance.
In short, I listened to my body.
And . . . when I arose this morning, it felt somewhat better. I’ll continue not to overstretch my reach for a few more days, but it appears that I may already be on the road to recovery.
Aah . . . a step in the right direction!
Have any of you noticed as you traveled again and again around the sun that unexplained injuries arise with increasing frequency?
Or that even normal ADL’s conspire to produce lumps, bumps, bruises, contusions, sprains, pains?
Or that conversations with fellow agers tend to gravitate to current health ailments more often than when in our 20’s and 30’s?
If you are still in your 20’s and 30’s, feel free to share something hip and happening with us Golden Oldies. We like to live vicariously!
Baby, It’s C~O~L~D Outside! December 23, 2022
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Life Balance, Nature.comments closed
Hope that Elliot doesn’t wreak havoc with your Christmas plans and that you devise ways to stay warm amid this windy wintry weather.
We are under a wind chill advisory for tonight. That doesn’t happen often around here. Here’s hoping that warmer weather returns in due course.
In the meantime, have a Hot Toddy!
Aah . . . that’s better!
The Power for Good September 5, 2022
Posted by nrhatch in Animals, Health & Wellness, Humor, Nature.comments closed
Our electric company, Florida Power & Light, is a force for good.
In addition to implementing innovative programs to provide energy to homes using sustainable solar as well as programs which allow consumers to recharge EV’s overnight for a low monthly rate (less than the price of a tank of gas), FPL is helping to protect the American Crocodile:
The American crocodile is primarily a coastal species that ranges from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and even into South Florida. They are typically a gray/green color and can be found in the fresh/brackish/salt water of river estuaries, coastal lagoons and mangrove swamps where they feed on fish, crustaceans, small mammals, reptiles and birds.
Throughout much of its range, the American crocodile was listed as endangered. FPL partners with federal and state conservation agencies to help with crocodile restoration efforts, resulting in the species being downlisted to threatened status. At [the] Turkey Point Power Plant in southern Miami-Dade County, [FPL has] worked for years to help this species rebound. In fact, the 2021 American crocodile nesting season at the plant resulted in a record-setting 565 hatchlings, establishing a historic success in FPL’s management of the local crocodile population.
This video is a pleasant 7-minute interlude showing stunning scenery and heroic efforts . . . by man AND by mama beast!
Go mom!
To read more: FPL ~ American Crocodile
On a related note, I read a somewhat bizarre news story this week about someone whose emotional support animal is . . . an alligator!
I kid you not!
No, not a metallic sculpture in the garden.
And not a fluffy gator made of sand, either.
A real live alligator.
With sharp claws and sharper teeth!
Joseph Henney’s emotional support animal WallyGator goes with him almost everywhere, from the grocery store to walks in the park. They hug each other and sleep in the same bed. WallyGator is an alligator.
“When he turns his nose toward you, that means he expects a kiss,” said Henney, 69, who goes by Joie (pronounced “Joe”) and lives in Jonestown, Pa., about two hours from Philadelphia. “He’s super sweet-natured.”
To read more: His emotional support animal is an Alligator.
OK, so, I would have to be severely disturbed before I would CHOOSE an alligator, crocodile, or venomous snake as my emotional support animal.
Just saying.
How about you?
If you needed emotional support, could you place your trust in a reptilian crocodilian?
Or would you prefer to cuddle up with a cute kitten?
Do tell.
See you later, Al E Gator. In a while, Crocodile.
Biking Makes Me Feel Young! May 11, 2022
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Health & Wellness, Life Balance, Nature.comments closed
It’s National Bike Month.
What a great opportunity to pump up your tires, kick up your kickstand, and hit the road.
Biking is good for your health and good for the planet. It’s also good for your wallet ~> no need to head to the filling station, saving big bucks!
Since moving to Florida, I ride most days because: (1) Florida is warm year-round; (2) Florida is flat as a pancake; and (3) hopping on my bike to ride up to the clubhouse or around the neighborhood makes me feel like a kid again:
WHEEEE!!!!!
Do you still bike? If so, share a bike tale or trail in the comments.
If not, want some incentive to get biking this month? Here’s a score card to play Bike Month Bingo:
To learn more, visit the League of American Bicyclists at bikeleague.org
Aah . . . that’s better!
B. Cereus February 24, 2022
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Health & Wellness, Home & Garden.comments closed
This is a public health announcement about any leftover rice and pasta you have in your fridge.
Don’t eat it without REHEATING it enough to kill any B. Cereus toxins loitering about on it.
A 19-year-old college student ate leftover lo mein and ended up having his fingers and legs amputated.
I’m serious:
The Massachusetts college student had eaten rice, chicken and lo mein from a restaurant. Soon after, he felt abdominal pain and his skin turned a shade of purple, according to a report by The New England Journal of Medicine.
The teenager was admitted to a hospital for “shock, multiple organ failure, and rash,” and his condition quickly declined. He experienced abnormal breathing, high blood pressure and vomiting. The student had been healthy overall with regular drinking and smoking habits, the report said.
Bacillus Cereus (B. Cereus) is a nasty bacterium that hangs out on dried rice and pasta. Once it is cooked, the bacteria comes alive and starts to multiply.
The bacteria produces a toxin when heated and left out too long, according to the CDC.
For that reason, it’s important to cool rice and pasta in shallow containers. Never in a big pot.
And to be super safe, reheat FULLY before consuming.
Your fingers and toes will thank you!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Weightless by Marconi Union January 27, 2022
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Life Balance, Meditation, Mindfulness.comments closed
Need a break? Check out this video by Marconi Union.
Weightless has been shown to reduce stress by 65% (according to people who study and measure such things).
Aah . . . that’s better!
For more ways to de-stress: 7 Ways to De-Stress When You Can’t Go Outside (Harvard Business Review)
In a nutshell: Move. Laugh. Breathe. Journal. Meditate. Blow Bubbles. Go with the Flow (cooking, painting, singing, playing in the sandbox, ironing sheets). And . . . Listen to Music. Like Weightless.
Spring Forward . . . Fall Back! November 6, 2021
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Humor, Life Balance.comments closed
Today is the last day of daylight savings time for many of us. We lose an hour in the Spring and reclaim it in the Fall.
As you “Fall Back” tonight . . .
Please take any necessary precautions to avoid serious injury.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Moi? Lazy? Mais Non! September 24, 2021
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Humor, Life Balance, Mindfulness.comments closed
I have it on GOOD authority that I am not lazy . . .
And neither are you!
In fact, according to social psychologist and author Devon Price, laziness does NOT exist. In further point of fact, that’s the name of his book ~> Laziness Does Not Exist.
According to Devon Price, Ph.D.:
“Laziness is usually a warning sign from our bodies and our minds that something is not working and we really need a break,” says Price. “The human body is so incredible at signaling when it needs something. But we have all learned to ignore those signals as much as possible because they’re a threat to our productivity and our focus at work.”
The “laziness lie,” says Price, tells us that there’s always something more we could and should be doing — be it at home, at work or in our relationships — and that our worth is based on our productivity. It’s time to unlearn that. Instead of seeing laziness as a deficit or something that needs to be fixed, we should listen to the call that it’s time for a change.”
To read more (or listen to a 17 minute podcast): You Aren’t Lazy.
But what’s the hurry?
Take a nap first.
You know you want to!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Some Telling Numbers August 25, 2021
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, People.comments closed
Sarasota Memorial Hospital posted some telling numbers on Monday, comparing the recent effects of Covid on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated people:
*Out of 230 patients hospitalized, 25 were vaccinated and 205 hadn’t managed to get vaccinated yet.
*Out of 51 patients in the ICU, 3 were vaccinated and 48 remained unvaccinated.
*Out of 34 folks on ventilators ~> 1 was vaccinated and 33 were NOT.
Covid vaccinations save lives and prevent serious life-threatening symptoms, like impaired breathing.
Know anyone who is dragging their heels?
Encourage them to get vaccinated . . . before it’s too late.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Escape Hatch July 11, 2021
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Home & Garden, Sustainable Living.comments closed
Last Spring, just as Covid was shutting things down, we ordered lumber for a new deck, which BFF constructed with due care.
Because our deck is set back from the lagoon, we have a rocky coastline beneath us.
In case of fire, I decided I didn’t want to have to climb over the railing before dropping to the jagged rocks below.
So I asked BFF to build me an Escape Hatch . . . for emergency evacuations.
With one upward pull, an opening in the railing wide enough to squeeze through appears.
Allowing anyone in residence to SIT on the deck and drop GENTLY to the rocks below.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 