Wow, you might not believe I have more “stuff” going on. More on that later. I am sure I will write a post or two. You know I always share, it just takes some time sometime. So, instead – highlights of my day: a student who has been away from my Nia classes for a bit came to class today. That was wonderful, unexpected and very timely. Another student in one of my yoga classes came to class with his own mat. That put a huge smile on my face. I took that as a sign that he is “into” it. Later when I told him I was so happy to see him have his own mat, he said, “Yeah, I got to stick with it!!!!” Thrilling! Yes, gotta keep looking at the bright spots. While perusing my cache of “topics to post about”, I came across one I found interesting. Could be something you are aware of, perhaps I had heard of it too, but forgot. I think the studies were done in 2009. Did you know caffeine could, possibly, help people with asthma breathe better?
There is an article about a small study showing caffeine worked as a bronchodilator. “A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs.” per Wiki
The small study of 75 people with mild to moderate asthma was done. Six trails showed 55 people had improved lung function for up to fours hours after consuming caffeine.
A study at the Indiana University show that caffeine an hour before exercise can significantly reduce exercise induced asthma. I cannot find a link to the Indiana University study, but there are numerous articles about it that surface when a search is done. One article on ScienceDaily said that it was LARGE amounts of caffeine that were used in this study. The article stated “9 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight”. Ok check my figuring on this using the information from the Mayo Clinic regarding a regular brewed cup of coffee, which is 8 oz brewed coffee has 95-200 mg of caffeine. That is a big difference, but that is ok, it will still work in my “figuring”. Let’s use the top, 200 mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee. Well, lets say average man is 80 kilograms (176.37 pounds), that would be 720 mgs of caffeine. That is roughly 4.5 cups of strong coffee. Is that right? The article also said that smaller amounts – 3 mg – 6 mg per kilogram of body weight “also reduced the wheezing, coughing and other symptoms of” exercise induced asthma.
Interesting. I know many people who use caffeine to help fuel their workouts. I know many people who use caffeine to help fuel their day. So, while I am by NO MEANS saying to use caffeine instead of any physician prescribed medication for asthma . . . I just think it is interesting. Since it could be that many people with asthma are drinking coffee anyway. I just like when I come across tidbits of information.
My niece was here visiting for a week, but because she is family she doesn’t really get treated like a guest. It is my stance that she is here visiting ME (and my husband) so I drag her along to all of my Nia classes, my yoga classes, and all the things I have to do. She is completely capable of staying at the house and relaxing as if on vacation, but — nope, she is here for a visit so I make her visit. She got out of going with me one day when her uncle took her to the beach. THEY were visiting. At the end of the week, my dad came to pick her up and we were waiting for my husband to get off of work so we could all go to dinner. My dad looked at one of my clocks, then at his watch and he said, “I always look at MY watch.” Then he said that my clock was fast. We started talking about how we can’t call POPCORN any longer. Then I realized that my niece probably doesn’t even know what that is! So I asked her, she had no idea. Awwwww. Sometimes it is sad when things I had all my life are unknown. The conversation led to, “When did it stop?” So, of course, I looked it up. And — guess what? I found all kinds of information I didn’t know. This post is about POPCORN or the Speaking Clock!
When I was young if you wanted to know the EXACT time you called 767-1234, or 767-2676, which spells POPCORN. Now, I grew up in a house with a lot of clocks (probably why I have a lot in our house), but they were set at least 10 minutes ahead of time — I am sure my parents had a reason for that, but I could NOT tell you WHY (but my dad still does it). Not only were they not set to the correct time, most of them didn’t match. So, I basically never really could figure out what time it was, so I called POPCORN a lot.
It was also interesting because after a power outage the line would be busy! Apparently a lot of people were trying to find out what time it was! My internet search revealed that AT&T stopped the Speaking Clock in California in 2007. I remember when it stopped. I remembered it was a hot topic in a lot of my social media feeds, but I didn’t remember the year. All of the information in this post is from Wiki. Wiki says that in the United States it was not known by the name “Speaking Clock.” That is nice for me to know because I don’t remember it ever being called that. The information states it was typically called “Time of Day.” I just remember we called it POPCORN. Although the 767 prefix was just for Northern California. (Wiki calls the prefix “exchanges”)
Quick Wiki facts:
–France had the first speaking clock service, it started on February 14, 1933
–Not all speaking clocks are a free call, sometimes services charges apply
–Some counties have speaking clocks in more than one language
–Some services supply local time and local weather
The following countries have speaking clocks:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados,Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
Norway had the service until 2007. Also, it could be that some of these services have since been ceased.
Ha. Cool. I never really thought about other countries having a speaking clock. Seems like a lot of the States in America have stopped the service due to the use of cell phones. Not many people using their cell phones to CALL to see what time it is. And cell phone clocks don’t need to be set. I used to carry the phone (not a cell phone) from clock to clock and set the time to the EXACT time according to POPCORN. I just was kind a little surprised the other day by the thought that my niece didn’t even know what it was. I am so happy that Deb Wong thought to video tape it and put it on Youtube for those of use that want to hear that familiar voice to see it! THANKS Deb!
So . . . do any of you local remember this? Miss it? How about you all living not local (to me)? Do you have a Specking Clock? Do you use it?
Recently while riding as a passenger I saw another driver smoking an e-cigarette. I think it would be more accurate to say, sucking on an e-cigarette. I mentioned it to my husband and he mentioned something about the manufacturers having issues because laws were being passed in many places that would require them to be treated like regular cigarettes. I was excited to hear that because I feel that the manufacturers of them “target” young kids. So I Googled e-cigarettes or something and an article came up “10 Little-known Facts About E-cigarettes” by Maria Trimarchi and Susan Cassidy. This statement jumped out at me: “Smoking cigarettes is known to cause damage to every organ in your body, and smoking-related illnesses are responsible for one out of every five deaths in the U.S.” Holy Moly! If you have time jump over and read that article or stay here and let me share with you some of the things I found interesting according to that article.
It states that one-fifth of smokers have tried e-cigarettes in attempt to quit smoking. So basically trading one habit for another. To me, not truly quitting. The citation for that statement links to an article that states the e-cigarette helps give the smoker the same sense of smoking. Well . . . not truly quitting. So I am unsure as to why they consider an e-cigarette and “attempt to quit”.
I have always wondered what an e-cigarette was, ya know, what it did, this article cleared that up for me with “This is a tobacco-free product. E-cigs are actually vaporizers; instead of burning tobacco, the mechanism heats up a liquid. The liquid turns into vapor, which is then inhaled, or ‘vaped.'”
More info:
—Instead of a lighter there is a battery which engages the e-cigarette to heat up and the liquid contained in the cartridge and it vaporizes.
—Nothing is burning so there is no secondhand smoke, the “sucker” inhales vapor.
—Just because they are tobacco free and don’t burn that doesn’t mean they are nicotine free. And that is the addictive stuff. The stuff that is very harmful. In fact in its liquid form it can be fatal. Not only through ingestion, but through your skin. I know I have seen CSI do a story on that. The article lists some numbers about how there was a significant rise in the calls received by poison control centers in regards to liquid nicotine poisoning.
—“The liquid in e-cigarettes is typically a combination of nicotine, flavorings (such as bubble gum or watermelon).” Oh, yeah, remember I mentioned I believe they are targeting kids . . . . what? Why? Because they have bubble gum or watermelon flavor? Naawwww!
—Some have the same amount of nicotine as regular cigarettes.
—The article also alludes to the idea that some of the metals released during the vaping may be toxic.
—Some tests done on the cartridges used in the e-cigarettes showed they contained an ingredient that is also found in antifreeze.
—Some tests showed that the cartridges were not labeled correctly so the consumer was actually getting MORE nicotine than they thought.
—Just this year regulations regarding e-cigarettes are starting to come into play. But according to this article “Manufacturers, however, say the e-cigarette is simply recreational, and should not be subject to FDA regulation.”
—There is a possibility for smokers to save money sucking on e-cigarettes instead of “real” or regular cigarettes.
—Even though the e-cigarette does not burn the potential for secondhand nicotine exposure is present. The exposure is less, but still with 2.5 million non-smokers having died from affects of secondhand smoke in a fifty year period, I would rather not be breathing that air . . . thank you.
I never thought they were a good idea, but I found it interesting to read these fact. Do pop over and check out the entire article as I only highlighted the info to give you the “vaporized” version.
Well, what do YOU think about the e-cigs? Better than regular cigarettes?
I teach Nia for the City of San Jose and the YMCA. I have been teaching Gentle Yoga too, but that is different. The Gentle Yoga classes are usually smaller both the actually room we are in and the number of people. And with yoga we don’t need the music loud so often times my iPhone in the middle of the yoga mats serves us just fine. But with Nia we need the music loud. Not “Zumba-loud” because I still need to be heard over the music, but loud enough that I can hear my music cues and people can get a sense of the music. With most of my classes the number of students is more than yoga and the venue is larger. I actually have taught at some places where the audio system did not work so I tried using my phone and it did not have enough volume. With Nia people follow my lead, but they also move their body in their own way so it helps them dance when there is music to dance too. So since I teach in all different places and the audio system is not always the same I have a variety of speakers. I had been looking at one for a couple of years, but never wanted to invest the money. But one day my hubby and I were at Costco and we saw a device I had been looking at. He wanted to get it. I hemmed and hawed, but we came home with a Block Rocker.
I had almost bought one before but with every model they came out with something different so I was trying to decide which one to purchase. Then they came out with a Bluetooth enabled version. I wanted to know that I could still use an Aux cable because Bluetooth can be spotty. I had not been able to determine that from my shopping online at first. And then I forgot about it until I saw it in Costco. We pulled it off the shelf and checked it out. Read the box to make sure it would play music both ways — via Bluetooth or a cable. And my hubby put it in the cart. All the way around the store I kept thinking, “Yes. No. Yes. No.” and on and on.
We came home with it. We plugged it in and hooked it up to our devices. It was pretty cool. Both my husband and I have used it around the house. It does GREAT house sound. Our house is an acoustical “weird-mare”, but it works great. Both of us have used it out in the yard. But none of that is in a big room with people in it. And I am not complaining that the rooms I have been teaching in have sound systems. That is GREAT. I am very fortunate. I have not had the opportunity to use my big speaker.
My Group Ex Nia Class with the City of San Jose on Tuesdays and Thursdays is normally held in the dance studio. But this summer there is Summer Camp in there for the kids one week every month. So at the beginning of the year my supervisor moved us from the dance studio to the Multipurpose room. I didn’t know if this room had an audio system. I have been telling my class for months that we were going to be in the MPR for a few classes this summer. Then for the past two weeks I have been reminding them of the actual dates. I would have been very upset with myself if I had shown up and not be prepared. Here I have been preparing them for months and then I didn’t have music. I am soooooooooo glad I thought about my Block Rocker. This is EXACTLY what it is for.
I even remembered to charge it the night before. Ya see it is a Bluetooth device and it has a rechargeable battery so it can be used totally cordless. Squeeeee!
So I used it today and it worked GREAT. I am super happy. I love it when things work out. I am so glad that Costco had it and it was such a good deal. As I said, I had been shopping for them for a couple of years and was happy this one was priced lowest of them all. Even though it was the newest model.
Here is some information copied from the ION website:
•Streams music wirelessly from any Bluetooth music-playing device or phone
•Works with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android devices, and more
•Input for a microphone (came with a microphone), instruments and other audio sources
•High-quality microphone included
•Built-in digital AM/FM radio and retractable antenna
•USB port for charging iPad, iPhone, or other devices
•Built-in battery provides up to 50 hours of use
•Bluetooth range of up to 50 feet
•High-output powered 2-way speaker
•1/8-inch auxiliary input for amplifying other audio devices
•Recessed wheels and telescoping handle for portability
•Rugged design to withstand heavy use
•Projects high-fidelity sound up to 150 feet away
•Built-in cradle for your smartphone, iPad, or other device
It does not have an equalizer so it will not be “perfect” sound. It is what it is. It is great . . . in my opinon . . . for exercise classes. Oooo, I am so excited. You know me, I like to share when I am excited about things. When I learn of something that helps make MY life easier I like to share. I like to let you know so perhaps it can help one of you.
Can you see yourself owning one? Do you think you could use one? Do you like to have people over for outside grilling and/or BBQing?
Ahhhh . . . recently I have been feeling . . . I don’t know . . . if I had to label it, I would say “depleted”. I think the time has come when I am starting to miss my mom. Ya know at first, I was busy and the last couple of years she was too tired to talk much so we didn’t talk that much . . . it could be a couple of weeks between phone calls. She had also had limits on us visiting her. Since she was not someone I see or talk to everyday it just seemed like a long time “in between” conversations. Now, two months later . . . it is starting to affect me. And I realized I felt a little depleted. I hadn’t talked to my mom or seen my friends in a bit so I figured I needed a visit with a friend. It just so happened I lucked out this week. One of my friends/students has been away for a month and yesterday she showed up at Nia. She came to class and it happened that she didn’t have an appointment or another class to rush off to. So we sat and visited. Then as we were visiting another friend showed up . . . which was really out of the norm. It was obvious to me that this was all meant to be. So I was able to get a little refilled. Ya know the kind of replenishing that you get from visit with friends? Then today after my Nia class I met with a friend for a quick visit, but we hadn’t seen each other in so long it turned out longer than we had thought. It was a good visit. A replenishment. I want to post some information about how good relationships help us in life.
I was going through some papers and I found a little blurb that was printed many years ago that said having a deep conversation with a good friend might reduce anxiety in woman. The theory was because it increased levels of progesterone. So I went looking for the information on the internet and what I found actually distracted me from my original search (NO! That NEVER happens to ANYONE EVER!!!!!). Well, first let me quote from the article I found online at Michigan News
“Why does dishing with a girlfriend do wonders for a woman’s mood?
A University of Michigan study has identified a likely reason: feeling emotionally close to a friend increases levels of the hormone progesterone, helping to boost well-being and reduce anxiety and stress.”
So while we might not have known the biological reason why having close friends is good or makes us feel good we have heard enough information that we know research has shown friendships add to our lives. But what I found took it a little further reminded me of how not only do GOOD friendships help make you feel better and give you health benefits they have been show to improve your health when you are ill.
“One such study, reported in the journal Cancer, followed 61 women with advanced ovarian cancer. Those with ample social support had much lower levels of a protein linked to more aggressive types of cancer. Lower levels of the protein, known as interleukin 6, or IL-6, also boosted the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Women with weak social support had levels of IL-6 that were 70% higher in general, and two-and-a-half times higher in the area around the tumor.”
Also according to the article women with breast cancer in a support group had less pain and that “strong social support helps people cope with stress.” Well, I know, for a fact that this is true for me. I don’t need a study to tell me that I am less stressed after a visit with a close friend.
The article mentions that having a lot of friends may even reduce your chances of getting a cold. Well, I don’t believe that quantity of friends is what supplies the benefit, I think it is the quality. If you are able to vent to your friends and receive support and hear their stories and give them support back . . . that is what supplies us with stress relief. We are getting things off our chest and getting support in return. We are connecting with real people that have real problems and getting a sense of not being the only one whose life it not TV perfect. And I believe relieving stress and making that connection supports our immune system which in turn helps protect us from catching colds.
So, my advice . . . if you are feeling blue or overwhelmed or perhaps not really certain what you are feeling, a little out of sorts, visit with a friend. See if that helps cheer you up. Might not take away all of the blue, but perhaps it will help ground you a bit so that you can do the rest.
Do you know what I am talking about? Have you ever felt that wonderful fullness after a visit with friends? Do you believe that a good social network can help support medical treatment? What else have you got on your mind?
If this post sounds familiar . . . .you could have read Friends For Life, which is pretty similar. 🙂
Holy Moly! I love to learn stuff, but some stuff I would rather not learn in a “first hand” manner. Ya know what I mean? Like emergency response times (I am not saying I learned this first hand), but that is an example I am using. I don’t want to know first hand how long it takes for an ambulance or a fire truck to get to me . . . because that would mean I would be in a situation where I had the opportunity to learn that. That is what I mean. There are some things I could do without learning or could have done with out learning. Recently I learned about something I had never heard of and quiet frankly I am shocked. But I guess it is a really good thing because perhaps that means that it is not that common. Have you ever heard of Rose Grower’s Disease or Rose Gardener’s Disease? It is an actual “disease” you can get from a rose!!
I know so many people who have roses, I am surprised I have never hear of it until now. I am just going to quote directly from an online dictionary:
“Sporotrichosis is a chronic infection caused by the microscopic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The disease causes ulcers on the skin that are painless but do not heal, as well as nodules or knots in the lymph channels near the surface of the body. Infrequently, sporotrichosis affects the lungs, joints, or central nervous system and can cause serious illness.
The fungus that causes sporotrichosis is found in spagnum moss, soil, and rotting vegetation. Anyone can get sporotrichosis, but it is most common among nursery workers, farm laborers, and gardeners handling spagnum moss, roses, or barberry bushes.”
The fungus can get into your system via cut or a scrape. Of anyone who has handled a rose, who has NOT been stabbed by a thorn? Eek. And that is how you get it from the fungus from the source itself. It is not contagious, as in it does not get passed from person to person. But it is Zoonosis, so according to Wiki a person can get it from an infected animal. I was thinking that it must be one of those things that people get when they have a weakened immune system . . . and . . . yup, that is what this dictionary states. Otherwise I think it would be more common and I would have gotten it. Because I have been pricked by thorns a lot. Sometimes I look down and the thorn is still in my skin. OWWWW. Could be too that our roses don’t have this fungus, but I don’t know.
When trying to come up with words and phrases to do a search on the internet that would show me what a rose bush that has this fungus looks like, other pictures that I cannot stomach showed up. So if any of you know what the plant would look like . . . please let me know. (Be careful searching the internet!)
The information that I have read regarding the disease states that it is painless, but it does not look painless. But any time I see a red bump I think it is painful, but that is not always the case. The treatment varies . . . as in the medicine used, but all information I have seen says it my be taken for weeks sometimes months of treatment. So apparently it takes a long time to get this out of the body.
So . . . if you garden wear your gloves and be careful out there.
Had you heard of this disease? Do you know what roses that have it look like?
Ahhh, so sometimes I DO keep track of who posts what. Sometimes when it is a picture or a meme I take a picture of it on my iPad or my iPhone. That way I can go back and give credit to who posted and supply any other details. I didn’t think I would be posting that Niavideo that I used in my last post, so I didn’t think to document who originally posted it to Facebook. Tonight I was looking through my pictures trying to find some inspiration for a post. I found a picture with a quote that touched my heart when I read it . . . .that is why I took a picture of it. My friend Michelle Casey had liked it or commented on it or something that caused it to show on my newsfeed under her name. When I read it again just now I wanted to post it so I looked more closely to see who it was from. I Googled the name in the watermark. All that came up was a Facebook page. I went to the “About” page of that Facebook page, it disclosed that nothing posted on that Facebook page was from the owner of the page. She just found things on the internet and posted them on her page. She said IF she knew who they were from she gave credit. But every picture on her Facebook page had HER information. And since it took me about 60 seconds to find the actual person who said the quote she posted on her page, I think that perhaps she doesn’t actually TRY to find the original author of the things she posts . . . but whatever . . . that is part what the internet has created. Even me, I am going to use someone else’s words as a post on my blog because they spoke to me when I first saw them. They are wonderful and I knew that I would want to come back to them and probably need to know who said them so I saved the picture to my device. They spoke to me now when I re-read them. They are the words of Iain Thomas.
My initial “Google” showed they were words from Kurt Vonnegut which caused my head to spin. That seemed a little out of character even with my limited knowledge of Kurt Vonnegut . . . so I dug a little deeper. I mean, one more “Google” and I found something that said “Be soft is NOT Kurt Vonnegut but Iain Thomas”. A search of Mr. Thomas showed it was him.
So thank you Iain Thomas for saying something that resonates with so many. Thank you for being so kind about how we just post your words about. I first read your words when my mom was sick or dying and so they meant a lot. And now that I am dealing with her death they are even more important.
I will strive to stay soft, especially when there is such a strong push for women to be hard. I will work to not let the world make me so. I will strive to not let pain be a catalyst for hate. And I will continue to struggle against bitterness stealing my sweetness. And I will stand tall and recognize the beauty of the world even when others try to dictate how I should feel, how I should act, and what I should see. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. I will strive to your quote.
Does this quote speak to you? What do you think about it?
I teach Nia which is a cardio dance available to any age. At both the low end of the age spectrum and the high end of the age spectrum, if you can safely move about the floor and follow basic movements you can do Nia. So there are young and old Nia dancers. I teach at facilities that have age restrictions, but that is only the facilities, not Nia. Then I also teach gentle yoga to older adults. The classes are held at the “Senior Centers” so while some of the classes are open to those 18 years and older the population in class tends to be older. As I am sure many of you that teach at a facility with older people will attest, it is amazing to work with these people. They come week after week and keep trying. In my class I have a wide variety of experience levels. They come back every week and do the poses to the best of their ability. I am inspired by their drive to keep doing.
I check in with them to confirm that they are seeing and feeling some benefit to the class. With many I can see it, but I want to confirm that they recognize it. Recently one of my students was sharing some things he learned and he said, “I learned that I need to learn how to relax.” I laughed and agreed. It is not easy to do for some. It is not always second nature to breathe and “rest” into a pose. The corpse pose at the end of the class is one of those poses. In fact one class asked if we “had to” do it. I said yes. To me that is part of yoga. That is part of my class. I believe that quieting the mind and relaxing for 5 to 10 minutes after a class is necessary. For many it is a Challenging Easy Pose, it is difficult to be still. Just now as I am typing I remember this person not being able to be still at all when we first started doing yoga. Now there is stillness. I believe every one can benefit from this moment of restfulness. I love that even those who think it is unnecessary, keep trying.
A bit ago we did a pose that several students said is “hard”. I agreed with them. It is hard . . . that is why we are doing it. We are doing a very modified version, but it is one of those poses that works many if not all the muscles in your body, so yes, it is “hard”. And we do it so that they can benefit from it. In working on so many muscles it is a balance pose, that requires flexibility and strength. One of those awesome poses that does so much . . . so we do it. And what spurred me to write this post is that while they were saying it was hard they were not saying, “It’s hard, I don’t want to do it.” They were just saying, “Wow, this is hard.” And then they moved into position to do it again. Love it. Love those inspiring active people in my classes!
I just wanted to share with you that I have some amazing inspirations in my life.
What about you? Do you know any older adults that cause you to think, “I wanna be like that when I am their age”? Some of those people that just keep trying? They might not be doing it in a clearly recognizable way but they are still trying?
I really don’t understand political campaigning. We have a landline, yeah, we still do. It probably rings two maybe three times a week. During the last month is has probably rung at least eight times a day. It is recordings for propositions and candidates. It is rambling about . . . . I don’t know what because we don’t listen. I refuse to answer the phone. When they leave a message it just gets deleted. Do you listen to any of that? Do you know anyone that does? And what about the mailers. We have received a pile of big huge glossy propaganda. The pile is over an inch thick. And it is all very confusing. The mailers sent out to get votes are very confusing.
First of all I have not read them. I glanced at them when I was thinking about looking at them and using them to help me vote. I was sorting them. I was trying to decipher what it is they are trying to tell me to vote for or WHO for that matter. Or in some case who for what . . . but they are not clear. Some do not clearly state what the person is running for. Perhaps they assume we know.
In the process of trying to figure out what the mailers were trying to get me to vote about, I noticed that a a major portion of the stuff was not informing me of what the candidate will do or what he or she stands for, but it is just information to discredit the other candidate. Hmmm . . . I guess THAT in itself tells me some things I need to know about the candidate, correct? It is as if their platform is not strong enough or he/she does not have any clear cut ideas or goals so they attack their opponent. There actually was A LOT of that. One candidate in particular seemed to be targeted. So that must mean his/her opponent doesn’t have anything he/she wasn’t to share with us about him or herself. Too busy slamming the opponent. I’m thinking, “Your hands are too dirty from all that mud you are mudslinging.”
Then we received a handful of duplicate flyers. Arrgh! I think the ones we only received ONE of was wasteful enough and now there are some that were received in duplicate?
Now, I really think it is funny (I am being sarcastic) when the candidate has environmental issues they are “concerned” about. “Let’s rid the planet of waste!” Ummmmm . . . yeah, again in this case actions speak louder than your huge glossy print ad because you have just contributed to the landfill. I mean, seriously, I know I am not special and I am not the only one that received over a measurable stacked inch of garbage. So really, you are going to tell me you are concerned about the environment?
And then there are ones that say the candidate is all about helping kids and education. Well, the $38,500.00 spent on the mailing could have gone a long way. I know many teachers that have to spend their own money on supplies for their classrooms. I think $38,500.00 could have bought a heck of a lot of supplies. Now, granted the flyer did say the mailing was paid for by a group who supported the candidate, but still . . . . THEY could have spent the $38 grand on supplies. I bet that money could have bought a lot of second hand instruments. You might say, “Yeah, but it wouldn’t pay the salary of a music teacher.” You’re right and maybe you have heard of the internet? There are plenty of videos online that could help a kid that HAD an instrument to practice with learning how to play. And some kids they don’t even need instruction they just need the instrument. The group or the candidate could have gone to Oriental Trading company and got stickers made that said, “Donated by XXXXXX”. And the school would have instruments. But instead I have a garbage full of shiny paper.
I know that voting is a privilege, but campaigning is a joke.
What do you think? Do you receive the phone calls? Do you get a mailbox full of shiny propaganda? Does it help you vote?
Oh sweet relief. Do you ever have something that bothers you . . . say a paper cut . . . and every time you wash your hand, put on lotion, or just move your finger you are reminded of it? For days it plagues you, then one day . . . MAYBE, not even every time you realize, “Hey! My finger doesn’t hurt any longer. Hmmm. When did that happen?” But you are just so happy to be done with it it really doesn’t matter. Do you ever do anything to hasten the healing? My latest “owwie” was a cut in my mouth. OW! I love French Bread, but sometimes it cuts up my mouth. And you may have experienced a mouth cut before or a sore or something, it seems that things just keep migrating towards it and making it worse. Plus, I can’t . . . I don’t know if YOU have this problem, I can’t seem to leave it alone. I am always “examining it” with my tongue. “Is the cut still ther—–owww! Yup! Still there.” My goal is to make it go away as fast as I can. Silly me, that doesn’t necessarily mean I stop eating what did it in the first place, but that does mean I will take other measures to heal it. It needs to be sterilized.
First of all you know that the mouth is host to a consortium of bacteria. Some of the bacteria aid in digestion. Some bacteria protect our teeth and gums. Some cause bad breath and even tooth decay and gum disease. But no matter what, the environment as a whole is not an easy place for sores and cuts to heal. I know there are people who pull oil which is a more holistic way to oral health. There are also some who might employ the use of essential oils. I am not at that point with my essential oil use. What I do works for me. It might gross some people out. I haven’t told my husband, but when I was doing it I kept thinking, “Oh, he would be so grossed out.” But I know that it helped clean the cut and I believe it helped it heal faster and therefore bringing relief faster.
I use something most of us have in our medicine cabinet. Plain and simple rubbing alcohol. I don’t gargle with it. I simply put it on a q-tip and then put the alcohol on the cut. The reason I am posting about this is because just yesterday I realized that I didn’t need to do that as I was getting ready to leave. So it was one of those times when I did it for a two days and then I didn’t need to do it any longer. I also use mouthwash. If you want to help a cut heal don’t use the sugary types of mouthwash it needs to be LISTERINE®. I prefer the green kind, but the gold is even stronger.
I do remember my husband having a cut in his mouth from — French Bread — and I told him to gargle and he had some syrupy type of mouthwash and I told him that it needed to be the kind that makes your mouth tingle and I let him use mine. But then when he talked to his oral hygienist and she confirmed my instruction he went out and bought the gold kind. Yeowza.
So for me, when I cut my mouth or bite my cheek to help my body heal it fast I use rubbing alcohol and strong mouthwash. The rubbing alcohol does not taste good, but I would rather suffer that taste for a minute and heal the cut faster than have that pain in my mouth. And if you gargle right after it helps take the taste away. I have also used Sea Breeze® in my mouth? Do you know what that is? It is an astringent I used to use to clean my face. Now I use it for bites and cuts.
So there you have my little helpful tip. What do you do when you cut your mouth? Do you just let it go away on its own? Does your tongue constantly bother it? Share with us your household helpful tip.
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Terre Pruitt's Blog 