The average body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius. I say average because some people have a slightly higher temperature that is normal for them and some have a slightly lower temperature that is normal for them. So 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius is average. I like what Wiki says: ” Despite what many schoolchildren are taught, there is no single number that represents a normal or healthy temperature for all people under all circumstances using any place of measurement.” Information gleaned from several sources remind us that changes in hormone levels can change the body temperature. Also that the different ways temperature is taken can indicate a different reading. Oral is where you get the average “normal” of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius, where an ear or rectal measure could be higher, and an armpit measure lower. Our weather is too hot for me right now, so I was thinking of body temperature and just thought I note some information. It is interesting to me.
When my mom was first in the hospital a couple of years ago when she had a lobe of her lung removed I first saw the forehead swipe thermometer. I was amazed. I said to the nurse, “What did you just do? Are you kidding me?” I had never seen that before. She picked it up and was done with it before I fully comprehended what she did. I thought that was super cool. Then not too long after I took my cat to the vet and they had an ear thermometer . . . which is GREAT for an animal. Taking an animal’s temperature is the second thing (they weigh them first) that happens at a doctor visit and normally it does not set the right mood. So the ear thermometer is great.
Body temperature can change throughout the day, changing almost a full degree F. It can also change according to its needs, if it is hungry or sleepy its temperature can change. There can also be slight differences from day-to-day. Outside variables also affect body temperature . . . if it is cold or hot outside the body could reflect that. Each body has a “normal” range for it.
I find the difference in heat tolerance to be interesting. I do not like heat . . . at all. To me it is too hot when the temperature is over 75°, but that also depends on if there is not wind. This past weekend the car thermometer said 72° F but there was a wind and it was perfect to me. I loved it. I wish I would have gone outside. My husband likes the temperature warmer. Many people like the sun and heat. Many do not. I find the differences interesting. I often wonder if it has to do with sweating. If I am slightly warm I am sweaty and I don’t like to sweat unless I am working out, like doing Nia. And I know many people who don’t sweat. So they are fine when it is 80° whereas I am too hot and sweaty in that heat. I don’t think my temperature runs high, but I don’t know. I cannot remember the last time I had my temperature taken. And normally I don’t take it unless I think I have a fever so that doesn’t help know what my “normal”.
This is the first day of our “hot spell”. I hope it cools down by the weekend. As they say it will.
So do you know if your body’s temperature is a little higher than the “average”? Is it lower? Do you like hot weather? What do you consider hot?
So . . . . how are you all doing? Are you still filling that Goodie Jar? I am. This is one of the things I have put in my jar . . . hence the crease in the middle of it. I wrote on the back and folded it up and added to the jar of good things. A friend sent it to me in a card. It is a great motto! Yeah, remember the Good Things Jar . . . it is an “exercise” in recognizing and being aware of the good things that happen every day even among the things that cause us sorrow. When my mom got sick I asked her, I said, “Mom, I know you are sick and it is a very sad and scary thing, but is it ok if I am still happy about things?” I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t sad or concerned about her if she saw me smiling and enjoying life. She gave me permission to still be happy. She said it was good to still acknowledge and be grateful for the good things. And really, to me, that is what life is all about. There is always going to be things that can bring us down. There is death, destruction, betrayal, hurt . . . all of those things that can detract from the things that make us happy. But focusing on the uplifting things is what gets me through. Making note of the good things is what I want to do!
Now just because I have a jar with notes regarding the things that I consider good things that make me smile, doesn’t mean I don’t take time to be sad or be mad or concentrate on the things that don’t make me smile. All of that is part of life too. We all have situations and issues to deal with. I allow myself the necessary time with emotions and situations. Often times, I can even learn and grow from those things. But because there are times that aren’t just rainbows and unicorns, I have a jar. The jar helps remind me to find the smiles in the times when I have other “stuff” going on.
I have received notes and cards and a lot of love . . . . all “Goodie-Jar worthy”. Someone thinking about me is ALWAYS a good thing. Makes me smile that people care and they take the time to let me know. Also it is a great push for me to do the same. Sometimes I think, “Oh, I wanna to let someone know I am thinking about them.” Then I think, “Aww. I don’t want to bother them, because I don’t really have anything to say, except ‘I’m thinking about you.'” Then I remember how much it meant to me and I do it!
So good things can spread. 🙂
Also I found that the first time I did the jar I really enjoyed reading the good things at the end of the year. It was fun – for me – to have that little review and the reminder of the good things that happened throughout the year.
Are you still putting things in your Goodie Jar? How is it going? When is the last time someone let you know they were thinking about you? When is the last time you let someone know you were thinking about them?
I am not a science person, although I love the science of cooking and understand that you do certain things and use certain ingredients to get a specific outcome. I don’t know a lot about science. I don’t even claim to KNOW about the science of cooking, I just like it. I think some science is interesting. When I say I don’t know a lot about science I am admitting to not knowing what some might think of as basics. So this video that my friend posted on her Facebook page not only entertained me, but educated me. I thought it was really cool. I thought it was a great way to explain it to kids and people. I really loved the liquid in the jar. I also laughed because, if what he said is true, now it makes sense why my mom was always so “stuffy” in the front seat and I was always so cold and felt like I was being wind blown in the back seat.
With the way Facebook is working lately the a picture of the video is on her wall, but there was a link to another person’s blog post. Below is the video of Destin showing his kids some “Fluid Mechanics”. I put that in quotes because that is what he calls it, and again, that is not something I know. Listen to the end so you can hear his speel about a free audio book.
Also click over to his site Smarter Every Day where you can read stuff to help make you smarter every day.
In the blog post Prepare to Have Your Mind Blown by a Balloon and a Minivan Robert T. Gonzalez explains in detail what is going on in the van. I didn’t read his entire post because I was satisfied with Destin’s explanation. This link is actually what my friend had posted on Facebook.
So the funny thing about this is as I mentioned I learned a lot and I learned why my mom was always stuffy while I was freezing whenever we went somewhere in the car with my parents. As I was watching the video I thought, “Dang! I can’t tell her. But this makes sense”. When my hubby and I would go places with my mom and dad we usually would all pile into their vehicle with my hubby and I in the back seat. My mom would always claim to be “stuffy”. Ya know a little more than hot as if there is not enough air around you . . . it seems a little difficult to breathe? We call that “stuffy”. We say, “I feel stuffy. Or, “the air is stuffy.” Well, now I know why. When the car is moving the air goes to the back.
Whether you know this stuff or not I hope you watch the video because it is entertaining. I think I have seen Destin’s stuff before, but I forget about it. I could watch it and read it and I am sure I would get a little smarter every day. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Thanks, Destin!
Well, what did you think? Did you know this? Don’t you think this is a great teaching tool (the experiment)?
I had started a post telling the story of my mom’s last few years but then I had to go be with her. It was the first half of Deciding On Death. I was trying to finish it today, but I have to go. I have to get to her.
I realized as I was typing the title Deciding On Death that it might make people think my mom decided to die instead of stay alive. But that really was not the case earlier this week. She was told by the doctors that she had to pick the day. So a more accurate title would have been Deciding Which Day To Die.
Anyway . . . you might be wondering how I can be thinking about a Goodie Jar when faced with this awful thing. Well, I will tell you. First of all everyone deals with death differently. I’ve know this, but I very much experienced when my mother-in-law died. We all have our own way.
The way we are having to go through this is really awful and hard, but death is a part of life. We all die. Period. There is no getting around that.
For me, I have faith. I have faith in a plan, I have faith in an after life, I have faith in God. My mom, is really strong and is just being amazing . . . . she is helping us through this. I am also keeping really busy. I have also turned to my social network. I have an idea that when a loved one dies most people want to shout it out, most people want the world to know their pain — for whatever reason —- and I wanted to shout it out, so I did. And let me tell you, best thing I did! BEST. THING.
At one moment I was peaceful. Then someone shared an issue with me and wanted me to deal with it — even though it was not MY issue it was theirs and someone else’s — and that raised my stress level. Then I looked at my phone and saw an unfamiliar number. I thought it was a sales call but decided to listen to it anyway. And — SNAP! — Right then and there two seconds after I heard the voice and Jill announced her name, I was calmed. I was FILLED to the brim with joy. She has a beautiful voice and I had NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE. Her voice calmed me. Her words filled me. I am loved. I am supported. I said to myself, “HECK YEAH!” Because I had hesitated before I posted and then — BAM! — right away, the return was fabulous. I was transported into a good place.
And it is continuing to come. I am getting love, support, all the sparkles I asked for. I am getting stories about my mom. Stuff I didn’t know that is really cool to know. I just commented on my blog post to someone, “I guess they don’t call it support for nothing! ;-)”
So, remember all this time I have been telling you that the Goodie Jar is to remind us to take a moment to look at the good even though there is “other stuff”. Yeah, I wasn’t just blowing smoke people. There is ALWAYS good. And — for me, I am not saying that anyone else has to do this, this is ME, for me, myself and I — I HAVE to look at the good. I have to focus on the positive otherwise you would need a huge SHAM-WOW to mop up a huge Terre-size puddle that was on the floor!
So everyone of you that has taken time to share a story, send uber goodness at me and my family — YOU are all going in my Goodie Jar! I am ready to transfer to a bigger container now. Thank you.
Sometimes I just can’t think of anything to write about. Sometimes it could be that I want or need a break. So today — I am just going to post some pictures. We have been having really beautiful weather in the San Francisco South Bay Area and beyond. I love it, but I wish we would have rain because we need it. But . . . it is Spring now . . . so I will enjoy it.
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The first few pictures are from a trip to Natural Bridges — a state park in the Santa Cruz area of California. Whenever we go to Santa Cruz for a Nia class we like to stop by the ocean. Santa Cruz is not that far from San Jose, but I just don’t get over there often. When I make the drive over I like to at least set my eyes on the ocean. I remembered my phone has panorama. The bridge that was natural actually collapsed a while ago, but it is still a very pretty spot.
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Then, the next week, I was “over the hill” again. I was visiting a friend who is moving. She wanted to get the kids out of the house on such a gorgeous day. This is a slide at one of the parks. WOW!
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And, of course, I take a million pictures of my cat, so I thought I would share.
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She likes to be in her outside house but with the door open. She loves the sun, but doesn’t like to get too hot.
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Then there are our roses. They are in bloom. They are beautiful. And, yes, they smell fantastic.
I like to bring the beauty inside. They make the house smell great!
Thanks for taking this little Spring Break with me!
The other day a friend sent me an e-mail that I should not have opened because I didn’t have time to be looking at an e-mail. But I clicked on the link contained and the very first thing I saw made me laugh so very hard. I sent off a quick e-mail back to her explaining my laughter and explaining that I would have to look at the rest later. I had not sat down to look at the rest of the stuff on the link until now but the first thing I had seen keeps running through my head and making me laugh. The subject of the e-mail was “Talk about sexist attitudes, these make me angry but that’s the way it was ‘back in the day'”. I didn’t even read the paragraph that is included on the post until right now as I am typing this. As I said, the first thing I saw was the first ad and it made me laugh soooooo hard. And . . . not only did it make me laugh I had an earworm for the rest of the day AND every time I thought about the e-mail. Yeah the tune is very catchy.
The ad on the post shows a woman in a car and the tag line is “I can’t tell which they’re whistling at . . . me or my new Chevrolet!”. There is more blather and other information that is just too small for me to read, but it reminded me of the commercial my husband and I refer to as “Stacy’s Mom”. There is a song playing that clearly says, “Stacy’s mom has got it goin’ on.” What else it says I don’t know. It is a very catchy tune. Look at the ad yourself and tell me if the old print advertisement is not the same as the new TV commercial.
Well, what do you think? It is clear the men in the TV commercial are participating in the dropping off of the kids from school, whereas the ones in the print ad are just standing there. But since it is print we don’t know what they are/were doing. But both advertisements seem pretty much the same to me.
I glanced at the rest of the ads on the link she sent me and I would bet there are ads and commercials that are pretty much the same today as they were then, but I didn’t look that close to them or give them too much thought. I mean for Heaven’s Sake it is advertising. The way they prey on us is by trying to make us feel inferior and telling us that we will be superior if we buy and use their product. No matter what their product is; something we eat/drink, something we drive, something we slather on our bodies, something we wear, something we use to take something off of our bodies, no matter what they are selling us they are telling us we are not as good as we can be unless we use their product. And sex . . . . as we all know SELLS. So they are going to use it. And KEEP using it, obviously – Cadillac and Chevrolet are GM products!
I mean, why is an AXE commercial any better than an ad saying a woman is nothing without a man? Have you seen those Axe commercials? Apparently all a man has to do to make woman swoon over him is smell good. Yeah right, if as if THAT were the case.
Anyway . . . I just thought I would share a chuckle at the thought that we have come a long way and that advertisements and commercials from the PAST were sexist.
Oh . . .and now it is even MORE funny to me . . . because if you watch the video of “Stacy’s Mom” you will see that the commercial is even more about sex than you might have (at least more than I) originally thought!
So what do YOU think? Do you think the commercials of today (at least this one) is that far from the ad from the past? Share any other thoughts you have about commercials.
I am aware that lunch meat is not one of the healthiest of things to be eating. But I LOVE sandwiches. I also love that my husband will eat a sandwich that I make and send to work with him instead of eating out every day. He does eat lunch out on occasion. A sandwich with lunch meat is healthier than what he eats when he eats out. But this post is not REALLY about lunch meat. It is about prices. It is about paying attention. It is about packaging. It is about knowing what you are buying. In my opinion, food manufacturers are tricky. I was in the store not too long ago buying lunch meat. I prefer the meat that my husband gets at Costco, but he has not made that trip in a bit so I am buying lunch meat from the grocery store. It is a good idea to look at the per ounce prices on things.
I looked at the package of lunch meat that I normally buy and decided upon a really quick glance that there was another brand that was less expensive and to my delight tastier. I was trying to decide which turkey to buy when I saw the roast beef. My hubby gets turkey ALL THE TIME so I thought, “Oh, I will get the roast beef instead. It is the same price.” But as I picked it up I happened to look at the per ounce price on this brand. I didn’t really expect it to be different, in fact I was confused at first because the package was the same, but there was a 12¢ difference. That is when I look at the weight. The WEIGHT was not the same. The turkey was 9 oz and the roast beef was 7 oz. So even though I would be paying the same amount I would be getting two ounces less.
I don’t know for certain, but I can imagine that I bought this roast beef before. And I bet that I didn’t even notice the weight difference because the package is the same. Exactly the same. So I bet I didn’t even look at the weight because I thought I was getting the same amount of roast beef as I was turkey for the same price.
Now, really, if you want roast beef you are probably going to get it. I just think this is tricky. But — yes, it is clearly labeled as different amounts. I just really like that little “price per unit” amount the put on shelf labels. It really helps. Sometimes things LOOK more expensive because the price on the package might be more, but when you really look and compare it could be that the price of what you are buying is really less. I say “price per unit” because sometimes it is ounce and sometimes it is something else, just depends on what you are buying. So I use this information often. But usually between different brands.
It is so small and so many of us are in a hurry — especially at the grocery store — I thought I would share. Actually, I thought I would share because this annoyed me. I felt like I would have been duped if I bought the roast beef. And that really would have just been ME . . . I mean I was the one that thought they were the same size for the same price. I know about the “price per . . .” information, but since the packages are the same I ASSUMED (uh-oh!) 🙂 Since I was comparing lunch meat prices I happened to look at the per ounce price on this brand. I was shocked and annoyed.
I have also been paying attention to the prices at the store near my Nia class because although it is really convenient, I think it might be more expensive than the one closer to my house. So I have been really looking close!
Anyway . . . I guess I am just saying if you have the time and the inkling – really LOOK at what you are buying and use the “price per unit” portion of the shelf label!
Do you compare prices when you shop? Do you stick to your particular brands? Are you like me and you just really want to get in the store and get out?
Sometimes I feel as if I am so “behind” on “knowing things”. Do you ever feel like that? Sometimes I feel as if I am the last to know. I feel as if everyone knew it but me. But then I remember there are a lot of people in the world AND there are a lot of things to know and not everyone knows everything. So sometimes even though I think “everyone knows” when I post about it I am always happy to receive comments that what I shared is new to at least one person. But . . . this might be one of those things that everyone knows. I mean, I would bet that all of you have heard of a race or “run” where people who participate get colored corn starch thrown on them, right? I mean, even if you haven’t been to one, or seen one, or participated, you have probably seen at least one person in your social media circle post about one. I am not a runner nor am I a person that just likes to be dirty even if it is with bright and beautiful colors. So you won’t find me participating in one. But I see my Facebook feed FULL of stuff related to it. I thought it was just a way for people promoting running events to get more participants . . . . because a lot of people — unlike me — think it is fun to get colors thrown on them. I thought it was just something that race producers did to make it fun and different. I didn’t know that it is an actual religious festival. I do know that many things start out as religious festivals or customs of races and people, but I would have never thought that a run with colors was more than just something promoters came up with. There is something called Holi from which these events might have been borrowed.
Since I have never participated in runs or races it could very well be that the promotional materials talk the Holi Festival. I don’t know. But in looking at the Color Run website they do state “event is all about having fun, we also focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle.” According to Wiki Holi “is a spring festival also known as festival of colors, and sometimes festival of love.” One website states, “Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as ‘Holika’.” As with many beliefs there are different stories associated with the festival.
The common thread is that it is a celebration of spring. As with many celebrations regarding spring there is more to it than just the weather; it is about new, about renewal, about starting over, about forgiveness. And for some, love. There is also the element of good triumphing over evil.
Holi is like Easter in that it is not on the same day every year as it is based on the full moon and is either in February or March. The start of the festival is usually signified with a bonfire. This is a symbol of the good triumphing over evil as one of the legends has to do with a HUGE bonfire. The next day is when the colors are poured, thrown, and/or disbursed. It is a day of fun and celebration. The colors have to do with one wanting to make his lover’s skin that same as his.
I can see why the race promoters borrowed this tradition. It stems from joy and love so adding it to a run just adds to the fun of the run. It sets the tone for an event that is a celebration. This type of race — or run — is done all over the United States. Holi Festivals take place all over the world. I was intrigued to learn the throwing of colors started off as religious event. I thought I would share because it is cool to learn things and maybe you didn’t know either.
Have you participated in a race/run where they throw colors at you? Have you heard of an event like this? Did you know it was (more than likely) borrowed from the Hindu tradition of Holi?
For centuries, people have derived pleasure from drinking many different varieties of wine. Whether it’s a sensuously versatile Pinot Noir or a divine Chardonnay, drinking wine in moderate amounts has proven to be one of the more effective ways to unwind, relax and allow the stresses of the day to just slowly fade away into the ether. Various studies have emerged throughout the years espousing the health benefits of drinking a glass or two of high-quality wine.
Experts from the world-renowned Mayo Clinic have stated that there are certain substances in red wine called phytochemicals (specifically, flavonoids and resveratrol) that may help prevent heart disease and failure by performing two critical functions: increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (also known as the “good” cholesterol) and protecting against artery damage. It is worth noting that both resveratrol and flavonoids are also recognized as antioxidants (not all phytochemicals are antioxidants, though).
Resveratrol, in particular, is markedly more prevalent in red wine than in white wine; after all, red wine is fermented with grape skins for a longer period of time compared to white wine. Additionally, resveratrol has gotten a lot of attention due to possibly playing an important part in maintaining healthy cardiovascular function. Some of the existing research has linked resveratrol to reduced blood vessel damage, prevention of blood clots, and a decreased amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). Dr. Eric Crampton, a highly respected University of Canterbury academic, has also opined that based on his interpretation of the current studies available, moderate drinking reduces mortality risk. Furthermore, according to Paul Jaminet of the Perfect Health Diet, animal studies have shown that the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver – fatty liver disease that inevitably leads to a scarred and damaged liver (cirrhosis) – occur only when it is combined with excessive intake of polyunsaturated fats.
Clearly, judicious consumption of red wine not only calms the senses; it’s also a healthful habit in moderation.
Image courtesy of M&S
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This post is a guest post. The conclusion reached is that of the guest author. My approach would be more from a “COULD be” healthful. Many things we eat, drink, and do have the appearance of being healthful, but it always boils down to moderation AND the individual, so to me it is not so clear.
Well, I am not doing a weekly post to check in on your Goodie Jar, but I do hope you are still doing it or some variation there of. Are you? Are you taking time to recognize the good in life? I hope so. I am. I believe I mentioned that I wanted to us something else to hold my notes regarding the good things. I have a lot of beautiful bowls and plates. I decided to use this beautiful blue bowl shaped like a flower. I think it will be good for another month or so. I love having this little gem on the counter. I started off the year using Christmas wrapping paper scraps. I have other wrapping paper scraps to use and little pieces of paper. It all adds to the “goodness of the jar” to me. So far the year is a good one in which to focus on the good things. As with life there are good things and not-so-good things and that is why we have a good things jar.
I have been teaching Nia at a studio in San Jose where I rent the space. I have been renting there since January 2009. At first I rented an hour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. But after six months I decided to just rent Mondays and Wednesdays. Well, after five years, I have decided to just rent Wednesdays. So it has been five years of teaching on Mondays at the studio. Monday, February 24, 2014 will be the last one for now. Mondays are a great day to teach because on Holidays people who work are able to attend, but we don’t have enough holidays. It could be that something else will come up for Mondays or it could be that one day I start teaching there again on Mondays, but for now, we will not be dancing on Mondays.
The classes at the community center is growing. I love that more and more people are coming to Nia there. Also I enjoyed my short time substituting a Nia class at the YMCA in Mountain View. I am teaching a Gentle Yoga class on Thursday evenings. And have been asked to teach another Gentle Yoga class on Tuesday mornings. So while one class ends a new one begins.
We are going to have to move our after-Nia-Class-visits to Wednesday. We have one more Monday that we are going to meet. We have been going to Peet’s on the second to the last Monday of the month for about a year now. So we will have to move it to the second to the last Wednesday. I love that our little Nia community gathers after class. I need to get this type of gathering going with the community center Nia group.
So, I am still putting things in my goodie jar. Still looking for, finding, recognizing, seeing those good things. I hope that no matter what is going on in your life you are able to find something good. Something you want to make a note of so that you can read it later on. I really enjoyed reading my good things at the end of the year. Much of it was about Nia but not all of it. Most of it had to do with love. People showing ME love and that is MORE than a good thing, that is GREAT. I hope you have a lot of moments of love that you can jot down and put in your jar.
When my mom was first in the hospital a couple of years ago when she had a lobe of her lung removed I first saw the forehead swipe thermometer. I was amazed. I said to the nurse, “What did you just do? Are you kidding me?” I had never seen that before. She picked it up and was done with it before I fully comprehended what she did. I thought that was super cool. Then not too long after I took my cat to the vet and they had an ear thermometer . . . which is GREAT for an animal. Taking an animal’s temperature is the second thing (they weigh them first) that happens at a doctor visit and normally it does not set the right mood. So the ear thermometer is great.
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