Do you ever start the day feeling completely frazzled and unable to think clearly? Sort of like you are making your way through a thick fog? That has been me this morning, at least so far. I guess it’s somewhat appropriate that we had a very warm, clear and gorgeous day yesterday, but last night I laid in bed listening to the foghorn on the point, warning ships about the fog that had rolled in. My brain feels like it’s fogged in right now, and I’m hoping it clears. Hypothyroid issues are like that, from what I’ve studied about it. Some days are great and clear, like the weather yesterday, and others are fogged in and confusing, like the thoughts are lost in a thick mist. Sometimes it’s a little frightening, having the clarity come and go like this, or when the exhaustion threatens to take over my entire body and I just want to lie down and go to sleep – no matter where I am. When someone says they suffer from hypothyroid issues, in the past I would, more or less, just shrug it off, not understanding what they were talking about. There’s medication for that, right? So, it shouldn’t be a big deal. The problem is that unless the doctor really works with the patient, it might truly be a big deal. Some people respond well to medication, but others, like me, had the numbers improve on the lab tests, but I didn’t feel any better. I tried to tell the doctor this and she ignored what I was saying. I told her I didn’t think the medication was doing anything for me. She said give it time. I gave it a year, I felt awful all the time, my hair was falling out by the handful and I felt terrible. I begged for a natural alternative to the medication she was prescribing, but she refused. I stopped seeing her. Honestly, I’m not seeing anyone right now. I started taking a natural supplement, non-prescription, and it truly does make me feel better than the medication did – but there are still some days that are a struggle. Just because you can’t SEE what someone is suffering from, doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering. An illness doesn’t have to be visible to be debilitating, so take it easy on other people. You don’t know what it is they are going through, and just because they may look OK to you on the outside, doesn’t mean they are doing all that OK on the inside.
It’s Friday! I cannot begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!
Verse of the Day
The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
“The Friend of Sinners.” Of all the things Jesus was called, I believe that was his favorite. Come to think of it, I believe it’s my favorite, too!
Holy Humor Month / National Humor Month
Food for Thought
Saying please and thank you in the face of rude behavior and attitudes isn’t easy, but it doesn’t cost anything to be polite and professional to someone who isn’t that way in return. Elevate yourself above that behavior by being kind. Why allow someone else to drag you down, so you are BOTH judged in the end for being horrible to others? That doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to save evidence of the rudeness, especially if it happens on the job. Monosyllabic answers, lack of responses to emails, doing anything possible to make someone elses job more difficult by not working together for the good of the company – those are just typical things done by someone with a very small mind and a very limited capacity for professionalism and civility. Being kind in the face of this behavior is all well and good, but it’s also smart to protect yourself. Something to think about.
Arbor Day – Julius Sterling Morton was a Nebraska journalist who worked hard throughout his career to improve agriculture techniques in his state and throughout the United States. The very first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Morton felt that Nebraska’s landscape and economy would benefit from wide scale planting of trees. He started the ball rolling by being a good example and planted orchards, shade trees and wind breaks on his own farm, urging his neighbors to do the same. He got his real chance to get things going when he became a member of Nebraska’s state board of agriculture. He proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to planting trees and increasing awareness of how important trees are. The first Arbor Day was a wonderful success with more than one million trees planted. The second Arbor Day was in 1884 and it was made a legal holiday in 1885 on Morton’s birthday – April 22nd. In the years that followed Morton’s idea spread beyond Nebraska to Kansas, Tennessee, Minnesota and Ohio – who all proclaimed their own Arbor Days. All 50 states today celebrate Arbor Day, though the dates may vary depending on the local climate. At the federal level, in 1970, President Richard Nixon set the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. It’s now even celebrated in other countries! Australia celebrates Arbor Day. It is called Greening Week in Japan; The New Year’s Days of Trees in Israel; The Tree-loving week in Korea; The Reforestation Week of Yugoslavia; The Students Afforestation Day in Iceland and The National Festival of Tree Planting in India. I bet Julius Sterling Morton would be very proud. See? One person with a great idea can make a HUGE difference! So how should we celebrate this day? Well, it’s a great opportunity to take stock of the trees on your property – inspect them, note broken branches or evidence of disease or infestation. Maybe planting some trees would improve the look of your property. Once your options are noted, you can celebrate by planting a tree!
Babe Ruth Day – I don’t pretend to know much about ANY sport, or any athletes, but Babe Ruth is an icon in the history of baseball and even I had heard his name. What follows is a copy and paste of a biography I found about Babe Ruth – I couldn’t have said it any better, and it seems to cover all the bases (pun intended). You can find more information where I got this biography – at www.Babe-Ruth.com
“Baseball player. Born George Herman Ruth, Jr., on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children born to Kate and George Herman Ruth, Sr. Most of the Ruth children died in infancy and only George Jr. and his sister Mamie survived to maturity. Little George, as he was called, grew up in a poor waterfront neighborhood in Baltimore, where he lived above the family saloon.
In 1902, the Ruth’s sent their son away to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, which was both a reformatory and an orphanage. Ruth developed a love for sports, particularly baseball, which served as his escape from the strict environment at St Mary’s. From an early age he showed potential as an athlete, and in his late teens he had developed into a professional candidate. His tough southpaw pitching attracted Jack Dunn, manager of the minor league Baltimore Orioles. In 1914, the Orioles signed Ruth to his first professional baseball contract. He became the team’s youngest member and was befittingly nicknamed “Babe.”
Within five months, 19-year-old Ruth graduated to the major leagues, and signed with the Boston Red Sox. He remained with the team for six seasons, alternating positions as pitcher and outfielder. With his great pitching, powerful bat, and winning personality, he was quickly on his way to greatness, overshadowing players like Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner. After a controversy revealed that the Chicago White Sox conspired to throw the 1919 World Series, the sport of baseball was in need of a hero. The scandal had shaken the public’s faith in the game. However, in 1919, while still a part-time pitcher for the Red Sox, Ruth made his home-run assault on the record books. His 25th home run that year shattered the modern major league record held by the now forgotten Gabby Kraveth. By the end of the year, Ruth’s record was an unprecedented 29 home runs, and he was credited with reviving faith in the game.
In December of 1919, the Boston Red Sox sold the invaluable player to New York Yankee owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert. Ruppert bought Ruth’s contract for over $100,000, which was a staggering price at the time. In 1920, Ruth joined the Yankees, who as yet had never won a pennant. For years they played in the shadow of the New York Giants. Without a baseball park to call their own, the Yankees were forced to hold their games at the Giants’ Polo Grounds.
Ruth started as a full-time outfielder, hitting 54 home runs his first year with the Yankees. Shortly after, he became baseball’s preeminent player, and such a drawing card that New York built a new stadium for the crowds he was attracting. Yankee Stadium had its opening day on April 4, 1923, with a total attendance of 74,000. The stadium became known as “The House That Ruth Built,” and the period became known as the Golden Age of Baseball. On opening day, Ruth made the first home run in Yankee Stadium history. Ruth’s slugging percentages in 1920 and 1921 were .847 and .846. Neither figure has ever been approached. In fact, a slugging percentage higher than .704 has been achieved only 20 times, eight by Ruth. In 1923, hitting .393, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, and capped off the year by ushering the Yankees to their first World Series Championship. He also led the American League in home runs from 1919-1924, and again from 1926-1931.
In 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, breaking his own record, and setting a new one that would endure for decades (Roger Maris broke it in 1961). With an exceptional year, he assumed almost mythic status, and was nicknamed “The Sultan of Swat,” “The Home Run King,” and “Herman the Great.” Off the field Ruth reveled in his celebrity status, enjoying a wild and extravagant life. However, his high living and headstrong behavior eventually began to take a toll on his performance. He was still baseball’s premier player, but fellow teammate and newcomer Lou Gehrig started to show signs of greatness as well. The year 1931 was the start of Ruth’s 12th season with the Yankees, and it also marked the great days of Lou Gehrig’s career. Ruth was still a force, but Gehrig was closing the gap. At the end of the season the two players were tied in home runs.
In 1933, Ruth’s once great talent began to erode. Realizing that his playing days were numbered, he threatened the Yankees that he would quit if not given the opportunity to become a manager. After they denied his request, he left the Yankees in 1934. Two years later, the Boston Braves offered to take on Ruth as a part-time player, baiting him with an eventual assistant-manager position. He accepted, and his decision met with mixed feelings among New York fans. Some thought that he was deserving of the opportunity, and others felt that he was selling out. After three months, Ruth became aware of the fact that the Braves only wanted him for his drawing power. They had no intention of giving him a managerial position. He resigned from the team and made his last appearance as a player in May of 1935, retiring with 714 career home runs (a record that was broken by Hank Aaron in 1974).
In 1936, Ruth was part of the first class inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson. He became a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938, but never achieved his goal of managing a major league team. Ruth was diagnosed with cancer in 1946. Although the extent of his illness was kept from him, he knew that his time was limited. He spent the remainder of his life making countless visits to children’s hospitals and orphanages. In 1948, Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium, celebrating the 25th anniversary of “The House that Ruth Built.” His number was retired, and April 27th was declared “Babe Ruth Day.”
On August 16, 1948, Ruth died at the age of 53. At the time of his death, he held 54 major league records, including most years leading a league in home runs (12), most total bases in a season (457), and highest slugging percentage for a season (.847). While with the Red Sox, Ruth married 18-year-old waitress Helen Woodford, whom he had known less than three months. In 1929, Ruth’s wife died in a fire. At the time, they had been separated for three years. Her tragic death allowed him to marry Claire Hodgson, a former model and actress. With Claire’s daughter from a previous marriage and Ruth’s adopted daughter (with Woodford), they became an immediate family. Ruth and Hodgson remained together until Ruth’s death.”
The only other thing I know about Babe Ruth would be that the candy bar by the same name is delicious!
Day of Dialogue – I’m not really sure how this one slipped by me for the last couple of years, but it’s wonderful! This celebration is all about free-speech for public school students and college students when it comes to expressing their Christian beliefs and faith! It is about discussing faith in a loving and respectful manner in opposition to being silenced by those who would try to keep our faith hidden away and making it against the rules to discuss. The initiative provides a place for Christian students to express a Biblical perspective, especially when topics like marriage and sexuality are being discussed on their campuses. Rather than focusing on silencing their voices, they are encouraged to open dialogue, because the truth is only able to rise to the surface when honest conversations are allowed to happen. Jesus never backed down, He was never silent on speaking the truth. We, as His followers are to follow his example.
Mantanzas Mule Day – The first time I saw this one a few years ago I guess I didn’t let it sink in . . . but now, when I’m looking at it again, I think it’s a little sad, but pretty interesting at the same time. Here we have the Spanish-American War in the year 1898, and the U.S. Naval forces have bombarded the Cuban village of Matanzas in a hail of their full artillery. Nerves and emotions are always high during war, for both sides. Casualties are expected – sort of the point to a lot of it, right? This day though, all reports say that there was only one casualty of this bombardment. A mule. How amazing is that? The “Matanzas Mule” instantly became famous and to this day is a footnote in the history of the Spanish-American war. A newspaper article from 1898 describes the funeral of the mule, which was buried with full military honors, to the music of a marching band, while 200 people watched. They even wrote a song for him! They marshaled men of every rank, They summoned muffled guns to roll, They called the merchant from the bank, They caused the Church’s bell to toll.
And slowly to his grave they passed, Obeying every martial rule, And there with tears they took a last, Long look at that bombarded mule.
Wrapped in the flag he served so well. Amid a cloud of smoke he sank; “The Slain” – by tons of shot and shell – Went under with a round of blank.
Well, there you have it! The bravest mule of them all. 🙂
National Little Pampered Dog Day – How many of us not only love our dogs, but think of them as family members? We buy them toys and treats and sometimes dress them up and take them with us when we go somewhere – or as often as we are able. We talk to them like they can not only understand us, but that they just may be able to answer us back! In a way they do since we can tell by their body language how they feel. Today’s celebration lets us know that it is not only OK to pamper our dogs, but it is encouraged. Giving them all of this love is wonderful – but sadly, all dogs are not so lucky. Today we celebrate this one and a good way to spread the love is to make a donation to a dog shelter to assist in helping find all dogs their forever family and the love that your dog enjoys each and every day. Go ahead – celebrate this one. It’s definitely a very worthy cause. The difference for me with this one is that Moose isn’t a LITTLE pampered dog, he’s a HUGE pampered dog!
National Hairball Awareness Day – Well, hm. I couldn’t find anyone willing to admit they started this day. Cats often leave their owners nasty hairballs that they’ve yakked up onto the carpet, we just need to figure out why they do this. I know that with the thyroid issues and losing my hair, we have to pull hairballs that I leave out of the drains fairly often (sorry Honey). At least animals have foods with hairball formula to help keep them from hacking one out, but I guess the big difference is that people don’t (or shouldn’t!!!) eat their hair and have to throw it back up later, so we don’t need such a food formula. OK, I admit it – this is a really weird celebration. I guess I wouldn’t admit to starting it up either!
Tell a Story Day – I don’t know anyone who doesn’t LOVE a story – I know I do. Today is Tell a Story Day which celebrates story-telling of all kinds. It doesn’t matter if it is fiction or non-fiction, a tall fish tale, or folk-lore – today is a day for all of them. You can read it from a book or make it up as you go. When this day lands on a week day, it is celebrated by libraries with storytelling hours for kids, so if you have small children and are able to get to a library with them today, please do! Story time at the library is always fun! Children are so filled with wonder when they are listening to a good story. It is very fulfilling to be the one to share the stories with them. If you don’t have children at home, maybe make up a story and write it down to tell them later. Who knows? You may end up with the next best seller on the kid’s book list!
This Day in History –
1937 – The first Social Security checks were distributed.
Food Celebration of the Day-
National Devil Dog Cakes Day – I’ve heard the term Devil Dogs before, in connection to sports teams but I had no idea of the historical significance of the name, nor that there was a snack cake named Devil Dogs. How did I miss out on this one for all of these years??? Devil Dog Cakes are made up of two layers of devil’s food cake, with a layer of cream filling between them, sort of like a cake Oreo that is rectangular rather than square. They came into being as a tasty single-serving treat at some point in the mid-1920s. Now the historical significance of the name came into being during WWI, with the legend going that German soldiers started calling U.S. Marines “devil dogs” because of their tenacity. In 1918, a U.S. recruiting poster headlined with the phrase “Teufel Hunden”, putting the story into circulation across the country. Even though the German expression was a bit oddly worded, and it’s source a little iffy, the nickname still stuck. The truth was that the U.S. Marines DID fight with extreme bravery in Europe, as did all of our troops. Sports teams began adopting the name, movies were made showing the devil dogs and the story of the name, whether accurate or not, became a part of our history. So how do you celebrate this one? Well, do a search for a recipe (I found several easily – but don’t think I’ll have the time to come up with a low-carb one tonight) and bake up a batch!
National Prime Rib Day – The name “prime rib” stems from the quality grading the USDA started giving beef in the 1920s. Nowadays, most rib roasts are dubbed “prime” whether they have 10 to 13 percent fat or not. Personally, I’m not a fan. I like my meat much more well done than that and I’ve always found prime rib to be nearly mooing.
- Perfect Prime Rib Roast
- Walt Disney’s Prime Rib Hash
- Prime Rib with Garlic & Rosemary
- Cajun Prime Rib
- Prime Rib Soup
It is time to drag myself out of the house. Thanks to Hubby’s help, the lunches were packed, and I am ready to go. I was sort of losing myself in thought, trying to figure out what I needed to do next. I am really hoping a bit of caffeine can clear up this brain fog! Have a wonderful Friday! God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.
www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.verseoftheday.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com