I am really sorry I didn’t get the post up yesterday. I had it mostly ready, but it was difficult day all the way around, and I just didn’t get back here. Monday night was a tough one. I’m the first one to tell other people to rest and let themselves heal after an injury, but I seem to have difficulty taking my own advice. I did too much, too soon and woke up with a LOT of swelling and throughout the night my pain levels were increasing. I went back to the doctor to see if it could be drained – as unpleasant as that sounds – but it couldn’t be. The fluid isn’t fluid – but more of a goo. He said it will eventually break down and reabsorb into my body, but that it could take quite a bit of time. If it doesn’t go away, it could mean that a surgical procedure will be necessary to scrape it out. Lovely, right? Bottom line is I did too much too soon and by not allowing myself to heal, I’ve guaranteed that it will take longer to get better. For the most part today I will be off my feet, icing and trying to do my best not to overdo it. That isn’t easy for me to do on a Wednesday since I can sit here and see how much needs to be done. BUT, that will still be here waiting for me when it won’t hurt me, so I’m just doing my best not to twitch out over it.
Verse of the Day
May 15, 2018
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
I don’t know. I don’t know! That has to be one of the hardest phrases for us to use. But when thinking about God and his ways, that’s really all we can say. What we know about God is only what he in his grace has chosen to reveal to us. He is the Mystery of mysteries. He is the supreme knowable Unknown. Yet what we do know of him, what he has revealed to us in Jesus, is not only mighty and awesome, but loving and merciful.
May 16, 2018
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
So God likes to sing too! He even likes to share his lullabies with those he loves. Not only is God Abba Father, he is also like a mother. He gently rocks and quiets his children with his affectionate care.
Food for Thought
If you are having a heart attack or a stroke, or even THINK you might be, go straight to the hospital and not to Urgent Care. Seriously, this shouldn’t be a debate. I am praying that the individual at Urgent Care this morning who was being transported via ambulance to the hospital is OK and that the delay doesn’t do more harm. First patient of the day, shouldn’t have been there, and as side bit of happiness, slowed down the schedule by quite a bit, delaying everyone’s appointments who happened to have had one.
May 15 –
Hyperemisis Gravidarum Awareness Day – This one was in the spotlight a few years ago. What is interesting is that I’ve never heard of it before Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was hospitalized while suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) while she was pregnant with her first child. This is a serious and frequently misdiagnosed condition that is marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, unrelenting nausea and vomiting. The disease increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and low birth weight, and is the 2nd leading cause of hospitalization during pregnancy, impacting up to a half a million women each year. Sadly, in spite of this, little funding is granted for research. Until Duchess Kate was hospitalized, most people had never heard of HG, yet many have known women who are expecting babies who have suffered from extremely severe illness that was likely misdiagnosed as morning sickness. Current treatments are not adequate to prevent the loss of very much wanted babies by these mothers for whom the joy of pregnancy has been turned into a nightmare. Research shows that for women who have suffered from HG, the recurrence risk of having it again with future pregnancies is greater than 70 percent. The mildest cases of HG end by mid-pregnancy with a weight loss of about five percent, and the most severe can last until delivery with severe weight loss and lengthy hospitalization for treatment with fluids, medications and nutritional support. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this would be so often misdiagnosed, since it sounds like the symptoms are severe and pronounced. I can honestly say though that I am very grateful that both of my babies came without much simple morning sickness at all, because this sounds absolutely devastating. It’s a blessing that the birth of Princess Charlotte happened without any HG.
Nylon Stockings Day – Nylon stockings were first introduced to the public by the DuPont Corporation in 1940 and were an instant success. They were said to be “stronger than steel” and “run-proof”. This new synthetic material fascinated the public. DuPont brilliantly promoted the new stockings from the start. On May 15, 1940, DuPont declared “N-Day” – for the first time, all across America, nylon stockings would go on sale. Women lined up for blocks and DuPont sold 5 million pair in that single day. Marketing GENIUS! During WWII DuPont was forced to divert its nylon production to war related materials, such as parachutes and aircraft tires. The nylon stocking shortage began. In America the demand for nylon stockings was so high that people began paying $20 on the black market (before the war they were selling for a little over $1). In Chicago police ruled out robbery as a motive in a murder case because the perpetrator had left behind six pair of nylon stockings at a crime scene. In August of 1945, only eight days after Japan’s surrender, DuPont announced that it would immediately begin producing nylon stockings again, and the next month they went on sale at a limited number of stores. Thousands of people showed up for the stockings, which quickly sold out, and this is what began the first of what was called the “Nylon Riots”. Throughout 1945 stores were overrun by mobs of women who had learned of the sales by word of mouth. DuPont, not yet fully recovered from its wartime conversion, could not keep up with the demand. People waiting in line were disorderly and police had to disperse the crowds. When stores sold out of the precious hosiery, fights broke out. In Pittsburgh, the mayor arranged for a stocking sale in response to a petition by 400 women. On the day of the sale, 40,000 people lined up to fight for 13,000 pairs. Sort of puts Christmas sales to shame, doesn’t it? Similar scenes took place all across the country. Finally, by March of 1946, production was back up to speed and DuPont was producing 30 million pairs a month, enough for everyone, and the “Nylon Riots” ended. My Grandma had a box with one of the early pairs of nylons in it – she never wore this pair and kept them for some reason. I remember taking them out of the box and sliding my fingers across them when I was little and she told me about wearing hose, how the garter belts worked and how fancy they made her feel when she wore them. She also said that she didn’t have a reason to wear them very often now that she wore slacks, so she never took these out of the box and kept them as a memory. I don’t know who has that package of nylons now – for all I know it is in my Mom’s cedar chest with so many other treasured items from years gone by. For quite a few years now the bare legged look has been in style – though for some women like me that never worked – but once again The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is in one of our stories today, because she has been credited with bringing back nylons. Honestly, as I read this I have to question, if these wonders of technology were run proof back in the day when they were created, what have I been buying? I can’t seem to have a pair for more than 5 minutes before a snag turns into a big run. Hmmm . . .
Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Day – My son is a law enforcement officer, and every single day I pray that this day will never be about him. I know that this sounds selfish, in light of how many officers make the supreme sacrifice while doing their jobs, especially lately with the horrible public opinion in many cities about police officers, but I am a mother and the thought of losing my boy to the act of some criminal chills me to the bone. I know that this is the same emotion experienced by every parent, grandparent, spouse and sibling of police officers everywhere. When my son was in the police academy our county lost a well-respected and very much loved State Trooper. Trooper Tony was horribly and senselessly slaughtered while making a traffic stop. The county still grieves over his loss. They always will. While at my son’s graduation from the police academy, as I walked through the Memorial for fallen officers, in that hushed and hallowed garden, my heart was heavy at all of the names etched onto the stones. I prayed, so selfishly, that my son’s name would never appear on those stones, that he would be protected by the hand of God. Unfortunately the list of names, that agonizingly sad, long list of names, was on the pillars, there forever as a reminder of lives cut short while doing what they believed in, for serving the communities they cared so deeply about. This day was set up by the people I don’t want to be, the people who have lost their loved ones to senseless criminal acts by the monsters they try to take off the streets. This day honors and remembers police officers who gave their lives while on duty. These men and women protect and serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. It is a dangerous job and though they know that they are putting their lives at risk to keep us safe, they accept those risks. Today please show your respect and appreciation for police officers everywhere . . . today . . . everyday. There are so many ways that you can show your appreciation and respect for officers who serve, and those who have fallen. Say thank you when you see them, and rather than be angry or frustrated if they pull you over, know they are doing their job and you probably shouldn’t have been speeding (or whatever you were doing to be pulled over) anyway. Make a donation to a police officer fund or memorial. Participate in activities honoring officers who have died while performing their duty. Mostly, just be respectful and grateful for the police officers who are there for you every day, whether you see them or not.
Straw Hat Day – I thought it was interesting to read that historians agree that some form of head-covering was the first article of clothing worn by primitive man to protect them from drenching rain or scorching sun – though I wonder if that means they counted the leaves that Adam and Eve wore as something other than clothing – but I digress. Today marks the day when fashion “rules” say that we need to put away the felt hats and knit caps and begin wearing the lighter, breezier straw hats. The most popular straw hat style for men is the Panama hat. They came into style in the mid 1800s when Ecuador made them and shipped them to Panama. Today they are made of toquilla fiber, which is woven in Ecuador, Columbia and Peru. Clark Gable wore a Monte Carlo style Panama hat in the movie “Gone with the Wind”. You could celebrate this day by wearing a straw hat, or watching Gone With The Wind! I haven’t seen that in years.
May 16 –
Biographer’s Day – Are you a book lover? Today is a special day in the reading world because it is the day we celebrate the life stories of various people. Today is Biographer’s Day because one of history’s best known biographers first met his subject on this day. Samuel Johnson was a writer who developed one of the most useful early dictionaries of the English language. On May 16, 1763 he was introduced to writer and lawyer James Boswell. They became friends very quickly. Boswell wrote The Life of Samuel Johnson based on many of his personal experiences with his friend, and was a great success. It was actually so famous that Boswell’s name was added to Johnson’s dictionary as a word for someone who records the life story of a close associate. If you don’t have a friend to be your personal Boswell, you can always write your own story! After all, you know your story better than anyone else ever could.
Love a Tree – Trees are pretty wonderful. Have you ever paused to think about what trees do for us? There are the obvious things – shade, comfort and warmth. They give off oxygen – which has to be right up there at the top of the wonderful things trees do. But think about all of the products we as a society have because of trees. Years ago I worked at Weyerhauser as a log tag scanner. At a meeting at the main office I wandered through the museum and was just amazed by how many different ways that wood pulp is used. Some of the uses were quite surprising. It’s an extensive list so here we go:
dye, piano keys, rayon, books, fishing floats, inks, telephone books, varnish, atlases and maps, price tags, ping pong balls, tires, umbrella handles, signs, automobile instrument panels, space craft reentry shields, newspaper, photographic film, newspapers, posters, football helmets, toilet seats, guitars, road building materials, insulation, shatterproof glass, artificial vanilla flavoring, cork, vacuum cleaner bags, movies, stadium seats, adhesives, decorations, turpentine, camphor, waxes, fireworks, crayons, tannin, charcoal, pine oil, pitch, musical instruments, perches for birds of prey, toilet paper, milk cartons, flooring, bark for landscaping, cardboard, grocery bags, furniture, chewing gum, paper towels, oil spill control agents, Christmas trees, hockey sticks, wildlife habitat, cosmetics, roofs, baby foods, cider, vitamins, cooking utensils, lacquer, pallets, rubber gloves, mulch, clean water, golf tees, egg cartons, nail polish, fench posts, toys, toothpaste, eyeglass frames, syrup, antacids, shampoo, rubber gloves, menthol, electrical outlets, medicines, energy for electricity, plates and bowls, sausage casings, torula yeast, rulers, wooden blocks, houses, notebook paper, oars, plywood, paper plates, computer casings, stain remover, coffee filters, toothpicks, movie tickets, carpet and upholstery backsides, imitation bacon, diapers, horse corrals, postcards, tax forms, sponges, shade, particle board, shoe polish, luggage, bowling alley lanes, postage stamps, colognes, animal bedding, irrigation piping, fruit pie filling, golf balls, game boards, suspending agent for drinking soda, pencils, dry wall, baby cribs, baseball bats, lumber, decoys, kites, magazines, ice cream thickener, step ladders, birthday cards, brook sticks, cider, ceiling tiles, crutches, backyard play sets, axe handle, food labels, 2×4’s, candy wrappers, party invitations, disinfectants, cd inserts, gummed tape, fruit, railroad ties, shelter, belts, puzzles, swings, baking cups, buttons, cutting boards, benches, bird houses, stereo speakers, garen stakes, stairways, beds, tables, barrels, window frames, bulletin boards, linoleum, seesaws, fishing boats, billboards, disposable medical clothing, church pews, totel poles, desks . . . .how many others can you list?
As you can see, we have many reasons to appreciate trees! Now, on Love A Tree Day some people say to hug your trees, I will have to draw the line at that. Too many potential splinters.
National Sea Monkey’s Day – I remember as a kid I would happily get a new comic book about once a week or so – of course I’m dating myself horribly when I admit that they were about .25 each at the time – and always in the back 2 pages were all of those teeny tiny ads. They were selling all sorts of cheap nonsense that either would break the moment it was opened, or was a scam. But oh the imaginations swirled contemplating all of the wonders on those pages! Sea Monkey’s were usually on the back cover, in a full page, full color ad. I’d read every word of the fine print, see those happy smiling faces of the sea monkeys in the pictures and ask over and over if I could have a set. Mom always told me it was a waste of money then would go about whatever it was she was doing. One day I scraped together some birthday money and I sent in the order form, and the wait began. Six weeks of excruciating waiting and running the mail box after school, hoping that they would be there. Finally the day arrived and the package was in the box. I can completely identify with the scene in A Christmas Story when Ralphie got his decoder ring from Little Orphan Annie’s show. I opened the box, followed the directions, and within minutes there were microscopic . . . um . . . specks. Eventually they grew, into microscopic brine shrimp. No smiling faces, no little family, just a few floating brine shrimp that eventually died. Mom was right – they were a waste of money. I was so disappointed. Do you know that you can still find these rip-off kits in toy stores and online? If you’ve ever had sea monkey’s that turned out to be a fascinating pet as advertised, I’d love to know about it.
Turn Beauty Inside Out Day – We’ve all heard that beauty is skin deep . . . but is it really? Yes, we perceive physical beauty on a person’s outside appearance, but today we are challenged to turn beauty inside out and look to the inner beauty in the people we see. When it comes down to it, a person can be physically beautiful, but so gnarled up and dark on the inside that it makes them hideous. At the same time, you can have someone who is overlooked physically, seen as plain to the eye, but the beauty on the inside is so stunning that the love and kindness just radiates out of them. This is the type of person that others are drawn to – heart to heart. Today turn the popular media’s idea of beauty upside down and inside out and look at the actions and attitudes of people who are truly beautiful on the inside.
Wear Purple for Peace Day – At a glance you’d think this day was about peace from war or conflict, or to bring awareness to some specific incident. Well, that’s where you have to dig a little deeper. This celebration could be called a “stellar” event. It seems that some people fear that aliens from outer space consider earthlings to be hostile (well, who wouldn’t be, especially after all of the movies we’ve seen about them?), and that’s why they haven’t made open contact with us. Someone, somewhere decided to promote this world peace as a sign to the aliens that we aren’t hostile, and set up today to Wear Purple for Peace. So, if you have some sort of desire to meet aliens, today is your day to wear purple!
This Day in History –
May 15, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln established the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
May 15, 1918 – Regular airmail service inaugurated (between New York, Philadelphia & Washington DC).
May 15, 1940 – Nylon stockings hit the market for first time.
May 15, 1963 – “If I had a Hammer” by Peter, Paul, and Mary wins a Grammy.
May 16, 1866 – Charles Hires invents Root Beer.
Food Celebration of the Day –
May 15 –
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – Thank Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House Inn for inventing these mini morsels. She mixed broken chocolate pieces into basic sugar-cookie batter and baked up the world’s first batch of chocolate chip cookies. If you are following low-carb eating, there is an AMAZING chocolate chip cookie recipe that is low carb in the Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen cookbook, by Carolyn Ketchum. I can’t share the recipe since it is copyright protected, but I encourage you to get the book and make the Duck Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies – trust me and don’t let the duck fat put you off. You can substitute butter or coconut oil for the duct fat, but I personally loved the crispiness they got with the duck fat. There is also a recipe in the book for making your own chocolate chips – which is awesome since it saves me a bunch of money as the sugar free ones are very expensive.
May 16 –
Mimosa Day – I think I may have had just one or two mimosas throughout my adult life. They just aren’t something I think of when I consider brunch, but they truly are a classic brunch cocktail that many people love. The drink dates back to the 1920’s, with its name very likely coming from a yellow flower that is native to Australia. This versatile drink is easy to celebrate, no matter what time of day or what day of the week. Hm . . . maybe on the weekend! I’m not feeling up to being able to enjoy something like this today.
National Asparagus Month – Under perfect conditions, a spear of asparagus can grow up to 10 inches in a single day. Talk about a super food!
Have a great rest of your day. God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.
www.brownielocks.com / www.holidayinsights.com / www.foodimentary.com / www.thenibble.com / www.verseoftheday.com