A New Year's Toast 

In with the new, but cherish the old, to health, to peace and AI, to Good Fortune, to a cure for wrinkles, to flying cars, and hope springing eternal. Happy New Year!

 Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is neither a privilege nor a right. Privileges and rights are by definition entitlements that in order to exist must be 'bestowed' upon us by someone. I say to hell with them and their favors, I was born bitching and I'll keep on until somebody shuts me up or I croak. It's intrinsic.

 Postmodernism

A 20th-century intellectual and artistic movement that emerged as a reaction against modernism, characterized by a skeptical attitude toward objective reality and universal truths. It emphasizes themes like subjectivity, fragmentation, and the rejection of grand narratives, viewing knowledge and truth as socially constructed and relative rather than absolute. 

Core concepts

Skepticism of truth: Postmodernism questions the existence of objective, universal, or scientific truths, suggesting that reality is a product of individual interpretation and social construction.

Rejection of grand narratives: It is skeptical of "metanarratives," or the large-scale theories and stories (like those of progress, religion, or science) that have been used to explain history and human experience.

Relativity: It holds that all values, knowledge, and concepts are relative and that there is no single, objective standard for truth, morality, or beauty.

Fragmentation and discontinuity: Postmodernism often reflects a sense of the self as fractured, dispersed, and incomplete, and uses techniques like irony, self-consciousness, and pastiche to convey this.

Blurring of distinctions: It blurs the lines between high and low culture, art and everyday life, and different styles and genres, often blending and reinterpreting elements from the past. 

In practice

Literature and art: Postmodern literary and artistic works frequently employ irony, parody, and a self-aware or self-reflexive style to comment on the nature of reality and storytelling itself.

Philosophy: Philosophically, it challenges modern assumptions about reason, progress, and the ability of science to provide ultimate answers, viewing power structures as deeply intertwined with the production of knowledge.

A reaction against modernism: While modernism sought to break with tradition to create a new, pure form of expression, postmodernism is more open to reinterpreting, reappropriating, and playing with existing styles and past traditions. --Gemini

 7 Principles of Hermes

Mentalism: The idea that "The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental." Everything you experience is an interpretation of your mind, and your thoughts shape your reality. (This does not mean that the universe is mental, or a mind! It merely means that your personal knowledge of the universe is all you can know.)

Correspondence: A concept expressed as "As above, so below; as below, so above," suggesting a connection between different levels of reality. 

Vibration: "Nothing rests, everything moves, everything vibrates." All things in the universe exist in a state of motion and vibration. 

Polarity: Everything is dual and has poles. Opposites are identical in nature but different in degree, and extremes meet. 

Rhythm: Everything has a rhythm or cycle that governs its flow, rise and fall, and tides. This is seen in the pendulum swing of all things.

 

Cause and Effect: Every cause has an effect, and every effect has a cause. Nothing happens by chance; all things happen according to law. 

Gender: Gender exists in everything, with both masculine and feminine principles present on all planes of existence. --from The Kybalion, 1908 

 Skin Rash and Whole-Body Itching

Your skin may be itchy all over due to dry skin, allergic reactions to substances like soaps or detergents, or skin conditions like eczema or hives. It can also be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, diabetes, or nerve-related conditions. 

Skin-related causes

Dry skin: Stripping natural oils with harsh soaps or frequent washing can cause dryness and itching. 

Allergic reactions: Contact dermatitis can result from an allergy to a product like a strong detergent, lotion, or chemical. 

Eczema or psoriasis: These chronic skin conditions can cause widespread itching. 

Hives: These are raised, itchy welts that can appear all over the body. 

Parasites or infections: Scabies, lice, or fungal infections can cause itching. 

Underlying medical causes

Internal diseases: Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, and liver or kidney disease can cause generalized itching without an obvious rash. 

Nerve-related conditions: Shingles or other nerve disorders can lead to a sensation of itching. 

Medication side effects: Some drugs can cause an itchy skin reaction. 

Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes cause itching. 

What you can do

Identify triggers: Think about any new products you've used, like soaps, laundry detergents, or lotions, that might be causing a reaction. 

Moisturize: Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to help with dry skin. 

Use cool compresses: A cool, wet compress can provide temporary relief. 

Try an over-the-counter remedy: Antihistamines may help, especially if the itching is allergy-related. 

Consult a doctor: If the itching is severe, persistent, or you have other symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, as it could be a sign of an underlying medical issue. --Gemini 

 Seeing a child drinking from his hands, Diogenes threw away his cup and remarked, "A child has beaten me in plainness of living." --Diogenes the Cynic, University of Chicago

The program for life advocated by Diogenes began with self-sufficiency, or the ability to possess within oneself all that one needs for happiness. --Britannica

 St. James Infirmary - Hugh Laurie

Lyrics

I went down to the St. James Infirmary

Saw my baby there

Stretched out on a long white table

So sweet, so cold, so fair

Let her go, let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She can look this wide world over

She'll never find a sweet man like me

When I die, want you to dress me in straight-lace shoes

Box-back coat and a Stetson hat

Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain

So the boys'll know that I died standin' pat

Then give me six crap shooting pall bearers

Let a chorus girl sing me a song

Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head

So we can raise Hallelujah as we go along

Folks, now that you have heard my story

Say, boy, hand me over another shot of that booze

If anyone should ask you

Tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues

 Desiderata: From the original text​

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. --Max Ehrmann, 1927

 Medicare

Being labeled non-compliant can get you in real trouble, like being refused services when you really need them, or maybe your mental capacity being questioned by those with more power than you.

I'm not a big fan of drugs of any kind except those found in plants, herbs, foods, which are plenty.

I think I'm pretty sneaky about avoiding Rx drugs and non-compliance labels. I say, "Okay, I'm pretty busy right now, I'll think about it."

Also, the doctor can't put you on drugs if you're not there. Avoid him in situations where it's safe to do so. Eat an apple. Take a walk outdoors. Read the best sources on the best course of action for your ailment. Pay attention to your lab work.

 Maple, like cantaloupe, is a strong flavor, overtaking all others in many recipes.

 Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

To avoid tough biscuits, keep everything COLD as possible until it goes in the oven.

I kept a covered bowl ready in the fridge at all times for biscuits. It contained

2 c. flour

1 TB baking powder

1 tea salt.

1/4 C. cold butter, cut in (to consistency of small peas)

================

When ready for biscuits, stir in most of

1/4 C. milk curdled with a bit of vinegar.

Quickly now, stir, knead just to mix, roll out to 1/2-inch thick, cut rounds with a drinking glass, bake 10-12 minutes in 450-degree oven.

=============

Sausage Gravy

Fry 1 lb breakfast sausage. Stir/mash in in a couple tablespoons flour. Cook a few moments. Gradually add milk or water, stirring, cooking as you go until consistency is reached. Simmer until flour is cooked. Add salt and pepper if desired.

==========

Split a biscuit and butter it. Heap with gravy. Top with an over-easy egg. Garnish with an orange twist.

 

Climate Change?

We don't know, we're not as smart as we think we are, but what difference does it make?

We can't poison the oceans with impunity.

We can't cover the earth in concrete without consequences.

Or surround the earth with end-to-end space junk.

These and other unfortunate choices are being taken out of our hands by means of lower birth rates and the poisoning of our bodies with man-made toxins.

We're doomed and I'm sure, objectively speaking, that it's about time.

 

The Health and Well-Being of our Youth

There is tremendous sympathy today for mental illness. But what is not considered by many is the widespread permanent damage drug abuse is doing to our young people --the future of our country.

Drug use, both rx and illegal can permanently damage the brains of our youth. That is why China keeps us supplied with illegal opiates.

Education and discipline and, sometimes, forced commitment to excellent institutions is called for, not sympathy. Sympathy encourages self-pity, self-indulgence, paranoia and worse.

It's worth noting that excellence in our institutions does NOT translate to costliness.

**America's public enemy number one is drug abuse. --Richard Nixon paraphrased, 1971**

 I Remember

... when my mother-in-law reported that she caught my daughter looking out the window and laughing.
"Reminiscing?" she asked her.
My daughter nodded. "We took Dad's brand-new red canoe to the top of the hill for sledding. Us,and all the kids in the neighborhood jumped in and down we went. And we'd drag it and push it back up and sled down again.
"But here came Dad over the horizon. We all bailed and disappeared into the woods. Only Chrissie was left sitting in the canoe --holding the bag."
Chrissie was my youngest. He took the rap for the whole caper

** Kids' eternal cry: But I dint DO nuthin! **

 I Remember

Before my second was born --my husband's grandmother was elderly and quite frail even then --she had a litter of about ten puppies in her garage and garden. They were forever tearing full speed ahead and wrassling and tumbling everywhere. When we went out to feed them, I said, "Don't let them trip you!" 

She said, "Oh, no, they know better than that," and sure enough, they kept their distance, trotting along behind. They sat on their little bottoms and waited patiently all in a big circle around her, scooting (backward!) out of her way as needed. I couldn't believe it, they were tiny little things. 

Well-behaved puppies --rare and just about priceless, I thought.

**Happiness is hot chocolate, a soft blanket, and a warm puppy**

 Lithium deficiency in the brain is believed to cause Alzheimer's. The nightshade family and lentils and eggs, among other foods contain lithium

 The 43rd Wellness

Patience, whose stylized symbol is the Ancient Ocean. I am serene.

Patience is a virtue. Impulsiveness is its extreme opposite, with indecisiveness at the other end of the spectrum. 

Sometimes we can summon a calmness for ourselves by practicing the 2nd Wellness, Emotional Wellness. Sometimes we can achieve calm and check manic behavior by meditation or by distraction.

The person I admire is the Sitting Yogi.

** C'mon, inner peace! I haven't got all day. **

 The 42nd Wellness

Adaptability, whose stylized symbol is the Patient Octopus. I am resilient. 

The most important tool for our survival is our ability to adapt to change.

Remember that the elderly are notoriously set in their ways. Stay loose.

The personality I admire is the Road Runner

 On Quality Supplements

When you are advised that "all you need is a good balanced diet", consider two points: 1) crops are not as nutrient rich as they once were, and 2) we absorb fewer nutrients as we age. 

Consider quality supplements.

 The 41st Wellness

Pain Control, whose stylized symbol is White Lightning Bolt. I am comfortable.

Often when our pain seems to go chronic, if we take half an otc pain pill, the pain disappears and doesn't come back. Pain is not good for us. Inflammation raises cancer risk and raises blood pressure and all sorts of bad developments. I guess.

But Advil will destroy our kidneys in short order. My husband's cardiologist told him, if he MUST have something for pain, to take otc Tylenol as sparingly as possible.

The person I admire is U.S. senator John McCain

 The 40th Wellness

Independence, whose stylized symbol is the Bald Eagle. I am free.

Live your life your way, never under the thumb or whim of others. 

The person I admire is The Survivalist

 I didn't live my life my way, the way I dreamed of, which was no-one's fault but my own. But the life I got was good and interesting and, much more importantly, it was honorable

 The 39th Wellness

Steadfastness, whose stylized symbol is the Mountain. I am stable

Always true, ever devoted. If there is no such thing as real stability, then we should look up to the cosmos for the nearest thing

The personality I admire is Mother Nature

 I like Manslow's "Hierarchy of Needs" and Erikson's "Stages of Development" okay, but I'm a bigger fan of George Carlin's "Life in Reverse" ideas. 

I can't find the video but he said something like: that life should begin with the agony of death and get all that pain and suffering over with. Then life should continue in this happy reverse trajectory and end as we all began, with the ecstatic culmination of the socks act.

 A healthy bowel movement is enclosed within a biofilm. There should be little or no mess to wipe away.

 If life is suffering, then to suffer is to want. So, I try not to want anything, including peace of mind. Because suffering sucks.

 Squirrels

I had squirrels in the house, NOT in the rafters, well, probably in the rafters but certainly in every room in the house. It was a nightmare because they were big and very bold, and numerous --not afraid of me. 

They were curious about me. Whenever I sat still for a few minutes, they would approach. They would come very near until I noticed them and jumped up yelling.

I chased them around the house with a broom. I bought pest spray. I hired an exterminator who left traps and said he'd be back --to no effect.

I hired tree-removal people to take down a tree that was overhanging my roof. That fixed the problem.

Now I don't have a garden or any edible plants on the property. No compost heaps, no garbage cans, no bird feeders. Works for me.

I hate squirrels.

 Don't make assumptions

Ike: "I like cream pie."

Ollie: "What kind of cream pie?"

Ike: "Cream pie with whipped cream."

Ollie: "I mean what kind of pie is that you've got, you big stupid? I like chocolate cream pie."

Ike: ((( splat! ))) "Did I say I like to eat it?"

Don't make assumptions

 The 38th Wellness

Survival, whose stylized symbol is the Phoenix. I am invincible. 

Solve dire problems and meet urgent responsibilities with PACE. From the Green Berets, it's an acronym for Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency. It's useful for procuring or achieving all things essential.

PACE is a natural way of thinking. The Green Berets give us these examples:

Primary: M4 rifle

Alternate: Grenades

Contingency: Handgun

Emergency: I use my knife to get another gun or two from the enemy

Think like a Green Beret. Use PACE. If you don’t have that many options, be cautious and try to develop more. If you are reduced to emergency options, seek to open others and recover. Make a plan, and a plan B, C, and D. And develop them.

The person I admire is the Survivor

 The 37th Wellness

Moderation, whose stylized symbol is the Taijitu (the yin/yang symbol). I am balanced.

Avoid the extreme in all things. Instead, seek balance, as far toward the middle-of-the-road as possible. 

Avoid thinking in terms of absolutes. For example, we view the rape of an infant as unthinkably bad, but we fail to appreciate that it is good for the rapist. 

However, had the rapist taken the middle road he might have accepted an object in place of the infant.  

Seek moderation, the mean, the average when you can in all things.

The person I admire is Lau Tzu, the founder of Taoism

 The 36th Wellness 

Good Fortune, whose stylized symbol is the Four-Leaf Clover. I am lucky.

Karma. Providence. Do we get what we deserve in life? Does it matter? Isn't it enough to deserve it?  The person I admire is the Dalai Lama

** I Will clean my plate for luck. **

 The 35th Wellness, 

Laughter, whose stylized symbol is the Comedy Mask. I am amused.

Laughter truly is the best medicine. When you're feeling low bring to mind a favorite funny story or distract yourself with something pleasant like a good book or a game of solitaire. 

Take a moment to look in the mirror and smile so as not to take yourself too seriously.

The person I admire is Red Skelton

** There is a story of Albert Schweitzer, in Darkest Africa, chasing the dog who was chasing the chicken around the yard. "No, no, my friend! Remember you are a vegetarian!" **

 The Purpose of Life

Because Evolution in the end favors the fittest, overall progress ensues.

There are those who believe we are wonderful evolving organisms going who knows where --maybe to Nietzsche's superman, or maybe godlike creatures (the purpose of life).

Or there are those who say we are robots --just carriers of these improvements --no better than the proverbial camel nodding at two savory herbs equidistant from his nose. He's stuck, a broken machine, can't make up his mind, he dies in that position (no purpose in his life).

 Bob Hope famously called Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue “the longest bar in the world.”

A beat-up, stained, cigarette-burnt old Baldwin Acrosonic piano with wonderful tone was hauled up and down the avenue as needed over a period of many, many years. It is said that it visited every bar in Anchorage many times over.
Later it belonged to my mother. Now it's mine, a cherished possession.
My husband always threatened that before he moved it one more time, he'd break it up for firewood.

 The 34th Wellness

Diet, whose stylized symbol is the Dinner Plate. I am satisfied. 

Pay attention to the macros: Carbs, Protein, and Fat. Whether you are preparing a steak dinner, a casserole, a soup, a salad, or a smoothie, each of the following loosely defined ingredients are key.

1. A carb, cooked: a cooked vegetable as beans, carrots, corn, greens

2. A carb, starchy: as potato, rice, bread, pasta, squash, carrots, banana

3. A carb, raw: as tomato, onion, lettuce, fruit, bell pepper, cucumber

4. A quality protein: as red meat, poultry, or fish

5. A quality fat: as olive oil, avocado, or full-fat dairy

Eat a wide variety of foods, all in moderation.

The person I admire is The Good Cook 

 The 33rd Wellness

Energy, whose stylized symbol is A Charged Battery. I am busy.

To maintain energy levels, we are advised to fix any sleep problems, eat lightly. Stay hydrated. Avoid sugar. Avoid sitting for extended periods. Avoid stress, worry. a negative outlook.

The person I admire is The Exercise Bug

 The 32nd Wellness

Support, whose stylized symbol is Steel Crutch. I am protected.

I am confident of a strong support system including friends, family, professional help when needed, stored supplies, ready transportation, strong financial health, and a stoic attitude.

The person I admire is The Good Samaritan

 The 31st Wellness

Longevity, whose stylized symbol is Wise Turtle. I am ongoing.

Study the science of extended life. Some suggestions for study include fasting, maintaining calmness, toxin avoidance, careful use of supplements, home-grown foods, quality protein, stress avoidance, fulfillment of emotional needs.

The person I admire is Methuselah

 The 30th Wellness

Crisis Control, whose stylized symbol is Broken Glass. I am ready.

I am quick, action oriented, alert to danger, proactive. I employ IF-THEN exercises as, for example, always having fresh water stored, gas tank full. Readiness training for performance under stress would include techniques to maintain calm. I look ahead for upcoming problems, potential emergencies. Always have a Plan B.

The person I admire is the first responder

 The Powers that Be

Omniwar is the weaponization of all the different systems we use, including food, health and finance. Mankind is under attack from all angles, and it’s not simply to control us but to kill us too. --Catherine Austin Fitts

**It’s a New World Order. It’s a brand-new day.  

It’s a New World Order, and brother, you're the prey. --Curtis Mayfield**

 The 29th Wellness

Sleep, whose stylized symbol is Fluffy Sheep. I am rested

I use established routines to encourage sleep

The day is loosely divided into three equal segments, waxing, waning and sleep. On rising, the first eight hours, waxing, are my highest energy hours, hours of rising activity. The next eight hours are spent in a winding-down mode, dropping my pace, gradually lowering activity, the last four hours being devoted to preparation for sleep. Those hours could be spent preparing for the next day. The last two, in which the lights are lowered, are spiritual, almost an exercise in moving meditation. 

The last eight hours are devoted to sleep.

The character I admire is Rip Van Winkle

 The 28th Wellness

Resilience, whose stylized symbol is: Rubber Band. I am durable.

I snap back from trouble. I take precautions to safeguard my immune system, to retain bone and muscle strength, and generally to live a healthy lifestyle. 

The character I admire is Roadrunner who keeps coming back

 The 27th Wellness

Intentional Wellness, stylized symbol: Smoky Horse Blinders. I am single minded. 

Sometimes a temporary suspension of regular wholesome routine is needed. Urgencies or some projects like cleaning house for company or travel, or finishing tax returns on time. Or big jobs like painting a room. These occasions require full steam ahead. Like a dog with a bone, one does not let go until it's finished.

The person I admire is Albert Einstein

 The 26th Wellness

Perceptual Wellness, stylized symbol: Half-Full Glass. I am optimistic.

I am biased toward the positive not only because it is pleasanter for ourselves and those around us to be cheerful, but also as a tool to combat the lowering of the black cloud of depression.

The person I admire is Pollyanna

**Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street. --Billie Holiday**

 DOGE is the monster that might have to eat Elon. --Donald Trump, July 1, 2025, on the White-House lawn. Reported by Jack Hobbs, Irish Star

 The 25th Wellness

Psychological Wellness, whose stylized symbol is Vivid Inkblot. I am good.

I am one, an individual. There are many but only I belong to me. I seek to understand and to be good. 

I know who I am: my identity is Person, who I distinguish from a beast, then woman. My class is Labor, and my past and that of my family define me. My responsibility is to be what my elders expected of me. My love is my family, my joy is the arts, my passion is my work which is the pursuit of the good life for myself and others, my nature is reclusive. I know my place on the Totem Pole of life and I am proud and satisfied with it. I will have no other. And I am easy with my role among the masses, which is that of a productive member, not in a slavish way, but in a way in which I am talented and, above all, competent and which is fulfilling for me. 

I do no harm --all else is detail. Let it be so.

The person I admire is Carl Jung

** I'm okay, you're okay. **

 The 24th Wellness

Transitional Wellness, stylized symbol: Spangled Acrobat. I am versatile.

I move easily from focus to focus, nimbly laying aside one project and picking up another, an attribute essential to productivity. 

My nemesis is obsessional thought. If there is a problem, a five-minute break may help to free the mind.

The person I admire is Nero Wolfe

 The 23rd Wellness

Imaginative Wellness, stylized symbol: Tinker Bell. I am free thinking.

I am more than creative, I am open to possibilities. This is a human-only quality, the flipside of routine or standardized behavior and programming. I imagine my ideal lifestyle, my ideal workspace. Now, in an exercise in reflection, I walk into it, shrug my shoulders, see how it fits. I invite my mind to flow freely in any direction, to improvise, to associate freely.

The person I admire is Rudyard Kipling

 On Universal Causation

Not everything in the universe necessarily has a cause, I understand. Apparently quantum physics and radioactivity and the creation of the universe may be exceptions.

And we can't seem to bend our heads around infinity. In fact, it may exist only in the abstract, like numbers, or the infinitely divided space between points, never in reality

 The 22nd Wellness

Functional Wellness, stylized symbol: Captain's Hat. I am efficient.

I am Control Central --responsible, engaged, involved, workwise, determined. As daily exercises of strength I delay gratifications such as food and other enjoyable routines.

The person I admire is Albert Schweitzer

 The 21st Wellness

Preparatory Wellness, stylized symbol: Cutting Board. I am forward thinking.

 I am caught up with short-term planning and execution. I do not procrastinate, but I anticipate, think ahead to what will be needed, such as planning upcoming meals, keeping at least a half tank of gas in the car, writing down dwindling supplies as I notice them, being prepared for emergencies as fire, loss of electricity, natural gas, or water, walking myself through unfamiliar contingencies, and so forth. I have a short-term (asap to three-month) plan and a long-term (five-year) plan.

The person I admire is Elmer Fudd, ever on the watch for potential problems

 On the U.S. Budget Deficit

I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that any time there's a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. --Warren Buffet, 2011

 The 20th Wellness

Reflective Wellness, stylized symbol: Gold Crown. I am enlightened.

I understand. The most complex question or problem can be placed on a back burner to be pondered unconsciously. Take it to bed with you and reflect upon it on awakening. In its own good time your answer or decision will come. Quiet reflection brings clarity.

The person I admire is Alfred North Whitehead

 Movies

THE NIGHT CLERK, R, 2020, Crime/Thriller, John Leguizamo
This poorly plotted movie held my attention as a character study of a young man with autism/Asperger syndrome. I thought he did a great job. Available on ROKU. Three Stars

** DIE HARD is not a Christmas movie, it's a Bruce Willis movie. --Bruce WIllis **

 Bah!

Through no fault of mine, but through faulty packing for transit, I recently had to return damaged goods to Amazon who was charged with their safe delivery.

From my refund they deducted $0.81, calling it a 'Promotional Discount Deduction'. 

Lest you think that is of no consequence, may I remind you that many years ago the banks were convinced to stop the predatory practice of rounding off the fractions of pennies in their favor.

That caper had been making them big bucks.

** It wasn't school that I hated so much, it was the principal of the thing.**

 Involuntary Burping, and Bloating

Copilot supplied the following information: 

Lifestyle Tweaks for GERD Relief

These adjustments can make a meaningful difference:

• Meal timing: Avoid lying down for at least 2–3 hours after eating. Gravity helps keep stomach acid where it belongs.

• Portion control: Smaller, more frequent meals reduce pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which helps prevent reflux.

• Elevate your head: Sleeping with the head of your bed raised 6–8 inches can reduce nighttime symptoms.

• Avoid trigger foods: Common culprits include caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fatty or fried foods. But triggers vary—keeping a food diary can help identify yours.

• Mindful eating: Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid talking while chewing to reduce swallowed air (which can worsen bloating and burping).

• Weight management: If applicable, even modest weight loss can significantly reduce GERD symptoms.

• Clothing: Avoid tight waistbands or belts that put pressure on your abdomen.

• Stress reduction: Stress can exacerbate symptoms. Gentle practices like walking, deep breathing, or even a warm cup of chamomile tea can help.

Overlap with Functional Dyspepsia and Gastroparesis

For functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis, many of the same principles apply, with a few additions:

• Low-fat, low-fiber meals: These are easier to digest and move through the stomach more quickly.

• Soft or blended foods: Especially helpful for gastroparesis, where delayed emptying is an issue.

• Hydration: Sip fluids between meals rather than with meals to avoid overfilling the stomach.

• Gentle movement after meals: A short walk can aid digestion and reduce bloating.

 The 19th Wellness

Transformational Wellness, stylized symbol: Shapeshifting Coyote. I am changeable. 

I am correctable, moldable, pliable, I can correct much of what should be corrected. Often steel determination and focus is called for.  Calm and steady in the pursuit of your goals. 

The person I admire is Dan Millman, author

 The 18th Wellness

Instinctual Wellness, stylized symbol: Pink Navel. I am receptive. 

Often our instincts surpass our reasoning in informing us of what we need to know. Consider obeying your instincts unless you have good reason to ignore them, such as addictive behavior, as over indulgence in physical desires perhaps, or an instinct toward  ill will or cruelty.

The person I admire is Laozi, 400 BC, compiler of the Tao Te Ching

 On Wrong Behavior:

From the thought (the impulse)

To the word (the clarified thought)

To the action

To the habit

To the character

To destiny. --Lao Tzu paraphrased

 The 17th Wellness

Therapeutic Wellness, stylized symbol: Candy-Stripe Band Aid. I am imperfect.

Sometimes we need more than tender loving care. Sometimes we need to adopt a therapeutic lifestyle.

The person I admire is Forrest Gump.

 The 16th Wellness

Rational Wellness, stylized symbol: Clear Lens. I am reasonable.

Logical, down-to-earth clear-headedness must prevail if we would succeed in the investigation of things to find understanding of the world around us.

The person I admire is Galileo.

 What is our nature? What is the meaning of life?

I believe it is our nature to seek, as is true of the nature of everything in the universe. Just as gravity seeks the center of mass, the tree seeks the sun, the magnet seeks the poles, we seek what we need endlessly. 

I believe the meaning of life is, subjectively, to flourish, but, objectively, to evolve.

 The 15th Wellness

Recreational Wellness, stylized symbol: Fluorescent Pinwheel. I am fun loving.

There is so much to do, so much to learn. Do the moonwalk, learn boxing footwork, tap dance, learn the tango, become a movie critic, go to yoga class and, at the same time, meet wonderful people.

The person I admire is Tina Turner

 The 14th Wellness

Logistic Wellness, stylized symbol: Silver Rocket. I am mobile.

We must not allow our bodies to wither in old age without fighting back. While the cane is a helpful tool, the walker gets seriously in our way, and the wheelchair will destroy us if we let it. Fight back! Stay physically mobile, keep your driver's license, maintain your independence as long as you can!

The person I admire is Elon Musk

 What is this? My new computer has, without permission, sent all my files to OneDrive which means that I must be online to access them.

This means that I must always be online. 

Doesn't it follow that my computer is an open book to the powers that be?

We already knew that nothing on our computers is private, but that problem applied to bad actors only.

This behavior on the part of Government or Computer Technology, probably both, is bold, blatant, hostile, criminal behavior in my opinion.

 BEWARE! BEWARE!

This Friday is FRIDAY THE TWELFTH PLUS ONE (that number, you know, the one with the ONE and the THREE)

Friday the Twelfth Plus One

The most Godawful day as it were

Is upon us again, that's for sure

I'll quake in my bed

Covers over my head

'Til the black cloud has passed I won't stir

NO SIR!

 The 12th-Plus-one Wellness (that number, you know, the one with the ONE and the THREE has been retired in an abundance of caution and respect)

Financial Wellness, stylized symbol: Copper Penny. I am frugal.

I believe it is not only disrespectful to the good earth, but bad luck or bad karma or whatever you like to call it to be wasteful. People who say that money is not important have obviously never found themselves without it.

The person I admire is my grandmother who taught me the value of The Almighty Dollar

 Overdoing Things

I disagree with the old saying that, in order to strengthen our bodies, we must step out of our comfort zones. The pain of sore muscles and small injuries can destroy the enjoyment of exercise, the pleasure and wonder of sculpting our bodies back to robust health. 

Why not slow down, take it easy, have fun? What's the rush?

The 12th Wellness

Behavioral Wellness, stylized symbol: A Black Hood. I am systematic.

Routine, ritual, regularity is comforting and may be essential to an older person. We all have some routine in our lives, as brushing our teeth or showering or eating habits.

One thing after another as planned. This helps to keep us on guard against wrong habits.

HABIT

First comes the Thought,

Then, the Word --or the Clarified Thought,

Then, the Action,

Then, the Habit,

Then, the Character,

Then, Destiny --Lao Tsu, 5th or 6th century BC, or he may have been a compiler of maxims.

The person I admire is Dustin Hoffman for his performance as Raymond Babbitt in RAIN MAN.

 A funny thing happened on the way to the casbah

In my car while waiting for a stop light to turn green, a pedestrian was speedily crossing my path. He was a young man, very tall, whip thin. He had the springiest gait I had ever seen. Bouncing off his toes he must have risen over a foot in the air. 

On his shoulders riding piggyback was precariously balanced a tiny little boy maybe eighteen months old. He was in extreme and urgent distress holding his bottle clenched in his teeth while holding on for dear life to his dad's head with both hands.

In such a heart-wrenching moment as that, what can one do? Nothing, but to hold one's breath and hope for the best. They continued without incident until they were out of sight.

 The 11th Wellness

Moral Wellness, stylized symbol: Iron Mountain. I am strong.

We learn from the events in our life. Some of us suffer very violent childhoods. Some of us are not equipped to flourish in our environments. Let us support each other with kindness and understanding. And a leg up.

The person I admire is Mike Tyson.

 Shake, Rattle and Roll --The Vibration Plate

A friend inspired me to try out a vibration plate. I had high hopes for improved circulation in the lower legs, but the literature cautions to seek professional advice for use with certain ailments, most every one of which I have.

So, carefully, in a seated position, just resting my feet on the plate, I did one minute. Next morning my knees were killing me ... well, they're often killing me, but now much worse.

On March 12 and March 13, I did 1.5 minutes. Knees remained the same.

On March 14 and 15 I did two minutes. I noticed that, immediately after the March 15 session, my knees felt good, but pain soon returned.

But I did think my knees were a little better, so I continued to work myself up to a five-minute session.

Well, to sum up, the vibration plate really did a job on me. I had to cancel the I-CAN-DO-THIS ceremony. My friend also had to stop using it.

I've been in agony ever since I tried it. If I ever try it again, it will be standing only and for brief periods only. I'll pIace my two-wheel walker over it so that I have the handlebars for balance and support. 

I hope any older people trying out a vibration plate will be very careful not to hurt themselves.

 The Tenth Wellness

Directional Wellness, stylized symbol: A Primrose Path. I am focused. 

Focused on the three-prong long term: improved health, improved standard of living, and disciplined learning.

Calm and steady in the pursuit of these goals.

The person I admire is Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin's Daily schedule

He rose at 6am. From 6am to 9am he prepared for the day

From 9am to 1pm he worked

From 1pm to 2pm he rested

From 2pm to 6pm he worked

From 6pm to 10pm he engaged in evening activities such as reading, letter writing, entertaining, house parties, theater, and so forth

From 10pm to 6am he rested

"NEVER fail to do what you have resolved to do." --Ben Franklin paraphrased

 On Death

Oh, we don't like death? We think it's unfair?

We are each lucky to be here at all. Consider the odds of success of the single sperm that is you.

Is immortality really a desirable thing? In a world in which we live forever, it seems likely that the elders would rule over all. 

It's best not to be anxious about death, or anything that is inevitable. We are apparently the only animal that knows it will die. Knowledge is often a good thing. We've had our turn, let us be courageous, let us pass the baton cheerfully to the next generation when our day in the sun has passed.

Let us stop worrying about it. and have fun.

Let it be so

 The Ninth Wellness

Creative Wellness, whose stylized symbol is the Struck Flintstone. I am seeking.

The Creative spark, always elusive, must be snatched and retained at the moment of occurrence. Keep paper and pencil ready in your nearest pocket.

The person I admire is Leonardo DaVinci

 Focus

Elon Musk advises us to spend an hour a day focusing on our main priority. I've got a lot of main priorities, but today I'll take "Not losing my driver's license in April of 2026."

About seven years ago I was advised of cataracts. The doctor referred me to a firm that would remove my cataracts. 

I said no, that he should adjust my prescription for glasses until I maybe get around to the surgeries he's prescribing.

He said no, that I probably won't even need glasses after the surgery.

Now I'm scared. He is not cooperating. I have no intention of having these surgeries until necessary. And he is obligated to report anyone to the Division of Motor Vehicles who does not meet vision requirements. With these old glasses of mine, I would never pass the vision test.

Now I proceed on tiptoe.

I ask, "Has my vision deteriorated to the point where I shouldn't drive?"

He replied, "You are borderline qualified to drive."

I said, "Okay, I will accept your referral. But please, in the meantime*, give me a certificate for DMV that says I am qualified to drive at this time."

He said okay, and I renewed my driver's license for 8 years by presenting his certificate. 

So here I am today, looking down the throat of losing my driver's license next April. I have suffered having to live with these old glasses of mine, but I have no intention of having dangerous cataract surgery until I think I need it. I'm 83, too old for frivolous surgery. I think I see fine.

So, what to do?

I think this fall I will visit a new optometrist and tell him what I want: A prescription for new eyeglasses. If he says no, I will visit another optometrist. If he says no, I will face the question of surgery or loss of my driver's license. I will choose the loss of my driver's license.

I live in the suburbs where there are no taxis. A bus will not work for me because I can't walk to the bus stop. I don't intend to ask friends and family to tool my carcass around. I think it may be time to become an activist for a local taxi service although that would be prohibitively expensive. Really, I see no solution ahead.

What do you think, Dear Reader?

*Not a lie! It will be a woman's prerogative to change my mind.

 The Eighth Wellness

Precautionary Wellness, stylized symbol: Camouflaged Lock. I am prudent. 

We seniors should be ever thinking ahead to what can go wrong. Be ready, be vigilant. 

"Set thine house in order." --Isaiah 38:1

The person I admire is  R. Lee Ermey, aka “Gunny”, a US Marine drill instructor and Golden Globe-nominated actor.

 My 1959 Encyclopedia Britannica called homosexuality 'depraved'. That was our truth then. Times change, and change again. 

"To everything, turn, turn, turn

There is a season, turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven." --The Byrds, 1965

 The Seventh Wellness

Work Wellness, stylized symbol: Brown Cog. I am productive.

In the recent past and even now, keeping up with the homestead was back-breaking work from dawn to dark. The work, it was all that mattered.

Everyone needs work.

The person I admire is Thomas Edison

Anthropology --Predators, Locomotion, Credulity

We are predators, it's not our fault. Everything about us is predatory. The very fact that we move about on two feet is predatory. As hunters we need far sight.

We do, or did have at least two or three serious predators of our own to contend with --one is the tiger. It's said that we inherited our extreme gullibility because of our predators. 

When someone yelled, "Run! There's a tiger behind that rock!", no-one stopped to demand proof with triple-blind experiments, they RAN. 

 The Sixth Wellness

Emotional Wellness, stylized symbol: Red Heart. I am calm.

Many long-lived people have been described as calm. Strong emotions do not encourage reflective thought. 

Let go of your regrets. The problem is that not letting go can morph into long-lasting compulsive thought which can lead to mental health problems. 

Sometimes we need to discipline ourselves to focus on the good and happy and grateful thoughts for awhile.

The person I admire is Nick Nolte

 Is vital health information censored or deliberately ignored by government?

I've read that misfolded proteins as found in mad cow are just about everywhere now, even on the vegetation that infected animals, including deer, caribou, elk and bison have grazed upon.

When we find it in ourselves, we call it 'dementia'. It's one of the contagious dementias!

Many years ago, when English mad cow first became public knowledge, I read the science extensively. Now, it seems, that information can't be found. I believe it may have been censored or voluntarily removed to avoid public panic or to protect big business. 

Another worrisome thing I've read is that these misfolded proteins are 'indestructible', which approaches 'almost true' also of the Tuberculosis bug.

One might try searching 'variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)' which I believe is the human form of mad cow. But I searched that years ago and couldn't find my old sources.

Also, one might research the assorted terms for mad cow used for deer and/or other animals, as 'scrapie', and so forth.

"Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative, prion-based disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and, less commonly, goats..." --Copilot

From a single cut of meat, I always grind my own hamburger for the following reason:

"A batch of hamburger meat can contain the flesh of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of different animals. This is because ground beef is typically made from a blend of trimmings and cuts from multiple cows, processed together at meatpacking plants." --Copilot

This blend of trimmings and cuts may include traces of brain and spine.

 The Fifth Wellness

Social Wellness, stylized symbol: People Cutout. I am friendly.

It's said that the definition of a lady or a gentleman is their constant effort to make those around them feel comfortable. They are kind.

The person I admire is Ronald Reagan

 Regarding AI, specifically Copilot

There is a vast difference between asking Copilot a question and asking a search engine. The search engine searches for matches of the words we use in our question, but Copilot actually answers the question.

For me, it's the difference between night and day. 

 The Fourth Wellness

Environmental Wellness, whose stylized symbol is the Ladybug. I am Well Intentioned

1. I aim for a lifestyle with little or no impact on the earth

2. clean air with healthy humidity

3. I efficiently reduce transportation 

4. I make my space, indoors and out, comfortable for walking and examination

5. I use less energy by blocking off rooms when necessary, burning burnables, wearing layers of clothing  

6. I utilize free energy, like keeping windows clean, heating rocks while cooking, candles

7. green home design and improvement, use of natural local materials, recycle, insulate

8. produce food at home, eliminate food waste 

9. efficient kitchen organization 

10. water control, rainwater harvesting. I catch and reuse running water in my kitchen.

11. achieve green spaces with abundant plants and edible landscaping --with special attention to places of honor

12. waste management, maintain space dedicated to burnable and heat production --stove or fireplace or firepit --and maintain sufficient space for clean burnables. Recycle trash like good glass containers or sturdy wrapping paper. I save coffee grounds and tea leaves to add to the soil

13. I buy the best quality I can afford so that I needn't replace as often

14. I maintain my property to discourage pests. I invite bees by setting out a basin of water filled with stones.

My person to be admired is Julia Child

 AI Sentience? 

Elon Musk is concerned that AI may develop sentience and become a threat to humanity. The idea seems impossible to me, but I respect Musk's IQ and his knowledge of AI.

Maybe we ought to slow down with this technology.

 Bail-Ins

Did you know that the banks* have enabled themselves to 'Bail-In' to empty your account instead of or in addition to the usual bailout? They assert that your money was loaned to them, NOT entrusted to them for safekeeping. 

That makes your account an Account Payable, a simple debt which in bankruptcy may be dissolved.

*and possibly the credit unions too for all I know. 

The 3rd Wellness, Physical Wellness, symbol: a stylized Blue Man. I am active. 

It's important that we never sit for hours at a time. Get up every ten minutes or so and move around. Never overdo. 

The person I admire is Helio Gracie, founder of Brazilian jujitsu. He said, "I created a flag from the sport's dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection, steady nerves, and blood."

 The Power of Positive Thinking

If it's unpleasant to think of the barrage of tedious chores forever ahead of us, it's always nice to cross things off our list, one less thing, right?

 Pain

Everyone wants their pain gone. But what if it's here to stay? The nsaids, let alone Rx meds, are not good for us. 

If we can finally internalize and accept that our pain is here to stay, maybe we can get on with life as we find it. 

 A cold beverage

Ingredients:

A cup of herbal, or black, or green tea

A splash of Zevia

A splash of kombucha

A splash of strong ginger tea

electrolytes

Optional: cayenne pepper to taste

----------------

Process:

Pour the above into a quart jar, fill with water, and chill.

 Right and Wrong

I believe that every time we do what we know is wrong we come one step closer to losing our humanity. There's only a thin line separating the brute from the human being. How many times can we cross the line? 

Be good. Think wholesome thoughts

 Intellectual Wellness, the 2nd Wellness

The 2nd Wellness is Intellectual Wellness represented by an Orange Light Bulb. I am curious. 

When we begin to not care, our mental health may be at risk. We can encourage our curiosity by scanning headlines and reading what strikes our fancy, and by keeping paper and pencil close by to write down our thoughts.

Genius isn't just a matter of brain power. It's a matter of curiosity. Understanding many disciplines enables us to perceive relationships between them. If we understand the anatomy of a bird's wing, then we can apply it to aeronautical engineering  to create  a flying machine.  Or the structure of a tree to create a cathedral. Or the template of a leaf to create a solar panel. The pattern of nerve endings may have influenced computer building.

The person I admire for his intellectual abilities is Bertrand Russel.

 The First Wellness

Spiritual, whose stylized symbol is Yellow Sun. I am inspired. 

I am a part of the universe, which is running as it should. I'm as important as any other part, but not more important.  I'm not as big as a star or as strong as a black hole, but they can't think.  

The person I admire is Kim Stanley Robinson

 Personality

What are we about? What drives each of us personally, motivates us? Elon is about Science, Bill is about Money, Kim is about Beauty, Hugh Hefner is about Sex...

It's a difficult personal question because, living in our heads as we do, we seem very complex to ourselves.

But I believe I'm about 'Things'. I suppose I'm a hoarder, although it's not compulsive with me. 

Why, then?

Because I deplore waste. But the problem is that I have enough sturdy boxes and good heavy wrapping paper to last me twenty lifetimes. And hoarding soon morphs into a fire hazard.

 The Stock Market

The stock market today is nothing but legalized gambling. You must be skilled at the game and aware that it's rigged against you.

For just one thing, I understand that the delay between pressing 'Enter' and owning the stock is much longer for us than for the big boys, in fact, it may be deliberately paused at one of many junctures, so they say or maybe not --how would I know?

For just one more thing, I don't necessarily trust the financials provided by the companies. At the very least they may be biased for the company.

Also remember the advantages of insider trading. And false rumors deliberately spread. 

We're just goldfish in an alligator pond. A layperson working alone is at a disadvantage, I am convinced.

 Bloating

Copilot says these exercises and herbal teas can reduce bloating:

Child’s Pose: A gentle yoga pose that relaxes the hips and lower back, helping gas move through the bowels.

Cat-Cow Stretch: Alternating between arching and rounding your back can stimulate digestion and relieve bloating.

Torso Twists: Twisting movements increase circulation and help move trapped gas along.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend: This stretch compresses the abdomen, aiding digestion.

Walking or Light Cardio: Moving around can help expel gas and improve digestion.

Peppermint Tea: Helps relax the digestive tract and reduce bloating.

Ginger Tea: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can help relieve bloating and improve digestion.

Fennel Tea: Contains compounds that may help reduce gas and bloating.

Lemon Balm Tea: Traditionally used to soothe digestive discomfort and bloating.

 It's said by some deep thinkers* that the origin of the Christian trinity --The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost -- can be found within us: Intelligence, Will, Instinct. So, how can I apply those attributes toward a productive day today?

Intelligence: I'd better get up and move soon before I'm all stove up again

Will: While I'm at it I'll just make a fresh pot of coffee.

Instinct: But first a nap.

* Amos Bronson Alcott for one

 For me there are three states of physical position: 1) sitting, 2) standing, and 3) lying down. I try to make each state productive or at least meaningful. 

Right now, I'm sitting. I've been online seeking an exterior house painter. But every ten minutes or so I get up and engage in housework.

 Lying down, I'm usually reading or meditating or plotting a mystery --waiting for sleep.