Whatever Wednesday

Soul Baring + Otters + Aging + Skunks

Getting Personal

Here's some of my personal, physical health history, which I have chosen to share with you--my faithful readership--for the sake of adding context to what follows. On Jan 11, I was diagnosed w/Influenza A. On Jan. 30, I was diagnosed w/pneumonia. After returning to Norfolk, the Faith Regional Pulmonology Dept. began treating me for a lung infection, & just last week a culture tested positive for a staph infection. So, I have been doing breathing exercises 3X per day, & I've been on antibiotics &, most recently, a sulfa drug to handle the staph infection. *
* No, I"m not looking for your pity. **
** Yes, he is. LCBLWWCT ***
*** LECKBAND CORNHUSKER BLOG LITE WHATEVER WEDNESDAY CONSULTING TEAM.

What Follows

My breathing treatments are composed of 20 minutes on a nebulizer, using albuterol, followed by 15 minutes on a flutter valve. [You should Google "flutter valve." You'll be impressed.] At first I listened to one of several playlists while I was doing these exercises, but quickly got tired of hearing the same playlists ad nauseum. Brainstorm! [Or, in my case, a light drizzle.] I started watching National Geographic & other nature documentaries on YouTube. I love nature documentaries, but rarely watch an entire documentary when I'm just browsing my way thru YouTube videos. 

So far I've watched documentaries re:  lions in Africa; cheetahs, also in Africa; snow leopards in the Himalayas; leopards in Africa; the Kamchatka Peninsula in extreme eastern Siberia--a place that would rival Yellowstone as a natural history attraction, if it wasn't so remote. * I just finished documentaries about tigers & otters in Yellowstone ** & now I'm watching one about Glacier National Park. 
* One minor complaint about the Kamchatka documentary. The British-accented narrator keeps pronouncing geysers (GUY-zers) as "GEEZ-ers." Besides bringing to mind the Hill Summer Sister Bash 2018, which you'll read about for the first time in my next post, this is really annoying. ***
** Otters in Yellowstone, not tigers, to the best of my knowledge.
*** The narrator of the otters documentary also pronounced them "GEEZ-ers."

Whatever

From Norfolk Daily News, column by Gina Barreca (2/23):  "Maybe you've got a different response to sudden aging, Maybe when you wake up & see that you're older, you don't think, 'Whoa,' but instead, brush it off & think, 'So what if my hair is a little wild? I'm only going to the mailbox.' The only trouble is that this can lead to thinking, 'Nobody will notice if there's a stain on my shirt. Or that it's misbuttoned. Or inside out.' Or maybe one day you catch yourself thinking, 'You know what would make a great Valentine's present this year? Matching compression socks.' And then, especially if you can find a coupon, you actually buy them.

"As we grow older, we need to adjust to the changes in the world & in ourselves. We need to update our playlists, our vocabularies, our ideas & our expectations. Nature helps most of us with that last part whether or not we make the request. The rest of the tuneups we need to implement on our own

"Yet my Facebook friend Linda Thompson argues, 'Old is a transient state:  It comes & it goes. All one needs is a new love, any love, to become young again.' OK, so you probably shouldn't buy the new love compression socks until the relationship has traveled a few miles into the journey. But almost anything can be made intriguing by those of us who understand what it's like to go to sleep as Annette Funicello & wake up as Bea Arthur."

NDN (2/22):  "Got skunks in your home? Don't use a smoke bomb. Authorities say a man destroyed a suburban Detroit home while trying to use a smoke bomb to rid a crawlspace of skunks. The man's attempt sparked a fire MON that quickly spread from the crawlspace to the 1st floor. The fire eventually spread through the walls & attic of the rental property . . . Sullivan said the (fire) department advises that people hire pest control professionals for such work . . . " COMMENTARY:  Who ya gonna call? Skunkbusters!]

Lightening Your Mood

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

Depression can easily push someone away from others & cause us to retreat into a pit of our own choosing. Can we "treat" our depressive baggage in ways that go beyond therapy & medication?

Serving others is a way to take the focus off ourselves & put the focus on others. This is not to say that serving others will cure our mental illness, but we can certainly alleviate a self-centered mindset when we stretch our wings to include those just as needy, if not more so, than us.

On MON 2/19, I joined with other members of the OGT staff, including some spouses & at least one son of a staff member, in what is called a Thrivent Action Team event. For about an hour we put together hygiene kits--over 100! These kits included a towel, washcloth, soap, band aids, comb, etc. They will be shipped abroad & received by those whom the Lord has empowered Orphan Grain to serve:  the poor, the needy, the down-trodden, widows & orphans.

Don't get me wrong! I'm not sharing this to "toot" * my own horn. I'm sharing this to let you know that for over an hour--because sandwiches, chips, & cookies awaited us when we were finished--I got to fellowship w/others who are united in a bond to serve the poor, the needy, et al.

I reveled in that special time. I marveled that out of 12 members of our staff out of 14 participated, & the 2 who didn't were not at work that day.

Other volunteer work that I've enjoyed includes helping at Birthright, a pro-life organization, & helping to serve supper once a month at the Norfolk Rescue Mission. Sadly, I had to give both of those up because of other obligations. Does writing our Compassion International child regularly count as a "service?"

* The first time in my recollection that the word "toot" has appeared in one of my posts.

Conversation with My 4-Year-Old Grandson *

We were eating lunch at our house on SAT 2/24. Among other things, we were eating some chips & queso. While his attention was diverted, I slipped some chips onto his empty plate. He turned to ask for more chips, then noticed the chips on the plate & smacked himself on the head.
Bentley:  My mom knows magic.
Me:  What kind of magic tricks does she do?
Bentley:  Lots.
Me:  Can she do her magic tricks when everybody is watching her?
Bentley:  No

* Which always lightens up my mood.

Dept. of Shameless Joke-Stealing *

I've blogged before that exercising your sense of humor can also help lighten your mood.

"Lawyers may have gone to graduate school, but their rigorous education hasn't stopped them from asking these bizarre questions of witnesses in court.

• "How many times have you committed suicide?
• "Was it you or your brother who was killed?
• "Do you have any children or anything of that kind?
• "Without saying anything, tell the jury what you did next.
• "Was that the same nose you broke as a child?
• "Were you alone or by yourself?
• "Now, Doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Oct. 2017

Special FRI edition of Whatever Wednesday

Two disclaimers:  

1. Today's post may seem a little random. I blame sleep deprivation.
2. I also blame indecisiveness. I couldn't make up my mind whether to make the tone of this post more serious or stick to familiar ground.

G.O.M.E.R. *

When I was working on my typical plethora of Christmas cards & letters, wouldn't you know that there were no address labels to be found in our house. I had to hand-write all the return addresses on all the envelopes. This may not seem like a burden to you, but it's especially challenging when someone's hand-writing has been compared to physicians', which is to say, not necessarily in a complimentary way. So, wouldn't you know, just in the last month we have received address labels from the American Heart Association, Southwest Indian Reservation Aid, Concordia University Nebraska in Seward, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, AAA Life Insurance Co., & the VFW. ** 
* Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants
** True confession time. I never feel guilty about using labels from organizations that do not receive a donation from Lois & me. I consider the labels to be gifts. ***
*** Maybe I should start working on my 2018 mailing?

Devotional Thought

Once again as I was in "quiet time" the other morning, I came across this excerpt from Arrows of Light: Devotions for Worldwide Christians, by David Schneider. Morris Publishing, 2005. It touched me, because I try to pray for all of my children & grand-children every day.

"As Christian parents [& grandparents], we want our youngsters to grow strong & tall in body, mind, & spirit. We pray that they receive the love of God in Christ, so that they live in confidence. We rejoice when they learn to handle money honestly. We want them to excel but not to be ruthlessly competitive. We hope they learn to express love to their dear ones & to be gracious to people who disagree with them. We want them to control their use of alcohol & their emotions, especially anger. That's all. Just a few simple goals (smile)."

Politics? Seriously??

I stopped making New Year's resolutions some time ago, because more often than not I'd make a good resolution only to fail at it even while the New Year was still new. [Example:  giving up french fries] However, I did sort of, kind of, halfway resolve NOT to focus on political blog topics this yeare, mainly for the sake of my mental health. Well, events of the past week or so left me feeling STRONGLY compelled to say something. However, I am going to refrain at least for now. I think that my blog readership is not so interested in my personal political agenda. Let me know if you'd like me to pontificate on issues such as gun control, climate change, treaties with sworn enemies of the U.S. . . . I'm willing to reconsider.

Whatever:  Special Friday Edition

Billy Graham died this past week. Lutherans & others often took issue w/his altar calls & decision-theology, but he was a man of God whose words & actions reflected his love for humankind & his desire--also his heavenly Father's--to share the Good News of forgiveness & salvation through Jesus Christ to as many people possible. His lifestyle was a testament to his commitment to the Lord, which stood out in sharp contrast to many other popular evangelists.

Omaha World Herald (11/18/17):  "No answers in elephant's death. The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has received results from Warren's necropsy, 2 months after the young African elephant died. His cause of death:  undetermined." COMMENT:  This would make a great story-line for NCIS New Orleans, right?

OWH (11/20/17):  "Ferry McFerryface to ply Sydney Harbor waters. A new Sydney (Australia) Harbor ferry will be christened Ferry McFerryface--Sydney's 2nd-favorite choice after the now-famous jokey Mcmoniker, Boaty McBoatface . . . " COMMENT:  All the more reason for Lois & me to add Australia to our bucket list.

OWH (12/4):  "Waffle House cook slept, so man made own meal. When a man found the only worker at an empty South Carolina Waffle House asleep, he took his meal into his own hands . . . Alex Bowen chronicled w/selfies how he made his own double Texas Cheesesteak Melt w/bacon at the famous Southern 24-7 diner about 2 a.m." COMMENT:  Maybe this is an untapped niche for Waffle House & similar franchises:  DIY meals by customers.

OWH (12/28):  "Your laundry detergent bottle could soon order refill for you. You don't have to ask Alexa, or even push a button. With new devices pioneered by a University of Washington computer science team, battery-less objects made entirely of plastic could communicate with other devices on your home network. For example, a laundry detergent bottle could monitor your detergent use for you--& order more when you're running low . . . " COMMENT:  Does that mean that the last roll of toilet paper in a package could also order more TP when you're running low? Inquiring minds want to know.

St. Paul Pioneer Press (1/18):  "Air Force One fridges $24M . . . Under a new government contract awarded to Boeing, the U.S Air Force will pay the aeronautics behemoth $23,657,671 to replace 2 of the 5 chiller units on the plane currently used by President DT . . . " COMMENT:  No word as to whether these refrigerators could be programmed to talk with the plastic containers found in them. MUSTARD BOTTLE:  Hey! We're almost out of mustard!  AIR FORCE ONE:  Don't worry. We've found a vendor who will sell us a $1M bottle of mustard.

OWH (1/13):  "Consumer Electronics Show:  Whether they catch on or flop, show's products can be entertaining. Internet-connected toilet from Kohler Numi. You can now ask Alexa to flush. Kohler's latest high-end toilet connects to the Internet & responds to voice commands. Beyond flushing, you can ask Amazon's Alexa .   to lift the seat or activate your favorite bidet spray configuration . . . It's $5,625 & up & will be available in the 4th quarter of the year."  COMMENT:  This product will be seriously helpful for people who find manually flushing & lid-closing too strenuous.

Whatever Wednesday

Climate Change + Toilet Seats + Avocados + Whatever

I never said that I didn't believe in global climate change

From Norfolk Daily News (1/11):  "Consider this cold comfort: Q quick study of the brutal American cold snap found that the Arctic blast really wasn't global warming but a freak of nature. Frigid weather like the 2-week cold spell that began around Christmas is 15 times rarer than it was a century ago, according to a team of international scientists who does real-time analyses to see if extreme weather events are natural or more likely to happen because of climate change. The cold snap that gripped the East Coast & Midwest region was a rarity that bucks the warming trend, said researcher Claudia Tebaldi of the National Center for Atmospheric Research & the private organization Climate Central."
COMMENTS:  What I have said & continue to say is that: (1) Global climate change occurs in cycles, which can be proven. (2) I am highly skeptical of humankind's ability to alter the global climate. (3) Attempts to stifle global warming could inevitably lead to hardships for those in lower economic classes & 3rd world countries.

Food for Thought

From Omaha World Herald (2/19):  "Enjoy your guacamole. It's keeping Mexican town safe. Profits have made it possible to fund a police force & take the area back from criminals . . . It's simple, said Jose Antonio Flores Quezada, 29, a farmer turned policeman. 'The more Americans eat guacamole, the better off we are. Avocados are our livelihood.'"
COMMENTS:  I do not like avocados. I do not like guacamole, although I very occasionally tolerate it on nachos supremos. After reading this article, I have determined that I will never discourage anyone from eating guacamole again. Favorite avocado story:  Our AAL guy in Hawaii had an avocado tree in his backyard. I sat in his house during a Saturday morning AAL chapter mtg & listened to ripe avocados pound the roof. When he found out that my family, sans me, liked avocados, it wasn't unusual to return home from work & find on our front step a sack w/dozens of avocados in it. 

Whatever

From Minneapolis Star Tribune (1/17):  "Jo Jo White dies. BB Hall of Famer Jo Jo White, a 2-time NBA champion w/the Boston Celtics & an Olympic gold medalist, has died. He was 71 . . . "  COMMENTS:  The Celtics have always been my favorite NBA team. My love affair began way, way back when the only NBA game on TV was the Game of the Week on SUN afternoons, which frequently featured the Celtics. I can remember watching Bill Russell & John Havlicek. [I know that this dates me. Shut up. * ] Jo Jo White, therefore, was also a favorite whom I watched, & we named our first cat Jo Jo in his honor. Yes, it was a black Siamese cat, but this is NOT racist. It's a tribute to one of the greatest guards on the greatest team in NBA history.
* I'm sorry IF I offended you.

From "Dear Annie," NDN (1/4):  "Is it OK to sit on the toilet sea w/o a cover? DEAR ANNIE: I have a somewhat uncomfortable question. Recently, I moved from CA to TX for my job, & I love it here. Though there are a lot of differences between the states, one has stood out to me more than any other. There are no paper toilet seat covers offered in public restrooms . . . Are toilet seat covers really a facade? Have I been wasting precious seconds carefully laying down covers & paper all thee years? Signed, Cover, Hover or Quit. ANSWER:  "In a word, yes. As University of AZ public health researcher Kelly Reynolds explained in an interview w/USA Today earlier this year, bacteria & viruses are tiny & easily able to pass through paper seat covers--an unpleasant thought but not reason to worry. Unless you have an open cut that would be making contact w/the seat, the risk of germ transmission from a toilet is incredibly low. So you'd be better off saving the paper & sitting down plainly. If that sounds gross, consider that most cell phones carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Now go clean your phone & wash your hands. ANNIE" COMMENTS:  Here's additional food for thought. * Probably the most germ-ridden item in your hotel room is the remote, which all-too-often doesn't get disinfected by housekeeping. Solution? Carry antiseptic wipes & wipe down the remote before you use it.
Or ignore the TV & check out YouTube & The Drudge Report on-line instead.
* Get it? It's an intentional reference to the highlight above. **
** I hate having to explain myself.

NDN (2/9):  "Just a toy. Crouching tiger, hidden toy. Police in Scotland were called by a farmer who thought a big cat had invaded his cow shed. They ended up in a 45-minute standoff w/a large stuffed tiger. Police thought they had the tiger by the tail when they were deployed to a farm in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, sending in a number of units, including an armed response team. The authorities eventually realized it was a toy . . . "
COMMENT:  What do you expect in a country that drinks its beer warm? *
* I am REALLY sorry IF I offended you.

Mental Health Monday

Can you laugh your way out of depression & anxiety? 

I doubt it, but I do believe that you can look for humor, appreciate it, & use it to relieve some symptoms.

• I read comics & clip them. I share them w/my trophy wife & sometimes w/my co-workers at Orphan Grain Train. Some claim that my taste in comics reflects a somewhat off-kilter sense of humor, which I'm not sure is always appreciated by others. Doesn't matter. I still share clippings with the OGT office staff on what I call the "The FridayComic Blitz." It amuses me, which is consistent with my theme today.
• I enjoy jokes & anecdotes & also share some of them with my blog readers, usually under the heading of "Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing." One of my favorite sources is "Breaking Brad," a short column of quips by Brad Dickson, which is published in the Omaha World Herald every day except MON. Here are some examples.

From 2/16:  "I wouldn't say that Girl Scouts are being aggressive in selling cookies, but they're using those metal tire spike strips that cops use in slow-speed chases."

From 2/17:  "This is interesting:  4-man Winter Olympic bobsled competitors are claiming they have more leg room than they did on the flight over." 

• Reader's Digest also provides a plethora of jokes & anecdotes. Here are some examples from Oct. 2017.

"As the business magazine Inc. discovered, all that the following company-wide e-mails from executives accomplished was ticking off their employees. SUBJECT:  System Failures. It has come to my attention that the e-mail system was down yesterday. From now on, I have requested that the system manager send a group message to everyone next time the system goes down."

"Jeopardy! is the game show for the brainy set. As you'll recall, the show supplies the answer, & the contestants respond in question form. In these cases from the past several years, they responded in questionable form. ANSWER:  By the 4th century AD, Rome had 28 public ones stacked w/rolls of papyrus. CONTESTANT'S RESPONSE:  What are public toilets? CORRECT RESPONSE:  What are libraries."

• And finally, I like to watch comedians, funny movies & TV shows. I will note * that it's almost impossible to find contemporary comedians who avoid using the F-bomb & other crude references to get cheap laughs. Check-out Timothy Hawkins on YouTube, & I think you'll find him pretty hilarious & a "clean" comedian. Among my favorite comic movies are "The Naked Gun," "Airplane" *** & "Twister." [Technically not a comedy but plenty of laughs because of the outrageous science.] Recent & current TV comedies also irk me for the same reason mentioned earlier, but here are some of my favorite comedies that you can find on Netflix:  "The Dick Van Dyke Show" & "Police Squad."

* This could qualify for a G.O.M.E.R. ** post.

** Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants

*** Yes, I realize that there are some off-color jokes & situations, so GOMER on myself.

A Prayer for Washington's Birthday *

* Source:  My Prayer Book, Concordia Publishing House, 1957.

"Almighty God, Lord of the nations, today we commemorate the birthday of the man we honor as the first President of our country. I thank & praise You for the God-fearing citizens who served our nation in those critical early days. I thank you especially for the wise leadership of George Washington; I am grateful for the inspiration of his confession that 'no people can be bound to acknowledge & adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.'

"While I am grateful today for all that George Washington & other great presidents have done for the good of our country, I want to acknowledge that it was your goodness, O God, that has made & kept us a great nation these many years. Teach me & my fellow citizens to remember that 'Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.' Forbid that the Christian people of our country should ever forget You, lest we lose Your favor. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Our struggles are Jesus' struggles

God's Word Speaks to Us

"The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed."  Psalm 2:2

Wisdom from Martin Luther

" . . . we never suffer injustice without God suffering it first & more than we and & that God the Father's solicitude for us is so great that He feels our suffering before we do & bears it with greater resentment than we ourselves." *

My Meditation

According to a recent "survey," every single family on Lois' side of the tree has one or more people that is either sick now or recovering from a serious illness. I know of at least one sister & one brother-in-law that are still recovering from Influenza. A sister-in-law is recovering from major surgery. A niece is struggling w/some serious health issues. A brother's mother-in law, who also happens to be my aunt, has had to deal with several serious health issues over the past month. I'm recuperating from Influenza & pneumonia. Bentley, our 4-year-old grandson, is getting over an ear infection. Hadley, our 8-year-old grand-daughter, recently experienced an illness knocked her off her feet for several days.

This Bible verse & words from Martin Luther remind me of three things. First, God does NOT cause our illnesses. He does let nature take it's course, & since we live in a sinful world, we're going to be plagued with sinful germs & viruses.

Secondly, God does NOT use illness to punish us. He DOES, however, allow us to be laid low so we are moved to turn to Him in prayer, guided by His Word. In other words, illness can actually be a blessing, since it can turn our hearts & minds to Jesus in ever-increasing ways. Along the same vein, scripture promises that "all things work together for the good of those who love God." It's hard to think of injuries, illnesses, & surgeries as good things, but they can be used by God to draw us closer to Him.

Finally, nothing we suffer has NOT been suffered by Christ himself. It's good for us to remember that while Jesus is true God, He is also true man. There's every reason to believe that during His time on earth He, too, put up w/blisters, coughs & colds . . . ultimately--& for our salvation--He suffered death on the cross.

Praise God that our Savior's death wasn't the end of things. He rose from the dead & takes an active part in our lives today, even when we have a hard time seeing it.

* Source:  Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm. (Concordia Publishing House,  2017

Gastronomic Borders Is a Real Thing + So Are Poopy Geese

Food for Thought

From Mapping Gastronomic Borders in the U.S., by Matt Daniels. Link from National Review Online, Jonah Goldberg (2/10/18)

Does your city (or a city in close proximity) fall into one of these Top 10s? The survey does NOT imply where the best of these items can be found. It tracks per capita consumption.

Pizza

#6 Chicago
#8 Minneapolis
#9 Phoenix

Chinese

#7 San Jose

BBQ

#9 Dallas
#10 Tampa

Mexican

#2 Dallas
#5 Phoenix
#8 San Diego

Burgers

#2 Minneapolis

Sandwiches

#2 Tampa
#7 San Jose

Coffee

#3 San Diego
#7 San Jose
#8 Minneapolis

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, observed on WED 2/14 [SEE below.], marks the beginning of Lent. In my younger days I did not appreciate this season of the church year. Wednesday night services were dark. Themes of sin, death, guilt seemed like downers to me. As I've matured, I've come to really appreciate the 40 days of Lent, & the Ash Wednesday service, including imposition of ashes on the forehead, has become one of my favorites.

From Omaha World Herald (2/14):  "Calendar coincidences:  Ashes on V-Day & Easter on April Fools'. Ashes usually aren't a good look for Valentine's Day. But you'll see people wearing them WED. And the Resurrection remains real for believers, even when it's celebrated on a day usually reserved for tricks & fibs. This year, for the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day & Easter is on April Fools' Day . . . " COMMENTS:  At first glance, it would seem difficult to link a Valentine's message of love to a day of solemn reflection, including for many an imposition of ashes on the forehead. However, Jesus' great sacrifice, which culminates in the events of Good Friday, is the ultimate act of love. As for a link between Easter Sunday & April Fools' Day, try this.
Jewish & Roman officials hurry to Jesus' tomb that morning to confirm what the guards have told them; that Jesus' body is missing. Upon reaching the tomb, they find it empty. They are dumbfounded because: (a) They witnessed Jesus' death; (b) Jesus' corpse had been placed in the tomb on Good Friday. (c) The tomb had been blocked by a large stone, which included an imperial seal on it, threatening death to anyone who would dare to break the seal & try to roll the stone away. (d) Although they would like to fool themselves into thinking that Jesus' disciples stole the body, all evidence indicates that this small group of timid, ineffectual followers would be incapable of such an act.
APRIL FOOLS!

Criminal Minds

From OWH (2/5):  "Man takes a property tax stand over pooping geese. A billionaire is fed up with the hundreds of Canada geese that flock to his upstate NY vacation home every summer, turning his lawn into a minefield of poop. His solution? He's refusing to pay his $90,000 school tax bill until officials in the Finger Lakes town of South Bristol find a way to control the birds. The town said geese on Tom Golisano's private property are his problem to solve, not the town's . . . "  COMMENT:  Land mines? Fight fire w/fire.

Requiem

From OWH (12/31):  Bob Givens brought Bugs Bunny to life. Animator Bob Givens helped design Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd . . . His version of Bugs Bunny debuted in 1940. Other characters he illustrated over his 6-decade career included Tom & Jerry, Daffy Duck, Alvin & the Chipmunks & Popeye. Givens died 12/14 at age 99."  COMMENT:  As a kid, I spent hours in front of the TV on Saturday morning, watching my favorite cartoons. Bugs was & remains my favorite. Many of you, I'll wager *, did the same, although your tastes may have run toward Alvin or Popeye. How do kids these days waste their SAT mornings? 
* I'm a member of the Nebraska Gamblers' Assistance Program, so I am speaking figuratively, not literally.

Weaponry + Gossip

A Change in Strategy

Many of my alert readers know that I have coveted a Glock pistol and/or chainsaw, & I have been lobbying my trophy wife for some time now about the possibilities to no avail. Recent news articles have got me steering toward some possible alternatives.

From Minneapolis Star Tribune (1/17):  "Plastic gun is a bug killer worth its salt. Killing flies & cockroaches got easier w/the invention of the Bug-A-Salt, a plastic shotgun that fires salt at the bugs, knocking them out & leaving them ready for the garbage. An advertising video for the gun has become popular recently in social networks because of its humor. The short commercial pokes fun at absurd TV infomercials & action movies. The video shows inventor Lorenzo Maggiore firing the plastic shotgun from various positions, including from behind a tree. But the product's real job is to kill flies without damaging anything around them. All of the 'shots' end with a slow-motion sequence of the insects being knocked out." COMMENTS:  How can she argue with this? We REALLY could have used a Bug-A-Salt in Hawaii, where we encountered cockroaches the size of small puppies, centipedes whose stings could send people to the emergency room, & geckos who appeared on our walls near the ceiling just about every night.

Less Likely but More Dramatic + Appealing

From USA Today (1/30):  "Musk Company Sells 7,000 Flamethrowers. After a successful run selling hats, Elon Musk's The Boring Company has expanded its offering to include flamethrowers. Musk announced his infrastructure firm had started selling flamethrowers SUN, with preorders available for $500 each. Musk said MON that The Boring Company had sold 7,000 flamethrowers." COMMENTS:  Hey, Lois, I've got a plan for getting rid of the voles in our backyard!

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

From Reader's Digest (Oct. 2017):

• "What did the green grape say to the purple grape? Breathe, stupid!"
• "Mitchy had a problem w/body odor, so he went to see his doctor. 'Do you wash?' the doctor asked him. 'Every morning,' Mitchy replied. 'I begin at my head & wash down as far as possible. Then I begin at my feet & wash up as far as possible.' 'Well,' the doctor said, 'I suggest you go home & wash possible.'"
• "Three co-workers are at lunch when they confess their shortcomings. 'I drink too much' says the first. 'In fact, I keep a bottle in my desk drawer.' 'I shorted petty cash,' admits the second. They turn to the third. 'What about you?' 'Me? I can't stop gossiping.'"

Food for Thought *

* But, seriously . . . pea protein?!

Last month I participated in the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program at the Rochester clinic. I met with someone from the diabetic team who confirmed what I already knew. My blood sugar has been WAY out of control. I have NOT been watching my carbs for the last 6-7 months.

Unexpected results came from the cardio team. Two exercise tests, including an exercise EKG, plus an angiogram, revealed that I have an 80% blockage in the main artery to my heart. This determination explained symptoms that I've been experiencing over the past few months, most noticeably shortness of breath & general fatigue. [Of course, being fat & out-of-shape hasn't helped.]

It looks like I'm headed for a stent procedure in the very near future. In the meantime, the cardiologist ganged up w/the endocrinologist to strong arm-me into agreeing that, yes, I should start on a Mediterranean diet. While recognizing the need for a drastically healthful diet, both for the sake of my diabetes type 2 + heart health, it has also left me feeling depressed and/or anxious because of the change of lifestyle that will be necessary. To wit:

• Less red meat. According to several sources this means beef & other red meat no more than "several" times per month. 
• More protein from fish + beans *. [Not to be confused w/pork & beans.] I like fish. I like it fried in beer batter. I do not think this is recommended. * I like garbanzo beans.
• Thinking of protein as more of a side dish than an entree. Wait . . . what?
• Substituting whole wheat bread & pasta & brown rice for whatever the opposite is. I think I can cope w/this, although it does mean disdaining donuts, sweet rolls, fries, hash browns, & generally minimizing potatoes. [Apparently there is no such thing as "whole wheat" baked potatoes]
• Vegetables should comprise 1/2 of my dietary "plates" each meal. I have a confession to make. My brother Mark--for good reason--developed quite a reputation for avoiding vegetables at meal time. This included lettuce salad. My confession? I am no great lover of most vegetables either, & I have studiously avoided them. My idea of favorite vegetables are onion rings & corn-on-the-cob. Fortunately I do like green beans, edamame [I shouldn't have looked up this word, because I found out that edamame are soybeans. Yum.], snow peas, raw carrots, raw cauliflower, tomatoes. Olives are on the list, which makes sense in a Mediterranean diet. Broccoli? Let's not go there. [There was no edamame when I was growing up. Had any of us kids said, "Pass the edamame" at the dinner table, I think we would have gotten our mouths washed out w/soap.]
• Substituting a piece of fruit for sweet desserts. Ice cream is out. Apples & grapes are in. I like apples & grapes. [But I REALLY love ice cream, cake, pie, fruit cobbler . . . you get the picture.]

Ultimately, I must live w/the consequences of my slovenly eating habits & embrace a healthier eating lifestyle. And I must try to do so w/o having a pity party. This could be a challenge. *
* This WILL be a challenge. CBLCT **
** Cornhusker Blog Lite Consulting Team

From Omaha World Herald (2/11):  "Minnesota firm with Iowa roots bets on popularity of pea protein. The Lorenzen family was into pea protein long before it became trendy. Iowa seed salesman Jerry Lorenzen started developing strains of organic peas in the mid-1980s. Today, his family's company, Puris LLC, is the largest US. pea protein producer with more than $100 million in annual sales . . . Minneapolis-based Puris mills yellow peas, the fodder for pea soup, into protein powder & nuggets that are used  in products ranging from sports drinks to snack bars. The pea protein business has taken off in recent years as consumers seek more protein generally, & particularly from plants. Soy protein has traditionally been the leading plant protein. But pea protein is surging as demand grows for organic & non-GMO food products." COMMENTS:  Does this mean that menu boards at McD's will start adding items such as the Big Pea? Pea McNuggets? What about Burger King? Home of the Whop-pea? What about finishing a workout & saying, "Time to munch on an energy-pea bar?" Excuse me if I am NOT jumping on this bandwagon.

90% personal + 5% educational + 5% entertaining

MON 2/12  MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

Blogging Away Depression? *

*The longer part of my blog today will sound more like a journal entry. That's intentional.

You may have noticed that I've been blogging more in recent weeks. That's because I've been struggling w/a depressive episode, & journaling has always been a way to help me cope. My journal takes the form of my blog. 

But is it possible to blog away depression? It doesn't have to be blogging. Any activity can help a person cope w/depression. It could be listening to music. It could be exercising or cooking. In my case it's writing.

Again, is it possible to blog away depression? Technically, no. The depression is always lurking in the background, ready to spring for various reasons. In my case the depression & anxiety have been due--in my opinion to two factors.

Factor #1:  I turned 65 on JAN 7. If things had played out as I had imagined, I would be looking to finish the 17-18 school year before officially retiring. Actually, I had though of the 18-19 school year as my last after "celebrating" my 66th birthday in JAN 19. Well, that didn't work. I took an indefinite medical leave from Lutheran High in NOV 2014. In MAR 2014 I found out that I would not be returning to LHNE. I officially retired in MAR 2017.

Confounding . . . that's what this continues to be for me. I've suffered bouts of burnout in previous years, but I always bounced back. Why didn't I bounce back this time? Why did I stubbornly try to slog through the burnout when (a) others were giving me plenty of signals that I was deteriorating in my job performance & relationships; & (b) my own sense was that I was slipping deeper & deeper into a hole that was becoming increasingly difficult to climb out.

Hindsight tells me that a change was needed at LHNE & a change was needed by me. It was a good thing for me to leave, hard as it was to accept at the time. For much of the time since I have been able to accept this, but at other times I slip back into a dark place about it. It's hard for me to get over the fact that I let people down, including my own family. Ir's hard for me to get over the fact that LHNE was the worst for my issues & inability to confront them & get help.

Factor #2:  I really haven't felt physically whole since last spring. First, I began experiencing symptoms that could have been neurological or medication-related. Those symptoms included unsteadiness on my feet, which led to several serious falls. I tripped over my own feet & took a header down the last few basement steps of my daughter's house. That fall resulted in several stitches by my left eyebrow. Despite "passing" a quick concussion protocol at an urgent care facility, I suspect that I may have suffered a mild concussion, too.

A more serious fall took place as Lois & I were hiking in Superior National Forest next to Lake Superior in northeast MN last June. Once again, my feet got tangled up as I was walking down a steep set of stairs on a hiking trail. I flew off the last few steps & was heading face-first toward some good-sized rocks at the bottom of the steps. Somehow I managed to twist around & land on the back of my left shoulder.

That really, really hurt, & both Lois & I were convinced that I had done some pretty serious damage to the muscles & bones. When I finally went to the doctor after returning to Norfolk, x-rays revealed no damage to either. I was sent to physical therapy where it was determined that I had displaced some vertebrae in my neck, radiating pain into both shoulders, especially my left.

I did physical therapy & lived on ibuprofen * for months & was till bothered by the symptoms into the late fall. It was hard to sleep because of the discomfort, & we know that poor sleeping contributes to depression & anxiety, which contributes to poor sleep--it's a vicious cycle.
* This caused another complication which may be covered in a future blog.

On FRI 1/15, I was diagnosed with Influenza A. On TUE 1/30, I was diagnosed with pneumonia, & I am still plagued w/fatigue & a deep, rattling cough. Once again this has contributed to poor sleeping. While I was participating in the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program, I had two exercise tests & an angiogram which resulted in the diagnosis of an 80% blockage in the main artery to my heart.

Back to blogging. I'm blogging more frequently, because it helps me cope. I'm seeing a pulmonologist for treatment of the respiratory issues. I'm seeing a cardiologist, which--after more tests--will most likely result in the insertion of a stent.

Summarizing, an inability to cope w/the circumstances of my departure of LHNE, combined w/detrimental physical health, have contributed to depression & anxiety. Hopefully, relief is in sight.

Speaking of Flu

From Norfolk Daily News (2/6):  "For 2018 flu season, 'there may be many weeks left.' It looks like Groundhog Day for the nation's flu report, too. It's gotten worse & there are weeks of suffering ahead. The government's latest report out showed the flu season had continued to intensify. One of every 14 visits to doctors & clinics were for fever, cough & other symptoms of the flu. That's the highest level since the swine flu pandemic in 2009 Last week, 42 states reported high patient traffic for the flu, up from 39. Hospital stays because of the flu also increased."
From Omaha World Herald (2/10): "It's now as bad as 2009 swine flu epidemic. The flu has further tightened its grip on the US. This season is now as bad as the swine flu epidemic 9 years ago. A government report out FRI shows 1 of every 13 visits to the doctor last week was for fever, cough & other symptoms of the flu. That ties the highest level seen in the US during swine flu in 2009. And it surpasses every winter flu season since 2003. This season started early & has been driven by a nasty type of flu that tends to put more people in the hospital & cause more deaths than other more common flu bugs."
COMMENTS:  I'm proud to be a part of history. On the other hand, I'm being told by 2 family members who were diagnosed with influenza that their symptoms continue to linger after much longer than mine have so far. This past THU a pulmonologist told me that I wasn't contagious & should return to work. His exact words were, "If you wait to go back to work until your cough is gone, you'll be waiting for the next 6 weeks." Lovely.

Dept. of Shameless Anecdote Stealing

From Reader’s Digest, Laughter the Best Medicine, (Feb. 2018):  “As the hedge fund manager gets out of his brand-new Porsche, a truck goes by, taking off the door. ‘My Porsche! My beautiful sliver Porsche is ruined,’ he screams. A police officer on the scene shakes his head in disgust. ‘I can’t believe you,’ he says. ‘You’re so focused on  your possessions that you didn’t even realize your left arm was torn off when the truck hit you.’ The hedge fund manager looks down in absolute horror. ‘Oh, no!’ he screams. ‘My Rolex!’” 

Tumults

More Wisdom from Martin Luther

For my SUN meditations I'm continuing to excerpt passages from Martin Luther:  Psalm by Psalm (CPH 2017). Once again I want to emphasize that Lutherans don't venerate Dr. Luther. We give thanks for the part he played in the Reformation. We do, however, continue to find his writings full of insight & wisdom, always based on Holy Scripture. Here is my contribution for today.

God's Word Speaks to Us

"Why do the nations rage & the peoples plot in vain?  Psalm 2:1

Luther Writes

"The Holy Spirit . . . teaches & consoles us in this psalm so that we cling bravely to this King [Christ] & think of Him much more than the tumults & other offenses. For it is a condition of His Kingdom that it cannot consist without tumults . . . Learn this & when the tumults swell, when the nations rage, the people plot, the kings rise up, & the rulers counsel together to suppress this King, then be in good spirits, & do not let yourself be moved by this peril. For the 2nd Psalm foretold that thus it would be, that the whole world would be moved when this King opens His mouth."

My Meditation

This particular psalm & devotion bring to my mind the ungodly workings of the leadership of countries such as China, where Christians are still being persecuted severely & churches closed; Turkey, Iran & other Islamic countries, where confessing Christ as Lord & Savior can be punished as blasphemy against Muhammed & Allah, possibly as a capital offense; & North Korea, where the tyrants have worked overtime to stamp out any Christian religion & practice, & believers can also be condemned to death or sent to labor camps. 

God is in control, although we may not see it at this time & place. Ultimately, His people will be saved & live with Him in His Kingdom forever. "Kings" who do whatever they can to erase all Christian influence & deny Jesus will receive God's eternal judgment.

Culinary Adventures + Political G.O.M.E.R.

More Than One Turkey

Culinary Adventures . . . WED 2/7

I/we are doing my/our best to improve my/our eating habits. It was I who suggested buying & baking a turkey breast. We would enjoy a turkey dinner & there would be plenty of leftover turkey for sandwiches * + salads.
* Paul's Simple Gourmet Turkey Sandwich:  spread mayo on one slice of whole wheat bread. Add white turkey meat + 1 slice of American cheese. Top w/lettuce + tomato. Add other slice of whole wheat bread. Enjoy.

Without really considering the consequences, I volunteered to do something that I had never done before . . . Baking a turkey breast on WED 2/7. Surprisingly, Lois didn't object, although she may have had 2nd thoughts after I asked her the same questions 3 nights in a row.

• Where is the turkey defrosting? IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
• Is the turkey in the refrigerator? I don't see it. IT'S ON THE 2ND SHELF IN PLAIN SIGHT.
• How long will it take for it to defrost? 24-48 HOURS.
• Will it be defrosted by Wednesday? YES.
• Are you sure? YES. YES.
• How will I know how long to bake it? LOOK AT THE DIRECTIONS ON THE PACKAGE.
• The directions are too small for me to read. GOOGLE IT.
• Should I use the roasting pan we use at Thanksgiving? THAT WILL WORK.
• Where's the roasting pan? Is it in the basement? DON'T WORRY. I'LL GET IT OUT.
• Are you going to get the roasting pan out for me tonight [Tuesday]? YES. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. 
• [Friday morning] Did you find the roasting pan. NO, BUT YOU CAN USE THE BROILER PAN.
• Seriously? YES. YES. YES.

WED early afternoon. I googled "baking turkey breast" & was instructed to bake our 3 lb. turkey breast 48-57 minutes @ 325 degrees. Set alarm for 5:00p, which is when I plan to start baking turkey. Anxiety level:  7.0

4:55p. I can't wait any longer. I unwrap turkey from plastic cover. I manage to read instructions on cover. I am advised to bake the turkey for 1.5 to 2 hours @ 350 degrees, which creates somewhat of a quandary. I decide to go with directions on plastic cover. I am advised to thoroughly brush turkey + roasting pan w/vegetable oil. I am warned not to remove the strong netting from the turkey. Anxiety level:  7.5.

5:05p.  I put turkey on bottom rack of oven. Set timer for 90 minutes. Review directions again + note that I am to cover the turkey w/a foil net before allowing turkey to "over brown." Also discover that gravy mix is included in package. I text Lois to pick up mashed potatoes, hoping she checks her phone. She does. Mashed potatoes are a go! Anxiety level:  8.0.

5:55p. Lois gets home + I review what I've done. She doesn't yell at me. She also locates our meat thermometer + informs me that internal temperature of fowl must reach 165 degrees. Anxiety level:  8.5. 

6:12p. I review directions one more time. I am most anxious about over-cooking the turkey, which would ruin it, or under-cooking it, which could kill us. Anxiety level:  8.8.

6:40p. I putter around the kitchen. Timer is set to go off in a couple of minutes. Sammy keeps following me from living room to kitchen, always optimistic that maybe, just maybe this will be the time that I share people food w/him. Lois says "something smells good." That's a good sign, since she's not talking about me. Timer goes off. Anxiety level:  8.8

6:50p. After checking turkey + consulting Lois, who informs me that I don't need to construct the foil tent, I make gravy w/Lois' help + warm up mashed potatoes + green bean casserole [purchased from the Hy-Vee deli]. Anxiety level:  9.3

7:10p. Side dishes are done. Lois snitches bite of turkey; informs me that it's done. I carve turkey breast + fill plates w/turkey & side dishes. Anxiety level:  9.5

7:15p. Turkey dinner has reached its zenith. Lois pronounces everything good. We take our food down into the family watch to watch our latest Netflix series, The Flash. Anxiety level:  5.0

Will I attempt this again? Maybe, but I scratch plans to bake Lois a birthday cake from a mix--also something never before attempted.

Two Recommendations

diply.com:  Lots of videos. Lots of funny videos. The Internet equivalent of junk food.
ranker.com:  Lots of lists re:  celebrities, history, culture, sports, etc. Includes survey feature. Very entertaining. Somewhat educational.

Political Potpourri

From Wall Street Journal Online (wsj.com) via Drudge Report (2/7):  "Comedy Is Not Pretty, & Nowadays It Isn't even Funny," by Joseph Epstein:  "Enough people must share the views of these hosts to keep the careers of Maher, Colbert, Kimmel & Co. afloat, which is to say to keep their ratings high enough to be commercially viable. Yet these insufficiently funny comedians, with their crude political humor, do little more than add to the sad divisiveness that is rending the country. Something, surely, has been lost if one can no longer turn to comedy as a relief from the general woes of life & the greater farce this has for some some years now been playing out is in our everyday politics."  
COMMENTS: It's a pity, because occasionally I search out SNL skits on YouTube, & they can be very funny. Unfortunately, the political skits are very off-putting, although I give them some credit for lampooning HC during the last presidential campaign. I used to watch snatches of Bill Maher when I was on the road & channel-surfing. Remember "Politically Incorrect?" It was anything but. Rachel Maddow must have learned her smirk from watching him. Delights in humiliating guests who are conservative, Christians, Republicans. A coward because he preaches to the choir of his studio audience who delight in his antics. Stephen Colbert? A one-trick pony. *
* I just realized that this diatribe also qualifies for G.O.M.E.R. **
** Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants 

There Is No Place Like Nebraska...London...Iowa...Chicago

THU 2/8 It's Me Again

After suggesting that I might be blogging a little too often these days, here I am again, blogging. In my defense:

• You should know that I'm actually writing today's entry on TUE 2/6.
• Sitting around the house most of the day is starting to drive me crazy.
• Lois & I decided that it's probably best for me to avoid working @ OGT until I've had my upcoming appt's.
• I'm a little anxious about my appt's w/a pulmonologist today + cardiologist (FRI 2/9).
• Journaling has proven to help me cope w/anxiety & depression.
• My journaling is taking the form of my blogging.

It's Lois' Birthday

It's also 100 Day in the 1st grade classes at Christ Lutheran today, so Lois' birthday will be memorable in any case. 1st graders & their parents know how to celebrate the teacher's birthday. Tonight sushi & maybe shrimp are on our menu. If I feel adventurous, I may attempt a birthday cake. We're planning to order out supper from Applebee's tomorrow night, courtesy of a gift card she got from--wait for it, wait for it--one of her 1st graders for Christmas.

Wellness Check

My recuperation from Influenza A & pneumonia continues. The two symptoms that are plaguing me the most are general fatigue & a deep, chronic cough. The cough frequently wakes me up at night, making it hard to get back to sleep. Although I'm napping every day, there's no substitute for a good, solid 7-8 hours of sleep--something that hasn't happened to me for going on 3 weeks. Poor sleep contributes to my depression. Okay, that's enough whining for one entry even if it's my blog.

There Is No Place Like . . . Nebraska

• From Omaha World Herald (1/13):  "Assistants' total pay $4.875 million . . . Nebraska's 10 (FB) assistants--plus strength coach Zach Duval--will make a combined $4.875 million over the next 2 years in base salary."
• Ditto (1/13):  "Riley payout still high. Former Nebraska coach Mike Riley will work for Oregon State at a considerable discount--$50,004 per year . . . That means NU is still on the hook for almost all of Riley's buyout. Riley's salary will mitigate his $6.63 million buyout--to be paid in $170,000 per month increments--but not by much."
• COMMENT:  Sigh . . . These amounts are obscene yet seem to be the price for fielding a high quality Division I FB team. 
• OWH (1/14):  "Pea protein patties. 'Clean meat' made in a lab. A traditional rib-eye steak. Consumers can choose, but cattle producer say nothing replaces the real thing."
• COMMENTS:  Sigh . . . I left the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program with recommendations from at least two of the medical providers about my protein sources. Beef & other red meat a "few" times per month. Chicken & fish several times per week. Beans as another source of protein. This all has to do w/heart health, so I'll do my best, but I PROMISE that I will not succumb to "pea protein patties." Doesn't that very label sound demonic?
• OWH, Breaking Brad by Brad Dickson (2/6):  "Why do people even pay attention to the Super Bowl? I mean, really--what does this have to do with Scott Frost?"

. . . London

From Omaha World Herald (9/14/17):  "'Total monster' clogs sewer. Talk about dirty jobs. Crews in London are waging a sewer war against an enormous 'fatberg'--a solid mass of congealed oil, diapers, hand wipes & other unsavory items--that is clogging a Victorian-era sewer in Whitechapel, London, according to the British utilities company Thames Water. The fatberg is more than 250 yards long. And it weighs 30 tons, more that 10 avg. buses. And it's solid as a rock . . . "  COMMENT:  Lois! What do you say! Shall we add Whitechapel, London to our bucket list?

. . . Iowa

OWH (1/3):  "Cold deals blow to breeding stock at Iowa peacock farm. Prolonged subzero weather has devastated the breeding stock at a widely known peacock farm in Iowa, an enterprise that provides most of the nation's eggs for peacock chicks . . . The couple said they have heard from people around the country hoping to replace birds that died during the recent U.S. cold wave. 'This is going to create a major shortage & a huge price increase for people wanting to have peacocks on their farms or ranches,' Fett said. He estimated that it will take at least 3 years to build up the nation's peacock breeding stock . . . "  COMMENTS:  Two stories:  Many, many years ago we took our kids to the Lincoln (NE) Children's Zoo. A brazen peacock ambushed our son Nathan, who was contentedly chewing on an overpriced hot dog, & snatched the hot dog right out of the bun. Story #2:  When Lois & I were house-hunting, we visited a house in Northeast Lincoln. As we were talking to the owners, a peacock screech came from a utility shed at the back of their yard. The owners admitted that they kept peacocks but begged us not to tell anyone, since it was against code to have peacocks as pets in Lincoln. We honored our pledge. We also did not offer on this house. 

. . . Chicago

OWH (1/12):  "Chicago police may get anti-texting 'Textalyzer.' Chicago may become the first city in the U.S. to arm its police officers with devices that will tell them immediately if motorists were texting when they got into a traffic accident . . . The vote sends the issue to the full council, which is all but certain to approve the resolution."  COMMENTS:  "As a member of the city council, I'd like to introduce a motion to help curb our nationally embarrassing murder rate." Mayor:  "Forget that. We need to take action on texting!"

Whatever Wednesday

Books + Wiffle Ball Memories + Peeing on Newspaper Ads

Book Report

Lois & I are both voracious readers. Her preferred media is electronic. My favorite media remains "hard copies." Here's what I'm reading these days.

• Longmire mysteries, by Craig Johnson. "Longmire" is one of the best Netflix series I've watched. On TUE 2/6, I saw the series finale + was greatly impressed but I digress. My son Nathan clued me in that he has read Longmire mysteries & found them to be very entertaining. For my birthday he & Laura gave me the first book in the series, The Cold Dish. It was hard to put down, & I finished it pretty quickly. On SUN 2/4, I went to the Norfolk Public Library to check out the 2nd book in the series series but couldn't locate Death without Company, so I checked out & started reading the 3rd book in his series, Kindness Goes Unpunished. I'm way more of a non-fiction book reader than fiction, but it's going to be hard for me to avoid binge-reading these books like I binge-watched the Netflix series. [There are significant differences, but this is not a serious impediment.] If you like mysteries, consider these books.
• Frederick the Wise, by Sam Wellman. I bought this book at the CPH vendor's booth at the NE District LCMS Professional Workers Conference last OCT. It took awhile for it to work its way to the top of my reading list, but it was worth the wait. Non-fiction is my preferred reading interest, particularly biographies & history. I bought the book because Lutherans were celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation last OCT, & Frederick the Wise was the elector who kept Luther safe from his secular & Roman Catholic enemies. One of the things I liked about this book was how Luther was portrayed:  a man of great conviction, willing to put his life on the line for what he knew to be the truth, but also a "loose cannon" who didn't make things easy for Frederick. I recommend this book if you like biographies, history, & especially if you have an interest in Reformation history.

From My "Whatever" Clippings File

From Omaha World Herald (11/10/17):  "Clue, Wiffle Ball, paper airplane earn toy honor. The board game Clue. In the National Toy Hall of Fame. With the wiffle ball & paper airplane."  COMMENTS:  My little brother Mark & I played wiffle ball for hours in our backyard. Being older, I had to do my best to keep our games equitable, but my competitive nature too often reared its ugly head. Sorry, Mark! Thanks for the memories.

From Norfolk Daily News (12/30):  "Is Sitting the New Smoking? The news that sitting is harmful to your health is nothing new, but 2 Drexel University researchers believe it could become the newest workplace liability."  COMMENT:  Does that mean we'll soon read articles about "second hand sitting?"

OWH (1/13):  "Want a deal on a new crib? IKEA wants (weird) proof. Ikea has a new advertisement that's running in a Swedish magazine & asks women to pee on the page in order to learn about a discount. Once a woman urinates on a strip in the ad, a discount is revealed only if she is pregnant, according to a story in Ad Week."  COMMENT:  Would you seriously encourage you wife to pee on a newspaper ad? Inquiring minds want to know.

NDN (1/29):  "Tide Pod challenge gains momentum. 'If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?' This question has been asked by parents to their children for generations. But never has this been more evident than in the last several years thanks to viral internet challenges . . . The Tide Pod challenge is popular on social media showing videos & memes of teens & young adults putting laundry packets into their mouths. Calls to the nation's poison centers regarding ingestions in this age group are starting to increase . . . Ingestion of packets has caused coma, seizures, respiratory arrest & death. Manufacturers of the packets have sought to combat these ingestions by making changes to the packaging & some have added a bitter-tasting agent to the outer coating . . . "  COMMENTS:  Be suspicious if your teen volunteers to do grocery shopping for you & returns w/opened packages of detergent pods. And subsequently burps soap bubbles.

Cornhusker Blog Lite

Blog Overload + Inappropriate Carry-on, Horse Riding, & Surgery

Am I blogging too much?

Conventional wisdom has it that one shouldn't be posting a blog too frequently; for sure not every day. So why have I been blogging so much lately? Let me remind you of my modus operandi.

1. I blog for self-therapy. 
2. I've been sitting around the house a lot since returning from my Mayo Clinic Road Trip last week, while I continue to recover from Influenza A & pneumonia. Therefore, I've had more opportunity to write & also more need to work off some of my depression & anxiety.
3. I try to include some insights that may be helpful to others.
4. I like to include things that amuse me, & my conceit is that these same things will amuse my readers.

Quiet time

Once again this morning one of my devotional resources * included an insight that really spoke to my heart. The scripture reading was Romans 3:21-26. Here's the insight. "In the reading for today, the apostle shows us the truth. All people without exception, have sinned & fall short of God's righteous demands. That truth leads to an even more glorious one:  all are justified freely by God's undeserved grace in Jesus Christ. No one can stand before God because of the dignity of his person or the office that he holds. But all of us, in highest or lowest station, stand forgiven & pure through the atoning blood of Christ."

* Arrows of Light:  Devotions for Worldwide Christians, by David Schneider. (Morris Publishing:  Kearney, Nebraska)

Criminal Minds

From Omaha World Herald (12/28):  "Man's trip delayed; cougar carcass found in luggage. Police said a hunter's trip home hit a snag in Las Vegas when security screeners found a dead cougar in his luggage. No crime was committed because the man had a hunting tag, police said, & it is not illegal to transport legally possessed game on an airline flight . . . the man ended up shipping the cougar carcass home."  COMMENT:  "But officer, this is my emotional support cougar carcass!"

Ditto (1/5):  "Horse in custody. A FL judge said a sheriff's office must retain custody of a horse whose owner was charged w/drunken driving while riding the animal . . . Byrne was arrested 11/2 after riding her horse down a highway. Police said her blood-alcohol level was twice FL's legal limit." COMMENT:  There is no place like Florida.

Ditto (1/10):  "Couple who said they planned to give pot as gifts arrested again. Deputies say CA couple, 70 & 80, had $18,000 that smelled of marijuana. A CA couple arrested last month w/60 lbs of marijuana that they described as Christmas gifts were arrested again TUE on suspicion of possessing drug money . . . Lancaster Co. (NE) Sheriff's deputies stopped that couple's westbound pick-up truck, saying it was following another vehicle too closely . . . A K-9 (service dog) was deployed & alerted to the presence of drugs." COMMENT:  It's their own fault for choosing marijuana over chain saws, axes, & guns for Christmas gifts.

Ditto (1/13):  "Surgeon burned initials onto patients' livers. A British surgeon who burned his initials onto patients' livers during transplants has been fined $13,600 & ordered to perform community service . . . " COMMENT:  This reminded me of the wood-burning kit I got for Christmas one year. Is it possible that this surgeon was reliving a nostalgic moment from his childhood. [What's your hobby? I use my wood-burning kit to write inspirational sayings on tree branches that fall into my yard. What about you? I burn my initials on my patients' livers.]

Dept. of Shameless Joke-Stealing

From Norfolk Daily News, Entertainment Spotlight, "late laughs."  "Prince Harry has announced his engagement to an actress from L.A. That's exciting! So congratulations to Prince Harry & his fiancee Betty White." Conan O'Brien

"According to the chairman of NBC News, (Matt) Lauer was fired due to 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.' Not to be confused with 'appropriate' sexual behavior in the workplace. Because that does not exist."  Stephen Colbert