Whatever Wednesday

Temp Challenge + Texan vs Gator + Politics? Grrr + More

Leckband Temp Challenge

Competition was fierce this morning with only 3 degrees separating our top 3 finishers & only 5 degrees separating all competitors. Based on temps provided by wunderground.com at 6:53a (CDT):  #1, Eagan, MN, 41; #2, Norfolk, NE, 42; #3, Beatrice, NE, 43; #4, Tie, Lincoln, NE & Ventura, IA, 45; #6, Balmiest Leckbands, Garrison, IA, 46. 

Mental Health MON . . . Special WED Edition 

From Norfolk Daily News (9/24):  "Do you feel depressed thinking about your problems? Maybe you have 10 or more stressful situations all demanding attention now. While you can't usually resolve a lot of problems in one day, you can focus on living one day at a time to preserve your sanity. Here's how it works:

• Stop focusing on what went wrong yesterday. Thinking about a quarrel you had with someone last week will use up your strength. Instead, look for solutions.
• Don't worry about how to deal with tomorrow. Instead, make reasonable decisions you can implement today that will prepare you for tomorrow.
• Keep track of your decisions each day. This will steer your life in the right direction.

The idea of living one day at a time is all about tuning out static. None of us can function at our best if we're worrying. Comment:  This may be simplistic for anyone with clinical depression and/or a general anxiety disorder, but it still seems like good advice to me.

There Is No Place Like Texas

From Omaha World Herald (9/24):  "Texas mayor gets gator, avenging miniature horse. A Texas mayor & great-grandmother thinks she's finally gotten revenge on the massive alligator that ate her miniature horse a few years ago. It took just one shot for Judy Cochran to dispatch the 12-foot, 580-lb gator at her ranch Sunday in Goodrich . . . " Don't mess with Texas!

Political Potpourri

I shouldn't let it get to me, but this whole situation involving the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing has me distressed. * 

• The Democrats strategy to demonize the nominee will, in my humble opinion, (1) not be enough to deter his confirmation; & (2) will serve to galvanize Trump supporters when its time for midterm elections.
• Republicans & other conservatives decry these attempts to demonize Kavanaugh, but I've read & seen efforts to demonize his accusers.
• Let the accuser face Kavanaugh, have both testify, judge the credibility of both, stop letting the Democrats posture & drag out the hearing, & take a vote.

* Maybe it's time to tune out partisan punditry for awhile?!

"News from the World of Medicine"

Source:  Reader's Digest (July 2018):  "Teaching Mosquitoes to Leave You Alone. Forgot your insect repellent while out for a hike? Just wave your arms. A study published in Current Biology reports that mosquitoes dislike air vibrations such as those you create when you move. And when vibrations are combined with your unique odor, mosquitoes associate them with your odor & steer clear." Comment:  I have a unique odor?

Thought for Today

Source:  The Lutheran Layman:  "I can't promise you that acceptance of 'Christ crucified for you' will solve all your personality problems--or will solve any of them immediately. But this I say with complete confidence:  making the Cross of Christ your own, accepting the Crucified Christ as your personal Savior, will change your whole outlook on life. It will bring you into a relationship of friendship with God, the kind that God wants to have with you. It will give God His chance to make you more & more the kind of person He intended you to be."