MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

"If you're prone to depression, you might want to say 'bah humbug' to sugary holiday desserts. A new study from a team of clinical psychologists at the University of Kansas suggests that added sugars can trigger metabolic, inflammatory, & neurobiological processes tied to depressive illness . . . high sugar consumption could result in a perfect storm that adversely affects mental health, according to the researchers." Reader's Digest, Dec 2020/Jan 2021 I should have read this before indulging in all that Easter candy.

EASTER REVIEW

Although Nathan, Laura, Calvin, & Claire couldn't join us for Easter this year, we were able to Facetime with them on SAT & yesterday. And we had our weekly Zoom mtg with Lois' siblings yesterday. The Worley's were here, & the Broders also joined us. Holy Week services are also a highlight for me, especially the sunrise service [& breakfast at church] on SUN. Easter is all about family, especially God's family. He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

2021 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

Time for my monthly New Year's resolutions update. I've got some good news & some bad news.

* At least 8 road trips. We've already gone on 6 road trips--by my definition--this year. Yesterday Lois' siblings reached a consensus on a sibling bash in Sedona, AZ, in Oct. Over Easter weekend Lois made reservations for a cabin in the Black Hills. We'll take 3 of our grandkids there for a "glamping" trip in May. And we're planning to visit Mark [my brother] & Christy in Ventura, IA, the week after we visit Nathan & Laura & the kids over Memorial weekend. Plus, we're going back to CA this summer. Lois is going to join Wanda, her oldest sister, to help at a Joni & Friends camp. I'm going along. I think John, my brother-in-law, & I are going to spend time at their double-wide at Lake Tahoe. Looks like this one is in the bag.

* Give up French fries. I'm managing to make this work. [FULL DISCLOSURE:  I decided to give up tater tots for Lent. I slipped a couple of weeks ago when I finished the tater tots that were in the freezer. There were only 6 left, but a "vow" is a "vow."]

* Get a DNA report from Ancestry.com. I haven't heard from them about the sample I sent in JAN, so I tried to go on-line to find the results, but the website wouldn't accept my log-in information. Looks like I'll have to give them a phone call. [I just hope that Lois & I don't turn out to be 1st cousins.]

* Do my PT exercises at least 3X per week. Not going well, but I resumed pulmonary rehab last week. [Rehab has been closed for some time, due to COVID, but just re-opened.] I'll go there twice/week. Does that count?

* Avoid useless Facebook argument. Going well.

* Add to our National Park & bucket lists. Since the 1st of the year we've visited Everglades in FL & Sequoia, Yosemite, & King's Canyon in CA. 

* Lose at least 10 lbs. I really, really, would rather not discuss this one.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"A Nebraska man could face several charges after allegedly driving his friend to a hospital in the bucket of a front-end loader . . . the 32-year-old suspect allegedly stole the huge $75,000 front-end loader & showed up at a Lincoln hospital Friday night with a 40-year-old man riding in the bucket. The man told police he did it because the man was injured . . . Police said that in addition to stealing the machine, the driver was intoxicated & blocked an ambulance bay. Police arrested the man on suspicion of felony theft, fourth-offense driving under the influence & driving with a revoked license." Norfolk Daily News, 3/30

"Loose cow ties up interstate traffic for hows." Drudge Report, 4/5

MOTHERS

"Being a mother doesn't end when our children grow up. We still want to protect them, just as we did the day they were born. But they won't need us in the same ways they did when they were little. That's what growing up means. Children need to be cared for. Adults can take care of themselves--except when they need a little help. But grown children will always need a mother. Not to tell them what to do or, heaven forbid, how to do it. But to listen when they need to talk. And to pray for them day & night. And if they have children, to be a 'nana' for their babies. At the same time, we'll always need our grown-up children to make us laugh & keep us young & fill that place in our heart that only they can fill. We can have a lot of great times together. Who knows? They might even do our laundry." Sharon Randall, Norfolk Daily News, 3/30

TRENDING

"In push for diversity, military canine units to give equal opportunities to chihuahuas." Babylon Bee

"Actors vow to boycott Georgia & only film in the Xinjiang province of China." Ditto

"Jesus criticized for leaving His face covering behind in the tomb." Ditto

"Roman authorities investigating Jesus for violating stay-in-tomb order." Ditto

"Wise father suggests cutting iPad in half to settle kids' dispute." Ditto

"Fish suffer pain & stress, claims report that criticizes welfare failings." Drudge Report, 4/3

"Who is that? 40% don't recognize selves in mirror due to stress." Drudge, 4/4

"In apology, Amazon admits drivers have to 'pee in bottles.'" Drudge, 4/4

"7% of Americans don't use internet. Who are they?" Drudge, 4/5