MAY DAY

Yes, I know that May Day was yesterday. Whatever. Did you mark the occasion by making & delivering May Day treats? That was a big deal in Lincoln; an even bigger deal in Hawaii. We had a hula group at the Lutheran High School of Hawaii, & I got to see them dance at a May Day celebration at one of the Lutheran elementary schools. Quite a treat! And even though we were a piddly little 3rd tier private school in Hawaii, our hula team consistently won competitions against much larger schools.

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

"According to psychology, talking to yourself is actually healthy." Column by Barton Goldsmith, Norfolk Daily News, 4/25 I have a confession to make. One night when I was walking back home from St. Paul's College, I was talking to myself. My high school principal's house was on that street, & as I approached Mr. Sohl's house, he heard me talking to myself. 

"The pandemic, approaching retirement--these & other stresses of work & family life are some of the concerns that Adam Borland, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic, helps men cope with. 'I see a lot of men who didn't receive treatment for mental challenges in their 20s & 30s,' he says. 'They've bottled things up. Then at retirement they go through a lot of life changes--to their careers, to their relationships--& they realize they need help.'

"Among the depression signs & symptoms that men (& their loved ones) should look out for when they fly into rages or become easily irritated:  When they engage in risky behavior involving driving, gambling, drugs, alcohol or sex; when they lose friends & cut off family members; or when they lack motivation on the job or with favorite hobbies. Depression also can trigger physical symptoms, including headaches, nausea, chest pain or sexual difficulties." Parade Magazine, 5/1/22

"STUDY:  Avg man rates mental health 6 out of 10; feels down 3 times a week." Drudge Report, 5/1

RESOLUTIONS:  PROGRESS REPORT

I realize that you might find my resolution reviews tedious, but I must remind you that I blog, not just to entertain & enlighten others, but also for my own mental health.

* Lose at least 12 lbs. C I gained 3 lbs in April. Too much eating out. Still, I'm on track to lose 12 lbs this year.

* Cross 2 things off my bucket list. A+ We visited Key West & Dry Tortugas NP.

* Have fruits & vegetables at least 4X/week. A

* Walk at least 4X/week. D- I've struggled with this one. Over the last month or so, I had a bout of Influence A & "non-covid coronavirus," & my hip has been bothering me a lot. Tomorrow I see an orthopedist. I'm anticipating another hip replacement.

* Publish my 365-day devotion book. B I feel a little more encouraged after talking with my Westbow representative on FRI. I have a minor copyright issue to resolve & then plans for publishing can continue.

* Write & publish another 365-day devotion book. B I'm making good progress.

GPA:  B-

LABOR SHORTAGE

Has anyone made the connection between our labor shortage & the millions of babies aborted since the SCOTUS made abortion a constitutional right when it decided Roe v. Wade in 1973? All those children would have entered our labor pool. Abortion is a great evil, & I hope the Supreme Court strikes Roe v. Wade down. I'm not under any illusion that this will end abortion, but I still pray for it to happen. I also hope & pray that God does not harshly judge our nation for perpetuating this evil.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Surge of desert surf parks stirs questions. Hours from the CA coast, surfers are hoping one of the next spots where they can catch a wave is in the desert, where summer temperatures often soar above 100 degrees. At least 4 large surf lagoons are proposed for the region around Palm Springs, which is more commonly known for art festivals, mountain hikes & golf, & has no natural waves in sight. But some envioronmentalists & residents say it isn't water-wise to build large resorts in one of the driest spots in CA during one of its driest periods in recent memory." Norfolk Daily News, 4/28 I say, who cares about water shortages & severe drought? This is an opportunity for our relatives in CA to surf without having to travel all the way to the coast.

OUR LEADERS

"A friend of mine from back east once told me what he said was wrong with the country. 'Readers are leaders,' he said. 'Unfortunately, our leaders don't read.'" Column by Michael Reagan, Norfolk Daily News, 4/25

DEPT. OF SHAMELES JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Dec 2021/Jan 2022

"It's sad when the only person who can tell me 'I know what you want' is my barista."