The Wonder Years…

By Terry Orr

(From recent Facebook post)

Well, I’ve finally reached the wonder years…

Wonder where my care is parked?

Wonder where I left my phone?

Wonder where my glasses are?

Wonder what day it is?

• Developing good habits helps during our wonder years.
• Putting your keys in the same place each time you use them.
• Jotting notes to yourself – and trying not to lose the note.
• Create a daily checklist/to do list – taking your medication, chores to be done, errands that need to be accomplished, and who to call and why.

What other ideas can you share?

Weekend of August 2 & 3, 2014

Saturday

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

International Hangover Day

National Mustard Day

Take A Penny/Leave A Penny Day

National Kids’ Day

Sunday

Sisters Day

Watermelon Day

Happy Birthday America

Happy Flag Day 2013

(Images from Google) 

Best Friend Day 2013

"When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand


And nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.


Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights.



You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am


I'll come running to see you again.


Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah,


You’ve got a friend."

By James Taylor

By Diane Forrest

I have been looking around this morning, trying to find the difference between a friend and a best friend.  The title of Best Friend is very important, and not to be taken lightly.  During my searching I found some other people's definition of Best Friend.  They include:

FRIENDS: Helps you up when you fall.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Keeps on walking saying, "Walk much, dummy?"

FRIENDS: Helps you find your prince.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Kidnaps him and brings him to you.

FRIENDS: Will offer you a soda.

BEST FRIENDS: Will dump theirs on you.

FRIENDS: Will help you move.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Will help you move the bodies.

FRIENDS: Will bail you out of jail.


BEST FRIENDS: Would be in the room next to you saying, "That was awesome! Let's do it again!"

FRIENDS: Never ask for anything to eat or drink.

BEST FRIENDS: Helps themselves and are the reason why you have no food

FRIENDS: Would knock on your front door.

BEST FRIENDS: Walk right in and say "I'M HOME."

When my husband passed away, I lost my best friend.  Luckily I met a new friend, and he quickly became my best friend.  He is the type of person you can always count on, he listens when I’m sad, he makes me laugh, he encourages me to grow, and always makes time for me.  I talk to him every day, and even though I have never met him in person, I feel like I have known him forever.  We can talk about anything; he is knowledgeable in every subject under the sun.  Sometimes we talk for hours, sometimes just a few minutes.  He checks on me to make sure I’m ok, and lets me know that he is ok as well. I met him online several years ago.  We would talk every now and then, but in the past year he has always been there to comfort me and cheer me up.  While thinking about this article I was thinking about the qualities that made him my best friend.  Some of the words I would use to describe him is Caring, Compassionate, Generous, Kind, Intelligent, Friendly, Amusing and mostly Comforting.  He lives far away, so if I was in a jam, he wouldn't be able to be by my side, but just a few clicks on the computer he is right there with me helping me solve a problem or listening to my ranting’s.

He is not just my best friend, but he is the best friend of many others.  Dozens of people call him regularly if they need a hand with anything.  They know that if he says he will do something, it's as good as done.  He is frequently visiting friends in the nursing home, giving friends transportation to hospital visits, checking on sick or injured friends, or offering advice or even money, whatever their needs may be.  I worry about him sometimes, I feel like he has the weight of the world's problems on his shoulders, but he spreads his cheer to everyone, and we are all the better for it.  He is my best friend, and I'm fortunate to have him in my life.

You never know where or when you will find a best friend.  All of my best friends are treasures, and I know that all I have to do is call on them and they will be there for me, and they all brighten my darkest nights.

Today is Best Friend's Day.  It’s a day to think of your best friend and give them a call or send a text or email and let them know how much they mean to you.  As Clarence the Angel says in "It's a Wonderful Life", No man is a failure who has friends.  What are some differences you have between friends and best friends?  Leave a comment in the section below.

(Images from Google) 

World Health Day - High Blood Pressure

By Nurse Diane

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world.  The theme for 2013 is High Blood Pressure.

High blood pressure – also known as raised blood pressure or hypertension – increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure. The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes. One in three adults worldwide have high blood pressure. The proportion increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s. Prevalence of high blood pressure is highest in some low-income countries in Africa, and with over 40% of adults in many African countries.

The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by:

• Reducing salt intake;
• Eating a balanced diet;
• Avoiding harmful use of alcohol;
• Taking regular physical activity;
• Maintaining a healthy body weight; and
• Avoiding tobacco use.

The ultimate goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Specific objectives of the campaign are:

• To raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure;
• To provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure and related complications;
• To encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals;
• To encourage self-care to prevent high blood pressure;
• To make blood pressure measurement affordable to all; and
• To incite national and local authorities to create enabling environments for healthy behaviors.

Source: http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/

 (All images from Google) 

Banana Nut Bread Day - Yum!!

(Google Image)

By Chef Diane

I love banana bread; it’s more like a cake than bread.  It’s easy to make, and easy to mail to all my relatives for special occasions.  My husband's aunt has a birthday coming up, and I will be fixing her a loaf to help celebrate.  Once I make it...I freeze it so when it gets there, it’s thawed and fresh, and delicious.

(Google Image)

Banana bread is full of potassium and protein (if you use nuts).  My grandmother would make it for me often, and she gave me her recipe before she died.  Here is a copy of it.

Today is Banana Nut Bread Day.  If you don't have a favorite recipe, try this one, and celebrate this fun day!

(Google Image)

Banana Bread

Ingredients

1/2 cup corn oil

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 ripe bananas

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I normally use a loaf pan, but you can also use a Bundt pan too. Spray with cooking oil.

Cream oil and sugar; add eggs, 1 at a time.

Sift dry ingredients mix with creamed butter.

Add mashed bananas and nuts.

Bake for 1 hour or until done.