Part I

I love cats and have had them most of my life. 

As a psychologist I have enjoyed learning comparative psychology—the study of psychology across species.  For most of my adult life, my home has been an experimental lab for the feline species.

I currently have two 3 year old sister cats who are American shorthair breed, Mariah and Sophia.  They were raised in a shelter from the time they were weaned until last March, when they joined me in my home (lab).

Cat Cage

Sophia and Mariah on Guard

Since then they have been working on adapting to life in a household. 

Not an easy feat as previously they lived in a 6ft x 5ft x 6 ft wire cage with two or three other cats.  Being naturally curious about their environment, this was less than an ideal situation.  At first their claws kept getting caught on soft surfaces when they ran, which was humorous to watch.   They would have that look of surprise when they found themselves facing the opposite direction of where they were running.  Wonder what they thought with all their freedom to explore everything and anything?

They hid in my bedroom for the first two weeks. 

Perhaps fearing their new found freedom to “roam about” the premises, hiding most likely felt like security to them.  I didn’t let them have access to the rest of the house because of my fear of what they would get into that wouldn’t occur to me that I should cat proof.  I used rope lights and cheap mirrors that normally hang on doors to light up and make visually accessible spots under furniture where they hid.  I wonder what they thought the first time they saw those lights and mirrors.  Then I would coax them out at night when I would come home, with those toys with feathers on a string attached to a wand.

Feather Cat Toy with a Wand

If I could get them used to me in places they felt safe, I could slowly get them to accept my petting them. 

One cat was more social then the other.  Both cats would panic if picked up.  I’m sure everyone knows what a cat does when panicked, especially if you are trying to hold them…ouchy ouchy ouchy.

Here’s a short video on the American Shorthair Breed of cat.

Tune in again to find out how they are doing in their new surroundings in my home (lab).

Taz - the embodiment of mischief!

Afterall the Ground Hog only gives an overall opinion.  And everyone knows the “devil” is in the details – pardon the pun.

How did this unusual ritual come to be such a big deal? 

And how did a place called Punxsutawney get the honor for this ritual?  Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is a small town in west central Pennsylvania.  The name comes from the Indian name “ponksad-uteney” which means “the town of the sandflies”.  Woodchuck comes from the Indian legend of “Wojak, the groundhog” considered by the Indians to be their ancestral grandfather.  Hmm – what does “the Town of the Sandflies” have to do with a groundhog?  Scratching my head on this one….

Punxsutawney was settled by Germans in the 1700s.  They brought a tradition, known as Candlemas Day, with them.

Candelmas Day in Denmark

Candlemas was seen as the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  Its early origin is the pagan celebration of Imbolc.  The superstition comes from the idea that if the weather is fair, the second half of winter would be stormy and cold.  In Europe it was customary for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to people in the dark of winter.  A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home.  If the sun came out February 2^nd, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.  Well…where does the badger/groundhog come into play here?  Still scratching my head….

The old English Saying:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Winter has another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Winter will not come again.

In Germany, they watched a badger (a badger – are you kidding?) for the shadow.  In Pennsylvania, they chose to awaken a groundhog.  Anyone ever try to get close to a badger, much less pick it up?  They are one mean animal when aroused.  So give the immigrants from Germany some credit for being smart about this.  So, there is the connection between Candlemas and the animal.

Pennsylvania’s official celebration began on 2-2-1886 with a proclamation in the local press.

“Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow.”  The beast (really???) was given it’s name ‘Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sages of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”  The town was thus named “Weather Capital of the World.”  This whole ritual happens, since 1887, in a particular spot called Gobbler’s Knob.  One wonders why they didn’t use a turkey? ;0)

The Inner Circle in Gobbler's Knob

How many of you remember the movie, “Groundhog Day” from 1993 with Bill Murray.  A classic.  If you have not seen it, find it, rent it or buy it and enjoy.  The movie created a lot of interest in Punxsutawney and the Groundhog Day ritual.  Every year the ritual draws more and more people.  The town itself has a population of under 7,000.  On Groundhog Day you will find well over 35,000 in attendance.  Just wondering – where do they all stay?

A groundhog is actually a woodchuck. 

I know – how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?  Couldn’t resist putting that in here….  The wood chuck is a member of the Marmota Monax species from the family of Sciuridae and the order of Rodentia and the class known as mammal.  Check in next Groundhog Day for more information the Woodchuck.

The Groundhog

In case you are in doubt about the crowds and the ritual, watch this short video of the ritual of 2012.  Someone in Punxsutawney is pretty smart about marketing this day – all around the world.  Watch for the Inner Circle and how they perform this ceremony.  Check back next year for more on the “Inner Circle”.  Enjoy the video.

How did you celebrate Groundhog Day?  What is your prediction for the rest of Winter?

Information obtained from the following websites:
www.groundhog-day.123holiday.net
www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm
www.infoplease.com/spot/groundhogday1.html
www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/woodchuck.htm
www.groundhog.org

The Heart Muscle and Coronary artieries

Although a lot of progress has been made, heart attacks are still the leading killer of men and women in the United States.  1.2 million people in the United States have heart attacks each year.  Many die but more could survive if they got help faster.

Acting fast can save a life and limit damage to the heart.  Symptoms can include but are not limited to:  Chest pain or discomfort; upper body discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or upper part of the stomach; shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort; nausea, vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

Do you know what to do if someone near you goes down with a heart attack?  Hopefully someone near you will know how to do CPR.  What if no one else is around you that can help?  And do you know that CPR is not the recommended procedure anymore for heart attacks.  Now you can apply CCC.  That stands for Continuous Chest Compression.  Continuous Chest Compression can be done by anyone with no training whatsoever.  Although it is somewhat like CPR, it is not the same.  This new procedure was pioneered in Arizona at the Sarver Heart Center.   Through the SHARE (Save Hearts in Arizona Research and Education) program, research shows a higher survival rate when CC is used versus CPR.  CPR is still better than nothing but is fast becoming the second choice for bystanders who want to help.  Please note that CPR – the traditional method – is still recommended for respiratory arrest.

This short video illustrates how to use CCC.

I hope you learned something new today – I sure did!  Please leave your comments about this new procedure and let us know what you think?

1.           What was his first name?

a)  Martin

b)  Michael

c)  Matthew

d)  John

2.           What was his father’s occupation?

a)  Garbage Collector

b)  Policeman

c)  Preacher

d)  Farmer

3.           How old was he when he graduated from High School?

a)  18

b)  15

c)  20

d)  17

4.           MLK Jr was the first in his family to graduate from college?

Yes

No

5.           MLK Jr received his doctorate from which institution of High education?

a)  Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA

b)  Crozier Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania

c)  Boston University in Massachusetts

d)  Howard University

6.           MLK Jr received an international honor – what was it?

a)  Freedom Medal from the UN

b)  Nobel Peace Prize

c)  Pulitzer Prize for literature

d)  Pulitzer Prize for Peace

7.           Who and When was MLK Jr Day declared a National Holiday?

a)  Lyndon Johnson in November 1967

b)  Gerald Ford in 1975

c)  Jimmy Carter in 1978

d)  Ronald Reagan in 1983

8.           MLK Jr was named Time Magazine Man of the Year in which year?

a)  1962

b)  1963

c)  1968

d)  1970 Posthumously

9.           Which of the following quotes are not from MLK Jr?

a)  Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love

can do that.

b)  Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase’

c)  You must be the change you want to see in the world.

d)  A lie cannot live.

10.        Where did MLK Jr give his “I Have A Dream” speech?

a)  Atlanta

b) Washington DC

c)  Memphis

d)  Birmingham

Answers:           1 –     b Michael.  He changed it to Martin later.

2 -     c  MLK Jr was the 3^rd generation of Preachers in this family

3 -     b  age 15

4 –     No  both his father and grandfather also graduated from college

5 -     c  Boston University

6 –     b – Nobel Peace Prize – the youngest ever to receive it – at the age of 35.

7 -     d – Ronald Reagan in 1983

8 -     b – 1963

9 –    c – a quote from Gandhi

10 -   b – Washington DC

I hope you enjoyed this little quiz and perhaps learned something about this great leader who was taken from us at a very young age.  Please enjoy this rendition of a wonderful song about Abraham, Martin and John by Dion.

What are some of your memories of Martin Luther King Jr.?  Share with us please?

Information for this little quiz was taken from the following sources:

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html

http://www.aei.org/article/politics-and-public-opinion/polls/what-you-may-have-missed-in-the-polls-martin-luther-kings-birthday-race-and-the-2012-election/?gclid=CLqGrK7c0K0CFRECQAoduF_PoQ

http://www.thekingcenter.org/history/about-dr-king/

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich

When it comes to fitness, BLT means Body Leverage Training. 

Just what does that really mean?  Leverage can have several meanings, depending on the context of the conversation.

This is a man with leverage

For Example,

in fund raising you hear that word used a lot – how to “leverage” a major donation into more money for the organization.  When it comes to your body, it most likely means how to use your body as resistance rather than use another piece of equipment.  It becomes something like a functional training as you begin to realize there is more to fitness than just what you read or see.

For example, a gymnast uses BLT to prepare for meets and other athletes do the same.

Using Leverage on the Parallel Bars

In many respects, BLT is movements the body was meant to perform, in a safe and effective way.  Sara Haley, Reebok Creative Coach and a JUKARI Fit to Fly instructor in New York City, says that body leverage training can be as effective as it is fun. “Body leverage training helps improve muscular endurance and strength, balance, flexibility and joint stability and offers easy adjustments and options.”  It’s like learning to use your body in space, becoming aware of your body and listening to your body.  Using your own body rather than another piece of equipment is what makes this safe.  Learning how to use leverage and body mechanics can enhance your workout and eventually your fitness level.  Watch this short video for an introduction on how to use BLT in an exercise routine.

Having the right equipment is essential for this kind of BLT – as well as a qualified instructor.  This is intriguing and not well known, at least in the Midwest anyway.  Gives a new meaning to “being fit”.  Let us know if you have heard of this before and especially if you know where to use this kind of BLT – something you use – not eat?

BLT is gaining in popularity and Baby Boomers are at the forefront of this trend. 

You can find more information here:

http://www.texaskali.org/articles/lev_mech.htm

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/getfit/2011/08/boomers-influence-fitness-trends/

Keeping a Sleep Diary

• When did you go to bed (not when did you go to sleep) and when did you get up?  Record the number of hours you slept.
• How long were you awake before you went to sleep?
• How many times did you wake up during the night?
• If you did wake up, how many minutes elapsed before you went back to sleep?
• How many minutes were you asleep after you fell asleep?

Do this for a week and establish a baseline for measuring your progress in improving your sleep.

Sleep in a Dark Room

The darker the room, the better chance of not only getting to sleep earlier, but staying asleep for longer. More melatonin is secreted when you are in total darkness.

Sleep in a Quiet Room

Light keeps you awake but so does noise.  Create a nice quiet environment so a noise won’t wake you up.

Avoid Caffeine or Energy Drinks After Midday

Caffeine can contribute to sleeping problems.

Up All Night

It should be avoided in the afternoon and night time.  Stimulating your body will keep you awake at night. Limit your overall intake to get a better sleep later on.  Only one cup of coffee with caffeine in the AM will leave 140 mg of caffeine in your system until you go to bed at night.

Shift Work

You are at a disadvantage because your natural sleep patterns are thrown out.  You may even have SWSD or Shift Work Sleep Disorder.

The Burdens of Shift Work

Make your room as dark as possible and using a pair of eye covers will help to block out light. This will help you to get to sleep easier, as the darkness will help to produce more melatonin. It will be a challenge to get a nice quiet environment to sleep in during the day.  Get a white noise generator which should help to block noise that might wake you up.

What About Pills?

Here’s a short video about this one.

What hints and tips can you share with us?  Let us know please?

A new meaning of a New Year's Resolution

OK – it’s that time of year again – a beginning, if you will, of new opportunities, new doors opening and a chance at doing something different that is supposed to be good for you.  Something like a new diet, more exercise, friendlier, saving money, quitting smoking or drinking etc.   How does one go about making a resolution? 

Here are some tips.

So you make a resolution to either do…or not do….  A resolution.  A New Year’s Resolution.

Just what does that mean?

There are two other words at work here.  Resolve and Resolute.  Resolute has many meanings and there is a town or city named Resolute somewhere in this continent.  Let me know if you know the answer to where it is located?  Being resolute means you are pretty committed to following through with whatever you are trying to do.  Resolve – another interesting word with many meanings.  There’s even a cleaner with that name.  It probably means you have the stamina to see something through.

Ah – but…Resolution… That means you not only have the stamina but also the commitment to see something through…for at least a week anyway.

 So What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

Google Airlines - What Next???

A winter vacation – how delightful.  A luxury for those with children in school and for those who have to save up over a protracted period of time.  And a real luxury for those who live in the northern climates – an escape from bitter cold, snow, wind, blizzards etc.  How to travel – the next question.  With the cost of gas, is it cheaper to fly or to drive?  Is the distance you are traveling doable with a car?  What about the train?  Where are you going?  With family or friends or without?  Answering these questions will give you a better idea of what to do next.

Air vs Car

Well that depends on where you are going and the cost of everything attached to whichever way you decide to go.  In a car you have gas and if it’s an overnight trip or one of several days, then you have the cost of overnight lodging plus meals.  Don’t forget the gas – try to estimate the cost of gasfor a round trip.  If it is a one day trip, you can pack a lunch or even two, if necessary.  Add up the cost of this so you have something to compare to.  On to the Airport.  If you have to travel to the airport, so you need to go the night before?  If so, add the cost of the overnight lodging to your list.  How about parking?  Many hotels in larger urban areas now offer free parking with the rent of one night at the hotel – and they provide free shuttle service to the airport as well.  If you do not need to go the night before, you will still need to park your car somewhere and that will cost you – add that to the list.  Don’t forget to add the cost of the gas to get to and from the airport.  Then you can add the cost a meal or two.  Above all else, DO NOT BUY FOOD AT THE AIRPORT – probably the most expensive food on earth.

Airport Food Court

Try to figure out a way to eat before leaving for the airport or bring a few snacks along in your carry-on.  OK – now you should have two lists in front of you – one for driving and one for flying – Which way is cheaper?  What about if you are planning a trip for later in the year next year – like next Christmas?  How to predict the cost of flying 11 ½ months in advance? Believe it or not, someone has provided this information predicting lots of things for air travel in 2012.

Once at the airport, most of which are now WiFi or with hotspots here and there, but not many outlets, how to occupy your time while waiting for boarding.  Many now travel with laptops, netbooks, IPads, smartphones etc.  Activities on these items can drain the battery quickly.  Unfortunately, there are not as many outlets as there should be because most airports were built before the advent of all these electronic devices that need juice.  So saving one’s battery or batteries is important.  Travel tips for smart phones is good information to have.

Your Smart Phone

On to Packing

If you are like most people, you take too much – something you don’t realize until you have schlepped your luggage all over two airports, into a taxi or bus, and then to your room.  There are packing tips all over the place on the internet.  Some things I do – always.  I start early and lay out everything I want to take in a spare room (I know – many of you do not have a spare room – so start this early in the AM and do it throughout the day and finish up at the end of the day).  After getting everything out – sort through with a logical mind and take ½ of it and put it away.  Review what is left and sort through again and put ½ of that away.  Do a trial run with the suitcase to make sure everything fits in one suitcase cause it costs to check the second one and by the time you read this the airlines may have put a fee on any checked bag.  Now you should have enough to make it through the vacation.  If there is a laundry where you are going, great.  If not then wash things out every day in your room.  There’s a great little slide show that illustrates how to make the most of packing everything into a carry-on.  Check it out. 

Rolling

I have known for a long time that rolling one’s clothes saves space.  This little video explains how they do it in the army with an added twist at the end.  Something I will definitely try the next time we travel.

The Best for Last

Perhaps the best site yet is called Onebag.com.  It is all about the art and science of packing light.  It is easy to navigate and provides all kinds of tips about packing.  The best thing, however, is the packing list it provides for just about any kind of trip you take.  The beauty is that you can cross off a lot of stuff that is very specific to a particular kind of vacation and still have a very useful check list for your kind of trip.

There is so much more to taking a trip but this is enough to get you started.  Please share your favorite traveling tips – would love to hear what they are.  Happy Trails to you.

Was it a good year, bad year or just a year?  For many this is one of many times throughout a year to look back, remember and be thankful for the blessings we have all received.  Everyone receives at least one blessing during a year’s time.  You may have to look long and hard but there is always at least one.  This is also a time to remember those who have passed, not only this year but those who passed in years gone by.  The song Auld Lang Syne is a reminder to do this.  Many do not know the words and/or the meaning of this song.  It has to do with endings and beginnings and remembrances.  I hope you will enjoy the following as a remembrance of one of the greats in this country – he is irreplaceable and we will never have anyone like him again.  Enjoy!

Father Time is just about done with this year.

Father Time

And it is time to pass on my wish for you and your for the coming year.  Enjoy the music and the scenery – beautiful and breathtaking!

 Happy New Year’s Eve Everyone!

Caroling

Music and Christmas Carols are so much a part of Christmas so today you will find lots of music video to enjoy.

Enjoy this tribute to our Military in a wonderful light show.

What’s Christmas without Bing?

A wonderful blend of classical music interwoven with Christmas hymns.

I never knew that Mel Torme wrote this song.  A 49 year old clip from Judy Garland’s TV Show.

And finally, a beautiful piano rendition of Christmas music.

Although there have been repetitions in this presentation, I can never tire of this kind of music because it is easy to listen to and a good reminder of what Christmas is all about – the good ( Jesus, the Savior, is born), the bad (loneliness and hopelessness) and the ugly (wars and fighting).

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ON THIS WONDERFUL  HOLIDAY