Beyond Words

 

Thanksgiving is officially one week away and you know what that means: food. Lots of food! And, as much as we love all the turkey and fixings they are no bueno for something else we love: our pets.

 

Thanksgiving also means lots of people and kitchen chaos, which means you may not pay attention to what your dogs eat or sneak on the side. But if you want a day without a pet emergency room visit, you might want to take note of the ASPCA’s do’s and don’ts of Thanksgiving for pet owners.

 

Basically, the rules include no pets in the kitchen, stuff your turkey but not your pets, no booze hounds, and take out the trash!

 

 

When talking turkey, it’s tough to not give your dog a little nibble of the bird but just make sure it’s fully cooked, skinless, boneless, and has no tracings of twine or foil. The skin can be especially dangerous for Fido, as it will have spices, sauces, and fats that are both dangerous and hard to digest.

 

Bones, even those cooked like neck bones, are the worst and if ingested, will wreak havoc on a dog or cat’s digestive track. They splinter inside an animal and could lead to that dreaded emergency room visit.

 

Lastly, be sure to double bag and wrap-tie the turkey carcass and toss in an outside bin.

 

What’s the other Thanksgiving Day standard? Pumpkin pie! The pie is my absolute favorite but raw yeast dough will not be your pet’s fave. If ingested, the yeast converts sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide, gas, and alcohol, which can result in a bloated almost drunken pet with severe pain. This could be life-threatening and comes into play when making rolls and other bread items as well.

 

Nutmeg is a key ingredient in pumpkin pie and yams, but it is a big no-no for dogs. In fact, the seasonal favorite can cause seizures and central nervous system problems if ingested by a pup. Pumpkin and sweet potatoes themselves are fine in moderation; just make sure they don’t have any nutmeg or other spices.

 

Sage is also a popular Thanksgiving Day spice but it’s equally dangerous. It contains oils that upset a pooch’s tummy and should be avoided.

 

Along those same lines are onions and garlic. These two are pretty commonly known as bad for dogs, but just in case you didn’t know it, keep them away from your four-legged friends at all costs. Both contain sulfides that are toxic to dogs and can lead to anemia. Between the two, onions are more toxic than garlic and cooking them does not reduce their toxicity.

 

When I think of the holidays from my childhood, I remember my parents always had a big bowl of nuts on the coffee table. They were in a special wooden bowl and were not shelled. An old-school nutcracker and shell picker were always part of the set-up but when I think about it, it’s nuts to have nuts laying around if you have dogs, which we always did.

 

Nuts, especially walnuts and macadamia nuts, are uber dangerous for your dog. If a bad reaction occurs, a dog will be unable to stand, will vomit, suffer tremors and an elevated heart rate, and will have both a fever and weakness within 12 hours of digesting the nuts. Thankfully most symptoms go away but why risk it? Keep those nuts up high people.

 

Other things you should keep away from your pets

Drippings and Gravy

Turkey Stuffing

Raisins and Grapes

Mushrooms

Corn on the Cob

Butter

Chocolate

Alcohol

 

 

It’s not all bad news though and there are plenty of Thanksgiving Day items that can be safely added to your mutt’s menu, including:

Boneless, skinless and well-cooked turkey meat (no skin)

Sweet potatoes (plain)

Plain pumpkin puree

Green beans

Cranberry sauce

Carrots (raw or cooked but plain)

Apples

 

If you think your precious pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4436. It’s a number you should probably keep handy all year long.

 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and one with safe and happy pets!

 

 

 

I was home sick yesterday, am still home sick today, and if my doctor is right I will be home sick still tomorrow. Bronchitis and an inner ear infection are the culprits. Constant coughing, head exploding, and bouts of dizziness. Yep, I’m pretty sick. You know what else I’m sick of? Election protests and adult crybabies. Maybe it’s the drugs kicking in, maybe it’s too much time on my hands online, maybe it’s a combination of the two, but as anchor Howard Beale declared in the 1975 film classic “Network,” “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

 

I’m not going to take the name-calling and I’m not going to be quiet. I’m asked to please be nice online but every time I turn around, someone has posted a “you are a racist” mantra or I see another protest tying up traffic and causing chaos. Why, in this one singular case, are the winners supposed to be obliging and not celebratory while those who lost can sling insults and tear up our country? Not happening!

 

 

Call me stupid, but I just don’t get it. All the bellyaching and moaning. I do get that, for some of you, your candidate lost a very heated election in a way no one expected or predicted. Shock hurts. I respect that you loved Hillary Clinton and your heart aches. I really do. But it’s done. Over. Move on. It’s been more than a week and we still have people blocking roads, burning flags, posting insulting comments about their friends, and demanding…well I’m not sure what they’re demanding. That’s the problem. What is their goal? Do they even have a means to an end? Who are these highly-charged and enraged voters?

 

Well, first of all many of them aren’t even voters. It’s been reported (and yes, by the “mainstream” media) that more than half of the street marchers didn’t vote and in one horrible case, a four-year old died because the ambulance she was being transported in was blocked by protestors. That’s not okay!

 

So why do they think it’s okay and why are they there?

 

For some it’s to overturn the system our country uses to elect a president. Candidates win based on electoral votes cast, not the popular vote. This has been used since we elected George Washington and has never been whined about before, even when Al Gore lost the popular vote to George W. Bush in 2000 during that hotly contested race. I don’t remember seeing Gore backers protesting then and I can’t recall any republican riots after two wins by Barack Obama. But, for some reason supporters of Hillary Clinton feel the law needs to be changed for her and for them. Shocker.

 

 

 

ELECTORAL KNOWLEDGE

I blogged about the Electoral College back in July. I had a sneaky feeling it would come up in November. It’s actually fairly simple and simply fair. Basically, each state has as many electors as they do members of the U.S. House and Senate combined. (History class refresher: every state has two U.S. Senators but the number of Representatives is based on population.) States with bigger populations have more reps and therefore more electoral votes. The words “Electoral College” don’t appear in the Constitution but the process of it is outlined in Article One. It reflects our Founding Father’s desire to maintain “separation of powers” and “checks and balances” systems and was adopted at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Perhaps most importantly, it protects minority interests in that all states, even those with lower populations and in rural areas, have equal voices and no one region has enough electoral votes to elect a president. Without it, California, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas would basically elect a president each time. Yeah, that wouldn’t be fair, right?

 

And yet, as Meredith Whtimore of Lifezett.com wrote, how does destroying a Portland Toyota dealership have anything to do with changing the election’s outcome or the system used to report it? Mobs destroying public and private property does only done one thing Whitmore says, and that’s expose the insincerity beneath the whole “love Trumps love” rhetoric.

 

 

OUR LITTLE CREATIONS

What gets me equally enraged is that following the election, some college students were allowed to miss class because they were so depressed. One Yale professor told his students an exam was optional so they could nurse their hurt feelings. Deans have sent messages to staff asking them to gently deal with their students’ Trump trauma. What? OMG. Others as young as high school were allowed to walk out of school in protest. Yeah cuz they vote. Ridiculous.

 

But, these are the millennials that, as my wise niece so eloquently pointed out, we Baby Boomers raised. It’s no wonder they’re acting like children. All their lives they’ve been encouraged to buy something rather than build something. We gave them participation trophies all their lives, took life lessons out of the schools, worried waaaay too much about self-esteem, and never really prepared them for the real world. In the real world, you win some you lose some. You will be faced with enormous challenges and your share of disagreement. But when you do, you don’t wilt or whine, you put your big girl panties on and go to work…both literally and figuratively. Instead, today we have college counselors encouraging students to bring pets to class for emotional support for the “challenging weeks ahead.” Boys and girls, your candidate losing is not challenging. Getting a job in a country with a $20 million debt, more people than ever on welfare, and a stagnant job market is challenging. Know the difference.

 

And this is the generation that’s going to lead us in the years to come? Cue the therapists.

 

Whatever their complaints, they’ve gotten out of hand. Even Bernie Sanders has asked them to stop. But why haven’t Clinton and Obama followed suit? Why aren’t they calling for “peace?” Their silence is deafening.

 

Your kids are watching people. Wouldn’t you rather behave how you would want them to if they don’t win at something?

 

 

STICKS AND STONES

Another complaint making waves is that President-elect Donald Trump is a racist, facist, bigot, sexist, and to even some, a Nazi. I mean. C’mon people. Really?

 

From there, they go on to call his supporters the same insulting names in addition to ignorant, redneck, and unenlightened. You’re talking to me now honey and that’s where I draw the line. Call my candidate anything you dream up, but call me any of those things and gloves off. Even the nicest dog will eventually bite after one too many smacks. America got mad and now I’m mad. As I’ve said time and time again, I’m a woman. A Hispanic woman. A college-educated Hispanic woman. No mas people. No mas.

 

And as for Trump’s supporters in general, I’ve talked to many, both in the states and internationally, and I have discovered a lot. While talking to people from Portland, Philly, Newport Beach, Buffalo, and all points in between, the consensus is this:

 

They are not racist. They simply have grown tired of the Black Lives Matter unrest and the anti-cop rhetoric. They are white and black, mothers of cops, and are proud of their mixed marriages. It’s no secret we live in an increasing racially-divided country but the fact that under a two-term African-American president things got worse is not encouraging to anyone. “Law and order” seemed to resonate with this group.

 

They are not anti-immigrant. They are rightly worried about the safety of this country and do not support open borders. They see what’s happening in Europe. They witnessed San Bernadino, Orlando and other domestic attacks. They are sick and tired of the PC world. They just don’t feel safe.

 

They are not sexist. HRC’s loss had very little to do with her sex and a whole lot to do with her. She just wasn’t likeable or trustable to them and they would rather be offended than lied to. They also don’t agree with what Trump has said about women any more than they supported Bill Clinton’s infidelity. In reality, most people I talked to are for equality as they have wives, daughters and even granddaughters. Most would love a woman president, just not that woman. Personally, I think we can do better as women and hope we do. Besides, wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a candidate you don’t have to defend time and time again?

 

They are not bigots. They have many LGBTQ friends and family who they love and respect. The line was drawn, however, with the whole Caitlin Jenner and bathroom equality dramas being shoved down their throats. Tolerance, they repeated again and again, should go both ways and not only when others agree with you.

 

They are not religious freaks. They just felt it a little…no a lot…unfair that certain religions are suddenly being given so many rights yet a Christian baker is not allowed to refuse what they bake or not bake. They resent that “Merry Christmas” is no longer allowed but everyone takes the week of Christmas off. They also believe that unborn babies are just that, human babies not fetuses, and that Planned Parenthood should not receive any of their hard-earned taxes.

 

They are not gun-toting rednecks. Many don’t even own a gun but they see how successful the nation’s strictest gun laws have been in Chicago and support the Second Amendment. They’re probably also the neighbors you’ll call on if enemies come knocking on your door or invade our country.

 

They are not dumb. Many are college-educated and many more are what make this country work. As Ben Carson said, “The American people are smarter than the media and political elites think they are.” The American people spoke and it’s time to accept it

 

They are not deplorable. In fact, they think calling them deplorable is deplorable defined. Deplorable means disgraceful, dishonorable, unworthy, unpardonable. Forgive me for chuckling at the irony of that last one.

 

They are, however, patriotic. They love this country and they are sick of flag burning, NFL player kneeling, and history rewriting. And BTW, Collin Kapernick has reportedly never even registered to vote. Cringe worthy.

 

They are also middle America and they don’t care what Hollywood thinks or how much globalization might help them. They are hardworking blue-collar folks who don’t work for Google or Microsoft and who know that even one job outsourced is probably going to take food off the table of someone they know personally.

 

That’s who they are. The heartland. The heart and soul of our country. And to consider yourself smarter and better than them is beyond wrong.

 

 

 

Then there’s the “I’m blocking you and I’m not your friend anymore” people. Really? Are we in junior high or are you just incapable of listening to the other side? I certainly don’t appreciate posts calling me and mine names, but I’ve yet to unfriend one person. That’s kinda how a democracy works and how free-thinking is enriched. It’s called the real world.

 

In that same boat are all the celebs who threatened to move if Trump won. Last I checked Whoopi, Cher, Spike Lee, Lena Dunham, Ben Cranston, the oh-so-classy Amy Schumer, and even Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg are still stateside. And they wonder why we don’t pay attention to their “advice.” They don’t even walk their own walk. And why do they always say they’re moving to Canada or Australia? Why don’t they move to Mexico, Venezuela, or other places that could use their “political wisdom” in a big way?

 

 

Ginsberg is the one that gets me. But, truth be told, her job is reason numero uno why I leaned Trump. In my heart of hearts, I voted for how the future Supreme Court will look for the rest of my lifetime so if Ms. Ginsberg wants to pack her bags on say, January 21, I’ll be okay with it.

 

I’ve thought about it long and hard and if I owned the media and academia, I would say this: “Congratulations America for choosing not yet another politician who would have arrived in Washington owing so many people so many things, but rather one of your country’s most successful businessmen. Maybe it’s time for this great nation to be run like a business rather than a charity and I applaud you for taking the chance.” It just seems to me that some credit needs to be given to those who are tired of the Washington status quo. I feel fairly confident in saying that if Germany or Brazil elected one of their most successful business leaders rather than a politician, Americans would praise them.

 

“Please accept with dignity the fact that Americans have rightfully and sanely spoken.”

Meredith Whitmore, Lifezette.com

So there you have it. Key word: dignity. Trump won and, yes, I feel very, very sad for my friends who supported Clinton. I know what it feels like to lose a big one and it’s not fun. But I’m kinda done with keeping my feelings inside and I ask all of you to maturely accept the cards we’ve all been dealt. Only stronger together will we make America great again. Who’s up for the task?

 

 

 

As you lay yourself down to sleep tonight, don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour. Yep, it’s that time of year again, time to “fall back” and end Daylight Savings Time until March. The “fall back” is always more welcome than the “spring forward,” as we gain an hour of sleep, but why do we even do it?

 

The idea of turning clocks forward one hour during the summer was first conceived by New Zealander George Hudson back in 1895 who longed for more afterhours daylight. English builder William Willett is also partially credited with the idea, an idea he lobbied for until his death in 1915. Even Benjamin Franklin got involved when he famously said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

 

But it really wasn’t until April of 1916 when the German Empire and Austria-Hungary first used DST as a way to conserve coal during WWI. Seeing its advantages, Britain followed suit as did the U.S. in 1918. It became especially popular during the 1970’s energy crisis and was thought to decrease the need for residential lighting.

 

Congress later repealed DST and even avid golfer and craver of more daylight, President Woodrow Wilson, couldn’t get it approved again. During all the appeals and vetoes, New York City retained DST locally so its financial exhanges could maintain an hour of trading with London, and Chicago and Cleveland followed the Big Apple’s move. In a word, DST was not done yet.

 

 

FOR AND AGAINST

People either love it or hate it. DST that is, which is the time we are in from March through November. It is during these months that we are “saving” as much daylight as we can in a work day.

 

Generally speaking, those in favor of DST include retailers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, tourism operators, and anyone who benefits from increased evening light. These proponents argue that DST and a longer amount of afternoon sunlight not only helps their businesses, but saves energy, promotes outdoor exercise, reduces traffic accidents, and cuts back on crime.

 

“Fortune” magazine somewhat supported these claims in a survey that determined a seven-week extension of DST would yield an additional $30 million for 7-Eleven stores. Meanwhile, the National Golf Foundation estimates DST may increase golf industry revenues $200 million.

 

Not so fast say opponents though, including farmers and parents of young children. Farmers are early risers and often prefer morning sun to evening sun as they believe grain is best harvested after dew evaporates. Dairy farmers also complain about time change, as their cows are sensitive to any schedule or system changes. Parents despise the thought of pitch black morning bus stops and soccer practices cut short due to lack of light. Those in the television industry are also against it, as they claim DST hurts prime-time ratings and viewing.

 

Whether for or against it, the biannual time shifts wreak havoc with timekeeping, travel, billing, and even sleep patterns. Thankfully computer software adjusts automatically or things could get really ugly!

 

In general, industrialized sectors of societies are okay with DST while agrarian or agricultural ones prefer being governed by a natural length of daylight hours. People in general are thought to prefer more daylight after a work day rather than at the start of one, which gives them more time for outdoor activities after a long day of work and also decreases the need for costly electricity and heating.

 

To complicate things even more, higher latitudes like those in Alaska and Iceland are hardly impacted by time changes because the lengths of days and nights change more extremely than those in other latitudes. In fact, work days in places like Anchorage and Reykjavik are affected very little by sunrise and sunset. So changing a clock one hour might give Nome 22 hours of daylight rather than 21 or 23. Meh.

 

The opposite holds true in locations near the equator because sunrise times don’t vary enough to justify a time adjustment. Finally, manipulating time and its effect on society also varies according to how far east or west a location is within a given time zone. Those farther east benefit more from DST than those farther west in the same time zone.

 

Still confused? Me too!

 

 

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

In the U.S., a one hour shift occurs at 02:00 local time, or 2 a.m. In the spring, the shift is from the last instant of 01:59 standard time to 03:00 DST so that day really only has 23 hours. In autumn, the clock moves backward from the last instant of 01:59 DST to 01:00 standard time, giving the day 25 hours because the last one is repeated. Thankfully time changes are normally scheduled on weekends to lessen work week complications. And how weird would it be if we changed clocks at 2 p.m. rather than 2 a.m.? Insanity!

 

When we switch varies by year and location, but most of the U.S. and Canada do so on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. Believe it or not, we used to move the clocks back one hour on the last Sunday in October, but a little holiday called Halloween and the need for extra daylight on it was one reason for pushing the date to the first Sunday in November. Not surprisingly, in the southern hemisphere the dates are reversed.

 

In Europe, all time zones spring forward and fall back in unison, while most of North America does so at 02:00 local time, meaning the various time zones do so at different times. Think about it, until March, Denver is one hour behind Chicago, but on “spring forward” day, for one hour it is two hours behind the Windy City because Chicago moves forward one hour earlier than Denver does.

 

This was actually all new to me as I researched the topic. I always thought it was yet another American thing. Still, although many countries participate in DST in one form or another, only a minority of the world’s population does so because Asia and Africa do not.

 

When you think about it though, this has been going on for ages. Take a look at any ancient civilization’s early clocks and calendars and it becomes obvious that they based everything on the sun and quite possibly in a more efficient manner than even DST does.

 

Love it or hate, if nothing else, most agree that using the two annual time changes to check things like smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries is a good thing. It is also recommended families practice fire escapes and family disaster plans when they change their clocks. Other suggested checks include vehicle inspections, hazardous material storage, thermostat and AC filters, and even vaccinations.

 

 

 

A MATTER OF CHOICE

If it’s just too much for you to take, then perhaps you might want to move to Arizona or Hawaii, neither of which use DST. This leads many to think that Arizona is on two different time zones, depending on the time of the year: Pacific Daylight Time during the summer and Mountain Standard Time during the winter. The Grand Canyon state does indeed share the same time as California and Nevada during the summer months but “Pacific Daylight Time” is a DST summer time zone term and is used only during DST time for places that observe Pacific Standard Time during the non-daylight period. Since most parts of Arizona do not observe DST, they remain on MST year round. The Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, observes DST from April to October. The Hopi Nation however, which is within the Navajo Nation, does observe DST.

 

Other states, communities, and regions are considering alternatives to DST. One of the most radical options being thrown around puts New England in the Atlantic Time Zone with Nova Scotia and Puerto Rico instead of its current Eastern Time Zone. This, unlike merely opting out of DST under the federal Uniform Time Act, would require Congressional approval and seems a little radical even to the most ardent anti-DST folks.

 

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives in the EST so would residents of Boston really want to be in synch time-wise with Canada rather than New York and Washington? Sounds questionable to me, especially considering matching time with New York’s financial institutions is considered so important that cities like Detroit have successfully petioned to join EST.

 

And you thought it was all just a matter of remembering to change your alarm clocks before going to bed and then resetting all the clocks around your house, in your car, and at your workplace. Nope, it goes way beyond falling back and springing forward.

 

And on that note…

What’s with “leap” years?

 

The calendar we use is called the Gregorian calendar and was put into place by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. On this calendar, every year divisible by four has an extra day. “Centurial years,” those ending in double zeros, have an extra day only if they are divisible by 400. This is why 2000 was a leap year but the year 1900 was not.

 

Also known as an intercalary year, a leap year contains an additional day that is added to the calendar year to keep it synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. A non-leap year is called a common year.

 

The extra day, called a leap day, is usually February 29 and only comes around every four years. It is added in leap years because the Earth doesn’t orbit the sun in exactly 365 days.

 

But why “leap” year?

 

The name is thought to come from the fact that, while a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar normally advances one day of the week from one year to the next, the day of the week in the 12 months following a leap day (March 1-February 28 of the following year), will advance two days, thus “leaping” over one of the days.

 

So, why is a leap day always in February? It looks like tradition wins out here. February was originally chosen as the month in which to add a leap day and it stuck.

 

Another question that comes up is, if you were born on a leap February 29, when do you celebrate your birthday each year after? Codes vary state-by-state, but most consider March 1 as a “leap baby’s” birthday. There is a 1 in 1,500 chance of being born on a leap day and babies born on one are thought to have special talents according to astrologers.

 

 

 

Years ago my daughter called me from her middle school nurse’s office claiming she had an earring stuck in her ear. My first thought was a small post fell into her ear but no, that wasn’t the case. Her earring, indeed a small post, was stuck in her ear lobe! The back had fallen off and the entire stud was stuck inside the lobe. She was upset and I knew I had to get her to a doctor. But, what doctor?

 

Our family physician? An ear, nose, and throat specialist? I even thought a dentist could numb the lobe and pull the earring out. But, what did I do? I raced her to an urgent care clinic. Yep, the dreaded “doc in box.” Maybe I should say formerly dreaded, as this type of health care is the health care for many Americans.

 

I was one of them today.

 

 

Momma Called the Doctor and the Doctor Said…

I’ve been coughing for about a week now. A dry, irritating cough with no drainage or fever but the aches and pains started hitting me last night. I thought about calling our family doctor and trying to get in today, a Monday mind you, but that doctor is now a 45 minute drive from our new home and with my luck his only opening would be first thing in the morning. Hello hour-long, rush hour drive to the doctor. Don’t get me wrong, I love our doctor but I wasn’t loving the sound of this scenario.

 

Plan B. I was pretty certain I had either a sinus infection or bronchitis and I knew an Urgent Care Clinic could take care of it. Do I drive an hour or so to my doctor if I can even get an appointment with him on such short notice, or do I drive 15 minutes up the road to a fully-staffed, no appointment necessary “doc in a box?” The box won and I’m on the road to recovery after a steroid shot, a Zpac antibiotic prescription, and that wonderful cough medicine with codeine. Bingo. Oh, it’s bronchitis by the way, which the uber-professional doctor guessed right away but still checked me from head to toe.

 

So how does one decide what medical professional to see? There are basically four choices: a doctor in his/her office, an urgent care clinic, a retail walk-up service, or an emergency room. Basically, urgent care is for those situations where you can’t wait for an appointment with your doctor but the injury or illness is not life-threatening. Of course there’s more to consider than just that, so let’s look further.

 

Primary Care Physicians

Remember the Dr. Marcus Welby days, when you’d simply call (not text or email) your doctor’s office, make an appointment, and see him or her that day? Those days are somewhat gone. Yes, it can still happen, but more than likely you will be given appointment options days away and if it is “urgent,” you will be told they will try to squeeze you in at “fill in the blank” time. Code red word: come then and get ready to sit in the waiting room with hacking, sniffling patients for a fairly long time. Bring a book. Bring a mask.

 

On the flip side, that primary care physician probably saw you previous times, which means he has comprehensive medical records on you. Have you gained weight? Lost too much weight? Is your blood pressure suddenly high? Are you allergic to certain drugs? They will know this about you. They might also visit with you about other health-related issues like nutrition, stress management, and exercise. I’d say, in my totally unexpert opinion, see them for acute and chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and allergies for sure.

 

Like I said, I love our family doctor. What I don’t love is when doctor’s offices email you their forms to fill out before your appointment. Um, excuse me, I’m paying you how much and you want me to use my hard-earned printer paper and ink? Not gonna happen. I’ll be filling out the forms while I wait in that germ-infested waiting room. I mean REALLY!?

 

This reminds me of a scene from one of my all-time favorite TV shows, “Will and Grace.” Grace is sitting in a doctor’s waiting room for quite some time and as she puts a waiting room magazine in her purse she says, “You make me wait, I take things” Classic.

 

Okay, so primary care physicians are great, and if you’ve got the time, they’ve got the office hours. But, they just might not be convenient. And, in today’s “I need it now” society, this sometimes is just not good enough.

 

URGENT CARE CENTERS

Enter the urgent care center, home of no appointments necessary; acceptance of almost all insurance policies; extended hours that often include nights, weekends, and holidays; and locations everywhere. They are also often fully staffed with real doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and medical assistants.

 

These places used to be frowned upon by many a medical expert, but some of them have changed their tune, especially for issues like sinus infections, colds, the flu, cuts and scratches, allergies, minor sprains and strains, bug bites, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throats, minor broken bones like fingers or toes, and even urinary tract infections. Plus, wait times are usually less than 30 minutes and co-pays, though higher than those at your primary care doctor, don’t break the bank. Consider them the price of convenience. Convenient health care.

 

They aren’t surgical centers however, but many offer a wide range of services including imaging like X-rays, orthopedic casting, and the treatment of injuries that require stitches. Most clinics have a licensed physician on-site at all times, which is a plus, but you probably won’t see the same one each time you go. This means that doctor, as worthy as he or she might be, will know nothing about your medical history except for what you fill out on the admission form. And, this information and your visit may or may not be shared with your primary care doctor, leaving what some health care professionals call “the black hole of medical records” and the interruption of long-term “continuity of care.” Both of which raise eyebrows and concern.

 

I will say the form I filled out today did ask for my doctor’s name and contact info. Whether they send him anything is up to them. If I was that worried about it, I’m pretty sure I could call them tomorrow and make sure they did and if not, request they do.

 

WALK-UP RETAIL SERVICES

I’d venture to guess many of you have visited one of these. They are commonly found in grocery store pharmacy departments and nearly all big pharmacy chains have them. Staffed by nurse practitioners, not licensed doctors, they are great for flu shots and vaccinations, but keep in mind they normally can’t prescribe narcotics like cough medicine with codeine.

 

Their role is to yes, get customers in the store, but to also complement a primary care physician or urgent care clinic. But, don’t think of them as replacements for either even though it’s been reported that up to 50 percent of retail clinic patients have no primary care doctor.

 

EMERGENCY ROOMS

It scares me just to write about these. Emergency rooms are of course for, emergencies. No primary care doctor, urgent care clinic, or retail walk-up service should ever be considered a substitute for emergency care. Mt. Sinai Hospital suggests thinking of an emergency condition as one that can permanently impair or endanger your life or the life of someone else. You wouldn’t go to one for a sinus infection or flu shot but you would go to one if you got bit by a rattlesnake or fell off a ladder. Other emergency situations include severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, compound fractures with bone protrusions, convulsions, seizures, loss of consciousness, heavy and uncontrollable bleeding, poisoning, head or neck injuries, back injuries, and severe abdominal pain just to name just a few.

 

When in doubt, consider emergency care but also consider that they are, expensive. Very expensive.

 

Sadly, a RAND Corp. study reported that up to 30 percent of ER visits could have been handled adequately by an urgent care clinic or retail clinic, saving nearly $4.5 billion a year in health care costs.

 

 

THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE?

Urgent Care Clinics began popping up in the early 1980s and today there are nearly 6,500 of them in the U.S. and close to 2,000 retail clinics, both of which are considered many an American’s main source of health care. They are also what some consider a symptom not a cause of our nation’s health care systemic woes.

 

Busy, hard-working Americans may long for health care’s “glory days,” but they don’t miss the inconvenience of its appointment-based traditions and with both deductibles and premiums increasing at sometimes alarming rates (I’m looking at you Obamacare), those same budget-conscious Americans are looking for medical care options. They want health care to be as much about them and their 24-7 schedules as it is about doctor convenience.

 

We also live in a very fluid society with jobs being accepted across the country and moving the family is the norm. Where to live and what schools to enrolls kids in are often the priorities but doctors, they come and go so both retail clinics and urgent care clinics seem to fit the bill.

 

Urgent Care Clinics are also considered a growing franchise business opportunity and are one of few health care industry growth areas. Most centers are freestanding facilities run by private investors but even some hospitals and health care systems are partnering with clinics in hopes of expanding their brand and services.

 

Proponents of the urgent care clinic system say they consider it not a replacement of traditional health care or the need for primary care and specialty doctors, but rather as an option to a system that is overloaded. Doctors simply can’t be in their offices 24-7, patients can’t plan illnesses during work hours, and accidents happen.

 

So, I think we’re pretty much in agreement as to where to go for emergency situations, but it’s up to you where you turn for anything else. Diabetes? I’d go to my family doctor. Flu shot? I’d probably head to a retail walk-up clinic. Strep throat? Unless my primary care physician is immediately and conveniently available, I’m off to the nearest urgent care clinic. Oh, and if I ever get an earring stuck in my ear. Yep, that one for sure.

 

 

Our country is divided. Horribly divided. I’m not sure what can be done but in mass this morning I saw hope.

 

When we made our recent move, we also moved out of our long-time parish boundaries. We knew we had two choices in our new home: the big, established Catholic church with a school or a small country one with one of our former priests who we liked. We told ourselves we would try both and then decide.

 

That didn’t happen.

 

After attending the small, country church and hearing Father Larry’s sermon just twice, we were sold. We knew it’s where we need to be and we haven’t looked back.

 

Today Father Larry opened his sermon by saying “Our country is divided today. Homes and workplaces are at odds and much depends on who wins, the Cubs or the Indians.” Hah! Everyone thought he was going somewhere else with it, but by making light of it all, he brought it to light.

 

Yes, the World Series is dividing allegiances but as we all know, so is the presidential race. Sadly, I don’t know if anything can heal us. Then I went to mass.

 

In church I saw a beautiful mix of people. Men wearing suspenders and carrying red handkerchiefs in their pockets. Hispanic families filling entire pews. Retirees from the many surrounding golf course communities. Young and old. Black and white. Longhorns and Aggies. All, as the communion song reminded us, “one body.”

 

Funny how, when surrounded by the Word of God, we put aside our differences and worship the one God with one voice. And yet, it seems like that very worship is what’s being driven out of our schools, governments, and businesses. We can say “Seasons Greetings” and “Happy Kwanza,” but “Merry Christmas?” Nope. That might offend someone. And don’t come with your “separation of church and state” argument, which I remind you was conceived to keep the government out of churches, not vice versa.

 

This brings me to something else that’s always bothered me about our increasingly growing secular world. If you don’t believe in something, in this case God, how can you protest it? That would be like me protesting unicorns. “I demand all unicorns be kept out of our public schools!” Oh but wait, they don’t exist so….

 

Insanity. Even the devil believed in God and even rich men need God. United we stand. Divided we fall.

 

 

But the noise is deafening. Sometimes is tough to walk the walk and talk the talk when all you hear is “you’re too judgmental” or “you need to be more tolerant.” What about tolerance for your beliefs? Beliefs that have been around for thousands of years?

 

Last week I attended a presentation by Catholic talk show host Sheila Liaugminas. It was fabulous and all through it she urged attendees to not be ashamed of our faith but rather get out there and preach it. Spread it. Be it.

 

 

 

 

“Turning down the volume of life allows you to listen to God.”

Greater Things Today

 

Today’s gospel from Luke 19:1-10 asks us to be not like the hypocritical Pharisees but more like Zacchaeus, who stood his ground and gave half of all his wealth to the poor, to which Jesus replied “the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.”

 

Let’s all pray this nation of ours that is so lost can find its way back to a greatness and goodness that only accountability and love can foster. And let’s do it together. United. As one body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New kid on the block. No one wants to be THAT person. But, it’s what I am right now. I’m the new neighbor. The new girl. The new kid. And, I don’t like it.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we are all moved in our new home and I’m loving it. I also love the neighborhood and have surprised even myself in how quickly I feel at home. As many of you know, I initially dug in my heels at the beginning of this whole move idea, partially looking forward to it and partially asking “why?” But, we’re here and I have no regrets. As they say, a home is where you make it.

 

But as pleased as I am with our home and our move, I’m still the new kid on the block. This is something I’m struggling with. I’m not a “go out and meet everyone you can” kinda gal and I detest small talk and big groups. I’m more of a small, intimate group girl and am very happy with the friends I have. But, make new friends I must so rather than host a pity party or refuse to embrace it all, I’ve instead jumped in and gone to everything I possibly can. Adios comfort zone.

 

 

Book club? I’ve joined and been twice.

Ladies Spa Day? Oh yeah, you know I was at that one.

Golf? I’ve yet to actually go out on ladies play day, but I will.

Tennis? Racquets are currently being restrung and I’ve been invited to join a team.

Bible Study? Am bummed they meet on a day I work, but will join up when I can.

 

So yes, I’ve pushed myself to giddy up for almost everything I see posted. It’s been a bit stressful and kinda caught up with me last night for Ladies Game Night.

 

I’d RSVP’d weeks ago, but thanks to a busy week and horrible allergies keeping me up at night, I just wasn’t feeling it. Plus, the night before I had gone to Book Club so I was sporting a “social box checked” attitude. “But it’s two different groups Carla. Don’t you want to make friends?” the little voice in my head asked. Go away, go away! I just want to take a bath, read my book, take some allergy meds, and crawl in bed.

 

 

Then my phone rang. It was my daughter. My voice of reason.

 

I told her my dilemma and she didn’t hesitate to tell me that making new friends is “like a job and right now it’s your job!” Ouch. This from the girl who has solid and loyal long-time friends and has had no problem making new ones as she moved to both Scottsdale and Dallas after graduating. Guess I should listen to her on this one. Role reversal in full affect.

 

 

“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”

Brian Tracy

 

Feeling comfortable with the uncomfortable. That’s my new mantra so out I went to Ladies Game Night and boy did I have fun! It was a smaller group and there were a few who I’d already met. Yay! I also met several new women I really liked and when I mentioned to one that I’m thinking of getting back into tennis, she and another woman immediately welcomed me to join their team. Double yay!

 

It’s important to have friends in your life. Girl friends. As much as we love our husbands, dogs, coworkers and the like, girlfriends are vital in a woman’s life. Not all of them will be your BFFs, but many will leave a mark and have an impact. Never settle but always be open. Treasure the old but relish the new. It’s all a balance that may not be easy but worth the effort.

 

So lessons learned. Get your butt out there Carla. Yes it can be exhausting but it can also be rewarding. Here’s looking at you new kid.

 

“Can I get you something to drink?” the waiter asked. “Yes, I’d like a club soda with lime please,” I replied. “Would you care for sparkling water or seltzer?” he asked. “No thank you, just plain ole club soda.”

 

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think ordering a simple drink would be so complicated. But if you’ve been to a restaurant lately, you may have also been subjected to a host of questions when you order water. Tap or bottled? Lemon instead of lime? Club soda or mineral water? Insanity!

 

Granted, there are differences between them all so I’m here to help. Sadly, it goes beyond “sin gas or con gas” as in Spain and “sparkling” elsewhere in Europe. Just take a walk down your grocery store water aisle and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

 

Flavor and carbonation seem to be what separates each from the others. So what makes them bubbly and which ones taste best? Taste is entirely personal, but carbonation is another thing. It occurs naturally in mineral water but all other effervescent waters get their fizz from carbon dioxide.

 

When talking “carbonated water,” we’re talking soda, mineral, and seltzer; all of which are called “sparkling water” on menus and store aisles. Basically they are all plain water with carbonation added in varying methods.

 

 

Soda water is carbonated water with subtle flavoring in the form of mineral ingredients and sodium.

Mineral water traditionally comes from natural springs.

Seltzer water is also plain, unflavored carbonated water but without added minerals.

Sparkling water is just plain water that is carbonated.

Then there’s tonic water, which isn’t actually water per se.

 

To make things even more confusing, both seltzer and club soda are called “soda water.” I recommend not using “club soda” and instead ordering seltzer or club soda specifically, because as you’ll learn below, they are not the same.

 

So, without further ado, here then is a rundown of some of the confusion conspirators.

 

 

Club Soda

Probably the all-time favorite. Mix it with vodka or with a refreshing lime wedge and you have yourself a great little beverage. In short, club soda is simply plain water with carbon dioxide added carbonation as well as mineral-like ingredients that enhance its flavor. Whether you choose Schweppes, Canada Dry, or any store brand, soda water is the “go to” drink for many.

 

Club soda has many clever uses as well, most popular of course being stain removal. Who hasn’t asked a waiter or bartender for some club soda after dripping something on your clothing? Club soda also works well in rinsing chlorine out of hair, minimizing heartburn and indigestion, cleaning stuck-on food from a warm cast iron skillet, making fluffier pancakes, and watering houseplants.

 

 

Mineral Water

Think Perrier or Pellegrino. These waters come from natural springs and are often bottled at the source. They also contain minerals like salt and sulfur and for the most part, their carbonation is natural. The bottles look pretty on the table but mineral waters are the most expensive of the carbonated waters so save them for “as is” sipping and choose other waters for mixed drinks.

 

 

What Is It About Topo Chico?

Topo Chico water from Mexico is probably the most popular mineral water where I live, and its bubbles are in fact legendary. Way back in 1440 an Aztec emperor’s daughter was gravely ill but her life was saved by the healing waters of Cerro del Topo Chico in Nuevo Leon. This lead to the bottling of the waters, which have been for sale since 1895. The company was also the first to bottle Coca-Cola in Mexico and claims the mineral composition in Topo Chico water promotes good bowel function; helps digestion and brain function; creates a sense of calm; serves as an antioxidant; and promotes improved heart, nervous system, and kidney function. Who knew?!

 

 

Seltzer Water

Basically good ole plain water that’s been artificially carbonated, seltzer water is actually named after the German town of Selters and the natural springs in it. Seltzer, unlike club soda, has no added minerals and is salt-free but can be interchangeably used with club soda in most cases. It is also the type of water used to make all those flavored bottled waters you see.

 

 

Tonic Water

As I mentioned above, tonic water is actually more of a soda than a water. It is considered a carbonated soft drink and contains quinine, a bitter crystalline compound present in cinchona bark and once used as an antimalarial drug. Quinine is what gives tonic water its distinct bitter taste and helps it pair nicely with gin. Unlike other waters, tonic water has calories: about 130 per 12 ounces.

 

 

So there you have it. The 4-1-1 on bottled waters. Drink up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As many of you know, I’m a dog lover. I love their enthusiasm, their companionship, and their loyalty. Someone else who loved dogs, and all animals for that matter, was St. Francis of Assisi. October 4 was the Feast Day of St. Francis and it’s always a favorite of mine. I loved taking Boomer to be blessed during mass last week and I always cherish our “Blessing of the Animals” chapel at work when the kids bring stuffed animals to be blessed…all in honor of the saint who loved animals.

 

The “Peace Prayer of St. Francis” is also a favorite. Anytime it is sung during mass, I literally tear up. Something about it just touches my heart. I remember when it was played during Princess Diana’s funeral. I about died. How appropriate that the funeral of the “people’s princess” included the prayer of the “people’s saint.” So what is this fabulous prayer? Many of you know it, but for those who don’t, here it is:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console

To be understood as to understand

To be loved as to love

For it is in giving that we receive

It is in forgiving that we are forgiven

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life

 

So beautiful, but what does it really say?

 

 

The Prayer

What I love is the use of the word “sow,” as in to plant, to scatter, to spread. In other words, God, help me plants seeds of faith where there is doubt and to scatter light where there is darkness.

 

The other thing I like is the call to be an “instrument” of God’s peace. Back when it was written, playing an instrument was considered a divine skill and instruments themselves were thought of as sacred. Think about it, to be an instrument of God’s peace. That was saying so much back then.

 

Some versions use the word “channel” instead of instrument, which I also love. By praying “make me a channel of your peace,” you are asking to be a passage or a route toward God’s peace. Beautiful.

 

In the end, we are all instruments in God’s plan, right? He is the great symphony and we are merely players that only together make a beautiful sound. He is our composer and we are the reeds through which His music is played.

 

The Man

St. Francis is indeed one of the world’s most popular and beloved saints. His brown robe is known to many and his love of nature is legendary. But who was this peace loving man?

 

Francis was born into wealth, his father being a successful merchant. Ironically his father wanted him to not be a man of God, but a man of business like himself so he changed his baptismal name of Giovanni, after John the Baptist, to Francis because he loved France and all its finery.

 

Born in Assisi, Italy, young Francis enjoyed an easy life and was loved by all. He was happy and charming and took care of the sick but he did poorly in school and was known for his partying ways. He later enlisted to fight in the battle between Assisi and Perugia but was captured and imprisoned. While in prison, he received visions from God telling him to spread the word of Christianity and live in poverty.

 

Upon release from captivity, Francis abandoned his life of luxury and began serving Jesus. He begged for food and shelter and told people to return to God. Seeing how close he was to God, many became his followers and later evolved into today’s Franciscan order of priests and brothers.

 

The power of St. Francis only increased when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took his name and became Pope Francis. A simple man himself, the pope explained his choice of a somewhat unorthodox name was inspired when his friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes hugged and kissed him and told him “don’t forget the poor” when he went over the 77 votes needed to become pope.

 

“I took the words of my great friend and chose to be called after St. Francis, the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation,” he told journalists upon his inauguration. In doing so, the “people’s pope” took the name of the “people’s saint.”

 

St. Francis is considered the Patron Saint of animals, merchants, and ecology.

 

The Legends

Francis is said to have had the power of miracles and was the first person to receive the stigmata of Christ – marks resembling the wounds Jesus suffered when He was crucified. They would remain visible for the rest of his life.

 

Francis’ ministry of telling people how much God loved them also included his love for all animals. His devotion to God’s creatures resulted in them obeying his commands, which is why depictions of St. Francis almost always include animals surrounding him. It’s also why churches worldwide conduct “Blessing of the Animals” ceremonies in October.

 

Yet another legend about St. Francis is that we have him to thank for today’s nativity scenes. Francis is credited with creating the very first Christmas Eve nativity scene back in 1223. He had visited Christ’s birthplace in the Holy Land and was so inspired by its simplicity that he recreated it during a mass. He literally set up an empty manger inside a cave, complete with animals, in hopes of promoting more poverty-centered spirituality rather than the rampant greed and materialism that prevailed at the time. Remember, Francis at this time was devoted to poverty and seeing for himself that the King of Kings chose to be born in a humble stable amongst animals only reinforced him and his religious order to imitate these virtues.

 

St. Francis died on October 3, 1226 and was canonized a saint less than two years later on July 16, 1228.

 

The Crosses

St. Francis is associated with two crosses: the San Damiano and the Tau cross. One of my most treasured objects is the Tau cross made out of Italian olive wood that I bought at The Vatican. I love its simplicity and how you can easily hold it in your hand.

 

The Tau cross was very dear to St. Francis and today is an essential element of the Franciscan way of life. He reportedly sealed the letters he sent with it and began all of his actions with it.

 

The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tau was also used symbolically in the Old Testament. It was later adopted by early Christians who saw in it the prophecy of the Last Day much like the Greek letter Omega, as well as its cross-like form.

 

 

I’ve also been given a San Damiano cross as a gift from Assisi. The cross is believed to be the one St. Francis used when he was praying. The original one hangs in Assisi’s Santa Chiarra Church in Italy. It is considered an icon because it contains images of people who took part in its meaning.

 

Back to the Peace Prayer, which wasn’t actually written by Francis. It was first sighted on a holy card bearing a picture of St. Francis during World War I. The prayer bore no name but because of the holy card, became known as the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, and totally embodies his spirit of simplicity and charity.

 

So after learning all of this, I revisited the prayer and have included some ways in which to not just recite it, but live it.

 

Peace Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

We are the strings on which the music of God is played and the reeds through which the breath of God is blown. Show me how to sing your praises.

 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

When faced with hate, show me how to plant love.

 

Where there is injury, pardon

Help me seek healing and reconciliation, not approval or acceptance, so the flower of forgiveness can bloom in my soul and in the hearts of others.

 

Where there is doubt, faith

Show me how to minister to another’s doubt and focus on the needs of their soul.

 

Where there is despair, hope

Help me be simply present where there is despair. Sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear and a kind word.

 

Where there is darkness, light

Show me how to give light in darkness by not just entering another’s darkness, but by holding the door open so light can shine in.  

 

Where there is sadness, joy

Help me bring not just comfort and solace to others but to also remember that a cheerful heart is good medicine.

 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console

Let me have the courage to give what I can to help another know he is not alone.

 

To be understood as to understand

Teach me how to truly understand others and respect their dignity.

 

To be loved as to love

Let me not yearn for others to love me but for me to love others unconditionally and for no receipt.

 

For it is in giving that we receive

Remind me that my spirit is nourished by giving.

 

It is in forgiving that we are forgiven

Show me that each day is an opportunity to forgive myself and others and to live in the freedom of being less than perfect.

 

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Allow my self-interests and negative attitudes to die so that I don’t live separate from you and remind me that not only am I promised eternal life, but that all of my words and actions have eternal life on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall is officially here. Yesterday was the first day of fall and I couldn’t be happier…unless of course we were enjoying fall-like weather rather than the current 90 degree temps. Cringe worthy.

 

 

I love fall; it’s probably my favorite season. I love the colors, I love the weather, and I love the clothing. In my world, fall also means football and no place on Earth does football like Texas high schools. It was the subject of a bestselling book and movie but it’s more than just a game. It’s a religion.

 

Entire towns and neighborhoods show up for kick-off. Friday Night Lights bring out the best of sights and sounds. Coaches and quarterbacks may immediately come to mind, but Friday Night Lights also means bands and drill teams. In small town Texas and big city suburbs, they all come together and make magic.

 

 

 

The Game

Texas high school football is big time in no small way. Players enter the field through giant posters, inflatable mascots, and smoke machines. College recruiters love Texas high school players and many NFL stars got their starts in the Lone Star State. Friday night football games are rituals and almost required. Fans of all ages head out to the stadiums, many of which are bigger than some college fields.

 

 

 

The battle of stadiums became heated and unofficially official when Allen ISD built its 18,000-seat palace in 2012. Today it is the fifth largest in Texas but is still notable as the largest that serves as home field for only one high school. Beneath the behemoth are areas for wrestling, a golf simulator practice area, and a collegiate comparable weight room. Two years after opening however, it was closed due to foundation cracking but was reopened in 2015.

 

 

 

 

Residents of McKinney live a mere five miles from Allen and recently approved a bond package that allocates $70 million for a new high school stadium, the renderings of which are shown here. That’s 70 MILLION dollars and all those millions were approved by 62 percent of voters. The 12,000 seat facility will boast artificial turf and a 55-foot high-def screen that will be bigger than those in some NFL stadiums.

 

Toyota Stadium in Frisco is officially the biggest host of Texas high school football with a capacity of more than 20,000. But, it is a multi-purpose facility owned by the City of Frisco, Hunt Group, Frisco ISD, and Collin County. Events range from high football to home matches for FC Dallas to Jimmy Buffett concerts.

 

So many boys play high school football in Texas that there are six main divisions, with most of them having two divisions making really a total of 12. In other words, there are just too many Texas high school football teams for there to be one state champion per division. Yowzah.

 

Half-time is just as important in Texas. Marching bands and drill teams are considered royalty at many schools and being chosen to be in them is very competitive.

 

The Drill

Just like the game itself, no one does drill teams like Texas. Maybe that’s because they originated in Texas.

 

The first group of its kind in the world and still considered the best by most is none other than the Kilgore Rangerettes of tiny Kilgore College in East Texas. It was there that in 1939 Dean B.E. Masters asked Gussie Nell Davis to devise a half-time distraction that would keep fans in the stands. Davis created a Broadway-caliber show made up of coeds wearing red-white-and-blue western-style outfits. The dance team was an instant success and Davis went on to direct the team for 39 years. Today dance teams from around the world visit Kilgore for instruction and there is even a museum dedicated to the Rangerettes.

 

 

 

 

 

The precision and high-kicks that Davis introduced lives on today with high school drill teams sporting short, flared skirts; brimmed hats; and white cowboy boots. It’s estimated more than 15,000 Texas girls are drill team members and have high-kicked their way into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades and presidential inaugurations, onto national magazine covers and international tours, and have been featured in television and film.

 

 

 

 

 

The Band

Fans also stay in the stands to watch Texas high school band performances. They are larger than life and rival many a college band. In fact, those college bands we all love are made up of former Texas high school “band geeks” and they bring the fun to football. To me, no football game is complete without a band stirring things up and bringing down the house.

 

At Texas high schools, a band winning a state championship is as lauded as any team’s crown. Texans love their marching bands and naturally Texas has what many consider the biggest high school band in the land.

 

Allen High School’s “Allen Eagle Escadrille” has more than 800 members and takes up the entire football field, end zone to end zone, when it performs. In Allen’s stadium, 1,000 seats are reserved just for the Escadrille. The Dallas area school has marched at half-time for the Dallas Cowboys, has performed overseas, and has been invited to the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade multiple times. They are truly a sight to see but so are most Texas high school bands.

 

 

 

 

 

Mums the Word

Then there are the mums. The massive and mysterious mums. They are crazy and confusing.

 

In truth, it doesn’t get any more Texas than a Homecoming mum. Considered a rite of passage by high school girls they are also considered ridiculous by many. They are huge and they are expensive. If you don’t believe me, Google it or visit Pinterest and get ready to feel both shock and bewilderment.

 

As the photos will show, these mums don’t have a real flower on them. Instead, they are made up of fake flowers (traditionally chrysanthemums or “mums”), ribbons, letters, feathered boas, stuffed animals, battery-powered lights, and trinkets that represent the wearer’s interests and activities. Did I mention they are huge? Bigger than a dinner plate and often floor-length, they are so heavy (at least 20 pounds!) that mere pins are not adequate so girls wear them around their neck. Works of art maybe and costly ones too.

 

Back in the 1950s, high school boys began buying chrysanthemum corsages for their homecoming dates, tying in the post-war prosperity that was sweeping the nation as well as the traditional fall flower. Decorated with simple ribbons, they were relatively small and cost around $3. Add two zeroes to the end of that and you have the average cost of a mum today.

 

Money making machines, homecoming mums are big business for entrepreneurial and creative professional mum makers who are in demand every August and September and make them for anyone willing to pay for them. Or, you can visit any Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc. and either make your own or purchase a pre-made one.

 

Boys wear them too, albeit much smaller ones. They often match the girl’s ginormous one and are commonly attached around the arm with a garter. Both boys and girls wear them to school the day of the homecoming game and after, girls traditionally hang them in their rooms as badges of honor. When we recently moved I went back and forth on what to do with Kristen’s. I finally came to the conclusion that she’d be fine with me “donating” them.

 

 

Personally I think the “my mum is better than your mum” competition is a bit unhealthy and ridiculous but I also I appreciate the old-school custom and charm about them. In today’s world of “everything new is better” mentality, it is nice to see something timeworn and deep-rooting passed on to generation after generation.

 

 

No I in Team

So, as much as obnoxiously-priced stadiums might merit scorn and you might detest a drill team’s short skirts or those silly homecoming mums, there’s something that holds them all together: teamwork.

 

To make a team succeed, there is no room for selfishness or personal credit. Teams share in their successes, big ones and little ones, and should be confident that all members have each other’s best interests at heart. They rely on each other and depend on each other’s strengths. Doubt and suspicion have no place on a team. Trust in each other and in the leaders of that team are fundamentals to true teamwork. Learning this while either playing, marching, or dancing can later be applied in real life situations so play on footballers, march on band members, and keep on kicking drill teamers! As for the mums, well, sometimes they involve a little teamwork too.

 

 

It’s that time of year; time to start thinking about pulling out the fall clothes and saying goodbye to summer attire. I know, I know, many of us are still in the throes of 90 degree weather, but the first day of fall is this Thursday so why not at least plan your fall attire?

 

 

 

 

As with all fashion, picking what’s right for your budget, right for your body, right for the season, and all while being age appropriate, can sometimes be challenging. I’ve written it before and I’m writing it again: just because it fits doesn’t mean you should wear it.

 

We never want to dress the same way we did 20 years ago or like a twenty-year-old if we’re “mature” women, but we also don’t want to look older than we really are. It’s true that just one single fashion boo-boo can make age you as much as 10 years and we definitely don’t want that, right ladies? Here’s the deal: when you dress too “young” it only makes you look old. When an older woman (let’s say 40 and over) wears styles geared toward a younger population, even if they fit they will promote “she looks good for her age” thoughts. “For her age” being the key. Why would you ever want your clothing to emphasize your age? Insanity! Wouldn’t you rather the comments be “she looks great!?”

 

I recently read something by author Sabrina Rouge about fashion mistakes that make you look older and found them interesting. Think about it. JLo, Kris Jenner, and Madonna are all women old enough to know better yet are often photographed in clothing that is much too young for them. Yes, they sometimes look great for their age, but they can also look like they are just trying too hard.

 

In short, the mistakes are:

Dressing too trendy

Wearing same-fit outfits

Dressing in all black

Wearing something based on sentimentality

Choosing too long (or too short) of skirts

Using too much heavy eyeliner

Wearing anything jersey

Not defining your waist

Covering up your neck

Wearing bad undergarments

 

 

Trends aren’t always your friends

We all want to look hip and fashionable, but the mistake many make is wearing those trendy items long after they’re in style or wearing too many of them at one time. Wearing multiple or tired trends won’t make you look modern; they’ll make you look out of touch. Think about it: the current New York Fashion Week is showing spring 2017 fashion. To true fashionistas, spring 2016 trends will be “so 2016” come 2017. We can’t all have Gigi’s or JLo’s closets, full of entirely new wardrobes each season, but we can all shop smart. The best advice is to buy maybe one or two inexpensive trends each season and stick to the classics for the rest of your apparel. My other favorite rule: if you wore the trend the first time it was popular, you are too old to wear it when it comes around again years later. Yes I rocked ‘70s fringe in the 1970s, but I would look like a fool wearing it today.

 

The photo of Jane Fonda at the top of this blog is a perfect example of a mature woman overdoing a trendy look. I personally think she looks ridic. The two photos below show much more stylish ways to rock boyfriend jeans at any age. Wear them, but keep everything else classic and classy.

Atlantic-Pacific                     Annina Mislin

 

 

Mix it up

Another mistake women make is wearing same-fit pairings. Your outfit goal is to create balance in what you’re wearing so if your bottoms are tight, wear a loose top. If your bottoms are loose, wearing a tighter top is ok.

In the stunning outfit here from the Rachel Zoe Report, the pleated skirt is flowy so the fitted top looks fabulous. Had the skirt been tight, a similar top would cheapen the look while a flowy top with this skirt would add unnecessary bulk to even the smallest of frames.

 

 

Black clothes matter

My closet staples are black, white, and camel. I throw in colors and a rare print every now and then, but I’m pretty plain Jane. We can all agree that black is indeed slimming, but wearing too much of it is also aging. This, I did not know. As Runge noted, skin gets lighter as we age so wearing a lot of black, especially near the face, washes us out. If you’re like me and you love a cool charcoal or basic black, be sure to include a colorful accessory and bright lip.

 

 

 

 

Not your 30’s wardrobe

Do you hold onto pieces that either don’t flatter your figure or scream 1990s? Did you love wearing a something when you were 15 years younger and it still fits but is maybe a bit too young for you now but you wear it anyway? If you answer “yes” to either of those questions, think twice.  Toss what you wore in your 30’s and don’t wear anything for sentimental reasons.

 

 

The short and long of it

It’s no secret that as we get older, our hemlines generally get longer, which for the most part, is a good thing. The bad thing is that sometimes we wear skirts that are too long and too matronly. Yes, mature ladies shouldn’t wear miniskirts anymore, but plain skirts that come to your ankles and worn with the wrong shoes will make you look frumpy. Unless you purchase a new stylish maxi dress, stick to skirts that hit right above or at the knee. Don’t go too long but don’t go too short either.

 

 

Eye spy too much liner

As we age we become concerned about wrinkles, particularly those around our eyes. So, what do we often do? Apply make-up…lots of make-up. Eye shadow, eye liner, false lashes, brow pencil, just to name a few products. But, applying heavy liner or dark eye shadow will not make your eyes “pop,” they will age you and accentuate the very wrinkles you are hoping to camouflage. Think more subtle shadows, little or no liner, and bring out your cheeks with contouring.

 

Consider the photos below of Britney Spears and Giuliana Rancic. The shots of them wearing tons-o-black makeup really do make them look much older…and harsher.

 

 

Jersey girls

I’m guilty as charged in this one big time and the athleisure trend isn’t making it easier to steer away from it. Jersey fabric may indeed be comfy but if not fitted properly, it clings to every inch of your body. Tight leggings, yoga pants, and any other “comfy” bottoms need not be too tight and if they are, be sure to wear a top that hides all your bulges and lumps and choose styles that are draped or ruched. Another option is to “dress them up” as in this photo.

 

 

 

 

What a waist

Most of us love wearing clothing that is loose and comfortable. But be careful. Oversized clothing may hide your flaws, but it can also turn you into a shapeless bob. I never, ever tuck anything in, but I’m warming to the idea that belting an outfit appropriately actually creates an hourglass illusion. I love Susan of “Fifty Not Frumpy’s” advice of belting loosely and below your natural waist as seen in her photo here.

 

 

 

 

Stick your neck out

As with eyes, we become more and more concerned about wrinkles and rolls on our necks and we tend to over-compensate and cover those necks up with stuffy turtlenecks. But unless you’re knee-deep in snow or frigid weather, a tailored collared shirt will be much more flattering as will a stylish scarf.

 

Underneath it all

All of the above has focused on what you wear on the outside, but what you wear under all of it matters just as much. The perfect outfit can be ruined by the wrong undergarments. Words of wisdom: get fitted by a bra professional, choose seamless hipster undies, and consider the below.

 

So there you have it. It is possible to cover up body imperfections, look fashionable doing it, and look your age…not older but not too young. It’s all just a matter of knowing what styles to choose and what mistakes to avoid.