DREADING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS DOLDRUMS

Last Spring at this time, the pandemic hadn’t hit our city very hard. In fact, I think we only had one or two cases of COVID-19. So, we weren’t too worried about it. Although we had started wearing masks, we were still running errands. On that first morning after the time change, I reached for my cell phone to check the weather. Trouble was, I couldn’t remember my pass code to get in. This is a code I’ve probably keyed in thousands of times. It scared me, thinking maybe it was a sign of cognitive decline. I got up, went downstairs to get the paper, had a cup of coffee. After the pass code finally kicked into my head, I realized I was in a DST brain fog. Now, tomorrow, I’m dreading the daylight savings time doldrums.

This is a real phenomenon. Losing an hour of sleep upsets our body’s circadian rhythm–the light-based cycle that tells our body when it needs sleep. Studies have found that during the first few days of daylight savings time , the risk of heart attack increases. There are also more traffic accidents and workplace injuries due to tiredness induced by the clock change.

Checked online for tips today.. The Sleep Foundation suggests that you start getting up 20 or 30 minutes early a week before the time change, so as to get your body accustomed to DST.. It’s too late for us now, because it’s already Saturday. They also suggest getting some sunlight during the day, because sunshine helps the body clock adjust. Luckily, we’ve had some warm weather, so that should be doable this week.

We would be happy if there were no time changes at all. Many states have decided to have daylight savings time all year long. . So far, 15 states have seen similar laws, resolutions, or voter initiatives approved to make DST permanent.. Those states are: Arkansas, Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Most Hoosiers are dreading the daylight savings time doldrums tomorrow. C’mon, Indiana. Lets make it permanent.

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021

WELCOME TO AMERICA, HARRY

One of the interesting things about getting our DNA results from Ancestry.com was discovering that we are about half English. This, in spite of the fact that both my husband and I had German surnames. My mother was a genealogy freak, so I knew there were some English ancestors. But my husband grew up around so many German aunts, uncles and grandparents that he assumed he was mostly German. He isn’t. In fact, he’s got some Scottish, Swedish and Irish genes . At any rate, after seeing Oprah’s Meghan-Harry interview on CBS, we’re both glad our ancestors left England . Welcome to America, Harry.

My husband’s English blood came from his mother’s family. The first Frost left England about 1635 to escape some kind of religious persecution. He must have thrived here, because there are some illustrious folks named Frost all over the USA.

My English blood came from my Grandfather White. It’s such a common name that I can’t claim a family connection to anyone with the same surname. James White sailed over to Virginia about 300 years ago.. Although uneducated, he managed to move his family of 12 sons up to Indiana, and acquired 5,000 acres of farmland. Someone must have married well, because my mother was able to join the DAR by proving that one of her ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence.

What would have happened if Edmund Frost and James White had stayed in England? My husband and I would be citizens of a monarchy. Descending from commoners, we might not be living very well. Maybe on the dole. And part of our taxes would be going to support the most antiquated political system that can possibly be imagined. What would happen if the monarchy collapsed? Who would care if the British Commonwealth no longer had a King or Queen?

We’re glad our ancestors left England, and I would imagine that the descendants of the prince will be grateful that he did, too.

Welcome to America, Harry. The land of the free, and the home of the brave.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

….Robert Frost

March 8, 2021March 7, 2021

THE DREADED UNSUBSCRIBE CHORE

Why do I still have AOL? It’s crazy, I know. Very outdated. The Democrats made fun of Mike Pence because he still uses it. But there are too many people from my past who still contact me that way, and I think it’s too late in my life to change my e mail. Here’s the bad thing: AOL has some way of connecting me to every website I’ve ever visited, and places where I’ve purchased anything. Not only that, the politicians have wormed their way in, and dog me for contributions to causes and people I really don’t care about. Every so often, after receiving about 100 emails a day, I find myself faced with the dreaded unsubscribe chore.

The dreaded unsubscribe chose. It's tedious to unsubscribe. — The dreaded unsubscribe chore. It’s a tedious task, but every so often it’s necessary.

Do you know how to cut down on those unwanted e mails? I didn’t , until I read about it in Heloise. You know, the lady newspaper columnist who tells you exciting ways to re purpose toilet paper rolls. At any rate, Heloise said that first, you open the dreaded e mail. Then, you scroll to the bottom of the page. Put on your glasses, get a flashlight, and squint at the fine print. Somewhere in there it says,” unsubscribe.” You click on that. And, if you’re lucky, you will receive a message that you’re unsubscribed.

But it doesn’t always work out so easily. Often, you will be directed to another message which demands to know why you’re unsubscribing, and making you verify that you honestly don’t want to get any more emails from them. Or, they ask you to key in your email address–as if they didn’t know. After you’ve done that about 30 times a , it gets tiresome and time consuming. Sometimes, they’ll tell you that it may take a while to get unsubscribed, and not to worry if you still keep getting emails from them . That’s a sneaky way to keep you from losing track of who you’ve unsubscribed. The truth is, some of them will never let you go.

At any rate, today’s the day to start the dreaded unsubscribe chore. I will only give it an hour of my time, which won’t even scratch the surface. But you have to start somewhere.

March 6, 2021March 6, 2021

CLOTHES AREN’T FUN ANYMORE

For one solid year, I have not taken the time to try on any new clothes. In fact, my closet is full of outfits I’ve not worn during the covid-19 pandemic lockdown. When I went to the grocery store, I didn’t care what I wore because no one recognized me. Especially during the cooler months when my head was covered with a stocking cap. It didn’t matter if anything matched. The only requirement was that summer clothes kept me cool and winter clothes , warm. Now that most everyone will be vaccinated by Summer, I’m preparing to attend social events where it will matter what you wear. I’d forgotten that trying and buying clothes is boring and time consuming. Clothes aren’t fun anymore. .

The first problem is that there’s no place to shop and try things on. . All of my favorite stores like Macy’s and Carson’s have closed. Do you remember those all day shopping excursions that included a fancy lunch and maybe even a glass of wine.? Those days are over, unless you live near a big city. Shopping on line is a real pain. Clothes aren’t the same color they looked like on Amazon.

And then, there’s the way things fit. If you’re a 20 something, everything looks good. Fashion models don’t eat much. But most ordinary women do. And we have a few bulges we’d like to hide. Online clothes may look good, but when you model them in front of your mirror, it’s enough to make you cry.

Now, you’re faced with returns. Sometimes there’s no charge. But often, you’re surprised to find that there is. Bought a pair of shoes for $39 that said “free shipping.” Turned out they didn’t fit. They provided me with a prepaid return shipping label that charged $10 to my Visa. And there’s the hassle of boxing the items and dropping them off at the post office.

Sooner or later, the day will come when you step back out into the world. You can spend an hour trying different combinations of tops and pants to make sure they look coordinated. What a waste of time. I had forgotten the pain of buying clothes and trying them on. Clothes aren’t fun anymore.

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR

2020 WAS the worst election year I can ever remember. And that’s saying a lot, considering my age. Politics got all mixed up with health care. President Trump went into denial, saying the COVID -19 pandemic would be over by Easter. Not true. New York Governor Cuomo was more afraid of Trump’s criticism than the lives of nursing home patients. Instead of taking advantage of a Navy ship sent to accommodate covid-19 victims , Cuomo shipped them out of hospitals into nursing homes. What a mess. Locked up at home, we binged watched the internet, listening to our TV cable news station of choice. It was exhausting. Now that the pandemic is nearing the end, do yourself a favor. Quit thinking about politics.

Don’t predict the dire outcome of Biden’s presidency before it’s even started. Let it spin. There’s nothing you can do and if you believe you can foresee the state of the USA in 2024, you’re kidding yourself. Already, Trump is saying Biden’s first month was a disaster. No one can know at this point in time whether the Biden presidency will be a success. A lot can happen in four years. Looking back on the history of our country, who could have predicted Pearl Harbor? The 9/11 attack on the world trade center? . The 2008 recession? The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021?

This is what I know and believe: No matter who is elected as President, the United States of America is–and will remain—strong. . We are a nation of immigrants, with the courage to leave their native country, and the resilience to start a new life in spite of all the hardships they had to endure in a new land. Yes, some presidents do a better job than others. But: four years isn’t enough time to ruin all the marvelous things that we have achieved in the past four centuries.

So do yourself a favor. Return to school or work at home. Get some exercise. Play games. Take your family on a picnic. Have some fun. Turn off the news and enjoy your life.

March 1, 2021February 28, 2021

DO LADY BEETLES FEEL PAIN?

I had forgotten about lady beetles until last week. Ordinarily, their invasion starts in earnest during the fall. But now, the nasty little critters are showing up early in the bathroom and kitchen. It’s been a long cold winter, and they’re looking for a place to get warm. Apparently, they’re more attracted to light colored houses. But I’m not about to paint our house brown. My husband grew up on farm, and bugs don’t bother him much. Therefore, he doesn’t mind picking them up, squeezing them between his fingers , and throwing them in the trash. Which makes me wonder. Do lady beetles feel pain?

Most scientists say that lady beetles don't feel pain — Cold weather is driving these tiny insects into our house. Do lady beetles feel pain?

Some bugs, like spiders, will try to escape if you’re after them. But the lady beetles don’t seem to anticipate danger coming. They appear on a sink or floor rather suddenly, then move slowly or stay put. If I’m alone, I know the dirty deed is up to me. I take a tissue and pounce. Then I close my eyes and squeeze. I don’t open the tissue to find out if the ladybug is still moving. Just throw the whole thing in the toilet and flush it away. I’m hoping it wasn’t a painful death.

Entomologists suggest that theses beetles are actually a good thing for outdoor gardeners. They consume aphids, reducing the need for pesticides. Rather than killing them, we’re supposed to pick them up with our fingers and release them outside. Ugh. I don’t think so.

I did some research on the feelings and emotions of insects. It turns out, there’s no definite answer. Most entomologists insist that since bugs don’t have emotions, they don’t feel pain. Supposedly they only have instincts, but not brains. They’re not like animals, who do have emotions, and suffer from pain if they’re injured.

But new research challenges this assumption. Some scientists claim an injured insect will feel pain for the rest of its life. Which means it’s better off dead . The message I’m getting here is, don’t hesitate and do a half job. If a bug is still wiggling around after you’ve swatted it, do it a favor and put it out of its misery. So it turns out my husband is more merciful than me. Before the bug even gets scared, it’s out of this world.

Most humans beings are compassionate. But we don’t feel conflicted when killing wasps, flies, spiders , and mosquitoes. It’s a matter of survival. And so, I’m going with conventional wisdom. Lady beetles don’t feel pain. At least, I hope they don’t.

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

LOADING UP ON GASOLINE

When I went to fill my gas tank on Tuesday, it was hard to find an empty space. Everyone was loading up on gasoline. Finally, I pulled up behind a couple with a big old SUV. They looked to be in their sixties. On the ground next to their vehicle, I saw several large red and yellow containers. Lucky I wasn’t waiting for them to leave, because they were purchasing what looked like about 30 gallons of gas—some diesel, some regular. I had never seen anyone buying that much gasoline before, and it got me thinking about the effect of escalating gas prices.

On Monday, my husband filled up on gas in his SUV. The price was $1.41 per gallon. On Tuesday, I did the same in my old sedan, but now, the gas cost $1.61. . By Wednesday, it had shot up to $1.75. That’s a pretty steep increase. The couple ahead of me at the gas station have lived through high priced gas. Maybe they use a tractor or mower for a small business like lawn service. . They know that their income will go down when gas prices increase. No wonder they’re loading up on gasoline.

Obviously, at my age, I’ve lived through many periods of high priced gas. When I was a hospital food service manager, the purchasing agents dreaded high gasoline prices, because they knew that the price of plastic reusables was going to skyrocket. That’s because plastics are derived from byproducts of petroleum refining and natural gas processing. Therefore, when oil prices escalate the cost of single use plastic products like syringes and gloves increase. And so, the cost of health care goes up . But that’s just the beginning. The cost of transporting food and other necessities by truck or train increases. And suddenly, you have inflation.

Economists think a little bit of inflation is good for the economy because people can more easily pay off old debts. But if inflation gets out of hand, consumers start pulling in their belts and spend less on “wants” like vacations and new cars. . Less consumer demand leads to higher unemployment.

Escalating gas prices are scary. . No wonder that ordinary people were loading up on gas last Tuesday.

LIVING WELL AFTER 80

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