COPING WITH POST DEBATE DEPRESSION

Even though I’ve tried to stop watching so much news, it seemed un American not to watch the first presidential debates. But it wasn’t long before the two candidates–Biden and Trump– began trading insults and yelling at each other, and my husband wanted to turn off the TV. I owe him an apology. Because I kept hoping things would get better, but they didn’t. Consequently, we stayed up way too late, compensated for our frustration by eating too much popcorn, and today, I’m coping with post debate depression.

In my freshman year of college, I was on a debate team. If any student had behaved the way Trump and Biden did during the lst presidential debate, they would have been kicked out of the class, or if it was too late for that, received a resounding F on their report card. You don’t interrupt. You show respect for your opponent. And hopefully, you bring some new research or an intelligent argument to the debate. None of that happened last night. We didn’t hear anything we hadn’t heard before. Yes, we know all about Hunter Biden, and we know how Trump handled COVID-19. There was absolutely no surprise, nothing at all to be learned. Except that we have a poor choice of whom to vote for come November. Because neither candidate showed the slightest bit of class.

Only a masochist would want to watch the next debates. If you like having nightmares and feeling like the world is a dreary place, that’s what you should do. I don’t. I want to feel cheerful and optimistic about the world my grandchildren will inherit. Before that happens, I have to get back that hopeful feeling. Here’s how I’m planning to do that today.

First, a great big shopping trip wearing my pretty new cloth mask, sent to me by Humana. It’s soft, and has three layers, so I think it will give me good protection against covid-19. If you don’t like shopping, this won’t help you one single bit. But I do like to shop. I’ll spend some time in my favorite supermarket, splurge on some gourmet food items, and try a new recipe tonight.

a walk in the woods will help cope with post debate depression. — Coping with post debate depression: . A walk through the woods may help.

After lunch, I’ll close the shades and take a nap. It’s going to be a sunny day, so when I awaken I’ll probably drive down to the river. When things go wrong in my life, I always head for water. I’ll sit on a bench and admire the bend in the river. There’s going to be a good strong wind today, so I’ll dress warm enough to enjoy the cool cleansing breeze . I’ll take a short walk in the woods. And then, I’ll go home and start thinking about my new recipe..

And in a couple of days, I’m going to feel much better.

September 18, 2020September 18, 2020

RUNNING AWAY FROM COVID-19

Our city was a pretty safe place in early spring. Only one or two cases in a county of 100,000. Which meant that 99.9 % of us would NOT be infected. And then, at the end of July, that all began to change. Suddenly, we became a hotspot, with a positivity rate of about 11%. Everyone felt a little panicky—some more than others. In our case, we simply continued isolating at home, and wearing our masks when doing errands. But some of our fellow citizens took more drastic measures. They sold the homes they had lived in for years and fled to other cities. At the same time, people from worse hot spots like Vegas and LA are moving back home. They’re running away from Covid-19.

What prompted these drastic moves? Maybe the move-aways had thought about moving closer to their children for a long time, and this gave them the extra incentive needed to sell out and move on. If you’re extremely worried about catching covid-19 and dying, you probably want to be around your children and grandchildren. .

More puzzling is those that have come back home. Let’s say they lived in New York or LA. They thought they would be safer in Indiana. So they packed up and bought a home here. No sooner had they done that, than our cases began to skyrocket.

Running away from Covid-19. Moving is one of life's most stressful evens. — Running away from Covid-19. Moving is one of life’s most stressful events.

Last night on tv, we saw a couple who had recently moved to New Orleans from NYC. They put their life savings into a new restaurant, which was now flooded out. They might just as well stayed home.

Meanwhile, the realtors are having a hey day. Home values here have risen 8% in just one year. And they’re selling fast. Studies have shown that moving is one of life’s most stressful events. When every thing settles down, will those who moved wished they hadn’t?

September 16, 2020September 16, 2020

WHO’S TO BLAME FOR THIS VIRUS?

Are you a mosquito magnet? I know that I am. My husband and I can sit on the deck for half an hour, and he won’t have a single bug bite. I, on the other hand, will be covered with little red itchy bumps wherever I’ve neglected to use bug repellent. It got so bad that we finally bit the bullet and invested in a screened in porch. It’s West Nile virus season here in Indiana, and it can be serious, folks. Now, who’s to blame for this virus?

I’m hoping it won’t be politicized this year. I mean, it’s been around forever, and no one ever tried to blame it on the Democrats or Republicans. But that could change this fall. When the wildfires started in California, I predicted it would be politicized. Never mind that California has always been prone to wildfires. What if they have an earthquake? Will that be politicized? It seems like any human pestilence or apocalyptic scale disaster can be blamed on the president, governor, congress, senate, or the local mayor. . No one ever thinks about blaming Mother Nature or The Good Lord.

Who's to blame for this West Nile Virus. Will the media politicize it? — Who’s to blame for this virus? Will the media politicize it?

West Nile Virus infections occur mostly between June and September. That means we’re still not out of the woods. WNV disease is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in Indiana and in the United States. Symptoms begin to appear about 3 to 14 days after infection. They include fever, stiff neck. headaches, rash, disorientation, swollen lymph nodes, vision problems, seizures and fatigue. Before you get too worried, you should know that most cases are mild and go away within a week or so. Encephalitis only occurs in about 1% of the cases.

Is this beginning to sound familiar? We’ve been hearing that most cases of Covid-19 are mild. If you’re like me, you know of someone who had symptoms that lasted less than a day. But the media focuses only on the most serious cases. That makes it easier to politicize.

I once worked with someone who was out for several months with WNV that went on to encephalitis. When it hits home like that, you become more aware of the dangers, and also more apprehensive. I’ve never really lost my fear of West Nile Virus. . But you can’t stay indoors all summer in fear of mosquito bites. Our local health departments do everything they can to inform us about ways to stop mosquitoes from breeding. But in the end, who’s to blame for this virus?

September 9, 2020September 10, 2020

RISK TAKING IS IN AMERICA’S DNA

Yes, we know. All those European countries have lower Covid-19 positivity rates than we do, here in the USA. But guess what? Europeans are the ones who stayed home over the past four centuries. They put up with dictators and monarchies. Our ancestors who emigrated to America in hope of independence and a better life were risk takers, and they still are. Risk taking is in America’s DNA

Consider these facts:

More than 38,000 people die every year in crashes on U.S. roadways. The U.S. traffic fatality rate is 12.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. An additional 4.4 million are injured seriously enough to require medical attention. Does that stop people from driving? Most of us own at least one motor vehicle, and don’t worry when taking trips and running errands in our cars.

57% of all motorcycle fatalities are due to drivers without helmets. — Risk Taking is in America’s DNA. 57% of motorcycle fatalities are because the driver didn’t wear a helmet.

Because motorcycles lack the protection of cars, accidents tend to be more severe for motorcyclists when a collision does occur. In fact, bikers are 27 times more likely to experience a fatal accident than car drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some states require motorcyclists wear helmets. But many don’t. And yet, 57% of motorcyclists killed in 2017 weren’t wearing helmets, according to NHTSA,.

All grocery stores, pharmacies and dollar stores sell cigarettes. Smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.

Ever count the number of liquor stores in your city? They were considered an essential business during the pandemic. Few people stop to consider that 1 million people died from alcohol-related causes between 1999 and 2017. The number of death certificates mentioning alcohol more than doubled from 35,914 in 1999 to 72,558 in 2017. That year, alcohol played a role in 2.6% of all deaths in the United States.

Snack foods take up an entire aisle in most grocery stores, pharmacies, and dollar stores. Most of these chips and snacks are alarmingly high in salt. But they’re big sellers. Unfortunately, according to the American Heart Association a high salt diet may may lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and strokes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

On Labor Day, I walked past a house full of people having an indoor-outdoor barbeque . It looked like a family get together, and I didn’t see any masks.

Politicians and the CDC are desperately trying to regulate the behavior of Americans during this Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, people continue to congregate, travel, and go without masks. Is it any wonder? If you consider the above statistics, it’s clear that risk taking is in America’s DNA.

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020

C’MON NANCY, WASH YOUR HAIR.

When I was a child, most ordinary women washed their own hair. Once a week was the norm. There were various shampoos like Prell that were supposed to do something special. Afterwards, you might set your hair with pin curls, curlers , or in later years, rollers. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that portable hair dryers made blow dried hair popular, and women began to depend upon beauty parlors. The point is, most women are capable of washing and styling their own hair. Especially during this pandemic. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi apparently can’t do that. I guess we all saw the picture of her at a beauty salon last week, walking around with wet hair and no mask. All of which is against San Francisco’s restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. C’mon Nancy, wash your hair.

Speaker of the House, Nancy Peolois should wash her own hair during this pandemic. — Nancy Pelosi was criticized for breaking pandemic rules at a hair salon last week. C’mon Nancy. Wash Your Hair.

It’s real simple. Just step in the shower, apply some shampoo, rub it in, and turn on the water. See, you don’t have to go to a beauty salon to have clean hair! Of course, you need someone to put on the proper amount of goo and blow dry it to the desired style.. But you’d think an 80 year old woman would have figured out how to do that by now. She seems pretty spry when you see her on television.

Let’s give Nancy Pelosi the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she has arthritic shoulders , and she can’t lift her hands to her head. Or, she could be afraid of falling in the shower. Doesn’t she have any help around the house? I’m willing to bet she has a maid, cleaning woman, housekeeper, or whatever euphemism is used to describe women who earn their living by taking care of other people’s needs. And she has some daughters and grandchildren nearby who could help out—if they wanted to.

Nancy doesn’t appear to be frugal. I can’t remember seeing her twice in the same outfit. Apparently, she lives in a gated community of mansions. Surely, she has enough money to pay a hairdresser to come to her house. Many people do that, especially if they’re handicapped. It boggles the mind to think she would break all the quarantine rules in San Francisco just to have her hair washed.

C’mon Nancy, wash your hair.

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020

VIRUS SOARS AFTER PRISON EXECUTIONS

A few months ago, we felt fairly safe in this city along America’s Death Row. Cases of Covid-19 were low compared to big cities like Indianapolis. And then, late this summer, that began to change. Executions at the federal prison resumed on July 13. Up to that point, there had been no executions for 17 years, and there were no cases of Covid 19 at the prison. On Aug 28, Keith Nelson became the 5th person to be executed. Now, the virus soars after prison executions.

The federal prison complex has two facilities. Before that last execution , they had 12 cases in the U.S. Penitentiary (maximum security), and 10 cases in the Federal Correctional institution (medium,minimum securities). As of September 1, the USP reported 70 cases, and the FCI reported 48 cases, for a total of 118 cases at the complex. With about 1400 inmates and 700 employees, that’s a pretty high positive rate.

Is it any wonder? Numerous outsiders were seated together in the death chamber during each of the executions. This included eight journalists, and various family members of the crime victims and perpetrators. There were lawyers, and spiritual counselors. The exact number of people allowed to witness an execution has not been made public, but we know there were a lot of them.

After executions at the federal prison brought in protestors and strangers, our covid cases soared. — Witnesses and protesters brought many strangers to our town. The virus soars after prison executions.

Then, there were the protesters who came from outside the city, starting with the first execution in July.. Hundreds gathered to protest against the death penalty. As a result, these people stayed in hotels and ate in restaurants. I don’t know who wore masks, or did or did not carry the virus. I just know that cases in Vigo County skyrocketed after that. Our positive rate is more than double that of Indianapolis.

Coincidentally, Indiana State University opened it’s doors to on campus learning last week. . To their credit, they are being transparent about their number of reported Covid-19 cases which now stand at about 94, including staff and students. Compared to the University of Alabama, with 540 cases, that’s not too bad. Hopefully, these young people will enjoy a speedy recovery.

Back to the prison executions. I’m not opposed to the death penalty. But it seems to me they could have waited until things settled down before bringing all these strangers to town in the midst of a pandemic.

August 29, 2020September 2, 2020

ALMONDS TO THE RESCUE!

What has happened to your weight during this pandemic? It’s been a struggle for me, because I’m unable to walk or swim every day like I used to. The pool is open, but cases are skyrocketing in this city, so I’m afraid of taking a chance. And walking outside in 90 degree heat is not recommended at my age. The air conditioned mall used to be a good place to walk on hot days, but during covid-19, it doesn’t seem too wise . So, I’ve become a reluctant couch potato this week. Boredom leads to snacking. Things like cheese and chips are tempting, but there’s a healthier alternative. Almonds to the rescue!

According to the Harvard School of Public Health “ Almonds reduce heart disease risk by lowering total and LDL cholesterol, and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Almonds also contain phytonutrients that support the growth of beneficial gut microbes. Controlled trials have shown that nut intake can decrease inflammation, promote healthy blood vessels, and reduce insulin resistance.”

In a word, Almonds are really good for you They’re nutritious and help control hunger. When you get those mid morning or mid afternoon cravings, just reach for a handful of almonds.. Although 10 almonds only have about 78 calories, you can overdo it. Don’t eat half a can! Chew them slowly , then firmly close the lid or fasten the bag and put them out of sight.

Some people shouldn’t eat almonds. Especially, if you’re a senior who has difficulty with chewing and swallowing. You sure don’t want an almond stuck in your gullet! Little kids shouldn’t have nuts because they don’t chew things up carefully.

Almonds are fairly expensive compared to less healthy snacks like chips and candy. However, they’re often on sale for half price at major pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens. That’s when I stock up for a monthly supply. Blue Diamond gives you almonds with different flavors like honey roasted, smokehouse, soy, and just plain lightly salted. You can get them unsalted, too, but those aren’t very interesting.

If you don’t like almonds, you could try peanuts, walnuts, or mixed nuts. However, they have more calories and don’t have as many nutrients.

If you’re unable to walk or work out some days, be sure you don’t overeat. Almonds to the rescue.!