My Crazy Ex-girlfriend

I noticed a comment about the CW TV show "My crazy ex-girlfriend" (written, produced, and acted in by Rachel Bloom), so I looked it up and watched part of one episode and read the description (sort of a musical comedy). Everyone is in therapy or sexually confused. Millennials, I think. Is it just a big joke about the culture or is it leading the culture? However, the music is great.

So I watched 3 episodes and sort of got to know the very strange characters, watched an explanation of how the music was written, and then. . . begin to like it.  Then learned 2018 is the last of the series because it’s not doing that well in the ratings.

https://www.cwtv.com/shows/crazy-ex-girlfriend/i-will-help-you/?play=834fff6e-2c14-4185-bc6f-bc7d8816d1f8

Portion Distortion

 

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/distortion.htm

Smaller plates at home.

Doggie bag at restaurant, and put half in it before you start to eat.

Don’t buy supersize or value packs of anything.  You’ll just eat more.

Which glass is yours?

Larisa’s report on Lily’s Leukemia

Parents of ill children go through so much!  Hold this family in your prayers!

“Lily had clinic today. It was her typical monthly check up. Her numbers still look good. I’m waiting for the day they are all in the normal range but that will probably be a while.

We have been working to get her infusions started for her IGG treatment. The process has definitely tried my patience—it’s been 2 weeks now. Not only are Lily’s numbers extremely low which is dangerous but we have a vacation planned at the end of this month and I’m nervous her traveling with such a low immune system.

We have been blessed overall with good insurance and Vandy who has fought for Lily. However these home infusions go through a different provider that works with Blue Cross for approval and then CVS to set up the infusions. I work in the insurance world so I understand the hoops they put up, but the process has been exhausting. I’m pretty sure Blue Cross and CVS wish they had never heard of us as I have set up daily calls with them to discuss their progress with approval.

Finally we got approval today. They say we can start soon. My definition of soon was today but I understand their definition maybe more like later this week. Ha!

Anyway prayers for these infusions to get started, Lily to tolerate them, and for her to get enough prior to our trip for her to be at a safe level would be appreciated.

Later this week, Lily returns to the endocrinologist for a follow up on the issues with her thyroid.”

Grudges hurt the holder

Sex crimes in the church

Homosexual priests preying on teen age boys, and a Cardinal preying on seminarians. It's been a tough year for the faithful, says Father Murray at The Catholic Thing.

"The faith and love of Catholics for Christ and His Church has been severely tried this year. The common expectation among Catholics that the bishops as a whole shared the same horror of sexual, and in particular of homosexual, immorality among the clergy has been shown to be an illusion. So be it.

Love for the Church has prompted laity to call for a reform of the hierarchy. Accountability for past failures to root out sexual immorality is the first necessity, as is a clear demonstration that a repeat of the career path of a Theodore McCarrick will be impossible in the future.

Bishops will only regain the respect of ordinary Catholics if they truly live up to what we all believe is the Church’s true mission, the salvation of souls. If the dark clouds of 2018 have a silver lining, it’s that there is now at least some chance that immoral and conniving priests and bishops will no longer be tolerated, protected, or promoted, but rather called to repent and held to account."

Sounds like Paul’s letter to the Romans.

https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2018/12/17/a-troubling-year-in-review/

UMC “minister” in West Ohio Conference blesses abortion clinics

  “This year, [Laura] Young, a United Methodist minister in the West Ohio Conference, was assigned by Bishop Gregory Palmer to serve as executive director of the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The coalition, which had gone about two years without a director, had fallen largely quiet. Young aims to change that.

Calling herself a “progressive theological thinker and a feminist,” Young said goals include encouraging clergy members to testify at legislative hearings on anti-abortion bills and advocating for organizations that provide women’s health care, including abortions and contraception.”

When we rent our cottage at Lakeside for West Ohio, we’ll have to put a qualifier besides “no pets.” No Methodist ministers who advocate for abortion.

How to draw a reindeer

Auditory processing disorder

I have APD, but since no one knew about learning disorders when I was a child, I'm glad now I didn't have any of the technology or instruction recommended in this article. I may have just thought of myself as a victim. I was always an A student and retired as associate professor, but even the compensations don't work as well at 79. I only mention it because if you think your child or grandchild isn't listening, it just might be APD. Slow down your speech, make eye contact, and turn off the distractions and see if that helps.

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/the-difference-between-dyslexia-and-auditory-processing-disorder

https://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2006/11/thursday-thirteen-13-things-about-my.html

Great great nephew in the Christmas chorus at grandma’s church—5 years old

 

Jaxon, you were a star! (Great grandson of my sister-in-law) Cornerstone Baptist Church, Indianapolis

And with 3 of his cousins.

Planning New Year’s Resolutions?

 

What are you planning for New Year's resolutions? I went back through my blog and for 2018 it was clean the coffee pot with vinegar and water, so I went back to January 2009 and I had thrown them all out except #5, which was to buy a new floor lamp. About 40 years ago I resolved to stop biting my finger nails, and I succeeded.

On Jan. 1, 2008 I wrote about diets. "It's not rocket science. Reading and following even well-intentioned, healthy recipes can add pounds. A roasted pear, walnut and feta cheese salad has 400 calories. A side dish of fresh, tender crisp asparagus has 88. And if you're like me, the cheese will make you hungry." and also this, "About a year ago [2007], JAMA reported that in a study of the four major diet plans, the only successful people were the publisher and the author/researchers who got the grant. None of the diets worked well, or consistently, and none of the groups (ladies) were really following them." http://huggingchalking.blogspot.com/2008/01/noted-along-way-in-2007.html

The Cohen, Clinton, Trump connection

Christopher Buckley writes:

"Question: How come Clinton fixer Lanny Davis publicly became Cohen's lawyer?

Answer: That was the only way the Clintons could control the situation. That way Davis could hear every single thing that was going on. Cohen belonged to the Clintons and was spying and trying to entrap Trump, then Mueller tried to use him, but there was nothing there to use, Cohen got himself legitimately in trouble, he wasn't nailed on a process crime. He's going to the fancy Club Fed in upstate NYC, but he sure has a lot of information on Hill and Bill... I am 100% certain that Davis was part of the deal to help keep him healthy indefinitely, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if that's the last we see of Cohen..."

Yes, the way Clinton operatives disappear, I’d be worried if I were Cohen.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/14/blue-state-blues-lanny-davis-michael-cohen-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/

https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-hires-bill-clinton-lawyer-lanny-davis-2018-7

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lanny-davis-the-ultimate-clinton-loyalist-is-now-michael-cohens-lawyer-but-dont-call-it-revenge/2018/08/23/e1550056-a6b9-11e8-97ce-cc9042272f07_story.html?

Sally’s sourdough solution

Sally Hyde Lomax writes:  “I first made sourdough about seventeen or eighteen years ago when the children were all very small. I was inspired by a recipe in the Sunday papers from Gordon Ramsay. Personally I loved it and kept the culture going for quite a while, but the children hated it, and asked for “proper” bread. So eventually, I gave up, because Derek and I were getting fatter on it, and we were still buying standard bread for the children which we were probably also eating. We then later moved on to a bread maker which provided many years of packed lunches and lovely bread, but not sourdough.

However, a few years back, I had my gall bladder removed, and after that I annoyingly found that I could no longer eat wheat, or other gluten containing products, without a horrible reaction. At the same time the children started leaving school and the need for packed lunches diminished, and so the bread maker was used very little.

Then, recently three things happened. In the process of doing my research for my MA I went round to someone’s house for an interview, and was given a lovely piece of sourdough bread. Having been brought up to always accept hospitality graciously, I said nothing about my gluten intolerance, ate it and LOVED it. I waited the next day for a bad reaction, but found that I was absolutely fine. Then, I read an article about homemade sourdough being good for gluten intolerance, due to the probiotics. Obviously the article said quite clearly that it is not a cure all, but with longer proving times it appears to help, and gluten intolerants have gradually been able to successfully re introduce a little wheat to their diet. Finally, I chatted to a fiend who has a much more serious gut problem than me, which prevents her eating any dairy, caused by a very nasty infection she sadly picked up. She is currently looking at ways to fix the problem, which involve fully replacing the gut bacteria.

Suddenly the penny dropped. It was possibly the heavy duty antibiotics that I’d had for the horrendous infection of my pancreas, prior to my gall bladder removal, that had cleaned out my gut of all good bacteria, and thereby caused my problem.

And so a few weeks ago I started on a mission to replace the probiotics. I read lots more articles and decided that I was going to make a sourdough culture. I decided however to allow myself a bit of slack and made it with spelt rather than standard wheat. It is still wheat but it is less refined and a much more traditional version of the grain, and does appear to be a little more often tolerated by gluten sufferers.

I proudly grew my starter fur a week before the first loaf. I fed it carefully each day and nurtured it like a baby. And then I went about making the bread. The first few batches weren’t instantly successful as they were a little heavy, but I’ve persevered and now I have a method which appears to work. Paul Hollywood would possibly not yet approve, because it’s certainly not as light as standard bread, but the taste is delicious, and with sufficient proving times, I appear to be able to eat it. Hooray! It’s so much nicer than the average gluten free bread. “

  

I met Sally who is British blogging about 15 years ago and now follow her on Facebook, from which this was copied.

That’s hard to do at Christmas

Handel’s Messiah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlyoEpCV9k

• 9:26- And The Glory of the Lord !
•  20:07- O Thou That Tellest Good tidings to Zion !
• 32:00- For Unto us A Child is Born !
• 38:07- Glory To God !
•  1:40:30- Handel's Hallelujah !
• 2:08:45- Worthy is the lamb !

As for sitting or standing  for the Hallelujah Chorus

An often repeated legend about Messiah tells the story of King George II who was so moved by the “Hallelujah” chorus during the London premiere of Messiah that he rose to his feet and then everyone in attendance followed suit as not to be sitting when the king stood.

Thus we believe the regularly debated tradition of standing during the “Hallelujah” chorus came to be — also giving birth to countless passive-aggressive battles of concert decorum between the sitters and standers.

However, according to various experts, there is no truth to this story. In fact there is no evidence King George II was even in attendance, and it is unlikely the newspaper writers that were in the audience would have overlooked mentioning a royal presence. The first reference to this story was a letter written 37 years after the fact.

https://www.bsomusic.org/stories/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-handels-messiah.aspx

I, however, am cycling on my stationary bike in my office. Sitting.

How do the search engines play out in recent news—the race to Fox

This morning I searched “Mulvaney chief of staff.”  Several months ago I had switched my primary search engine to DuckDuckGo, which supposedly doesn’t tract your searches, so I used that first, then Bing, then Google. How long before the unbiased, balanced record from Fox News?

DuckDuckGo:  AP, Washington Post, WBNS-TV (local channel), CBS, Guardian NYTimes, CBS (again) Time, NBC, DW.com (Deutsche Welle), Chicago Tribune, Breitbart, Business insider, Washington Post (again), NPR, Bloomberg, Free Beacon, CNBC, The Street, AOL, USA Today, WSJ, Fox News.

BING: Washington Post, USAToday, Business Insider, Politico, ABC7, ABCHouston, YouTube, CBS, NYTimes, CNN, Guardian Conservative TreeHouse, NBC, Time, Chicago Tribune, DW, Brietbart,Al Arabiya, CNBC, Business Insider, NPR, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, The Street, WSJ, YouTube, CNBC, USAToday, ABCHouston, Al Arabiya (again), Powerline blog, Variety, YouTube (again) USAToday, Variety (again), USAToday (again), Politico, WTOP, Truthdig, Fox News.

Google:  Daily Beast, NYTimes, Newsweek, CNN, NYTimes, Chicago Tribune, The Hill, WSJ, CBS, Vox, NBC, Fox News.

Obviously, Bing lost the race.  In numbers, Google got there first, but put the Yellow Journalism web side Daily Beast full of trolls and haters first.  Go figure!  And it tracks your searches! The DuckDuckGo first with AP was another site using the AP story. It was my first time to come across DW, the German news source.  Now then Bing—threw in Al Jazeera and a few blogs before it got to Fox News.  Really?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2018/12/12/fox-news-channel-has-highest-ratings-in-22-years-but-msnbc-is-growing-fast/#508b37026124

https://www.foxnews.com/

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/414005-fox-news-tops-cnn-and-msnbc-combined-in-october-cable-news-ratings

To squat or not

I receive e-mails from someone called Taylor, but they are usually just teasers to buy more stuff.  Today he was recommending sumo squats, so I looked that up.  Everyone (at exercise web sites) seem to rave about them, and that every athlete (that’s not me) or regular gym goer (that’s me) should incorporate them.

First, proper form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUT0f9P7GpQ&feature=youtu.be

“The squat has been crowned as ‘the king of all exercises’ by many because of its undeniable ability to make your muscles grow faster and stronger in less time than other popular compound movements, and this is why it’s a part of the training routines of pro athletes and average gym-goers alike. In fact, athletes from every sport and discipline use some version of this exercise to tone their legs and abs, strengthen their core and improve their overall performance. “

http://www.fitnessandpower.com/training/workout-routines/sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat
Video showing the difference between a regular squat and a sumo squat.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/437557-sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat/  It’s all in the feet.
“Once you've mastered proper form for a standard squat, you can move on to other variations like the sumo squat. To perform a sumo squat, stand with your feet significantly wider than hip-distance apart (about three to four feet), turn your toes out 45 degrees and hold your hands by your sides. Lower yourself down by bending your knees and hips, raising your hands to meet under your chin. Keep your abs tight, back straight and do not let your knees move past your toes when lowering. Once your thighs parallel the floor, root through your heels and rise back up steadily for one rep. Again, depending on your fitness level and goals, start out with three sets of eight reps and building from there once you get more comfortable with them.”
 https://www.strengthauthority.com/sumo-squat-benefits/
And what elderly person doesn’t need more mobility, flexibility, balance and stability?

4.  Mobility and Flexibility
Sumo squats are also a fantastic exercise for improving both mobility and flexibility.
And because squatting is a motion that people use every day–whether it’s sitting or rising from a chair or squatting down to pick up a heavy object–the gains you will make from doing regular sumo squats should be easy to both see and feel.
Additionally, because the muscles in your legs and core have to act in unison during sumo squats, they learn to work together, and that can lead to significantly better mobility. . .
Sumo squats are also useful as a dynamic stretch. While you lower yourself and then rise back up, your muscles alternate between contracting and lengthening, which ultimately warms them, reduces any tension that has built up, and stretches them out.

5. Balance and stability
Your core muscles have a lot to do with maintaining balance in all kinds of activities, but sumo squats demand a lot from them, especially when your body is first learning to adapt to the new motion.

They not only help to keep you from toppling over backwards when you are lowering yourself, but they are also crucial for keeping your back straight and ensuring that you don’t lean too far forward.
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/butt/exercises/30-day-squat-challenge/ Video on proper form beginning with regular squats.

Two exercises for back pain.  One involves squats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq0zyjVo6Jc

Bill Gibeaut—a good friend, member of our church

We attended many church events in their homes, and were at their wedding. Bill was active in the same Haiti ministry as Bob, and one of his daughters was in school with ours. He will be missed. ----------------------- William "Bill" Gibeaut, 83, Dublin, previously of Hilliard and Upper Arlington. Born, March 13, 1935, Sandusky. Survived by his wife, Judy (Woods) Gibeaut; brothers, Donald and Charles; sons, Tom, Jim, and James (Rebecca) Murphy; daughters, Julie (Amar) Inalsingh and Sarah Murphy Henneberry; grandsons, Nikhil, Shiva, and Taj Inalsingh, Jacob and Jalen Arms; granddaughters, Anna Murphy and Jade Arms. Preceded in death by parents Webb and Tabea Gibeaut. Bill started his career as a research engineer at Battelle, and then joined Columbia Gas in research and marketing positions; was promoted to V.P. of Marketing for Columbia Gas and retired in 1993. Earned a B.S. and M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Initiated into the senior class Sphinx Honorary and Sigma Chi Fraternity. Member of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church since 1980, serving in many UALC ministries and leadership roles. Elected to 4-year term on Upper Arlington Board of Education. Active in Kairos Prison Ministry for 10 years. Served on Board of Trustees of National Church Residences for 12 years. Active for 10 years as medical missionary for Coalition of Children in Need Association, a U.S.-based charitable organization that supported a school and medical clinic in Haiti. Bill loved to charter large sailboats with Judy, and take week-long cruises from various ports in the Caribbean, the U.S., and a couple foreign countries. He introduced friends to sailing by getting them to be crew members. Doubles tennis was a passion for Bill into his 80's. Gardening was also a hobby. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. Memorial service, followed by reception, is 2 P.M. Saturday, December 15, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Road, Columbus, OH 43220. (Columbus Dispatch.)   2015 photo from Facebook

Suggestions for praying for leaders

Encouragement and counsel from Darlene, a member of my church, on praying for our leaders. She maintains a prayer group by e-mail.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I Timothy 2:1-2 - I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

What happens when you pray? We do not really know but above all, it changes me. The other day a friend asked,”Would you pray for my cousin, Donna? She is going through a total mastectomy.”
While most of my life, I would say, “Yes.” Obedience to my promise has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I would say, “Yes.”, but then forget to pray. As I grew in my faith, I was convicted of my disobedience and I would dash off a thirty second prayer over the woman. Deeper in my faith, that thirty second prayer catapulted in love for the person requesting the prayer and my prayers became sincerer. Now the Lord has made me love others as soon as I think of them. I have some understanding of the process this woman is going through and the feelings I would feel enduring the same process and I pray for her and her family, although I would not know her if I saw her on the street. Even moreso…..

The more in love we grow with Jesus, the more in love we grow with each other and our prayers increase. PRAISE GOD! The more in love we grow with others, when we love each other as ourselves, we pray as if we are in the place of the person we are praying for. God allows us to be in their situation in the Spirit. THANKS BE TO GOD! We pray with fervor just as Jesus does for us. How beautiful is that? He draws His body together in prayer for each other.

As you sit to pray for leaders or a leader, ask Holy Spirit to guide you or listen as He does to not only who you should pray for today but how to pray for them and watch the beautiful tapestry that He weaves for you as your pray and your unity with this person and the body of Christ…HALLELUJAH You grow in understanding His love, the love He wants you to have for the rest of the body but also how much you have grown in prayer and through prayer. . . I am constantly amazed at how He has put together every detail for our growth in Him. . . if we just follow Him.

Brings new meaning to the song...SHOW ME YOUR WAYS...THAT I MAY WALK WITH YOU..
Please pray for me and my Psalms Bible study. I am constantly amazed where the Lord takes me in these Psalms. Deeper in love with Him. . . I want to be ignited, set on fire and be able to take others on that journey....

Clinton Pay to Play Scandal

• Overall, the Clinton Foundation has received staggering sums from Saudi benefactors — between $18 million and $50 million. (The foundation’s donations are reported in ranges, not specific numbers.)
• Groups with interests in China also donated between $750,000 and $1.75 million, at a minimum, to the Clinton Foundation.
• Emails uncovered by Judicial Watch demonstrate that Clinton Foundation donors and supporters received special favors and consideration from the Clinton State Department. 

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton delivered highly revealing – and in many ways even stunning – testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations, regarding the Clinton Foundation pay-to-play scandal.

Now why do you suppose China and Saudi Arabia would care about an American foundation, set up to “do good.” Well, she was the Secretary of State.

https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08fbhpb3AM