Sixty What

I'm Caryn with a C, and I'm awesome.

Aretha + Elvis x Babe Ruth = Heaven

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The King of Rock ‘n Roll and the Queen of Soul.  Elvis died 41 years ago today, and Aretha passed away this morning.  Today, they are making more beautiful music in heaven, or wherever you believe they might be.  Okay, Google, did Aretha and Elvis appear together on one stage?  Google isn’t giving me the answers I want, and now I ask:  why?  Why weren’t the two of them ever booked on Johnny Carson or Mike Douglas together on the same show in the mid-70s?  Hindsight.   Today is also the anniversary of Babe Ruth’s passing, and Madonna’s 60th birthday.  What a great day to celebrate!

Not to make light of their passing, but today is also National Tell-A-Joke Day.  I listen to Entertainment Weekly radio on SiriusXM in the morning.  The hosts of the Morning Live show had people call in with their best jokes.  I’m driving along, with a tiny notepad in hand, and I swore I’d remember the few jokes I heard.  Uh, no.  I only remember one, and it’s a good one to be sure, but I can’t remember another damned joke.  Getting old sucks.

  • Comic Sans and Times New Roman walk into a bar. The bartender shouts at them:  “Get outta here, we don’t serve your type.”

Here are a few more from Google that seem pretty funny this morning:

  • What do you call a fish with no eyes?  Fsh.
  • Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil? Because it’s pointless.

We love jokes, of course, because they’re great stress relievers.  Laughs can lift your mood and bring happiness to those in need by temporarily distracting them from their worries.  Jokes can make you the life of the party, and it’s a great way to make new friends—assuming you can tell a joke properly.

And finally, this is not a joke if you live in Cleveland.  Bud Light is putting “Victory Fridges” full of free beer around Cleveland.  The catch:  the coolers will only open if the Cleveland Browns win one game this season.  Just one!  The problem is, the team literally lost every single game last season.

 

 

 

Junk and thankfulness

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This post started out one way, and ended up in a completely new direction.  Let me know what you think.

The number of magazines and catalogs we receive in our mailbox has steadily decreased over the last year or two.  I have a steady subscription to only three magazines.  Time and Entertainment Weekly arrive every Friday, and Real Simple comes once a month.  I can handle that.  I think Leslie receives one or two monthly magazines, and that’s it.  Less magazines equals less trash!

As for catalogs, most of the ones we get are unwanted and useless.  When they come in the house, we immediately rip off the address portion and add it to the shred pile.  Toss the catalog and repeatedly say “let’s get ourselves off this list,” until the next time we get the catalog and realize we forgot to get off the mailing list!

The ones that really stand out are the catalogs from companies we have never shopped at—and we know this because the catalog is addressed to the person we bought our condo from in 1992!  Yes, Nature’s Jewelry hasn’t reviewed their mailing list in over 25 years, and I’m going to continue letting the company waste their money.

There is another monthly magazine we receive jointly published by the Jewish synagogues in Orange County.  Each issue contains articles written by locals who now live in Israel, or parents raising their children in a Jewish minority area.  One consistent writer for the magazine was a woman who, at 50 years old, went through the bat mitzvah ceremony.  And at 75 years old, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a rabbi.  Rabbi Dann died last month after being ordained for just six months.

You would expect that friends and coworkers wrote lovely testimonials to the Rabbi.  One particular paragraph stood out:

Anyone who was blessed to know Florence knew her as a woman of substance.  When she walked into the room, you turned to look, and when she had something to say, you listened.  Not only did she bring a staggering amount of knowledge to the table, she was also just an amazing person and a great friend.  Always had a smile and laugh ready for you and a hug on stand-by.  She will truly be missed.  Say not in grief:  “She is no more but live in thankfulness that She was.”

How many of us can use this testimonial for ourselves?

Seven foods you’ll love

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I recently read an article about healthy foods you can find at the grocery store.  Scientists and nutritionists have determined there are seven foods that keep down inflammation in your body.  (Inflammation is your body’s healthy response to fighting disease.  When it gets out of hand, inflammation can become chronic and lead to a variety of health problems, from cancer to autoimmune diseases.)

What you eat can be as important as what you don’t eat.  Foods high in sugar and saturated fat may contribute to inflammation, and I can definitely feel the inflammation as I read this.

Here are the seven foods you might want to incorporate into your diet:

*          Mackerel.  This fish is a Mediterranean staple.  The high fat in this fish helps fight diseases caused by high inflammation, like heart disease and Alzheimer’s.  Mackerel is also a source of vitamins B12 and D (the latter of which can be hard to find naturally in foods).  Vitamin D is important for maintaining strong bones and immune-system function as well as helping the body absorb calcium.  You can roast a fillet with a generous helping of herbs, olive oil and lemon.

*          Spinach:  Spinach has a reputation as a power food.  It’s a good source of vitamin E, which may help protect the body from inflammation.  As with other leafy greens, the dark color lets you know that it’s dense in nutrients.  Make a spinach salad with a high-fat food like avocado in order to take full advantage of the veggie’s nutrients.

*          Pears:  Eating these high-fiber foods can be helpful to those with diabetes and arthritis.  Fiber-rich diets contribute to a healthy microbiome and promote satiety—which is helpful when you’re trying to lose weight.  You can make a simple meal by adding sliced pears to a salad with walnuts and a soft cheese.

*          Bell peppers:  These peppers, especially the bright red ones, are high in antioxidants and low in starch.  Similar to spicy peppers, sweet bell peppers contain the chemical compound capsaicin, which is also known to help inflammation and potentially even pain.  Chop up bell peppers and serve them with hummus, or drizzle with a little red-wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

*          Black tea:  Green tea usually gets all the attention, yet black tea (which comes from the same plant) also has benefits.  Drinking black tea may help keep arteries open, and it contains antioxidants that are known to protect cells from damage.  One recent study links black tea to a substantially lower risk of ovarian cancer.  Brew a cup of black tea and add milk or honey (or both) for a hot drink.  Or you could chill the cup and mix with fresh lemon and pomegranate juice for a refreshing cold beverage.

*          Pomegranate seeds:  These seeds are a good source of antioxidants that can lower both cholesterol and blood pressure.  Experts think that a compound in them (punicalagin) targets inflammation in the brain, which could help slow brain-related decline.

*          Buckwheat:  Eating grains may reduce blood levels of a marker for inflammation called C-reactive protein.  Buckwheat is also gluten-free and good for people with celiac disease.  Buckwheat is used to make soba noodles, which you can use in soups or stir fry dishes.  You can also buy the grain on its own to eat in place of rice.

Image result for kasha varnishkes image

Leslie and I were just talking about buckwheat or, as we called it growing up, kasha.  My mother would always make kasha varnishkes (“varnishkes” means bow tie noodles) as a side dish for her delicious pot roast.  And we’ve done the same over the years, but lately I never think to buy a pot roast.  So next week, we’re going to make this dish pictured above.  It’s delicious and, according to my research, very healthy for you.  Minus the varnishkes.

My WHY and my BUT

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I’ve been writing this blog for almost two years and I’ve published over 500 posts.  When I first started, I didn’t have much of a plan as to what I would say, and what kind of audience I was looking for.  (Some may say I still don’t have a plan!)

My WHY for writing this blog?  WHY NOT?  I decided at the beginning I’d try to write something every day.  I’d feel as if I’d accomplished something once I wrote 300 or 400 words.  Over these many months, I’ve heard from friends and strangers alike, mostly with comments or additions about what I wrote.  When I hosted a small contest or asked for a survey response, I might as well have been writing for an audience of crickets.

That’s fine.  I started writing about what interested me, and I had gotten into a nearly daily habit of writing something and/or being observant about my next topic.  When I first started The Sixty Blog, I was turning the big 6-0 and needed to get things off my chest.  At the next birthday, I changed the name to Sixty-What because it almost sounded like Sixty-One.  Wait till you see what’s in store for 6-2!

I’m never sure who reads these blog posts.  At one time, I’d hoped for lots of readers.  I have software loaded which tells me how many “official” views I receive every day, and I can also tell how many other people in other countries have viewed my site.  It’s above my pay grade to figure out how someone in India or Ireland finds me!  I do have several friends who signed up to receive an email each time I post something new.  They’re able to read the post in their mailbox, so it doesn’t count as an “official” view.  I estimate that an additional—hold on to your hats—five people read my blog every day.  I am indeed very lucky.

Another software program attached to my blog posts allows me to republish my posts every few weeks for a year on Facebook and Twitter.  I get several comments and likes through those recycled posts, so I know that there is still some interest in my brilliant writings.

There’s a BUT.  I’m having a little trouble thinking of things to write about.  Fun, frivolous, nonsensical.

For instance, this might be the subject of an upcoming post:  People want to know:  Should you be worried if your snot smells like vinegar?

I know, right!  I’d want to read that right away.  But other than this topic, nothing much is coming to mind right now.  A friend tells me that “writing every day and so quickly as you do takes a lot of dedication.”  I’m dedicated, yes.  Yet I sometimes ask myself WHY or TO WHOM?  Does it matter?

You see, I have a serious medical issue going on.  I’ve been dealing with it, and I just want it to be over.  It’s finally going to be fixed in a few short weeks, and maybe I’ll write about it and maybe I won’t.

A friend of mine writes a bi-monthly blog under the name EVEN BETTER TODAY.  It’s brilliant.  She mainly writes about physical and emotional things she’s going through.  The lessons she’s learning about herself, how to apply different health options that work for her, and she’s not telling anyone what to do.  She talks about what works for her, and even talks about her shortcomings.  Her last post can be read here:  Get Out Of Your Loops.

My friend and I have one major thing in common, other than writing a blog (we’re also brilliant, we work as legal assistants, and we may both need to lose a few pounds).  She and I both have a tremendous support system.  Family members, close friends, mentors, allies, and maybe even a good team of doctors.

Donna Ashworth:  Your health is obviously important but stress, fear and worry are far more damaging than any delicious food or drink you may deny yourself.  Happiness and peace are the best medicine.

I envy my friend.  She’s been open and honest about her specific issues.  I have not.  I struggle with whether I want my acquaintances to know what’s happening.  Or do I keep it between myself and my support team?  Is it important to me that someone I’ve known for 40 years learns about my situation on Facebook?  Does my reader in India care?  Will I feel better if I share everything?

Any feedback from my friends and acquaintances is appreciated.

No pain in the tush!

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Have you ever Googled something and didn’t find what you were looking for?  I’ve seen an item at the hospital, it was used on me, and yet I can’t find a picture of it anywhere!

I had a medical procedure done last week.  I had to check in at 5:45 a.m. for a 7:30 appointment, and there wasn’t a minute wasted in getting me ready.  The best part of the entire two-hour preparation?  A new device called The Cushy Tushy.  Or was it the Tushy Cushy?

What I saw with my own two eyes (and two butt cheeks!) is a big adhesive pad in the shape of a heart.  It looks like a nice perky butt.  Your nurse puts it right on your bottom and it feels a bit cushion-y.  That’s it.  You don’t feel it all day long, and when it’s time to check out of the hospital, the nurse removes it like a giant band-aid.

Here’s a Cushy Tushy.  Nice soft comfy pillow for your chair.  Other Google images show soft baby seats.

Image result for cushy tushy booster seat

And when you Google Tushy Cushy, you see almost the exact same images.  But nothing like my giant heart-shaped band-aid!

Okay, Google, how often do you not find an image on google?  No answer to that question.

What is happening?  Full moon?  Mercury in Retrograde?  Google doesn’t like me today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does it feel like to be old?

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A newsletter recently asked “What does it feel like to be old?”  On an everyday basis, I realize I’m old with each moan and groan and special noise that escapes from my mouth.  I don’t mention my age every minute of the day, but sometimes it’s hard to not bring up my sixth decade when speaking with coworkers who weren’t yet born in the 80s, or even the 90s.

The columnist answering the above question had some comments that I hadn’t yet thought of, but resonate with me…and probably you too.

The writer believes that one of the most frustrating things about becoming an older woman is that you become almost “invisible” to people, especially to most men.  When we are young women (in our 20s and 30s), men paid a great deal of attention to us because of how we look to them.  Our level of sexual attractiveness indicates whether a man will look twice or dismiss us as uninteresting and not worth investing time with.

As a young woman, it’s hard to imagine that the day will come when men won’t flirt with us anymore at least not like they used to.  We feel like the same young woman inside; it’s the outside of our body that reminds us we aren’t young anymore.  It’s that look in the mirror and saying “when did THAT happen?”

Socrates:  The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

Hopefully, we are much smarter as older women about how to behave in our relationships with the male species than when we were younger.  As I age, I find that I am much more easygoing, laugh more and worry less about small things that are of little consequence. I also am not as easily offended and I am not so worried about being “right” all the time.

Don’t we all foolishly believe that we will be the one person who escapes getting “old”?  But one day you realize that people are calling you “ma’am” and addressing you (and others your age) as “old.”  It can sting to think you are considered non-sexual, nonessential, and not able to keep up with those younger than you in technology, current culture and other areas.

Of course, we remember when we used to wonder why “old” people used to talk so much about their ill health.  Unfortunately, now I know why.  As the body starts aging, and aches and pain set in, you find that other organs don’t work as well as they used to.  It’s easy to want to complain about it, but what good would that do?

What do you think when someone comments about a woman “looking good for her age”?  She either looks good or she doesn’t, right?  The comment is annoying as it insinuates that to look “good” means looking young.

Rather than be the rule, it’s the rare man who is interested in a woman that is his age (or older) who is considered mature.  But for those who do, I say thank you for looking at the real woman and not the facade of a perfect body and unwrinkled face.