Out and About – Week of December 2nd

Welcome to December. This is the final month of a year that has experienced some very odd weather. Last June was cold and wet and a month ago we experienced weather that normally arrives in December and January. It has become very difficult to keep seasonal clothing nearby. No one really knows what the next couple of months have in store for us.

Next Saturday, December 7, is Pearl Harbor Day. Seventy-eight years ago our nation was brutally attacked by Japan. A lot of things have changed since then. We have forgiven many, but we have also learned to never let our guard down. There’s always going to be someone who wants to be the boss of the world.

A few words of wisdom to those leaders out there. Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation.

As kids, many of us were warned by our mothers that we must wait for half an hour, or an hour after eating before we could go swimming. This quite likely might be another one of those old wife’s tales we were forced to follow. The fear that because your food was being digested in your stomach, blood was being taken away from other parts of your body, including your muscles. The lack of blood could cause muscle cramps and eventual drowning. The truth is that a little food in your stomach is good. Food supplies glucose to your muscles, which increases your energy. Long distance swimmers have known this for years and usually eat a light meal before swimming. The real danger of cramping up comes from cold water and fatigue. Eating can decrease fatigue and also stoke the body’s furnace to help keep you warm. The best advice is not to gorge yourself and then go swimming, because too much food can make you drowsy and slow your reflexes. Are you confused yet?

You never appreciate what you have until it’s gone. Toilet paper is a good example.

You might want to give some serious thought to these home remedies before using them:

Choking on an ice cube: Pour a cup of boiling hot water down your throat. The blockage will instantly remove itself.
Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by having someone else hold the vegetables while you chop.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, simply cut yourself and bleed a few minutes. This will reduce the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.
A mousetrap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after hitting the snooze button.
The West Mendon Community Church, 22994 Portage Lake Road, near Mendon, will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the church this Friday, December 13, from noon until 4:45 PM.

Five ways to make your life a little easier and much more enjoyable:

Compliment three people every day.
Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
Overtip breakfast waitresses.
Say “thank you” a lot.
Say “please” a lot.
For those who braved the shopping crowds on “Black Friday”, I hope your wounds have healed.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman