Out and About – Week of January 31st

“Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership,

society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity

to change things for the better.” ~ Harry S. Truman

St. Joseph County is experiencing a strong need of blood. Actually, the entire country is experiencing a blood shortage. This is why it’s important to donate blood whenever there is an opportunity to do so. On Wednesday, February 16, the JOCO Center, 805 Wood Street, in Three Rivers will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 11:30 AM until 5:15 PM. Someday you might need blood to stay alive. Now is the time to add your name to the list of donors, so roll up your sleeve and help save a life or two.

Wednesday is Groundhog Day. Every Groundhog Day, thousands gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to receive the prediction of the beloved Punxsutawney Phil. According to tradition, if Phil sees his shadow while exiting his burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If Phil is not greeted by his shadow, then spring will arrive early. This column was prepared a few days ago, so I don’t know whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not. If you watch the national news this evening, I’m sure you’ll find out. I had the privilege of visiting Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania years ago. Even though it was not February 2, Phil was brought out of his burrow, and greeted those in attendance.

Next Tuesday, February 8, the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate 112 years of service. They were founded February 8, 1910. I was never a Boy Scout, but I’ve always tried to be prepared for any situation.

I love bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT) sandwiches. There has always been a debate about whether a tomato is a fruit or vegetable. It really doesn’t matter to me, but I’d rather put strawberries on a dish of ice cream than a slice of tomato. Tomatoes are very good for you, because they are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and a carotenoid known as lycopene, which is associated with significant reduction in prostate cancer risk and protects us against lung and stomach cancers. Lycopene also promotes heart health, reduces blood pressure, and may help combat pancreatic, oral, colorectal, breast and cervical cancers.

You can’t help watching ads on television. The best you can do is activate that “mute” button on your remote control. Our mute button gets a lot of use, because for every half-hour of television, one usually experiences ten minutes of commercials. Most commercials deal with prescription drugs. I have a strong feeling that if the drug companies were to cut back on advertising, the cost of those drugs might have a chance of getting lowered.

There are also plenty of ads on how to exercise. Everything from Peleton bikes to yoga. As far as yoga goes, there are many types of yoga, each with its own variations. I would suggest checking with a local gym or health facility to find out which variation best suits you. The variations include Ashtanga, Bikram, Power, Vinyasa and Yin. Each variation has its advantages, and one might encounter a mix of many types in a yoga class. Yoga might be challenging at first, but if you stick with it, you should discover its many benefits.

“Several million modern men will never go back to the brush again.” ~ BURMA SHAVE

 

See you Out and About!

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