Archive for Uncategorized

Tips to Avoid the 24 Hour Workday!

| September 25, 2013 | No comments

“OUCH!”  “WHAT A PAINFUL PUNCH TO THE SOLAR PLEXUS!”  Those were the thoughts of Julie Smith, from Home Instead Senior Care, when her son informed her, “You care more about your career than your children!”  Instead of ignoring her son’s complaint, Julie did some deep soul-searching and decided to make significant changes in her life to devote more time to her family.  She shared her journey towards Work-Life Balance with the North Alabama Dietetic Association on September 10, 2013 in a lecture entitled, “WORK LIFE BALANCE:  TIPS TO AVOID THE 24 HOUR WORKDAY!”  This blog will share Julie’s hard-earned wisdom with us.

 

100_0645

JULIE SMITH – FROM HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE IN HUNTSVILLE, AL

STRIVING FOR A BALANCED LIFE!

Julie started her talk by sharing statistics on how hard Americans work.  Here they are:

1.  In a survey of 800 Senior Executives, 73% work after hours.

2.  63% work weekends.

3.  70% believe modern lifestyle (i.e., technology) decreases their leisure time.  She gave the example where answering an email within 24 hours was the norm about 10 years ago and was considered a timely response.  With the advent of texting, that time has been trimmed to 5 minutes.

4.  The majority of people check Facebook three times a day:  morning, noon, and evening.

5.  According to financial guru, Clark Howard, a majority gave up 9 days of paid vacation.

6.  In regards to working women, it is not so much the struggle to get ahead that is their number one priority, it is knowing when to turn off work.

7.  For Generation X’ers, 28% logged more work hours this past year versus three years ago.

8.  Sadly, research shows it is much harder for a 30 year old woman to handle a full-time job and children today than it was 15 years ago.

MH900297159

With these depressing statistics, is there anything one can do to create balance in their life?

Here are the tips from Julie to bring forth balance in life:

1.  Most people wait until vacation to take a break from their work.  She recommends “Staycations.”  These are breaks that can be intermingled throughout the week.  Examples include a game or movie night, evening walks, evening fishing trips or tennis matches.  She encouraged us to use our imaginations in our quest for “Staycations.”

2.  Take time to enjoy the view.  Last year Julie and her family went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  She especially loved the view of the majestic Grand Teton Mountains.  One day she was in the lobby of their hotel.  The windows had a magnificent view of these mountains.  Julie observed she was the only one in the room admiring the view.  ALL of the rest of the people in the lobby were texting, talking on the phone, or gazing at their smartphone computers.  What a sad commentary on our society!

3.  Julie said she had to learn to “JUST SAY NO.”  This was the hardest suggestion to fuse into her life.  She also learned to delegate more…which ended up to be a “WIN WIN” situation at her work.  By delegating, she gained more life balance and her colleagues got to take on more responsiblity, which offered them more growth at work.  She gave an example of when she had to attend a must-go-to meeting.  In the meantime, a local TV station called and wanted to interview a representative from Home Instead Senior Care, which would bring great publicity to the agency.  She decided to attend the important meeting.  The trip to the local TV station was delegated to one of her colleagues, who happily rose to the challenge.

4.  “Do a few things great, instead of a lot of things mediocre” is a new mantra for her.  Also, she says it does not pay to be a martyr because it only leads to more stress.

5.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Her mother offered to help Julie with the laundry, a task her mom enjoys. For years, Julie refused.  One day she relented and asked her mom for help.  The result, according to Julie, “For the first time in years, I don’t have mountains of laundry to be done in my home!”

6.  Julie began her journey into Life Balance by identifying four things she would like to change.  She chose one action item per week to work on.  She said the road to Life Balance has not always been smooth, but the pay-offs have greatly improved her life.  One of the heartwarming rewards is her son waits to read to her each day.  Julie happily says, “It is our special time together that we both look forward to!”

What about your life?  Are you feeling that the demands of your job never cease?  Are there any of Julie’s suggestions you would like to merge into your life?  Perhaps you have other “Life Balance Tips” to share with us working women.   If so, please register on my site to share them with others!  In closing, I wish you, my dear readers, a Happy Balanced Life!

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

WERNHER VON BRAUN – LIFE IN THE USA, BUT ESPECIALLY HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA (Part 2 of a 2 Part series)

| September 13, 2013 | No comments

“I want to devote my future work to the progress and strength of Western Civilization, and I consider the United States to be the bulwark.”  This is a quote from Wernher von Braun upon arriving to the United States.  This post will feature a timeline of von Braun’s life in the USA.  Because his life was was entwined with the development of US space travel, highlights of the history of space flight will also be featured.

T1521520_43

DR. WERNHER VON BRAUN

Fort Bliss, Texas was the first stop in the US for Dr. von Braun and the Paperclip Scientists.  Their mission at this time was the development of missiles for the Department of Defense.  The missiles were tested at White Sands, New Mexico. Missiles are still tested in the New Mexican desert to this day.  They had little contact with the outside world due to the secrecy of their project.  Dr. von Braun referred to themselves as the “Prisoners of Peace.”

In 1946, Wernher wrote to his father and inquired whether the hand of Maria von Quistorp was available for marriage.  When he asked her to marry him, this was her romantic reply, “I had never thought of marriage with anyone else.”  They were married on March 1, 1947 in Germany.

The Secretary of the Army approves the reactivation of the Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama on October 28, 1949.  The purpose was to consolidate rocket activities.   Wernher von Braun and the Paperclip Scientists are moved to Huntsville, AL in 1950. The Army Redsone Missile was the first large scale ballistic missile for the US.  It was designed by Wernher von Braun, based mostly on the design of the V2 missile.

All of the Paperclip scientists had a library card from the Huntsville Library within ONE day of moving here.  Many of them remarked they liked Huntsville because the Appalachian foothills in the area reminded them of Bavaria.  If I may insert an editorial comment here….Bavaria Germany does not have the hellish heat of an Alabama summer.

Dr. von Braun is featured in Colliers magazine in 1952.  His article has artwork of what futuristic space travel and missions to moons and planets would look like. These pictures ignite the imagination of Americans.  It becomes “way cool” to be a fan of space travel.

Huntsville High School auditorium was the place where Dr. Wernher von Braun and the Paperclip Scientists were sworn in as American citizens on April 14, 1955.

Humiliation! The Soviet Union beats the US into orbit with the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957.  The satellite is the size of a beach ball and transmits a continuous “beep beep” signal for 22 days.  The US launches Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958.  THE SPACE RACE HAS BEGUN!

Hallelujah!  President Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on July 29, 1958.  It is officially activated on October 1, 1958.  Both my husband and I were not even born when this happened.  Adam would eventually work for NASA, thus enabling us to pay our mortgage.  Thank you very much President Eisenhower!

On September 8, 1960, President Eisenhower formally dedicates the site of Adam’s future employment in Huntsville, AL:  The NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), named after the late Secretary of State, George C. Marshall.  Dr. Wernher von Braun is named Director of the MSFC.  Once again, thank you President Eisenhower!

100_0232

DR. VON BRAUN’S OFFICE FURNITURE 

Soviet Cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space on April 12, 1961.  Gagarin circles the Earth in Vostok 1 for 108 minutes after lift-off.

Astronaut Alan Shepard reaches altitude of 116 miles in the Freedom 7 capsule on May 5, 1961, becoming the first American in space.

President Kennedy issues the challenge to go to the moon before the end of the decade on May 26, 1961.  Congress issues over 1 billion dollars for NASA.  The Moon Program will be known as APOLLO. 

Prior to this famous speech, von Braun informed Kennedy, “If we can’t beat them in earth orbit, we will beat them to the moon.”

Dr. von Braun and his team of engineers, physicists, technicians, welders, and machinists work tirelessly.  Their efforts pay off on July 20, 1969.  MAN LANDS ON THE MOON ON A SATURN V ROCKET DESIGNED IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. 

“HOUSTON, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!”…the first words spoken from the moon.

Who can forget the immortal words of Neil Armstrong on this date as he descended from the lunar module onto the moon?  “ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN.  ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.” 

100_0231

MEMORIAL TO NEIL ARMSTRONG AT THE US SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

Dr. von Braun’s life in America has been compared to a comet…he burned brightly and then fizzled out.  However, his “fizzling out” had to do more with the political will of the American people.  Once we landed on the moon, interest in future space flight declined rapidly, unfortunately.  Dr. von Braun was transferred to NASA headquarters in Washington, DC in 1970 to head up strategic planning for the agency.  He resigned from NASA in 1972 to work for Fairchild Industries in Germantown, MD.  He died on June 16, 1977 and is buried in Alexandria, VA.

One of the reasons I devoted two blog posts to this amazing man was because in addition to his wizardry at rocket science, he was an accomplished musician, scuba diver, avid reader, and pilot.  Since moving to Huntsville, AL, I have met people who worked with Dr. von Braun.  They all said his legendary management skills were phenomenal.  An engineer who worked on the Saturn V shared with me the memory of when Dr. von Braun visited him while he was toiling on the problem of “getting the O rings on the Saturn V rocket to fire at the right time.  Dr. von Braun exhibited great faith in me.  Shortly thereafter I solved the problem!”

I don’t recall eating okra prior to moving to Alabama.  Since moving here, it has become one of my favorite vegetables, and is frequently served in cafeterias and restaurants in the area.  I am willing to bet that Dr. von Braun never ate okra until he moved here also.  This is something I have in common with him, in addition to sharing his love of space flight.  A big bonus of including okra in your diet is the soluble fiber in this veggie is a powerhouse at lowering cholesterol.  Here is an easy to prepare STEWED OKRA recipe to celebrate the leading role the Southern city of Huntsville, Alabama played in the moon landing!

STEWED OKRA

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 – 14 ounce can stewed tomatoes

1 – 16 ounce package frozen cut okra, thawed

Heat the oil in a medium-size saucepan over low heat.  Cook the onion and the garlic 3 minutes or until soft.

Add the tomatoes: bring to a boil.  Add the okra and cook, covered, 10 minutes.  Uncover; simmer 20 minutes or until the okra is tender.

100_0647

OKRA STEW – YUMMY REDNECK COMFORT FOOD!

Recipe provided courtesy of John Wiley and Sons.  From the American Dietetic Association Cooking Healthy Across America by American Dietetic Association and Food and Culinary Professionals, a Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Copyright 2005, John Wiley and Sons.  Page 140.

In closing, my favorite quote from Wernher von Braun:  “My friends, there was dancing here in the streets of Huntsville when our first satellite orbited the earth.  There was dancing again when the first Americans landed on the moon.  I’d like to ask you, don’t hang up your dancing slippers.”

Source:  The 100th Birthday of Dr. Wernher von Braun exhibit at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama and the “Missile to Moon” DVD from Alabama Public Television.

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Jewish New Year…Southern Style!

| September 6, 2013 | No comments

Happy 5774!  Wishing you and your family many blessings this year!

My first blog post in March 2013 featured the culinary expertise of Tina Wasserman, author of “Entree to Judaism:  A Culinary Exploration of the Jewish Diaspora.”  This blog shares more of her knowledge of Jewish cuisine and features a recipe from her book.

Tina’s recipe that I am sharing today is LUBIYA or SEPHARDIC BLACK-EYED PEAS.  Since moving to Alabama, I participate in the Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on January 1st.  Grocery stores in the Heart of Dixie showcase black-eyed peas and collard greens at this time of year.  Eating these foods on New Year’s Day is suppose to bring you good luck throughout the new year.

Tina has a theory about this Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s day.  For over 2000 years, Ethiopian Jews have celebrated Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) by eating black-eyed peas.  Tina believes it is entirely possible that this custom spread to West Africa over the spice trading route, and the slaves learned about this recipe.  When the slaves came to the United States to work on the plantations in the South, they brought the recipe and the tradition of eating black-eyed peas at the beginnning of the New Year!

I know you have been waiting patiently, so here is Tina’s recipe for LUBIYA or SEPHARDIC BLACK-EYED PEAS!

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced into 1/4-inch pieces

2 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups water

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 pound fresh or frozen black-eyed peas

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1.  Heat a 3-quart pot over high heat for 20 seconds.  Add the olive oil and heat for another 10 seconds.  Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until the onions are lightly golden.

2.  Add the water and tomato paste, and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Add the peas and the cumin, and cook covered for 1-2 hours or until the peas are tender.  It might be necessary to add a small amount of additional water to the post if the mixture looks to dry.  Conversely, if the mixture is too soupy, continue to cook uncovered until some of the liquids has evaporated.

3.  Remove from the heat, and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.  Serve hot or at room temperature.  Serve alone or over rice.

Yield:  8 servings

TINA’S TIDBITS

* Peas need time to absorb water and expand.  Either soak the peas for a few hours before cooking, or cook them for a long time until they reach the desired consistency.

*Never put salt in the water prior to cooking beans, as it will harden the beans and prevent them from absorbing the watear and becoming soft.

*Save leftover tomato paste by scooping out tablespoons of the paste onto a sheet of plastic wrap.  Place them in the freezer, and when frozen, peel off the plastic and store in a freezer ziplock bag until needed.

Source:  Tina Wasserman.  Entree to Judaism:  A Culinary Exploration of the Jewish Diaspora.  New York:  URJ Press.  Copyright 2010.  Page 221

Tina Wasserman’s website is www.cookingandmore.com

Have fun preparing and tasting Tina’s Lubiya recipe.  It is sure to bring you good luck throughout the year! 😉

LUBIYA OR SEPHARDIC BLACK-EYED PEAS

100_0638

 

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Dr. Wernher von Braun – Life In Europe. (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)

| September 2, 2013 | No comments

My essay on Dr. Wernher von Braun -the man who led the US to landing on the moon in 1969.

WernherVonBraunLifeinGermany

A tribute to Dr. von Braun’s German roots, a German recipe!

OMI’S GERMAN CUCUMBER SALAD

1 to 2 medium cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced (about 2 1/2 cups)

1 cup water

1/4 cup white distilled vinegar

2 1/2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion (1/2 medium)

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried dill weed, or 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Place the cucumbers in a medium-sized bowl.  Mix the water, vinegar, onion, sugar, salt, dill, and pepper in a small bowl.  Pour over the cucumbers.  Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Nutrition per serving:

Serving size:  3/4 cup

Calories:  25 kcal

Fat: 0 gram

Saturated Fat:  0 gram

Cholesterol:  0 mg

Sodium: 590 mg

Carbohydrates:  6 grams

Dietary Fiber:  Less than 1 gram

Protein:  1 gram

Recipe provided courtesy of John Wiley and Sons.  From the American Dietetic Association Cooking Healthy Across America by American Dietetic Association and Food and Culinary Professionals, a Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Copyright 2005.  John Wiley and Sons.  Page 27

100_0631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Jiggy! Traditional Irish Music on the Mountain!

| August 25, 2013 | No comments

Last Thursday night Adam and I went to hear a local Traditional Irish Music Band called “SLIP JIG”.  The concert was held at the Burritt on the Mountain Museum.  An added bonus was when we witnessed a lovely sunset from this mountain top.

100_0617

Sunset View of Huntsville from Burritt on the Mountain

SLIPJIG was the name of the band that thrilled us with their Irish Traditional Music.  I never heard the term “slipjig” before this evening.  Slip jig refers to both a style in Irish music and dance.  The slip jig is in 9/8 time with accents on 5 of the 9 beats in Irish music.  In Irish dance, the slip jig is one of the four most common Irish step dances, along with the reel, jig, and hornpipe.

Initially, Adam groused that did not want to go to the concert, but I dragged him there anyway.  Slipjig performed a fun, foot-stomping, hand-clapping concert for the audience.  Adam enjoyed their music so much he purchased two of the CD’s.  To any male readers:  “Remember the wife is always right when planning fun times!”   Wait a minute…”Remember the wife is always right. Period!”

One of the band members of Slip Jig is Alfred Trotter, MD.  He is an Ears, Nose, and Throat Surgeon at the hospital that I work.  He played the wooden flute and the pennywhistle.  This was the first time in my life I ever got to see a pennywhistle.  I also learned from the guitar player, Mike, that Nashville, Tennessee has a strong Irish music presence. Could this be another reason Nashville is known as the “Music City?”  The fiddler, Phil, informed us that when playing Irish Traditional Music fiddle in America, it is a bit more lively than in Ireland…that’s what “crossing the Atlantic” did to Irish music!

I am a big fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her “Little House” books.  This concert reminded me of the times when Pa Ingalls entertained the citizens of DeSmet, South Dakota with his fiddle.  It was fun to make pretend I was Laura Ingalls Wilder in the late 1800’s!

In closing, a BIG THANK YOU to Slip Jig for a great evening of entertainment!

THE BAND – SLIP JIG

100_0626

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Nina’s Easy Homemade Sauerkraut

| August 18, 2013 | No comments

Adam and I are so lucky to have Nina as our dear friend.  When she visited us from Washington State in June, she made us tasty sauerkraut. Today we are polishing off the sauerkraut stash she left us.  Not to worry, here is her easy recipe so we can have more when it is done fermenting three days from now!

Nina’s Easy Homemade Sauerkraut

Ingredients:

2 cabbage heads

2 carrots (or more if you like a sweeter sauerkraut per Nina)

2 level Tablespoons of canning/pickling salt

1 Tablespoon Sugar

Directions:

Dice cabbage into small pieces.

Peel carrot and shred with grater.  Set aside.

Nina placed the cut-up cabbage and shredded carrots in my clean kitchen sink and mixed them together.  She sprinked a “handful” of pickling salt over these vegetables and began mixing the salt throughout the mixture.  Nina then started  “crimping” the cabbage/carrots to wring the moisture from the food.

100_0605

“CRIMPING AND SQUEEZING OUT THE EXCESS WATER”

The cabbage/carrot mixture was placed in a large bowl.  A tablespoon of sugar was mixed in, so the bacteria responsible for fermentation will have something to feed on.  The contents in the bowl were tamped down tightly and a plate was placed over the future sauerkraut.  To weigh the mixture down further, Nina placed a bowl of water on top of the plate.

100_0615

“HOW FUNNY!  USING AN ASIAN BOWL FILLED WITH WATER TO MAKE SURE OUR FUTURE SLAVIC DISH STAYS TAMPED DOWN!”

Patiently wait for three days and have fun watching the fermentation process! On day 3, enjoy eating yummy, nutritious sauerkraut!

For future use, pack tightly in glass jars and seal with canning lids. Refrigerate after opening jars.

THE LAST OF NINA’S YUMMY HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT IN POLISH STONEWARE FROM POLAND (POLSKA IN POLISH!)

100_0613

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Kicking Back in Kenosha!

| August 7, 2013 | No comments

Who would ever guess Kenosha, Wisconsin has great museums?  Formerly a hub of American Motors, this city is teaming with culture and history.

Adam and I first visited the Kenosha Public Museum last week to see the 37th National Exhibtion of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.   (I first blogged about this exhibit on May 28, 2013.)  We loved the amazing display of watercolor paintings!  We were not allowed to take pictures of the paintings or  I would place a photograph of every one on this blog.  Indeed, every painting was a feast for the eyes.

I am currently living in Huntsville, Alabama in the Deep South.  There is no museum dedicated to the Civil War here.  Curious and curiouser, there is one in Kenosha, Wisconsin!  It is dedicated to the role the Midwestern States of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa played in the Civil War.

I must say the docents of both museums bent over backward to help us learn.  What Wonderful Wisconsin Hospitality!

100_0571

KENOSHA’S CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

A great bonus of touring these museums is that they are located on the shore of Lake Michigan!  As a daughter of the the Great State of Wisconsin, the Great Lakes are a source of wonder and pride.  Consider visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the most southeastern corner of the Badger State!

KENOSHA’S LIGHTHOUSE ON LAKE MICHIGAN

100_0574

 

 

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

Margaret Mitchell and the Birthplace of “Gone With The Wind”

| July 26, 2013 | No comments

“Gone With The Wind” is, without a doubt, the most famous book and movie about Southern culture….in addition to being one of the top books and films of all time.  Last Sunday I met my friend, Dr. Julie Adams, in Atlanta.  She is a Psychologist from Washington State and was attending an OCD conference in “Hotlanta.”   Both of us are big “Gone With The Wind” fans, so we visited the home of it’s author, Margaret Mitchell.  I highly recommend visiting this great home/museum if you are in Atlanta!  This rest of this post will be filled with fun “Gone With The Wind” trivia.

“Gone With The Wind” was published in 1936 and was made into a movie in 1939.  David O. Selznick bought the rights from Margaret Mitchell for $50,000.  Kay Brown, a story editor, alerted him about the possibility of making this book into a movie. The premier of “Gone With The Wind” was held in Atlanta on December 11, 1939, accompanied by international fanfare.

William Kurtz was an acquaintance of Margaret Mitchell.  She wrote to him, “I know I am imposing on you and asking a great favor of you but would you read two and a half chapters of my book..and tell me if I am correct?”  He would become the man who would be responsible for the historical accuracy of the film.  He held the highest standards for Southern authenticity.  This was evidenced in the movie when Scarlett writes out a check to pay the taxes on Tara.  The check was an exact replica of the time, imprinted with The Atlanta National Bank.  A. Ausbell – President .

In the few interviews that Margaret Mitchell gave during her lifetime, she swore that “Gone With The Wind” was not an autobiographical novel.  While respecting Ms. Mitchell’s perspective, our tour guide let us decide if there was not a little bit of her life and history woven into the book.  For example, Scarlett O’Hara was a fiery feminist.  Margaret Mitchell’s mother, Mary Keller, was President of the Atlanta Suffragette Chapter.  Like most well-to-do Southern girls of her time, Margaret Mitchell was a debutante.  (This was done to please her father.  She did not care for this custom.)  One of her debutante duties was to perform before the very conservative, staid Junior League matrons.  Most debs sang or played the piano.  Margaret Mitchell scandalized the old biddies from the Junior League by dancing a sensual tango with a handsome young man in front of their faces.  Is this not reminiscent of when Scarlett danced the reel at the ball with Rhett Butler?

Margaret Mitchell did not live during the Civil War.  However, growing up she heard plenty of stories about the Civil War and the Reconstruction period from her grandparents and great grandparents.  She also loved to write from the time crayons and pens were put into her hands.  Her mother saved all of her little books that she wrote as a little girl and one was displayed in the museum/home.

The home that Dr. Julie and I toured was not the home she grew up in.  It was an apartment that she lived in with her second husband, John Marsh.  It was “the place” where she did write “Gone With The Wind.”  It consisted of a tiny living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.  My thought as I toured the place was “It must have been as hot as blazes living there in the days before air conditioning.”

Despite making millions from “Gone With The Wind”, Margaret Mitchell and her husband, for the most part, lived simply.  She did donate much of her fortune to charity.  One of her favorite charities was college scholarship money for African Americans.  As a matter of fact, the schooling of the first African American Pediatrician in Georgia was funded by her.

“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” is arguably one of the most famous lines from a book/movie.  Rhett Butler’s line almost did not make it into the movie.  For years it was rumored that David O. Selznick was fined $5000 for the use of the word “damn” in the movie by the Motion Picture Association of America.  However, prior to the release of “Gone With The Wind”, the Motion Picture Association changed its code to allow the words “hell” and “damn” when it is “a quotation from a literary work, provided that no such use shall be permitted which is intrinsically objectionable or offends good taste.”  Thank heaven they did so!  Can you imagine Clark Gable in his role as the dashing Rhett Butler declaring “Franky my dear, I don’t really care!”

Peach Dessert in a Punch Bowl

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

What Great Lesson Did Jen Teague, RN Learn At Diabetes Camp?

| July 18, 2013 | No comments

Witty.  Vivacious.  Winsome.  These are just a few of the positive attributes of Jen Teague, RN.  I could list many, many more.  She is a charge nurse at the hospital where I work.  Her big, beautiful smile radiates warmth and sunshine to patients and colleagues.  Unflappable, despite the demands of her stressful position.  My favorite thing about Jen is that she loves to share jokes and laughter.  What a blast it is to work with her!

540764_617426851605097_1697135415_n

JEN TEAGUE, RN

Jen Teague is also a Type 1 Diabetic.  She was diagnosed she was 15 years old.  SHE WAS NOT AT ALL HAPPY WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE NEWS.  “I would have pity parties with myself because I had diabetes.  I did not want to be diabetic. It was so unfair…none of my friends had to deal with a chronic disease.  I felt sad and depressed.”   reminisced Jen.

A major turning point in caring for her disease came when she attended Camp Seale Harris, a diabetes camp in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama.  “I was 16 years old when I went to Camp Seale Harris.  For the first time, I saw that I was not alone in having diabetes.  I got to meet diabetics my own age.  What a relief that was!  I learned I could handle this disease and not be ashamed of the fact that I was diabetic.”

Jen also loved participating in the many activities at Camp Seale Harris…swimming, riding on pontoon boats, canoeing, zip lines, a pizza party, and a teen dance, to name a few.  “There were also a lot of hot-looking guys there!” she gushed.  (Unfortunately, she did not get to kiss any of them!)

The fact that she attended Camp Seale Harris helped me with one of my patients.  “John” (not his real name), a teen diabetic, did not want to attend diabetes camp.  Jen took time out of her busy schedule on the floor to talk to him.  She shared the fact that she had tons of fun at Camp Seale Harris.  Jen is also a very clever nurse.  It was this comment by her that persuaded John to enroll in diabetes camp:  “Hey John” coaxed Jen,  “You know you might meet some cute girls at Camp Seale Harris!”  Thanks to Jen, John went to Camp Seale Harris, had a great time, learned to manage his diabetes, and, yes, met some very cute girls!

Her time spent at Camp Seale Harris was one of the reasons she decided to pursue a career in nursing.  “When my children are older, I hope to return to Camp Seale Harris as a nurse volunteer.”  I know the campers at Camp Seale Harris will love her as much as we do at Marshall Medical Center! 

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Blueberry Picking with Alabama’s First Master Gardener – Mary Lou McNabb

| July 9, 2013 | No comments

What a perfect day to pick blueberries!  Normally, the temperatures are in the mid 90’s (or higher!) during July in Alabama.  The outside temperature today was in the blissful mid 80’s.  Hallelujah, we got a repreive from the summer heat!  I celebrated by blueberry picking at MaryMac Farm. This farm is located in a beautiful valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, just outside of the Huntsville, Alabama city limits.

100_0559

MARYMAC FARM

Robert and Mary Lou McNabb are the owners.  What kind and hard-working people!  Mary Lou has the distinction of being the very first Master Gardener in the State of Alabama.  She brought her Master Gardener knowledge from New York State to Alabama in 1981.  Due to her deep devotion to this program, an award in her name is given out each year in Alabama.  A deserving candidate wins the Mary Lou McNabb Alabama Master Gardener of the Year Award.  I asked Robert McNabb if he too was a Master Gardener.  He smiled and chuckled, “Well, technically no, but I help my wife a lot with her Master Gardner duties.”

100_0560

MARY LOU AND ROBERT MCNABB

For those of you who are not familiar with the Master Gardener Program, it is a program of trained volunteers who share the love and knowledge of gardening.  It is in all 50 states and most counties.  My sister-in-law, Ann Drzewiecki is a Master Gardener in New London, Wisconsin.  Some of the programs staffed by Master Gardeners are school/youth garden activities, plant demonstration gardens, writing gardening articles, horticulture therapy, assisting at garden shows and more.

Here is a delicious recipe for blueberries from the GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION.  Their website is www.GeorgiaBlueberry.com

(Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I substituted Alabama blueberries…I did not have time to drive to Georgia to pick berries today.  I also subbed Bibb lettuce from my container garden for the Romaine lettuce because it was ripe for the picking.)

Georgia Blueberry and Mandarin Orange Salad with Toasted Pecans

Ingredients:

1 head romaine lettuce

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup mandarin orange segments

1 cup pecans*

1 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted*

Red onion cut into rings

Blueberry vinaigrette (Recipe follows)

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Chop lettuce.  Mix with Georgia blueberries, orange segments, onion, and toasted pecans.  Pour vinaigrette over salad and toss.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1 cup Georgia blueberries

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 cup sugar

2 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice

Place Georgia blueberries, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and orange juice into blender.  Blend until smooth, streaming in the olive oil while the blender is running.  Continue blending until emulsified.

*Tip on how to toast the pecans:  Put the butter and pecans in a micrwaveable dish.  Microwave on High for about two minutes:  Start for thirty seconds, stop, stir.  Repeat about four times.  I knew my pecans were toasted to perfection when my hubby stepped in the kitchen, inhaled deeply and said, “What is that great aroma wafting around the kitchen!”

Tip from the McNabbs:  Blueberries can keep in the freezer for two years

Here is a picture of Georgia Blueberry and Mandarin Orange Salad with Toasted Pecans!

100_0569

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »