Memorial Day Tribute

Last week as I drove from my home to my office, I noticed American flags had been hung on the telephone poles along Main Street near the Town Hall in Trumbull, CT, in anticipation of Memorial Day...


Seeing the flags waving each day reminded me of
the importance of remembering those who have
made the ultimate sacrifice for We the People....






Here are some of the historical markers in honor of those who have served this country that I found around my towns...



On a wall of the Trumbull Town Hall is a bronze etching...A Salute to Women - Veterans Day 1999
'Our community honors mothers, wives, daughters and sisters who during times of war joined their uniformed men in service as well as "kept the home fires burning" unselfishly entering the factories, shops & mills turning America into 'The Arsenal of Democracy" So vital and necessary for "victory".'

On the lawn in front of the Town Hall there is a monument to the town's World War I residents who lost their lives....

Just a few steps away is the Trumbull Veterans Memorial...Dedicated to the honor and sacrifice of the men and women of this community who seved our country in all wars...

On the back of this monument is a list of Trumbull residents who gave their lives in the service of their country from the French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam... The name of the first Trumbull resident to die in Vietnam is Gerald Bourdeau, who I knew growing up...he was the first person I knew to die in 'my generation's war.....

Just down the road from my office is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park... A bronze plaque is inscribed "Vietnam War" The Trumbull Beautification Commission dedicates this park as a living memorial to the men and women of Trumbull who served their country during the Vietnam War. 'Your Sacrifice Is Not Forgotten'....

At the Easton Town Hall there is a marble monument to those Easton residents who

served in World War II and Korea...

"Lest We Forget" In memory of the Easton Veterans of World War II and Korea...

After a long struggle the town recently approved the placement of a memorial to an Easton resident and his family who were killed on September 11, 2001, passengers on the plane from Boston that was crashed into the World Trade Towers....Certainly there will be future memorials to those who have served & sacrificed in Iraq & Afghanistan....

Today in recognition of those individuals, known and never known, and to those who serve in the Armed Forces today all around the world, I will pause and remember that their sacrifices allow me, mine and everyone in these United States to be free to say, do and be what one chooses....

In 2000, President William J. Clinton signed

a proclamation calling for a National Moment of

Remembrance, a moment of silence at 3 p.m.

Memorial Day....I for one will remember to pause to say 'thank you' today...

High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diets

This information came from the WebMD site - a trustworthy site, and I wanted to make sure it was credible. I've been reading for years about the success stories of those who lose weight on high protein diets - and I have no doubt that they're true. But I have also heard that there are many problems with high protein diets (so I'll warn you that I already had a slanted point of view) . I still think the most important thing about dieting is to eat the things you can continue eating for a life time.

"High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have been widely promoted in recent years as an effective approach to losing weight. These diets generally recommend dieters receive 30% to 50% of their total calories from protein. By comparison, the American Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the American Cancer Society all recommend a diet in which a smaller percentage of calories are derived from protein (nutrients essential to the building, maintenance, and repair of tissues in the body).

..... Most experts are concerned that high-protein, low carb diets can cause a host of problems, particularly for the large segment of the population that is at risk for heart disease. What's more, the plan doesn't permit a high intake of fruits and vegetables, recommended by most nutrition experts because of the numerous documented health benefits from these foods.

The experts say to achieve permanent weight loss you must change your lifestyle. This means following a lower calorie diet that includes grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables combined with participating in regular physical activity."

High protein diets can cause a number of health problems, including:

* Kidney failure. Consuming too much protein puts a strain on the kidneys, which can make a person susceptible to kidney disease.
* High cholesterol. It is well known that high protein diets (consisting of red meat, whole dairy products, and other high fat foods) are linked to high cholesterol. Studies have linked high cholesterol levels to an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke and cancer.
* Osteoporosis and kidney stones. High protein diets have also been shown to cause people to excrete more calcium than normal through their urine. Over a prolonged period of time, this can increase a person's risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
* Cancer. One of the reasons high protein diets increase the risks of certain health problems is because of the avoidance of carbohydrate-containing foods and the vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants they contain. It is therefore important to obtain your protein from a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Not only are your needs for protein being met, but you are also helping to reduce your risk of developing cancer.
* Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low carb diets can cause your body to go into a dangerous metabolic state called ketosis since your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. During ketosis, the body forms substances known as ketones, which can cause organs to fail and result in gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can also dull a person's appetite, cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day. http://women.webmd.com/guide/high-protein-low-carbohydrate-diets

Easy Tips to Lose One Pound a Week

I've been thinking a lot about how it is important to lose just a pound or two a week when dieting, because losing slowly is the best way to keep the weight off and can create some life long habits that make it easier to maintain your target weight and to feel better for the rest of your life. Good nutritional habits are not something that ever came naturally to me - so I've had to spend a lot of years just convincing myself how important it is. I agree with others here, donuts and all the things we eat occasionally are fine - it's the things we eat every day that are so important.

I looked for a sight to give me some ideas for this post, and this is the first one that came up (and it's exactly what I was looking for).

Easy Tips to Lose One Pound a Week: "You must burn 3500 calories to lose a pound. That sounds like a lot of calories. But if you break it down in seven days - one week - that is only 500 less calories each day. If you add exercise you can cut your calorie intake by 300 calories and burn off 200 calories. Cutting out 500 calories (or less) per day from your diet can be as simple as trading in your regular soda for diet soda, downsizing each meal by one-fourth, or cutting out unnecessary foods such as candy bars or alcoholic beverages. One candy bar can have 260 calories in it! If you eliminate that every day you are half-way there."

While you are decreasing your calorie intake, make sure you are including a variety of foods to maintain the nutrients your body needs to function properly. Choose foods from all five food groups, limiting high fat or high sugar foods. A balanced diet should include:
* One source of lean meat or protein rich food
* One serving of complex carbohydrates
* Two-three servings of vegetables and fruit at each meal
* One serving each of dairy and whole grains

Eat five smaller meals and healthy snacks each day instead of the traditional three, you are less likely to overeat this way and will maintain your energy level. And don't feel you have to completely cut out fats. A little fat is important to help your muscles burn energy. If you eat no fat at all, your fat reserves will be slow in giving up what is stored in your body. That result is slower weight loss."

So, how do you find ways to cut out calories without starving? Here are some tips: http://www.weight-loss-diet-help.com/tips/easy-tips.html

..... this site goes on to talk about exercise, calories and everything else regarding weight control and good health - and it's simplified and organized, with lots of links to go to also. An excellent source of information on making small changes easy.

Louisianans take oil cleanup in own hands as frustration mounts

What Louisiana is doing to control the damage of this oil spill to wildlife is so great, that I'd like to focus on it.

"Frustrated Louisianans took the oil cleanup into their own hands Sunday, heading out in boats to lay protective booms around a bird sanctuary threatened by a black tide.

"We're going out to Cat Island right now where a thousand pelicans are breeding," Billy Nungesser, president of the coastal Plaquemines Parish told AFP.

Some of the birds at the island sanctuary have already been coated in oil and have carried it back to the nests, he said.

While they're not trying to rescue the oiled birds for fear of doing more harm than good, Nungesser said local residents refused to stand idly by as more oil lapped up into the fragile wetland.

"Our crews are out there laying the absorbent boom," he said, adding that he couldn't understand why BP and the Coast Guard weren't doing more to protect his coastal parish.

In neighboring Jefferson Parish an emergency manager commandeered all 40 boom-laying boats hired by BP which were sitting idly at Grand Isle as oil sloshed onto beaches.

Bloggers and callers to a radio talk show cheered the dramatic action late Saturday night, promising the official their votes if he sought elective office.

Even after (hurricane) Katrina, we knew things would eventually get back to normal," Roy said. "With the spill, we're just unsure." Louisianans take oil cleanup in own hands as frustration mounts

Those greedy bastards don't know what they have done to our Mother!

I borrowed a picture from, "PHOTO BY TED JACKSON / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE An oily mess inundates the Roseau Grasses that mark the coastline of Southeast Louisiana at Pass a Loutre at the mouth of the Mississippi River" I hope they don't mind.

I have tried to avoid looking, listening and thinking about this awful mess. Our sister Swamp feels the pain and this morning I cry and Mother Earth cries.


New life at the Swamp to contrast the death in some of our marshes.

These are my tomatoes and a bell pepper.

This is one of my cucumbers

Musings and news from the health world

I meant to link this article the other day, but decided today to make it a post, for GOOD LUCK

OVERTIME WORK IS BAD FOR THE HEART
"Ecg Who didn't suspect it? Working overtime, according to a long-term study, may do a number on the ticker. The finding, which was published in the European Heart Journal, found that rates of angina, nonfatal heart attacks and death from heart-related conditions was 60% higher in people who worked at least three hours beyond "the normal, seven-hour day" compared with those who didn't work that amount of overtime..... ( We won't quibble about the "normal seven-hour day).

Maybe they were stressed out from all that work (chronic stress is bad for the heart). Perhaps they got less sleep ( sleep deprivation seems to be linked to more and more health problems with each passing day). Maybe lonely people tend to work more overtime. Maybe chronic workers go to work when they're sick instead of staying at home in bed, as they should.

Whatever the answer to the chicken-egg question that these population studies (even the best of them) tend to leave one with, it might be good to play it safe and eschew wee-hour stints at the office in favor of taking a stroll or pulling a weed or two in the garden." Research shows 'normal' work day may be better for your ticker.

RACHAEL MADDOW ON PRIMARIES: 'VIBRATING OFF MY SEAT'...

Well, it's obvious that Rachael takes elections very seriously.
Maddow's "Matthews Moment"

I know everyone has alerady heard this story, and so am just pointing it out. But it sure does fit into what some of us have been hoping for: that voters would show their anger at the polls. It sends a strong message to DC - I just hope they're listening.

Voters back anti-DC, anti-establishment candidates
"Dealt fresh blows from an angry electorate, Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington on Wednesday studied the defeats of Senate incumbents and hand-picked candidates in hopes of learning lessons to avoid losses in other upcoming primaries if not the fall election.

Any doubt about just how toxic the political environment is for congressional lawmakers and candidates preferred by party leaders disappeared the night before, when voters fired Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, forced Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln into a runoff in Arkansas and chose tea party darling Rand Paul to be the GOP nominee in Kentucky's Senate race." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100519/ap_on_re_us/us_primary_rdp