Found this online and thought that it looked interesting.  Don't know if they work or not.  Someone will have to let me know.
Lynn

Silence Hiccups

Take the deepest breath you can, hold it for 10 seconds, then, without exhaling, suck in more air and hold it for five more seconds. Finally--still without exhaling!--breathe in as much more air as you can squeeze in, hold for another five seconds, and exhale. Then breathe normally. This technique immobilizes the diaphragm (the muscle at the base of your lungs), preventing the spasms. Luc Morris, M. D., and his colleagues at the New York University School of Medicine tested the method on 30 patients who were prone to frequent hiccups. "It worked immediately on everyone who could do it," he says. 

Break a Fainting Spell

Cross your legs, squeeze your thighs, and contract your abs. You can feel faint when your blood pressure drops and blood pools in your extremities. By tensing muscles, you keep your BP up and divert blood back to your heart and brain. University of Amsterdam researchers who tested muscle-tightening exercises found that they reduced the risk of passing out by 30 percent.

Heal Nighttime Heartburn

Feeling the fire? Sleep on your left side. This preserves the natural curve of the esophagus, which helps keep stomach acid from creeping up. (When you sleep on your back or on your right side, gravity straightens out the curve.) A study by Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia found that frequent heartburn sufferers had fewer episodes when they slept on their left sides than when they slept on their backs or right sides. 

Stop Needle Pain

Make your next flu shot feel less piercing by putting pressure around the area that's about to be stuck, says Ross I. Donaldson, M.D., M.P.H., assistant clinical professor of medicine at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. "Make a circle with your thumb and forefinger and push down for a few seconds as you're receiving the shot," he says. By stimulating receptors for pressure or touch, you can override nearby pain receptors in your skin. "It confuses your nerves, so a shot feels more like a gentle poke than a sharp jab," Donaldson says. 

Beat Brain Freeze

Fold the tip of your tongue backward and stick the bottom of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. The warmth will help heat up the nerves in your palette and cause the blood flow to your brain to normalize, says Jorge Serrador, M.D. of Harvard Medical School, who has researched the mechanisms at work during brain freeze. You can also sip slowly so your body has time to heat the tissue in the roof of your mouth and cup your hands around your mouth like you would in the winter and exhale deeply. Doing so will trap warm air in your mouth and help thaw your noggin, 

Prevent Motion Sickness

Seat yourself wisely: "Always ride where your eyes will see the same motion that your ears and body feel," says Keri Peterson, M.D. internal medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and Women's Health advisor. So in a car, ride in the front seat; on a boat, position yourself on the deck and keep your eyes on the horizon; on an airplane, try to score a window seat over the wing of the plane, Peterson suggests.

Relieve Stress

Tap on your body's acupressure points while repeating certain statements aloud, says Jessica Ortner, co-producer of The Tapping Solution, a documentary film that explores tapping.

Research shows that the Emotional Freedom Technique (a.k.a. EFT or tapping), a treatment which combines ancient Chinese acupressure with modern psychology, can reduce cortisol levels in the body and counteract the negative impact of stress by sending a calming signal to the amygdala (the part of our brain responsible for our fight or flight response).

Start by using the tip of your index and middle fingers to rhythmically tap the side of your hand point while saying the "setup statement" aloud (speaking out loud will help with focus): "Even though I have this problem [insert your particular problem, such as neck pain, stress from a deadline, or anxiety], I accept myself." Repeat three times. 

Tap briefly where the eyebrow begins at the bridge of your nose, to the side of your eye, under your eye, under your nose, on your chin, on your collarbone point, under your arm, and on top of your head while you express how you feel aloud, as if you're venting to a friend. Then repeat on the other side. 

Hold Back Tears

If you're tearing up at an inappropriate moment, just clear your throat. "It interrupts the mechanism in the nasal passage and larynx that controls crying," says Rebecca Nagy, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based meditation expert. Plus, after you clear your throat, you tend to swallow. This lifts your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which blocks the soft palate, making you unable to cry. "I've suggested this technique many times to brides and grooms who had trouble getting through their vows," Nagy says.

I found this article on line and thought it was great


5 Surprising Ways to Use a Hair Dryer

1. Detach a photo from an album. To work a delicate photograph off one of those sticky pages, blow warm air onto the back of the page while gently tugging the photo free.

2. Dust tough-to-reach places. Set the dryer on cool and point it at dusty shelves or intricate knickknacks to blow the debris right off. (Start from the highest shelf to make gravity work for you.)

3. Dewrinkle plastic shower curtains or table-cloths. Blow hot air onto fresh-out-of-the-bag material to "iron" out wrinkles-just keep the dryer 12 inches from the surface so it won't melt.

4. Perfect frosting or icing. To harden frosting on cakes or cookies, blow cool air directly on it. To brighten a dull finish, give the icing a hit of hot air.

5. Erase crayon marks or wax spills. Kids gone wild? Blow-dry the stain on high until the wax melts, then wipe with a soapy sponge.

How to Fix Common Cooking Mistakes

I found this online and thought it very good...I have been guilty of doing many of the "Why its bad" things.....
Lynn


How to Fix Common Cooking Mistakes
By Real Simple Magazine – Wed, Dec 28, 2011 3:24 PM EST

Do you always burn the garlic or turn pasta into a gummy mess? Learn how to avoid these all-too-common cooking mistakes. By Melissa Clark


Boiling Pasta in a Pot That's Too Small Why it's bad:
For starters, if you use long noodles, they might not fit unless you break them first. But regardless of the pasta's shape or size, it will probably end up sticky and gummy. "When you add pasta to a small amount of water, it lowers the temperature of the water substantially more than if you added it to a large amount of water, so the water will take longer to return to a boil. In the meantime, the pasta will sit at the bottom of the pot and start to clump up and become mushy unless you are vigilant about stirring," says chef Michael Symon, the owner of five restaurants in Cleveland and an Iron Chef on the Food Network's Iron Chef America. Also, your ratio of pasta starch to water will be too high--another cause of sticking.

Do this instead:
Unless you are cooking a single serving of pasta (in which case you can get away with a smaller pot), do as Italian grandmothers do: Fill a large pot (5 to 6 quarts) with water and let it come to a rapid boil. Then add 2 tablespoons of salt (don't be shy--professional chefs say pasta water should taste as salty as the sea). Finally, add the pasta and stir it occasionally until it's al dente.


Using the Wrong Knife Why it's bad:
You'll damage your food. If you've ever tried to slice a baguette with a chef's knife and flattened it as a result, you understand. What's more, when you select the proper knife for the job, you have better control over the blade. This allows you to slice and dice more neatly and efficiently--and helps you keep your digits intact.

Do this instead:
Opt for a chef's knife (the big one with the long, wide blade) for most chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing jobs. It gives you the best leverage, which is particularly helpful when you're dealing with firm ingredients (like onions and squash) or cutting things into small pieces (like garlic and fresh herbs). A small, slim paring knife is best for tasks such as peeling and removing pits, seeds, stems, and potato eyes. Pick up a serrated knife (with the sharp teeth) for bread and bagels; delicate pastries, like meringues and cream puffs (the blade won't compact the layers); and smooth-skinned fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes and plums.


Using a Tiny Cutting Board Why it's bad:
You won't have room to maneuver a knife, which increases your risk of cutting yourself. You'll also make a mess and waste time corralling ingredients that fall off the board.

Do this instead:
Think small knife, small board; big knife, big board. You can use a little board for a quick task, like cutting a lemon into wedges with a paring knife. But since most kitchen prep work requires a chef's knife, you probably need a board that is at least 12 by 15 inches. It should be large enough to hold ingredients at every stage of the process. For example, if you're chopping celery, you want room for both the stalks you start with and the pile of cut pieces you end up with. Before you begin, place a damp paper towel or dishcloth underneath the board to prevent it from slipping around on the counter.


Storing Tomatoes in the Refrigerator Why it's bad:
Tomatoes have delicate cells, and excess cold (or heat, for that matter) causes the cell walls to burst, leaving the tomatoes mealy, says Aki Kamozawa, the author of Ideas in Food: Great Recipes and Why They Work ($25, amazon.com). The flavor-producing enzymes are also destroyed, rendering the tomatoes tasteless.

Do this instead:
Keep tomatoes on the kitchen counter in a single layer for maximum air circulation, and avoid putting them in direct sunlight. (You can leave cherry and grape tomatoes in their packaging, so long as it contains holes.) To speed ripening, place tomatoes in a paper bag with an apple, which emits ethylene gas, a ripening agent. Once ripe, they'll last for up to 3 days. Some varieties, like plum tomatoes, will keep for up to 5 days.


Putting Good Knives in the Dishwasher Why it's bad:
Convenience comes at a price. The high-pressure water jets in a dishwasher cause knife blades to knock against other utensils in the silverware basket, dulling and damaging them over time, says Symon. (Unfortunately, a dishwasher that has a specially designed knife rack isn't much better: The blades can still rattle against the sides of the rack.) Additionally, the intense heat of the drying cycle can cause knife handles to warp, which will eventually loosen the rivets.

Do this instead:
Wash knives by hand. Hold the handle so the blade faces away from you and wipe it clean with a sponge. Dry knives immediately to avoid the risk of discoloration from water droplets left on the blades. Just a few seconds of work will add years to the lives of your knives.


Overcrowding the Pan Why it's bad:
Most of us pile chicken breasts into a skillet or heap oven fries onto a baking sheet if we're in a hurry or we want fewer dishes to wash. But when a pan is stuffed, the heat that rises from the cooking surface becomes trapped under the food and creates steam, making oven fries limp and preventing chicken breasts from getting that delectable caramelized crust.

Do this instead:
To help ingredients brown (which gives food flavor and locks in moisture), make sure the pieces aren't touching one another in the pan. Patting damp food dry with a paper towel before cooking also helps. Don't have a large enough skillet or baking sheet? Cook in batches, keeping the first batch warm on a plate tented with foil or in a low-temperature oven while you prepare the second. Or use two skillets or baking sheets (switch the position of the baking sheets in the oven halfway through the cooking time).


Choosing Lean Ground Beef Why it's bad:
Nothing is sadder than a dull, dry burger or meatball, which you're virtually guaranteed to get if you use lean beef. Fat bastes the meat as it cooks, keeping it rich and moist. When you opt for 90 percent lean ground beef, there's simply less of the good stuff to make the food tasty.

Do this instead:
Go with ground chuck, which is typically only 80 or 85 percent lean. And don't worry about the extra fat, says Kamozawa: "A lot of it drains off during cooking--as much as 15 percent. So the 80 percent beef you start with can end up being closer to 90 or 95 percent lean as long as you drain the fat from the pan." And as the fat drains, it loosens the interior structure of the meat, so you end up with a less dense--and therefore more tender--burger.


Overmixing Doughs and Batters Why it's bad:
Overmixing flour activates the gluten, a protein that can give baked goods a firm and elastic structure--delicious in a chewy pizza crust but less so in a delicate pastry.

Do this instead:
Go slow and gentle for tender cakes and flaky piecrusts. When adding dry ingredients to cookie and cake batters, use the lowest speed on an electric mixer or mix by hand until just combined. A few lumps in the batter are fine. For piecrust, whether you use a food processor or mix by hand, work the dough as little as possible. Visible bits of butter and streaks of flour are desirable.



Cooking With a Cold Pan--and Cold Oil or Butter Why it's bad:
If the oil isn't hot enough, those sautéed vegetables will adhere to the pan like glue, giving you a tough scrubbing job later on. A hot pan and oil bond to create a surface that's virtually nonstick. (Want more incentive to preheat your skillet?

Do this instead:
Heat an empty pan for at least 1 or 2 minutes. The pan is ready when you can hold your hand about 3 inches above it and feel the heat radiating from the surface. Then add the fat. Oil will shimmer when it's hot; butter should melt and foam. One exception: If you're using a nonstick pan to brown delicate foods, add the oil or butter before turning on the heat, since some nonstick pans release fumes when they're heated up empty for an extended period.

Great goals for the New Year

I saw this, liked it, and then stole it to post here. I dont know who the author is but kudos to them for the thoughts.

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.

2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.

4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.

7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.

8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.

9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.

12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.

16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.

18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.

19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.

24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.

25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.

26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.

27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.

28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.

30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing

Uses for Olive Oil

Ease snoring
Taking a sip of olive oil before heading to bed can help lubricate your throat muscles, cutting down on snoring, according to the handy website AltUse. We won't tell if you drizzle some extra olive oil on Grandma's salad the next time she comes to visit!
Others have noted that downing a teaspoon of olive oil can help soothe a scratchy or ticklish throat.


Cure an earache
A number of folks swear by olive oil as a natural remedy for earaches. One suggestion is to "very carefully use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax." One online tip suggests: Heat up some olive oil in a microwave for 30 seconds then apply it to the ear that hurts for relief.


Tame tangled and damaged hair
Olive oil also has benefits for hair. Comb a bit of the stuff through dry or frizzy hair to help tame and moisturize your locks, especially in winter or on humid days.
Olive oil can also provide some relief for damaged hair. In the book Clean Body, Michael de Jong suggests treating your tresses by kneading a few tablespoons of olive oil into your scalp and hair. "Swathe your oiled-up curls with a shower cap and take a 30-minute breather ... snooze, toss back a latté, whatever. Then just shampoo as usual to reveal a refurbished mane that even Fabio would envy," he writes.



Get healthy skin (and fight cancer!)
People have used olive oil for centuries for personal care. It is a great skin moisturizer, in part because it contains linoleic acid, a compound not made by the body, but which prevents water from evaporating.
According to Leslie Baumann, M.D., author of The Skin Type Solution, consuming olives and olive oil can promote healthy skin, as can applying it directly as a moisturizer. You can also add a bit of olive oil to a warm bath for a good healthy soak.
Some of the most exciting news, according to Baumann, is that olive oil also contains at least four different antioxidants, which can help "neutralize damaging free radicals that can lead to skin aging and skin cancer." Baumann writes that, in studies, mice that drank extra-virgin olive oil developed less skin cancer after exposure to UV light.
Olive oil can also provide a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. As a soothing aftershave, rub in an extra teaspoon of the stuff after rinsing off. In fact, some products from The Art of Shaving are based on olive oil.
Similarly, olive oil can soothe chapped lips. Make your own balm by mixing olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio (add an essential oil if you want a nice fragrance).
According to AltUse, you can moisturize your cuticles by soaking in olive oil mixed with water, or apply olive oil directly to cuticles before applying polish or buffing nails.


Care for your cat
Just as humans can benefit from grooming with olive oil, so can cats Fluffy and Mittens. According to curbly.com, add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food to help prevent hairballs, as well as promote a shiny, healthy coat. Olive oil is likely to be more gentle on a cat's system than petroleum-based anti-hairball lubricants. Plus, it has the benefit of coming from a renewable resource, as opposed to oil from the ground.



Free stuck zippers
There are few things more annoying than stuck zippers (remember that episode of Seinfeld when George visits his therapist?).
So if you are vexed by this particular problem, break out the olive oil. Swab some of the stuff on the teeth of the zipper, then try gently easing it unstuck. Good luck!


Polish furniture and metal (and condition leather)
Silverware, copper, and other metal items can be polished with ketchup or toothpaste. After you're done rub a bit of olive oil on to prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.
To polish your wood desk according to Michael de Jong, use two parts olive oil mixed with one part lemon juice. Pour just a few drops on a soft cloth, wipe away the dust, scuffs, and fingerprints, and your desk will shine. This technique works well for a range of wooden furniture and objects.
You can also condition and revitalize leather goods, such as baseball mitts, by rubbing in olive oil. Let set for 30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.


Fix squeaky doors
Olive oil can be used as a lubricant in many applications. It's safe to keep around the house, so you don’t have to worry about children or pets getting into it. Try it out on squeaky doors, hinges, and anywhere else you might consider using WD-40 or another lubricant.
While WD-40 may work well, it's also based on hydrocarbons, so any time we can use less of those we're taking a step toward a cleaner world.



Other uses?
Some folks also swear by the alternative health treatment ozonated olive oil, which is made by bubbling ozone into the oil until it forms a paste. The result is said to be good for soothing skin and promoting healing. We haven't had a chance yet to try it for ourselves, but if anyone has any experience with it let us know!

"Five Habits of Happy People"

Here are excerpts of Wm J. Monahan's "Five Habits of Happy People" which I feel all of us could use in our lives to not only help ourselves but to help our neighbors, our family, our community and our nation.

1. "Service - Serving others is the hallmark of a happy people. ... Serving others is a matter of the heart, not the calendar. Ironically, service yields its sweetest fruit from high-hanging branches when we reach up from our lowest points; especially the valley of our own trouble and trial. Lifting the burdens of others makes our own burdens easier to bear.


2. Love - President Uchtdorf (from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has said, "Love is the true altitude of our discipleship" and because love is the greatest commandment, it ought to be at the center of everything we do in our own family, in our church callings and in our livelihood."


3. Gratitude - ... Practice daily gratitude.


4. Self-Control - The more control from within, the less control from without. Happy is the person who is free from the chains of addiction or unbridled desire.


5. Resilience - Is resilience a habit? It can be. ... The habit of responding to adversity with a consistent and eternal perspective allows us to bounce back. When we recognize that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, we can endure anything because Jesus endured everything on our behalf. Faith fuels resilience and is essential for peace of mind. Peace of mind and happiness go hand in hand."

-Shelly

Mornings at the Pentagon

My sister sent this to me via E-mail nd I thought it worth repeating.

I thought I would pass this on to you I think it is awsome!!!
A great memorial day.


I WOULD BET THERE IS NOT ONE IN 500,000 THAT KNOW THIS, OR EVEN HEARD ABOUT IT. DID YOU KNOW???


Every Friday At The Pentagon
I was not aware of this practice until now. I am pleased that it happens, And am astounded that it does happen, Given the political situation that exists in our government today.

It really breaks my heart to know that we didn't know this goes on every Friday, well at least I didn't know.
Instead, I guess the media feels it's more important to report on Hollywood stars as heroes.
I hope this article gives you a sense of pride for what our men and women are doing for us, Every day, as they serve in the armed forces here and abroad.

IT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY! WERE YOU AWARE?

________________________________


Mornings at the Pentagon

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers
Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war.

Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col.. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.
____________________________________________________________


"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

"This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

"Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

"The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... Yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30.. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

"They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

"These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.”

Shampoo Alert !!!

As I was conditioning my hair in the shower this morning, I took time to read my shampoo bottle. I am in shock! The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my entire body says "for extra volume and body"! Seriously, why have I not noticed this before? Now I understand why I am so "full-figured"!

Tomorrow I am going to start using "Dawn" dish soap. It says right on the label "dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove."

It pays to read the labels! ;)

-Shelly

(Received by way of e-mail from my friend, Evelyn Gowans, who worked w/me at the Health Dept. in UT.)

Parenting Notes

Lynn and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, more commonly known to the world as the Mormons. Lynn and I have not been blessed in our home life with the pitter patter of little feet on our linoleum floors; however, we are encompassed and surrounded by extraordinary nieces, nephews and beautiful young men and women whom we cherish and feel extremely close to and love very much.

We have been discussing in our church meetings some of the challenges parents have right now as they are raising children to become influential citizens and meaningful adults. The Bishop in our ward provided us with a list that he and his wife came up with on ways he which we could be better parents, more efficient aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, etc., to those children and the youth in our lives. It is my hope that our Bishop's list can be as beneficial to you as it was to us.

1. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH.



2. PROVIDE A 2-MINUTE WARNING.



3. THERE ARE ONLY THREE SITUATIONS FOR LISTENING TO CHILDREN WHINE, THEY ARE 'HUNGRY', 'TIRED', AND 'SICK'.



4. LEARN TO SAY NO.



5. IF IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHILD, IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO YOU.



6. SHOW PHYSICAL LOVE.



7. APOLOGIZE SINCERELY.



8. ADMIT MISTAKES TO CHILDREN.



9. ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE MISTAKES AND TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.



10. SET EXPECTATIONS FOR STANDARDS AND RENEW THEM OFTEN.



11. LET CHILDREN HAVE RESPONSIBILITY (AND CONSEQUENCES).



12. LET CHILDREN TEACH EACH OTHER.



13. PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A HOBBY/SPORT THAT CONSUMES THEM (ANYTHING THAT IS LAWFUL AND ETHICAL), BUT DO NOT OVERSCHEDULE (FOCUS ON THE ACTIVITY).



14. TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO WORK (EARN EXTRA MONEY FOR EXTRA EFFORT).



15. 10-MINUTE CLEAN RULE - SET EXPECTATION FOR COMPLETION.



16. CONSISTENCY AND TRADITIONS (FAMILY HOME EVENING, FAMILY COUNSEL).



17. HAVE THEM BE ANXIOUSLY ENGAGED.



18. SCRIPTURE STUDY AND DISCUSSION.



19. RESPECT THAT SOME CHILDREN LEARN LESSONS AT DIFFERENT RATES.



20. PROFILE HOW CHILDREN LEARN, INTERACT, AND DEVELOP, AND FOLLOW AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPECTATIONS.



21. SHOW LOVE AND KINDNESS TO SPOUSE AT ALL TIMES IN FRONT OF CHILDREN.



22. THE GOAL IS SELF-RELIANCE AND INTERDEPENDENCE. WEAN WHEN SIGNS OF INTERDEPENDENCE ARE NOTICED AND SEEN.



23. THE PLAN OF SALVATION ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS-BE WILLING TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE POOR DECISIONS.



24. DESCRIBE THE "WHY" OF DECISIONS, NOT JUST "NO".



25. GIVE CHOICES TO ENCOURAGE GOOD PLAN OF SALVATION DECISIONS.

*Bishop Ken Fisher

True Meaning of Stress

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!”