Thanks Flora for the strawberries, bringing the garden inside

Strawberries from garden

Part of walking is eating healthy food and at the right portions. Putting the right food in our bodies helps our health. So far with that no big revelation. One of the things I have done right these last 5 1/2 years is each day to have five to nine portions of fruits and veggies every day. The truth is with the pain in my ankle gone and a recovery from depression I have gone back to being more mindful of what and how much I am eating. For several weeks now I take it a day at a time. I have reduced my carb portions and made sure I surrounded my plate with veggies. I m mindful again of late night eating and with the walking no surprise, I am starting to lose weight again.
I have shared these ideas before on the blog which reminds me healthy eating has to become a lifestyle. If you are like me and link food somehow to emotional eating you know it ain't easy.
I have learned new things and I think it has done me well. But like weeds in the garden, we have to weed our diet. Old habits die hard. Being healthy emotionally and free from the pinched nerve, I have the focus to do some weeding.
The beautiful strawberries come from an old friend who gave us 12 plants when she moved to start our patch. (I'll write about my friend Flora, she is 99) Over the years my yard along the fence has been claimed by the patch. This year the early warmth and in the last weeks occasional rain has produced a bumper crop. Along with the patch we have a large garden and herb garden. Growing fresh veggies is all part of a healthy life. The herbs help us trade fat for taste. These foods in our diet helps us against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. There is no question about it, these diseases are our three enemies against a long and quality life. Remember 5 is fine 9 divine in fruits and veggies.

Gosh they are good looking and smart
Liam, Tanya, Billy

Tanya my daughter in law has been transforming our porch and yard with flowering plants. Her and I are in agreement to bring the garden indoors. I saw this in California at Robert's and Janet's home where when you look out each window there was a view to be had filled with plants and flowers. When you went outdoors there were sitting places to also give great views of the gardens he planted that blended with the mountains around them. Closer to home my friend Ken Gill has made an oasis in his back yard.   For me it was like a revelation. I don't have the mountains but my neighbor has a love for a garden and we are planting a wall of beauty between our two yards. My other neighbor knows veggie gardens, what I have learned from him has made me a gardener. A garden doesn't half to be perfect. To have shared interests with neighbors is priceless. We are all three so different. Working with Tanya will be fun. She has great ideas. Beside adding beauty and life to the yard it gives outdoor living space that adds to the quality of life. A little side benefit is steps and exercise that is good in itself. I wear a huge hat, got to protect the dome.
I read an article from the New York Times about a study that shows exercise may be bad for you. The study subjects about 10% of people who exercise have ill effects. Like all headlines, read the article. The study does not look at long term effects of exercise nor dos it take into account doctor's supervision and counsel. For people in aged or poor health it has been found brief periods of movements can be very beneficial. The other side of the study shows 90% are helped. Any way, look at the article yourself. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/can-exercise-be-bad-for-you/
Keep walking

Remembering William Reeves Sr.

William Norman Reeves Sr. at 15 in WWII

I have written of friends whose fathers did some amazing things in WWII. On this Memorial Day I would like to remember my dad, William Norman Reeves Sr. "Jake". He never said he was a hero or in battle, but in 1943 at the age of 15 he enlisted in the Navy. That says something. His older brother and sister enlisted in the Navy and I sure that is why he did it.
He lived through the depression and he always like Navy food. I don't remember my dad complaining about any food. He always kept his weight down. He told me of boot camp and he took me to Great Lakes Naval Station and showed me buildings still standing from when he was there. After his death I was never able to return to the base. That is too bad.
He said boot camp was tough but he was proud to have made it through. He told me about traveling to the West Coast and being shipped to the Pacific.
I am not sure he was aware of the dangers as he traveled on a troupe ship. Some these ships were sank. But maybe he was as "scuttlebutt" went round the ship. The scuttlebutt is a drinking fountain on a ship where sailors would gather to here the latest gossip. They went to Pearl and from there he was sent to Guam. He told me of how he got over sea sickness. He was down below with most of the young sailors and he became very sick. After 3 weeks an older sailor grabbed him by the seat of the pants and told him he was going to give him he secret to over come it. He told my dad to "look at the horizon and the sickness will pass." My dad said that did it and he never got sick again.
While he was in the Navy he and it seems alot of other sailors took up boxing. My dad had fast hands and was pretty good at it. At some point he was stationed on Guam waiting to be sent to another ship when they discovered his age. At that point my dad said, "I went from seeing the world to KP duty." He hated peeling potatoes. He stayed in the Navy and it was considered to dangerous to send him back home. The Navy would wait until he became of age where he would be given another posting.

He lived in Quonset huts like these

While he was on a ship he told me one story where the captain let all the new sailors go swimming off a reef. He felt the captain had a sense of humor for all 5000 men were in a wave that went over the reef, "bare ass" was how he described it. We all got cut up pretty good. As far as I know my dad never went back in the ocean to swim. He thought I was nuts for liking to swim in ocean.
Guam he described as hot and humid and it rained everyday. He went souvenir hunting in the caves of Guam. I found out later there was still fighting going on in the middle of the island. He crawled in one cave and came across decapitated bodies. He told me "I was done looking for souvenirs, it gave me the creeps" and he said some other colorful language as I recall. He received new orders for an all out invasion of Japan when they dropped the bombs on Japan. It was always his belief that the "Japs" would fight till the end. He felt the bombs saved lives including his own.
While the war was still going on my dads brother Cliff was able to see my dad for one day. He said it was his happiest day in the service. After the war ended, he listened to on radio the Cubs playing the World Series. Listening about his favorite team thousands of miles away was a big deal. He was 17. he soon was discharged from the navy as they downsized.
From his bar experiences my dad told me, "You here anybody bragging about war and how brave they were never was in it." I read his letters and he never said one thing other than his experiences as a kid on a navy station. The war could have continued and who knows what could have happened to the kid who signed up at 15. But at 17 he was aware of how things were in the Pacific. Memorial Day isn't just abut flag raising, but remembering kids often made great sacrifices to keep our freedom and the American experience going.
One thing my father gave me was the will to get up and try again. I think you see it throughout my blog. My being handicap, really affected my dad. When I was a kid, my dad would keep walking when I fell. He told me that Dr. Hedges told him to do that, so that I would learn to get up and keep going. He told me that he never got used to my falling. He played catch with me and taught me most sports. He bought me equipment so that I was always on somebodies team because I had a bat or ball that we played with. If anybody bullied me my dad always had my back. He also helped me stand up to bullies. He taught how to box and to fight. They are different. For sure dad's method are somewhat outdated but I am who am in a large part because of him. Keep walking

No polyps and boy do we need water when it is hot

Hot weather walking
Water is your friend

I have several blogs I follow of fellow walkers. Scott is walking to retirement with the goal in mind to do 100 walk competitions before he retires. http://walkingtoretirement.blogspot.com/ I hope he continues to walk in retirement. Scott that would be a great title for your continuing blog.  http://bookladywalker.wordpress.com/ is a lady who walks in half or full marathons. She trains 5 or 6 miles daily. She trains in Florida which is real nice from October through early May but in the summer months it would be brutal. Read her blog walking in the heat. She offers some good tips

• walk before the sun goes up. I observed in my mother's retirement village down in Florida, that there were 20-30 senior walkers walking before the sun gets up. The temperature is in the high 60's to low 70's with no sun or car movement. (Cleaner air to breath) Plus you get to see nocturnal animals
• She uses indoor walking strategies and work  outs including Leslie Sansone tapes and Cd's. Her workouts include a total body work out and weight resistance.
• I would add clothes designed to cut down sun exposure. I love my big hat. No sunburn dome for me thank you. When I snorkel I where a bandanna and and a tee shirt with plenty of sunscreen. It is not about looks but feeling good later because I didn't get burned.
•  Water and nutrition is vital in walking in the heat. Our bodies air-condition with sweat. You will need more water that 8 glasses on hot days when you exert yourself in the heat.

Walking before the sun rises has two advantages: cooler and
no cars

There are alot of good sources that talk about hydration and exercise. http://www.realage.com/  and Over the years Cooper Aerobics has reported about water and exercise. On article by Carla Sottovia, Ph.D., is assistant fitness director and senior personal trainer at Cooper Fitness Center gives this advise:
In order to avoid becoming dehydrated during physical activity, follow these fluid intake guidelines:

Two hours prior to beginning an exercise session, drink two cups of water (one cup = eight ounces).

15 minutes before, drink one cup of fluids.

Every 10 to 15 minutes during exercise, drink 1/2 to one cup of fluids

After exercising, drink one to two cups of fluid for every one pound of body weight lost (or until "urine" becomes pale).
When I went to Israel one of the themes we looked at was where there is water there is life. I remember being at Engeti an oasis David went to in the desert near the middle of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a water source that is unusable. I swam in the pools of Engeti and filled my canteen there and drank the sweet water. Wells are still important as they were in the days of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. At Jacob well Jesus helped the  woman to see that He was the living water. John 4, Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17. The living water refers to eternal life given freely to those who put their faith in Jesus as their Savior.

Engdi, nice place to swim

Water, we are made of it and it is crucial in our life here. walking, workout, yard work and moving we need it. Over all it beats what ever we drink and is always good for us. In the same way faith in Jesus is foundational for our spiritual ife and health.
One more thing, I hope my blogs  are helpful and as much as I can be have sound ideas. The Internet is public and there are all kinds of silly things out there. Somebody posted on my face book a silly notion of drops to miraculously help you loose weight. I reported it as spam as soon as I became aware of it. I am not a doctor or expert.  I may report things I read and share my experiences, but it is always a good idea to check out what I say. Your doctor knows you and even then you are responsible for your own choices. How many times have you checked out a second opinion. My GP encourages me to do that. He often helps me find experts to help me. There have been times when I have come back with good people I have found. On doctor really knew about Tinnitus and I can't wait to show him my orthopedic brace made by a specialist. My care given by my GP is priceless.
Along these lines my colonoscopy had no polyps or pre-cancer cells. In my prep I did something you may find is 7th grade humor. I watched a funny movie on my computer sitting in the bathroom. A colonoscopy is much better than colon cancer. We may hate the preps but colon cancer is far worse. Keep walking

Ordinary got you down

Dig deeper in Prov. 31:10-31 - A homemaker is an challenging
occupation these days. Even in the workplace moms often have
unchallengeing jobs.

Wayne Styles in his blog poses a good concern, "Making it through  an ordinary day." By ordinary the problem can be boring, routine, same old thing. If I dig a little deeper, it has to mean my work is over looked or I am undervalued, taken for granted. Wayne makes a valid point that it is from the daily routine that comes surprising opportunities. He cites David who had exciting adventures as a shepherd in protecting his sheep from wild animals but he was on a family errand when he confronted Goliath when nobody else was willing. Those earlier experience gave David confidence he could defeat the giant. If we are faithful in doing the little things of life we will be prepared to go greater things. In my daily walks and workouts I will be able to continue to live well as I age. Opportunities to go on outings or hikes will remain a possibility for years to come.
But what if ordinary is unchallenging or unrewarded. That is what I see in the photo he used on the blog. How many moms feel unappreciated? How many people are in dead in jobs with routines and expectations are low? No matter where we live this is the stuff that wears us down. Many routines are good and part of us don't have to think or fret about. But all of us want to have work and life where we are esteemed and what we do helps us and those we serve. In one blog or many blogs I want to tell you I am working these things out in my own life.
This year I have quit beating myself up about my job. I help kids and teachers and I have benefits and a paycheck. Not bad in a time of economic uncertainties. I have looked at each day as an opportunity to improve the learning environment with my talents and effort.  I will this summer look at training to become certified to run groups and help people with therapy. How ever far I get I will be able to do pastoral work and I can do these things in my retirement years. What am I doing now and how does it help me and my family? What value is it for others? And is there changes I can do to improve my lot? What I can not change can I come to terms with it?

We all been there

Work by its very nature provides a living and helps others. If my option are to come to terms with it; what can I do to change my attitude or expect to be treated with respect. If I have to make changes, what can I do each day to implement those changes? What help can I get for support? Can I hang in there long enough? Tough things to work through. These things aren't answers per say but things to work through, you are worth it.
At 55 I realized I needed to make changes for my health. I learned it would take weeks of walking before I would start to see a change. Some changes like better blood work, cholesterol, weight, artery health, would take months. Making the 3/4 plate my portion could take 5 months to make a new habit. I stayed at the walks and diet changes and things began to change. Two years ago I had some set backs and worked through them and I am back on track. Was it worth it? Absolutely! I am alive and I am looking forward to what is ahead. Today I cut my grass and everything about the chore was better. Aerobically I was in good shape for the task. Later today I will take an indoor walk. I am already at 8,000 steps. I haven't even told you today is my jello day for tomorrow will be my colostomy. Tomorrow I am giving my self a free pass. After the test I will eat very light and take it easy. I will do the same Sunday. Monday it will be back to walking. Keep walking

Walking the dog at night on more sedimentry days

Leslie Sansone is pretty upbeat to walk with

This is me being honest again, my walk at work was cut back today because of exam schedules and different tasks today. I had all good intentions of mowing the lawn today but I didn't. Watched a little TV or maybe a little more than a little. I could feel that I needed to move a little so I did some evening shores an wanted to test my ankle brace with Leslie's Sandsone's video I have under pages "Online Workouts featuring Leslie's one mile walk which is perfect late at night with easy movements which you easily cool down and begin to relax with a good book with decaf tea. You will be in bed in no time,
It did the ticket, muscles loosen up, I got the blood moving, push breathing deeper in to the body and most of muscles in the body got involved. What look like a step count too low for the day I added 3000 extra to the day leaving me a total of over 8000 steps.I nice end of the day. I did a cool down and read for about 15 minutes and I was ready to sleep. When Dr. Cooper had a TV program he called such a walk as walking the dog. Leslie' video stayed with about 6 easy moves. Her walk was about 15 minutes.
There are days when we don't get a good walk of 30 minutes in. There are days when we don't get enough steps to move us out of a sedimentary day. I nice easy walk at the end of the day is good for those days. Leslie's walks add muscles we don't use on a walk. Leslie has more challenging walks we can do earlier in the day that are a real workout. The value of indoor walking is huge due to bad weather days or times when it would not be safe to walk outdoors.
I did not get to 10,000 steps but any day you do it is like your body had a thirty minute work out. Keep walking.

Taking care of colon health....God and me ain't wrong, girls you are worth walking



Real people walking are beautiful just
as they are

Well it is time for my colostomy this weekend. The fat man waking started with a checkup. Unlike a very funny episode about tree friends taking a special trip to Palm Springs where they thought they would have a good time in Men of a Certain Age, I know better. Why do we laugh at bathroom behavior? I guess we never really leave 7th grade. The episode was very funny. There are risks and nobody I know likes to have their system cleared out. I have had four polyps removed and it worth going through it if I can prevent colon cancer. In the show Ray has a friend being treated for colon cancer. If we can prevent something why not?
I will say I have ate less fatty food and more fruits and  vegetables.
On a completely different subject, I just read a study done in the UK about women not exorcising outdoors after the age of 30 due to poor body image. The survey also revealed a tendency for older women to retreat and become loners. When we look  at health articles and ads for exercise who is pictured? Almost exclusively beautiful women with very slender figures. The very articles which seek to get us moving use images that may discourage us if we are over weight. What can I say? I am a guy and I can't experience how a woman views their world.
Tonight I am going to step out on a limb a little bit. I do know something about changing from my 20's when I was an avid tennis player with a tennis body where today I am bald, overweight with wrinkles. I know longer like to wear a one piece bathing suit and at the gym I wear loose clothes. I am sorry but I won't wear a speedo or spandex. Guys who were robust like myself often when aging happens couldn't handle it. I don't know if I qualify girls, but I have seen women of different shapes and sizes and ages they are still pretty, beautiful, sexy through what ever changes they go through. Moving through your 30's (from my point of view still a teen) lol, 40's, 50's 60's and beyond is no time to draw back from life. Girls there are plenty of sudies that show this is the best time of life. Take a look at your peers, forget the media, they look just like you. Don't beat yourself up, you look OK! In fact, I would venture others would view you better than you do yourself. Remember there were only less than 1% that could wear spandex to begin with.

Carlyn walks for health as she
recovers

So join me in spirit and put on beautiful comfortable clothes and go for a walk. Here is the secret and I m giving it away for free, "walking, eating healthy, growing spiritually, growing as a person is real beauty." Doing what we can and move away from what ever that perfect image is can really be liberating. There is a strength in a woman that God gave that the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Women get things done and they show great courage daily.
Walk and be seen, you will feel better. The UK study pointed out how exercise helps fight depression and isolation. When you walk knees a little bent, shoulder blades back and head up looking at God's creation. Walk with a friend, walk with a dog. See the beautiful world around you. Pay attention to people your age and a little older. Look at the confident older walkers. Believe me .shapes and sizes and most have a smile on their face. Ladies feel how good you feel walking, you are beautiful.  Now I will give you a majority vote on the subject. I think you are beautiful and God thinks "you are fearfully and wonderfully made". God and me are a majority on this one and if any one else sees it our way, well they got good sense. Check out the article at http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/04/26/most-women-shy-away-from-outdoor-exercise/37851.html Keep walking

Understand why? Not all of it



maybe not how I remember it

Aren't there lots of strange things that happen that we can't explain? Have you ever watched human or animal behavior that defies explanation? Some days ago there was a story of a woman who uses a tanning bed and you could see the harm she did to her skin. Why would she go to that extreme? When I was a kid I remember a washer machine over flowing  with suds and the woman was pouring more soap into the machine. I still hear my dad laughing and that was 50 years ago. Sometimes even when you find the reason for some strange behavior it is still crazy.
Earlier this week Mart Dehahn in his blog presented the problem of the ostrich in Job 39:13-18. http://beenthinking.org/
It is part of God's counsel to Job who had undergone tremendous suffering. Job and his so called friends had been trying to explain why God allowed Job to go through his experiences. Job's friends basically blamed Job for his problems. God in His answer explained lots of things we can't explain about the created world and happenings. So off I went and the last couple of days I took a closer look at the ostrich. Part of our problem with animal behavior is our tendency to give the animals human qualities. I like to think of it as the "Disney effect." In every Disney movie animals are given human qualities and even speech. The problem is animals don't act that way. An Ostrich we observe lacks the parenting skills of other birds but the destroyed eggs become food for the birds that do hatch. But when it comes running, the speed of the horse and brains of a rider can't keep up with the bird. There are allot of things we are trying to understand. Look at Job 39:13-18 and what do you think?
There are times when Jesus posed questions and problems and He let His disciples think on it. It is good for our brains to dig deeper. I think we are used to the 30 minute plot that is all tied together. Life is much more interesting and sometimes we just don't get it.

I actually had one of these birds walk right up to me in
Africa. It wasn't one of my braver moments.

As for Job he decided to listen to God and not on his reasoning or that of his friends. Human suffering can overwhelm us. It can test our faith and reveal or strengths and weaknesses and it can help us draw closer to God. Viktor Frankl observed the horrors of the concentration camp increased the faith of those who went through it.
Understanding the ostrich is easier then understanding pain and suffering. So thanks Mart for giving me something to think about. The bigger problems of a fallen world I am glad God sent His Son to give us faith, hope and love.
Today's temperature was in the high 80's and 90's. A good day for indoor walking or a gym. Walking for me is part of a recovery for me when I had problems. Walking doesn't solve all of our problems or understand the funny way of humans, but it helps. Keep walking