A Crash Course In Cranberries Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading that some cooks will insist on making their own cranberry  sauce, laden with plump whole berries and ingredients like honey or orange zest.  Others swear solely of the stuff in a can.  Americans in the latter camp consume more than 5 million gallons of jellied cranberry sauce each year - just between Thanksgiving and Christmas!  While 68% of Americans say they love the taste, another 15% just love the way it jiggles.  If you've ever seen a slippery cylinder of jellied cranberries wriggle out of its can, you'll recognize what Farmers' Almanac aptly describes as the satisfying whoosh-plop.  The man who first crammed cranberries into a can was New Englander Marcus L. Urann.  In 1912, wanting to extend the berries' short selling season, developed a sauce that could be preserved in big batches.  He sold his jellied concoction under the name Ocean Spray Preserving Co.  Later, he joined forces with two competitors to form a cooperative that today comprises more than 700 family farmers.  As one of only a handful of native fruits cultivated in North America, cranberries were an important indigenous food source. Vitamin C and antioxidants, especially anthocyanin and flavanols, give the tiny, tart berries their dark crimson hue.  Native American tribes from the Cape Cod Pequots to the South Jersey Lenni-Lanape, and farther west to the Algonquins of Wisconsin, culled cranberries in the wild from low, long-running vines within bogs and marshes.  Bogs are one of North America's most distinctive types of wetlands: spongy beds with thick moss, acidic waters and peat deposits.  The North American cranberry harvest kicks into high gear every autumn with the top-producing state, Wisconsin, producing around 60% of the annual U.S. crop.  Massachusetts, the second-largest producer, is home to the oldest continuously cultivated cranberry seeds - some vines are more than 150 years old.  Iconic images of farmers walking in knee-high, ruby red seas of cranberries propagate a popular myth: that cranberries grow in water.  In fact, they have air pockets that allow them to float.  So the night before the berries are ready to harvest, flowers flood the bog.  The next day, they churn the water with giant water reels, or "egg-beaters," to shake the fruit from their vines.  Then, crews wade in and corral the bogging berries with large brooms.  These cranberries are considered "wet harvested" and are used mostly for juice drinks and sauces.  About 200 cranberries get squeezed into each can.  "Dry harvesting," by contrast, yields fruit that is sold fresh in the produce aisle.  In this case, a mechanical picker gently combs the berries off the vines and deposits them into burlap sacks, often to await a helicopter that swoops in and airlifts the berries out of the bog.  How's that for a dramatic exit?  Whether you stir up your own sauce, shimmy it out of a can or simply want a serving of table side trivia this Thanksgiving, our all-American cranberry is the answer!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Saul The Drummer! Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article I found in my AARP The Magazine.  Story was titled "Music Is Hope."  Tells the story of Holocaust survivor Saul Dreier who formed a band to comfort others.  His story began...Music has the ability to crack open hearts, to change minds, to heal, to comfort.  When I was 89, I read about the concert pianist Alice Herz-Sommer, who'd died at 110.  Like me, she was a Nazi concentration camp survivor.  And also like me, she had used music as a way through that terrible time.  After the war, she continued to play to try to heal hearts.  I felt that I needed to honor her in some way.  It came to me that I should organize a Holocaust survivor band to continue her work.  I told my wife, and she said I was crazy. I told my rabbi, and he said I was crazy, too!  But I was very stubborn.  During World War II, I was sent to several concentration and work camps in Poland.  My whole family was killed, and I alone lived.  There was a famous cantor in one of the camps with me, and he would sing jewish songs.  And in those moments of music, I found escape.  One day, I realized that he needed a beat, so I managed to get two metal spoons, and I drummed for him: pum, pum, pum.  Almost every night, we would all gather and sing, even though we were starving and exhausted.  That is how I learned the drums.  When we were liberated, I was sent to a displaced person's camp in Italy, where there were actual instruments.  I played the drums for the people in the camp and the town.  Such joy!  After I went to America, between work and raising a family, I didn't have time for music.  But reading about Alice Herz-Sommer brought me back to the way music can reach hearts.  I bought some drums for my band idea.  At first, my wife said, "Either the drums go or you go," but when you've been married for so long, you fight for five minutes and make up 10 minutes later.  Through people at my temple in Florida, I found other survivors and their children.  Our first concert, in 2014, was at the temple.  We played Jewish, Polish, Hebrew and dancing music.  We got a standing ovation!  I felt like the sky had opened.  And my wife?  She said, "I live with you 51 years, and today you are my celebrity!"  In 10 years, we've played all over. America (including the White House), Israel, Canada, Brazil and Poland.  I will play for as long as I can, because music is hope.  I am not interested in politics or taking sides.  My purpose in life is to get people to see that we area all one, we all sing the same song.  - As told to Beth Levine. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Saul Dreier on drums

Taming Of Adult ADHD

It was an ordinary day.  Picked up my morning paper and began to read Dr. Mike Roizen's column titled "Taming Adult ADHD.  Went like this...Can't focus?  Are easily impatient?  Hate dealing with multitasking?  You may be contending with adult ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).  Join the crowd.  More than 15 million adults have been diagnosed with ADHD (many more go undiagnosed) and have to deal with the work, relationship and internal conflicts that can arise as a result of the disorder.  So, what can you do to tamp down your symptoms and lessen your risk for associated health problems such as alcohol dependence, obsessive compulsive disorder, drug abuse, intermittent explosive disorder and - yup-obesity?  Stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall can be useful - around half of adults diagnosed with ADHD have been prescribed such drugs.  But fully 71% of them report that they have trouble finding available medication.  Fortunately, there are non-drug therapies that can ease symptoms.  Establish routines.  You can help yourself get organized by making lists for different tasks and activities and using a calendar for scheduling events.  Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks.  Enjoy daily aerobic exercise.  It can reduce impulsivity and hyper-activity and improve executive functioning.  Yoga and meditation are also calming and improve executive functioning.  Plus, research indicates that neurofeedback (a kind of biofeedback that teaches self-control of brain function) can help control impulsivity and agitation.  Consider various supplements.  Research shows that there are potential benefits from taking melatonin (ADHD can disrupt sleep cycles), pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark), green coffee bean extract, and caffeine or caffeine and L-theanine.  For more ideas, read "The Best Supplements for Boosting Focus and Attention" at iHerb.com/blog.  Dr. Mike Roizen is chef wellness officer and chairman of the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic.  To live your healthiest, visit shareware.com.   p.p.s. - I have found that writing a daily blog is a big help in staying young and staying healthy.  I look forward to writing each day, sometimes a few times each day, so that I can pass along my life's stories as well as stay healthy along the way.  I'm sure that just about everyone reading my stories has just as many interesting stories they could write about and share with others.  Give it a try sometime and see how much fun writing can be.  You don't need to be an English teacher to write a blog!  I was only a "C" student in my English classes in high school and college, and no one writes to me telling me how awful my stories are due to my spelling and writing.  Hey!  Send me how to reach your blog and I will gladly read it.  Being that I'm retired, I have all the time in the world....some days!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.     

The "Ben Franklin...Man Of Many Letters" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading my latest edition of "The Saturday Evening Post."  Was turning the pages when I came across an article titled "Benjamin Franklin, Man of Letters."  Boy did that bring back memories of times past....long ago.  I taught Industrial Arts (I.A.) at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania beginning in the mid-1960s.  I took over the Graphic Arts Department when the former I.A. teacher became an administrator in the high school.  At the time we were still teaching letterpress, which included setting type by hand in a composing stick, placing the handset type in a "chase", or metal frame, and placing the chase in a hand-operated letterpress.  We had 2 letterpresses which were both run by electricity, rather than the older presses that were powered by the press operator. My students, both boys and girls, loved the course since they could do everything by hand and see a printed result as soon as the inked type struck the paper.  I still think back to those days every time I read a story about letterpress printing.  My latest edition of "The Saturday Evening Post" had a rather large article that was titled "Benjamin Franklin...Man of Letters."  I closed my eyes and pictured the many students I had over 50 years ago who may have been reading the story as I was.  Do they, (both boys and girls) remember setting type and printing it on the couple of letterpresses we had in our print shop.  I'll bet they never forgot that course I taught in the Industrial Arts department, especially the day I, their teacher, got my hand caught in the press, but still have all my fingers (my right trigger finger is turned nearly 90 degrees to the right, but is still useful.  Looks a little funny, but became a good teaching tool!)  The latest Saturday Evening Post had a short, 2 paragraph story titled "Franklin And The Post" which I have copied for you to read to allow you to also see what Benjamin Franklin must have been like during the very early 1900s.  So enjoy the story... 

"Franklin And The Post."  The Post's connection to Ben Franklin is one of the reasons Cyrus Curtis chose to buy and relaunch this magazine in 1897.  Back in 1728, when the young Franklin began publishing the "Pennsylvania  Gazette," it carried news and articles on various topics from correspondents to other publications, and often enough by Franklin himself.  "The Gazette" reflected his interest in people, science and politics, his keen sense of what people wanted to know, and of course, his wit.  His editorship made "The Gazette" the colonies' most popular publication.  "The Gazette" ceased publication in 1800, but Franklin's old print shop remained in business at No. 53 Market Street, Philadelphia.  In 1821, Charles Atkinson used this shop and its press to start a weekly publication.  It was to be delivered with the Saturday afternoon mail, so he called it "The Saturday Evening Post." Though it wasn't started by Franklin, the "Post" carried on the spirit that animated the Gazette: Franklin's practical, inquisitive, lightly skeptical, and basically moral tone, but was always leavened by a sense of humor.  It was hoped that they could follow in his footsteps.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

  

The "I Know A Story" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the column in my Sunday Newspaper titled "I Know A Story." These are stories sent to the newspaper by local residents whom love to read the newspaper and share their own stories.  Today's headline on the story read..."Ephrata, Lancaster were filled with shopping options in 1930s."  The story was submitted to the Lancaster Newspaper by Martha Kurtz.  The following was her story..... I was born in 1928.  When I was a little girl, my family lived in Ephrata at Good's Crossing.  The trolley stop was next to our driveway and would come by our house hourly.  If we wanted a ride, we stood by the tracks.  When my younger brother was around 5 years old and I was 9, we picked strawberries to earn money.  This was when we started our independent trolley adventures.  For 7 cents of our hard-earned money, we could ride the trolley to downtown Ephrata.  In the 1930s, Ephrata was a thriving town with lots of different stores: Whities, a newspaper stand, sold greeting cards, writing paper and newspapers; Abe Choens, a men's store, sold suits, shoes and clothing for men; and Seldomrige's, a clothing and home goods store, purchased clothing in New York City.  I liked to go in there and look at their dresses, even though I couldn't afford to purchase anything.  There were two banks in Ephrata and three drug stores.  Ephrata also had two department stores: Harris' Department Store and Spritzler's Department Store.  At the end of the season, Mr. Spritzler would take the clothing inventory that didn't sell and give it to my older brother to donate to the Mennonite Central Committee.  There was a JCPenney store, a Woolworth's five-and-dime, a bridal shop that sold fancy dresses, Haines Shoe Store, Sprecher's Hardware Store, a movie theater and a bowling alley.  There were no shopping malls, so people came to Ephrata to shop.  In the evening, Ephrata was crowded with shoppers.  My mother grew up in downtown Ephrata; she was a "town girl."  She enjoyed going to Lancaster to window shop and to buy her "coverings" (Mennonite headdress).  For 25 cents each, my mother and I would ride the trolley to Lancaster.  We would ride through the countryside; The first stop was Akron, then through the fields we would ride to Brownstown, Leola and then along Marietta Avenue to Lancaster City.  If people were standing along the tracks, the trolley would stop to pick them up.  In Lancaster, the trolley stopped at the Square, which hasn't really changed much.  On the corner was Watt & Shand Department Store.  This would be our first stop on our day out shopping.  We would look at things that were too expensive for us to purchase.  We would have lunch, soup or a sandwich at the Rendevous restaurant on the lower level.  Our next stop was Hager's Department Store.  On the second floor was a room which was like a separate store.  Here they sold "Plain clothing," and they called it "The Plain Store."  The saleslady wore a cape dress and a covering.  They sold Plain men's suits, men's black shoes, women's plain cape dresses, women's black shoes, black stockings, coverings and bonnets.  It a man didn't find a suit he liked in The Plain Store, he could pick one from the regular men's section and the Hager's tailor would convert it to a "Plain suit."  This is where my mother purchased her coverings and Plain, comfortable black shoes with laces and a 2-inch heel.  After shopping at Hager's, we would go to Woolworth's department store on Queen Street.  This was one of Woolworth's first stores, which opened in 1897.  My mother would always purchase a bag of cashew nuts here for us to eat on our trolley ride home.  On Sundays, we could buy a trolley day pass for 50 cents and travel anywhere in Lancaster County.  The trolley was a big part of our life in the 1930s.  The author, age 96, lives at Garden Spot Village in New Holland.  Her daughter, Darlene Walker, says this story was part of a family project during the pandemic - compiling her mother's memories into a "book of life."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Thru The Viewfinder" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the staff photographer at Lancaster Newspaper, Blaine Shahan, attempting to take a photograph of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, for some time.  He thought he would have to take a trip north for that to happen.  Then, earlier this year, he saw posts on social media with pictures of the northern lights nearby.  The farthest south I'd seen them was in Maryland, Blaine said, which suggested I might get to see them in Pennsylvania.  On October 5, I saw a Facebook post that the northern lights might be visible after sunset.  So, I took a ride to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Clay Township because there's a good view of the northern sky from the parking lot by the boat ramp, and it's really dark there.  When I arrived, it was obvious I wasn't the only one interested in seeing this.  With the darkness, it was hard to tell how many people were there, but I'll say there were at least a couple dozen.  I set up my camera on a tripod and waited.  I shot a few pictures of the stars over the lake, but I didn't see any northern lights.  Earlier that day, I had installed an app in my phone that shows indicators of the aurora borealis, and at that time, it was showing aa 0% probability of seeing them.  I stayed there for the better part of two hours, then called it a night.  Five days later, on October 10, I saw social media posts again that the northern lights might be visible.  I checked the aurora app, and now the viewing probability was 1%.  That was good enough for me, and I headed out the door.   As I walked to my car, at 7:30- p.m., I could see a red glow flickering in the sky above the houses across the street, which I photographed.  It's about a 45-minute drive from my home in Lancaster Township to Middle Creek, but I thought that would be the best place for me to see and photograph them.  When I arrived at the boat ramp at middle Creek, the parking lot was almost full.  Once again it was dark, so I couldn't see all the people, but I'm guessing it was close to 100 if you count the people by the boat ramp, along the shoreline and people who stopped at other places close by.  Like the previous Saturday, I set up my camera on a tripod and waited.  I didn't see anything in the sky, but when I took a picture with a long exposure, I could see a green band  running across the sky just above the horizon.  At that time, I wan't sure if the green glow I was seeing was the northern lights or not.  I shot more pictures with different exposures trying to find my sweet spot.  Then, at just about 10 p.m., the sky started to light up again.  People around me were commenting, and some were cheering as yellow, green and red lights flickered across the sky.  The picture I'm sharing today is a 6-second exposure.  This means that in this image, you're seeing the flickering that happened over a 6-second period.  What I was at 10 also confirmed that the green band that I saw an hour earlier was the northern lights.  Blaine's method was:  Nikon D4 camera with a Nikon 24-70 mm lens zoomed out to 24 mm.  Exposure time was: Six seconds, with an aperture of f-7.1 at 3200 ISO.  I have tried to take photos such as what you see here for years, but have never been successful, thus I have given up.  I'm so glad I had the chance to see and read about Blaine's photographs that he successfully took of the aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Is Alcohol The New Smoking?" Story

The following story was partially written by Dr. Douglas Zipes, M.D. who is an internationally acclaimed cardiologist, professor, author, inventor, and authority on pacing and electrophysiology.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in my latest Saturday Evening Post titled "Is Alcohol The New Smoking?"  Seems that America tried to rid itself of alcohol once before.  Prohibition was a disastrous failure that spawned an illicit industry of manufacturing, transporting, and selling alcohol.  Speakeasies sprouted like mushrooms, memorialized in many books and movies like "The Great Gatsby."  Members of Congress proposed a prohibition amendment in 1917, which was adopted as the 18th Amendment in 1919 and implemented the following year. Religious consumption of wine was exempted, as was home production of limited amounts.  Well, 13 years later, in 1933, the 21st Amendment reversed this course due to public outcry, the growth of illegal activity, and the decline of tax revenues after the 1929 depression.  The "wets" defeated the "drys" and have held the upper hand ever since.  But today, there is a burgeoning temperance movement, not from a legal standpoint, but instead inspired by health considerations.  It reminds me of what happened with smoking.  When I trained as a physician at Duke Hospital in the late 1960s, I could smell tobacco in the air during evening strolls through downtown Durham.  Smoking and smokers were everywhere: planes, restaurants, homes, hospital rooms.  At that time, a well-known cardiologist is even said to have used a hemostat to pick up and smoke a cigarette (to avoid contaminating his gloves) during heart catheterizations.  Today, smoking bans are enforced all over - not by Constitutional amendments, but because medical science proved its adverse health effects.  Of course there will always be smokers, just as there will always be drinkers; individual freedoms will prevail, allowing smokers and drinkers to do as they please, regardless of the health consequences.  But, could the same fall from grace that occurred with smoking and also bring down alcohol?  Recent data support the conclusion that no amount of alcohol is beneficial, and any amount is harmful to your heart and other organs.  Considering the burgeoning number of establishments serving nonalcoholic drinks, the "drys" are gaining on the "wets."  Mocktails - cocktails minus the liquor - appear with increasing frequency on menus in restaurants and bars across the country and have taken the boring out of alcohol-free drinks.  More than 3 out of 5 U.S. adults who have ever smoked have quit.  Hopefully, in theirs to come, the same statistic might apply to drinking alcohol.  However, at least two major differences distinguish smoking cessation from alcohol abstinence and may prevent this from happening.  First, nonsmokers were bothered by their neighbors' smoking, which helped lead to its ban, a case that doesn't apply to drinking except that in situations of extreme inebriation.  Second, nondrinkers often feel socially pressured to drink at parties and celebrations.  Whether alcohol abstinence is nearing the end of its beginning or the beginning of its end is too early to judge.  At the very least, however, we can hope for moderation to conform with the U.S. guidelines of no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.  Only time will tell.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

"Drought Watch issued For Lancaster County, Pennsylvania!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in article in my local newspaper  titled "Drought Watch Issued For County."  Didn't look good, at least for the near future.  Perhaps you might want to read it for yourself and make your own conclusions.  Drought declarations are based on four factors: precipitation, storm flows, groundwater levels and soil moisture.  The state Department of Environmental Protection makes its drought declarations after assessing the departures from normal ranges for periods of three to 12 months.  It also factors in information it gets from public water suppliers.  Drought watch residents are encouraged, but not required, to reduce water use by 5% to 10%.  There is worry about fire.  "Much of the Commonwealth is at a high risk for fire danger as a result of dry conditions, and it is critical that Pennsylvanias use extreme caution when handling fire or void any burning as these conditions persist," state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said as the drought designations were announced.  Adams, Allegheny, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lucerne, Monroe, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland and York counties were put under a drought watch.  Berks and Schuylkill counties were put on a drought warning which means residents are encouraged, but not required, to reduce water use by 10% to 15%.  The third level of drought declaration is drought emergency, which can be declared by the governor and emergency water restrictions can be implemented.  DEP won't implement mandatory water use restrictions outside of a drought emergency. Public water systems may implement their own measures.  Here's hoping the rain will fall from the sky soon and for a fairly long period of time.  Certainly don't want to have a flood stage called for Pennsylvania, but we really need the water to drop from the sky and help provide for water for everyone.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A Brief History of the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania...my Hometown!

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out some stories about my hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I have been asked quite a few questions over my lifetime and thought it might be fun to let you know a bit more about the city in which I was born, grew up, and still live in with my wife, Carol, at Woodcrest Villas.   Well, the city is known as the "Red Rose City" sue to its link to Lancaster England.  Lancaster became a Brough in 1742, a charted city on March 10, 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1924.  A few more bits of information follow....

• 1729: James Hamilton laid out the city
• 1742: Lancaster became a borough
• 1818: Lancaster became a charted city 

Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. It's located in south-central Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River.

Here are some other notable events in Lancaster's history: 

• 1777: The Continental Congress met in Lancaster for one day to escape the British. Lancaster was the nation's capital for a day. 
   
• 1799–1812: Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania. 
   
• 1730: The first court sessions were held in a tavern near the Susquehanna River. 
   
• 1738: The first courthouse was finished in Penn Square. 
   
• 1751: Edward Shippen, a former mayor of Philadelphia, moved to Lancaster. 

The Continental Congress met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 27,  1777.  This was a brief period when Lancaster served as the nation's capital. The Continental Congress members fled Philadelphia and convened in the courthouse at what is now Penn Square.

Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States of America. It is 71 miles west of Philadelphia and is snuggled along the north and west by the mighty Susquehanna River.

German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch (from “Deutsch” meaning German), were the first to settle in the area in 1709. At that time it was known as “Hickory Town”. The Honorable James Hamilton laid it out in building lots, and in May 10, 1729, it became the county seat. John Wright, a prominent citizen, gave it the name “Lancaster” after Lancaster, England where he formerly lived. The city is known as the “Red Rose City” due to its link to Lancaster, England. Lancaster became a borough in 1742, a charted city on March 10, 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1924.

Lancaster was an important munitions center during the Revolutionary war. It was the National Capital of the American colonies on September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress was fleeing British forces (who had captured Philadelphia). From 1799 to 1812, Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania.  So, you see, my hometown of Lancaster carries a bit of history behind it.  Something that not every town in th United States can claim.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Why Walking Is So Good For You!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about "Why walking is so good for you!  We know you hear us say over and over again - that you have to walk everyday.....no excuses!  That's because we're so convinced of its importance!  You see, walking (aiming for 10,000 steps daily!) doesn't just strengthen your circulation, put oxygen to your brain, improve your balance, and provide a chance to spend time with your posse, it has even more health benefits.  According to Harvard Medical School, walking for as little as 15 minutes helps reduce cravings for sugary snacks and chocolate.  That happens because it ups circulation of feel-good endorphins and reduces stress.  it also can help ease arthritis-related joint pain by strengthening muscles that support your hip, knee and ankle joints and keeping them lubricated.  And hoofing it for just 6 miles a week can help prevent arthritis from setting in.  Walking also turns on genes that produce the protein irises, which helps you stay smart and strengthens your immune response.  One study found that a 20-minute walk at least five days a week results in 43% fewer sick days compared to non-walkers.  And it can help defeat the power of weight-promoting genes.  As Harvard study found that the effects of those obesity genes were slashed in half by walking briskly for an hour a day.  All for just putting one foot in front of the other!  For more information on how to incorporate walking into your daily life, check out our audiobook "You on a Walk" and Dr. Oz's article "More Movement May Increase Longevity - Here's Why" at iHerb.com/blog.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "An Adventure With One Of My Former High School Students" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my easy chair looking at a calendar titled 2024 AFRICA, Photography by Keith Grebinger.  I taught Industrial Arts at Manheim Township High School (MTHS) in Neffsvillle, PA.  I had graduated from high school at MTHS in the early1960s and went to nearby Millersville State Teacher's College to become a teacher.  When I graduated from Millersville I found that there was an opening at MTHS in the Industrial Arts Department.  Didn't take long to apply, receive an interview, and begin teaching at my alma mater.  I eventually asked the school district if I could begin a course in photography and they were more than willing, providing that I provided them with a curriculum for the course I wanted to teach.  One of my early students was a young man named Keith Grebinger.  At the time, I was teaching photography and he had selected my course as one of his minor subjects.  Great student with a real knack for taking photographs.  After he graduated from MTHS two years later, with two years of my teaching under his belt,  he opened his own picture and frame shop in nearby Neffsville, PA.  And....to top all this off... I eventually  retired from teaching, and asked Keith if I could work for him at his photography and frame shop!  Seemed a bit odd, being the worker and not the boss, but we worked together just fine.  I learned probably as much from him about framing and mounting as he learned from me about the art of photography.  I worked part-time for Keith for close to 10 years before I  finally called it quits and totally retired!  Recently made a visit back to Keith's shop in nearby Neffsville to see what he was working on at the time and found his latest photographic masterpiece...A calendar of photographs that he had recently taken in Africa of the wildlife of Africa.  13 remarkable calendar photographs that he had taken of the African wildlife and African scenery!  I talked about his trip to Africa with he and his wife Cindy and how much fun it was to take the photographs of all the wildlife.  Today, he and Cindy own and operate Grebinger Gallery / Lancaster Picture & Framing in Neffsville, Pennsylvania which is between the towns of Lancaster and Lititz.  So, if you want or need a professional photographer or a professional framer, just give Keith a call at 717-569-9335.  I'm absolutely sure you will enjoy Keith's work as well as Keith, himself!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Keith Grebinger

A few of Keith's selection of frames

Keith and his wife Cindy

A design showing logo's of all the professional football teams

Framed Michael Jackson design

Yours truly, when I worked for Keith...cutting a few mats.....and 
No! I didn't ruin the mat cutter!

Having Enough...The difference between desires and needs was a lesson she never forgot.

It was an ordinary day. Reading an article in my "Good Old Days" Magazine titled "Having enough."  Story is about the difference between desires and needs and a lesson that the young girl never forgot.  Story began with..... I awoke to a familiar sound of dishes rattling in Mother's kitchen and to the scent of coffee wafting through the air.  I glanced out my bedroom window.  The neighborhood was lit by the first rays of the day shining through a thin layer of gray clouds like sunshine through a stained-glass window.  The trees, no longer wearing their virescent hues of spring and summer, were draped in scarlet, gold and copper.  Mesmerized, I watched the leaves falling off the trees as they gently swayed in the November wind.  A sign rose in my throat as I thought about all that was lacking that Thanksgiving Day.  I joined Mother in the kitchen, mildly curious about the Thanksgiving brunch she'd planned for us at an undeveloped park on the outskirts of town.  Instead of busying herself cooking the usual Thanksgiving fare, Mother prepared a thermos of hot cocoa for my brothers and me and another thermos of coffee for her and Father.  "This will be fun, sweetie.  It'll be a Thanksgiving to remember. Wait and see."  I smiled to cover my disappointment and helped Mother pack a box with the utensils she needed - a cast-iron skillet, tin plates, silverware, charcoal briquettes, matches, a spatula and two wooden spoons.  Dad loaded the box into this truck while my brothers and I clambered into the truck bed.  he pumped the gas pedal several times until his cranky jalopy sputtered into action.  On the way to the park, Dad pulled into the parking lot of a local grocery store.  Through the rear windshield I watched my parents cull through their pockets, the seat cushions, and the glove box, gathering all the loose change they could find.  "This should be enough," Mother said in a thrilled voice.  She scurried out of the truck and into the store.  Minutes later, she emerged smiling, with two dozen eggs, a pound of bacon, and a small loaf of bread in her arms.  Once at the park, my brothers and I bolted from the truck, frolicking in the leaves as we made a pathway that led to an old, abandoned farmhouse tucked among some trees.  While they explored the farmhouse, I sat on a log and closed my eyes, reminiscing about previous Thanksgivings and yearning for a piece of mother's pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of whipped cream.  I inhaled slowly, taking in all the crisp autumn air my lungs could hold before slowly expelling it.  The smell of sizzling bacon drifted by, and in the distance I heard Dad whistling and Mother singing as they fried bacon and eggs over a crackling fire, seemingly oblivious to the fact that our grim financial situation prevented us from celebrating Thanksgiving as we always had with turkey, dressing and all the trimmings.  "Come and get it!"  Mother hollered, clanging her spoon on one of the tin plates to get our attention.  We dashed toward them and sat on the ground, warming our hands on the open fire, its flames curling and swaying as they burned the dry wood.  I looked at the fried eggs and bacon mother scooped onto our tin plates, focusing on the meager amount she'd given each of us.  "Let us give thanks, for we have enough, "Dad said, his face beaming.  Enough?  How could this small amount of food possibly be enough?  I was irritate and wanted to snap back and complain, but resisted the urge to do so.  Rather than quickly devouring eggs and bacon as I usually did, I bit into the bacon, letting it slowly break over my tongue, relishing it as if I were eating it for the very first time.  In was perfectly prepared, crispy and salty.  The eggs, too, were cooked to perfection with the slightly runny yolks intact and no raw parts remaining.  Maybe it was the fresh air.  Maybe it was m dad's words.  But without warning, tears misted in my eyes.  These were not tears of lacking; rather these were tears of sheer joy in realizing that the eggs and bacon tasted better than the turkey and dressing I would've eaten if circumstances head been different.  Despite my tender age, my heart softened, and the lacking I had felt vanished, replaced with love, appreciation and thankfulness for my parents, their attitudes, and their willingness to make an ordinary Thanksgiving meal a memorable one despite their difficulties and financial woes.  Mother was right.  The day was a memorable one, and I remember it as if it were yesterday.  Having enough that Thanksgiving was a blessing in disguise -- a lesson in gratitude that to this day helps me focus on the differences between my needs and my desires.  having enough has diminished many of my life's disappointments.  It has also given me grit, grace and an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness, even in the face of my own adversities.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Area (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) Again Under Red Flag Warning

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in my morning newspaper titled "Area Again Under Red Flag Warning!"  Seems the risk of wildfires is up as drought conditions in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania continues to parch county and region.  The story in my morning newspaper reads: Lancaster County will be under another red flag warning today, indicating an increased risk of wildfires as warm, dry conditions persist.  Last month was the second-driest October on record, with just 0.04 inches of rain falling in the county, and this week the county reached record high temperatures.  The National Weather Service issued the red flag warning to let people know strong winds, low relative humidity and dry conditions could make any small fire, such as a backyard trash fire, spread out of control.  The weather service says the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires is high and recommends residents refrain from outdoor burning until the warning is lifted.  The warning runs from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Winds this past Thursday were blowing west at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph with relative humidity falling as low as 38%.  Forecasters said today's high temperature likely will be near 70 before dropping into the high 50s Saturday and Sunday and rising into the mid-60s Monday.  Lancaster County is experiencing a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and neighboring Berks and Chester counties are in a severe drought.  The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection placed Lancaster County under a drought watch Nov. 1.  Drought conditions have led several county municipalities to ask residents to voluntarily conserve water and have been a factor in recent brush fires.  The red flag warning covers nine counties in south-central Pennsylvania.  The county may be in for a small measure of relief Sunday, as forecasters say there is about a 75% chance of light afternoon rain.  LDub says, "I'll believe it when I see it and feel it!"  And...I just might have to stand outside in the rain just to see what rain feels like once again.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.       

Taming Adult ADHD

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in my morning newspaper written by Dr. Mike Roizen titled "Taming adult ADHD."  Interesting article that I thought I would share with you, just in case you may wonder if you might have ADHD and don't realize it.  Dr. Roizen writes...Can't focus?  Are easily impatient?  Hate dealing with multitasking?  You may be contending with adult ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).  Join the crowd!  More than 15 million American adults have been diagnosed with ADHD (many more go undiagnosed) and have to deal with the work, relationship and internal conflicts that can arise as a result of the disorder.  So, what can you do to tamp down your symptoms and lessen your risk for associated health problems such as alcohol dependence, obsessive-compulsive disorder, drug abuse, intermittent explosive disorder and - yup - obesity?  Stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall can be useful - around half of adults diagnosed with ADHD have been prescribed such drugs.  But fully 71% of them report that they have trouble finding available medication.  Fortunately, there are non-drug therapies that can ease symptoms.  Establish routines.  You can help yourself get organized by making lists for different tasks and activities and using a calendar for scheduling events.  Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks.  Enjoy daily aerobic exercise.  It can reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and improve executive functioning.  Yoga and meditation are also calming and improve executive functioning.  Plus, research indicates that neurofeedback (a kind of biofeedback that teaches self-control of brain function) can help control impulsivity and agitation.  Consider various supplements.  Research shows that there are potential benefits from taking melatonin (ADHD can disrupt sleep cycles), pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark), green coffee bean extract, and caffeine or caffeine and L-theanine.  For more ideas, read "The Best Supplements for Boosting Focus and Attention" at iHerb.com/blog.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.         

Warm Temperature Breaks Local Record

It was an ordinary day.  Lancaster County's unseasonably warm autumn continues as temperatures reached record levels this past week.  The thermometer at Lancaster Airport topped out at 81 degrees Wednesday, the highest temperature ever recorded for. November 6.  According to Millersville University Weather Information Center, that's a full 4 degrees hotter than the previous record of 77 degrees, set in 1978.  Temperatures were 20 to 25 degrees above normal this past Wednesday afternoon.  John Guseman, a forecaster with th National Weaher Service in State College, said the region's warm temperatures are a result of southwesterly winds from a high-pressure system in the Atlantic bringing warm air into the region.  Wind from the high pressure system has kept storm fronts to the west of Pennsylvania, contributing to drought conditions in the region.  Guseman said there will be moderate relief at the end of the week.  The National Weather Service does not forecast rainfall accumulations more than three days in advance.  Last month was the second-driest October on record.  Only 0.04 inches of rain fell in October.  In the past 110 years since meteorologists began tracking that data, only October of 1963 was drier.  No rain fell that month.  On November 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection placed Lancaster County under a drought watch.  Drought conditions have led several county municipalities to ask residents to begin conserving water and have been a factor in recent brush fires.  It was another extraordinary day the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "I Know A Story" Column In The Lancaster Newspaper" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading yet another "I Know a Story" which are local stories posted in Lancaster's newspaper on a weekly basis.  The story today was titled, "His Nephews Were Excited To Have Planted 'Cereal Tree'".   It was written by Lee R. Bowman and was published in my Lancaster Newspaper on Sunday, November 3, 2024.  It read:

My brother Dennis, his wife Sheila, and their two boys, Dennis, 6, and his brother, Wesley, 4, bought an old fieldstone house with a barn and a couple of outbuildings on the property.  The house also had something that my brother always wanted: a small garden area to grow vegetables.  Not long after they moved in, I stopped by for a morning visit and, not to my surprise, my brother and his two boys were out working in their new garden.  While by brother was planting vegetables, I noticed that the two boys were planting what I thought were seeds.  I went over to talk with them and asked them, "What kind of vegetables are you planting?"  The older one said, "We are planting a cereal tree!"  Well, it turns out that they had saved some of their breakfast cereal from that morning and decided to plant a cereal tree.  I looked over at my brother, and he just shrugged his shoulders.  On the way home after my visit, I had an idea.  I stopped at our local supermarket and bought two of those small-box variety packages of cereal.  When I got home, I went into the woods behind my house and found a small tree with about 15 limbs on it.  I cut it down and took off all the leaves and used some Crazy Glue to attach one small cereal box to the end of every limb.  The next time I knew that my brother and his family would be visiting our mother, I drove over to their house and planted this "cereal tree" in the garden where I saw my nephews "plant" their cereal.  The next day I got a phone call from my very excited nephews, telling me that their cereal tree had come up and they got boxes of cereal!  Each one got on the phone and told me what kind of cereal they got.  Before I hung up, I asked then what they were going to grow next.  "A money tree!"  They were only slightly disappointed when I told them, "You know money doesn't grow on trees!"  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.