Malek Musings
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Cooking is my creative  outlet and my writing is "food for thought"  

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Flax Bread

7/28/2015

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Today, I'm sharing a great recipe for Flax Bread that I recently tried.  Flax seed has good health benefits.  Flax seeds are a source of good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.  There are many other health benefits connected to the consumption of flax seeds and you can find out more information easily via a Google search.

We like a hearty bread for toast in the morning.  I found that this bread is pretty easy to make, is delicious and makes great toast. 

Below is the link to the recipe.  It is made in a bread machine but is baked in the oven.  I think you could bake it in the machine if you wanted to, using the whole wheat cycle.  But since I didn't try it myself, it may take some experimenting on your part to get a good bake using the bread machine.  You can also make this dough by hand or with a mixer able to handle bread dough.

I prepared my dough in my Zojirushi bread machine on the dough cycle, then removed it for shaping and the final rise before baking.

I also tweaked the recipe a bit to suit our particular tastes. I used organic ingredients where possible.  Instead of whole wheat flour, I substituted am equal amount of HI-Maize High Fiber Flour that is sold by King Arthur Flour.  I also added a seed soaker made of 1 Tbsp. of dark flax seed, 1 Tbsp golden flax seed, and 1 tsp of poppy seeds.  I covered them with water to soak.  The seeds will absorb the water and the mixture will thicken.  Because seeds absorb water just adding dry seeds to the dough would require additional water to compensate.  Using a seed soaker will help keep the dough hydration where you want it.  However, as always, when making yeast dough, you may still need to increase/decrease flour/water amounts depending on your environment.  Another change I made was to brush the top of the baked loaf with butter after I removed it from the pan.

http://www.food.com/recipe/flax-seed-bread-bread-machine-143230

King Arthur Flour Hi-Maize High Fiber Flour
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/hi-maize-high-fiber-flour-3-lb
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Olive Oil Decisions!  So Many Labels To Choose From!

3/2/2015

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Hi all!  Haven't been Musing much lately.  No new recipes to share of late.  I've just busy making my usual favorites!  And I've been enjoying managing and building my FB group, Michigan Bread Bakers.

I ran across some interesting Olive Oil articles that I thought would be worth sharing here.  I know that we use ALOT of olive oil in this kitchen.  It is my preferred oil to use.  When olive oil will not do, I will opt for organic canola oil.  Of course butter and coconut oil are also in my pantry and I often use those for my baking endeavors. 

I ran across an article recently, which evaluated different olive oils available on the market.  I found it very interesting and thought it would be helpful for making decisions on which olive oil to buy.

To my surprise, olive oils from Costco and Trader Joe's were near the top of the recommended list!  (Not all oils they carry were recommended, only certain labels).

I've included the link to the most recent article as well as some other recent articles.  I think they will help you with deciding which bottle to select from the many you see on the self. 


http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/12300-is-your-olive-oil-lying-about-its-virginity.html

http://www.truthinoliveoil.com/2012/09/toms-supermarket-picks-quality-oils-good-prices

http://www.truthinoliveoil.com/2013/08/trader-joes-extravirgins-and-floozies 



Looking for guidance in how to choose an olive oil?

http://www.truthinoliveoil.com/great-oil/how-to-buy-great-olive-oil
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Learning to Keep On Keeping On

2/6/2015

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Yes, it's been quite awhile since I've mused on this blog.  It's been a trying couple of months, with some bad things and good things happening too.  My time has been taken up with some health issues that have restricted my baking adventures.  It is for this reason I haven't had much new to share on the baking and cooking front.  Instead, I've been occupied by working on development of my new Facebook Group, Michigan Bread Bakers.  It's a fun group of bakers with Michigan connections.  It's not only a networking opportunity but a teaching site too.  It's a growing group with over 400 members so far!  

Sadly, there was also a tragedy I had to cope with recently, which is the main subject of this musing.  Nearly all of us have had to deal with people in our lives passing away.  Depending on your age, you may not have had that happen in your life as of yet, or, as you get older, it seems to be happening all too often.  Of course, it's an unavoidable process.  Life ultimately ends in death, the end coming for many different reasons.  It can be advanced age, a result of illness, or unfortunately due to tragic circumstances such as accidents, suicide, wars etc.  I think I have been touched by nearly all of these circumstances of death,  both expected and unexpected situations.  Yet, until recently, I never had to deal with death due to violence.  Recently, an elderly couple that I've come to know over the last 9 years was horrifically and tragically killed.  Even more tragic, it is their own son that has been arrested and charged with their deaths.

The shock of an unexpected death is bad enough, but it is amplified significantly, when due to terrible violence.  The people I knew were a kind couple, just living their lives peacefully.  They occupied their days by volunteering and contributing to their community in so many ways. They had endured much sadness and difficulty in their own lives with two children and a grandchild preceding them in death due to illnesses.  Yet, they never complained or talked much about their worries.  Many who knew them did not know about their difficulties.  They just focused on living a friendly, outgoing and giving life.

I learned of their passing via news reports when I put two and two together and realized the deceased couple, as yet unnamed, was known to me.  The impact of the shock of hearing about their deaths and how they died was incapacitating.  I experienced significant disbelief.  I felt horror, thinking about their final moments as they were bludgeoned to death with two hammers.  I felt an inability to understand how someone could do this to another person, especially to ones OWN parents.   I felt compassion for the remaining family who have to deal with this horrible situation and the emotional impact of losing both parents allegedly at the hands of a relative. 

Death is always a major and difficult life event to process and accept.  However, this situation was so different for me.  It was the first death I've ever experienced due to such violence.  This situation was so much more difficult to understand, to accept and to grieve.  This was a loss of 2 great people.  There was a loss of confidence in humanity (how can people do these things to each other?).  And there was a feeling of this event being such a shame and a waste.  It was an unnecessary thing that didn't have to happen and shouldn't have happened.  Oh to be able to turn back the clock.

It was a beautiful and fitting funeral service where we said our goodbyes.  It was well attended by those who knew them in so many different capacities.  They were known to others as relative, friend, coworker, fellow parishioner, fellow volunteer, former teacher and principal, choir member, chorus member, club member, the list goes on.  This couple touched the lives of so many.  Our pastor was a rock of support to all of us, from the very day we learned of their passing to the day of the funeral celebration of their lives.  His message?  Continue to "live life".  That's what the couple would want of us.  Remember them but go on living life..

I guess that's all you "can" do after something like this.  Be sure to live life.  Try to make a difference with the time that you have.  Our lives touch others just as other impact our lives.  Some things that can be bothersome or upsetting can certainly become small and insignificant when you look at the bigger picture of living life that you have.

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Experiencing Job Burnout?  What You Can Do (Besides Quit)

10/13/2014

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Pictureimage credit: monster.com
Love your job?  Maybe not so much?  Everyone has ups and downs in their career.  The changing dynamics in employment settings (happening for a variety of reasons) can make life on the job enjoyable or miserable.  Even a job you love can get boring or tedious leading to burn out. Often the first thought is "I gotta quit this job."  Actually, you have many things you can do to improve your situation without resorting to quitting!

There's lots of stressors in life.  Job burnout is a particular type of stress, involving physical, emotional or mental exhaustion paired with doubts about your ability to do the job and questioning the value of your work.  It's important to evaluate the problem and take active measures before it affects your health.

Mayo Clinic and Forbes.com have provided self assessment questions to help you determine if you are experiencing job burnout.

 Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Have you become cynical or critical at work?  Feeling like what you do doesn't really matter?
  • Do you drag yourself to work?  Do you lack enthusiasm? Have trouble getting started once you arrive?
  • Do you have difficulty concentrating? Are you more forgetful?
  • Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers or clients?
  • Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
  • Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements? Is your job performance slipping?
  • Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
  • Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
  • Have your sleep habits or appetite changed?
  • Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, backaches or other physical complaints?
  • Are you preoccupied with work and expending mental energy thinking about work outside of work?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing job burnout. Be sure to consult your doctor or a mental health provider, however. Some of these symptoms can also indicate certain health conditions, such as a thyroid disorder or depression.  (Source: mayoclinic.org and forbes.com)

Mayo Clinic  suggests that job burnout can result from various factors, including:

  • Lack of control. An inability to influence decisions that affect your job — such as your schedule, assignments or workload — could lead to job burnout. So could a lack of the resources you need to do your work.
  • Unclear job expectations. If you're unclear about the degree of authority you have or what your supervisor or others expect from you, you're not likely to feel comfortable at work.
  • Dysfunctional workplace dynamics. Perhaps you work with an office bully, you feel undermined by colleagues or your boss micromanages your work. These and related situations can contribute to job stress.
  • Mismatch in values. If your values differ from the way your employer does business or handles grievances, the mismatch may eventually take a toll.
  • Poor job fit. If your job doesn't fit your interests and skills, it may become increasingly stressful over time.
  • Extremes of activity. When a job is always monotonous or chaotic, you need constant energy to remain focused — which can lead to fatigue and job burnout.
  • Lack of social support. If you feel isolated at work and in your personal life, you may feel more stressed.
  • Work-life imbalance. If your work takes up so much of your time and effort that you don't have the energy to spend time with your family and friends, you may burn out quickly.

Are some people more susceptible to experiencing job burnout?  Absolutely!  Certain personal traits as well as job situations can affect your reactions and responses. According to Mayo Clinic, you may be more likely to experience job burnout if:

  • You identify so strongly with work that you lack a reasonable balance between your work life and your personal life
  • You try to be everything to everyone
  • You work in a helping profession, such as health care, counseling or teaching
  • You feel you have little or no control over your work
  • Your job is monotonous

Ignoring your feelings and responses to stressful job situations can have significant consequences to your health including:

  • Excessive stress
  • Fatigue - exhaustion can be mental, emotional or physical
  • Insomnia
  • A negative spillover into personal relationships or home life
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Alcohol or substance abuse
  • Heart disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Type 2 diabetes, especially in women
  • Stroke
  • Obesity
  • Vulnerability to illnesses

What to do?  Is quitting the only answer?  Not necessarily!  There are things you can do, short of quitting, that can make things better for you.  If you're concerned about job burnout, take action. Mayo Clinic offers these ideas to get started:

  • Manage the stressors that contribute to job burnout. Once you've identified what's fueling your feelings of job burnout, you can make a plan to address the issues.
  • Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor. Perhaps you can work together to change expectations or reach compromises or solutions. Is job sharing an option? What about telecommuting or flexing your time? Would it help to establish a mentoring relationship? What are the options for continuing education or professional development?
  • Adjust your attitude. If you've become cynical at work, consider ways to improve your outlook. Rediscover enjoyable aspects of your work. Recognize co-workers for valuable contributions or a job well done. Take short breaks throughout the day. Spend time away from work doing things you enjoy.
  • Seek support. Whether you reach out to co-workers, friends, loved ones or others, support and collaboration may help you cope with job stress and feelings of burnout. If you have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), take advantage of the available services.
  • Assess your interests, skills and passions. An honest assessment can help you decide whether you should consider an alternative job, such as one that's less demanding or one that better matches your interests or core values.
  • Get some exercise. Regular physical activity, like walking or biking, can help you to better deal with stress. It can also help get your mind off work and focus on something else.

Additional ideas are offered by monster.com.

1. Take a break. Be sure to take breaks to detach from the stress from work.  It gives your mind time to rest. Charging though your job assignments to get them done can keep you from finding enjoyment in completing tasks. Being active during your break, such as taking a walk, will help your mood, increase your energy level and foster more creativity.

2. Do tasks in a different order. Doing things the same way, in the same order day after day can create monotony and boredom.  If you can, change up your routine or schedule to offer yourself some variety.

3. Focus on one task at a time. Feeling overwhelmed can be paralyzing.  You don't know where to start, so you either don't start or stay unfocused, jumping from one task to another, and not really completing anything.  Break large projects down into smaller, more manageable steps or projects to be done one at a time.

4. Get help. Delegate or get help to manage the load.  If you don't have to be in charge, it is helpful to get assistance, especially with tedious tasks. Divide and conquer that task!

5. Reward yourself. We all need motivators.  Just completing a task is rewarding, but looking forward to a pleasurable and positive reward can be helpful too.   Motivators can include taking a break or nap, getting ice cream, having a night on the town or taking a day off.  It doesn't have to be substantial, even simple, inexpensive, but meaningful rewards can be equally rewarding.

Forbes.com offers these suggestions:

1. Take Relaxation Seriously.
Whether you take up meditation, listening to music, reading a book, taking a walk or visiting with friends and family, truly think about what you’ll do to relax, and designate time for it.

2. Cultivate a Rich Non-Work Life.
Find something outside of work that you are passionate about that’s challenging, engaging and really gets you going—whether a hobby, sports or fitness activities or volunteering in the community (along with other items we mention here, like relaxation, being able to “turn off” and participating in rewarding non-work activities).

3. Unplug.
While communication technology can promote productivity, it can also allow work stressors seep into family time, vacation and social activities. Set boundaries by turning off cell phones at dinner and delegating certain times to check email.

4. Get Enough Sleep.
Research suggests that having fewer than six hours of sleep per night is a major risk factor for burnout, not least because poor sleep can have negative effects on your job performance and productivity. It can lead to fatigue, decrease your motivation, make you more sensitive to stressful events, impair your mental function, leave you more susceptible to errors and make it harder to juggle competing demands. The reverse is true, too: We’ve seen that sleep can actually improve your memory.  Recovering from chronic stress and burnout requires removing or reducing the demands on you and replenishing your resources. Sleep is one strategy for replenishing those resources. For inspiration, check out our tips to get better sleep.

5. Get Organized
Often, when people are burnt out, they spend a lot of time worrying that they’ll forget to do something or that something important is going to slip through the cracks. Get organized, clear your head, put together a to-do list (or an electronic task list) then prioritize. That way, you don’t have to keep thinking about those things because you’ll have systems in place to remind you.

6. Stay Attuned
It’s important to tune into the precursors of those conditions, physical signs that you might be under too much stress: more headaches, tight shoulders, a stiff neck or more frequent stomach upset. In terms of mental health, burnout affects depression, and if you’re depressed, that can also affect your level of burnout—it goes both ways. So, if the issues you’re struggling with are really serious and getting worse, you may need to seek professional help. Talk to a psychologist to get help beyond support from just your friends and family members.

7. Know When It’s You, and When It’s Them
Burnout is sometimes motivated by internal factors. Sometimes it really is a symptom of external ones. In the first case, you’ll need to ask yourself, “Where is this coming from?” so you can figure out what’s stressing you out, and how to maintain your internal resources to keep yourself motivated, doing your best work and functioning well. Some burnout really is the fault of work situations like hiring freezes, layoffs, cutting work hours, rolling back benefits, requiring unpaid days off, increasing hours, etc.  To find out whether it’s time to move on, figure out whether your position is a “mismatch between your needs and what you’re getting working for that particular organization.”

8. Figure Out When Enough Is Enough
Consider talking to your manager about how to improve communication and create a better, more positive work environment. Angle the conversation about how those cultural shifts will enable you to continue to serve the company and become an even better employee.  There will be times when the organization is unable or unwilling to make changes.  At that point, you need to decide whether you can adapt or need to move on.

Notice?  Quitting your job isn't and shouldn't be the first choice you should make when you think your have job burnout.  Working on being adaptable, finding other creative outlets beside "work", searching for and identifying with enjoyable aspects of work,  and compartmentalizing work vs. personal life can be extremely helpful.

Here are the links to the sites I referenced for you to read more:

http://news.monster.com/a/other/beat-burnout-in-your-career-bea1aa?wt.mc_n=CRM_US_B2C_NEWS_Exp_141013

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642?pg=2

http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/04/01/10-signs-youre-burning-out-and-what-to-do-about-it/








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E-cigarettes - A Safer Alternative But Still Not "Safe"

9/28/2014

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Picture
image credit: sciencenews.org
Yesterday's Musing highlighted the dangers of e-cigarettes to pets (and children).  The risk to them is exposure to the contents inside the e-cigarette should they chew up and be exposed to the cartridge contents or come in contact with e-cigarette refill container's contents.  Check out yesterday's Musing to learn more if you did not see the post.

Today, I am following up on e-cigarettes and their relative "safety".  I ran across this information today, and learned a few things about "vaping".  It is well known that smoking conventional cigarettes is dangerous to both smokers and those nearby inhaling second hand smoke.  The smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals resulting in concerns for health and environmental cleanliness.  These concerns have bought about implementation of laws and practices establishing smoke-free environments and designated smoking areas.

E-cigarettes have become available and are popular as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes.  It advertised as a "cleaner" and "safer" cigarette, as no smoke and resulting toxins are created from combustion.  However, while
certain levels of toxins are reduced in e-cigarettes, research shows that others still exist, in levels found to be "quite high" and potentially dangerous to your health.

Studies have shown that e-cigarettes actually emit higher levels of toxic metals.  Researchers suggest that the metal particles come from the cartridge in the e-cigarette, which could be addressed by the manufacturers improving the cartridge design and manufacturing.  E-cigarettes still do contain toxic carcinogenic ingredients.

How do e-cigarettes work? 
When you take a puff of an e-cigarette a battery heats up a liquid. That liquid contains a flavoring (such as tobacco, menthol, cherry, vanilla, or java), a humectant (typically propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin) and, sometimes, nicotine. As you inhale, you get a "dose" of flavored nicotine without the chemicals typically produced from burning tobacco. That being said, you're still getting a dose of chemicals. (source: mercola.com)

In addition to metals, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indentified a potentially deadly antifreeze chemical called diethylene glycol in an electronic cigarette cartridge along with tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer. (source: mercola.com)

To learn more about the hazards presented by smoking e-cigarettes, visit the links below.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/17/e-cigarette-second-hand-smoke-effect.aspx?e_cid=20140928Z1_SNL_MS_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ms1&utm_campaign=20140928Z1&et_cid=DM56871&et_rid=673861402

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/health-risks-e-cigarettes-emerge


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/more-ecigarette-injuries_n_5165480.html

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E-cigarette Toxicity in Dogs & Cats - What You Should Know

9/27/2014

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Picture
image credit: dogtipper.com
I don't smoke so I haven't followed the e-cigarette development closely.  I ran across these articles, and realized that people might not know the dangers of this "better than cigarettes" alternative.  If you are around pets, you need to exercise care to keep them away from animals (and children).  They contain very toxic substances and can have fatal consequences in the wrong paws (or hands).

The primary danger to pets is the nicotine they can be exposed to.  There is a cartridge in the e-cigarette that contains nicotine at levels toxic to animals. 
Pets may be exposed when they chew up the e-cigs or the bottles containing e-juice, or even when they walk through puddles of spilled e-juice and get it on their paws.  The signs of nicotine poisoning may begin within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to the e-liquid; in contrast, signs of nicotine poisoning following eating tobacco products may take a few hours  as the nicotine must be released from the tobacco.  (source: veterinarypartner.com)

The links below will provide more information about the dangers posed to your pets.  Please read them so you will know what symptoms to look for, be ready if an accident should happen, and above all, know how to keep your pets safe in the first place.


http://www.petplace.com/cats/e-cigarette-toxicity-in-cats/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=CL-20140925%20%281%29%20remainder

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/e-cigarette-toxicity-in-dogs/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=DL-20140925%20%281%29%20remainder

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=3557
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The Depth Of Love - For Better, For Worse

9/17/2014

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Pictureimage credit: thecaregiversvoice.com
I ran across this video today, and its powerful message struck me.  We live in a world filled with so much self centered and self important thinking and behaviors.  Social networking, selfies, advertising, merchandising, changes in social/cultural standards and the prevalence of "all about me" thinking  seems to reinforce this pattern.  Examples of the decline of humanity are evident every day, as witnessed in our daily lives and in the news.  For example: murder, abuse, theft, road rage and the general rudeness, lack of respect for others.   Sadly, compassionate stories such as this one are but a small percentage of daily news messaging.

So many families are dealing with crisis of various types.  This particular video involves a couple, with a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease.  Many families, including my own, are caring for loved one with this disease.  It is very difficult to deal with.  It is very draining and disheartening to see vibrant people slip away before your very eyes.  Alzheimers Disease is just one of many different maladies that can affect families.  Regardless of the cause, the impact the disease has on the family as well as the person with the disease is very similar.

The messaging in this video is not so much about having and living with Alzheimer's Disease.  It is more about the strength and depth of love of this couple has.  It is worth watching to see the best of humanity.  Everyone has their limits in what they are actually able to provide a loved one, but that is not the point here.   The solid, loving foundation of their relationship is the rock they stand on.  Regardless of whether the care is provided by family at home or if the loved one is placed in outside care, it is the commitment, support and love expressed by individuals to each other that is important.

Below are the links to the story of Bill and Glad.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH5n9lVZcM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_201504&feature=iv&src_vid=GH5n9lVZcM4&v=LeBH4ELAiKw


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Mealtime Evolution - An Interesting Look At Our Dinner Habits

9/15/2014

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Picture
image credit: http://d.lib.ncsu.edu
I know that my family's lifestyle made it very difficult to have dinner as a family.  My husband and I worked opposite shifts, so family dinners were not possible during the week.  Later, as the children grew older and became involved in outside activities, having dinner together with them during the week was also a challenge to schedule.  One thing I always tried to do was have one family dinner a week, usually on the weekend.  This was a time when all of us gathered at the table to eat (often a homemade meal and sometimes carry out) and most importantly - connect as a family.  No TV or other distractions.  Everyone had a chance to share their week and most importantly, listen to what each person had to say.

A recent article about dinner habits and customs caught my eye recently, so I decided to do a bit more research into to subject.  What I found was rather enlightening (to me at least), so I thought I would share here. 

There is a great deal of variation these days, as to when people eat dinner and
how they eat dinner!  It wasn't always that way.

An article from History Magazine, first published in 2001, takes a historical look at the evolution of "mealtime".  Here are a few points from the article.

The names of meals and general times they were eaten were once fairly standard.  Going back to medieval times, "breakfast" was first thing in the morning, "dinner" was midday, and "supper" was not long before going to bed (usually around sundown).  Our modern variations (some say confusion) came about from changing social customs and classes, political and economic developments and the influence of technology.

The main meal of the day in the past was "dinner", eaten midday.  This was tradition of the wealthy and well to do.  Those lower in the social order, considered middle class,  had to eat later in the day, because their lives were driven by work vs. rituals.
  They would eat in the early afternoon and return to their shops and businesses to meet afternoon customers. Their meals were less lavish affairs, but still substantial.

Those at the low end of social order, the peasants, took a break from work and had dinner around noon. 
They usually had less to eat than the more well to do, and consumed much less variety.

Eating a main meal midday was influenced out of necessity.  Living habits back then were managed by the availability of "light". 
Artificial lighting provided by candles and oil lamps was a costly luxury, requiring the less wealthy to retire "early" when darkness arrived.  Supper was a light meal, usually consumed before the sun disappeared for the day.  This pattern continued for centuries. 

Capitalism, colonialism and the industrial revolution changed the world's economy.  Many people had more money to spend.
More goods became available to more people, including access to artificial lighting.  Living habits began changing because they were no longer tied to the cycle of sun up and sun down.  People stayed up later and woke up later in the day.  Work habits began changing too, with people working farther from home, taking a "sack lunch" to work and the midday meal became lighter fare.  The main meal was pushed to later in the day, after work hours and people would eat their main meal at home.

English immigrants coming to North America
brought their habits with them, gradually changing over time, but at a slower pace than Britain.  In our current century, dinner is eaten any time between noon and midnight.  Mealtimes are now very fluid and changing, reflecting the flexible lifestyles of people. 

A Cornell University article looks at family mealtimes and whether eating meals as a family makes a difference. 
Research continues to look at the effects of shared family meals, but evidence to date suggests that family meals do provide benefits for children and youth.  Researchers recommend the following to improve family mealtime:

  1. Set a goal to have regular family meals at least three times per week.
  2. Remember the benefits of consistent family mealtimes (generates feeling of closeness and comfort)
  3. Quality of family meals is just as important as quantity. (guard mealtimes from outside distractions to help communication)

Lastly, and what originally prompted my interest in this subject, is a photo study called Dinner in NY.  Miho Aikawa's idea for this project was to propose what dinner is to people, how different it can be for everyone, and to present the diversity found in this everyday act.  On his website, Aikawa stated "A study in Public Health Nutrition which compiles data relating to Americans food-related time use over the past 30 years reveals some interesting trends: Eating as a primary activity declined in the past 30 years.  On the other hand, eating as a secondary activity rose dramatically in the past 30 years.  When we combine the primary and secondary eating time, we see that we're spending an average of 25 or more minutes in total daily than we did 30 years ago.  We now do almost 50 percent of our eating food consumption while concentrating on something else."  (my comment-makes me wonder about the obesity problems and the fact that we are not totally focused on what or how much we are eating?)  Visit his link below and take a look at his photo study, it's rather revealing.

http://www.history-magazine.com/dinner2.html

http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf


http://www.mihophoto.com/projects/dinnerinny/
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"It's All The Rage" - What's Up With That?

9/3/2014

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Typically, when someone says "It's all the rage.", they are referring to an increasing popularity of a product, certain look, or activity.  Often this is demonstrated as passing "fads", where things become popular, then fade away.  This Musing is about a different reference to rage.  I'm referring to "rage" and anger being demonstrated by people in different travel situations

Road Rage

For a long time, we have heard the term "road rage".  Chances are you have been on the receiving end of "road rage", or maybe you are someone that has expressed some type of  "road rage" or aggressive driving.  AAA reports that aggressive driving and road rage are increasing and is one of the top concerns of drivers today.

Aggressive driving is a term for dangerous on-the-road behaviors that emerged around the 1990's.  It refers to behaviors such as:

  • Following too closely
  • Driving at excessive speeds
  • Weaving through traffic
  • Running stop lights and signs

Aggressive driving can also escalate into behaviors such as:

  • gesturing in anger
  • yelling at another motorist
  • confrontation
  • physical assault and even murder.

"Road Rage" is the label that refers to the angry and violent behaviors at the extreme end of the aggressive driving continuum. An important distinction is that aggressive driving is considered to be a traffic violation, while road rage, not including yelling and gesticulating, is considered  a criminal offense. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

What Do The Experts Think?

What are the underlying reasons of this rise in aggressive and dysfunctional behavior on the road?  Experts have various opinions. (source: T
he Growing Problem of Road Rage By Charles Montaldo)

Sociologists: suggest it is due to the breakdown in our society's sense of community and a disintegration of shared values.

Psychologists: blame the intoxicating combination of power and anonymity provided by motor vehicles.

Traffic engineers: believe the problem is due to inconsistent driving speeds among travelers.

Suggested Causes:


Traffic Congestion:  This is sited as a frequent cause. 
Drivers who have a low tolerances for traffic delays might react by following too closely, changing lanes frequently, or becoming angry at anyone who impedes their progress.

Running Late: 
People are stressed because they have too much to do and are running late for work, school, their next meeting, lesson, soccer game, or other appointment.  Drivers often "justify" their speeding because they are running late.

Anonymity:   Drivers can feel detached when insulated within the privacy of a vehicle. Tinted windows facilitate the misconception of being an observer of the surroundings, rather than a participant.  Being anonymous can "release" individuals to behave in antisocial ways, because they don't feel accountable for their actions.  This combined with power of a vehicle can result in extreme rudeness.  It can turn a "nice" person into a dangerous "rager".

Disregard for Others and for the Law:  The erosion of societal values and respect for authority has been the subject of studies and news stories.  Suggested causes for this problem are: the fragmentation of the extended family, increased individual mobility, media influence, and other characteristics of modern society.  This trend is reflected in the expression of narcissistic traits and the common phrase, "I'm just looking out for number one."

Habitual Or Clinical Behavior:  By far, most motorists rarely or never drive aggressively.  For a minority, there are frequent episodes of aggressive driving, and for a small group, aggressive driving style is the norm. Occasional episodes of aggressive driving might occur in response to specific situations, such as speeding and changing lanes abruptly when late for an important appointment, when it is not the driver's normal behavior.  And for some, it can even be an expression of illness or pathology.

Something to remember is that it is not the anger that is experienced by drivers that is of concern, but what they do with that anger. 

Air Rage


Recently, the newscasts have aired stories about a different kind of "rage".  This situation involves "Air Rage" which is a term that refers to airline passengers exhibiting aggressive and disruptive behaviors.  Some say that "Air Rage" is the new Road Rage.  In the last two weeks, three flights have had to be diverted due to fights about reclining seats.  Other recent expressions of "Air Rage"  include a passenger who were arrested for punching a sleeping passenger and another who beat up an airline employee.

Suggested Causes:

What are the reasons behind the increased incidents of air travel belligerence and even violence?  Psychologists have suggestions on causes: (source: Air Rage: Why Does Flying Make People So Crazy? Leah Ginsberg)

1.  Air travel security restricts personal freedoms making people feel vulnerable, so they act out.  People can be very
    sensitive to being controlled and might become afraid or angry. 

2.  People have "personal space" and airlines offer very little of it, so people are willing to fight for it. 
American culture has a
     norm expectation of about 3 ft of personal space (or an arm's length).  Maintaining this boundary on a plane is virtually
     impossible.  Coach seats are often less than 1.5 feet wide causing passengers to invade each others space.  Pushing
     boundaries is a good way to upset people and airline practices of putting more seats on planes and flying planes at full
     capacity make air travel more uncomfortable and stressful.  Recent arguments on planes have involve "the reclining
     seat" where the person in front reclines their seat, causing "problems" for the passenger directly behind.  A new device,
     called Knee Defender will prevent the seat in front of a passenger from engaging in recline.  This device was a trigger for
     an inflight argument.  The passenger in front wants to exercise their "right" to recline the seat they paid for, and the
     passenger in back is trying to prevent the reclining seat from invading his "space" that he has paid for. 

3.  Being overloaded and overwhelmed.  Too much to think about stresses us out, which leads to a short fuse.  Having too
     many responsibilities to deal with at once is one of the top causes of stress.  Multitasking is not really that efficient and
     creates an overload on individuals.  Traveling is a stressful experience with worries about getting there on time, coping
     with airport security and invasion of personal space, dealing with luggage, schedule delays, catching connector flights,
     managing carry on luggage etc.

4. 
Some people drink or take medication when flying.  Doing so can help people relax and may help manage anxieties, but
     it can also result in more impulsive behavior. 

5.  Many travelers experience anxiety while flying, putting them on edge
and less able to cope with stress.  Adding
     medication or alcohol can make matters worse.

6.  Some travelers
are belligerent and in a bad mood.  This attitude can be contagious and create conflict in a social
     situation.  An "emotional contagion" can can have a cascading effect, and cause everyone to pile on when someone
     starts something.  One or two incidents and become many.

What To Do About Road Rage?

Edmunds.com has 10 tips to prevent road rage:

1.   Be rested- inadequate sleep can cause irritability
2.   Plan ahead - being disorganized and running late
can cause speeding and impatience.
3.   Don't use your car to blow off steam -Your car is not an extension of yourself.
4.   Don't listen to aggressive music - Aggressive music can prompt aggressive behavior.  Listen to music that is calming.
5.   Keep relaxed behind the wheel - Take rest brakes, if you find yourself tense, relax your muscles and breathe.
6.   It's not about you -
Do not take behaviors of other drivers personally.
7.   Hostility is not healthy - Falling into habits of anger and stress has negative health consequences as well as exposing
      you to conflict and retaliation with other drivers. Is it really worth it?

8.   Practice good etiquette - Don't let detachment and anonymity of being in a car cause you to act out.
9.   Self Assess - take a look at your driving habits and practices.  Are you behaving aggressively?  Self awareness can
      help you curb negative behaviors. 
10. Develop the habit of practicing kindness. - Don't be an emotional contagion.  Modeling kindness can reap kindness in
      return.

What To Do About Air Rage?


Below is a brief summary of flying etiquette suggestions from Wikihow.com.  Their article has excellent advice for airplane etiquette with great advice to consider.  Please consider going to their link (below) to see more to help you have a better air travel experience.

1.  Carry your bag in front of you and low to the ground as you walk down the aisle in search of your seat. - you don't want
     to be whacking other seated passengers.
2.  Utilize the overhead space above your own seat row. - Don't even think about putting your bags in the overhead storage
     near the front of the plane. 
3.  Keep your chair upright at least until you are told it can be reclined. - When you do recline, do it slowly so you don't
     bump the passenger behind you or knock something over on their tray.  Be courteous and keep your seat upright during
     meals and drink servings and until things are cleaned up.  Remember that reclining hyour seat for your comfort can be at
     the expense of the person behind you.

4. 
Avoid grabbing the back of the seat in front of you.
5.  Respect personal space.
6. 
Avoid hogging the aisle.
7. 
Be considerate of other passengers when you exit the plane.

Happy traveling, and remember to breathe!

http://crime.about.com/od/victims/p/roadrage.htm

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/air-rage-96496033942.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-03/reclining-seat-spats-put-focus-on-air-rage-in-packed-jets.html

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-tips-to-prevent-road-rage.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Airplane-Etiquette





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Babysitting Grandchildren & Alzheimer's Disease

8/31/2014

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Picture
image credit: alzheimersweekly.com
I don't have grandchildren yet, but maybe you do. Parenting is a hard job.  Some say that the reward of parenting is becoming a grandparent where you can "enjoy" children without all the hard work.  You can spoil your grand kids and then give them back to their parents and let them to do the hard job of day to day child rearing.  I know my two children loved spending time with grandparents.  I am sure they were doted on and spoiled while in their care!

I recently saw this item on the news and it caught my eye.  We have a history of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease in our families.  I've been doing a great deal of reading about what you can do now to help prevent dementia.  It is reported that adopting certain behaviors and activities in your life can help delay and even deter development of Alzheimer's Disease.  Common thinking is that if you are destined to get Alzheimer's Disease, there is nothing you can do to stop it.  While that might be true for a percentage of Alzheimer's cases, there is evidence that supports the fact that you can adopt lifestyles and behaviors that will help keep you from developing Alzheimer's or at the very least, delay it.  That will be a topic of a future Musing that everyone should read if you want to be proactive about this disease.

Today's Musing presents a recent study about how caring for grandchildren can lower the likelihood of developing disorders affecting memory or cognitive ability.  Being socially engaged is one preventative strategy that is suggested for avoiding dementia and Alzheimer's. A 2011 study completed by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that seniors who stay most socially engaged show less cognitive decline on testing.

The Women's Healthy Aging Project in Australia published results online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). This study looked at 186 women ages 57 to 68. 120 were grandmothers.  The participants completed 3 mental assessment tests that measured cognitive abilities.  Findings suggested that taking care of grand kids one day a week helped keep grandmothers mentally sharp.  Ironically, the study also found that caring for grandchildren five days a week or more could actually have some negative effects.  Those grandmothers demonstrated poorer performances on mental sharpness tests.  The grandmothers caring for their grandchildren one day a week performed best on two of three tests.  Those spending five days a week or more did noticeably worse on the test that measures working memory and mental processing speed.

This was an unexpected finding.  Researchers also found that with increasing time spent caring for grandchildren, grandmothers reported that they felt their own children were more demanding of them.  It's possible that these feelings of being stressed out from the responsibilities of child rearing as well as being stretched too thin to make time for themselves could lead to some decline in the brain's performance.  Other studies already exist showing that women who experience even mild forms of emotional or situational stress take longer to remember recently acquired information. Naturally, follow up research is being conducted.

What if your grandchildren live very far away?  Technology can help bridge that gap.  A 2014 Pew Research Internet Project reported that 46% of seniors who use the Internet visit social media sites.  Doing this promotes stronger and more consistent connections with their loved ones.  The added benefits of options like Skype and FaceTime, where you are able to see people you are talking to, strengthens the quality of technological social engagement.

Those with no grandchildren to care for have options too!  There is no reason your social involvement has to be centered around relatives or children.  Volunteering, becoming involved in church activities, taking classes, frequenting a local senior center or
regularly socializing with friends can have the same beneficial impact on your brain function, and enhance feelings of happiness.

What do I take away from this?  One key to promoting cognitive health seems to be maintaining an active social connection with family, friends and community that is
not stressful or demanding.

http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/04/a-grandchild-for-one-day-keeps-dementia.html

http://jonbarron.org/alzheimers-and-dementia/grandkids-boost-brain#.VAKsVmOx3tQ
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