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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Einstein Was On To Something

Ever notice how time goes faster or slower depending on your situation? For instance, the week before your vacation goes a lot slower than the actual vacation.  After the alarm rings in the morning those minutes speed up mercilessly.

 We learn from childhood that time is a constant.  Indeed our standard time zones came about in the 1800's in order to keep the railroads on schedule.  Just think. If everyone used the sun being directly overhead as noon then two trains might mistakenly be on the same track at the same actual time with catastrophic results.  So we have clocks everywhere and we are all theoretically synchronized.  That being said, in my experience time is extremely flexible.


When you were a kid didn't it seem like the year between Christmases took forever?  Summer seemed long in June but very short in August.  I remember watching the clock at school wishing it would get toward lunch time faster.  My fifth grade teacher used to give us timed quizzes and we all watched the clock for the minute hand to move so we'd all start together.  He would always point out how staring at the clock made the minute seem longer.

I'd wish for my birthday to come quickly and my mother would say "don't wish your life away".  She knew what she was talking about.  The days when my children were small seemed long at the time but in retrospect they flew by.  Of course as a parent it doesn't seem quite fair that sweet baby years are so few when compared with the SEVEN YEARS of being teens.  (At least we don't have to change their diapers during that phase of life.)  Probably since the world began parents have been telling their kids to enjoy childhood while it lasts and that the years go faster when your older.  Kids never believe this until they find out for themselves.  Children want to be older, bigger and independent.  

Einstein theorized that if we traveled at the speed of light then time would stand still.  After our voyage those back home would have aged in the meantime.  (Funny how that never happened on Star Trek though.)  So Einstein knew that time was flexible or to use his term "relative".

Humans have manipulated time into zones but we also have invented "daylight savings time".   Originally adopted during wartime to increase factory output during daylight hours we now use the excuse that it saves energy.  Long lauded by industrialists but disdained by farmers (whose animals stubbornly refuse to cooperate) the clocks change in spring and fall.  We love the extra hour of sleep in the autumn but hate losing an hour in April.  Personally I just hate waking up in the dark.  I remember the first time my mother woke me before dawn for school.  I thought she was confused.  Why was I awake when it was still night?  I've never gotten over it.  Instead of moving the clocks why don't we just start working later in the day?  It seems much more logical.

In the autumn the days get shorter as the weather turns cooler.  This change in the light is a signal to wildlife to stock up for winter.  Some mammals stow away nuts and acorns to tide them through the cold months.  Others build up extra layers of fat as insulation and prepare to hibernate.  These behaviors are evident in humans as well.  We crave comfort food and tend to put on pounds which we will resolve to lose when New Years Day rolls around.  Some humans become depressed at this time of year which is clinically referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Not until 1984 was this affliction described in medical literature.  However this time of year has traditionally been a difficult time for me to resist overeating.  Increased exposure to light,  especially outdoors, and and increased exercise are thought to be helpful.  Also vitamin D supplements are useful.  Other treatments include melatonin and antidepressants which target seratonin levels.  I started taking a vitamin D supplement a few years ago when I read that it was helpful for prevention of cancer.  I found I felt better in the fall than previously.

So the battle continues with myself and the clock.  A friend who lived in Panama told me that the sun comes up at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m. every day all year round.  Seasonal Affective Disorder wouldn't be a problem there at all.  I suppose consistency is nice but I love those days in June when it doesn't get dark until nearly 10 p.m.  It's all relative.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Monday, October 24, 2011

What Turn Signal?

The week after my car reached 100,000 miles (and therefore running out of warranty protection) the directional signals decided they would not turn off by themselves anymore.  This is extremely annoying to me that I am at risk of being one of those old ladies who drive around oblivious to the turn signal blinking endlessly.  When I mention this to anybody who knows anything about fixing cars they have exactly the same responses.  First that it is extremely expensive to fix because of all the labor involved.  Second, nobody has the faintest idea of how to fix the problem.  I'm sure I could find a repair shop that would do it for mega bucks or should I save my money and just remember to turn them off EVERY BLESSED TIME I MAKE A TURN?????!!!!!!  
When I put on my facebook status this morning that I was back to work my daughter, the dear, commented that it is good for old people to have something to keep us busy!   You know that machine at the checkout at the supermarket that spits out coupons that it thinks you'll use?  Tonight it thought I'd like a coupon for DEPENDS adult diapers.  Notice the trend here?  Actually today someone told me I keep looking younger all the time.  Of course the person who said that was a psychiatrist and you never know about them.

Today was back on the healthy choices wagon.  I did pretty well.  I did not eat the pizza brought by the pharmaceutical rep.  I had only the salad and fresh fruit.  I did not snack on any crackers.  I did go over my daily calorie allowance but not too much.

 I don't know why it's so hard to rein myself in after a digression.  I have the same experience after Christmas.  Every year we have a Christmas Club at the Credit Union.  We limit ourselves to that money and do not charge any gifts. (We used to do that but we have reformed)  However I do have rather a spending frenzy before the holiday.  I go to stores that I avoid all year.  I enjoy being able to afford stuff.  Afterwards, when the money is spent, I have a hard time stopping.

  I've known people who were well off that were extremely stingy. I guess their secret to having money is to always live like they don't have any.  Similar are the thin people who always eat like they are dieting.  Then there are the people like this girl I used to work with in an office.  I was doing Weight Watchers.  She was pregnant and every day for lunch she'd have a big Italian sandwich and a huge bag of Cheetos.  She was a tiny thing that never seemed to get any bigger even though she was eating enough Cheetos for six people.  After she had her baby she did look fatter.  By the time she came back to work though, she'd somehow melted away to her former, tiny self.

Why am I rambling on about all this?  I guess to point out that life can drive you crazy if you let it.  There are so many things out of one's control in this world.  Everyone slips up now and then.  Get over it.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Return to Earth

My week-long "Operacation"  has come to a close.  Tomorrow it's back to work and my routine.  Nabucco has been the most successful production the Taconic Opera has had so far.  We had a sellout crowd at the matinee today and have sold out next Saturday's performance at SUNY Purchase Pepsico Theatre.  I truly love doing opera.  Like my real job, we have a limited budget with which to work, but we manage to pull off something beautiful on stage.  (I'm only quoting others here).

It's incredibly cathartic to sing at the top of my lungs and filled with emotion.  On stage I'm surrounded by friends (truly) and we feel the love.  Afterwards it's a bit of a letdown to just walk around like a normal person again.

This week I did get to the gym as per my usual routine.  I strayed off the beaten path a bit with my eating though.  I neglected my food diary and actually ate a few (gasp) cookies today.  This digression however, is not a signal to just "throw in the towel".  Tomorrow I'll be back on track with my food diary and healthy eating.  That is, of course, the real requirement for success.  Formerly I might have been set off on a tangent of days or weeks of self loathing because I lapsed and soothing myself with comfort foods.  Breaking that chain quickly is the key.

It is not so bad to admit to human weaknesses.  After coming clean the important next step is to get up, shake off the guilt and continue the journey.  Healthy choices are rewards not punishments.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Change of Pace

This week I am taking an "Operacation"!  That's my made up word for taking a week off from my real job for opera "Hell Week".  Yesterday we rehearsed for seven hours running through the show with both casts.  We tried out our costumes to get used to moving about in them.  Nabucco is the story of King Nebuchadnezzar from the Old Testament.  The chorus portrays Hebrew slaves.  I had a wardrobe malfunction with my veil so I have to reconfigure my design.

Today, Sunday, is a welcome day of rest because the next seven days and nights will be very busy.  When we did our previous production I took a week off from the gym.  I'm planning to stick with my gym routine this time because I actually feel more energetic when I exercise.  I also need to plan meals and snacks thus avoiding the temptation of fast food or junk food.  The chorus tends to congregate at a local diner after the evening performances.  Fortunately the menu there does have lots of healthy choices.

Since I am at the age where some physical changes are taking place I find I am having "hot flashes".  I keep telling myself that they are not as bad as menstrual cramps but there is no denying that they are annoying.  A coworker stumbled on a remedy she swears by.  She takes CVS brand  combination of Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc supplements three times a day.  She didn't take them for any reason except for trying to be more healthy but found her  hot flashes went away.  She mentioned this to her pharmacist who said she'd heard from lots of customers that had similar results.  So what have I got to lose?  I'll let you know how it works.  I've been taking them for about five days now but it takes a couple of weeks to work.  If course the tricky part is remembering to take one in the middle of the day.  My morning and evening pills are very organized but mid-day is kind of a craps shoot.  

I'm hoping my local followers will come to see me in the opera. Here is the link for more information, tickets and direstions
Taconicopera.org
 As you may or may not know, I chose the name Marlena because I am a bit of a drama queen at times.  I do enjoy the stage.  I love being a nurse too but it's nice to be someone else for a few weeks a year.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Back on Track

First let me say that those four pounds I worried about last week are HISTORY!  Getting serious with my food diary made the difference.  I've been trying to increase my vegetable and salad intake and reduced the non-complex carbohydrates.  One of my friends suggested roasted beets.  I've never had them any way but canned or boiled but roasting is supposed to make them more flavorful.

My daughter made me some high protein caramel apple pancakes.  We got the  recipe from the blog "The World According to Eggface"  I won't plagerize her recipe here but you can go to her blog and get all her yummy recipes.  Her link is in the side bar under MY BLOG LIST.  .

I've succeeded in reaching one of my long-term goals!  I got a pair of jeans.  Actually I didn't even buy them.  We had a clothing exchange at church and I saw these jeans and thought they looked about the right size.  They were!  Of course when I modeled them for my family my daughter, always the ray of reality, asked "can you sit down in them?" Well, I could.  Getting up from the couch was a little tricky but successful!  It feels so good to wear something that isn't stretchy!  I can't remember when I wore jeans last but I'd have to say it's been more than ten years.  I don't mind admitting that my jeans would be considered "Mom Jeans" because they come up to my actual waist.  Nobody wants to see my butt crack anyway.

I am still going to Planet Fitness three days per week but I'm about to try something new.  I bought a book on yoga.  I could just go to a class but I want to try it on my own first.  Besides the book I bought has adaptations for those of us who are a little less flexible.  For one thing, my knees do not enjoy kneeling at all.  I'm hoping that I can work around this limitation.  A friend of mine is a yoga guru (or whatever they like to be called)  She has a special yoga room in her basement just for her own serenity!  I can't imagine where I'll find serenity in my house but I'll figure out something.  Usually the only time I have to myself is if I stay up after everyone else goes to bed.  That would be all right but if I get too relaxed that late at night I'll probably just fall asleep.  We'll see.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan