Gluten – II

On November 8, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Gluten, Gluten and blood type1 Comment

In my post of August 13, 2013, I discussed gluten and how gluten can compound (sometimes dramatically) the effects of arthritis. We are not talking celiac disease which is an allergic reaction to gluten. We are talking gluten intolerance.

I spoke of how gluten exacerbated Donna’s arthritis issues. She has been on the gluten-free wagon for a while. That along with limited four-legged protein and modest dairy really helps.

I’ve got foot pain. And bad knees. So some months ago, I got serious about going off gluten. And I’ve pretty much stayed off of it. Know what? I feel better. Fast forward to last week. I had a sandwich with regular bread and some real McCoy pasta. And cold (the only way) bread pudding for dessert. Yum? Not. Next morning I woke up. Eyes blinked open and . . . . I knew something was different. I got up and my feet and legs started talking to me – Petersen, you are a knucklehead (see February 13, 2014). In fact, Petersen, you are a #@%x!*^. There was significant pain. And I lurched through my day. From now on, I’m going to listen to my feet and legs. And be more serious about avoiding gluten.

Arthritis affects 80% of the aging population. But going off gluten could help many in minimizing its effects. And feeling better. Downside? None.

Why Are You Here??

On November 5, 2015 By scottpetersenIn ANADE, Asociacion Nacional de Abogados de Empresa, Why are you here?Leave a comment

Some years ago, I was asked to speak to the Mexican corporate bar association – ANADE (Associacion Nacional de Abogados de Empresa) at their annual meeting in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Donna and I flew in to Mexico City International Airport and rented a car – Budget – for the 270 mile drive.

We pulled out of the Budget lot over the angled ground spikes and headed out onto the street. I adjusted the rear view mirror and noticed that a police car had pulled in about 100 yards back. Hmmmmm. . . . I kept driving. Carefully. After a mile or so, the police car put on its flashers and pulled me over. I got out of the car and held up my license. An officer got out, adjusting his Sam Brown belt and walked up. “You almost hit a car back there.” Bull. After some discussion, he looked at me quizzically and said “why are you here?” And I told him I was giving a speech to the Mexican Bar Association. He laughed, turned, waved and said “just be careful.” He got in his car and drove away.

Why are you here? I think about these words. In my heart, I believe that we are all “here” for some purpose. I love a quote of Albert Schweitzer – “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” Then again, there’s the quote of W.H.Auden – “We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for, I don’t know.”

Lucretius

On October 31, 2015 By scottpetersenIn AED, CPR, First aid, Heimlich ManeuverLeave a comment

I was walking to the train station with a friend. He mentioned that he is taking a course on Lucretius – the Roman poet and philosopher (99 B.C.-55 B.C.). His previous course was on Cicero and the one before that on some unpronounceable Roman chap. My friend went on talking about Lucretius and his publications on the nature of the universe and Epicureanism. Sounded pretty neat. I asked what he was taking next semester and he was not sure. Maybe something on analytics or Euripides. It was then I stuck my chin out. . . . .

I asked my friend if he had ever had a course on first aid. He looked at me – “no.” I asked if he’d ever taken a Heimlich Maneuver, CPR or AED course. I got the same answer. He asked me if I had done so and I recounted briefly my year-long course work on emergency medical response at Augustana College (see October 21, 2011) and my AED review (see June 12, 2014). I said that over the years, this knowledge has come in handy. On a few occasions very handy.

It’s great taking courses on Lucretius and Cicero though my personal bent might involve guitar lessons, bird study or a tutorial on card magic. But lemme say this — acquiring knowledge on the subject of first aid (including AED, Heimlich, CPR) may someday prove to be more valuable than reading De Rerum Natura or Iphigenia at Aulis. You never know when some southbound emergency will raise its ugly head.

Zarfs

On October 29, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Conservation, Recycling, ZarfsLeave a comment

A “zarf” is one of those coffee cup sleeves that they slide up the cup to keep your pinkies from getting too hot. Every take out coffee cup has a zarf. Heaven help the coffee shop that doesn’t use one. Plaintiff’s lawyers would crawl out of their holes to sue. . . . .

Think of the coffee consumed and the zarfs, cups and tops that are bought, used and tossed. Into the trash. Think of all those trees. All the energy to produce millions (billions?) of zarfs.

Some months ago, I got a cup of coffee at Hannah’s Bretzel and carried it to my office. I finished and tossed the cup into the garbage. I looked down. And reached into the garbage, fished out the cup and slid off the zarf. And put it the bag I carry around. The next morning when I stopped for coffee, I pulled out my zarf and handed it to the chap behind the counter. He looked at it. I said “I’m recycling the sleeve.” He smiled, went “ahhhh” and reused it. When I got up to my office and finished the coffee, I slid off the zarf and put it in my bag.

Would you believe that zarf has now lasted me about 6 weeks? That’s roughly 20 zarfs spared. Saved. I’m not sure if this makes any difference in the world but I’d bet if each of America’s 150 million coffee drinkers recycled one zarf once each month, the tree population would breathe a sigh of relief.

I Shoulda Known Better

On October 24, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Chicago Cubs1 Comment

My post – “Temperature Rising” – was pie in the sky. Unreasonable expectation. The light is out. The candle is extinguished. The day is done. The season is over. The Cubs once again have flopped. Badly.

The high hopes had yawned and awakened. That sudden rocket red glare of enthusiasm that came with the October 5th game against the Pirates. Air pumped into a long flat tire. But the flame has been doused. Cold water. Ice water. I mean losing 4 games in a row?? Come ON. My tear-stained TV Forecast now gathers dust on the television. Knuckles drag on the ground. A sad face greets the world. The Cubs have done it again. The goat is alive and well.

BUT. . . just wait ’til next year. . . .

Temperature Rising

On October 15, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Chicago Cubs, Hank SauerLeave a comment

When I was a kid, I had major Cubs fever. But I gave up on the Chicago Cubs years ago. And that put the kibosh on baseball altogether. I can honestly say that I have not watched or listened to a single baseball game in years. I have not watched a single inning of baseball save when I would get my hair cut and some game would be on the tube. If that happened, I would turn away from the screen. And watch the hair fall from my head.

The Cubs have been such a disappointment that I have not been able to bear the thought of them. In the last few seasons – Scout’s Honor – I could not name one player on the roster.

On Wednesday, October 7th, that changed. A resurrection if you will. The Cubs were up against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a one game, winner-take-all playoff. It was a 7:08 pm starting time. Why 7:08? Think military time. 1908. The last time the Cubs. . . . Anyway, I thought what can it hurt. So I had dinner, headed upstairs, piled pillows on the bed and turned on the t.v. Kicked back. And watched. And miracle of miracles. The Cubs won. Now, I have watched or listened to four games in a row. Last night the Cubs beat the Cards. And my temperature is rising. . . . .

So when the NL playoffs begin, I will watch. I am ready to be disappointed. But I will hope. And if the Cubs make it into the World Series, I will be watching. I have heard that Jack Brickhouse, Lou Boudreau, Harry Caray, Vince Lloyd, Ron Santo, Jack Quinlan and Ernie Banks will have front row seats for all the games. Oh and my idol – Hank Sauer (see 8/2/11)? He’ll be in the Cubs dugout — ready to head to the outfield if needed. . . .

“Show Uhspekt”

On October 4, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Show AspektLeave a comment

My granddaughter (age 3 years 9 months) is going to a pre-school. And she’s learning all sorts of good things. Part of the protocol is teaching the children to show respect to others. That means no hitting, pushing, poking, touching or verbal abuse. These are all good things for children to learn and for adults to keep in mind.

Soooooo Donna and I are in the car with Eve in the back seat. Donna’s shoulder muscles were sore (“oh my neck“) so I reached over and began rubbing. Vigorously. Suddenly Eve pipes up from her car seat and said sternly “Popi [that’s me] – show uhspekt.” Huh? I looked at her and she repeats “Popi – show uhspekt. Noooo touching. . . . “ I took my hand off Donna’s shoulder and Donna gave me a narrow-eyed, thin-lipped smile like “that’ll show you, big guy.” Eve gave a nod and went back to looking at her book. “Show uhspekt” was Eve’s rendition of “show respect.” Next time I get frisky, I know exactly what Donna’s gonna say. . . . .

The Road to Character

On October 1, 2015 By scottpetersenIn David Brooks, The Road to CharacterLeave a comment

In my post of January 26, 2012, I offered some of the great quotations on character. When I was tutoring, each week I would put a quotation on a 3″ x 5″ card for the student(s). Each related to character. To me, the reading, writing and arithmetic are all important. But developing character is just as (more?) important. For students, friends, family, strangers and politicians.

I just finished David Brooks wonderful work The Road to Character. Brooks opens with reference to the end of World War II — a victory of epic proportion. He observes that our parents and grandparents did not go around telling each other how great they were. The collective impulse was to warn themselves against pride. And self-glorification. But Brooks observes that we have seen a shift in ensuing generations from a culture of humility to a culture of I am the center of the universe. Brooks calls it “The Big Me.” Fame and fortune used to rank low as life’s core ambitions. Today, those goals have skyrocketed to the top. And your government now censors the teaching of virtue, character and integrity in schools.

The word “sin” was the moral tug that helped remind us that life is a moral affair. But as Brooks comments “When modern culture tries to replace ‘sin’ with ideas like error or insensitivity, or tries to banish words like ‘virtue’ ‘character’ ‘evil’ and ‘vice’, it doesn’t make life any less moral. It just means that we have obscured the inescapable moral core of life with shallow language . . . and we become increasingly blind to the moral stakes of everyday life.”

What is America Coming To?

On September 27, 2015 By scottpetersenIn Eagle Scout, Eagle Scout politicians, Hillary, Trump1 Comment

We had a discussion of politics — Trump/Hillary — with some friends. Very uncomfortable. I do not like politics or discussion of it since I am always right on such things (to understand this comment see July 6, 2014). Some swear by Hillary despite her lying and corruption. Some said Trump irrespective of his arrogance and stupid comments.

On reflection, given the choices — I would vote for neither. I would probably write in the name of someone who has honesty, integrity and ability. Like my dog Daisy. Or some Eagle Scout pal. Seriously folks — what is America coming to — where our prospective choices are a clown and someone who belongs in prison? Oh yes – and then there’s the socialist who would turn America into France or Venezuela or North Korea. What are people thinking? What do these choices say about our electorate? What would our parents/grandparents say about the parade of horrors now in contention for the biggest job in the world?

What ever happened to the likes of Everett Dirksen, Tip O’Neill, Ronald Reagan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower or the constellation of Founding Fathers who planted the seeds for our nation? If they were around, I’m sure Hillary would lie about them. Trump would ridicule them. And Sanders would condemn them.