Tuesday Tidbits

• I went 4-1 in the football pool this week! I'm officially tied for 6th. I'm also slightly obsessed.

• I'm disappointed in the Ray Donovan season finale. I like a badass Ray Donovan and this episode gave me a resigned and weak Ray Donovan. I guess I understand the reason why they chose to end the season the way they did-it's about absolution and redemption, OK, I get it. But in my opinion they over played their hand a bit here. They put too much focus on Ray's two weaknesses-the Catholic church and his family and I don't feel like it resolved anything for me. I'm thinking that's exactly what it was meant to do. I'll be waiting till next season Ray, don't you worry. 

• Scientists have discovered evidence of flowing water on Mars! Exciting news that some say could lead to the discovery of some form of life on the planet. I wonder-is this a ploy by Hollywood to promote the opening of Matt Damon's new movie "The Martian"? Just a thought.

• The Pope is the cutest man in the world. I love him. 

• Today I consider myself fortunate for all that I do have in my life and fortunate that I will not focus what I don't have....and I'm fortunate that I feel that way. 

• I'm going to see Frack this weekend in North Carolina. It's Parent Weekend at HPU and I can't wait! I miss my boy so much!! He is pledging a frat Pi Kappa Phi and he's rally excited about it. I'm loving the fact that this frat boasts the best GPA on campus and they take academics VERY seriously. So much so, that Frack has to log in 12 hours of monitored study time during the week as part of his pledge duties. Is this great or what?

• Babies are everywhere in my family. Lately there have been most joyous visits from 2 great nieces and a great nephew. I'm not going to even think about the fact that this means I am old..no, I am going to rejoice in the fact that my beautiful nieces and nephews whom I have enjoyed watching growing up are now becoming parents themselves. The love I feel for their children is so overwhelmingly satisfying. It's a beautiful lesson in the circle of life.

Mimicry Is The Best Form Of Flattery

It has recently come to my attention that I may have the psychological syndrome called FAS (Foreign Accent Syndrome). This is a real thing, seemingly, as I did a quick Google search on it. The back story here is that my daughter recently scolded me: She said, "When you talk to someone with an accent you adopt their accent into your response to them."

And she would be right.

I know I am doing it at times and at times I a am completely unaware I am doing it. Like last month when we were doing the buying for The Candy Bar in New York City and I was conversing with a gentleman who had a heavy Latin accent. Evidently, in my responses, I intoned the nuances of this gentleman's specific vernacular into my speech. And she called me on it. Again, she would be right and I'm not quite sure why I do it. I've done it before, a bunch of times, but none more specifically than when I was traveling in Europe or I am speaking to someone with a strong accented speech pattern. I have even opened a conversation in Paris with a simple, "Bonjour" to which the person I am talking to assumes I am French speaking and will respond in a long response in French which I do not understand at all.

Upon closer inspection I may be suffering from "the chameleon effect" instead of FAS-which can medically be the result of a brain trauma. The chameleon effect is said to be subconscious and more like "mimicking". Many famous people have been criticized in the media for it. Madonna, Oprah and Tony Blair have all been condemn for changing their accents to suit their audience. Scientists and researchers are actually studying this phenomenon. "Researchers who made the discovery believe accent mimicry is part of the brain's in-built urge to 'empathize and affiliate' with other people."

So it would seem that I am not alone or even "weird" as my first born would lead me to believe. It would seem I am in good company. Bottom line is I'm not crazy or brain damaged. Maybe I'm just deploying a useful strategy. By adopting some of the speech patterns I hear, deep down, what I could really be trying to say to you is "I hear ya...and I understand you completely."

I Don't See No Stinkin' Fat Lady Singing

I may not be as young as I used to be, but I know I'm not as old as I sometimes think I am.
So, I now wake up with a few new aches and pains that may not have been there last month. So what? The laugh and expression lines that once formed and then disappeared, now have become a permanent part of my face, forever. Should I not laugh or smile? These only serve to remind me that I chose to live a life to the fullest.

To my BFF Danny, I say, we are closer to the middle than we are to the end, so let's rejoice in that.

In answer to your question: NO, puffiness around the eye area does NOT mean you are getting old and losing your youth. Unless you think you are getting old and losing your youth, then I can't help you. But I think I know you a bit better than that, and I think I need to break this issue down for you so you can see for yourself.

THE FACTS:

Puffiness around the eye area is the presence of excess fluid (edema). The contributing factors are numerous, but the most common are here:

• Diet-caffeine and sodium are killers. Too much caffeine and foods high in sodium can all make your eyes look even PUFFIER. Alcohol can cause fluid to pool under the eye, and foods like canned veggies and canned soups, high in sodium can be the culprit.
• Sleep Habits: Sleeping flat on your back, without a pillow, can cause fluid to build under the eye area. Try elevating your head by adding another pillow to your head at night.
• Medical condition: It's quite possible there is something else going on here. Abnormally low levels of protein in the blood, a kidney condition or too little thyroid hormone are mentioned as possibilities for periorbital oedema. Talk to your doctor, have your blood pressure checked, your urine and your blood tested to determine any of these things. 
• Allergies: Most certainly the most common in all the research I read. And here's the thing you can have allergies and not even know it. When you react to allergens, histamines are released.  They can cause swelling in the face, especially around the eyes. An antihistamine may help with swelling, but you would be better served knowing exactly what you are allergic to and avoiding it. 
• Yes, AGE: Heredity and age can be contributing factors to puffiness in the eye area. When the skin under the eye becomes thin, it begins to sag and eyes look more puffy and tired. But I don't think that's the culprit here. 

Bottom line, you are not old, so stop thinking you are old because then you will become old. Good thing you have me to remind you, because I'm just a few paces behind you in this marathon we call life. 

And we ain't goin' anywhere. 

You can best believe that when we get there we will be fabulous. 

This is the way I plan on being when I get there...

You Are What You Eat

A genetically engineered mutant like creature?

So we were chit chatting over at the hen house yesterday and someone told this story. Seems a fast food company, who shall remain nameless, but goes by three letters-one of them being the letter C for chicken, has been called out on the Internet for not using real chicken in it's product being sold to consumers. What is it, you ask? It is the stuff of Internet legends.

It has been said that this company had to change it's long time name to the heretofore three letters because it does not use real chickens. The claim is that it uses "genetically manipulated organisms" to complete their menu items. It goes on to say that these organisms are kept alive in laboratories by a tube inserted into them to pump what they need to sustain some form of life. It also claims to know that these "organisms" also have no feet, no beaks and no feathers. This, the claim says, is why the government made the company changed it's name to the letters. There is no chicken according to this claim.

A Google search into this issue produced all sorts of interesting fodder on this topic, for both fact and fiction. What was consistent throughout is that this company has issued strong DENIALS that this Internet legend is true.

This website seems to have done their own investigation into the matter and actually had the meat tested. Their findings? The meat was NOT chicken and evidence of "genetic splicing" were detected.

What the hell does that mean?

One thing I know for sure. I very rarely eat fast food, but if I do, I will think twice before ordering a salad that's probably made from genetically engineered heads of lettuce. My biggest fear is for my children. Frack has a taste for any and all things fast food, as most 15 year old boys do, I need to give him the information and help him to make a decision on the matter.

And if I'm having chicken, I'm going to my local butcher shop.