Mr. Rogan, Just Thinking. ...

I watched the brief clip of you with the president elect, Donald Trump, engaged in friendly banter on your podcast, Mr. Rogan. The relaxed exchange of ideas, thoughts and laughter were a pleasant departure in this age of unsettling digital technology. Later that day, with my adorable 86 pound Wiggler by my side, I heard yet another guest comment on the rule-implied or stated- of your 3-hour conversational limit. In that moment i realized i could fulfill your mandate.

Your podcast is rated #1, worldwide, with a daily audience in the millions. In a month your tally could be in the billions. Wow, what a monumental feat. Mr.Trump opened up a new world for himself by accepting your invitation to appear on your podcast. It was a new age communicating tool for him to explore. It would be for me, also. My message is clear.

Special education has resonated with me for decades. I was asked to join the primary intensive language classroom of the school our 3 boys attended by the primary lead teacher of the class. It was 1994. Yeast dough was born, this educational tool, a 5 sense brain stimulation program for special children. It was higher order thinking at its best.. 

Questioning and language skills were highlighted  because of this new approach and the miracles began to happen. Conversation - not baking- was the intent of this well thought out dough program. Coloring was not on my to do list. And then the revolution began, lasting nearly 5 years. (Other passions - animals, music/dance - integral parts of a healthy learning spec. ed life)

In the Fall of '98,  Dr. Marion Cleeves Diamond, world renown neuroscientist, called me at home early one morning about my higher order thinking program for special children. It was about using yeast dough in the classroom. In her work Dr. Diamond was using mice; I, children in regards to brain stimulation. I was validated that September. (I had written her weeks earlier about her work, similar to mine)

The power for children lies in being able to think for themselves. I became a parent of a preemie son, born over 3 months too soon. The year was 1979. The study of the preterm infant hadn't begun till 1980. Books became my lifeline. Two more sons followed, 3 boys within 4 years, all preterm and ready to play for life.

Core Knowledge, a U.S. lesson sharing teacher organization, garnered my attention one day. It was a futile attempt on my part to connect with them. I tried two years in a row. Letters to 200 U.S. Boards of Ed. followed next with little response..Was the 'thinking' part of my letter that turned them off? I wondered till I wondered no more. Let's play follow the leader, not always but sometimes and only when it makes sense. common sense. Move on, momsey, move on!

My first day as a mom laser focused my life's purpose. It was the day of his homecoming- one month ahead of his original due date at 5 pounds, 2 ounce. What did I want for this tiny human, my son? It was then that I realized that a thinking child was a safer one, a happier one, a smarter one, one who did not need me there to think for him. He would know and it would be one less job for me. My application form was already full! 

What each child desires, if only momentarily, has to matter. Self-worth was on the line. Using 'no' as a standard reply played no part and served no purpose in raising our boys. Giving them the tools for the desired result was always the name of the adult game. You want it, you earn it. Simple and direct. Worked every time. The playing field was uneven: the power structure, one way. The teen years would soon show me the result of my 'no curfews, thinking man's' directive.  And I was just girl.

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As a former secondary school special needs teacher/ music enthusiast,  17 year elementary school parent volunteer, an award winner, pet parent for over 53 years and counting, a grandmother to 7 under 7 and  blogger. Conversation is the cornerstone to success in life. I gave 3 speeches, all humbling and gratifying experiences. I was instructed to write by an 18 year old girl, a musician and company president. Her boyfriend, my son, designed the MomseyBlog- 12 years ago.

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A year ago, during a 2 hour 'junior podcast', we entertained our grandsons, 2 and 5, inside the cavity of an 11-year old Chev. Avalanche parked in an outlet mall. Santa pictures had just been taken. For 2 hours, as mom and dad scurried about to finish their holiday shopping duties, grandpa and baba engaged in conversation with these young 'scientists' with questions and problems, keeping them busy, thinking and actively engaged. The interior of the truck became their playground. With boots removed, the boys climbed, laughed, drew, spoke and queried us all. Being peppered with questions became a game, a comical one at that. 

How many white cars are parked over there, I asked?..How many three wheeled cars are there?("None, of course, baba"). "Why not", I asked? Because......Why are there different numbers painted on the sky high windows of this mall? “Where are we?” “What do you think?” Explain please... “Everything is fine”I replied when mom and dad called, 1 hour later. The fun an unending exercise for all.

With smiling faces and hugs aplenty, they surprised me, again. ”That was the best time ever, baba” Yes, it was my precious boys. It certainly was.

No Added Salt, Please!

I wrote about the sodium in ready made soups weeks ago and how to decrease the sodium content in canned soup by the addition of more water, vegetables and rice to augment the amount of soup thereby reducing the salt per serving. When shortcuts in cooking are mandated, salt's impact on our health can be reduced. But why create the problem in the first place?

Dining out presents a unique sodium conundrum though it shouldn't. Salt might have been added in the kitchen if the request,“no salt added” is not made when ordering. It is my body not yours. High blood pressure is on the rise as we age. It is in everything- excluding fresh produce. Additives are one thing; salt, quite another. Restaurants need to listen.

Years ago while dining out at a Jack Astor's, I ordered french fries, an uncommon side for me , with my entree. One fry was all it took to begin the headache. I spoke to the server then the manager who arrived on scene with another order of fries. Nothing was different. Head office's rules were being followed not mine. Common sense did not win that evening. The argument failed.We did not return.

A customer request for no added salt is no joke. Over the years I have noticed salt's inclusion, to excess, in simple meals that have been salted to excess prior to cooking. Those instances are beyond the cook's control perhaps but not mine. I enjoy cooking but dining out is a welcome change, a special occasion that I treasure. Please leave the diner's food alone. Salting is very personal and dangerous to health. It is my decision not yours.

Food is medicine. Salt reduction is about health not just taste. Do not ignore this simple reminder. As a customer, refusing the dish brought to the table has eliminated your profit margin, already low, I imagine. The competition is fierce but I will go elsewhere. This should not be a journey of discovery. I want to relax and be happy. (A hot dog fills me up just as well and is much cheaper - at home.) I am a good cook but today you're it!

When ordering fish and chips, no salt added, lightly done are expectations - simple and direct. It's my prerogative, is it not? It is about my health nothing more. Over cooking, salting using high heat serve no useful purpose to anyone. My choices are being dismissed. Charbroiled is a euphemism for nicely burnt. (The animals (meat) used to feed us deserve respect for their sacrifice, don't you think? )..

When the sweet potatoes arrived, I was not amused. Fried too long ( burnt around the edges and more) on high heat with added salt, they were returned. I was sad not angry. Even our server had noticed but the cook dismissed her. Did the profit margin for the meal just evaporate at $8 per serving of sweet potatoes? Probably. There is sugar in sweet potatoes, so being mindful of a shorter cooking time and a lower temperature should have been considered. Sweet potatoes fry and bake quicker, too, than their potato cousins, russets, and yellows.

Adjust your heat, Mr Chef, the sugar in this incredible root vegetable, sweet potato, with 25 times the beta carotene of broccoli is a top favourite of mine now. My brilliant 'daughter' introduced me to this delicious addition to my vegetable repertoire, years ago. I was hooked. High heat can and does affect nutrient content, also. 

Finding the place which gives value for foods I love and adore is success of the highest order for me. I want to be here. Please do not send me away because of careless preparation, addition of salt and ridiculously high temperatures used. Simple reminders should not be needed. I am not your boss. You are the chef, after all.

"What She Said!"

I asked a simple question. What she said was surprising. “If the diet is balanced, supplementation is not required. It could make it unbalanced.”. It was so unexpected, this answer of wisdom. Oh so wise, I thought. The conversation ended as quickly as it had begun.

Today our Wiggler, our 11-year-old yellow retriever was receiving laser treatment for his upper body. His doctor's response to my question took only seconds to address but made so much sense. She is after all, a human encyclopedia, my human encyclopedia, our highly sought after veterinarian who has administered to our fleet of retrievers spanning decades.

Doctors are important for those times when we 're not sure. Food is medicine as the saying goes but sometimes we need to move past this and do something quickly and decisively to save a life, or simply to improve health.

Over the years lumps have been a concern. Retrievers seem to be predisposed to them. Our family veterinarian requires one extra step before extracting the fluid from these surface body invaders: the administration of Benedryl, an antihistamine. This over-the-counter drug will calm the neighbouring cells, should they be carcinogenic, thereby reducing the risk of spreading  these potentially cancerous cells within the body. I believe the term is metastasis. When aspiration is required the extra step is a must. She's the best. Not all doctors bother with this extra step. But our vet does and so do I. It's a must. The extraction of body fluid can be done immediately with no waiting or rescheduling of another appt. if benedryl is given 1 hour before the appt. when aspiration might be performed.

Then there was the the matter of the feline prescription diet, many years ago. If the animal refuses to eat the prescribed food then the point of the exercise is lost. Asking for help at the pet store is a must do next step. Even sick animals must eat. Help is on its way. Companies are making better food. Do not deceive us or we will feed them what we eat, forever. With kitty cat's overactive thyroid seafood must be avoided yet she is driven to eat it. Seafood is good choice for me, not for her. Her deadly choices are followed. She is the doctor now, loves it till she vomits. She realizes soon enough that her choices need to change.

Her prescribed diet is nearby offering her the alternative that should be followed.She does until it no longer aids in her healing. End of life is here. Difficulty swallowing has taken over. Greek yogurt fails to help with its special probiotics and high protein.To all pet food companies: if prescription diets are not palatable and yummy, go back to the drawing board. I will have to go elsewhere to find a solution to my pet's crisis. Your solution is no solution at all.

As a pet parent, I have spent most of my life asking critical questions to receive answers keeping my pet healthy and thriving. Maybe a return to table scraps might be in order though the term might have a different connotation to different people. Cats can live to 29. A portuguese dog living in Portugal is in his twenties. I know of a 19-year-old retreiver as active as ever. How incredible is that? And these pets are not eating 'dog food'.

Work on the special diets for those animals whose lives started out in hell and were rescued by caring humans who went above and beyond. Do taste tests till you get it right 'cause if they don't like it they won't eat it. Have a nice day!