Living Well Etc.

  Diet and Exercise is my Fountain of Youth Menopause is a major life change for women.   Some welcome it, as it means the end of the dreaded monthly visitor.   Nevertheless, some mourn , viewing it as the end of their youth.   No doubt, menopausal women are not as youthful as we once were, but this can be the best time of our lives.   So true, except for that one enormous elephant in the room.   That elephant can be us due to the typical weight gain associated with menopause.   My experience is slightly different than most because I am also saddled with a chronic disease that limits my activities .   Combine the natural weight gain many menopausal women face with the neurological damage of multiple sclerosis and I could become that elephant quite easily.   Yet, I am not.   Why?   Follow me and I will share all my secrets.   Move that body! Even though my form of MS is a chronic progressive type, which chips away at my...

  Even though tipping is thought to be optional, in today’s society it is expected.   Because of the contrast of ideal and reality, we are often, rightfully, confused.   And, if we short-tip, we are viewed harshly.  To help with that confusion, what follows are a few scenarios with solutions. Going Out to Dinner with Short-Tippers So, what should we do when you’re out to dinner with your future in-laws and they leave an embarrassingly small tip on the table?   It would be ill-mannered to correct them; but if there is an inconspicuous way to leave some money on the table as all are leaving, do it.  Still, waitstaff expects some to be socially clueless.  Consequently, and unfortunately, they are prepared for the short-tipper.  How About That Generous Bartender? How much we should be tipping a bartender who has discounted our drinks all night?  Usually, we tip a bartender similarly to waitstaff: approx. 20%.  If in a ...

  The What, Where, and Why of Burgundian Wines For years I wanted to see the lush interior of France, more specifically the vineyards of Burgundy.   Still, it was the wines I was most interested in exploring.   Wines from Burgundy don't carry the clout of their nearby cousins in Bordeaux, but they are some of my favorites.   Since the wine was a huge draw for me to visit, I took every opportunity to learn more while in that special place.   What follows is what I learned.   Grapes, Grapes Everywhere & Quite a Bit to Drink Burgundian wines are primarily made from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.   Yum!   Like most French wines, the name of the wine is based on the area or region and not the varietal as is common here in the U.S .   The white wines of Burgundy—made with Chardonnay grapes—come from these regions: Chablis, Mâconnais, Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune—some of the best.   Wines from Chablis are a dry Chardonna...

How the Drought of the '70s Compare to Today's Mega-Drought As a life-long Californian, I’ve lived through the great drought of the ‘70s and many record-breaking hot-summer days, which resulted in energy usage restrictions. During our last drought—only a few years ago—we had numerous brownouts and blackouts.  It appears that this ongoing drought may cause more of those same issues, as a headline in the Guardian recently read: “Less water means more gas: how drought will test California’s stressed power grid.” For the most part, Californians are typically requested to conserve energy during our hot summers when usage peaks due to ever-running air conditioners anyway.  However, if this continues, we may not have enough of our natural gas supply and our wind and solar doesn’t produce enough yet either.   Additionally, according to the website, California Department of Water Resources, 11 out of the 12 largest reservoirs are well below historical levels, which l...

Inexpensive Cooling Products and a Tip for Saving Money on Utility Bills Walking like Frankenstein?   Check.   Blurred vision?   Check.   Fatigued to the bone?   Double-check.   Hello summer heat.   For many, summer means gathering friends for alfresco dinners of grilled ribs from the grill.   For those of us suffering from multiple sclerosis , we feel as if we are under attack, so we just want to nap.   The one positive is that this is temporary and will disappear once we cool down.   Consequently, it's best to nip this heat assault in the summer blooming bud.   What follows are my top four tips for surviving the summer heat, three of which are my favorite cooling products. Cooling Neck Wraps Amazingly, when wet, these simple bandanas expand into cooling wraps .   Just tie one around your hot sweaty neck and experience instant cooling relief.     Filled with nifty little crystals, these tubed bandanas b...

  My doctors informed me that my waning sex drive and painful intercourse is normal for a postmenopausal woman.  Eager to change my fate, I turned to my computer for help.  Most sources agree that due to lowering hormone levels sex drive decreases, the vagina thins, and it loses its natural lubrication causing painful intercourse.  Conversely, many also state that postmenopausal women tend to have a great sex life.  Armed with this confusing information, I decided to revisit my doctor. What Are My Options? I tend to be open, assertive, and direct with my doctor.   She knows me well, well enough to know I will not take unnecessary drugs.    Still, her job includes mentioning pain-reducing alternatives, which boiled down to hormone replacement therapy or water-soluble lubricants.   Hormone replacement therapy is a short-term option due to possible side effects.   With my personal history of breast cancer, we both felt that the consid...

  Surprisingly, those with multiple sclerosis and women over the age of 50 share a similar problem.   It's common knowledge that metabolism slows significantly for women over 50, leaving us feeling tired.   Similarly, those with MS suffer from severe fatigue.     As an MS sufferer and having passed the half-century mark, I know fatigue with a slowing metabolism firsthand.   Fried after five, I know well.   Since fatigue and loss of energy are common for both groups, it seems logical that foods recommended for those with MS would also benefit women over 50.   Through trial and error during my many years with MS, constant research, and with advice from my doctors, I have come up with a diet that works well for me.   I believe it can help others as well.      What foods speed up metabolism and relieve fatigue? Eating the typical three full meals each day slows our metabolism to a crawl.   During the time it takes ...