The sad part of our lives is that we are continually exposed to pesticides. They shouldn’t be sprayed on our foods but it’s difficult for some farmers in certain areas to combat bugs and insects that will destroy their crops. Most shoppers believe organic is best and they are right. However, not everyone can afford all organic. There are products in stores that sell for extremity high prices which makes it impossible to purchase for the average family. They may taste good, but if a jar of tomato sauce is $8.00 USD, you can buy a few items for that same amount of money. It’s almost cheaper to buy organic tomatoes and make the sauce yourself. So, you are probably wondering what are the foods you can purchase that don’t need to be organic. They are: Avocados, Sweet corn, Pineapples, Frozen sweet peas (the organic is almost the same price and I disagree with non organic on this product), Onions, Papayas, Eggplants, Asparagus (it is rare to find asparagus organic), Kiwis, Cabbages, Cauliflower, Cantaloupes, Broccoli (I also believe organic is better), Mushrooms (again rare to find), and Honeydew melons. As you peruse the list you realize that many of the items needs to be peeled which automatically removes many of the pesticides. There is also a list with strong recommendations that they be organic. I have even heard it referred to as the dirty dozen. They are: Strawberries, Spinach, Kale, Nectarines, Apples (I lived between two apple orchards when my children were young. Most of the children in that small rural town have had health problems their entire lives), Grapes, Peaches, Cherries, Pears, Tomatoes, Celery and Potatoes. Unless the price is outrageous, I tend to buy organic. Any way you can avoid pesticides in your system is a step towards good health. Pecos is known for their cantaloupes. In almost any country, you can select a fruit that is tastier than in another location. For example, during this month, the strawberries in Ireland are the absolute best. One time when my daughter came to visit we had what I used to host for all their friends when they were in school, ‘fajita night’. She could not express how fabulous the avocados were that were grown in Spain. She also tried fruits grown in South Africa that were outstanding. While we were enjoying them we never thought about pesticides but possibly they were tastier because they were free of them. The Good Gus series is always available online at Kindle and Waterstones along with the hard copies at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta. Tomorrow Miss Patty will be selling the series at the Garden View Catholic Church, Kearney Mesa for the church bazaar. If you are in the area, please stop by as she would love to meet you. She will have her credit card machine. “Misplaced Trust” is available online at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
I love blueberries. They are one of my favorite fruits. The State of Maine has some of the finest blueberries in the United States. Besides tasting good, blueberries have several side benefits. What are those health benefits you may ask? First of all they help lower blood pressure (no pills), lower your risk of heart disease, helps fight cancer and helps your digestive tract. They are sweet without needing sugar. They are an ideal snack. Blueberries contain phytochemicals which help reduce the risk of many cancers. Right now, if you think about it, you probably know someone battling cancer. I know three people who have overcome cancer. They help slow the growth rate in many cancers. Blueberries are the king or queen of antioxidants. Hospital Dietitians recommend them as part of a diet for anyone with cancer. They are available all year round. They are easy to incorporate into your diet. If fresh ones aren’t always available the frozen will do. You can make blueberry muffins, smoothies, pancakes or waffles, fruit salads, crepes, and so much more. Just a handful a day can help lower your blood pressure and prevent heart disease. I didn’t realize but they have blueberry supplements which help with cognitive decline. I’d rather eat the fruit. So the next time you are in the produce section of the grocery, stop by the blueberries and choose a basket. You will be glad you did. Unfortunately, blueberries were not a native plant in Pecos. East Texas has the climate for them. In the Good Gus series, there are references to fresh garden vegetables. Remember, as the temperature rises, the series is online at Kindle and Waterstones. Hard copies are available at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta, California. Don’t forget yourself and relax with a quick read of “Misplaced Trust” available online at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
It’s amazing how many people really suffer from loneliness. Many individuals look happy and appear that way everyday. Deep down, though, they are sad from loneliness. If you ever thought about it, how many people do you know that feel that way? More than you can imagine. There are individuals who prefer to be alone and live alone and others who have simply adjusted to it. However, in order to be truly happy, you first have to feel good about yourself. If you surround yourself with other people in an attempt to stave off loneliness, you will always feel lonely. It starts from within. You need to tell yourself everyday that you may be alone, by you are not lonely. That you like yourself and look forward to each day. It’s important to start the day with pleasant feelings. As you go to work, drop the kids at school, attend meetings, you will definitely meet people who are rude, inconsiderate, and try to destroy your day. For example, suppose you stop for coffee everyday at a specific shop. Frequently, the person behind the counter is barely communicative and rude. Do you allow them to ruin your day? Absolutely not. Instead, wish them a pleasant day and smile. You would be surprised at how many times a simple smile can turn a person around as they wait on you. Frequently, they return to being sullen but for a brief moment they are nice. It might be that they are so overwhelmed with loneliness that they can’t move past it and try to like themselves but be unpleasant to others. Except for Bad Bart, all the characters in the Good Gus series are pleasant. If you check out the books on Kindle, Waterstones or at the UPS Store in Tierrasana, California, you will notice that they don’t look mean or nasty. Don’t forget your reading time with “Misplaced Trust.” It is available online at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Why are people continually berating each other? Today I saw an article about tofu. A woman who is vegan was berating a person who is a meat eater because they happen to like tofu. The woman accused a man of appropriating veganism because he liked tofu. It sounds ridiculous. She accused him of stealing what belongs to vegans only. If you have the money and like a specific food why shouldn’t you eat it? Almost in every article you read there is a person berating something or someone. The political parties seem to have a field day criticizing each other. Have they stopped to consider that all the infighting, arguing, criticism and berating doesn’t solve any issues? Possibly it makes them feel better but it’s not the answer. In addition, there seems to be an increase in articles, particularly now that school is starting, of teachers and their aides berating students. I thought school was a place where children learned and matured. Instead, it seems to be an institution that has a staff that feels that they can be mean, unkind, critical, and uncaring. If you wonder why children are growing up with issues, maybe it’s not the parents but what is really happening to them everyday in school. Where does it all stop and when does it all end? Teaching was a noble profession. Now it seems there are too many people in it for the paycheck and benefits and not the desire to teach or do a good job. In the Good Gus series, Miss Patty is an excellent teacher who cares about her students and wants them to excel in knowledge. As the new school year approaches, a quick read of the series which is available on Kindle, Waterstones, and hard copies at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta, California are a good way to start. For your reading enjoyment, “Misplaced Trust” is online at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Here we go again! Another new fad diet that claims you can eat anything you want, but there is a catch. The name of this new fad diet is CICO. The goal of this diet is to eat whatever you want, count your calories, and burn more more than you consumed. If you think about it, if you can check on every food you eat then you can calculate how many calories you consumed in a day. This is a remake on the old type of dieting. The first problem may be that you may eat out at lunch at a restaurant that does not post the calories for each dish. The second problem is that it is time consuming even if you use a computer program. Then, you have the question of how many calories you burn in a day. If you have a program on your phone or a watch that will calculate for you, it may be easier. There are also programs that will sell you pre-made food to help you control your caloric intake. However, they are expensive. It is conceivable as a weight loss program if you have the free time for all of the calculations and input. The smarter version might be to sit down, look up all the foods you like to eat and make your own program. I know weight watchers has something similar. The difficulty in losing weight is that many individuals have medical problems which prohibit them from really remaining at their ideal weight. Losing weight takes time and effort. Anyone who goes to the gym on a regular basis, like myself, see people of all types including really overweight individuals, putting forth their best effort to become healthy. They should be applauded for their efforts. The characters in the Good Gus series are all shapes, sizes and ethnicity. I thought it important that children see people as they really are and not as fairies, vampires and monsters, but rather the types of individuals they come in contact with every day. Remember, the series is available on Kindle and Waterstones and at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta, California. “Misplaced Trust” can be found at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Lately it seems that people are voicing hate speech rather than spread happiness. Somehow, it appears to be easier than acts of kindness. Why is it so popular to be violent and attack others verbally? Is it the heat? It seems to be a very violent summer particularly in the United States. If people stopped and thought about it, would they prefer enjoying themselves in a positive way or wreaking havoc wherever possible. Taking a few moments to hold open a door for a person, smiling at people in general or offering a compliment brightens a person’s day. You feel better emotionally if you spread happiness. People tend to be rude. They are always in a hurry, often with a grim face, and act as if anyone around them is annoying or in their way. They are not the center of the universe. Maybe that is why they can’t spread happiness and pass along misery. People who perceive insults seem to hold a grudge. If someone cuts them off while driving, lets a door slam in their face, cuts in line anywhere, or complains because someone else is taking too long at the bank, grocery, hardware store, etc. they pass their negative feelings along to anyone whom they can hurt in any way. The old adage stop and think before you speak is a good idea. Then, there is less anger projected or spoken. In the Good Gus series, the ideal of all the stories was kindness towards others and to spread happiness. Miss Patty did well today in book sales. Next Saturday she will be at a church bazaar. Data including location and times to follow. As it feels really hot, let the children use your tablet and read the series on Kindle and Waterstones. Hard copies are for sale at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta, California. Once they are finished treat yourself to a relaxing read with “Misplaced Trust.” It can be found at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Many individuals believe in karma. They think, and they may be right, that what goes around comes around. Yet sadly, it seems that the people who lie, cheat and steal somehow always manage to get ahead. Miss Patty and I know a few people like that. The first one has always been cheap towards us as a team. We have done a great deal of work for him and yet he rarely paid us. When we would develop a sale, he would always take the lion’s share of the total amount. The fact that we found the sale, cultivated it, made it a reality and then did all the work is insignificant to him. He is extremely wealthy and believes that anyone who does work for him and/or with him deserves only a minimum amount. Warped thinking, don’t you agree? Now he is involved in a lawsuit and karma is rearing its ugly head. The second person manages to always nick us on payment even though we give her referrals for sales. Once again, we put forth the effort and she believes that because she goes out to make the sale her time and effort are more valuable than ours. Everyone’s time is valuable. Whether you have a degree, learned a trade, or have no formal education but are good at what you do, you are important. We actually know a third person who literally cheats others and has been doing it for years. What is amazing is that she is still getting away with it. I expect when karma strikes, it will be harsh. In the Good Gus series, there are various stories that indicate karma without pointing it out. Remember, Miss Patty will be at Balboa Park tomorrow and she is now accepting credit cards. For all people in San Diego, hard copies are available at the UPS Store in Tierrasanta. For everyone in the heat, the series is available online at Kindle and Waterstones. Remember to keep cool with different reading such as “Misplaced Trust.” It is available online at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
People who are on diets occasionally try fasting as a way to speed up weight loss. Often it doesn’t work because then they binge eating which defeats the purpose. There are controlled methods of fasting which do benefit weight loss. For example, one time on “Frasier” the radio station was in a contest with another station to see whose staff could lose the most weight. Right before the weigh in, they all binged on fatty foods such as doughnuts, french fries, pastries and high calorie delights. When the final weigh in arrived, they all stayed at Frasier’s apartment and were fasting to drop the pounds. In the end, they did win once Roz chopped off some of her hair. Many people believe fasting is good before a workout. I agree. I like to exercise in the morning on an empty stomach or later in the day before dinner. You should, however, after you workout, eat a high carbohydrate, high protein meal. Since you are basically ripping your muscles, you need to wait thirty minutes and then replenish your body. There are dietitians who disagree but it really boils down to how you really feel. If you see benefits, workout whatever is best for you. Your body will thank you as you age. I knew a man who barely exercised until his son, a doctor, forced him at sixty-five to start swimming. His health improved dramatically. He died when he was 95 1/2 years of age stepping out of the pool. In the Good Gus series, fasting would be a bad idea. The characters, including the children, worked and played hard every day. As you hope for a cool down, pass your tablet to your child so they can read the series on Kindle and Waterstones. For the San Diego fans, stop by the UPS Store in Tierrasanta. Once they are fast asleep, grab that tablet and read “Misplaced Trust.” It is available at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
There are families that go through life and are never affected by misfortune. Do you ever wonder why? Do you feel as if you are cursed? Often it just bad luck. Sometimes we are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The individuals who are fortunate in life to escape negative events, don’t seem to appreciate the difficulty others have. I knew a man who was quite wealthy. One time he was at a petrol station and needed help installing new windshield wipers that he had purchased elsewhere. The attendant gladly assisted him as it was a cold rainy day. My late husband was with him and suggested he give the attendant a few dollars. He said no, so my late husband gave him a tip. The attendant was working a minimum wage job, had an old beat up car and was just trying to do a kind act. His life had been full of misfortune. Yet, the wealthy man couldn’t see any of that and felt that the attendant should just do his bidding because he was rich. The attendant really appreciated the tip, so much so, that when either myself or my late husband stopped to purchase petrol, he always cleaned our windows and went out of his way to give good service. Not everyone has an ideal life which is why those of us who can donate our time, items, and money to help the less fortunate in life. In the Good Gus series, there are events that appear to be a misfortune. However, what really occurs is that the citizens of Pecos band together and all pitch in and do whatever is needed. It’s the type of series that gives your child reading these books a sense of family and community. Remember, as hot as it is, the series is at your fingertips on Kindle and Waterstones. If you are passing Tierrasanta, stop in at the UPS Store for a hard copy or two. “Misplaced Trust” is available for your relaxing reading pleasure at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Have you noticed that everyone pushes their own personal political agenda? I was of the impression that as individuals our opinions shouldn’t be forced on others. Yet, today, there was an article about a school teacher forcing her political agenda on her students. It was my understanding that it was not acceptable. I thought the school system didn’t allow basic brainwashing of students. Obviously, all political parties in all countries push their political agenda. They want everyone to agree with them. They send out fake news reports, accuse people of things, start rumors, and more. It is understandable that people have strong opinions but they don’t need to force them onto us or dislike us because we don’t share their views. There are now groups that have put up posters in New York against a political party saying anyone who is for that party should be in a concentration camp. This is not Nazi Germany. The United States is supposed to be free and and have freedom of speech. It really comes down to consideration of others. Just because you feel one way doesn’t mean that another person should feel the same as you. Broadening our minds, and embracing new ideas gives us the opportunity to make good decisions. In the Good Gus series there was no political agenda. I wrote the books with positive ideas for the children so that when they read a book they would walk away feeling good. As the temperatures rise, indoor activities become more popular. Since school is not too far away, start a new reading of the series available on Kindle, Waterstones and the UPS Store in Tierrasanta, California. Your children will thank you. Then, when they are sleep curl up with your tablet and read “Misplaced Trust.” It is available at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
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