Yesterday I read an article that I could not find again about shifting the blame in subtle ways. It was a fascinating article that gave a fresh perspective about how changing the words can easily transfer blame. The article discussed statistics. One of the first items it covered was that when articles discuss a topic it is often about the victim of a crime rather than focusing on the criminal. In this case, the author dealt with crimes against women. Rather than say a certain number of men caused domestic violence and were punished, it focused on the victims. By shifting the blame, it subtly changes the tone of the article. It lets the criminals off by not specifying that they are the ones perpetrating the crimes and leaving the victims to deal with their horrible acts. In single incidents, such as the one in Miami yesterday at a hotel, it was clear who the criminal was by his picture. If they write an article about the number of women impregnated because of violent acts, why aren’t they addressing the criminals? Just recently, a judge in the United States, ruled that a man who impregnated a twelve year old girl eight years ago, may now see his son and have joint custody because he was the father. What type of message does this send? It almost seems that is acceptable when in reality it was a crime against a child. Do you see how shifting the blame was portrayed? In the Good Gus series there was an absence of crime except in “Bandits Come to Pecos.” If you think about it, you will realize that the bandits were raccoons. The series is always available on Kindle and if you are too tired to read remember you can find me reading to children on You Tube under Mae’s Story Time. If you feel shifting the blame is wrong, please speak out. For your next reading break, please check out “Misplaced Trust” on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Playster, Scribd and Tolino.
Fishing is a calming and relaxing sport. It’s not so much about the actual fishing as it is the peace and quiet. However, there is another type of fishing and this is for the answer you want or compliments. It’s surprising how many people fish for compliments. It is also fairly common when a person has an idea in their mind and if the other person disagrees, they start fishing until the answer they want to hear is spoken. When an individual has an idea in their mind, yet they aren’t sure they seek advice. There are people who will ask several individuals and if they don’t like the answer they will keep asking until someone says what they really want to hear. The worst part of this type of behavior is that if anyone compares notes on this individual they will become upset if they are asked, “Didn’t you already ask Joe and he said he disagreed?” Do they go around fishing for answers because they are unsure or is it because they want to insure that everyone knows what their plans might be? If anyone is foolish enough to give them advice, if they don’t follow it fully and things go wrong, then they have someone to blame. That may be exactly what they are seeking. A person who believes they look fabulous but still are fishing for compliments, underneath it all don’t have true confidence. In the Good Gus series fishing was exactly that. In book five, “Lightning Strikes Pecos,” J.C. and Bronco are fishing on the Pecos River. That is the next book for illustrations! In the meantime, the books are always available on Kindle. If you love fishing, consider bringing your tablet so when the fish aren’t biting you can take a break and read “Misplaced Trust.” It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry,Playster, Scribd and Tolino.
In 2004, a Movie entitled “Mean Girls” was released starring Lindsay Lohan. It was aimed at how cruel teenage girls can be. However, they should release a new movie about mean girls for the younger set. My little three year old granddaughter has encountered mean girls much to my shock and disbelief. If I didn’t witness it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it. What is worse is that it appears to be condoned by their mother. The children are newly introduced to the United States. I find it difficult to understand that this behavior is tolerated in other countries. At first glance it seems that it’s just children playing. However, when you are there you can actually see what is going on. The older girls, who are not teenagers yet, have mastered the art. For example, all the children are playing and then they decide to go inside their home. As my granddaughter follows them, they slam the door in her face. Then they make faces at her through he window where she can see them. Once she gives up and walks away, they open the door just enough so she can see them and then as she runs back they slam it again in her face. I never thought that a four year old would be a mean girl so early. When all the girls are together and my granddaughter walks over to play they tell her to go away. It’s quite hurtful. Many of us have experienced this type of unkind behavior, it’s common. However, as we matured we possibly forgot that mean girls started at an early age. In the Good Gus series, there were no mean girls. In the old show, “Little House on the Prairie” had a girl who was spoiled and cruel. It gave the example to the Ingalls’ girls not to act that way. Kindle is always available for your child’s reading pleasure. If you remember the mean girls in your life or you need a refresher as to their behavior, “Misplaced Trust” can show you several examples. The series is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd and Tolino.
Deception seems to occur in almost any industry. A few years ago, I discovered that on a variety of sites selling cars, that there was a scam in purchasing a used vehicle. The ads seemed legitimate, but they were not. They showed beautiful pictures of a car. They all claimed to be in the military and were being transferred. When you asked to see the car it was in an entirely different location in the states. For example, if a car was advertised in Las Vegas, they claimed the car was in Missouri at a military base. The person who placed the ad stated that they were being shipped overseas and they needed to sell their car. It sounded good in print, but when you wrote back and said, “What a coincidence, I have a relative who can go look at the car as he or she lived in that town.” Once that email arrived you never heard from them again. They stated that if the car wasn’t as promised in the ad, that your money would be refunded. By the time you received the notice that there was no car, they were long gone with your money. They also used the child dying of cancer deception. The adverts would pull at your heart strings, but it was again a deception of enormous proportion. As a second example, the rent to own scheme or just the rental business will shock you. I recently met a woman who was shown a home and went back to her home state to move her belongings. There was just one problem, the home wasn’t really available for rent and not only did they steal all her money, but she had to put her things in storage and find a place to live. Deception occurs in everyday life, but in the Good Gus series, it didn’t exist in the stories. It would have been a poor example. As you ponder what to read to your child, grab your Kindle and read one of the stories of the series. In “Misplaced Trust” the amount of deception by families and friends will astound you. It’s available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd and Tolino.
Anyone who is married or planning a marriage may wonder why it failed or what they can do to keep it happy. Actually staying marriage in this world today is an accomplishment. The divorce rate is so high that it almost seems at the first sign of trouble people bail out. That is not really the case. People put forth effort to make their partner happy and enjoy their lives. Yet, sadly, it doesn’t always work. In any relationship, forgiveness is really important. If you love someone, you should be able to forgive them unless it is something serious such as breaking your trust. No one is perfect but if you can’t trust a person you can’t be comfortable or even happy with them. Once they do that, any faults that seemed insignificant become major. Everyone makes mistakes but it is the degree of what occurs is part of how it affects you. Sure as a team you may share chores and he or she may forget to run the dishwasher, do laundry, clean up after dinner, etc. It’s not the same as breaking a promise, becoming addicted to drugs, gambling, and even spending. Communication is very important between a couple and it should always be open and honest. The moment that is gone, then everything changes and not for the better. Trying to spend quality time with each other is extremely important. Shut off cell phones, the TV, radio, any technology and sit quietly and just talk. Make the simple gesture to ask how their day went. It really makes a person fell wanted and plus they love to talk about themselves. In the Good Gus series there were married couples and single parents. The stories reflect life as it was then and now. As you look at books to read on your Kindle for nap or bedtime, the series is always available and the illustrations are beautiful. If you are in a marriage that is floundering, take a quiet break and consider reading “Misplaced Trust.” It may give you the perspective you need in life. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Recently, I have been researching collagen. It appears to be very popular but I wondered if it was safe to use. It has been in the past, always associated with the medical profession as a filler utilizing needles. However, now the supplement industry has caught on and it comes in capsule, powder and creams. It occurs naturally in our bodies and is essential to our tissue structure and elasticity. As we age, it decreases. It is in meats and poultry but it’s the parts we trim off as it is connective tissue. Not ideal. Turmeric is a good source to increase your body’s collagen to a degree. However, the supplements can give you what you need based on scientific studies. They claim that it will reduce the signs of aging and improve skin elasticity. It is also supposed to help your bones and joints which is good news for anyone with arthritis or osteoarthritis. In a study in 2008, using rats, it was concluded that collagen did actually increase bone mass. If you think about it, that’s the answer for older adults and particularly women as they struggle with bone density more than men. As collagen is a protein, by including it in your diet, particularly if you are an older adult you automatically increase your daily consumption. Athletes use it to enhance their performance and build muscles which is also applicable to the older adult. Lastly, though, if you have leaky gut syndrome, digestive problems and other stomach related issues, it appears to help even though there is no scientific research backing it. In the Good Gus series, collagen wasn’t even a thought in anyone’s mind. As the holiday season rapidly approaches, remember “The Special Gift” is a wonderful story for the young child on their Kindle. Last Christmas it was sold out at the Marine Base in San Diego, California. Trying collagen may help you physically, but if your mind needs a change, please try “Misplaced Trust” which is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Emotional stress is a byproduct of our daily lives. We all have learned to cope with it. It’s unfortunate, because we really shouldn’t have to learn to handle emotional stress. Between technology, the stress placed upon us to succeed financially in a big way, traffic just to get to work and family responsibilities, it’s no wonder we all even function. Emotional stress truly affects our mental health if we don’t pay attention to it. There are several ways that it can affect you. For example, what is quite surprising is grinding your teeth. It can occur when you are awake or asleep. What is worse is that it can cause headaches, damage to your teeth, and affect your jaw. It becomes a physical outlet for your body and primarily happens while you are sleeping. Many people under severe stress have almost an extreme lack of energy. They seem unable to do anything. It makes them feel tired. Once again, that cortisol in your bloodstream mimics physical activity so that one’s breathing and heart rate increase. There are individuals who sleep to help hide their emotional stress. However, there are others who have insomnia as they simply cannot calm down. Then, there is stress eating. Some eat everything in site, while others don’t eat at all. Another thing I have found is that people who have emotional stress are always sick. Whether it is for attention, or that their bodies simply break down, I’m not sure. If a man or woman goes through a divorce and children are involved, the emotional stress is overwhelming. Anyone you know who has gone through this probably has all the symptoms I just mentioned. They may need your help in coping and seeing what is really happening to them. It’s very difficult. This is also true of the families and friends who lost loved ones in the Las Vegas massacre. In the Good Gus series, no one really had emotional stress. There are stories that include weather incidents that cause temporary stress, but it is always resolved positively. I hope as the calm down time approaches for your children to go to sleep, you will read the series from your tablet on Kindle. If you are dealing with emotional stress, a good read such as “Misplaced Trust” may help to take your mind off of it. It’s available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
As children we loved coloring books. Apparently, it is becoming popular again for adults. Obviously, we had fun with our children and/or grandchildren teaching them to color between the lines, how to shade and emphasize certain items on the books. We taught our children to use crayons, water colors, markers, and anything that made colors that was washable. Our biggest concerns beyond learning was the clean up and stains. In school, we were taught to use all types of paint including finger which was fun. Part of the lessons in art was also learning how to draw. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, many schools no longer offer art in the elementary grades. It was a relaxing activity that we all enjoyed. Now, however, stores are carrying adult coloring books for grown-ups. The adult coloring books help to de-stress. It forces one to focus once again to color in between the lines, shade, etc. It’s a simple activity that allows adults to take a few minutes to unwind. It doesn’t require anything except the coloring books and the medium you choose. If you think about it, its an activity you can do anytime. Once you have the supplies, you don’t have to go anywhere, take time to set up something elaborate, or even clear a huge space to do it. Basically, as you color your mind can clear and you forget what is going on around you and even how difficult things might be. We enjoyed it as children, why not as adults? Lest you forget, paint by the numbers is also still available! As coloring books were invented in the early 1900’s, they weren’t part of the Good Gus Series. As all the scary commercials and ads appear for Halloween, remember the series is always available on Kindle to give your child happy thoughts. After you try the adult coloring books, I hope you will consider as part of your reading list, “Misplaced Trust” which available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Should you eat the same foods everyday? For many older adults, it is a way of life. Fortunately, part of their daily eating of the same foods also includes daily exercise and a good night’s sleep. Many of the older adults do live well into their nineties. Scientific studies from 2015 concluded that the more variety the better. They used 7000 adults who were at least twenty years of age. It may be scientific proof, but how accurate is it in this case? If you examine all the older adults’ eating habits who live a long time, what do you find? They didn’t eat fast food but an all around healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean protein whole grains, healthy fat, dairy and low sugar. The sad part with fast food available is it makes it convenient to grab a quick bite and think you’ll catch those vegetables at another meal. The lack of fruits and vegetables in the average person’s diet is appalling. Walk down any grocery in any developed country and check out the produce isles for example. Then check the snacks, sugar drinks and juices, biscuits/cookie and cracker isles and what do you see? The produce section is one fourth the size of everything else. However, if you do eat the same foods all the time, it is easier to plan well balanced meals. It is quite possible the greater the diversity of eating may directly extend to the waistline. Obviously, trying new recipes that contain lean protein, more vegetables and fruits can enhance your heath and increase your chances of living a healthy life and not one that relies on medications. In the Good Gus series, they did eat the same foods everyday and everyone was healthy. I hope you will take a few minutes and choose one of the series stories on Kindle for the young child or children in your life. If you eat the same foods everyday, and feel great that’s what is important. As you taking a reading break, please remember that “Misplaced Trust” is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
There are many teas that are promoted for losing weight, sleeping, mood enhancers, yet until recently no one discussed black tea. There are supplements in the form of green tea that claim weight loss. Do they work? No idea. Recently, the University of California at Los Angeles did a study regarding the positive qualities of black tea. Their study showed that it can help blast through that fat. According to the researchers, the compounds in green tea are also in black tea. For some reason, a compound entitled polyphenois is very small in green tea but quite large in black tea. It was understandably baffling. When you think about all the tea leaves they appear very small. In addition, the green tea was more effective and offered more health benefits. According to Susanne Henning, the study’s lead author, ‘black tea, through a specific mechanism’ may also add to good health and weight loss. She also concluded that because it is a prebiotic it may contribute slightly more to good health and weight loss over the renown green tea. UCLA conducted a four week study using mice. They put them on high fat, high sugar foods with only one group on low fat, high sugar diets. They concluded that even though green tea works on the liver and stomach, that black tea focused on the gut and increased energy. They are recommending a combination of both teas. If you are not a fan of green tea, try adding it to your iced tea or hot tea. The black tea will completely disguise the taste. As black tea was invented in the 17th century, there was plenty available in Pecos, Texas. At night as you ponder what to read your young child, I hope you will consider grabbing your table and reading the Good Gus series on Kindle. Today Miss Patty attended a book fair in San Diego, California where she sold a high number of books. For a new and different read, grab a cup of black tea and sit in a comfy chair with your table and read “Misplaced Trust.” It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
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