by Judy Handley | Oct 17, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 290: Successful VOW Presentation at Newbridge
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2019
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and Incredibly Windy; High 63, Low 55 degrees F
Location: At Home with Alan and Helaine Kanegsberg. Dedham MA
My day started at midnight with thudding sounds coming from outside. I was in bed reading and got up to open the front door to see what was happening. It was raining and the wind was blowing incredibly hard, blowing leaves and limbs off trees. Thus, the thudding sounds. Once I knew what was happening, I was able to go to sleep. But this morning the wind was still blowing, probably 25, maybe 35 miles an hour. It was a WINDY night and morning on Cape Cod. The morning walk I was going to take with a Newcomers walking group was cancelled, so I just stayed home and did further preparations for tonight’s presentation. Good thing I didn’t go for that walk because it took me all morning to make the final changes to my PowerPoint presentation. I lost my AT&T phone connection for a couple of hours this morning, but I did have power and lost only tree limbs, not trees. Others lost power and had trees blown down. And my good friends Bruce and Jane Wooden lost the genoa sail on their sailboat L’Escargot. In the picture I saw on Facebook, there was another sailboat that had broken it’s mooring and was blown up on the beach. At least Bruce and Jane still have a boat, but L’Escargot looked so sad with its shredded genoa. So sorry, Bruce and Jane.
Because of the weather, I checked with Alan and Helaine Kanegsberg to make sure my presentation was still on for tonight at Newbridge on the Charles, their retirement community in Dedham, not far from Boston. While it was still blowing hard on the Cape, the wind had calmed down in Dedham, so I headed north. I could feel a difference as soon as I crossed the bridge. The wind was blowing, but not nearly so hard as on the Cape side of the canal. I arrived at Alan and Helaine’s mid-afternoon so that we had time to visit. Then at 5 pm, Helaine and I took my computer to Great Meadow Hall to meet with the activities coordinator and get all the technical details set for the presentation. It was so easy because their set-up is so nice. I just had to get used to the idea of wearing a lavalier microphone and plug my computer into their system. All systems were a go and we returned home to get ready for dinner. We went back to the main building for dinner and then went to the hall for the presentation. There was another staff member there to assist with all things technical, so all I had to do was focus on my presentation. By 7:30, most of the chairs in the hall were filled and I began my 45-minute trip around the world in Windbird. I love giving this presentation because I get to relive the six wonderful years that Mark and I spent sailing around the world, and I get paid to do it. It’s a win-win for me, and the people in the audience seemed to truly enjoy the presentation. There were very thoughtful questions afterwards and many of the people attending came up to thank me before they left. The Newbridge audience was most gracious. I now understand why Alan and Helaine love living here so much . . . great place, great people at Newbridge on the Charles
by Judy Handley | Oct 16, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 289: Opposites
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High 64, Low 51 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage. East Falmouth, MA
Yesterday and today were opposites. Today was as slow and easy as yesterday was busy. Yesterday was mostly sunny and today was mostly cloudy. Yesterday there was very little wind. Today it was windy, causing leaves to whirl to the ground. I did go for a bike ride, made a few changes to tomorrow’s presentation, and took Ollie to violin lessons. That was about it. Tomorrow I head north to Dedham to visit with Alan and Helaine Kanegsberg and give the Voyage of Windbird presentation at Newbridge on the Charles tomorrow evening. I’ll spend the night and shop my way home on Friday. We are supposed to get rain tonight, but I’m hoping it ends before I leave home late tomorrow morning.
by Judy Handley | Oct 16, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 288: Happy Birthday, Jane Woodin
Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 67, Low 42 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage. East Falmouth, MA
It was a busy day, but the highlight was celebrating the birthday of friend, Jane Woodin. Her birthday was actually earlier in October, but she was traveling at the time. So the celebration with the ‘Friends Five’ had to be delayed until today. A few years ago, Jane, Olivia White, and myself started getting together to lunch on our birthdays. Then we all became part of a Dining-in group with two additional couples, so Midge Frieswyk and Karen Baranowski were added to the group making us the Friends Five.
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It is a special thing to have a group of female friends and we really enjoy our birthday outings. Today we had lunch in Woods Hole at The Landfall. We got a table by the windows and we were able to watch Olivia’s daughter, Sheri, coming into port on the WHOI scientific vessel, the Neil Armstrong.
I started my morning at 8 am with an annual dermatology skin check, attended a For Your Health seminar on the evils of sugar in our diets. After lunch with the Friends Five, I came home and watched sat in the sun in the front yard while listening to an online program on the effect of the microbiome on the development of Alzheimer’s. And I ended the day fixing Taco Tuesday dinner for the Goldpebbles and getting them to bed. Heather was moderating a presentation on microplastics at the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole tonight and Jed joined her for dinner and the presentation. Once the boys were in bed, I watched the Democratic debate quietly on my phone. I had hoped to go on a Newcomers hike in the morning, but it is late and I think I’ll just sleep in and get my exercise by riding my bike. Then I’ll put the finishing touches on the Voyage of Windbird presentation that I will make on Thursday evening at Newbridge on the Charles. I’m looking forward to that and to visiting with Alan and Helaine Kanegsberg. Now to bed so I’ll have the energy to do these things.
by Judy Handley | Oct 14, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 287: Skype Calls with Family and Friends
Date: Monday, October 14, 2019
Weather: Overcast and Rainy, Again; High 69, Low 46 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage. East Falmouth, MA
The highlights of my day revolved around Skype calls. When I got home from my Monday morning pilates class at the gym, I got a call from Justin and family. And then tonight I got a call from friends Linda and Mike Stuart who are on the island of Lankawi in Malaysia. It was great to catch up with both. Ziggy and Coco are in school this fall for the first time since Hurricane Maria and they had Columbus Day off today. They attend the private school they were in before the hurricane and Coco was very excited that on Fridays she gets to go sailing or sometimes horseback riding. I want to go to that school. Justin took me out to the driveway to show off their new Toyota Tacoma 4-wheel drive truck. They had a Dodge Caravan that simply could not handle their driveway. It is challenging as you have to drive up a hill that is at 45-degrees steep or maybe steeper. When it is wet, which is often in Puerto Rico, they sometimes couldn’t get out. And now that they kids need to be taken to school each day, getting out became more important to have a reliable vehicle. That, plus the Caravan was literally falling apart. They are all very excited to have the new truck. My conversation with Linda and Mike was prompted by an email I sent to them this evening, their early morning. I read their blog and found that they were on the island of Lankawi and not particularly happy with it. I had raved about it, as had others, but it seems things have changed. I sent them parts of my logs from our explorations there, so Linda called to talk about that and their return to the US for a few months this winter. I am trying to figure out when I will visit with them. Linda and Mike are my friends that are biking around the world, but they have decided that it is time for a break. Linda’s mother is in her 90’s and not doing well, so it is important for Linda to come home to visit with her as well as to regenerate and get ready for the next world biking adventures. I am so thankful for Skype!
I have been watching a docuseries online and learned a couple of things today that I would to share. Dr. Dale Bredesen is the President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He has spent 30 years searching for a treatment for Alzheimer’s. He is not there yet, but he has found that prevention Alzheimer’s and all memory issues is where we should put our attention. Prevention requires attention to what I’ll call the Big 5– a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, avoiding stress, having good sleep habits, and avoiding toxins in the environment. His recommended diet is called KetoFlex 12/3. The ‘flex’ part means that there is flexibility in the type of diet, but whatever diet, it must include mostly vegetable. It can include organic and grassfed meat if you want, but meat should be viewed as a condiment rather than the center of what is on your plate. All processed foods and sugar should be avoided. The carbohydrates in your diet should come from whole foods, not breads and pasta. The ‘keto’ part refers to ketogenesis, a body process that can be brought about by fasting. He recommends that you eat dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime and that your next meal after dinner occurs at least 12 hours later. That is the 12/3 part of the diet. He also says that your brain needs good fats and he recommends S.M.A.S.H. fish. That stands for salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring. I love salmon, but the ‘mash’ fish are going to be a stretch for me. I’ll start by trying to learn to like sardines. The new science shows that memory issues can be turned around if the person affected is willing to make changes in their lifestyle to address the Big 5. He uses an analogy that the brain of people with Alzheimer’s a little like having 32 or some random number of holes in a roof. You can’t patch just 2 holes and eliminate water from dripping into your house. You can’t fight memory issues without addressing all of the Big 5. But if you want to prevent memory issues, you can start small and work your way slowly to addressing all aspects.
I spent part of my afternoon practicing and timing the Voyage of Windbird presentation that I will give on Thursday. In my first practice session, I was only one minute over my goal of 45 minutes. I’ve adjusted a few things and will practice again tomorrow and hope to get under the 45-minute timeline. But tomorrow is busy day. I have an 8am annual dermatology appointment, a For Your Health seminar on the topic of sugar in the diet, a luncheon with friends to celebrate Jane Woodin’s birthday, and then I will kidsit the Goldpebbles for the evening. Heather and family returned from Maine late this evening and tomorrow night Heather is moderating a session on microplastics in Woods Hole and Jed wants to attend. So, I volunteered to fix dinner and get the boys to bed. I’ve set my television to record the Democratic debate and as I will probably miss the first hour while getting the boys to bed. But I’ll get home in time to see most of it and can catch what I do miss on the recording. With such a busy day coming up, I’d better get myself to bed.
by Judy Handley | Oct 13, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 286: Visit from Candi, Lynn, and Sue
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2019
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 72, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage. East Falmouth, MA
A beautiful full moon tonight and sunshine today after five days of overcast and rainy weather made today a special day. But even more special was the visit of my sister-in-law Sue and my two nieces. It was wonderful to welcome them to Cape Cod. After we had lunch in the cottage, we went a little tour of Falmouth and Woods Hole. Our first stop was Nobska Lighthouse. The lightkeeper’s house is undergoing renovation but the lighthouse itself has already been renovated and today they were giving tours of the interior.
Lynn couldn’t make the climb up to the lighthouse but Candi, Sue and I did, and then Candi and I went on a tour of the interior. I have visited the lighthouse many times but have never toured the interior. The views Vineyard Sound, the Elizabeth Islands, and the Woods Hole Cut are spectacular from up high. Our next stop was Woods Hole where we did a driving tour and then parked the car and walked down Water Street. On the way home we stopped at Highfield Hall to see Stix Works and visited the French bakery on Main Street to buy dessert to take home and enjoy. After dessert at home, Sue, Candi, and Lynn headed to Plymouth where they will spend the night before heading home tomorrow. So glad they came to visit. It was a really enjoyable day.
by Judy Handley | Oct 12, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 285: C & C & C
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Weather: Still Overcast and Drizzly; High 61, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage. East Falmouth, MA
C=Computer – C=Carpentry – C=Cooking. That sums up my day. I spent most of the day at my computer finishing the PowerPoint for my presentation on Thursday. It is complete, but I’ll continue to send time making sure I can fit it all in a 45-minute time frame. It is always a challenge to fit almost six years of world travel into a 45-minute presentation, but I hope I’ve done it this time. I didn’t do any carpentry, but Nilson Fialho came today to replace pieces of trim on the cottage that were rotting and he finished that job. Then this evening I spent time doing a little cooking to get ready for tomorrow. My sister-in-law Sue Cook from Florida is in Massachusetts visiting with her two daughters (my nieces Candi and Lynn) and they are all driving down from the Boston area to visit for the day. We will have lunch here at the cottage and do a little touring in the Falmouth and Woods Hole area. Sue was married to my brother who died 55 years ago today. Sue was from the Boston area and moved back to Massachusetts after my brother died, but the family has always stayed in touch over those many years. I’m looking forward to spending tomorrow with Sue, Candi, and Lynn.
