For Thursday, July 21st, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JULY 21ST, 2011

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's THURSDAY!

NATIONAL TUG OF WAR TOURNAMENT DAY

Why settle an argument with carefully chosen words and mediation when you can get yourself a length of rope and a mud pit? The tug-of-war is a favorite activity of family reunions and company picnics. And while the game is all in good fun, have you ever noticed it really works out the tension between the two opposing sides? So if you've got something to get off your chest, challenge your opponent to a tug-of-war today.

Have a joyful day no matter what the circumstances. It is our choice what side of the rope we are on each day.

Loving people live in a loving world.
Hostile people live in a hostile world.
Same world.

Wayne Dyer

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY

To some people, every day is Junk Food Day. For the rest of us, National Junk Food Day is an opportunity to guiltlessly eat your favorite junk food.

Dietitians will tell you that junk food is any food that contains little nutritional value. We also include foods that are high in salts, fats, and sugars.

On Junk Food Day, you get to eat anything you want. Eat any amounts that you want, too. Tomorrow, however, it's back to a healthy diet.

If you want to cut down on junk food, cut down your intake of salt, sugar, fat and refined foods. Choose your calories by the nutrient company they keep.

SNACKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU

PORK RINDS

WHY YOU THINK THEY'RE BAD: These puffy snacks are literally cut from pigskin. Then they're deep-fried.

WHY THEY'RE NOT: A 1-ounce serving contains zero carbohydrates, 17 grams (g) of protein, and 9 g fat. That's nine times the protein and less fat than you'll find in a serving of carb-packed potato chips. Even better, 43 percent of a pork rind's fat is unsaturated, and most of that is oleic acid--the same healthy fat found in olive oil. Another 13 percent of its fat content is stearic acid, a type of saturated fat that's considered harmless, because it doesn't raise cholesterol levels

BEEF JERKY

WHY YOU THINK IT'S BAD: It's unhealthy meat that's loaded with preservatives.

WHY IT'S NOT: Beef jerky is high in protein and doesn't raise your level of insulin--a hormone that signals your body to store fat. That makes it an ideal between-meals snack, especially when you're trying to lose weight. And while some beef-jerky brands are packed with high-sodium ingredients, such as MSG and sodium nitrate, chemical-free products are available. If you have high blood pressure, check the label for brands that are made from all-natural ingredients, which reduce the total sodium content.

SOUR CREAM

WHY YOU THINK IT'S BAD: You know 90 percent of its calories are derived from fat, at least half of which is saturated.

WHY IT'S NOT: The percentage of fat is high, but the total amount isn't. Consider that a serving of sour cream is 2 tablespoons. That provides just 52 calories--half the amount that's in a single tablespoon of mayonnaise--and less saturated fat than you'd get from drinking a 12-ounce glass of 2 percent reduced-fat milk

CHOCOLATE BARS

WHY YOU THINK THEY'RE BAD: They're high in both sugar and fat.

WHY THEY'RE NOT: Cocoa is rich in flavonoids--the same heart-healthy compounds found in red wine and green tea. Its most potent form is dark chocolate. In a recent study, Greek researchers found that consuming dark chocolate containing 100 milligrams of flavonoids relaxes your blood vessels, improving bloodflow to your heart. What about the fat? It's mostly stearic and oleic acids.

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

You must be at the end of your rope. I felt a tug.

Author Unknown

Much of the United States is trapped under a heat dome caused by a huge area of high pressure that's compressing hot, moist air beneath it, leading to miserable temperatures in the mid-90s to low 100s and heat-index levels well above 100 degrees. Here in northern Ohio we are in the pressure cooker too.

While heat domes aren't uncommon, this one is unusual because of its size and duration. It began three days ago and may last seven to 10 days in some locations. And it's moving eastward, with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees in Washington by today.

Relief is on the way. Cooler air should begin moving into the Plains states this weekend, as a strong pool of air from the jet stream begins to push hot air out of the way in the Dakotas and into Minnesota before making its way east.

By Monday, temperatures will drop into the mid-80s in the north. Cities in the East could still be sweltering

Take good care everyone! Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated!

Keep cool!

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

A chip on the shoulder usually means there is wood higher up

COUNTING THE DAYS

I will not play at TUG O'WAR.
I'd rather play at hug o'war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of TUGS,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

by Shel Silverstein

64 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma