Having it all (don’t try this at work)
Hundreds of years ago in Europe, a German artist of some renown was purportedly commissioned to paint a scene on the ceiling of a town hall. He started the project, but several days into it got sidetracked by a local cabaret that had caught his attention
His lunch breaks stretched further and further into the afternoons and soon he was having trouble juggling his work with his indulgences Worse, his pleasurable afternoons were frequently interrupted by meddling magistrates and other overseers of his work, who hunted him down and dragged him back to the town hall to make good on his commission What to do?
The artist had a plan. With the help of friends, he created a life-size threedimensional version of himself complete with signature shoes and stockings. His friends agreed to set up the “puppet” for him after lunch and remove it at night, allowing the artist to spend his afternoons as he wished The ruse worked. The magistrates were pleased that the artist had finally come round to their point of view and could be seen every day diligently working at the ceiling; the artist was pleased he could offset his drinking with a little work. Had he attained the work/life balance that seems to elude the rest of us?
Fireworks fiasco
The biggest disaster connected with a fireworks display took place well over 200 years ago As part of the marriage celebration of King Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette on May 16, 1770, a fireworks display was planned which proceeded successfully. However, there was no apparent plan in place for how the thousands of spectators would exit the event afterward As a result, a stampede occurred in which at least 132 people were believed to have died when they tried to leave what is today the Place de la Concorde
The power of a mother’s kiss
Meringue Shells With Fresh Berries
Meringue Shells
With Fresh Berries
These Meringue shells are perfect for filling Makes 8-to-10-star shaped shells, depending on the size of your pattern. Fill with berries and whipped cream.
Ingredients
6 egg whites - bring to room temperature
1 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar pinch of salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Choice of berries
Whipped Cream
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 200*, line baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.
In a clean grease free mixing bowl, whip white on low speed until foamy. Add salt, cream of tartar and vanilla and continue whipping about 8 minutes or so, the whites should begin to have soft peaks
Gradually add sugar, a few teaspoons at a time and continue beating until the whites are stiff and shiny, like satin
Either use a pastry bag to pipe out shapes or drop by tablespoons on prepared sheets
Bake for about 1½ hours at 200* with oven door slightly ajar.
When they are done, they will be crispy and light and will be easily removed from the cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container. They do not need to be refrigerated
Health in the news
Get centered in a minute or three
Having a tough day? Try taking a mini-meditation break, suggests Kathleen Hall, founder of The Stress Institute You can do a mini-meditation nearly anywhere— while you wait in line at the store or when you’re stuck in traffic. A mini takes only about one to three minutes. Here’s how you do it: Take a breath and, if you are able (use discretion), close your eyes
Now take several deep breaths and repeat a short affirmation that is meaningful to you, such as “I am calm” or “I’m letting go.” After a couple of minutes, you should be able to notice a shift in your energy
Keep in mind, Hall says, that tension is sometimes simply exhaustion, and giving yourself the space to relax can reenergize you and clear your head
Big bellies in the 40s spell b-a-d n-e-w-s
People who have large midsections in midlife have between double and triple the risk in later life for dementia than those who don’t have large waists at this key time. Carrying belly weight during the 40s appears to increase the risk for dementia in the 70s, whereas carrying extra midsection weight later in life is not such an accurate indicator Researchers say these findings are disturbing because 50 percent of adults in the United States are considered abdominally obese.
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente studied 6,583 people who were between the ages of 40 and 45. An average of 36 years later, 16 percent of the participants who had been measured for abdominal density—were diagnosed with dementia Having abdominal obesity increased the risk of dementia regardless of whether people had normal overall weight or were overweight or obese overall and regardless of the health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Kids of ‘sandwich caregivers’ are helping out
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America says that the children of “sandwich caregivers” adults who are caring for aging parents or loved ones while raising their own kids are stepping up to help with the Alzheimer’s sufferers in their families Here’s how:
• About one-third of young adults (between the ages of 18 and 21) in households where Alzheimer’s patients reside assist with doctors’ appointments.
• Forty-two percent of young adults in such households assist in transporting the patients.
• About a third of the young adults and teens (between the ages of 13 and 17) assist in daily living activities, such as dressing and feeding
• Nearly 85 percent of teens pay visits to their loved ones who have Alzheimer’s and live in a separate residence.
