Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Boost Immune Function in the Face of COVID-19?
We are all scrambling during this pandemic, trying to figure out how to keep ourselves healthy under the threat of COVID-19. I love searching out any new clinical research that may help us put our health in perspective and perhaps help us strengthen our bodies, not only against COVID-19 but against any other invader lurking around the corner waiting to pounce once it gets half a chance. The immune system is and should be our number one priority right now, especially with an invisible enemy on our tails. Current literature suggests that hormones may be protective of our immune system. If you are perimenopausal, menopausal, or andropausal, and on hormone […]
Garden-Fresh ‘Maters
As a child I am not sure that I realized you could purchase fresh tomatoes in a store, because all the ones I ate were homegrown and garden-fresh. My family lived with my grandmother from the time I was six, and every year she grew the most delicious tomatoes. She did not have a huge garden, but instead, she planted tomatoes (and sometimes other vegetables) in the spaces between her beloved rosebushes. I remember that she saved our coffee grounds to amend the soil. Even though the concept of organic gardening was not well known in the 1970s, she instinctively knew that the flavor of the tomatoes would be enhanced […]
Let’s Get Physical
Back to school also brings us back to the playing field. School sports are a tradition in my family. Almost all of us played something. My husband played baseball. I was a cheerleader. Grandpa was a wrestler and golfer. When my kids were at an appropriate age, we tried them in every conceivable sport. We wanted to see what they loved. It was important to us that they had a love for the game and felt they had a choice in the selection. We knew that if they didn’t love it at the elementary and middle school levels, chances are they’d struggle later on when competition and expectation really heat […]
COVID-19: A Slice of Humble Pie
My world is filled with standing on stages, meeting wonderful people, writing books, and living the dream … until March of 2020. Overnight everything changed — my full calendar became empty. What’s your slice of humble pie? So we are in this together, right? My speaker buds and I have taken a hit and were served a large slice of humble pie. The first Zoom call, most of us were in shock. The once totally put-together impressive women who always dress to kill looked like they wanted to hurt somebody … anybody. I could hardly recognize some folks — no make-up and some half-dressed. You only need to be dressed […]
Is Eye Strain the New Normal for Us?
We are now using our computer screens more than ever, whether it is for fun, work, or school. How does all this screen time affect our eyes? How does it affect our children’s eyes? In today’s world, technology is everywhere. During the average day we use multiple digital devices and screens, including cell phones, tablets, computers, and television screens. It seems that we almost have to try to avoid regular viewing of some piece of technology, as it literally surrounds us. In fact, studies have shown that over a third of adults spend more than half their day using technology, while others have admitted their technology usage consumes 10 – […]
Cabinet of Curiosities | Back to the Historical Museum
As you all know, we are now in the midst of a tumultuous time in our history, and it has taken our “normal” and tossed it out the window. Because we are living during a time when history is literally being made, I would love to take a moment to speak to you as a storyteller and historian. It is during this time of unprecedented uncertainty that I would like to encourage you to keep a journal, to have long-awaited conversations, to write those letters you’ve been putting off for too long. Do you have a high school best friend you haven’t spoken to in decades? It’s time to give […]
Beyond the Barricade | SRS ties that shaped our community | Part 8
Over 40 million dollars … thousands upon thousands of service hours … lives touched … countless lives. This is the story of a vital community partnership. This is the story of the men and women of the Savannah River Site (SRS), who have clearly demonstrated their care for those in need in Aiken County over the last 68 years. Originally known as the Aiken Community Chest, the United Way of Aiken County recognizes its primary founder as the late Senator Strom Thurmond. He approached the SRS leadership in 1952 and they were happy to rally employees to donate over $50,000. Each year, the annual donation has grown, and today over […]
Balance is Key
When riding horses, balance is key. If a rider doesn’t have balance, it affects feel, stability, and control while in the saddle. An imbalance of the bit, reins, and weight in the saddle can all have an impact on how a horse moves and reacts, even if not noticeable to the eye. The same can be said for equine nutrition. An imbalance in feed, supplements, hay, or water can start to cause internal changes that affect ability to perform as well as overall equine health. Balance is key to a successful nutritional program for your horse. Balanced nutrition for horses seems relatively simple, and it should be, as feed companies […]
The August Bella Book Club Review | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid After all these years posh Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo is ready to tell her life story. She retreated from the spotlight in the 1980s, after years of fame, but remained a legacy. With amazing grace and beauty, she was an enigma that left the public wanting to know more about her life and, of course, the seven men she married along the way. Now, at the age of 79, she is willing to grant an interview with a large magazine on one condition — the article must be written by Monique Grant. When she chooses Monique Grant, an aspiring journalist, […]
Retirement Has Changed | It Isn’t What It Used To Be!
Most of our parents started working around age 20 and retired when they were 65. Because life expectancy was shorter, the average retirement typically lasted about 10 years. That means people often had about 45 years to prepare for 10 years of retirement. With medical advancements and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer. This means you may enjoy 20 or 30 years or more in retirement. Back then, retirees counted on Social Security and company pensions. As a result, individuals didn’t need as much in personal savings. Today, Social Security can’t cover most retirees’ primary expenses, and Social Security faces an uncertain future. Fewer companies offer pension plans; rather they […]
