How I Lowered My Cholesterol

Last year when I saw my doctor for my annual check-up I discovered that my cholesterol was too high. My doctor prescribed one of those ubiquitous cholesterol-lowering meds which I tried and quickly discovered that I was one of those individuals who suffer some of the scary "adverse effects" that are usually noted by the voice-over announcer at the ends of those cholesterol commercials you hear on television. Let's just say, I like to be able to breathe and move--two behaviors that I found it difficult to do when taking Zocor.

At the time, I was already taking Zetia for cholesterol which was a drug that didn't bother me, so I asked the doctor if I could just take a larger dose of that. Evidently, not. Turns out, Zocor and Zetia (despite their lovely Z beginnings) are very different drugs. You can only take one dose of Zetia evidently. My doctor said that if I couldn't tolerate Zocor, it was unlikely that I'd be able to tolerate any similar cholesterol-lowering medication. My only other option was to lose weight.

So, over the last year I have been working hard to lose weight. I have been exercising and watching my food intake, particularly through portion control. On Friday, when I saw my doctor and she looked at my most recent cholesterol numbers, she was shocked. My cholesterol had plummeted! My bad cholesterol was way down and my good cholesterol was up. Losing weight (15 pounds so far and counting) seemed to have worked. My doctor said I would not need to take any additional cholesterol drug.

So, let my experience serve as motivation to any of you out there who are also trying to lower your cholesterol. You can reduce your cholesterol on your own with diet and exercise. I am living proof of that!

Have you struggled like me to lower your cholesterol? Have you succeeded? How?

(graphic from www.sfu.ca and photo from www.raevenwestern.com)

The Best Mascot Name for Your College

The Chronicle of Higher Education’s most recent edition included a list of suggested mascot names for some of our country’s institutions of higher education that really hits the mark. Having attended the University of Nebraska for my undergraduate degree and experienced the joy of being labeled a “Cornhusker,” I relish other college grads getting saddled with similar colorful mascot names for their schools.

Here are some of my favorites:

The Whitman Chocolates
The Austin Peay Standing Ups
The Creighton Barrels
The Cal Poly Unsaturates
The Bond James Bonds
The St. John’s Worts
The Coe Dependents
The Brown Nosers
The Smith & Wessons
The Pitt Stops
The Xavier Cugats
The Simmons Posturepedics
The University of Oregon Donors
The University of Buffalo Wings
The Marshall Arts
The Bates Motels

What is your alma mater? What is its mascot? Can you think of a better name for your mascot?

(photo from http://www.brianbarber.com/)

Brake Repair

My first car was a Ford Cortina and when the fan belt broke on it, I managed an emergency repair job using an old metal hanger. Ever since, I've prided myself on my ability to fix things in a pinch.

So, here is my elderly mother's rolling walker--a TuffCare. She's had it for years. Although the hand brakes work, they don't lock in place--and they should. Mom needs to be able to stop and sit down on her walker from time to time when she has to travel a long distance in her assisted living center. Obviously, if the brakes don't lock and she attempts to sit down on the walker, she could go sliding down the hallway unexpectedly. That would not be fun.

I've gone over the walker with a fine tooth comb. I can see where the brake cord attaches to the handle and runs down to the back wheels. When I squeeze the handle, the brakes clamp down firmly on the wheels and it stops. Unfortunately, the handles don't remain closed on their own. If I release the pressure on the handles, the brakes release. Obviously, Mom can't turn around and sit down on her walker while continuing to squeeze the handles.

I have contacted the manufacturer with no luck. I have contacted local supply stores. I have been working on the walker myself with a screw driver, pliers, and a wrench--all to no avail. However, I haven't given up yet.

How hard can it be to fix a defective brake handle on a rolling walker? Why won't the brakes lock? Any thoughts, my brilliant blog friends?

Your Ides of March

How will you celebrate the Ides of March? The Ides is today--March 15. Historians tell us that ancient Roman soothsayers warned Julius Caesar to "beware the Ides of March." The Ides of March was traditionally the first day of Spring in the ancient Roman calendar. Turns out, of course, that the soothsayers were right and that was the day Caesar was assassinated.

So, should we all be careful on this day, many centuries later? I say, no! I say let's celebrate today everything Ides of March related. What you ask would that be? Well, we could start by having an Italian feast tonight--maybe spaghetti! There's also that nifty new Starz television series Spartacus that takes place in ancient Rome. We could all watch that. Of course, the younger ones may wish to dress up in make-shift togas and party hearty--Roman style.

However you wish to celebrate the Ides of March--and remember, it's officially only one month until your taxes are due--make it fun. I know I will.

How will you celebrate your Ides of March?

(photos from www.byrnesenglish12ap.blogspot.com and www.washingtonpost.com)