Got my own set of wings!

As Sydney sweltered yesterday, I sat inside where it was cooler, propped up behind my laptop ready to tune-into Beverly Mahone’s; “PASSIONS” programme- This week’s special guest, none other than our latest boomer-diva and friend, the incredible Flylady!!

“Who/what is the Flylady?” I hear you ask….well after taking my own Flylady notes, thought the next best thing to do would be BLOG THEM!!

Bev welcomes her audience, as always, sweet voice and a welcome message….Today,Bev was feeling ‘Sunshine in her heart’ [nice touch], and no wonder, for the woman Bev was preparing to introduce us to, already weaved her words of inspiration throughout Bev’s soul! Here’s an example, of something you might hear the Flylady say: “I learned, if I get up and get dressed, put my shoes on, ANYTHING is possible!” That simple, yet really quite effective. Meanwhile, someone’s in the background, clearing their throat??? “Who could THAT be”I pondered….thinking perhaps it was the Flylady, getting ready to speak. Turned out to be another ‘eager-beaver’ online, as wherever the Flylady goes, seems she attracts a HUGE following! But back to the interview…..Bev asks FL, to take us back to where & how this phenomenon all began…..

Marla aka FL, grew up in West Tennessee,her father owned a farm somewhere in Kentucky [further north/west of State of Tennessee] When he passed away, Marla took over-She then moved  to Alabama, followed by North Carolina[THEN hubby's idea]…and as FL so aptly describes hubby’s ‘vanishing act’,”He was gone”…”Gone GONE!” lol So here she was, all alone and with no other friends than that of her land-lady-But FL, stepped out in faith, awaiting for a ‘God-breeze’ so that she knew ‘why’ she was meant to be where she was….FL decided to stay-put, and see where God would guide her. It wasn’t long before things began to change…..A coffee shop was where she met her husband-to-be; Robert. When asked by Bev:”Was this love at first sight?” The FL responds with hubby’s words, “Love at first smile!” It was 1996, and through another contact, a discussion arose between the pair about editing….

We suddenly hear another little noise lol………..

FL goes on to tell us how she knew Robert’s wife[through work], “I house-sat for your wife” she says…..Robert replies, “My ex-wife”, and then proceeds to ask about his dog! lol The following night, FL plans a night-out to hear some ‘Blue grass’……Robert asks what she’s doing on the Friday? Their first date! Throw in a game of scrabble,discussion about ‘trees’[FL's quite the authority here] along with a trek to local library to research a particular tree, then being caught smack-bang in a storm! They grabbed an ice-cream,and FL asks if she can cook a meal for Robert. A quick trip to the markets and they choose some scallops, couple bottles of wine and head back to his place be that its closer….Now, FL’s NOT a ‘drinker’, and she amuses us as she explains how the pair consumed a bottle of wine together, then realise HER car’s still parked back at the market, so she winds up spending the night on his couch, which she shared with Robert’s cat! lol Long story short, after an invitation to go hiking, another night out at a German restaurant, their FIRST date,lasted 3 days! It was then our Marla, KNEW this was the man she would spend the rest of her life with….that was 13 years ago!The pair combined both their properties, their 2-storey home had integrated  BOTH so THIS, would ultimately lead to God stepping-in once more…you see folks, FL’s home with Robert, had become quite cluttered, a collection of boxes [two TRUCK loads] of things accumulated throughout their lives, including auctions! Then FL opts to jump-in and lend a hand at Robert’s workplace; originally with the idea of volunteering her services to assist his ‘campaign work’….you know, offering the public assistance with their voting details etc etc….well, this didn’t happen according-to-plan, and FL soon found herself involved with politics! lol But hold on…FL had other concerns… not about the campaign, she was scared to death that people might find out she wasn’t big on cleaning-house! lol She needed to de-clutter the home,and so began her journey….one task at a time! Robert’s beautiful sentiment, of “Wanting her to be his life-partner”, really hit home! And so FL began by having her ’shiny sink’

Today, thanks to her decision to ‘hop-online’, FL set about sharing her own philosophies, and began with one lady…as she says “If you can help somebody along the way, you can make a difference!”….and she’s proved this by empowering others, everywhere! What started out as her OWN goals, soon became a new-found-friend, which the FL shared with more willing to listen…. I loved the simplicity behind her ideas, they are all so obvious yet so many women fail to recognise….As FL says, “She never realised she’d established a habit…..started by a ’shiny kitchen sink, then another…if the kitchen got clean, you don’t mind cooking!” How true. Some may be astonished to know, during FL’s ‘de-cluttering’, she removed 54 items per day, everyday, until she freed up space, her bedroom, now her studio! She happliy adds how she looks out of her bay-windows, and sees a white squirrel climbing up a tree. And as Bev said, the FL has been passing all this information on, paying it forward! Bev: “She’s doing it for me!” Bev goes on: “And so, all of a sudden, the lady YOU helped[online], went back & told another, and so on…..” Indeed, 100 people a month were chatting with the Flylady…she was actually spending 16 hours just answering emails, individually! Bev: “So what’s the message you think folks are taking, that’s keeping you connected to other people?” “Why are people following?”

FL: “Been there, done that!” “I found my calling in life-What God wanted, the ‘clutter’!” ……”In my head and life….my life was cluttered! Evil forces were keeping me from my destiny!” And as FL spoke THESE words, she’d struck a chord within me! My own life HAD been cluttered…..too many debts, way too many things that simply were NOT needed, to make me happy! Slowly, de-clutter and LET GO! I’ve actually been doing this, for awhile, since facing loss-

As Flylady says: “That ripple effect, keeps going….find YOUR passion!” And as the switchboard at Blogtalkradio continues to become heavily congested with callers…. “I just want people to get off their butts,for fifteen minutes a day-you’ll feel better!” And I guess if 542,000 people continue to follow this inspiring lady, we’ll see more sets of wings being created as we fly too!

Look for the FLYLADY LOGO here at Dorothy Down Under to see her cool video!!

Read more of this wonderful interview, right here: http://www.talk2bev.blogspot.com A FlyLady Chat

Boomer moments-1967

NOVEMBER, 1967

Looking at today, then back over the late 60’s, you’ll recognise some moments, while being amazed by some changes!

• Washington:Johnson says Vietnam war protests do not aid peace.
• Melbourne: Red Handed gives trainer Bart Cummings his third Melbourne Cup win in a row.
• U.K: 37 die when a Spanish airliner crashes near London.
• Auckland: Arrival of the  Hawea, the first NZ roll-on, roll-off ship.
• London: 53 feared dead and 90 hurt in train crash at Hither Green,south-east London.
• London: Bernard Haitink gives his first concert as principal conductor of the London Philharmonic.
• Melbourne: A five-room brick house in Glen Iris is for sale at $14,500.
• London: Britain is reported to have received $250 million in international credits to bolster the pound.
• Washington: Secretary of State Rusk says an escalation of the Vietnam war cannot be avoided.
• Moscow: Kim Philby gives his first interview to Western journalists.
• U.K: Despite the absence of Reg Gasnier with a broken leg, the Kangaroos beat England 11-3 at Swinton to retain the Ashes 2-1.
• London: The book “Last Exit to Brooklyn” is found to be obscene.
• N.Z: Maoris can now stand for European seats at general elections.
• Paris: De Gaulle vetoes British entry into the EEC.
• NZ: Sir Arthur Porritt takes office as the first NZ-born Governor-General.
• UK: All horse-racing is suspended owing to the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
• Woomera: Australia’s first satellite WRESAT l is successfully launched.
• DEATH: Polish-born US biochemist Casimir Funk, inventor of the term, “vitamin”-23/2/1884

 

Swinging Sixties-1966

The year  that London became the swinging capital

Fashion: Carnaby Street adds style

London has become the fashion capital of the world as far as young people are concerned.
At its centre lie three streets – The King’s Road in Chelsea, put on the map by Mary Quant;
Kensington Church Street, where designer Barbara Hulanicki runs a “total look” boutique
called Biba; and Carnaby Street, not so long ago a run-down back alley behind Regent Street.
Today Carnaby Street has become a mecca forclothes fanatics of both sexes. It owes its success to John Stephen,
a Glaswegian who decided that men’s clothes should be as much fun as women’s.
His first boutique selling pink hipsters paved the way for dozens more, making the street a major draw back for
British youth and overseas tourists whocome to stare at the parade of long-haired young men – many in the latest
Eastern-style kaftans and beads – and their mini-skirted girlfriends. The girls either wear their hair similarly long-
and always straight – or cropped into the angular cut made popular by hair stylist, Vial Sassoon.
The rising star of the scene is a 17-year-old model Twiggy, a six-and a half-stone Cockney withhuge eyes and waif-
like looks, who can now earn ten guineas an hour as a model.

MUSIC

British rock rules the pop world

For rock fans 1966 has provided a mix that, more than ever,shows the ever – widening gap between traditional mass-appeal and the trendier young. And while such “family favourites” as Ken Dodd and The Bachelors
continue to fill the charts, it is among the shelves of LP’s that youthful interest can of ten be found. None more so than Aftermath, from the Rolling Stones-an album that epitomises this year of “Swinging London”.
Not that the rockers don’t hit the charts as well. The year started with the Beatles’ Day Tripper at number one and Paperback Writer and Eleanor Rigby both went to the top. Otheryouth culture successes included hits for The Who, The Kinks, andThe Small Faces.
Ironically, it was America which provided the highlight of the year with the Bob Dylan’s British tour.
His introduction of an electric backing group appalled the traditionalists of the folk scene,but the less purist love it.
Dylan’s hardcore fans come from what’s known as the “underground”, and it is here that a number of new bands are emerging, although they may never reach the charts.
Those in the know tip the weirdly named Pink Floyd and The Soft Machine.

COPD-Breathing awareness

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD

COPD explained

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term (chronic) condition that obstructs (blocks) the airways in the lungs.

Often the term COPD is used to describe chronic bronchitis and emphysema, 2 progressive lung diseases which can occur by themselves or together. The most common form of COPD is a combination of the 2 conditions.

COPD causes increasing shortness of breath, leading to impairment in the activities of daily living and a gradual loss of quality of life.

Chronic bronchitis is, as its name suggests, a chronic inflammation of the airways (bronchi) in your lungs. It is defined as a cough that is productive of sputum occurring on a daily basis for at least 3 months of 2 or more consecutive years.

Bronchitis results in the lungs producing too much of the mucus they make to keep the bronchi moist. This causes coughing and narrowing of the airways, making it more difficult for air to flow freely. As a result, you become breathless. Although many people contract acute (short-term) bronchitis at some time in their lives, chronic bronchitis lasts for months or years.

Emphysema occurs when the air sacs (alveoli) deep in your lungs become enlarged and damaged. This makes oxygen transfer from the airways to the bloodstream less efficient. Eventually the alveoli collapse which means that they don’t prop open the microscopic airways called bronchioles. This makes it extremely difficult to breathe in and out.

What causes COPD?

The vast majority of cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis are caused by long-term smoking.

In some cases COPD can also result from occupational exposure to dust or chemical fumes. In people who smoke, air pollution can aggravate the symptoms of COPD but air pollution doesn’t appear to cause COPD in non-smokers.

There is also a rare type of emphysema known as A1AD-related emphysema, a genetic condition in which a person’s body lacks a protein called alpha1-antitrypsin. This protein normally helps protect the lungs. Smoking hastens the speed at which emphysema develops in people with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

The symptoms of COPD vary. In mild forms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, coughing or breathlessness on exertion may be the only symptom. Mild emphysema may not even have any signs to start with. Later on in both conditions you may notice you get short of breath when doing moderate daily activities. You may have frequent coughing and recurrent chest infections or bronchitis.

In the severe stage, daily activities become more difficult with the continual shortness of breath and often bodily changes occur, such as a blue tinge to the skin from chronic bronchitis, fluid retention in the ankles and a ‘barrel-shaped’ chest from emphysema.

Indications that you are at risk of developing COPD include the following.

• Smoking for many years.
• ‘Smoker’s cough’ in the morning.
• Bouts of asthma or bronchitis.
• When you get a cold it lasts for weeks, rather than days.
• Chronic cough or heavy phlegm.
• At least one prolonged episode of bronchitis every winter.
• A cough that feels shallow, like something is stuck inside your chest.

What can be done?

COPD is a progressive condition and unfortunately there is no cure for it. It also isn’t possible to reverse lung damage that’s already been done. However, your lung function can be improved and your symptoms can be relieved by some self-management options, as advised by your doctor, medications where necessary and special lung exercises.

By far the most important thing you can do for yourself if you have COPD is to stop smoking immediately. You may have tried to in the past, but if you have been diagnosed with COPD, it is even more important that you talk to your doctor about stopping. You will improve your cough, ease your breathlessness and you’ll also slow down further lung damage.

Courtesy:

http://www.mydr.com.au/respiratory-health/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd