Johnny Musn’t Grumble

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD: Fat Old Guys better off than Thin Old Guys

" Extra pounds may extend life of seniors: study"

• Mildly overweight adults over the age of 70 were less likely to die in their 80s than those considered normal weight, Australian researchers have found.
• "Our study suggests that those people who survive to age 70 in reasonable health have a different set of risks and benefits associated with the amount of body fat to younger people," lead researcher Leon Flicker, of the University of Western Australia, said in a release.
The risk of death during the study was 13 per cent or 0.87 times less for overweight participants than for normal-weight participants, the study’s authors found, after taking into account factors such as education, smoking, alcohol consumption and self-reported history of conditions such as high blood pressure.

MEANWHILE: U.S. first lady leads charge against obesity

Two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese —a condition that increases their risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Michelle, keep up the good work and we love your role as the nation’s Lovely First Gardener.

However, just keep in mind that Fat Old Guys have been found to better off than Thin Old Guys and don’t you be pointing your green thumb thisaway.

I’ll try, but no promises, eh?

Thinner

Healthier

Smarter

Walkier

Less booze

Less fat

More tootie flutie, both playing and making

Work on remembering video watched last night

Fewer negative thoughts about skidooers and atv-ers in front of the house, especially late in the evening

Meme chose this year during Motorcyle Season when the packs are running

Try not to be contemptuous of North American wingnuts, teabaggers, birthers, status quo health care cheerleaders. They are my brothers and sisters and I should love them, hard as that may be

Count my lucky stars daily that I live on Muskrat Lake, Ontario, and not in downtown East Patterson, New Jersey

The kitchen has been closed, but I’m hunched over my dwindling glass of vin rouge.

The lights have been dimmed, the soft sounds of Scott August’s Lost Canyons CD flute playing are sliding through the house.

She, who controls the food, is in her rocker, looking out over dark Muskrat Lake.

There is a tin of fresh English licorice All-sorts off to my right font. I quietly open the tin, and place a few — very few — pieces on my serviette. Multi-colored, and good for you, in an English candy sort of way.

I eat one, sip wine, eat another…I chew quietly, sip quietly. Do. Not. Rock. The. Boat. Time.

It is very peaceful, here at 7 Bonnechere Street.

“Are you eating candy?”

The voice is shrill, accusatory.

“Do I look like I’m eating candy?”

“I saw your mouth chewing!”

“I didn’t have any dessert…”

“The fried onion was sweet…”

Foiled once more.

President Barack Obama, the one who replaced The Decider, continues to disappoint.

His administration’s latest position: Continued refusal to sign an international convention banning land mines. Just like Bush.

“A report this month by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines found that mines remain planted in the earth in more than 70 countries and killed at least 1,266 people and wounded 3,891 last year. More than 2.2 million anti-personnel mines, 250,000 anti-vehicle mines and 17 million other explosives left over from wars have been removed since 1999, the report said.” — From Desmond Butler/Huffington Post

The US joins China, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Russia on the not-signing-this-thing list.

Bummer, Mr. President.

Isn’t it interesting that the Roman Catholic bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy, of the Kennedy clan, from taking Holy Communion.

The problem: Rep. Kennedy, a devout Catholic, favors allowing women to make personal choices about abortion. Holy Mother Church, and Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, maintain abortion is tantamount to murder. So, no Host for you Paddy boy-o.

Now, if Rep. Kennedy was a child molester, things could be fixed by the good bishop, quickly, quietly, and he could still take Holy Communion.

Got to get your priorities straight, dude.

No way! you say.

Americans are not like those Canadians, no matter their age. Americans are…special…blessed by God…annointed to win. Forever and ever.

Well, Bubba, don’t like to argue with youse but, as NY Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof points out (on 11.05.09), the average American 65 and older “can expect to live longer than the average in industrialized countries.”

The reason for this is that Old Americans have Medicare, the government-administered universal health care program for Old People.

Just like all Canadians.

Not just Old Canadians. All Canadians.

US life expectancy: 77.9 years

Canada life expectancy: 80.4 years

Got back mid-afternoon Thursday after a few days visiting friends and family in Massachusetts and Vermont. Long miles, too much food, but fun.

Fell in love three times in Northampton, MA — with Florence Hardware ( a great store whose owners vacation on Lake Memphremagog in Newport, VT, my hometown), the Atkins Farm Market Store (the BEST tapioca pudding and decorative gourds on the planet), and my new sweet and low Stephen Deruby Anasazi-style flute (Oh, I’ve had such lust in my heart — we had a brief session the last thing before I went to bed last night and crashed for nine hours).

Bflat, seven holes, including the thumb hole, and made of aromatic red cedar. It’s a long flute — 28 + inches from north end to south end — so you have to stretch your fingers but ever so easy to get a sound because it has a fipple mouthpiece instead of being rim blown.

The trip confirmed that Vermont is the most beautiful place on earth and my heart, if not my aging mind and body, is still there.

Good, however, to be back home on Muskrat Lake…

Are you letting me post yet? Are we back in biz?

That would be so cool, WordPress.

Got dandelions? Thistles? Hate poison? Too creaky and twisted to get down on your arthritic kneees and grub the suckers out?

Sisters and brothers, assemble right over here and pay attention:

Well, if you’re an old, pudgy (fat, obese, lard-assed, add your own descriptor), sexual-practice hypocrisizer (little boys, little girls, bigger boys, bigger girls, ho’s and trannies), and eagerly welcome strings-attached contributions, you probably wouldn’t.

No, wait…