The Newest Food Group

For years,  everyone has been made aware of the 4 major food groups i.e. dairy, meats, fruits and vegetables, and grains.  This, of course,  has led the dietary experts to tailor their educational programs to helping their clients make good choices based on the nutritional and caloric value of those foods, and as our understanding of nutrition advances, the experts typically modify their teaching to reflect the changing data.  Bearing that in mind, it's time to include another food group that many of us have known about for years, but because of the lack of evidence to support it and too, because of its inclusion in an already recognized group, it has been overlooked as a group unto itself.  It now time to give this group its just deserts.

It may not come as a surprise to anyone who grew up in New England, but the residents of these 6 states consume more ice cream per capita than anywhere else in the United States.  Ice cream stands dot the landscape from Connecticut to Maine and all the states in between.  Why, even the nationally recognized Ben and Jerry's ice cream producer is based out of Waterbury, Vermont, and in my opinion,  that location isn't by coincidence.  There are several theories circulating around the reasons for the "excessive" consumption, but one of them suggests that the long, cold winters are justification for the frequent indulgences.  Some contend that the ice cream made here in New England just is better than that made elsewhere around the country.  In either case, if you like ice cream, then you can find your own reasons to justify this tasty behavior.

Long before the age of evidence based medicine, much of the teaching and practices resulted from personal experience and accepted practices, as passed along from generation to generation.  Perhaps this is why New Englanders represent such a large group of ice cream consumers; it simply has to do with their history.  After all, much of NE is comprised from several of the original thirteen colonies.  However, for evidence proving that ice cream should be considered its own food group I simply say, if you are given the option of eating ice cream or something from one of those readily recognized food groups, whether you live in New England or not, most of us would choose ice cream, because there is always room for ice cream.  In fact, it has been my personal experience that it isn't just for dessert anymore either, and that's the scoop from here!

Sign here, please

Josiah Bartlett

If you have ever purchased anything with something other than cash, you know that there typically is a signature required to make your purchase.  Certainly, if you have purchased a home or some other large ticket item that requires financing, then you can appreciate the countless number of documents that have to be signed to execute the transaction.  As you can see, with one swift stroke of the pen, one's signature can carry a rather large responsibility.

Well, if it hadn't been for those brave signers of the Declaration of Independence, we wouldn't be enjoying the freedom and liberty that we Americans so value today, especially on this Fourth of July.  So, to the men who bravely dipped their quill pens into an ink well and set forth this proclamation that we could enjoy Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, I say thank you.  Although it took a veritable instant, the actions sanctioned by those men with a simple signature, forever changed the lives of the many who have followed.  Happy Fourth of July!

It's a 10

On the day after the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat with their version of the big 3, Mother Nature countered with one of this season's near perfect days.  Lately, New Englanders have been making good use of their umbrellas and raincoats, but in the wake of the Celtics 7th game disappointing loss, Mother Nature had the remedy for the pall.  She dialed up a perfect 10 today.

The future of Boston's big 3 may be in question, but their impact on Celtics fans is undeniable and that makes the day a 10 all around.  Thanks for all that sunshine from your fans who recognize and appreciate perfection!

Assigned Seating

Have you ever been to a formal, sit down affair with assigned seating such as a wedding?  If you have, then you know there are only a limited number of seats that you can choose from, once you arrive at your table.  Alternatively, the option of open seating presents the dilemma of choosing from all that available seating.  What is interesting, however, is how people tend to gravitate to the same seats, even when there is an opportunity to make a change.  Well, when I go to morning spin class, one would think that we had assigned seating for those stationary bikes.  On second thought, maybe we do, and permit me to explain.

I have been attending a spinning class at the local fitness club for a year now, and it has been my observation that the attendees typically gravitate to the same bike at the start of each class.  Whether this is due to being creatures of habit or because particular bikes may be more finely tuned, it remains a puzzle to me.  Regardless, when the instructor appears on the scene and opens the door, there always seems to be a mad dash for that favorite bike.  But after everyone settles in and the music starts, the real challenge begins.  Forty five minutes later, after a series of sprints and hill climbs, you feel like you had joined the peleton, earned some sweat equity, yet are relieved to be finished.

When it comes to spinning class, it has been my observation that it appears to be an open seating arrangement, but I can assure you that it's "ass-hind" seating only!

Reasonable Fairness

When a group of individuals differ on their opinions regarding a particularly controversial topic, it can be very difficult to come to a just and fair compromise.  Clearly, there are some issues that aren't worth arguing over, but when it comes to one's ethical and moral beliefs, it is fundamentally important to take a stand.  Otherwise, what does any one of us really stand for?  Unfortunately, differences of opinion can create division.  Remember the words of Lincoln, "a house divided against itself cannot stand".  Although the very differences that make us unique, may also prevent us from acting as one.

A gentleman I met once used the term "reasonable fairness" in preparation for a negotiation, and I truly believe that life's negotiations should be fair and as equitable as possible, given our existing differences.  There is no such thing as a perfect world, but it's imperative to be fair and reasonable to each other, regardless.  Although we all have opinions, keep the peace my friends!

This MD is both a BD for an MD and a BD for Us

We live in an age of acronyms and abbreviations so much so that I feel at times we are conversing by using nothing but a kettle of alphabet soup.  In fact, I recently was researching a topic on line, and the article frequently used acronyms that were unfamiliar to me which, in fact, further compounded my problem.  However, once you get some frame of reference for those letters, it all begins to make sense, so with that, I suppose it's time to unveil the mystery behind this collection of "characters".

As most people are aware, today is the day any woman with a child loves, and of course, that would be Mother's Day (MD).  When I was younger, I remember making some home made gifts for my mother, one of which included giving my 2 younger brothers back to her along with one of those treasures!  In typical fashion, my mother reacted by saying how beautiful and thoughtful it all was.

Although today is recognized as MD, this day also marks another special day as well; May 13th is remembered in my family for my father's birthday (BD).  This year he will celebrate his 92nd BD, and for him, he would say, it's no big deal (NBD); however, for his family and friends, we all feel quite blessed by his presence all these years.  His years of influence and teaching, both personal and professional, could only be characterized as priceless.  As a physician (MD), he quite literally saved lives, and how does one assign a value to that?

As for my siblings and me, we have been the beneficiaries of the life created by 2 people who have become blended as one.  Without that first BD for the MD, my mother likely would not be celebrating today as MD, and that would have been a BD (big deal) for us, as we would be DNE (do not exist). Today we celebrate both Mother's Day and my father's birthday, and what a fitting coincidence that they share this day, just as they have shared their lives together for all these years.  Happy Mother's Day Madre and Happy Birthday Padre!

Some Oscars aren't so grouchy

Many of us grew up watching Sesame Street's cast of characters and through their collective behaviors, they taught us about letters, words, numbers, and a whole host of other valuable life lessons. However, they not only introduced us to those fundamentals, but perhaps more importantly, they passed along key insights into interpersonal relationships. For this reason, Sesame Street proved to be a leader in early educational programming. Oscar the Grouch was one of those characters, in spite of his pessimistic personality, but once you got to know him, he was as lovable as the rest of them. Well, I know one Oscar who favors his lack of celebrity far more than his on screen counterpart, and permit me to share my story.

I first met my friend I called Oscar years ago when we were freshman in high school while playing for the freshman basketball team. Over the course of the season, his round ball skills advanced while mine on the other hand, fell out of bounds. But in spite of our talent differences, our friendship grew, both on and off the court. We shared a number of classes together, but our athletic pursuits only crossed during the basketball season, as Oscar hit the gridiron in the Fall, while I rooted the team on from the stands. The annual Thanksgiving game, played against our arch rivals across the river, was held our Junior year under rather frigid conditions. The field was frozen, so the players opted to wear sneakers, instead of the traditional cleats. I had a pair of Chuck Taylor leather sneaks that were ideal for the tundra like track, so I loaned them to Oscar for the game. On a quarterback sneak in the first half, from our side of the fifty yard line, Oscar ran untouched to the end zone for our only score. I recall cheering for my friend running furiously in those "blue suede shoes", and with that scamper, he forever linked us in the lore of this annual clash.

In addition to the typical antics of high school, we were fortunate to have a mutual friend whose father loved playing golf, so our summertime activities would often take us to the links. We fancied ourselves better than average golfers, but the fellowship and laughs we enjoyed, far out weighed our talents. We learned about Little Joe's, Tres, golf etiquette, but most of all, we learned what is was to be friends. On one occasion, when I wasn't actually present, Oscar hit a divot right into the ear of one of our other friends. That particular incident is still brought up at social gatherings, even today.

Since those glory days, our paths have crossed far less frequently; however, whenever they have, the history between us allows the conversation to resume right where we left off. The quiet reserve of "middle age" has tempered those care free days of our youth, but through it all, the friendships remain. And in all the time I have known Oscar, I can honestly say that "grouch" would never have been used to characterize his personality. On the contrary, it might be more appropriate to think of the red carpet and that little statuette because he has always been the best. Happy Birthday JB!