One of the worse frauds thrust upon patients by doctors is that high cholesterol causes heart disease. This is wrong. The basis for this lie is due to a long continuing study in Massachusetts called the Framingham Study. This study showed a connection between high cholesterol with a higher incidence of heart attacks. Reseachers and drug companies took this information and built an entire medical program around this connection. Pharmaceutical companies invested billions of dollars to find drugs to lower the levels of this demon called cholesterol.
Eureka, they found one.
It was based on a Chinese supplement made from Red Rice Yeast. This yeast which grows on the rice had been used for three thousand years in China for cardio vascular disease and it's health promoting effects. The drug companies took this supplement, changed its chemical structure a little, so they could patent it, since you cannot patent a natural substance. They then put this "new" drug on the market as the statin class drugs called Lipitor, Zocor and the other "or" drugs. In the best of Chutzpah, the drug companies then turned around and sued the supplement companies, which had been selling the red rice yeast for many years, for selling a drug and they won in court! Red Rice Yeast was removed from the market. Some Naturopathic Doctors continued to prescribed and provide this product to their patients.
But by changing the chemical structure of the red rice yeast so they could then patent it, they made a perfectly safe supplement used for thousands of years into a dangerous "new" drug. This new statin drugs causes such side effects as muscle pains, to muscle destruction, to kidney failure, to liver failure. But hey, that's okay the drug companies were making billions of dollars off these drug. A little damage to the patient was apparently "acceptable collateral damage".
They then sent their drug reps to teach MD's that cholesterol was the source of heart attacks and all the doctors had to do was prescribe Lipitor or Zocor or another statin and the risk would be reduced. "Oh, yea, the reps would say, we're having a convention in Maui, all expenses paid, for the top 10% of prescribers of our drug" or they would say, "we need an experienced doctor to write a research article for us (which was already pre-written for them) and we'll pay you a $10,000 honorarium". To help this scam out, the American Medical Association (AMA) passed a new recommendation, a few years ago, that the "healthy" level of total cholesterol in the blood would be reduced from 200 mg/DL to 180 mg/DL. Thus with this new recommendation...even more people can be placed in the risky category and placed on a statin drug. This will ensure more profit for the drug companies and more "lecture fees" and "free conventions" for the MD's.
What a scam.
Cardiovascular diseae is not a single component disease. There are many factors, more than is actually known by researchers, as to what caues cardiovascular disease and heart attacks in particular. The main cause of cardiovascular disease is INFLAMMATION! Not cholesterol! Plaque that builds up in arteries causing constriction are made up of many things: fibrin, calcium, dead cells and yes cholesterol. But if you listen to the drug companies the only cause is cholesterol and "We have the perfect drug for it!".
To prevent heart attacks you must stop the inflammation, not lower cholesterol.
Inflammation causes damage to the intima (inner lining) of the blood vessels which cause the blood flow to be turbulent, similar to rapids in a river. The body wants to stop this turbulence by laying a coat of "plaque" so the blood will flow smoothly again. If the inflammation is not addressed, the new plaque will become nicked by inflammatory agents (free radicals) and the blood will once again be turbulent. The body responds by laying down another layer of plaque.
As long as the underlying cause (inflammation) is not addressed the turbulence, plaque buildup will continue until the blood vessel is blocked (occluded) and a heart attack or stroke is initiated.
Cholesterol management
Elevated cholesterol is associated with a greater-than-normal risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. While antioxidants can inhibit cholesterol from oxidizing onto the linings of the arteries, knowing and controlling your cholesterol levels is still an important step in preventing cardiovascular disease.
The following nutritional supplements offer synergistic benefits to assist dietary modification to help maintain healthy total serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels for those already within healthy range.
In a later article I will address how to control the CAUSE of heart disease...inflammation.
For now, I would like to try and help those who are still drinking the kool-aide and believe cholesterol is the root of all cardivascular evil. The following information is from Life Extension Organization http://www.lef.org/ and contains their recommendation for controling cholesterol the safe way. Without the use of the physically damaging statin drugs. LEF has excellent research into disease processes and also the best supplements you can purchase. I am not associated in any way with LEF... but I've used their information and products through my medical career.
Good reading. My comments are written in italics.
Elevated cholesterol is associated with (associated with, not the cause of) a greater-than-normal risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. While antioxidants can inhibit cholesterol from oxidizing onto the linings of the arteries, knowing and controlling your cholesterol levels is still an important step in preventing cardiovascular disease.
The following nutritional supplements offer synergistic benefits to assist dietary modification to help maintain healthy total serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels for those already within normal range:
Policosanol, take one tablet twice per day with meals: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Or Sytrinol, one capsule twice daily. (or red rice yeast)
Fiber, 4 to 6 grams before any high-fat meal. (especially, water soluble fiber such as oats, pectin)
Chitosan, three to six 500-mg chitosan capsules and one 1000 mg ascorbic acid capsule right before a high-fat meal.
Niacin, 1500 to 3000 mg a day (if tolerable).
Artichoke extract, 300 mg, 3 times a day. (keeps the liver healthy in producing and controlling cholesterol)
Garlic, 600 to 4800 mg a day.
Curcumin, 900 to 1800 mg a day. (Helps the liver and stops inflammation)
Gugulipid, 140 mg 1 to 2 times a day. (regulates blood sugar and thus controls cholesterol)
Green tea, 750 mg a day of green tea, 93% polyphenol extract.
Perilla oil, 6000 mg a day. We suggest taking six 1000-mg gel caps daily. If triglycerides are high, consider taking 4-8 softgels of fish oil (EPA/DHA).
Vitamin E, 400 to 800 IU daily (do not use Dl-Alpha vitamin E! Use vitamin E with D-alpha and tocotrienols and tocopherol)
Soy protein extract, 2 heaping teaspoons (5 to 6 grams) of soy powder daily.
Selenium, 200 to 600 mcg daily.
Herbal Cardiovascular Formula, two-six capsules daily with food in divided doses. (A Life Extension Supplement)
If you are interested in keeping your cholesterol with "acceptable" ranges the above will help you to do so.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Resveratrol May Improve Liver Health and Regulate an Obesity-Controlling Hormone
Resveratrol, a flavonoid from red wine has received a lot of attention from naturopathic physcians in the past 10 or 12 years. It seems maybe science is catching up. Resveratrol has been used as an anti-oxidant, helps control blood sugar for diabetics, and appears to reduce the profliferation of cancer. I have also used it to help people with the eye condition calle Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). It strengthens blood vessels and helps with circulation of blood thus bringing nutrients and oxygen to cells which have been deprived.
Now a study is out concerning the use of resveratrol in fatty liver disease which seems to be caused by too high of alcohol consumptions and also poor diet. As a bonus, reseachers may have found a link in reducing the body's ability to make certain fats and to help burn it as energy instead of storing it.
Researchers report that the polyphenol resveratrol may stop the development of fatty liver disease, a condition associated with frequent alcohol consumption, and that it may influence the activity of an obesity-controlling hormone known as adiponectin.
The study authors divided mice into groups and fed all the animals a low-fat diet. One group of the mice consumed a diet supplemented with resveratrol, one group was supplemented with resveratrol plus alcohol, one group with only alcohol, and a control group consumed only the low-fat diet without alcohol or resveratrol.
The results indicated that resveratrol activated two molecules involved in cell signaling and the breakdown of fats in the liver: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Alcohol is known to inhibit these molecules, leading to fat build-up and fatty liver, but resveratrol activated AMPK and SIRT1 in the livers of alcohol-fed mice.
Another interesting finding of the study was that the increased activation of AMPK and SIRT1 caused by resveratrol in alcohol-fed rats also was accompanied by changes in the levels of other molecules that control fat metabolism, including adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat cells, which helps to control obesity. By triggering these changes, resveratrol may stop fat from accumulating in the liver through reducing the production of fat and increasing the burning of fat already present.
According to the scientists, “Our study suggests that resveratrol may serve as a promising agent for preventing or treating human alcoholic fatty liver disease.”
Reference:
Ajmo JM, Liang X, Rogers CQ, Pennock B, You M. Resveratrol alleviates alcoholic fatty liver in mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2008 Oct;295(4):G833-42.
Now a study is out concerning the use of resveratrol in fatty liver disease which seems to be caused by too high of alcohol consumptions and also poor diet. As a bonus, reseachers may have found a link in reducing the body's ability to make certain fats and to help burn it as energy instead of storing it.
Researchers report that the polyphenol resveratrol may stop the development of fatty liver disease, a condition associated with frequent alcohol consumption, and that it may influence the activity of an obesity-controlling hormone known as adiponectin.
The study authors divided mice into groups and fed all the animals a low-fat diet. One group of the mice consumed a diet supplemented with resveratrol, one group was supplemented with resveratrol plus alcohol, one group with only alcohol, and a control group consumed only the low-fat diet without alcohol or resveratrol.
The results indicated that resveratrol activated two molecules involved in cell signaling and the breakdown of fats in the liver: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Alcohol is known to inhibit these molecules, leading to fat build-up and fatty liver, but resveratrol activated AMPK and SIRT1 in the livers of alcohol-fed mice.
Another interesting finding of the study was that the increased activation of AMPK and SIRT1 caused by resveratrol in alcohol-fed rats also was accompanied by changes in the levels of other molecules that control fat metabolism, including adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat cells, which helps to control obesity. By triggering these changes, resveratrol may stop fat from accumulating in the liver through reducing the production of fat and increasing the burning of fat already present.
According to the scientists, “Our study suggests that resveratrol may serve as a promising agent for preventing or treating human alcoholic fatty liver disease.”
Reference:
Ajmo JM, Liang X, Rogers CQ, Pennock B, You M. Resveratrol alleviates alcoholic fatty liver in mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2008 Oct;295(4):G833-42.
Quercetin Studied for Its Immune-Boosting Effects
I have long used quercetin to stop inflammatory processes and for long-term relief of allergies. It is remarkable in that it produces no side effects and is absolutely safe. For respiratory allergies it takes 1 to 2 weeks for it's full effects to take place. Onions have high quercetin content so be sure to include them in your diet during "allergy season". An interestint point to make is it works so well that the OTC drug NasalCrom is made from quercetin. I recommend by-passing the drug and take the safer, less expensive supplemental form. I usually prescribed 1 to 2 grams (1,000mg - 2,000mg) and day in divided doses for my patients.
The following is a new study of yet another use for this special flavonoid. It has immune-boosting effects.
In a new study, quercetin was able to significantly strengthen immunity in animals exposed to the flu virus, consistent with the results of a human study released last year where the flavonoid had similar immune-enhancing effects.
Past studies have linked exercise stress to an increased risk for influenza. The flavonoid quercetin also has been reported to inhibit infectivity and replication of a broad spectrum of viruses and may offset the increase in susceptibility to infection associated with stressful exercise.
To further investigate quercetin’s possible anti-viral activities, researchers examined the flavonoid’s effects in mice that underwent stressful exercise then were exposed to influenza virus. The animals were assigned to one of four groups: exercise-placebo, exercise-quercetin, control-placebo, or control-quercetin. The exercise consisted of having the mice run until they were fatigued (approximately 140 min) on a treadmill for three consecutive days.
Quercetin (12.5 mg/kg) was administered through a stomach tube for 7 days before the mice were exposed to the virus. At 30 minutes after the last bout of exercise or rest, mice were intranasally inoculated with influenza virus. Mice were monitored daily for morbidity (time to sickness), symptom severity, and mortality (time to death) for 21 days.
Exercise stress was associated with an increased susceptibility to infection (morbidity, mortality, and symptom severity on days 5-7). However, quercetin made the animals less susceptible to viral infection after stressful exercise. The exercised mice not fed the quercetin experienced an increased susceptibility to infection of 91 percent, while quercetin was found to offset infection risk by 63 percent.
The illness rate in the mice that exercised and took quercetin was approximately equivalent to those that did not exercise, suggesting that quercetin supplementation stopped the immunity-lowering effects of the intense exercise.
According to the researchers, “These data suggest that short-term quercetin feedings may prove to be an effective strategy to lessen the impact of stressful exercise on susceptibility to respiratory infection.”
This study builds on an earlier human study where quercetin reduced illness and maintained mental performance in physically stressed subjects. Trained cyclists consumed 1,000 mg per day of quercetin (plus niacin and vitamin C) for five weeks. Another group of 20 cyclists were given a placebo. After three weeks, subjects rode a bicycle three hours per day for three days to the point of exhaustion.
After the exercise period, approximately 45 percent of the placebo-consuming cyclists became ill, while only 5 percent of the quercetin group suffered any illness. Furthermore, when given an alertness test, the quercetin-consuming subjects better maintained their ability to react after exhaustion. (Nieman DC, et. al. Research presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Charlotte, N.C., February 9, 2007.)
Reference:
Davis JM, Murphy EA, McClellan JL, Carmichael MD, Gangemi JD. Quercetin reduces susceptibility to influenza infection following stressful exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Aug;295(2):R505-9.
The following is a new study of yet another use for this special flavonoid. It has immune-boosting effects.
In a new study, quercetin was able to significantly strengthen immunity in animals exposed to the flu virus, consistent with the results of a human study released last year where the flavonoid had similar immune-enhancing effects.
Past studies have linked exercise stress to an increased risk for influenza. The flavonoid quercetin also has been reported to inhibit infectivity and replication of a broad spectrum of viruses and may offset the increase in susceptibility to infection associated with stressful exercise.
To further investigate quercetin’s possible anti-viral activities, researchers examined the flavonoid’s effects in mice that underwent stressful exercise then were exposed to influenza virus. The animals were assigned to one of four groups: exercise-placebo, exercise-quercetin, control-placebo, or control-quercetin. The exercise consisted of having the mice run until they were fatigued (approximately 140 min) on a treadmill for three consecutive days.
Quercetin (12.5 mg/kg) was administered through a stomach tube for 7 days before the mice were exposed to the virus. At 30 minutes after the last bout of exercise or rest, mice were intranasally inoculated with influenza virus. Mice were monitored daily for morbidity (time to sickness), symptom severity, and mortality (time to death) for 21 days.
Exercise stress was associated with an increased susceptibility to infection (morbidity, mortality, and symptom severity on days 5-7). However, quercetin made the animals less susceptible to viral infection after stressful exercise. The exercised mice not fed the quercetin experienced an increased susceptibility to infection of 91 percent, while quercetin was found to offset infection risk by 63 percent.
The illness rate in the mice that exercised and took quercetin was approximately equivalent to those that did not exercise, suggesting that quercetin supplementation stopped the immunity-lowering effects of the intense exercise.
According to the researchers, “These data suggest that short-term quercetin feedings may prove to be an effective strategy to lessen the impact of stressful exercise on susceptibility to respiratory infection.”
This study builds on an earlier human study where quercetin reduced illness and maintained mental performance in physically stressed subjects. Trained cyclists consumed 1,000 mg per day of quercetin (plus niacin and vitamin C) for five weeks. Another group of 20 cyclists were given a placebo. After three weeks, subjects rode a bicycle three hours per day for three days to the point of exhaustion.
After the exercise period, approximately 45 percent of the placebo-consuming cyclists became ill, while only 5 percent of the quercetin group suffered any illness. Furthermore, when given an alertness test, the quercetin-consuming subjects better maintained their ability to react after exhaustion. (Nieman DC, et. al. Research presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Charlotte, N.C., February 9, 2007.)
Reference:
Davis JM, Murphy EA, McClellan JL, Carmichael MD, Gangemi JD. Quercetin reduces susceptibility to influenza infection following stressful exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Aug;295(2):R505-9.
Natural Treatment for Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections are occasionally life-threatening health concerns. Older and newly emerging antibiotic-resistant infections are an increasing danger for children, the elderly, and people who have chronic diseases. Bacterial infections can disrupt normal intestinal flora, reduce nutrient and mineral supplies, and compromise immune responses. A healthy immune system can prevent or neutralize bacterial infections.
When dealing with a possible bacterial infection, it is impossible to tell, short of laboratory tests, which pathogen is causing the problem. Therefore, it is important to visit a physician for proper testing and, if necessary, to obtain prescription antibiotics. In addition, many nutrients have been shown to help strengthen the immune system and inhibit bacterial infection.
Nutrients that have been demonstrated to inhibit bacterial activity or enhance the immune system include:
Lactoferrin—300 milligrams (mg) daily
Oregano oil—400 to 1000 mg of essential oils daily
Garlic extract—600 to 1200 mg of Kyolic garlic daily
Norwegian shark liver oil—200 mg of active alkylglycerols
Bromelain—500 mg before each meal
L-arginine—900 mg daily
L-glutamine—1 to 2 grams (g) daily
Cranberry extract—500 mg daily
Probiotics—Follow directions on label.
Whey protein—1 to 2 scoops daily
Green tea extract—725 mg daily
Garlic bulb powder—1800 to 9000 mg of Pure Gar daily (if you already have an infection)
lifeextension@lefbc.com
When dealing with a possible bacterial infection, it is impossible to tell, short of laboratory tests, which pathogen is causing the problem. Therefore, it is important to visit a physician for proper testing and, if necessary, to obtain prescription antibiotics. In addition, many nutrients have been shown to help strengthen the immune system and inhibit bacterial infection.
Nutrients that have been demonstrated to inhibit bacterial activity or enhance the immune system include:
Lactoferrin—300 milligrams (mg) daily
Oregano oil—400 to 1000 mg of essential oils daily
Garlic extract—600 to 1200 mg of Kyolic garlic daily
Norwegian shark liver oil—200 mg of active alkylglycerols
Bromelain—500 mg before each meal
L-arginine—900 mg daily
L-glutamine—1 to 2 grams (g) daily
Cranberry extract—500 mg daily
Probiotics—Follow directions on label.
Whey protein—1 to 2 scoops daily
Green tea extract—725 mg daily
Garlic bulb powder—1800 to 9000 mg of Pure Gar daily (if you already have an infection)
lifeextension@lefbc.com
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Life Expectancy Drops To 69.3 Years In The US
Makes a person ashamed of what is going on in the United States!
10-22-8- (Reuters) -- What is the average life expectancy of Americans? For a long time it has been the low seventies for men and upper seventies for women. So it comes as a shock to learn that the average life expectancy for Americans has dropped to 69.3 years, according to the America's Health Rankings report, issued at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting.
-
- This figure is exceeded by 28 other countries, including Britain, France and Germany and is about five years less than the life expectancy in Japan. According to Dr. Reed Tuckson, this dismal number reflects increasing obesity, fewer people quitting smoking (although only 20.8 percent of Americans smoke today, down from almost one-third in 1990), and increasing numbers of people without health insurance. Officials made no mention of the increasing consumption of processed foods containing refined sweeteners, processed vegetable oils and toxic additives, and certainly did not allow even a whisper about the almost complete absence of nutrient-dense foods such as organ meats, shellfish and butterfat and eggs from grass-fed animals from the American diet (December 13, 2005).
Nor does it mention the failure of the health care (sic) system, the
chemicals added into the food system, GMO "Frankenfoods"
in the supermarket with out any scientific testing for harm,
the tainted colorless sky (chemtrails with barium and aluminum)
and the poisonous water (MBTE, percholrate amongs
other nasties). It doesn't count the stress that
everyday people are under trying to purchase daily
necessities, the drugs being pumped in to us and
the mercury containing vaccines (thimerosol) which
turn our children into medicated autistic kids.
There is much that lends support to this report and
the situation will only become worse!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My View of Life
Today is October 1st.
The US is in a meltdown of unprecedented proportions. Wall Street Security Traders and bankers are twisting arms for the US taxpayers to bail them out of their scams, while those who perpetuated these frauds scramble to protect their loot. Banks are holding onto their money, refusing to loan any money-even to each other. Gasoline is in short supply in the southeast apparently due to a hurricane three weeks ago, gasoline prices are as high as they've ever been, food prices continue to rise at ridiculous rates, unemployment is soaring even as the government understates the real unemployment levels, crime is soaring through the roof in the US cities as people desperately try to survive. The government responds by building more prisons and criminalizing most all behavior. Yet, instead of tackling these problems the US government continues to threaten other countries with air strikes in Pakistan, the illegal wars continues in Iraq and Afghanistan, continued threats on Iran, trying to pull off a coup d'etat in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela against popularly elected Presidents; the scams on the US people continue forward, AND beginning today the US Army is stationing battle hardened troops on US soil (for the first time since it was banned after the Civil War) in order to respond to "terrorist attacks", disasters or civil unrest (by US citizens) or for any national emergency the "President declares" in his infinite wisdom. But...
here in Mexico life is still peaceful. Fall has arrived. The monarch butterflies will be here at the end of the month. They must be somewhere in northern Mexico, right about now, on their annual migration. Last year they appeared in our yard October 31 for All Hallows Eve. The rains have slowed to a couple of times a week. This week the days have been sunny, cool with a deep blue sky. The winds pick up in the evenings allowing our wind chimes to sing their wonderful songs. I lay in bed at night and can hear the chimes singing merrily in the night down on the first floor beneath my bedroom, as the sheer curtains blow gently. Yesterday morning it was 38 degrees at 7:30 in the morning as we took our garbage to the street for pickup. The nights are cool enough for the need of two blankets and a two dog-night. Day temperatures are now in the mid-60's.
The apple trees are turning red and yellow, the pear trees are blooming with their white flowers, yet the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off. We picked the rest of our peaches last week; peeled them and put them in the freezer for winter pies. Two weeks ago, I harvested our pears and made pear preserves. The pears were exceedingly juicy this years and so sweet! We are now harvesting fennel seeds, parsley, borage (with its beautiful blue star flowers), to be dried and used later. We have very tall and beautiful hyssop plants, which have bloomed all summer with their beautiful, purple blossoms attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. We will harvest these next week and make lozenges out of them for sore throat this winter, if needed. Our epazote grew furiously in the wet summer and now have gone to seed and small epazote plants are springing up in the garden. Sunflower heads have been harvested and are being dried for planting next spring. The roses are still blooming their beautiful, fragrant blossoms. Sunlight is moving south and the shadows grow longer on the north side of the house. Nature continues and the seasons change.
Across the lake and along the highways the Cosmo's are blooming. The pink hue covers the north shore peninsula and as seen from our balcony adds a sharp contrast to the blue water and green mountains whose top is often covered by white clouds.
Last week we had a new visitor. A Black Witch Moth took up residence in our living room. This moth is huge! Ours was probably 6 or 7 inches wing-tip to wing-tip. It is so large you actually hear the wings flapping. When it flies, it looks like a bat which causes confusion for some people. It is large but completely docile. It does not bite or sting or threaten to take all your money (or securities). It just spent the day on one of our adobe walls under a painting and slept until night to go visiting wherever a Witch Moth visits.
This morning, in anticipation of the cooler nights which are soon to be here, my wife and I gathered dried kindling from along the road in front of our house. The early, cool morning felt like the fall mornings we had in our cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains a number of years ago. We placed the kindling in the garage, next to our hoard of firewood and now await our first fire of the autumn.
We haven't left our house in two weeks. We are completely content to be at home. We sit on the balcony overlooking the lake and we feel the sun warming our skin as the wind whispers through the trees. As I sit in the sun on the porch I may pick over black beans or peruana beans for our evening meal, or smoke our dinner on the grill. We watch the Great White Herons circle above us and over the lake looking for their meal, and also before a storm, the herons take flight in great numbers to circle high above us riding the thermals seemingly enjoying the shear joy of life. We listen to the roosters crowing and the donkey braying off in the distance and the sheep come each day to fatten up on the grass which has been nurtured by the summer rains. A flock of turkeys strut down the road (some times being led by a rooster) nibbling on the grass seeds and insects, a mother duck leads her ducklings along the road in single file while teaching them how to survive. We leave our windows and front door open and sparrows invite themselves into the house to feast upon the seed thrown out of the cage by our two canaries. They eat their fill and then fly out the window again. This seems to make the canaries happy.
So while the world as we knew it crumbles into the dust of history, we enjoy our simple life. We enjoy the simple joys that life really offers, you can too, if you will simply take the time to notice. The feel of the sun on your skin on a cool day, the smell of fresh roses, the taste of newly harvested peaches or pears, the sweet sounds of life around you, the happiness you feel when you awake in the morning and the sun shines through your window and a gentle breeze blows. The smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen as you awaken. Of living your life with joy with the person you love. The letting go of the past and embracing the present.
I don't know what the future holds, but I know this...I refuse to live my life in fear. I refuse to allow others to control me. I honestly do not care what anyone thinks of me. I refuse to allow my happiness to be controlled by events I cannot change. I refuse to drink the Kool-Aid being offered by the government and controlled media.
And for today...
I am content.
The US is in a meltdown of unprecedented proportions. Wall Street Security Traders and bankers are twisting arms for the US taxpayers to bail them out of their scams, while those who perpetuated these frauds scramble to protect their loot. Banks are holding onto their money, refusing to loan any money-even to each other. Gasoline is in short supply in the southeast apparently due to a hurricane three weeks ago, gasoline prices are as high as they've ever been, food prices continue to rise at ridiculous rates, unemployment is soaring even as the government understates the real unemployment levels, crime is soaring through the roof in the US cities as people desperately try to survive. The government responds by building more prisons and criminalizing most all behavior. Yet, instead of tackling these problems the US government continues to threaten other countries with air strikes in Pakistan, the illegal wars continues in Iraq and Afghanistan, continued threats on Iran, trying to pull off a coup d'etat in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela against popularly elected Presidents; the scams on the US people continue forward, AND beginning today the US Army is stationing battle hardened troops on US soil (for the first time since it was banned after the Civil War) in order to respond to "terrorist attacks", disasters or civil unrest (by US citizens) or for any national emergency the "President declares" in his infinite wisdom. But...
here in Mexico life is still peaceful. Fall has arrived. The monarch butterflies will be here at the end of the month. They must be somewhere in northern Mexico, right about now, on their annual migration. Last year they appeared in our yard October 31 for All Hallows Eve. The rains have slowed to a couple of times a week. This week the days have been sunny, cool with a deep blue sky. The winds pick up in the evenings allowing our wind chimes to sing their wonderful songs. I lay in bed at night and can hear the chimes singing merrily in the night down on the first floor beneath my bedroom, as the sheer curtains blow gently. Yesterday morning it was 38 degrees at 7:30 in the morning as we took our garbage to the street for pickup. The nights are cool enough for the need of two blankets and a two dog-night. Day temperatures are now in the mid-60's.
The apple trees are turning red and yellow, the pear trees are blooming with their white flowers, yet the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off. We picked the rest of our peaches last week; peeled them and put them in the freezer for winter pies. Two weeks ago, I harvested our pears and made pear preserves. The pears were exceedingly juicy this years and so sweet! We are now harvesting fennel seeds, parsley, borage (with its beautiful blue star flowers), to be dried and used later. We have very tall and beautiful hyssop plants, which have bloomed all summer with their beautiful, purple blossoms attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. We will harvest these next week and make lozenges out of them for sore throat this winter, if needed. Our epazote grew furiously in the wet summer and now have gone to seed and small epazote plants are springing up in the garden. Sunflower heads have been harvested and are being dried for planting next spring. The roses are still blooming their beautiful, fragrant blossoms. Sunlight is moving south and the shadows grow longer on the north side of the house. Nature continues and the seasons change.
Across the lake and along the highways the Cosmo's are blooming. The pink hue covers the north shore peninsula and as seen from our balcony adds a sharp contrast to the blue water and green mountains whose top is often covered by white clouds.
Last week we had a new visitor. A Black Witch Moth took up residence in our living room. This moth is huge! Ours was probably 6 or 7 inches wing-tip to wing-tip. It is so large you actually hear the wings flapping. When it flies, it looks like a bat which causes confusion for some people. It is large but completely docile. It does not bite or sting or threaten to take all your money (or securities). It just spent the day on one of our adobe walls under a painting and slept until night to go visiting wherever a Witch Moth visits.
This morning, in anticipation of the cooler nights which are soon to be here, my wife and I gathered dried kindling from along the road in front of our house. The early, cool morning felt like the fall mornings we had in our cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains a number of years ago. We placed the kindling in the garage, next to our hoard of firewood and now await our first fire of the autumn.
We haven't left our house in two weeks. We are completely content to be at home. We sit on the balcony overlooking the lake and we feel the sun warming our skin as the wind whispers through the trees. As I sit in the sun on the porch I may pick over black beans or peruana beans for our evening meal, or smoke our dinner on the grill. We watch the Great White Herons circle above us and over the lake looking for their meal, and also before a storm, the herons take flight in great numbers to circle high above us riding the thermals seemingly enjoying the shear joy of life. We listen to the roosters crowing and the donkey braying off in the distance and the sheep come each day to fatten up on the grass which has been nurtured by the summer rains. A flock of turkeys strut down the road (some times being led by a rooster) nibbling on the grass seeds and insects, a mother duck leads her ducklings along the road in single file while teaching them how to survive. We leave our windows and front door open and sparrows invite themselves into the house to feast upon the seed thrown out of the cage by our two canaries. They eat their fill and then fly out the window again. This seems to make the canaries happy.
So while the world as we knew it crumbles into the dust of history, we enjoy our simple life. We enjoy the simple joys that life really offers, you can too, if you will simply take the time to notice. The feel of the sun on your skin on a cool day, the smell of fresh roses, the taste of newly harvested peaches or pears, the sweet sounds of life around you, the happiness you feel when you awake in the morning and the sun shines through your window and a gentle breeze blows. The smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen as you awaken. Of living your life with joy with the person you love. The letting go of the past and embracing the present.
I don't know what the future holds, but I know this...I refuse to live my life in fear. I refuse to allow others to control me. I honestly do not care what anyone thinks of me. I refuse to allow my happiness to be controlled by events I cannot change. I refuse to drink the Kool-Aid being offered by the government and controlled media.
And for today...
I am content.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
