JUNE 22, 2020 HONEY AND VENOM

I read a lot. Especially about bees. A recent new book Honey and Venom is by friend/colleague Andrew Cote. He is president of the NYC Bee Keepers Association . His new book Honey and Venom Confessions of a Urban Beekeepers is a must read.

He is a fourth generation beekeeper raised with bees since childhood in is Fairfield CT home. He has installed some of the world-famous hives throughout New York City and in some of the most famous landmark buildings. Beekeeping has been legal in NYC since 2010. I had my first hives in Cherry Grove ,Fire Island and then on my terrace in NYC.

His book is educational, as well as funny with all of its stories. You will learn about beekeeping from one of the best. I love that he learned beekeeping from his father , Norm - an ex navy man like my own father.

Andrew is charming, intelligent and empathic. Empathetic for the periled honey bees. His approach to beekeeping and to bees is beyond approach. I admire this individual Get his book . You will not be disappointed. Check out Andrewshoney.com

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 19-21, 2020 NEW SURGES

I am glad I reside in Connecticut and New York City. At the beginning of the pandemic New York City had its share of deaths and filled hospital capacities. Despite what many might say, I feel Governor Cuomo did then and is still doing an excellent job. Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas have all reported increases in new cases this past week. Nevada reported its single highest day since May 23 rd. I can see remember how its governor was arguing with Anderson Cooper in an interview. I just don’t get it.

It is more than a possibility that there will be an increase in numbers. I attribute this to the businesses reopening in most of these states and the laxity of their residents. There is also an increase in cases due to the protesting in the streets to end racial injustice. Many are standing or marching close together without any masks. Does anyone wear a mask ?

Seventeen states have shown increases in numbers. I am not surprised. I am also not surprised that this occur throughout the summer and into the Fall. This is not a surge per se but a continuation of the pandemic. The real surge will come during the normal flu season in late Fall/early Winter.

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 18, 2020 IS YOUR ATTIRE NOW INCLUDE A MASK

Is wearing a mask now part of your normal attire / Will a mask protect me from a viral infection ? Will a mask protect others from contracting a droplet/airborne viral infection from me? These are very important questions

I do know that some doctors offices are requiring you to wear a mask. There is a sign in our office. You cannot ride Metro North New Haven Line without wearing a mask

Viruses are generally much smaller than bacteria ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 microns. The COVID 19 virus is .1 micron. It is known that your body’s defense respiratory system is sufficiently able to filter and remove foreign substances over 2.5 microns. If these substances pass this barrier , they then must encounter the forces of your own general immune system. It has been reported in a 2010 study that shirts, towels, sheets are ineffective viruses. The protection of these fabrics materials are unlikely to have respiratory protection to a wearer against virus size sub microns. So why I am wearing a mask ? It has been handmade for me and I like the colors I have chosen is my answer. People wearing cloth masks were 13 times more likely to have respiratory symptoms than a medical mask that I wore in the hospital while volunteering.

There is conflicting data out there. I do not know how to solve that problem or interpret the information. A cloth mask is good is the user is coughing or sneezing and that is it. Surgical or procedure masks are the best. These are great for splash protection from saliva etc but do not offer any respiratory protection from particles less than 100 microns.

So this is my answer. Wearing a mask is an individual’s choice. I feel it makes others feel protected or safe from the wearer. The common sense public health measure of social distancing seems to be the best answer Oh , yes you must definitely do routine hand washing when needed.

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 17, 2020 GOOD SNACKS

During this pandemic some of us might have veered from our normal healthy dietary and exercise lifestyle. Some of us used this time to eat better and exercise in different ways than going to the gym.

Snacking on chips, cookies, soda and ‘ sugar’ not only leads to weight gain but contributes to chronic health conditions. There are healthier snacks during this pandemic

Some of these include is a protein bar. There are many on the market. You must be ‘picky’ You must watch out for hidden carbs and low protein I like the Perfect Almond Butter Bar which has 13 grams of protein. I do think the sugar content is a bit high but most of the bars on the market have high sugar. You must find a bar with adequate protein and low net carbs. The Atkins Advantage Bar had the right combination

I LOVE healthy trail mix with few dried fruit and chock full of nuts ( not the coffee). I love it to contain almonds, walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and few cashews. Trader Joe’s has the right one for me called Omega Trek Mix It is crunchy and a great way to satisfy my sugar craving.

The last healthy snack is low glycemic fruits. These are all kinds of berries. These have high antioxidant and low sugar content. I sometimes melt 3 squares of dark chocolate over the blueberries

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 16, 2020 MY 60TH BIRTHDAY

Today is my 60th BIRTHDAY. I didn’t expect to live to 60. The reasons I say that is when I was drinking/drugging I had a very dismal look at the future and the prospects of even getting clean. But at age 34 I got clean and sober with the assistance of Alcoholics Anonymous, therapy and many individuals.

This June21 st ( On Father’s Day ) marks my 26th year of continuous sobriety. To say I am grateful is an understatement. No matter when life ends— what really matters at the end ? I know now it is not what we bought, but instead what we built. It is NOT what we got, but what we shared. It is not our competence but our character .And certainly it is not our success, but our significance.

I have learned to live a life that matters to me. I have learned to be the best of my ability to have few to no expectations. This way I can be surprised and not disappointed.

I have learned to forgive people although difficult at times in some situations. Forgiveness is not accepting their behaviors then or now. I have forgiven them for me and only me. This has allowed me to move on with my life.

We each have a journey. Some of the journeys are easier than others and some are tougher than others. We each have to take what has been dealt to us by our Higher Power. The choice has been mine to either make me a better person or allow it to tear me down. To the best of my ability , the fate belongs to me.

So on my 60th I want to thank everyone who has crossed my path in my years. I realize today how far I have become and I “ smile “I smile because I am proud of myself. Andrea Dykstra summed it up : “ In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.”

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 15, 2020 VACCINES

Since the pandemic I have been reading many different journals. There was an article by Vaccine Impact published in May 2019 which published an open letter by Theresa Deisher PhD on the dangers of purported dangers of fetal DNA in vaccines produced with fetal derived cell lines. Yes you heard correctly- vaccines with fetal DNA cell lines. It was eye opening to me This also discussed the unrefuted facts about fetal DNA contaminants in the MMR vaccine. There were flaws in this article about certain clams. It made me aware of contaminants in vaccines I never knew

Then I read more about the upcoming COVID vaccine on either Tweet or Instagram by Robert Kennedy Jr. He discussed the two companies who might have the first corona vaccine by January 2021. I find a vaccine out by January 2021 to be scary. The two companies are Johnson and Johnson and Astra Zeneca. Then there are companies using cell lines from aborted babies which include CanSino Biologics and Bejiing Institute of Biotechnology.

He then went on to tell about the cell line being used from aborted babies in 1972 and 1985. I find all of this ‘new’ to me I will keep reading

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 11, 2020 NATURAL WAYS ITO IMPROVE IMMUNE SYSTEM

A second wave of coronavirus cases is emerging in the U.S., raising alarms as new infections push the overall count past 2 million Americans. You must boost your immune system . I cannot write enough about your own immune function. It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of disability and death that your immune system inflicts of the aging population. We saw it over the last four months.

A dysfunctional immune ignites inflammatory fires everywhere in the body while failing to protect against infections, like corona virus and other viruses in addition to cancer. There is one natural supplement that you must take. It is called Reishi mushrooms. The immune boosting properties are beyond reproach. This natural mushroom has been shown to promote maturation and activation of the immune system cells . These cells include your T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages. These are vitally important against viruses and cancer. Reishi augments the function of your innate and adaptive immune system. The innate is the first body’s defense . This innate system acts first against viruses. The natural killer cells are an important component of innate immunity.

Reishi has recently shown to promote protective properties by increasing Interleukin 10 and and lowering interleukin 6 levels.

You want an expanded lifespan. Take Reishi mushrooms. Call Botanical Bounty in NYC or visit: 115 E 57th St, Suite 1510 New York, NY 10022: (646) 723-1823

Restore an old immune system. Build a new immune system

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 10, 2020 IT'S NOT OVER

If YOU asked me 4 months ago would I still be writing about a pandemic I would have said , “ NO” According to the New York Times and the Washington Post have reported an increase in cases in 14 states. While my state of New York have eased in infections there are 17 states that have increased. There are parts of the country that have previously avoided being hard hit are tallying record high new infections THIS IS NOT OVER.

Since June, 14 states including Puerto Rico have recorded their highest ever seven day average of new corona cases since the pandemic began.

I will report again stating “ THIS IS NOT OVER “ We have to continue to track these numbers but more importantly we need to do appropriate testing by reliable labs.

Please get tested.

Until tomorrow…