Monthly Archives: May 2024

Book Review: Wild About You

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Just finished reading Wild About You! This book was so fun and I loved the characters.

Natalie is fantastic. She’s funny, warm, and trying to figure out life at 19 . I loved that the story captured the challenges of navigating young adulthood, especially when you might not have the strongest family support. She was FUNNY! I laughed so much.

And, Finn. He’s this gruff-but-sweet guy who adds a great dynamic to the story. Their banter is hilarious, and the way they communicate and work through issues feels realistic and refreshing. No unnecessary drama here!

The setting on the Appalachian Trail was really cool. The author did a great job bringing it to life, and while the reality show element played a role, it never took away from the characters themselves. It just added another layer of interest!

Overall, this book is a great pick-me-up. It’s a sweet romance with relatable characters facing real-life challenges. Plus, it definitely fed my wanderlust for the Appalachian Trail (which I also dream of hiking someday!).

If you’re looking for a fun read with great characters and a touch of adventure, check out Wild About You.

Crawdad Days

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A few weeks ago, I crowned my successor as Ms. Classic Crawdad Days. I had so much fun holding that title last year. First, I was so excited to have won!

I competed in the 40+, Ms. Classic, division. At 62, I was the oldest person in the pageant. I’ve been competing in pageants for 25 years and it was the firs time I’d ever been crowned on stage and it was thrilling. I loved the ladies I competed with. They were so kind and fun to hang out with all day. It helped to wipe out a previous bad pageant experience and even if I hadn’t won, it would’ve been a great experience.

The Crawdad Festival was fun and we hung out all day at the festival, held a baby contest, rode rides, and went to the rodeo. I’d never been to a rodeo before and that was a high point, one I definitely want to experience again.

There is a 5k run for the festival. It was super early and it was COLD last year so I didn’t get to the festival in time for the race. And this year, I didn’t go to the festival at all but I’ve been paying attention on Facebook

On Saturday was this year’s 5K race. Do you know there was not one woman over 60 who participated in that 5K? The oldest woman to run was 58. There were for 60+ men and 2, 70+ men!

It’s things like this that cause me to add to my goals list. I keep a goals list and there are around 50 or so items on it at all times. Big things, little things, but all things I for sure what to do or try.

I have added the Crawdad Days 5K to my goals list. Next year, darnit, there will be a woman over 60 who competes. I actually have the USMC Marathon on my goals list for 2025. It takes place in November so a 5K in mid-May seems more than reasonable.

Who’s going to join me?

Laughter is the Best Medicine

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I love to laugh and I love to make other people laugh. If I can make someone else laugh, even just one person, it will make my day.

Laughing is good for you, too! You’ve probably heard the quote, “Laughter is the best medicine”. There’s no one to attribute it to but if you look at Proverbs 17:21 in the Bible,

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

you can see that sentiment. It’s been around a long time!

Recently, I started doing dad jokes on YouTube. The first time I told one, I got so much HATE and engagement that I thought, “I think I’m going to do that some more”. I just don’t understand how you can just groan and go on. Or better yet, if you don’t want to see that content, block it.

Anyway, I reposted a dad joke from last year to facebook and guess what? I got even MORE engagement there! So now, when I do a dad joke, I put it everywhere: Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. The more people I can make laugh, the happier I am.

Laughing truly is good for you in the following ways:

Stress Relief: A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that laughter therapy effectively delays cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that laughter helps reduce stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute to various health problems [1].

Immune System Boost: A Mayo Clinic article cites research suggesting that laughter may help boost the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies [2]. However, the Mayo Clinic clarifies that more research is needed to confirm this connection definitively.

Pain Reduction: A 2011 study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that mirthful laughter led to a significant reduction in pain perception in participants [3].

Improved Mood: Laughter is well-known to elevate mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. A 2019 review published in The Permanente Journal acknowledges the powerful connection between laughter and emotional well-being [4].

So why wouldn’t you want to laugh and be as healthy as possible? I know that’s the way I roll and will continue to roll. Laughing in my favorite. How about you?