MORE
...from Jodee Blanco, who wrote a brilliant book on grade school/high school bullying, discussed yesterday.  In that book, she also wrote:

"No matter what you're going through right now, you can survive and things will get better.  You must stay strong and have faith in the extraordinary person inside you waiting for the opportunity to show the world what you're made of.  I believe in you and know that you have what it takes to not only get through whatever is causing your pain right now, but to use it to help others transcend their own pain.  You are my hero, and my fervent desire is that after you've read this book, it will have made you want to become someone else's hero too.  It doesn't require much:  a phone call, a word of encouragement, an invitation extended in friendship."

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a
happy family all wrapped up in each other." -Burton Hillis

ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS?
I have been doing exactly that; and I hope you have, too.  That's why this blog has taken a bit of a break...though we don't intend to leave you completely high and dry.  One thing I do every holiday vacation is read a lot.  I love to read.  One book I've just finished reading...and I read it partly because it was of interest to me, and I thought it would be of interest to many of you with Moebius or with a facial difference...is a book by Jodee Blanco, called PLEASE STOP LAUGHING AT ME:  ONE WOMAN'S INSPIRATIONAL STORY.

It's a story about a woman who was considered different in high school; who didn't always run with the "in" crowd or do exactly what they expected her to do.  As a result, she was horribly taunted, viciously teased, and endlessly bullied.  Some of us know exactly what she went through.  All of us know something about what she went through.  As Ms. Blanco explains:

"From fifth grade through high school, I was kid that nobody wanted to be caught dead hanging out with and the one who rescued crickets while my classmates held competitions about who could squish the most bugs the fastest.  I would rather write poetry than play dodge ball or gossip in the neighborhood tree house and I always defended the underdog even when it meant facing the wrath of the cool crowd.  I had more in common with adults than anyone my own age and would have given almost anything for friendship, except my soul, which is what seemed to be the asking price.  I endured every form of humiliation during my school years, from teasing and taunting, being the target of cruel and twisted pranks, to actual physical abuse.  Years later when people would ask me what hurt most, I would explain that it wasn't the acceptance and love I was being denied that made it hard, it was all the love and friendship I had to give that no one wanted."

I suspect that last part has been true for those with Moebius Syndrome too.  So much love and friendship to give; but because we look and sound different, some don't want it.  Luckily there are many, however, who do, as well.

READ THIS
...a good, funny, ironic Christmas story from today's NY Times opinion section.

GIVING BACK
And here, at this festive season, is a good note about giving back...to those who really need it: 
 "Men and women of courage stand watch for us today in dangerous places across the globe. The world is blessed that, in each generation, Americans of conviction and duty rise to defend our country and liberty's cause.  It is right that we should honor their sacrifice in personal and practical ways, especially at this time of the year. A way to do so is by supporting one of the many wonderful organizations that help wounded warriors and their families.

One such group, Ride 2 Recovery, provides specially constructed bicycles to men and women who have suffered traumatic head wounds or lost limbs—and sometimes hope—in terrible explosions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The brainchild of Californian John Wordin, Ride 2 Recovery draws from the powerful insight that challenging soldiers physically and mentally aids tremendously in their healing. By creating a team atmosphere for rehab, cycling builds confidence, helps restore body and mind, and speeds up recovery."

THE HISTORY OF ASPIRIN
I just found this interestng; we all use it at some time or other, and apparently it's use is universal...and has been for quite some time:
"If you take aspirin, you've got a pain reliever, heart attack preventer and possible cancer preventer rolled into one tablet. You might think that whoever invented aspirin is a genius, but the truth is humans have been using its natural equivalent for thousands of years.  "Aspirin is one of those things that, long before there were ever clinical trials or any kind of scientific knowledge, people figured out, 'Hey, I feel better when I take this substance,' " said Dr. Karol Watson, assistant professor of cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.  The drug has been making headlines because a study in the Lancet recently found that a daily aspirin appeared to lower the risk of cancer by at least 20% during a 20-year period. That's based on data from more than 25,000 patients and builds on earlier findings that aspirin may lower the risk of colon and rectal cancer. The research has limitations and is not definitive proof, but it does add another benefit to an ancient remedy that has been called a miracle drug.  "There are no countries in which it is unknown, unappreciated, or unavailable," the late medical writer Berton Roueché wrote in 1955, in an article later published in the anthology "The Medical Detectives.  "The word "aspirin" wasn't a coincidence. It comes from Spiraea, a biological genus of shrubs that includes natural sources of the drug's key ingredient: salicylic acid. This acid, resembling what's in modern-day aspirin, can be found in jasmine, beans, peas, clover and certain grasses and trees.  The ancient Egyptians used willow bark as a remedy for aches and pains, said Diarmuid Jeffreys, author of "Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug." They didn't know that what was reducing body temperature and inflammation was the salicylic acid.  Hippocrates, the Greek physician who lived from about 460 to 377  B.C., wrote that willow leaves and bark relieved pain and fevers."


GET THOSE CHECKUPS
I probably don't have to remind people reading this blog about this kind of thing, but in any case you might find this interesting:
"Sadly, the nationwide survey (conducted Sept. 8 through 12 by Harris Interactive) showed that only a small minority of those most at risk get the yearly eye exams that could detect a vision problem and prevent, delay or even reverse its progression. Fully 86 percent of those who already have an eye disease do not get routine exams, the telephone survey of 1,004 adults revealed."

WHERE DID "MODERN" CHRISTMAS COME FROM?
The answer may surprise you.  I just thought it interesting:

A Christmas Carol” (1843) may be one of the most famous holiday tales extant, but it was his “A Christmas Dinner” (1835) that helped define the concept of “Christmas spirit” and set the stage for many of the traditions and foods that we enjoy to this day.  “He made it comfortable,” writes Dickens historian Peter Ackroyd in the foreword to the latest reissue of the book by Red Rock Press. “He made it cozy; he made it immune to the threatening world outside. It became the celebration of a small and close-knit community within a lighted room.” Dickens didn’t invent Christmas, but he couched it in a philosophy and centered it on an image that compelled people to see it and feel it as he did.  “There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas,” writes Dickens, when “petty jealousies and discords are forgotten” and father and son, brother and sister, “bury their past animosities in their present happiness.” In addition to placing holiday festivities squarely within the family circle, Dickens and his wife are also largely responsible for establishing the modern Christmas dinner menu.

Read the whole thing, it's interesting.  And as Christmas approaches, may you all have the most wonderful of holiday seasons...

"We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our
lives from within." -Earl Nightingale

BEATING HOLIDAY STRESS
I can vouch for this one:
"Dive into a good book. "Reading can have a tranquilizing effect," says Timothy Shanahan, PhD, a professor of urban education and reading at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "I usually read before going to bed—it stops my mind from racing and allows me to get away from myself for a few moments, which helps me relax and sleep well."

GOT SINUS PAIN?
Well, get ready to think of your favorite song.  Why?  Read on:
"Sinus infections make millions of people miserable each year, especially during cold and flu season. People with asthma and allergies may be especially prone to chronic sinusitis. Now some researchers have proposed a surprising remedy for avoiding sinus pain, headaches and congestion, writes Anahad O’Connor in this week’s “Really?” column:

"Keeping the sinuses healthy and infection-free requires ventilation — keeping air flowing smoothly between the sinus and nasal cavities. And what better way to keep air moving through the sinuses and naval cavity than by humming a tune? Studies show that humming helps increase airflow between the sinus and nasal cavities, which could potentially help protect against sinus infections."

Who would have thought it...

WHAT NOT TO SAY IN AN INTERVIEW
I know many of us in this community either are now, or will at some point in the next year, think of seeking a new job, a promotion, etc.  So the interview becomes crucial.  Here are two things from an article I found today that are really important concerning what to say in interviews:
"YES. YES. YES. NO.  Unless the interviewer asks you if you're so-and-so here for the nine-o'clock interview, you shouldn't be using one-word answers. An interview is your time to convince the employer that you have the qualifications for the job.  Even if the questions don't seem open-ended, answer them as if they are. You don't need to drone on and on, but use every chance you get to prove why you're the right person for the job.  "You want to use as much color and detail as possible when describing your background, experience and your professional journey, but without being long winded because, in reality, it's about your skill set and your valuable experience and expertise. Be specific: use names, dates and places," Murphy says."

And also:
"An interview is not the place to embellish your work or personal experience. If an interviewer asks you about something you don't have experience with, fess up and tell them how willing and able you are to learn new things.  If you claim to be something you're not, chances are you'll be found out sooner or later ... maybe not during the interview process, but when you find yourself lost in the middle of China a few months after landing the job, your gig will be up.  "Don't make up anything about what you've done that isn't true. It's too easy these days to get busted for anything like that. And they are looking at anything and everything," Murphy says."

And I say:  go ahead and tell your interviewer about your Moebius Syndrome.  Don't make a big deal about it.  Don't go on and on and dwell on it.  But you know others, who don't know you, who haven't met you, wonder about it.  So clear it up.  Be honest.  Show that you're not afraid and that you can handle anything they throw at you; and you can demonstrate it by "handling" the question of your Moebius in a quick, professional, effective way.  Point out to your interviewer, by the way, that if they hire someone with Moebius they will be adding to the, ahem, "DIVERSITY" of their company.  And isn't that something everyone wants?

"Circumstances-what are circumstances? I make circumstances." -Napoleon
Bonaparte

ANOTHER MOEBIUS HEROINE
This time from New Zealand:
"Mark and Liezel Cronje are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Their daughter Mia has the rare neurological disorder Moebius - a condition that prevents her from showing expressions of emotion. Surgery could help Mia to smile, but is very risky.  Mark told TV ONE's Close Up there is no guarantee of success.
"There's a question whether it will leave her face lopsided, different to what it is now," he said.....Since her diagnosis, Mia has endured surgery after surgery to fix her club feet which are associated with the condition.
Like most four-year-olds, Mia loves dancing and singing. But speaking and eating are still difficult....For now Mia's on a waiting list, while her parents ponder their decision and look forward to Christmas with their "joyous" little girl.  "Mia's journey for us is really positive. It's not without hurdles, it is harder than with any other child, but what you learn from it, what you get from it, how you grow in yourself is a journey well worth living," said Liezel."

I especially liked that last line.  Welcome, Mia.

NFL PICKS
Let's see if I can improve on last week.

Cincinnati 1 over Cleveland.  My pick:  BROWNS.  The Bengals are like an old tiger trapped in a cage...

Dallas 6 over Washington.  My pick:  REDSKINS.  The 'Skins just always seem to play Dallas tough, especially on defense.

Tennessee 2 over Houston.  My pick:  TITANS.  That Houston defense just doesn't get the job done.

Indianapolis 5 over Jacksonville.  My pick:  JAGUARS.  The Jags have really come on, and are playing the best, most consistent football in the division.

Kansas City 1 over St. Louis.  My pick:  CHIEFS.  The Chiefs will rebound from last week, and their speed and defense will win them a big game.

Miami 6 over Buffalo.  My pick:  DOLPHINS.  The Dolphins will build off of last week, and finally play well at home (they're certain due).

NY Giants 3 over Philadelphia.  My pick:  GIANTS.  Both teams played well last week; go with the Giants because the game will be played in the cold, windy Meadowlands.

Tampa Bay 6 over Detroit.  My pick:  BUCCANEERS.  Remember how long it's been since the Lions won a road game; and remember also that Lions backup QB Drew Stanton hasn't played well on the road.

Carolina 3 over Arizona.  My pick:  CARDINALS.  Look for the Cards to build off of last week's win.

Baltimore 1 over New Orleans.  My pick:  SAINTS.  I know this is a tough road game for the Saints, but I see the New Orleans offense coming on; while the Ravens' run game and defense seem to have declined.

Atlanta 7 over Seattle.  My pick:  FALCONS.  Atlanta showed last week that they know how to take care of business, on the road, against an inferior opponent.

Oakland 7 over Denver.  My pick:  RAIDERS.  Denver's probably close to packing it in for the season; while Oakland has been a good home team.

Pittsburgh 6 over NY Jets.  My pick:  STEELERS.  The Jets' decline continues.

Green Bay even at New England.  My pick:  PATRIOTS.  My guess is that many of the injured Pats will play, and will keep dominating.

Chicago even at Minnesota.  My pick:  BEARS.  Chicago has a lot to play for; Minnesota is very, very banged up at QB.

CREATIVITY AND YOUR BRAIN
Simple--be in a good mood:
"Just want to have fun? Two pieces of recent research suggest that getting in a good mood helps you perform better at certain tasks and be more creative.  A new study in Psychological Science exposed participants to music clips and YouTube videos that were supposed to put people in specific mood states.  For instance, a video for a laughing baby was "positive," "Antiques Roadshow" TV show was "neutral," and a news report of a Chinese earthquake was "negative." After volunteers listened to music and watched clips characteristic of one of these three moods, they had to do a task that involved learning a rule to categorize a particular pattern.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario found that the "happy" participants performed better than "sad" or "neutral" volunteers at this task.  So, the authors say, maybe watching an occasional funny video on YouTube at work may actually help your creativity by putting you in a good mood.  Along those lines, researchers at Northwestern University have found that humor was key to people's ability to solve puzzles. One of the study authors, neuroscientist Mark Beeman, told the New York Times he thinks "that the humor, this positive mood, is lowering the brain’s threshold for detecting weaker or more remote connections” to solve puzzles."

AND SPEAKING OF YOUR BRAIN
Why do adolescent young people do what they do?  Brain research is helping solve that puzzle, too:
"They say you never escape high school. And for better or worse, science is lending some credibility to that old saw. Thanks to sophisticated imaging technology and a raft of longitudinal studies, we’re learning that the teen years are a period of crucial brain development subject to a host of environmental and genetic factors. This emerging research sheds light not only on why teenagers act they way they do, but how the experiences of adolescence—from rejection to binge drinking—can affect who we become as adults, how we handle stress, and the way we bond with others.  One of the most important discoveries in this area of study, says Dr. Frances Jensen, a neuroscientist at Harvard, is that our brains are not finished maturing by adolescence, as was previously thought. Adolescent brains “are only about 80 percent of the way to maturity,” she said at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in November. It takes until the mid-20s, and possibly later, for a brain to become fully developed.  An excess of gray matter (the stuff that does the processing) at the beginning of adolescence makes us particularly brilliant at learning—the reason we’re so good at picking up new languages starting in early childhood—but also particularly sensitive to the influences of our environment, both emotional and physical. Our brains’ processing centers haven’t been fully linked yet, particularly the parts responsible for helping to check our impulses and considering the long-term repercussions of our actions. “It’s like a brain that’s all revved up not knowing where it needs to go,” says Jensen."

That's been one of the interesting things about doing this blog; I knew of course that Moebius Syndrome had something to do with your brain...and I knew it was hardly the only condition that had to do with your brain...but I did not realize how much research, and how much more knowledge we gain daily, concerning our brain and how it works.  Kind of amazing...

"Personality has the power to open many doors, but character must
keep them open." -Unknown

NEWS FOR PTSD SUFFERERS
Could a pill help with PTSD, some time in the future?  Perhaps yes:
"Along with first aid supplies, paramedics may one day carry a stash of pills designed to protect patients from post-traumatic stress disorder — at least that’s what researchers from Northwestern University are hoping.  Scientists there have found a medication that can prevent an exaggerated fear response in mice very similar to PTSD in people, according to a study just published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.  “Someday emergency personnel could be prepared to deliver this kind of help, just as they do bandages,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Jelena Radulovic, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Dunbar Scholar at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine."


HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS
A new study has a simple answer:
Run or bicycle before breakfast. Exercising in the morning, before eating, the study results show, seems to significantly lessen the ill effects of holiday Bacchanalias."


Read the whole thing.  I was especially glad to read this, for this is usually what I do--do a bunch of sit-ups before breakfast.  It helps wake me up, if nothing else.


Never ruin an apology with an excuse." -Kimberly Johnson

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
How to be happier during the holidays?  Feel like you're missing out?  A good piece here---for example:
"The scenario: “My neighbor throws a great New Year’s bash every year, and it’s a great time to catch up with old friends I might not have seen for months. But this year I’m feeling unsure about my life and job, so I don’t really want to share what’s new with me. And when I hear about good things happening to others (so-and-so got engaged or a big raise at work), I beat myself up.  How do I stop feeling this way?”

The solution: It's natural to reflect on your own accomplishments when you hear about others' success. But these news flashes can also spur you to reassess the choices you have in your life. Dr. Birndorf offers this example: “Recently, one of my patients found out about a friend's promotion, then came to me wondering how she could get ahead at work; she then asked her boss for more responsibility.” In other words, the best way to not focus on other people's achievements is to concentrate on things that make you happy.

You don't have to tackle everything at once. Start with whatever feels most unsatisfying: If you worry you're trapped in a dead-end job, ask yourself what you're getting out of the position that keeps you stuck. Once you figure out what fulfills you, you'll be less apt to criticize yourself when friends make strides—because you'll be making your own."

And beyond that, we need to realize...we always think others have perfect lives, or relationships, or holidays...but they don't.  Nobody is perfect; nobody's life is perfect.  Too often we walk along in life and we assume that everybody else is cool, and with it, and knows exactly what they're doing and what's going on...except us.  But then we talk to others and we realize--that ain't so. 

We can always improve, and we should strive to improve.  But you're not terrible, and everybody else isn't perfect.  Once we realize that....well, hmmm.  The perspective changes.  Try it!

"Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole
staircase, just take the first step." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

NEWS FROM THE BREAKFAST NOOK
Your kids might not be as addicted to chocolate frosted sugar bombs as you think:
"Move over tigers and leprechauns, breakfast cereal doesn't necessarily have to be sweet for kids to eat it. A study conducted by Yale University researchers found that many children, when given low sugar cereals, enjoyed them and ate a better breakfast when they didn't eat the sugary alternatives."

So buy that granola with a clear conscience!

IN OTHER FOOD NEWS
You parents might not have the effect on your children's eating habits that you think:
"A new study released last week found that parents' influence over kids' eating habits isn't all that strong after all. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined the findings from 24 studies exploring the link between parental eating behaviors and those of their children; the results were quite mixed, and ultimately they showed a weak association at best. Moreover, the resemblance between parents' eating habits and their kids' has weakened over time. (The studies covered the years from 1980 to 2009.)
The authors posit that other influences -- everything from media and peers to schools and government dietary guidelines -- have assumed increased influence over young people's eating habits."

There's still nothing wrong, of course, with eating right, getting exercise, thus modeling good behavior as much as you can, and thus...as the author notes...hoping some of it sticks.

I KNOW SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW...
That is, people with lower incomes are far more perceptive than the rich and well-off when it comes to what others are thinking and feeling:
"Wondering why your fat cat boss seems so clueless about why you don’t want to work extra shifts during the holidays? It could be because he can’t understand the dour looks you keep throwing his way.
Upper-class people are less adept at reading other people's emotions than their lower-class counterparts, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Science.  “We found that people from a lower-class background – in terms of occupation, status, education and income level – performed better in terms of emotional intelligence, the ability to read the emotions that others are feeling,” says Michael Kraus, co-author of the study and a postdoctoral student in psychology at the University of California, San Francisco."

I found that very interesting because I believe strongly that when it comes to people with Moebius Syndrome--persons who can't, through facial expression, after all, show THEIR feelings very easily--still they are very good at figuring out what others are thinking.  I believe this is because we know our limitations, and work to overcome them; hence we sharpen our skills of observation when it comes to others.

But then this article also made me think this:  how many persons with facial difference or with Moebius Syndrome do you know who are RICH????

I can't think of anyone. So maybe that's powered up our observations skills, too!

"Whatever you do or dream you can do - begin it.  Boldness has genius
and power and magic in it." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

SOME RELATIONSHIP ADVICE
From an article today on CNN.com:
"We understand you may not be 100 percent confident, that you, like us, have faults, that you're as unsure as to how to do this as we are, but do not put your insecurities on parade. It doesn't matter how manly you act. A gross lack of self-confidence telegraphs weakness -- and no girl wants a 99-pound mental weakling."


Read the whole thing.  Persons with Moebius or with other physical differences always have to be remember...you can do it.  Be confident!  Or at least pretend. :+)


FOOTBALL PICKS
I was only 7-7-1 last week.  Only .500!!  Gotta improve...


NFL


Buffalo 1 over Cleveland.  My pick:  BILLS.  They're improving...


Green Bay 7 over Detroit.  My pick:  PACKERS.  Aaron Rodgers always has a field day against Detroit.


NY Giants 3 over Minnesota.  My pick:  VIKINGS.  They're at home and still seem to have fight in them.


Pittsburgh 9 over Cincinnati.  My pick:  STEELERS.  I think the Bengals will fold.


Tampa Bay 3 over Washington.  My pick:  REDSKINS.  The 'Skins are at home and the Bucs are coming off a tough loss.


Atlanta 8 over Carolina.  My pick:  FALCONS.  They'll roll against a rookie QB.


Jacksonville 4 over Oakland.  My pick:  JAGUARS.  They're rolling and at home.


New Orleans 9 over St. Louis.  My pick:  SAINTS.  Sam Bradford struggles on the road against good teams.


San Francisco 6 over Seattle.  My pick:  49ers.  Seattle struggles on the road.


New England 3 over Chicago.  My pick:  BEARS.  I think the cold weather, and New England having a short week and a big, emotional win to boot, will help the Bears.


NY Jets 6 over Miami.  My pick:  DOLPHINS.  They're a good road team, remember.


Denver 5 over Arizona.  My pick:  BRONCOS.  The Cardinals have flown south for the winter.


San Diego 7 over Kansas City.  My pick:  CHIEFS.  The torch will be passed; the Chiefs are better than people think.


Philadelphia 4 over Dallas.  My pick:  COWBOYS.  Dallas is much improved and at home.


Baltimore 3 over Houston.  My pick:  RAVENS.  That defense is too good.

A MUSING
I was thinking about Facebook today.  To me, it's cool how so many of my Moebius friends and contacts are on there.  It's fun keeping up with them.  A real support network has grown there, and in addition it helps feed and encourage other online activities...like this and other blogs, for example, along with various websites, causes, etc.  We're able to keep up with what's going on.  When someone hurts, we can offer condolences.  When something great happens, we can all cheer.

I know the dangers of Facebook and other online media.  It can be addicting and suck up too much of your time.  You can sometimes sort of be acquainted with people, and "friend" them...and yet not really know them.  Some of your "friends" maybe are not really friends.  Such online relationships can lack depth and meaning.

And yet...and yet.  On the other hand, on Facebook, I've seen real relationships form.  I can tell that some people talk about real, serious stuff.  A couple of Moebius friends of mine have seen a real friendship blossom because of their talks on Facebook; and I think there's a real chance they'll go visit each other, hang out, and have fun.  And that wouldn't have happened without FB.  And then there's just this simple fact:  keeping up with people this way reminds us of something.  It reminds us in this case that persons with Moebius Syndrome...as we keep up with them in their daily lives...well, they have real lives.  They have jobs, they have families, they have successes, they have struggles...but they're people.  They're like everyone else.  And that's one of the big things we want people to know.  We're people--like everyone else.

Oh, we sometimes have a few more obstacles than does the average person.  And parents of Moebius children will tell you that sometimes the trips to the doctor and to the specialist etc are a lot more than what other parents have to go through.  But still--we're people, good people, and I really hope that the non-Moebius, non-facial-difference persons that see this every day or happen to read this will remember that.  And spread the word.

"The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess
courage and act accordingly." -Corra Harris

AVOID THAT HOLIDAY STRESS
Here's another way to do it:
"Get a helper's high. A recent study shows that people who were asked to perform a different kind act every day—small courtesies such as helping a neighbor shovel her walk—reported a marked increase in happiness after 10 days. Whether you do it with money or time, giving is good for you. "Helping others increases your own level of gratefulness and positive emotions," says Sheela Raja, PhD, a psychologist and stress researcher at the University of Illinois."

TODAY'S HERO
The reason why is pretty obvious:
"As Doug Powell plodded, exhausted, through the final miles of Ironman Wisconsin in September, other racers kept shouting out to him. Not the usual "You can do it" or "Keep going," but "Thanks" and "You're such an inspiration."  Powell is almost completely blind. The 60-year-old Falls Church resident did the 140.6-mile swim-bike-run in 16 hours, six minutes, tethered to a sighted racer.
"At first I was embarrassed," Powell told me the other day. But later he realized that "I've touched something in other people that they resonate with."  Think about how exhausting and mentally taxing it would be for any of us to train for such an event, and then add the obstacles Powell had to overcome. Anytime he wanted to train on the road, on a bike or in open water, he needed a sighted partner, someone willing and able to go hours at his pace. This was not infrequent; Powell logged two one-hour training sessions a day for the better part of a year, plus a long run or bike ride every Saturday.  When last winter's snowstorms hit, Powell logged an unbelievable four-hour session on his treadmill and 71/2 hours on a bicycle trainer. The commitment needed to train for the race was so great that he missed a memorial service when his wife's father passed away.  I ventured that it is impossible to come through such an experience without some sort of epiphany, and Powell, an athlete all his life, said the year "reinforced that I will do what it takes. I don't think I could have said that about myself for all of my life.  "I don't think I've changed," he added, "other than I've done something that no one can take away from me."

ARE WE A CRYBABY NATION?
On Facebook, for instance?  I don't think I agree with this article--there's nothing wrong with sharing, etc--but it is provocative and with so many of us on various online social networks, I thought you'd find it interesting:
"

Erika Oliver is just looking for a little sympathy — and she's not afraid to ask for it.

“My favorite things to complain about are low level things, like if I didn’t sleep or I have a pinched sciatic nerve so my upper back is bothering me,” says the 45-year-old from Portage, Mich. "I know what my reason is. I want a pity party. I want people to go, ‘Oh, that’s terrible.’” From raging sinus headaches to relentless insomnia to those weird toe cramps we get when we wear the wrong shoes, Americans are no longer suffering in silence about their aches and pains.   Instead, we've gone from point A to point B-I-T-C-H and become a crybaby nation, complete with Facebook updates about pulled hamstrings, minute-by-minute tweets on sore throats and runny noses and blogs devoted to everything from back pain to bad cramps.   “I never saw my dad stay home from work or my mother miss work for an illness,” says Barbara Crowley, a 57-year-old social networking guru from Dallas. “But now kids get to take personal days. What the hell is a personal day? Boomers complain more than our parents did and we’ve raised children who complain more than we do. It’s like we started the wave, like in a stadium. The boomers stood up and started the complaint wave.”

Read the whole thing.  You certainly shouldn't miss work over minor aches and pains.  And I suppose endless pity parties...not good.  But hey, sharing what's going on in our days...not a bad thing, either, even if it is a minor ache/pain.

FIND YOUR VOICE

You know, at a Moebius Syndrome conference I attended several years ago, I heard a very wise thing.  A father of a Moebius teenager wondered how he could best help his son.  And one of my fellow Moebius adults said, among other things, to help him in his teen years "find his voice."  Now that sounds very wise.  And it is.  But it's hard to define.  Later, I watched a cable show that tracked high school students from their freshman years to their senior year...to see just what teen-aged kids today think about, go through, experience.  And there was one shy girl highlighted in the show...who, by the time she was about to graduate, had really found herself.

How?  Simple.  She found what really interested her---which, in her case, was reading, writing poetry, becoming involved in plays and the arts.  That was her way to express herself and find her passion in life.  And I think that's a lot of what "finding your voice" is all about.  You just need to explore, to find what really interests you, what you really want to do.  And that's very important for young people with Moebius; but then, it's very important for everyone.  So if you're a parent of a Moebius child, if you're someone with Moebius Syndrome, remember that this is something that you really want to try to do.  And it's never too late to do it.  Explore.  Look around.  Find what really interests you.  Find what's your passion.  I was fortunate.  I discovered mine, and that turned out to be teaching history.  You'll find yours, too.  It doesn't necessarily happen immediately.  It can take time.  Don't worry if it doesn't happen right away.

Journeys sometimes take time.  But it's still worth it, to take it.  Good luck!

MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Extra, extra, read all about it...all about Moebius hero Kaity Gonzalez, that is:

"Shortly before Thanksgiving, Kaity Gonzalez was beaming about her passing her driving test.

Like any 17-year-old, the Lehman Township resident is proud of her independence and of having perhaps the loudest voice on the junior varsity cheerleading team at East Stroudsburg High School-North. And she looks forward to next fall when she begins her studies at the University of New Haven as a double-major in law and in forensic science. She's taking an introduction to forensic science class at her high school this spring.

Like many teens, Kaity is in perpetual motion and seems to constantly come across somebody who knows her. The reason is clear: She does a lot of things.  Kaity is president of the National Honor Society as the No. 15-ranked student in her class of 290 and the society will be handing out presents at the Salvation Army to children in the middle of the month. Around that time, she'll also be singing on the school choir in a holiday recital.  She says she volunteers on 26 activities, including Students Against Drunk Driving, the Yearbook Club, the Faith Club and the Key/Leo Club which has been making bracelets for children hospitalized with cancer. She speaks proudly of making All-American Cheerleader selection at Bryn Mawr Camp in Honesdale in August.  Kaity will be at Bushkill Firehouse on Saturday afternoon to help with a benefit pasta dinner for firefighter T.J Prince, who is fighting ovarian cancer.  "Some days I'll go to one meeting after school for a half hour and then go to another," Kaity said. "Sometimes I don't get home until 10 o'clock at night."

But Kaity is not complaining. She never does, which makes it all the more amazing because her lifestyle revolves around a wheelchair.  She was born with moebius syndrome, an obscure and extremely rare neurological affliction which weakens the muscles and some nerves, leaving victims partially paralyzed. It usually affects the upper body the most, although sufferers often get club feet."

Three cheers for Kaity!!

"I always raised her to be strong," said her mom. "When I see her
doing something and wanting to do something, I see it in her eyes. She
never takes no for an answer."........"That's my message to the kids out there: Don't take no for an answer.
Always believe in what you can do and don't let anything stop you,"
Kaity said.

FRIDAY FOOTBALL PICKS
Last week I went 11-7 or thereabout...let's try to do better!

NFL PICKS

New Orleans 7 over Cincinnati.  My pick:  SAINTS.  Two teams going in opposite directions...

Chicago 4 over Detroit.  My pick:  BEARS.  The Lions are at home, but...due to injury, they have to start their 3rd string QB, Drew Stanton.  Not a good thing when playing the Bears.

Green Bay 10 over San Francisco.  My pick:  49ers.  Not to win; the Pack will win this game.  But the Niners are playing a bit better, and I see 10 points as just too much for this still-banged-up Packer team to cover.

Tennessee 4 over Jacksonville.  My pick:  JAGUARS.  Jacksonville has been playing some decent football behind David Garrard.  With the Titans' unsettled QB situation, the Jags sure seem in good position to steal this one.

Kansas City 9 over Denver.  My pick:  CHIEFS.  KC put up 42 points the other week; they could do something similar here at home against Denver's porous defense.

Miami 5 over Cleveland.  My pick:  DOLPHINS.  Look for Chad Henne, at home, to build on his solid performance from last week.

Minnesota 6 over Buffalo.  My pick:  VIKINGS.  It appears, based on last week, that the Vikes and Brett Favre still have some fight left in them.

NY Giants 7 over Washington.  My pick:  GIANTS.  I suspect the G-men have righted the ship.

San Diego 13 over Oakland.  My pick:  RAIDERS.  I think the Bolts will win this one, but 13 points seems too many given the Chargers' still-inconsistent level of play over this entire year.

Indianapolis 6 over Dallas.  My pick:  COLTS.  Yes, Indy looked horrible last week.  But I think they have too much character and too many winning players to pull another stinker at home.

St. Louis 4 over Arizona.  My pick:  RAMS.  Again, two teams really going in opposite directions--the Rams improving, the Cards it appears imploding.

Seattle 6 over Carolina.  My pick:  SEAHAWKS.  They play better at home.

Atlanta 3 over Tampa Bay.  My pick:  FALCONS.  This will be a tough battle; Tampa Bay has proven it's much improved this season.  But I think Atlanta has just a bit more oomph--the win last week over Green Bay was a big one for them.

Baltimore 3 over Pittsburgh.  My pick:  RAVENS.  Two very good, tough teams--I think the Ravens' home field advantage will give them the edge here.

New England 4 over NY Jets.  My pick:  JETS.  The Patriots have some holes, especially on defense...and I think the Jets will come in with a lot to prove, and will be able to run the ball.

In other news...

HOW TO BEAT HOLIDAY STRESS
Believe it or not, eating certain things can help:
"Enjoy a candy cane. Studies show that just the menthol smell alone will pep you up to enjoy the holiday festivities. It's also yummy for your tummy, helping to calm an upset stomach."

WINTER COMFORT FOODS FOR YOUR HEALTH
Some aren't quite what you'd think--while others are quite familiar and comforting:
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful—but what you put in your mouth shouldn't be. Especially since research shows that what you eat during the winter months can help you survive some of Mother Nature's cruelest whims. It turns out that the real comfort food when the thermometer dips isn't hot toddies, Mallomars, or mac and cheese, but nutritious options—like soup, salmon, and lots and lots of water—that trick your body into thinking it's July. Whether you're dealing with dry skin or bad moods, we've got five successful winter-eating strategies to leave you feeling your best and stay healthy—even when the weather is at its worst....

OATMEAL:  When the days get shorter, so does your brain's supply of the feel-good chemical serotonin, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., visiting scientist at MIT and author of The Serotonin Power Diet (Rodale, January 2007). "That blah feeling we get in the winter is related to a lack of serotonin, which is linked to lack of sunlight," she says.   Since serotonin can be found in food, you might think you can just eat your way to happiness by munching on chow high in the stuff. Unfortunately, it's not that easy; your brain needs to manufacture its own serotonin for you to get that euphoric effect. Eating the right foods in the right amounts will cause that chemical chain reaction in your body. "As winter progresses and your moods get frailer, if you eat carbs in a calorie-controlled way, your brain can restore its serotonin to what it was in the summer," Wurtman says.   She recommends eating a carb-based, 150- to 200 calorie, low-fat snack in the late afternoon (when moods tend to be at their lowest). Make it something with substance—try a satisfying instant oatmeal like Quaker Oats Oatmeal Crunch. A small sweet potato, whole-grain toast, an English muffin with a bit of jam, or a snack-size bag of pretzels are other healthy carbohydrate sources. Large amounts of protein can interfere with serotonin production, so avoid eating protein-heavy foods for a couple of hours before your carb-rich snack."

Read the whole thing...

AHH, THAT SMELL

Meanwhile, this next story doesn't necessarily have any health or Moebius Syndrome-related significance; I just thought it was cute and brought back fond memories of my younger days.  What does it have to do with smell?  Read on:

"Before many of you were born, or moved east, the Eastern Seaboard would disappear at this time of year.

It was probably unhealthful. It was smoke from burning leaves. The motorized leaf-catcher was unknown. Raking leaves was a family affair, enjoyed by some, despised by many, but a necessity. If, after all, a summer of green canopies was to be enjoyed, there was a price.  From the air, the eastern limits of the United States began somewhere along the borders of the Midwestern States. Eastward was a light haze....One nearly longs for those days when the eastern seaboard disappeared in a smoky haze. The sign was unmistakable: it was Fall."

Nor was this only the case on the eastern seaboard.  You'd always catch the smell of burning leaves back when I was in elementary school, growing up in western Michigan.  Indeed, I suppose all that smoke wasn't good for you.  But...I kind of liked the smell.  And it was indeed part of the rite of passage, that autumn was here, with falling leaves, crisp temperatures, and football.  It was kind of neat...

"Success in life depends upon staying power. The reason for failure
in most cases is lack of perseverance. Men get tired and give up."
-J.R. Miller

BERRY GOOD FOR YOU
New research suggests that eating berries can have good health benefits:
"Some of that is just hype, of course. Juice from the acai berry, for example, might be high in antioxidants, but there's little evidence it has the special weight-loss or other powers that are often touted in Internet ads.
Still, growing research does suggest that in addition to providing vitamins and minerals, berries contain a variety of other phytonutrients, or plant-based chemicals, that might keep us healthy in a number of ways.....
Memory. Blueberries and strawberries contain polyphenols, substances that might reduce inflammation in blood vessels in the brain. And a recent study found that a glass of blueberry juice with each meal every day for three months improved the memory of nine people who were experiencing mild memory loss. An unpublished study of 3,774 people in Chicago linked the regular consumption of strawberries to a slightly slower rate of cognitive decline in women as they got older."

Read the whole thing for a lot more info on how berries help you, plus how to choose and store them.

HEY, GOOD LOOKIN'???
Here are results from an interesting study, reported on in today's NY Times--do good looks give you a big leg up in the job interview process?  Not necessarily:
"How much do looks matter during a job search? A new study suggests that while handsome men do better while looking for work, good looks can end up hurting a woman’s chances of scoring a job interview.
The study, conducted by economists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, sent 5,312 résumés to more than 2,600 employers who had advertised job openings. Two applications were sent to employers, each with virtually identical résumés. The only real difference was that one of the résumés included a photograph of the applicant. Sometimes the applicant was an attractive man or woman, and sometimes the photo showed a more plain-looking man or woman...Over all, employers sought interviews with 14.5 percent of the job candidates. Notably, 19.9 percent of the male candidates who sent attractive pictures were called in for interviews, compared to 13.7 percent of the men with “plain” photos. Only 9.2 percent of the men who didn’t send a picture were called to interview....But the apparent bias in favor of job candidates with photos didn’t hold true for women. Women who didn’t send photos had a 16.6 percent callback rate, the highest response rate from prospective employers. Résumés accompanied by a photo of a “plain” woman received callback responses 13.6 percent of the time, compared with 12.8 for those accompanied by photos of attractive women."

Now there are lots of things going on in these studies, and many different things persons with Moebius Syndrome or other facial differences can learn.  And not all of them are positive things.  But from this story, one thing I take away is this:  "looks" are most certainly not always decisive in who gets hired for jobs.  Far from it.  And we should all remember that.

"Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action." -Walter Anderson