Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell

 

“Boss. Twiggy keeps running away.”
“Isn’t that what tag is all about?”
“Not when one gets older it isn’t.”
“You’ll be fine. Go get her.”

 

It is Friday again and the beginning of that period of rest that we all need. I hope your week went well.

We all learned that the CDC issued some revised guidelines for mask-wearing. They advise mask-wearing even if fully vaccinated in public places, indoors in those areas where there is a high and substantial level of Covid transmission rates. This covers about 225 million Americans or about 63% of the population. So if your area has between 50 and 100 new cases per 100,000 population or a positivity testing rate of 8% to 10%, then you are in a substantial to high transmission rate area.

Also, the CDC is recommending those school-age children in grades K through 12 wear masks when they go back to school. This has caused so much confusion in the school districts here in Texas. The governor issued a directive that school districts and communities are not allowed to mandate mask-wearing, so at best, any decision on masks has to be an advisory position. Texas shares the no-mask mandate with Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Montana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Makes your head spin.

We also learned this week that eating foods high in flavonoids can help beat cognitive decline. To all you youngsters out there, this knowledge has little relevance. To we old codgers, what it means is all the strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, red cabbage, onions, peppers, kale, parsley, black tea, oolong tea, green tea, wine, chocolate, soybeans, and citrus, that we have consumed is keeping our cognitive abilities from diving into the dirt. This was a study done over a 25 year period with 75,000 participants, and results were published in the American Academy of Neurology journal. So keep eating and drinking that stuff, and if you are not eating or drinking it, you should start.

Today’s JohnKu talks about cognitive decline. I hope you have a super weekend.

Cognitive Decline by John W. Howell © 2021

To protect the brain,

Flavonoids are wonderful . . .

Give me some more wine.

 

Unknown's avatar

Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

100 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF”

  2. I stopped drinking wine five years ago, John, but I’ll go along with the rest of the advice. Have a good weekend. We’re off to the zoo on Sunday, and I shall be driving south to my old haunt at The Hawk Conservancy Trust next week (210 miles, which means two recharging stops each way).

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Chocolate and wine! You just set me up for an amazing weekend 🤣. If anyone questions me, I can blame it on that author guy in America 😂 Great haiku. Have a wonderful weekend, John and everyone 🍷🍷🍷🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I like your plan with the wine, but that gives me a stomach ache – so…. I’ll have a bowl of fruit with my cocktail and I should be covered!

    Liked by 3 people

  13. Of course the States with the no-mask policies are also the ones with the highest levels of transmission rates. Maths seems pretty darn simple to me.

    As for the flavenoids, I nod as I eat my yogurt with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and look at my snack bag full of cherries. Chocolate is always within reach and wine, well, hello? Of course! All those veggies are on my list. The only place I am lacking is in the tea department. Hmmm…

    Happy Friday to you, you highly cognitive gent (I ain’t using old codger)…

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Oooh… Now you’re talking. Of course, today, I just about near froze (a slight exaggeration) on my morning walk in the rain. Warm tea would have been better – though coffee was what I had!

        Liked by 2 people

        2. Yeah… that ain’t in our sights for the next good while, it appears. Bummer. Tomorrow is my mother’s surprise 80th birthday shindig and we are only expecting 73 with mostly sun – mind you, that is rather comfortable just not conducive to using the swimming pool!

          Liked by 1 person

  15. Chocolate is the answer to almost everything. I keep it close at hand and thanks to you, I now have another reason to reach for a bite. Have a wonderful weekend, John. 😊

    Liked by 2 people

  16. You are SO right about the confusing mask/no mask mandates, John. I hate to see our children have to go back to having the masks on all day for school, as we will see another rise in strep throat. The doctors all agree that breathing the bacteria back in is the cause. I don’t know. It definitely is enough to make the head spin. Love the JohnKu and the flavonoid advice! I will continue to consume these wonderful brain foods and drinks! Here’s to chocolate and wine! The perfect combo!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. You know, eating and drinking all the “right” stuff can still result in cognitive decline. But at least that list is tastier than Lima beans and cauliflower, right?!? Happy weekend, John!

    Liked by 2 people

  20. This is interesting, John. My sons have been wearing a mask every day for school since last year August when the lockdown ended. They have not been sick once since they started wearing them to school. I don’t have any problem wearing a mask and also prefer it because I too have been illness free. I am glad we have to wear masks here, they are very sanatory.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I raise my glass of wine to each of my brother and sister authors! Have some chocolate, sip the wine, enjoy the sun and the wonders of nature…and laugh! Those are the sure cures for anything and everything.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. I do like that list of what to eat… or drink. I’m all for it. I went back to wearing mask mainly to keep the grandkids safe.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Ah, chocolate and wine … that’s my cup of tea 😉

    Ah, Texas and Florida, seemingly joined at the hip ;-(

    Yeah, our county’s case positivity rate was at 15%, last time I looked. Meanwhile, FL’s governor has been hanging out in Texas and Utah.

    We rejoined our gym a few weeks ago, before cases started to spike. The vaccination rate in our county is only 51% so we’re pretty sure that a lot of the unmasked people at the gym haven’t been vaccinated. Ick. We wear our masks at the gym, for the most part. When I’m on the elliptical or treadmill, I have to take it off otherwise I fear I’d pass out. But I keep my distance from others.

    Oh, well, that month when we thought things were getting better was nice!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Now that wine is officially in the game winning playbook, I’ll have to celebrate with a glass or two next weekend. Tonight’s drink, martinis, was already set in stone . . .

    Have a great weekend Boss

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Ha, ha! Your Johnku is hilarious this week, John. Well, berries and citrus fruits are my favorite. I drink green tea with lemon every morning. I eat and drink everything on that list except for soybeans.
    I’ll be wearing a mask in public places. Stay healthy and safe! ❤

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  27. Thanks for the laughs, John. Can you believe we have to go through this again with the masks? Get the darn vaccination, people! 99% of the people dying are unvaccinated. This isn’t rocket science.

    Can I get my strawberries in a daiquiri?🤣

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Not to mention prolonging this thing for the rest of us. I’m usually pretty understanding of others’ choices, but this one is hard to wrap my brain around.

        Liked by 1 person

  32. I say, dear John! Now I know why my brains functions well…yet. I take plenty of black tea everyday. Earl Grey is my favourite. The Green Turf Friday is certainly calling for a nice barbeque! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  33. How about that…I’m drinking red wine! It’s the only alcohol I like.
    As a vegetarian almost my entire life, I eat all the foods you talk about, aplenty!
    Hmm, I could be so rich in flavonoids that I’m overly cognitive. I’ll probably still be cognitive in my urn!

    Liked by 1 person

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