What a pain in my backside! Have you been spending a little too long sitting on the floor wrapping gifts? Or maybe a few too many long hours sitting at your desk at work? Or even standing in one position in a never ending line at the mall. Sitting or standing in one position for a prolonged amount of time can cause strain and pain from your neck all the way down your backside into your legs.
Why are many of us still drawn to paper calendars in this digital age? h Karen Hernandez, senior product manager at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, has theories. h First, we can feel “more intimately tied to our plans, and get increased joy out of organizing our to-dos, when we can track them physically on analog calendars,” she says. h Also, “these calendars can express our style and bring beauty to otherwise monotonous days. Not only does the act of writing the event down stick in our minds more permanently, we’re also able to use the calendar for creative self-expression.” h There are a variety of beautiful and creative calendars on tap at bookstores and online sites to mark the months or weeks of 2022 with photos, artwork, quotes, cartoons, puzzles and more. Added bonus: You can frame your favorite images after each month is done.
Weeks, months, and probably years from now, if there is one thing that you may remember about the Fijian archipelago, it is the stunning clarity of its water. If such a thing is possible, the water is clearer than glass, its facets sparkling more brilliantly than scads of diamonds and more reflectively than millions of mirrors. All of that clarity, yet it still manages in its relatively shallow, iridescent depths to reflect gemstone shades of silver, turquoise, emerald and a serenade of blue, from sapphire to cobalt to aquamarine to robin’s egg.
According to Alexander Pope, “Hope springs eternal,” but that spring often gets plugged at this time of year. In ancient times, enemy combatants would use stones to stop up the wells and springs of a city under siege. In this way, they could force their adversaries to abandon their strategic advantage and become vulnerable.
Dear Abby: I was never close to my mother-in-law, “Agnes.” She always came across as very religious and morally upright. She recently died of dementia. It came on so fast that there were things Agnes needed to take care of but was unable to. My husband was executor of her estate, so we had to go through all of her things and have them appraised after she passed.
Dear Doctors: My uncle has Alzheimer’s disease. He goes through these awful phases where he’s agitated and afraid. We’ve noticed that music calms him down, especially when it’s something from when he was young. Why would that be? Maybe music should be part of Alzheimer’s therapy.
Dear Abby: I have been dating “Mark” for 18 months. Four months ago, his 17-year-old daughter, “Hayley,” started disliking me – my dog, my kids, anything having to do with me. She forbids me from going to Mark’s house when she’s there and has an emotional meltdown every time we see each other. She has major episodes whenever my name is mentioned and has become violent with her sister, “Lily,” Mark and me.
Q: Ed, I was able to buy a new castiron kitchen sink at a discount price. But the new kitchen sink only has one sink hole for the faucet. I’m used to seeing more holes in the sink rim. What type of kitchen faucet do I get to fit this style of sink?
To experience a more peaceful side of winter, many turn to cross-country skiing. While Nordic trails are often offered at traditional ski resorts, some of the best cross-country skiing is found at dedicated resorts. h To help narrow down the best, we began by asking a panel of experts to nominate their favorite cross-country resorts, and then our readers voted to help us crown a winner. Here are the 10 best cross-country ski resorts in North America, according to our readers.
“Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree.” h The holidays are upon us, and with them comes joy, excitement, sugar, and chaos. Not to mention, lots and lots of lights. And between running from one event to another, managing your holiday shopping list, and ensuring your house is decorated to seasonal perfection, you’re juggling more than your fair share of festive balls in the air. That’s why we recommend simplifying at least one of your many responsibilities by picking up some smart Christmas lights. h If you’ve already tried a Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri device, you’ve probably discovered the convenience of being able to control your thermostat, light bulbs, or other devices with a single voice command. So why wouldn’t you want to do the same with your Christmas lights?