Archive for November, 2008

After the Party’s Over

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

by Susan

I'm usually exhausted after the party is over....this time the party was Thanksgiving at the King's.   I was exhausted by Saturday, but pleased with the way my dinner turned out on Thursday and the fun we all had.   I think my children and grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed their time here.   I really enjoyed having all of them.   I'm rested today and starting to plan the next party which will be Christmas at the King's.

I had a few minor mishaps while preparing the dinner but all turned out well.  My daughter was ill so my husband was my right hand in the kitchen this year.  We ate dinner and visited for nearly two hours.   Some of us took a walk after dinner since it was a beautiful day here in the Ozarks.  One of my sons joined us while the other two and their dad reclined in their easy chairs and chuckled about us , harassing my youngest son for joining us. 

We all ate leftovers on Friday evening and now the food and the family are gone.  My only grandson was able to come for leftovers on Friday and  was amazed that I still had pumpkin pie left.  I told him I made two pumpkin pies this year.  I also made brownies.....a favorite of all my kids and an apple cake, which was a big success.   

Saturday morning at 4:00 a.m. my oldest son and I were playing our traditional game of Scrabble before he had to catch his plane to head back home.   Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he heads to Iraq in about two weeks. 



Molecule shuts down food intake and turns on ‘siesta mode’

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Researchers have identified a molecule that tells your brain when it's time to push back from the Thanksgiving table. In studies with mice and rats, researchers found that a chemical messenger called NAPE is made in the small intestine after a greasy meal, then travels to the brain, where it quashes hunger signals. Rats treated with extra NAPE ate less and lost weight.

Baffling chronic pain linked to rewiring of brain

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Brain looks like inept cable guy changed the hookups

Nitric oxide can alter brain function

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Finding has implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease and dementia

‘Wiring’ in the brain influences personality

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Connections between the nerves is one factor determining whether a person welcomes a change or tends to avoid anything new

Uncertainty can be more stressful than clear negative feedback

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

We are faced with uncertainty every day. Will our investments pay off? Will we get the promotions we are hoping for? When faced with the unknown, most people experience some degree of anxiety and discomfort. Exactly how much anxiety someone experiences during uncertain times depends on his or her personality profile.

Brain reorganizes to adjust for loss of vision

Monday, November 24th, 2008

A new study from Georgia Tech shows that when patients with macular degeneration focus on using another part of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision, their brain seems to compensate by reorganizing its neural connections. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. The study appears in the December edition of the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.

Scientists solve 200-year-old scientific debate involving visual illusions

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Neuroscientists at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center have discovered a direct link between eye motions and the perception of illusory motion that solves a 200-year-old debate.

Scientists find facial scars increase attractiveness

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Men with facial scars are more attractive to women seeking short-term relationships, scientists at the University of Liverpool have found.

New tool trains athlete brains to react 53 percent faster

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Universite de Montreal researchers develop cognitive workouts for sports champions