Mother Connie Sez: "Everybody's the Expert!"

My blood pressure just can't take all the media hype! I'll have to stay away from the television set, stop reading magazines and lower the volume on the radio.

Every program, every infomercial, too many advertisements are touting information about how we should eat, how we should NOT eat, and how everyone MUST 'ask your doctor.'

The real news is that my own body knows what's best for it. A doctor, while they have a place in society, is only going to offer me prescription drugs, endless tests, and when all his medicines fail me, he will know just the doctor who can perform the very surgery I need.

Oh, contraire! My body does not suffer from a deficiency of drugs. My blood will not be purified by tests on end, and unless there is a bullet inside me, I'm not likely to need surgery.

Am I unique? Not really. Each of us is unique in many ways but every human being on the face of the earth has basic needs:

• good, clean alkaline air to breathe
• clean, alkaline, filtered water to drink in abundance
• organic, fresh whole foods to eat
• supplemental vitamins, minerals, antioxidants

adequate rest and sleep

moderate, regular excercise

Nowhere on that list will you see phthalates, artificial sweeteners, microwaved products, chemicals such as monosodium glutamate which masquerades now as 'hydrolized protein' or soda pop!

I suppose I just ruined all your culinary fun. But if you hang out in Senior Centers you'll find out that all these things contribute to the misery people suffer when they get to their Golden Years. Achey joints, skin that looks as if it needs to be ironed, lack of energy, no stamina, and lists of complaints as long as their weak arms can be noted! Had these people been properly nourished properly hydrated and all the rest of my "laundry list" of 'shoulds'-they may not have so much pain.

It's all about the water . Well, water's a critical component to your health. Don't let those TV ads frighten you into taking something for which your body has no need or use.

Folks, it is 2009! No one needs to suffer needlessly. Get with a good program of everything on the list I've given you and BE WELL, Please.

Now is a wonderful time to plant a garden and take responsibility for some organic whole foods you can grow yourself! Remember, gardens, too, need good water !

Connie Baum

Dancing With the Stars?

On Monday evenings, people all over the country tune their TV sets to ABC TV to watch the popular show “Dancing With the Stars” where celebrities are paired with professional dancers to the delight of the audience. There is emphasis on the music, the artists, the panel of judges; even the skimpy costumes!

Not everyone tunes in. There is a dedicated group of men who are incarcerated at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution who prepare a meeting room by heating water for coffee. They hang a banner and its accompanying ribbons. One will find an interesting new word for increasing vocabulary and they will prepare a list of duties to be performed at the gathering; they match names to duties in an organized, well orchestrated manner.

When it is time for the Toastmaster meeting to begin, men stream in across the yard from their housing units to come for a couple of hours of education and social time. The men are not the only ones who attend. There are three women who arrive through the Gatehouse to be a part of the meeting. Technically, the women are considered to be guests. None of the three considers herself a guest, however. We all three think we are just “another one of the guys.”

While Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris host their program, we have a Toastmaster who also serves as a host, with the help of his General Evaluator, Parliamentarian, Timer, Table Topics Master and, of course ,Speakers and Speech Evaluators.

As the panel of judges on Dancing With the Stars-Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli-doles out numbered scores, the evaluators in the meeting of LibOrators are diligently offering helpful, thoughtful, constructive evaluations to help others improve their speaking skills. By doing so, the evaluators are incrementally working their way through Leadership Manuals.

Having said that, the reality is--there is little comparison to the two activities. One is sheer entertainment. The other has much more value and that value is for the long term.

“Our” guys will take the speech projects, one at a time in any order they choose, and they will build a skill set that will serve them in their daily lives FOREVER. They will use their leadership to influence other prisoners in positive, constructive, helpful ways. For the Toastmaster members who make it to the streets, they can hold membership in clubs and continue their personal development for as long as they live! That is a long term plan!

As for Monday nights, our Area Governor, Irene Jones, and new member Velda Koehler and I will continue to wait patiently at the Gatehouse to be escorted to the meetings. When we are returned from the club’s activity, we will continue to gather outside to brag “our” guys up, note their progress and whether their shirttails were tucked in or their pants were pressed…and we will continue to be their motherly-or grandmotherly-cheering squad.

We could be anywhere on Monday nights. We could park on our sofas with big bowls of popcorn to be entertained by ballroom dancing. But that would never do for any of the three of us. We think the REAL entertainment lies in participating in the Monday night meetings of LibOrators 986233 at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. We are so proud of our association with this club and we laud its members, as well as the Club Coordinator, for all the personal growth and development it has been our pleasure to witness over the past few years.

In our considered opinion, for Monday night’s lineup, the REAL STARS appear on TSCI-NE, not ABC-TV!

Connie Baum

Can You Say 'Stress?'

Stanford University, according to a recent study, has concluded that more than 95% of all disease is created by stress.

The University study indicates that stress is the number 1 reason for failure in every part of your life. Mother Connie has been ranting and raving about this for quite some time, now, so it should not come as any surprise.

Dr. Ben Johnson is one of my most favorite people on the planet. He is the only MD featured in "The Secret" which has enjoyed great popularity. Here is what Dr. Johnson said: "The Healing Codes techniques change stress in a matter of minutes-in a scientifically provable and reproducible way-thus eliminating the cause of illness and disease in the body. I have never seen anything like this before!."

I have never seen anything like it, either! And I have SOX older than Dr. Johnson! I have studied massage therapy, hydrotherapy, Ortho-Bionomy, Cranial Sacral work, homeopathy; even New Body Reflexology and color therapy. There were many classes in shiatsu and foot reflexology, even Amazing Body Alignment. Each has its place in the healing arts.

The fact of the matter is that the human body heals from the inside out. Dr. Ben Johnson and Dr. Alex Loyd teach people about how The Healing Codes help peoples' HEARTS to heal.

If you would like to learn how to de-stress and live a vibrantly healthy life with a happy, healthy heart you would appreciate visiting The Healing Codes.

Connie Baum

Has Spring Sprung?

"Spring has sprung. The grass has riz. Where last year's careless driver is."--Burma Shave Sign

Who doesn't love Spring? The birds certainly seem to be enjoying the season in our neck of the woods. The Cranes are putting on quite a show on the North Platte River. The Canadian Snow Geese have left southeast NE to join their feathered friends along the corridor at the Platte River, too. The Bluejays and Cardinals can be heard screeching and singing and praising the season to the blue skies! I was keenly aware of their presence, along with the red Robins, as I tended the laundry at the clothesline today. The fresh air was delish! I'm sure the birds think so, too!

We are feathering a new nest so we're just learning how pretty it is to see how the light falls at various times of day. We are getting acquainted with the new floor plan and where the light swiches are placed. We are deciding from meal to meal whether we wish to take our food in the kitchen or the dining room-so many choices and delights; so little time!

Were we not in the pink of health, enjoying the local wildlife, having coffee here or there, arranging wall art and furniture would not be the joy it is. We are so grateful that we have learned about good clean water, minerals, organic and whole foods, the critical need for adequate rest and exercise. How blessed we are to understand the value of color, of alternative medicine, Far InfraRed products, and massage therapy! We count ourselves fortunate not to use antibiotics, microwave ovens and junk food. Our hearts are bursting with joy and gratitude; our bodies are healthy, strong and vibrant.

Thank goodness we have come to understand the importance of living our truth in love and forgiveness, acceptance and gratitude.

We are much like those birds who frequent our yard. We know our needs will be met.

The Healing Codes

Connie Baum

Does It HAVE To Be That Way?

One of the many things that delighted my heart when I was a little girl was going to my Grandma Wagner's home to visit.

When we spent the night I would have the privilege of sleeping in the Murphy bed that pulled out from the dining room wall. The big round Queen Anne table would be slid to one side of the room and Grandma would open the big door. Down would come that bed, as if by magic! It wasn't the best part of the visit-that would be my Auntie Berta's lemon meringue pie-but it rated right up there!

Another feature of an overnight visit to Grandma Wagner's was the thick aroma of menthol. There was the BenGay ointment, the Vicks Vaporub, and the spray that everybody used at bedtime.

I never did understand why it smelled so 'funny'. Now that I have been 33 years old so many times I realize that both my grandmother and my aunt were arthritic and were looking for pain relief!

Thank GOODNESS I do not know this from my own painful experience! But I hear the stories from others...

Grandma Wagner and my auntie did not know back then that it did not have to be that way. They never did learn how critical good water , clear and clean, pure and healing could have helped them relieve their misery.

By drinking good filtered water and lots of it, they probably would have been free from discomfort, needed fewer ointments and pain relievers. Their digestion and elimination would have been much easier and their skin would have retained more youthfulness. It is very aging to hurt!

Do YOU hurt? Are you drinking the kind of water that your cells can absorb to help you be well hydrated? If not, why not? Please, go here: High Tech Health to learn about the finest water filtration system on the planet.

We were never created to hurt. If you do hurt, please remember that it does not have to be that way.

High Tech Health

Connie Baum

I'm On Another Tangent

How many times must the public be reminded of the critical need to drink good, clean, pure, filtered water ?

Everywhere I go, people of every age-even toddlers!-are sucking down soda pop and eating snacks laced with the poison chemical substance called Sucralose! It's sold in nearly every school in the country! Every store on every block sells this garbage at bargain prices! Vending machines offer a dizzying array of the junk! It's served at every eatery!

Boys and girls, I feel the need to mention again that just because something is sold in a grocery store, does not mean it's fit for human consumption! And here's WHY:

1. The Food and Drug Administration is corporate compliant, more than protective of the American citizenry.
2. Sucralose, a toxic chemical agent, is marketed as Splenda and is put into every processed food known to mankind.
3. This carcinogenic powder has been shown to be the culprit in causing draconian diseases.
4. Sucralose is the result of the invention of a pesticide gone wrong.

Do you want to ingest pesticides? Do you want your children and grandchildren to drink pesticides?

It's no wonder we have thyroid dysfunction, enlarged livers and kidneys. Can we be surprised that our growth rates are adversely affected? Do we really need for bowels to be enlarged? How about the reduction of good bacteria in our intestines..do we need to have less when our body craves more?

Oh, and don't even get me started on the pH factor getting wacky. You know how I am about water for heaven's sake!

We hear so much about obesity from the media. Who is telling the public about the problems Sucralose contributes to weight gain? Low blood count? Aborted pregnancies and low fetal body weight?

All the public knows is what the tv commercials and magazine ads tell them. And there are the weight loss gurus, who in some cases are seriously misinformed!

Oh, what to do?

THE SOLUTION IS VERY SIMPLE: Vote with your feet and your wallet. Do NOT spend your hard earned dollars on the stuff and do not buy products containing it. Get yourself a good water system and drink water, for your health's sake!
water

Connie Baum

Is Fear in the Air?

There is an email circulating cyberspace that was sent in a panic. Most assuredly it was sent in good faith. Still, It was an account of why there "will be" a pandemic of some draconian malady. There were solutions for this wave of illness, too, so the reader was not just left hanging. Nevertheless, I'm not "buying" this idea of illness.

Those of you who have put up with my ranting and raving about health and wellness know that I support the idea of eating organic whole foods, drinking pure, filtered, alkaline water, taking whole foods supplements, getting adequate rest and exercise to optimize your well being. There are other considerations but those actions are the main features of healthy living.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that every man, woman and child on the planet would benefit from The Healing Codes whether there is a pandemic or not!

The body's immune system takes a hard hit when there is stress. The Healing Codes will minimize that stress. The Healing Codes will flip the 'ON' switch for the body's healing mechanisms.

May I gently remind you that the body heals ITSELF? We do not create wellness because we take medicine, undergo surgery, or submit to costly tests and treatment plans.

The subtle energy of The Healing Codes tenderly coaxes healing to take place in a natural, comfortable way. The speed can be amazingly fast or agonizingly slow--the body chooses its priorities and those priorities may or may not match your own.

One of the best things about the Codes is that you can do them for yourselves, those you love whether they be near or far, and you can teach other people this wonderful healing tool.

Won't you check it out as soon as possible, before a pandemic comes to a town near YOU?

The Healing Codes

Connie Baum

Moving Day?

"The best laid plans of mice and men may often go awry..." I forget who said that but I know it's true. Despite the Grand Plan that called for The Normanator and me to build a dome home, we find ourselves feathering a new nest, and it's not the nest we expected.

But it's been exciting, really. The new digs are only 5 blocks from the old place. That made no difference when it came to the weight of the old furniture, boxes of books and all those doo dads.

Most people think of moving as drudgery. It's true; it's very labor intensive. But some of my happiest childhood memories revolve around the household moves our little family made.

My parents had a wonderful way of turning the fearful matter of giving up the familiarity of friends and routine into an adventure that could have been a fantasy dream sequence! Mom made sure we ordered the newspaper from the new town so we knew a little about the names and stores and goings on. She and Dad included me in the details of the packing and unpacking and the picnicking that took place before the kitchen things were in place.

The summer we moved from the little Nebraska towns of Central City to Elwood gave us enough adventures to keep us laughing for decades.

My parents bought a small empty building on the main street that became a package liquor store. In order to create that business, my dad hired a fellow from Central City and the two of them drove to Elwood to do the carpentry work. Percy fell asleep in my dad's 1938 Chevvy and happened to wake up as they drove through Kearney, NE. Percy saw the Indian Tipi motel along the highway and in his sleepy fog, was sure they were going to be attacked by Indians! My dad laughed so hard he could barely drive. As he recalled the story for mom and me and anyone else who would listen over the years, he could scarcely TALK for laughing!

When the store was ready for business, my dad took a few items and stayed in the rooming house he and Percy had rented during the renovation. Dad was living and working in Elwood; that left Mom and me to get everything packed into the car. We left our furniture in the old house and moved into the rooming house temporarily. After a few weeks we were able to move into a furnished basement apartment.

Mom packed that Chevvy to the gills. It was unseasonably HOT and we had to move Murgatroyd, our family cat. Murgatroyd was no traveler and he did NOT appreciate that we were having an adventure! He shed, we sweat, he yowled and we covered our ears! The trip seemed very, very long in the sweltering Nebraska heat. Every time the car paused for a traffic light, Murgatroyd would leap, hair a-flying, to the open windows. We were worried he would escape. Murgatroyd wanted to lie on Mom's shoulders as she drove in that heat and while it made for a very long trip at the time, it provided us many laughs over the years as we recounted our moving adventures.

Someday I'll have to tell you about the time we moved into a motel and hosted a spaghetti supper!

My folks always lived their lives with love and in truth. They were prompted to make the move to Elwood, driven by the belief that they could provide a good living in this new chapter of our lives. It would please them very much, if they were here today, to know about The Healing Codes .

Connie Baum