Question of the Day

This may be the worst flu season in the Bay Area in a decade according to this SFGate article and it’s pretty awful elsewhere as well. I’ve been noticing quite a few acquaintances getting sick and thoughts about flu are never far from my mind. Besides getting the flu shot, which apparently isn’t all that effective this season, I’ve been using hand sanitizer and washing my hands more than usual. I still worry though. Are you worried about getting the flu?

From the article:

In the Bay Area, urgent care centers, hospitals and doctors’ offices have seen a deluge of people with flu symptoms, including fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion and cough. Meanwhile, a few hospitals and pharmacies have reported running low on supplies of vaccine and antiviral medications, though the state said there are no shortages of any flu-related drugs.

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Photo by Flickr user shog9

When I read this New York Times article about the burgeoning popularity of raw water in the Bay Area and elsewhere I have to admit I smiled. Considering these people consider fluoride a “mind-control drug that has no benefit to our dental health”, as well as a “deathly toxic chemical”, is it any surprise they think raw water is the greatest?

Here is one more quote from a raw water proponent about filtering water:

“You’re going to get 99 percent of the bad stuff out,” he said. “But now you have dead water.”

He said “real water” should expire after a few months. His does. “It stays most fresh within one lunar cycle of delivery,” he said. “If it sits around too long, it’ll turn green. People don’t even realize that because all their water’s dead, so they never see it turn green.”

What do you think of drinking raw water? Is there any validity to it or is this playing with fire?

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Photo by Flickr user meddygarnet

As 2017 comes to a close I’ve been thinking what kind of resolutions to set for the coming year. I’d like to eat healthier, cook more and workout more than I have. Easier said than done. What are your new year’s resolutions for the coming year?

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Photo by Flickr user icanchangethisright

The new tax plan that just passed the Republican Congress will mostly go into effect next month but there may be things that can be done before year-end to put people in a better position for next year. Do you plan on doing anything such as paying state/local/federal taxes in advance?

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Photo by Flickr user dapuglet

With the holidays approaching I’ve been noticing the popularity of ugly Christmas sweaters which seems like a pretty quirky tradition. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

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Photo by Flickr user markusbinzegger

Yesterday we learned that pickle juice of all things is being used to stop muscle cramps. I like to run and swear by the foam roller. It’s an absolute must for me. What do you do to relieve sore muscles?

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Photo by Flickr user rpavich

Having a pressure cooker was never high up on my wishlist of kitchen appliances. Then I read this NY Times article about the pressure cooker Instant Pot and decided to get one. All I have to say is wow. It can cook fall-off-the-bone meats in less than an hour. Steel cut oats in 20 minutes. Real mac and cheese in 5 minutes. I’m really amazed by it. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? Do you have an electric pressure cooker? If so, what are you going to make with it for Thanksgiving?

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Earlier this week we learned about a house fire in Moraga that unfortunately not only resulted in loss of property but a life as well. What ended up localized to one house could have ended in a far bigger disaster as the recent Napa/Sonoma fires have shown. With evacuation potentially minutes away for those nearby, a go bag with essentials is critical. Not to mention irreplaceable, sentimental items. If you had five minutes to evacuate your house do you know what you would bring? Do you have a go bag?

I happened to be very close to the fire below when I got a call from a neighbor at 5 o’clock in the morning. I looked outside and saw a police car in my driveway. I helped get my family outside, sprayed the yard with water, grabbed a backpack but froze at what to bring so besides a laptop I left empty-handed. The heat could be felt intensely as we watched firefighters battle the blaze across the street, just yards from our homes. There was one particular nerve-racking moment as the winds shifted toward us when I overheard a firefighter ask about evacuating nearby houses. That was when a police officer told us to leave the area immediately. I pointed out that the police car was in my driveway and he replied I could walk. And so I walked. Not far, and sometime later the fire was brought under control and we breathed a sigh of relief. Being so close brought home the importance of a go bag and what irreplaceable items to take. I’m going to starting writing down a checklist…

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Photo by Flickr user pasa

Having an elementary school-aged child means I always have someone to get a milkshake with. Dangerous, I know, but what can I say, I have a sweet tooth. Our go-to spot is San Francisco Creamery in downtown Walnut Creek. It’s casual, plenty of seating, and the shake itself is great. Of course, I’ve never met a milkshake I didn’t like, and it’s fun to hang out there chatting about superheroes and the likelihood of aliens visiting Earth. Where is your favorite spot to get a milkshake?

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