My Forgettory
It was originally my
intention to post here a rather sarcastic note about the Alzheimer’s Society’s
latest leaflet…
On the back it
suggests
I thought that amusing... However, I have this
week had another sad reminder of how bad my memory is getting and how confused
I am. I won’t go into detail - all I
want to say is how grovellingly sorry I am to Friend-über-special. But she already knows that.
My Health
I shan’t bore you –
suffice it to say it has been
PostSecret
Do you ever visit
PostSecret? PostSecret is the largest
advertisement-free Blog in the world.
Its Visitor Count to date is around 620,000,000 .
PostSecret is an
ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on
one side of a homemade postcard. The
address to send them to is
PostSecret, 13345
Copper Ridge Road, Germantown, MD 20874
I sometimes wish I had
a good secret to send in but I can't think of one... i.e. I can't think of one I would share!
Zinc
Did you know how
essential Zinc is for the human body? Zinc deficiency is ranked as the 5th
leading risk factor in causing disease, especially diarrhea and pneumonia in
children, which can lead to high mortality rates in underdeveloped regions. Zinc deficiency also leads to impaired
cognitive function, behavioural problems, memory impairment and problems with
spatial learning and neuronal atrophy. I’m
not sure about spatial learning (though I have problems with spatial
perception) but I have all the other problems in that last sentence. So it’s time to increase my Zinc
intake. If you want to learn more you
can read about Zinc here.
Good sources of zinc
include sea vegetables, basil, thyme, spinach, pumpkin seeds, yeast, beef,
calves liver, crimini mushrooms, lamb, summer squash, asparagus, venison,
chard, spinach, collard greens, miso, shrimp, maple syrup, broccoli, peas,
yogurt, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and mustard greens.
Giovanni Battista Piazzetta
This is one of the paintings I have fallen for this week –
Giovanni Battista Piazzetta was an Italian Rococo painter of religious subjects and genre scenes.
Born: February 13, 1682, Venice, Italy
Died: April 28, 1754, Venice, Italy
Born: February 13, 1682, Venice, Italy
Died: April 28, 1754, Venice, Italy
Flappers
A collection of
Edwardian photographs, depicting some of the hairstyles of the time, like the
Low Pompadour; Hatpin Hair-style; Side-Swirls; Pompadour; and the Flapper.
Did you know that the
title ‘Flapper’ originally referred to teenage girls who wore their hair in a single
plait which often terminated in a wide ribbon bow. So the bobbed hairstyle we associate with the
Flappers isn’t the one which gave them their name.
Time to flap my wings
and be off to the shops…
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Excellent John....Zinc....Thanks for the tip. I'll try and rememmber. I'll start sucking Wriggly Tin.
ReplyDeleteI always thought wrinkly tin was made of iron. If anyone told me it had zinc in I must have forgotten...
DeleteOh dear, I need more zinc. I don't eat any of that stuff you listed nearly enough. Those hairdo's are brilliant, I pinned it on Pinterest.com.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your health.
I sometimes use Pinterest but I often forget. I came across a picture of a beautiful woman the other day and decided to Pin it. But I couldn't find any of my categories it would fit in. Rather than start one called Girls (and risk putting loads more in) I settled for putting it in my 'Things I want' category!
DeleteI love the way the artist has captured the facial expression in that painting.
ReplyDeleteI also think the Alzheimer leaflet is funny - they need intelligent writers/proofreaders!
Great post! *wink* I have to admit I was staring at the gallery-o-flappers and trying to picture them in shimmy dresses, and failing miserably. Was glad to find out they weren't THAT kind of girl. 8-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this weakly ramble, but I do hope that you'll feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely medley of topics.
I linked over to PostSecret and I was in shock at some of the cards featured there. Lots of folks not only have secrets but vile thoughts as well. None the less I found it interesting.
It certainly is an eye-opener, Vee.
DeleteHello, John! I started my blog five years ago so that I could preserve memories of my youth before they faded away. I'm thankful now to have them set down in print.
ReplyDeleteWithin a short drive of my home stands the Ringling Museum of Art which is filled with paintings and sculptures by the Old Masters. I love to go there and gaze for hours at works like the one you posted here, especially those with religious themes.
I enjoyed seeing these pictures of Edwardian era beauties. They prove the adage that less is more.
I hope you'll be feeling better soon, John. Have a great weekend!
How lucky to have the Ringling Museum of Art so close. We have the Walker Art Gaklery in Liverpool but they have the same paintings on the walls today as they did thirty years ago despite having an enormous archive of paintings. The only thing that seems to change Is the current Exhibition which, all too often is of modern art of the more obscure nature.
DeleteIt seems as if my memory is going to pot as well. It's embarrassing sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this sort of post - though I am sorry to read about your ups and downs. Gorgeous painting. Gorgeous Flappers and a very odd Alzheimer's ad!
ReplyDeleteZinc also does wonders to the skin and boosts the immune system considerably.
ReplyDeleteThe young lady with the single braid is exceptionally beautiful! A face not easy to forget.
I love that painting. Wouldn't it be marvelous to be able to paint like that?!!
ReplyDeleteI did laugh OUT LOUD when I read your cartoon! I can think of only two relatives (and one is still here, thanks be)who have lived to my age to know if Alzheimer's is in my family. So I try to keep my mind active any way. I'm counting on my family to catch on if my lapses have to do with that dread condition.
ReplyDeletesecrets are not secrets any longer if they're posted! what is it with the younger generation that they want the world to know everything?
I do enjoy your rambles! may peace and rest be with you this weekend.
Many years ago (ie before I took a raft of heart etc pills) I was sitting down to breakfast when I was reminded that I hadn't taken my zinc tablet. As I was taking it I remarked that I'd been taking them for so long I couldn't even recall what I was taking them for. "You are joking" said my wife to which I replied in the negative. "Your memory" she retorted. I never took another one.
ReplyDeleteVery good and informative post.
ReplyDeleteHi John!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about memory issues. It seems lately that I only have to go across the house on a task, and by the time I get there, have forgotten the purpose for my being there. I guess I need to do more crossword puzzles to exercise my brain.
Health at this age is a relative issue isn't it? I treasure those days when fibromyalgia pain is manageable and fatigue doesn't keep me from accomplishing what I want to do. We have a rule with friends our age when we go out. We agree to not engage in an "organ recital" i.e. talking about our hearts, stomachs, prostates or gall bladders! It's funny how when we were younger, none of these things were issues and we went on our merry way, not thinking in particular about our age or health. Like Mark Twain said about the food he ate, we just let them all fight it out on the inside.
If one is sharing one's secret with 620,000,000 others, can it actually be called a secret?! Just asking...
In all my years of teaching art appreciation, I never came across this marvelous painting! I especially like the way Piazetta rendered the highlights on the old man's face and his lost-in-thought expression. The painting reminds me of Durer's "Portrait of an Old Man of Ninety-Three" and several of Rembrandt's masterful psychological portraits. The expression on Piazetta's subject is one with which I am very familiar - I see it on Mother's 101-year-old face all the time, making me wonder what she is thinking about or, unlike those with dementia, is remembering. Thanks for introducing me to an artist unfamiliar to me.
That's quite a collection of early photographs! In their case, it's easy to see how the camera captured expressions much as was done in the painting. However, some are contrived rather than thoughtful. I pity some of them for their constrictive fashions as well. I don't rightly know how some of them could breathe!
The last photo of the flapper looks like she belongs in "The Great Gatsby".
Lots of interesting things in this post John. I hope your health is more on the upswing soon.
Thaqnks to everyone who commented upon my health. I can only apologise again for moaning but it does seem to be the foremost thing on my mind most of the time. Suffice it to say this morning is a Good Day!
ReplyDeletePlease don't apologise for the health updates. We're your friends and we WANT to be kept in the loop so that we know how you are doing.
ReplyDeleteRegarding an increase of zinc in your diet: I prescribe a meal of lamb, asparagus, broccoli, peas, with a shrimp cocktail for starters. The only thing I'm not sure about is how much zinc is in a dessert like raspberry pavlova or creme brulee!!
Take care and God bless! xoxox
One problem with People suggesting that one carries a notebook to jot down what one wants to recall.
ReplyDeleteRemembering to carry the notebook and of course writing stick.
There seemingly is a global trend back toward 1940 and beyond Paintings of pretty women, dare I mention the word in sexy poses.
I am delighted and saddened that at 62 Years of Age people are asking me when I am going to paint more of them. How I wish, the ladies not the Paintings I hope.
My goodness, looking at some of the flapper hairstyles, that must have taken a significant part of their day! Happy I live now. Don't apologize for talking about your health - how else would we know how it is with you?? (I know the last part of that sentence is grammatically horrible... and I don't even want to touch the subject of my memory:( )
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your informative post. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post. I find my memory is most affected when I try to remember the name of things I have known for so long that I never really tried to remember them in the first place. Just so frustrating. I'm sorry about your health, if you feel like writing about it then please do - and I hope that you have an upswing with it very soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm imagining a whole week's menus made of zinc rich foods. Some of them tend to have a rather strong taste, but I suppose they would go well in a soup....
Thanks Jenny.
DeleteI make asparagus soup quite frequently - perhaps I'll work a few other zinc-containing ingredients in next time.