As award season kicks off and winners are predicted with the likes of Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, Barbie, Wonka, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, Anatomy of a Fall, and May December, my vote is on the small independent film, The Holdovers.

“I love the ‘You Go, Girl!’ slogan,
but before we all jump on the bandwagon,
let’s be sure exactly where it is we are going!”
– The Uphill Skater –

We girls are on the go, no doubt about it. However, speaking from simply a foodie point of view, I find the way to actually go nutrition-wise can be murky, to say the least. As regular readers know, I am always on the hunt for not only new things and new science about food, but I am also looking for that “myth buster” new science that may increase our health benefits, while still being edible, if you know what I mean!

Dear Susan:
My wife and I divorced about six years ago. She initiated it and moved out shortly thereafter. After two years of having joint custody of our three children, she decided to "temporarily" move across the country to gain work experience. She asked me to take care of our kids full time until she came back. I happily agreed, but the kids were sad, though they still (like me) believed she'd return soon. Well, six months became a year, and then I received an attorney's notice that she was asking the court for full custody—plus permission to take the kids out of state to live with her. Long story short, she lost a ferocious and expensive court battle—and the kids are staying with me.

Q: Concerning chores, another expert recommends giving a child a certain number of chips, like poker chips, every month and if he or she fails to do a chore or doesn’t do it properly, you take a chip away. The chips can be used to purchase clothes and other things the child wants but doesn’t necessarily need. The child can also regain lost chips by doing extra chores. My wife and I are searching for a way to get our kids, ages 6 and 9, to do some light lifting around the house. What do you think of this system?

Eye exams at every age and life stage can help keep your vision strong. About 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction—but it’s just one of the reasons to get your eyes examined. Regular eye exams are also an important part of finding eye diseases early and preserving your vision. Early treatment is critically important to prevent some common eye diseases from causing permanent vision loss or blindness. Of the estimated 93 million US adults at high risk for vision loss, only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months. Regular eye care can have a life-changing impact on preserving the vision of millions of people.
(Source: www.cdc.gov)

A biopic is a movie that dramatizes the life of a real, non-fictional individual. Short for “biographical motion picture,” a biopic can cover a person’s life or one specific moment in history. Topics for biopics are endless, with famous figures from history, along with popular celebrities of late, being featured.

“So, let’s talk about choices—what you eat,
how you respond to things going on around you,
and your approach to the holiday season.”
– The Uphill Skater –

I’ve had a wooden sign in my kitchen for many years. It reads: "Be The Change You Want To See In The World."  It’s a daily reminder that I can make a difference. A friend of mine made it for me because we attended a conference together in Bluffton that dealt with accepting personal responsibility for one's actions. The conference centered on the importance of how we utilize and dedicate our volunteer hours. In addition, it also focused on personal choices, which is why the sign is so important to me. Every time I look at it, I immediately go back to the lessons from this conference on how my choices make a difference whether they are good or bad. I don’t know about you, but dear friends, I want my choices to be good ones, and I want to make a positive difference.

Dear Susan:
Recently, a reader praised one of your past columns, “What—Me Marry?” He said it was good advice, to be remembered when considering marriage. He was so enthusiastic that I’m curious to read it for myself. I’m wondering whether you would repeat it—or at least the best parts.
—Frida J., from the “Single File” blog

Q: I’m already dreading the holidays. Our eight-year-old is a very excitable child and our family is expected to attend numerous holiday get-togethers at the homes of family members. When he’s included in events where there’s lots of excitement and anticipation in the air, he has a reputation for becoming very impulsive, loud, talkative, bouncy, and generally annoying. He’s also the oldest grandchild and the other, younger kids tend to follow his lead. I do not want to be constantly correcting him, but I don’t know what else to do.

Sugar has infiltrated the American diet, and it is winning. Pre-diabetes and diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes is at an all-time high—truly epidemic proportions. Diabetes is a brutal disease which affects your entire body. It can be lurking in your bloodstream wreaking havoc on your vital organs and you don’t even know it. However, in the midst of this out-of-control, all-out war with this avoidable dreaded disease, there are new breakthroughs here to save the day and maybe even your life. We needed to know more about diabetes, and what better time than in November—American Diabetes Month? Our power lies within understanding how this disease works, what it does to our bodies, and what we can do to stay healthy. That’s why we asked local experts to help us out climb out of the “sugar bowl” and onto the “dinner plate” of good health.

First known as Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson set aside the date of November 11 in 1919 on the first anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending World War I. It was created to recognize and thank our American soldiers for their service. The day was declared a National holiday in 1938, and in 1954, the name changed to Veterans Day to honor all American Veterans. Therefore, we take this day to commemorate and celebrate our brave, loyal, and selfless American soldiers and their families for giving us the opportunity to live freely in this great country.

With our military personnel gathered on aircraft carriers in the Middle East, the Reel Corner is honoring our military for Veterans Day…with a big “Thank You” for their service.

“Honestly, if I hear one more word about FAT being the new ‘inʼ thing,
I am going to be forced to eat a cookie.”
– The Uphill Skater –

Okay, of course no one is touting that being overweight is now healthy, but things about body weight have been redefined lately in a way I feel is positive. Magazines have started including heavier women in fashion photo shoots. Department stores have new, “bigger-boned” mannequins. Medically, Body Mass Index (BMI) is no longer considered the be-all and end-all number to define obesity, and insurance companies are reevaluating guidelines for their definitions of healthy weights. However, none of this means being overweight is good for you.

DEAR SUSAN: I'm 26, attractive and well-educated. I've been with the same man for three years. Before, I'd dated arrogant men. This man was a friend I started dating on the rebound. I've stayed with him because he's loyal and treats me well. However, I feel intellectually superior and wish he had more to offer in the way of interesting conversation. Help!
—Dodie A., Indianapolis, Indiana

My wife and I were enjoying an evening out in one of our favorite restaurants when a family of three—mother, father, girl of perhaps four—were shown to a table next to ours. Immediately, the parents began asking the little one where she wanted to sit. They both stood while she went about trying each chair until she finally settled on one. Well, not really, because as soon as everyone sat, she wanted to move, so she and her father exchanged seats. This entire process took several minutes.

The scary part of clots in the blood, whether it be a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or aneurysm, is not only are they dangerous, they can also be sneaky. They lurk in our veins and often times offer no symptoms. When they finally reveal themselves, it can be too late. The best defense against any type of blood clots is paying attention to even little changes in your body—new aches or pains, swelling, redness, or generally not feeling well. If you have concerns, be sure to see your healthcare provider. The good news is knowledge gives you power, and understanding the risks and symptoms of blood clots may help if you ever suspect one lurking in your own veins. That’s why we asked local experts to tell us more.

If you’ve watched any franchise cinema from the past 70 years, chances are you have heard the Wilhelm Scream. Recorded for the Warner Bros. sound archives in the early 1950s, the exaggerated yowl can be heard in hundreds of films spanning all the way up to modern-day Hollywood. 

The Wilhelm Scream was first used in 1951 in a Warner Bros. film called Distant Drums. It appears in a sequence where a man is bitten by an alligator and—you guessed it—screams.

“Fight Like a Girl can mean many
different things these days!” ”
– The Uphill Skater –

Women have come a long way in just the last 50 years. Although the fight for women continues, I want to focus much more on what we have already won! There have been many victories because there have been (and are) many strong women who have fought for the future of women.

Dear Susan:

I've met a nice man via an online service and want to encourage him, but the man I've loved for the past three years is now back in my life. Both of them live thousands of miles from me, and that's part of the reason things weren't going well for man No. 1. And that's why at 39 I've decided it's time to start a man search. But am I making this too important?
— Carmela R., Long Island, New York

Q: When we reprimand our 34-month-old daughter for something, anything, she begins to wail like we’re beating her. Whether we firmly redirect or simply say, "No,” she begins to wail like a banshee. The wail is piercingly loud, like a full-blown tantrum. She has now started screaming if one of us even looks disapprovingly at her. Shouldn’t she have outgrown this by now? Why is she doing this, and what can we do to stop it?

I grew up in the “You’re Making a Mountain of a Molehill” Era, also known as the Age of “Children Are Starving in (fill in the blank with some remote place), and by golly, I’m a better person for it!

First, some historical context: I am a Baby Boomer, a child of the ‘50s. I remember the first time I heard Elvis. I was in a diner with my mother and “Don’t Be Cruel,” one of the ten greatest rock songs of all time, came on the jukebox. Mom couldn’t stand him. I was hooked before the hook.

Go Ahead and Flirt!

Flirting has disappeared. Fact, not fiction. Judging from my reader mail, it has dropped out of the romantic repertoire—with absolutely no words of regret or comeback. But why has it gone, this once-admired art? The message I'm getting is this: We've found our womanpower; tremble at the roar if you dare.

Well, I, too, favor female strength, so I'm all in for womanpower—but expressed differently.

“Yes, I have made quite a fantastic discovery
and believe it or not, it's something
I take like a medicine!”
– The Uphill Skater –

For years I have prided myself on the fact that I do not drink or smoke, and I am a vegetarian. I try to not take anything that can be called a medicine. I know this sounds a bit silly with all of the new meds out there, and yes, I have softened a bit as I have grown older. However, I believe our bodies can work toward health by what we eat and how we move. I must also say, before I share my newfound gift, I am not a doctor or medical professional, which I remind readers of often. But, my daughter, who is in fact a medical doctor, tells me one cannot stress this often enough. So, with all of that being said, here goes: 

If you are a fan of independent films,
I encourage you to search out these Indie finds.

Priscilla
Last year saw Baz Luhrmann reimagine Elvis Presley’s early years—and now, Sofia Coppola is telling his ex-wife Priscilla Presley’s side of the story. Based on the bestselling memoir, Elvis and Me, the film brings Priscilla firmly into the spotlight to compassionately explore what being married to one of the world’s most famous men really felt like. Expect Coppola’s signature hazy cinematography, plus star turns from newcomer Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi as Elvis. 

A woman’s health can be complicated, especially when it comes to the complex and intricate reproductive system. While this is the place in a woman’s body where miracles happen, it is also a place where things can go very wrong. We are addressing a few of these maladies this month, learning more about Cervical Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Fibroid Tumors. Knowledge is power, and we encourage you to read on to learn what local experts have to teach us about these conditions.

Q: Our 22-month-old son has developed a bad habit of spitting out bites of food. The first time it happened, I had set a cup on his tray while he was still chewing. He removed the food from his mouth, set it on his tray, and took a drink. I thought nothing of it, but it’s gotten progressively worse. Sometimes he’ll chew a bite of food for a while, take it out of his mouth, put it on his tray, and take a bite of something else. Then he puts the half-chewed bite back in his mouth and begins chewing on it again. If I catch him before he spits out a bite, I can sometimes coach him into chewing and swallowing. We have tried only giving him one bite at a time once the prior bite is swallowed, but this isn’t working. What can we do?