Tag Archives: dairy

The Irony Of CHOCOLATE Advent Calendars.

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by Anura Guruge
on December 15, 2022

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Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Wikipedia’ (link).

I am guilty than most when it comes to gifting CHOCOLATE Advent Calendars. This year is the first, in well over two decades, when I did not buy ANY chocolate advent calendars. The chief recipient of my chocolate advent calendars, who would get a FEW (i.e., more than one), so that she would not be limited to just one chocolate per day, is now lactose-intolerant & as such didn’t want chocolates. Some of the other recipients also declined saying that they are watching what they eat. So, I didn’t get any this year. But, we still had 4 other Advent Calendars going in parallel.

Like with so many things to do with religious holidays, Christmas supposedly one, we have lost sight of many of the old beliefs, customs & tradition.

People were expected to fast — & even give up sex — during Advent!

Dairy & sugar products were particularly frowned upon. So, it is ironic that we now have chocolate advent calendars — the antithesis of fasting or restraint.

Funny how the cookie has crumbled so to speak.

If you are wondering the FIRST Chocolate Advent Calendar dates back to 1958.

‘Lone Star’ Ticks, Now Spreading Through N.H. & Maine, Can Cause A Nasty & Long-Lasting Allergy — To Certain Foods!

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by Anura Guruge
on July 10, 2021

Both images below from the (U.S.) CDC.
Click here to access the CDC ‘Tick’ portal.

Click to ENLARGE. From the ‘CDC’ (click to access).
Click to ENLARGE. From the ‘CDC’ (click to access).

Despite my near daily encounters with ticks, often in large numbers, I had NOT heard of this tick-transmitted allergy until today. It was in an article in the latest ‘AARP‘ bulletin (below). Given that they cited the CDC, I went looking. I had not also realized that the CDC had that much information about ticks — though much of it appears not to have been updated since 2018 or 2019. [I guess the CDC had their handsful with COVID in 2020.]

Click to ENLARGE. The July/August 2021 ‘AARP‘ Bulletin.

Wow! And all this time I was thinking that I only had to worry about Lyme.

This allergy, if I got it, could be fatal to I. I am pretty sure I cannot live without red meat & dairy (i.e., cheese). Bloody ticks!

The CDC also has this rather nifty, full-color, printed guide (in the form of a PDF) with a lot of pictures of ticks. It is definitely worthwhile taking a look at.

You can download it from this CDC Webpage … click.