UNCHARTED: A Couples Empty-Nest Adventure Sailing From One Life to Another. By Kim Brown Seely. Sasquatch Books. 275 pages. $24.95.

I have a weakness for remote, confesses author Kim Seely in the prologue to this beautiful memoir/travelogue/wise guide to midlife. And she doesnt mean the TV remote.

The only channel surfing in "Uncharted" is through the narrow and treacherous waterways of Milbanke Sound and the Salish Sea, and points north along the rugged and remote British Columbia archipelago, as Seely and her husband embark on a sailing expedition toward the Great Bear Rainforest.

There are close calls, lost anchors and lost tempers, yet what Seely finds along the way makes "Uncharted" one of the most compelling books of nature writing that Ive read in a while (and this after a steady recent diet of Richard Powers, Robert Macfarlane and Barry Lopez).

A veteran journalist and award-winning travel writer, Seely has long embraced her lineage as the descendant of Westward pioneers and explorers, but in "Uncharted," her first book, she navigates new territory: the inward journey of a shifting personal and family landscape as her youngest of two sons leaves for college. That unmooredness (What now?) will be familiar to any parent who has done the final dormitory drop-off, climbed back into an empty car and turned toward home, the home that heretofore had been an ecosystem of offspring. Twenty years of parenting leaves deep ruts.

My husband and I had come to the edge of something, Seely writes. We could live safe small lives or try something new by launching into the unknown. Launch they did, aboard Heron, a 54-foot beauty of a cutter-rigged sailboat that Seelys husband, Jeff, bought on a whim. Never mind that neither knew much about sailing.

After upfitting the rig and testing the sails on a maiden voyage, their destination was a remote rain forest along the north coast of British Columbia, land of an elusive white bear that Seely, a Seattle resident, had heard about from a National Geographic photographer shed met. She later saw the photographers photo of said bear featured on the yellow Nat Geo cover beneath the header, The Wildest Place in North America: Land of the Spirit Bear.

Invitation enough. Amidst their mid-life recalibration as an empty-nest couple and as individuals, we put all our chips on wildness, Seely writes.

Writing about that wildness is Seelys strong suit. We read about majestic encounters with humpback whales and a mysterious fox, about places as haunting as their names, such as Desolation Sound and Cape Caution, about waking up on a sailboat in a faraway harbor feeling completely cut off from the outside world anchored safely, just the two of us held by the forest, its arms encircling us, as if this place ringed with evergreens was a reward for having set out and crossed this much of the strait.

This paradox feeling such strong connection in isolation, savoring the rare gift of exquisite solitude is parlayed with careful attention and strength.

Seelys prose is subtle, not overwrought, but dowsed with awe and reverence in ways that pique the readers imagination and wanderlust. I could smell that spruce forest; I could envision that enchanted cove and savor lingering there. To her credit, Seely also offers marital insights that dont feel too intrusive and confessional, rendering her husband as a fully realized (and, yes, adorable) character, and their marriage as gloriously real. Theres humor, anger, tension, tenderness, good wine, an excellent playlist, and one of the most tender sex scenes Ive read in a while, with nature as the seducer.

"Uncharted" is a quest narrative of the finest sort. Sailors will appreciate the zippy nautical adventure (including lovely hand-drawn maps); parents will relate to the quivery sea legs of empty-nesting (and finding a happy new equilibrium); and nature lovers will savor Seelys rapt observations and poetic descriptions.

Its a tale of two people living and exploring simply and boldly in a place that was both immense and contained, immense in the sheer expanse of sea and possibility; contained in that our boat felt as compact as a shell, and we existed in a world ... outside of time as we knew it.

Their discoveries along the way chart promising new ground, where wildness reminds us who we are or, more importantly, who we can become.

Reviewer Stephanie Hunt is a writer based in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

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Book review: 'Uncharted' a memoir of an unmoored couple launching into the unknown - Charleston Post Courier

Children and classrooms go hand-in-hand, but when places of learning become breeding grounds for contagious germs and airborne illnesses, one may want to think twice before hand-to-hand exposure.

With flu season at its peak, young children find themselves at a heightened risk of developing complications from the flu. Many people in child care try to protect the kids from the flu, but find themselves in need of protection as well. Child care professionals have to make sure they can safely navigate the flu season to protect themselves, and the children they care for, from illness.

Chanelle Camello is currently a part-time preschool teacher and CSUN student studying public health. She has been a preschool teacher for a little over a year.

Preschoolers are so young, its hard to gauge whether or not they fully grasp why covering their coughs and sneezes are necessary.

Its a hit or miss depending on their developmental skills and if theyre understanding that when they cough its going to spread, Camello said. Some of them do, I can think of a handful that do and some that I have to give a reminder to. Sometimes its easier to teach them to cough into their shirts rather than cough out into the open, because I would prefer anything else.

Hillary Lomas is a camp counselor during the school year, working with first graders after school helping them with homework, projects, arts and crafts, and games. Shes been a camp counselor for three years.

Lomas said it can be difficult to teach children to be mindful of germs, because she finds that they dont want to wash their hands or blow their nose when its runny. She said being consistent with children about washing hands and covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing is an effective route.

Some parents dont take the time to teach their children these small steps to prevent others from getting sick, Lomas said. The parents that do explain the reasons why to their children make it easier for everyone else because they are conscious and it becomes a good habit.When parents dont teach, that is when camp counselors and teachers are needed to remind them and explain that germs shouldnt spread and it isnt proper to cough in other peoples space.

Camello said she often sends kids home when they arrive sick, especially during flu season.

If they go to school when theyre sick, yes theyll be at school, but they wont be performing their best because theyll be coughing or not feeling well, Camello said. And theres the risk of getting their teachers sick and then having their teachers miss work or getting other kids sick and just spreading germs. In general, kids are very germy so its kind of often that it happens, but with the flu it has to be taken much more seriously.

The flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children, causing more hospitalizations among young children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lomas believes sickness can spread faster in a classroom setting, as children often dont wash their hands after using the bathroom or cover up their mouth when they cough and sneeze. The areas around them need to be cleaned constantly in order to prevent the spread of germs.

Despite attempts at cleanliness, Lomas said the children she works with get her sick quite often.

I get sick three to five times a year, I usually have colds, Lomas said. I get the flu maybe once or twice depending on how fast it spreads.

Although Camello has never had the flu, she tries to boost her immune health as a precautionary measure.

Combating the flu season for me is trying to keep up my immune system, Camello said. I try to go with a more homeopathic or a more holistic approach, I dont really take over-the-counter medications. I take elderberry syrup about a teaspoon before bed for immunity support. Some people tend to change their diet during this time, eat bone broth or things that will aid their immune health. Thats so important for teachers, because were surrounded by so many germs.

There are many precautions a household or institution can take to stay more hygenic, one way to keep the flu from spreading is through air purification.

We have diffusers in each classroom and in the lobby that we use, Camello said. Its like an antibacterial for the air.

Along with washing her hands with soap and water, disinfectant wipes are an essential tool Lomas uses to ensure cleanliness. She always wipes down tables and chairs after activities at the end of the day to cut down on the spread of germs.

When it comes to prevention, Camello said she believes vaccinations are in the best interest of the most vulnerable.

I think its a big problem that we have anti-vaxxers, Camello said. As a parent youre entitled to take care of your child the way you want to, but when youre compromising or putting other kids at risk who might have certain diseases (they) wont have a built up defense system from people who are anti-vaxxers.

Although there is some debate on vaccinations and whether or not theyre harmful, she said shes a supporter of vaccinations.

I dont think theres enough scientific evidence for people to not get vaccinations, Camello said. Im vaccinated, my whole family is vaccinated, and weve never had a problem.

Camello finds it funny that people worry more about catching the coronavirus than taking precautions to prevent the flu. The coronavirus is rare, she said, but social media and word of mouth have turned it into a bigger thing despite the fact that more people are susceptible to the flu every year.

Some people question the success of the flu shot and as a result, opt out of getting one. This is a common occurrence among many that share this belief. However, the CDC says those that get vaccinated are half as likely to get sick compared to the ones that dont.

I personally do not get the flu shot, Lomas said. I never got it growing up. I never really got the flu until I started working with kids. I dont believe that it is effective. This year I have learned that many children and adults that have gotten the flu shot have gotten sick.

The spread of misinformation is a major reason why people avoid getting the flu shot. And because people misjudge the science of the shot, they overlook the fact that they could have had the flu virus inside of them prior to the shot or shortly after and attribute their symptoms to the flu shot itself. It takes up to two weeks for antibodies to develop within the body following the vaccination.

People get the flu shot and then they automatically get sick, but they dont realize that theres a two week period after the flu shot where you can catch the virus, Camello said. And because your flu shot doesnt get activated until after that window of time, some people blame the flu shot for getting them sick.

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Containing the flu is not child's play - Daily Sundial

Although I cant complain weve had a rough winter, it is nearing the point in February when Im ready for the cheerful pop of daffodils.

The days are gradually getting longer and the zany cats at my house are ready for frolicking once again in the great outdoors. They roam from door to door inside the house hoping that one of them is the door to summer.

I met a lady named Connie at the grocery store and she requested another column about the cats. Since they are a gold mine for funny column material, Im obliging Connies request especially since we both know and like Shirley Scott.

Weve all been accomplishing a few things that are best tolerated in the dreary days of winter: tedious tax preparation, overdue cleaning and stewing in our own juices.

Sadie has gained a little bit of weight after spending the past year neurotically fretting and fussing over the addition of Camouflage and Mulligan into the main portion of the house. I call them the nemesisters because they all hate each other so much, yet they must co-exist in order to stay warm and fed under my roof. Like my Dad always used to say when we kids were giving him back-talk, Its my way or the highway!

Mulligan, previously a skinny kitten full of worms, has officially grown into her huge, haunting eyes of starved youth. They are now lively and devilish, peering through the spindles from a lofty hallway that overlooks the main living area of the house. The refrigerator door rarely opens without Mulligans eyes opening right along with it, sizing up her chances of snagging a piece of 3-day-old chicken that Sadie has been given for weight gain.

Camouflage generally doesnt stake out the kitchen or eat anything but dry cat food. However, one night I inadvertently found her weak spot when she insisted on inspecting and raiding a bag that previously held an Arbys sandwich. Apparently Arbys is Camos addiction. Upon careful consideration, Im not sure how I feel about this, to be honest.

But Camo is the good girl. She likes to watch me do odd jobs around the house in the hopes of getting her head scratched and her nose rubbed while Im fixing the toilet flapper, folding laundry or working on the computer. Ive deputized her as the Special Feline Assisting Editor for the Urbana Daily Citizen.

From my bay window overlooking the picturesque rural neighborhood, I see the children celebrating snow days while pulling their sleds together down the road and toward each others houses. Some of the luckier kids have exhilarating hills in their back yards. In the summer, other kids on the road host outdoor parties where their parents project movies onto large screens in the yards. One parent told me she thinks the road is like Disneyworld because of how the kids can have fun together safely in the shady shelter of a little forest.

Oh summer, where are you? I have three nemesisters and two of them need to go outside in your warm sunrays. Camo wants to sleep on the back deck all afternoon. Mulligan wants to hide in the woodpile and watch the neighbors ducks and chickens. Sadie wants Camo and Mulligan to go back outside and stay there all day so she can sleep in peace once again on the sofa. Sadie is so rattled by Mulligan stealing all of her food that she nearly caught her own tail on fire standing for too long in front of the wood stove.

Until then, I must work up the courage to make an appointment to take Mulligan to the veterinarian. Im sure to receive a lecture about her double chin and her terrible attitude when she is grasped by the scruff for vaccinations. My guess is a hawk or a falcon tried to snag her when she was tiny, but she fought her way free and lived to harbor an entrenched phobia about anything that causes flapping motions, whooshing sounds or grasping moves on her neck. Ceiling fans terrify her. She terrifies the veterinarian. I see a one-day prescription for kitty nerve pills in her near future, then maybe a diet.

Mostly she needs to get outside and play again, just like the rest of us.

Brenda Burns is the managing editor of the Urbana Daily Citizen. Reach her at bburns@aimmediamidwest.com. This columns shared through the AIM Media Midwest group of newspapers.

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The 'nemesisters' of winter need summer - Daily Sentinel

[Note: The following contains spoilers for the ending of Season 1 of Locke & Key.]

The week that Locke & Key made its global debut on Netflix, there was a set of massive signs at L.A. Live outside the Staples Center. Each of them the height of a decent-sized apartment building, they had only a simple set of images echoing the cover of the comics series the new show is adapted from: Keyhole-shaped marks at the top of peoples spinal columns, ready to be unlocked.

Those giant ads hint at a show with mammoth possibility while offering as few details as possible. Its a great hook for a series, one thats destined to grab peoples attention as theyre sifting through options on the main Netflix app screen. Regardless of how well that worked, the 10 episodes of Season 1 that follow once you hit Play are also symptomatic of a specific kind of Netflix algorithm-based approach in some of the most glaring ways.

Locke & Key has long been a thorn in TV execs sides, with thwarted adaptations straddling multiple networks and streaming services. That this latest one made it to the screen feels less of a realization of the vision contained within the pages of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodrguezs comics series and more of a chance to manufacture a show with as many recommendation connection points as possible.

It certainly delivers on its title, following the children of the Locke family as they discover not only a magical set of keys that each bring unthinkable power, but the dark legacy that these mysterious tools bring with them. That premise becomes a canvas onto which any number of Netflix hits get tossed. Its a TV casserole featuring the haunted family dynamic of The Haunting of Hill House, an interdimensional threat to appeal to Stranger Things fans, a timeline-hopping element that feels like diet Dark. Add in the relationship- and clique-based drama of a standard high school-set drama and thats the Locke & Key baseline.

Theres something about the way that Locke & Key drives forward that removes most of the tension that youd expect to propel the show forward. Every development is spelled out on a neat trail of clues. Whispers lead the kids to each key. Characters announce their feelings with minimal complications. It makes sense that people faced with impossible circumstances would try to talk things out with each other, but Locke & Key organizes each successive realization like a Wikipedia summary for people who missed everything while they were looking at their phone.

Even at 10 episodes, theres still a sense that Locke & Key glosses over the way that the Locke kids grapple with the life-changing abilities that these keys possess. One can turn any door into a universal portal. One opens a music box that can control other human beings. One is the one hinted on that poster that to reiterate is placed into the back of someones neck to reveal anyones personal memory palace. This is fundamental body horror fodder with its edges sanded down further and further to court younger and younger audiences.

Locke & Key

Ken Woroner/Netflix

The increasingly casual way that the Lockes (and eventually their friends) respond to this escalating, terrifying power also points to the idea that this was never intended to be a show that grappled with the immense possibility the source material affords. This is a story of kids discovering magic and the collective reaction of everyone involved is akin to finding a confusing Harry Potter video game. The immediate acceptance, use and resultant shrug that the show and its inhabitants have toward these keys power seems more indicative of a programming-based gambit for licensing than a show that wants to explore its own treasure.

Few story decisions in the season reflect this idea more than the final minutes of Season 1, when a twist ending reveals that the main villain of Locke & Key has been disguising itself as one of the Locke childrens classmates. Aside from adding to the shows cavalcade of nightmares, it presents this season-capping information at the end of an ICYMI montage filling in the only gaps in the story that Locke & Key hadnt methodically and explicitly laid out yet.

Its a cynical move, especially when its tacked on to an attempted moment of uplift designed to show that the Locke family has come to terms with the tragic death of patriarch Rendell. All loose ends had been tidily dealt with, every possible loop closed, each key safely tucked away in the music box where all the kids can safely repress the unthinkable body horror to which theyve all been unwittingly subjected. But that final gambit, with the surprise resurrection of one demon and the fresh appearance of another, is the safest possible window to a Season 2. Either the show ends and the Locke family can live in their forced peace or this artificial new wrinkle just starts the entire process all over again. Haunt, rinse, repeat.

Its just a shame that some of the more compelling parts of the series get drowned out by the surrounding pandering creative decisions. A labyrinthine hall of mirrors loses its impact when the only other thing trying to build a sense of discomfort is an on-the-nose series of music cues. One of those mind palace sequences is lessened when its clear that its just mimicking The Good Place house style palette. Rather than lean into the wonder of a truly new world, Locke & Key is cobbled together from component parts of others.

With shows like BoJack Horseman and The Crown series that used to represent the past triumphs of a more discerning Netflix programming age ending or on their way out, theres going to be an even greater emphasis on sure bets, of calculated plays at four-quadrant hits. Netflix may or may not be banking on Locke & Key to be its new runaway word-of-mouth gem, but if this is the intended blueprint for making the next one, its a hollow foundation.

Locke & Key is now available to stream on Netflix.

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Locke & Key Shows the Problem with Trying to Make a Hit TV Show from an Algorithm - IndieWire

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Northern Ireland-based nutrition company That Proteins Blissful Raw Cacao Organic Super Protein has become the first protein powder in the UK to be certified low FODMAP, following a laboratory tested evaluation process.

The low FODMAP diet has been designed to help people with a medical diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A study found that around three out of four of those who follow the diet reported an improvement of the symptoms of IBS which include bloating, gas and gastrointestinal pain.

Low FODMAP is an acronym for low fermentable, oligosaccharides (fructans & GOS), disaccharides (lactose), monosaccharides (fructose) and polyols.

That Protein is an award winning nutrition company headed by vegan entrepreneur Darlene McCormick, a qualified clinical nutritionist based on Co. Antrim. In 2019 the Blissful Raw Cacao was voted Best in UK at the Nourish Awards.

Darlene McCormick said: At any one time in UK around 10-20% of people are suffering with IBS. With our FODMAP Friendly certification people can be assured that they can enjoy That Proteins Blissful Raw Cacao Plant Protein safely on the low FODMAP diet whilst supporting their fitness and wellness goals.

Tim Mottin, director of the FODMAP Friendly Food programme, said: Were pleased to partner with That Protein to certify an innovative FODMAP Friendly product for those with digestive issues following the low FODMAP diet.

This is the first protein powder product to be certified in the UK under our certification programme and were excited to see the number of UK based products continue to grow.

FODMAP certification is provided by Monash University in Australia, a recognised centre of expertise in IBS conditions.

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NIs That Protein First in UK Backed for IBS Sufferers - FFT.ie

Sit still its the mantra of most classrooms, but not at primary principal Eoin Fitzpatricks school in Cork.

In between lessons the pupils close their books, spread out across the classroom and a dance video pops up on the interactive whiteboard.

Its GoNoodle time a programme that promotes physical activity in the classroom.

We try to do movement breaks every hour or so or between lessons, says Fitzpatrick, principal of Bunscoil Chrost R.

The children copy what they see on screen, whether its dance moves or exercises . . . Its great fun they need to keep active.

These kinds of exercises are needed now more than ever, he says.

Until recently, the school had a no running policy in the playground, for insurance reasons.

Changing lifestyles have also led to a deterioration in childrens overall fitness and movement skills.

While schools used to take for granted that children could jump, throw or catch sports balls properly, its no longer the case.

There are some, of course, who are into lots of sports, but theres a significant cohort who find these activities a challenge. Devices like smartphones are playing a major role . . . There is a lot less informal play out in estates and parks. Before, kids were jumping over fences and hedges. Now you have to teach those skills specifically to kids.

Movement skills

His observations are backed up by a recent Dublin City University study which found one in four primary school children cannot run properly and lack fundamental movement skills. In addition, one in two children cannot kick a ball properly, and less than one in every five can throw a ball.

This week, a separate UK study also expressed concern at rising levels of inactivity among 12-18 year olds.

It found teenage students who spend too much time sitting still are much more likely to have depressive symptoms such as low mood, loss of pleasure and poor concentration.

The UK findings are of little surprise to Prof Niall Moyna of Dublin City University

His recent examinations of the health status of inactive 15 year olds found some of their cardiovascular health was comparable to that of 55-60 year olds.

Parents dont see the clinical manifestations of this, but the ultrasound imaging shows it up very clearly, he says.

These are the arteries supplying the heart and the brain. Its the build-up of this fibro-fatty plaque that can cause heart attacks or stroke. This should be a wake-up call for parents.

Too much screen time, he says, is a key culprit by taking unstructured physical activity out of childrens lives. However, the problem is a bigger issue than this.

Weve engineered activity out of our lives, he says. We dont have an environmental infrastructure that allows young people to walk safely to school anymore . . . Were not genetically programmed to sit still for so long.

He points to recent research involving the Amish community in the US; it found men walked an average of 18,000 steps a day, and women 14,000. The average is Ireland is closer to 5,000 steps.

Falling fitness

In addition, latest research shows just 12 per cent of teenagers in secondary schools are meeting Department of Health recommendations of at least 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Teenagers are also getting less active the older they get.

The latest data indicates that fitness levels among Irish teenagers decline significantly from 15 onwards, especially among girls.

Pat Tuohy, a PE teacher at Summerhill College in Sligo, says competitive sport and formal exercise can be a turn-off for many teens,

Its one reason why teachers at his school have set up sporty clubs such as kayaking and surfing. They are, he says, reaching out to pupils who might not otherwise be engaged. But schools, he says, can only do so much. Parents, he says, also have to set a good example.

A child is in school for a third of the year, so what about the other two-thirds? Much of the responsibility lies with the parent.

This is a generation that has grown up with technology. Their parents have handed it to them, but they havent handed their time, he says,

ine Lynch of the National Parents Council Primary feels it is not entirely fair to lay the blame at the door of parents.

She says there are more demands than ever on mothers and fathers, who are feel under pressure to ensure their childrens academic, extracurricular and mental health needs are met.

It is difficult. Parents, of course, arent a homogenous group. But the way we live now means we have to timetable things, drive them here and there in the car, she says.

Its easy to say its cotton-wool parenting and let them walk . . . but you wouldnt want your child walking on busy roads or cycling on a bicycle lane thats also a bus lane.

She says parents need to be supported in encouraging healthy lifestyles, and public policies also need to support this.

Diet and exercise

Prof Moyna agrees educating parents is crucial. Too often, he says, we are blind to the needs of our own children,

Research, for example, shows the vast majority of parents underestimate their overweight child.

It is vital parents ensure kids eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables and fewer calorie-rich snacks. They also need to be tuned in to opportunities for physical activity and set hard-and-fast rules about time spent on screens or TV.

Schools, too, need to factor exercise into part of the school day and counter the over-emphasis on academic success at all costs. The cost of not acting, he says, is too big to contemplate.

Take Type-2 diabetes, which is mostly a lifestyle disease. We spend close to 1.5 to 2 billion a year on a disease which we shouldnt be spending in the first place, says Prof Moyna.

Imagine if we put that into better PE facilities or equipment with smart sensors to track peoples health and make health science more exciting?

Dr Brendan Kelly, professor of psychiatry Trinity College Dublin, said this weeks research, while troubling, has some encouraging findings: light and moderate activity also has demonstrable benefits for mental health.

In other words, adolescents dont necessarily need to win medals at school sports days or be on the schools number one rugby team. They just need to sit down less.

He said something as simple as walking to school or playing a musical instrument has measurable, lasting benefits for mental health as well as benefits for physical wellbeing and personal accomplishment.

The best advice for parents is to lead by example. We are all creatures of habit, so we should integrate more light physical activity into everyday routines, for us and for our children.

Read more:
Health risks for inactive children: This should be a wake-up call for parents - The Irish Times