Thursday, November 24, 2011

Black (and Blue) Friday

According to http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lifexpec.htm the life expectancy here in the USA is 77.9 years.  It must be true; it's on the Internet, right?

If one omits the first 18 years of life (when we don’t really know anything about anything) that leaves around 60 good years we are actually involved in the Thanksgiving feast. 60 celebrations with friends, family - and all who make life worth living.  That's 60 official days to celebrate things that we all take for granted. Not very many days, when you think about it.  What did you think about today? 

I thought about L-tryptophan today.

L-tryptophan is an amino acid, a protein building block that can be found in many plant and animal proteins. L-tryptophan is called an “essential” amino acid because the body can’t make it. It must be acquired from food. Like Turkey.

L-tryptophan is used for insomnia, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, facial pain, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), smoking cessation, grinding teeth during sleep (bruxism), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette's syndrome, and to improve athletic performance.

How do I know all of this about L-tryptophan? 

I Googled it from my massage chair in the living room.  From my technology powered chair, parked in front of my big screen HDTV while watching (multiple) football games. I wanted to make sure that I was just feeling the effect of L-tryptophan and not suffering from something more interesting, like a stroke.  I’m all good - it is the turkey that is making me slip into a coma.

My two sons (and their friends home from college) are using their iPads from the living room, as we get ready for “Black Friday”.  I'm planning on joining my sons and their friends for Black Friday sales to buy (what else) more electronics and technology toys. Wal-Mart actually opens at 10pm tonight, and we have a “Super Wal-Mart” less than a mile from our home.  Then, our local mall opens at 4am. On Black Friday, you can buy technology gadgets that do magical things, like video chatting live in High Definition video with global friends and family who could not make it home for the holidays.  iPhone 4S anyone?

If I don’t go with the boys tonight (blame the L-tryptophan) I will send my debit card with them on my behalf. My debit card will email and/or text the results of every purchase.  I hope they are not thinking that I will be surprised by anything they buy for Christmas presents; my debit card tells all (in real-time) at the time of purchase.

Thanksgiving is the official “kick-off” of the holiday season.  From today until three days after the New Year, I am officially in cruise control mode.  For me, the annual effects of L-tryptophan lasts around 40 days.  It is not common for this feeling to last this long, but my Twitter followers and Facebook friends say is it not unheard-of.  I will rely on audio, web and HD videoconferencing for the next 40 days, as I travel the globe for mandatory Christmas and New Years "business" parties.

Great times with family and friends, this is what Thanksgiving is all about. How many families are like mine, playing football on Thanksgiving day, working up an appetite?  Get-off-the-couch fun whether you're 5 or 95 - that's why Nintendo Wii™ was invented, right? 

Here’s to hoping that you have a safe and Happy (Technology filled) Thanksgiving!


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