8 October 2012

Just a thought for those older codgers who might be blighted
by the onset of arthritis ... and gloomily presume the end of their piano-playing days ... but THERE IS A CURE ... would you believe it ... munch on a bit of pineapple (nicely sliced) ... and you’re back on the keys in a trice.

The medication has enabled me to go full steam at my computer
and also reawaken the marvels of a Chopin Nocturne at the piano. I’ve got newly sliced pineapple in my refrigerator whenever the fingers might tend to stiffen ... what a boon to be back in the game (and two-handed to boot).

Hoping the suggestion opens the doors to many enriching hours
at the keyboard.

Kind regards, btb

I will try this, at your suggestion, and, if it works for me, I shall be ever grateful.

Regards,

Also, avoid anything with the artificial sweetener Aspartame, (Nutrasweet). It made my joints ache.

That's a new one for me.

I've heard stop eating potatoes, tomatoes and peppers.

Did that for several years, but alas, the garden tomatoes and peppers eventually won me over again!

The theory behind the potato/tomato/pepper thing has to do with the fact that they all belong in the same family as Deadly Nightshade - a poison. Whether the association is important, I don't know, but I continue to eat them all.

The Aspartame thing is all over the internet with some pretty scary stories including symptoms imitating Multiple Sclerosis. Years ago, my husband was involved in the original packaging of the diet powder drink "Crystal Light". The industry knew then that Aspartame was a carcinogen when it sat in a diet soda bottle for a while. I was consuming 4 diet drinks a day, including using Equal in my coffee. The joint pains really scared me because I was afraid it would get in the way of my playing. Once I stopped using it, I felt almost immediate improvement in my joints. I won't ever touch it again.

I am reading that the pineapple needs to be fresh, not canned. That could be problematic for some, but you can also just buy the bromelain itself and take that instead.

Has anybody here tried cinnamon for arthritis?

A fresh pineapple is in my refrigerator ... and will be cleaned up, once my present supply of the sliced product is depleted.

Good luck chaps.

I will try the pineapple. I also find that doing as much as I can to stay active works pretty well (like playing the piano, for instance!)

I've read good things about fish oil (omega-3 epa/dha) supplementation as it apparently significantly helps to curb inflammation

you might make arthritis go away entirely, if you stop or reduce eating gluten filled foods (wheat/barley/rye etc).

Just to let you chaps know ... that in spite of my wonky
arthritic left hand ... the effect of the yesterday's pineapple feast ... I was this morning able to play and record my take (prima vista) of Hoagy Carmichael's
"Stardust" ... in an earlier take, I mentioned that many moons ago, I was lucky enough to hear Hoagy himself playing at the London Paladium (since demolished) ... and have become a fan of his eversince ... his "In the Cool, cool, cool of the evening" won him an Academy award.

Pineapple really works!

That must be the Pretoria London Paladium then, ours is still standing!

Thanks Chopping ... what good news to hear that the
famous old Palladium is still standing ... pity that
Hoagy is no longer with us.

Deborah, do you know if Splenda is included as well? I assume it is, though I generally don't use very much of these sweeteners.

btb,
I'd love to hear your recording of "Stardust."

I knew that Hoagy Carmichael was a songwriter. I didn't realize he was also a performer, so I looked it up, and he was also in some movies. His original recording of Stardust is on Youtube.

It's so nice that the pineapple is helping!
Kathy

Hi Cathy,
Thanks for the kind words ... imagine me,
as an ignorant colonial sprog (26 years) being lucky
enough to hear Hoagy Carmichael do his thing at the
London Palladium ... paid my 2/6d and sat way up
in the Gods ... the first half of the programme had
some top artists ... but it was in the 2nd half, that a
skinny guy (Hoagy) came casually to the front of the
stage and suggested that the best was probably over ...
but that if we wanted to stay on “him and the boys -
double base and drums to accompany his honky- tonk piano
... were going to jam a bit ... AND OUT POURED

Riverboat Shuffle
Stardust
Rockin’ Chair
Georgia on My Mind
(Up a) Lazy River
In the Still of the Night
Lazybones
Little Old Lady
The Nearness of You
Small Fry
Two Sleepy People
Skylark
Old Music Master
Ole Buttermilk Sky
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening
My Resistance is Low

For what it’s worth, I was so taken with the
thin Yankee Southerner that I learnt to play
all of his songs ... the pineapple has given me
a new lease of life at the piano ... and the
famous “Stardust” was my first outing ...
not quite up to the gravel-voiced Hoagy’s
standard ... but quite recognizable nevertheless.

Kind regards, btb

btb,
Wow, that sounds like a night to remember! I don't recognize all those song names, but the ones I do recognize are wonderful. Stardust is one of my favorites. I'll have to check out the others.

Have fun revisiting all those songs!
Best wishes!
Kathy

Had to check it out - some with vocal and then this one...

Hoagy himself, it says in the description

Many thanks for that lilylady ... my version is far too straight up and down ... I had forgotten Hoagy's
rubato jazz ... but what a knockout listening to
Nat King Cole singing the lyric

Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael

Sometimes I wonder why I spend the lonely night
dreaming of a song?
The melody haunts my memory,
and I am once again with you,
When our love was new and each kiss an inspiration.
But that was long ago: now my consolation
is in the stardust of a song.

I just happened turn on a documentary about Byron Janis, who has suffered from severe arthritis much of his life. It is available through his website here.

16 October 2012
Does anybody else go soppy when hearing a nostalgic tune sung by a yesteryear goddess?

I heard Dinah Shore sing “Moonlight in Vermont”

Pennies in a stream, falling leaves, a sycamore.
Moonlight in Vermont.
Icy finger waves, ski traits on a mountainside.
Snow-light in Vermont.

Telegraph cables, they sing down the highway
and travel each bend in the road,
People who meet in this romantic setting
are so hypnotized by the lovely ev’ning summer breeze.
Warbling of a meadow lark,
Moonlight in Vermont.