MAKE A NOTE!! -- March 19th, 2003
CIRCULATION - 34,012 (From Around the World! :-)
WEB SITE VISITORS - 66,816
A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT APRIL 2ND, 2003
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NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
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Emergency Passports
You may not be planning on traveling to a foreign land, but if you have a loved one working (or living) out of the country, then don't forget to get yourself (& the rest of the family) a passport for emergencies. Accidents happen, illnesses happen, or your loved one may even get a chance to take a break in yet another country on short notice. Either way, it is good to have that passport just in case. Passports can take up to 8 weeks, even if you pay the expedite fees it can still take 3 days or more, time you may or may not be able to spare. While most governments will do their best to assist you in getting where you need to be, having your passport will help things to move a lot faster and possibly open up other avenues of travel.
POST IT...wherever you keep your absent loved one's address.
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Eden Nursing Homes
Recently PBS had a program on the many options on caring for our elders. It had a lot of wonderful info that would be very thought-provoking and beneficial to anyone in the position of caring for someone in their later years. For more info on where this program might be showing in your area, or to read a transcript, go to... http://www.pbs.org/thoushalthonor/ But one of the most amazing things to come out of the program was an organization that focuses on making the nursing home experience something wonderful for patients AND employees, instead of something to be feared. The people at the Eden Alternative... http://www.edenalt.com want to fill their nursing homes with light, colors, life (children & animal), and activities. Their goal is the "elimination of the plagues of Loneliness, Helplessness, and Boredom" found in so many nursing homes. If you have someone that you are unable to care for at home, I encourage you to go to their web site and try to find an Eden style nursing home near you. In addition to the Eden style, I would also go to Medicare's site (see our Back Issue Treasure below) to check out the home, and the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org as well.
POST IT...under "Nursing Homes" in the yellow pages AND near the address listings of any elderly relatives that may need assistance in the future.
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Medical Bill Book
In our Oct. 18th, 2000 issue (see directions below for Back Issue Retrieval) we profiled a group that double checks your hospital bills for you. They check your bill out and if they find overcharges, they only charge you 50% of whatever they save you (pricing can vary). But if you would rather do it yourself, they have now put out the "Medical Bill Workbook: Inside the Medical Billing Maze". This book is your guide to helping detect the errors yourself, and underpayments by insurance companies. It would be a wonderful book to have on hand for your own bills, or if you are helping a family member/friend out with hospital bills. You can order the book by emailing MedRecov@aol.com or by calling 540-387-2119/5870. The workbook is $19.95 plus $3.00 S&H. mailing address is PO Box 1705 Salem, VA 24153. For more info not only on the book, but also on hiring one of their affiliates to check your bill for you, go to... http://www.billadvocates.com
POST IT...near your medical advice books, and near your medical insurance cards and/or paperwork.
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Poisonous to Pets (Thank You Dot)
This is National Poison Prevention Week, and while we have heard a lot about preventing poisoning in our children, have you thought about your pets & poisons recently? The ASPCA has a great site covering just about everything you need to know about preventing poisoning of pets and what to do if they do get hold of something. Get your kids into the act by having them go to the virtual house and cleaning up the poisons they find there. I thought I knew a lot about what might hurt our lab, but there were several things I didn't know about...have you heard about chocolate & raisins? So check out this site and keep your pet healthy. Go to... http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=apcc You can also get a free fridge magnet with the emergency phone number & web site on it, just by filling out a form at the site. And just a final pet peeve (pun intended) from your editor...why in the world do pet companies make treats that taste like poisonous materials like chocolate, and why would you want to buy them?
POST IT...near your computer, and in your pet care book.
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Recipe: Bacon Guacamole Dip
Mash together 1 large (or 2 small) avocado after peeling, 1/2C mayonnaise, 2 Tblsp lemon juice, 1/4C chopped green stuffed olives, 3 Tblsp chopped green onion (also good with regular onion), and 1 tsp salt. Leave seed in bowl with dip until just before serving to help keep from turning brown. Just before serving stir in 4 Tblsp (about 4 slices) of crumbled bacon (can use store bought REAL bacon bits). Garnish with some of the green onions, bacon bits, or a small slice of avocado. Serve with tortilla chips and get ready to say "YUM!"
POST IT...in your recipe box & shopping list.
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Back Issue Treasure: July 15th, 1999
These days it seems that every time you turn around they are finding that yet another medical condition is connected in some way to an autoimmune response. If you or a loved one have an autoimmune condition (lupus, APLA, scleroderma, MS, etc) then you should go to this back issue to find out about AARDA. This support organization focuses on autoimmune conditions and will keep you informed of all the latest developments. The back issue also has an article on an easy way to make iced tea, a web site to help you check out nursing homes and hospitals, and much, much more.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
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Missing Child Info: Alicia & Krista Mullen (AKA Hullen)
Alicia is a 1 yr old Caucasian baby with blond hair & blue eyes, her sister Krista is 5 with blond hair & blue eyes. They disappeared from their Austin TX home about a week ago with Julie Mullen (AKA Hullen)who is 5'6" with long brown hair & green eyes, average build. Mrs. Mullen is driving a black four-door 2001 Chevrolet C2500 pickup truck with chrome rims, a chrome tool box and running boards bearing Texas plates 5XTJ51. We've all seen how wonderful it is to help bring a child home this week...let's bring some more smiles to more families. For photos you can go to the poster at... http://www.ncmec.org/cgi-bin/dbmlparser.exe?language=1&casenumber=TXCHM0303004&DBMLFILE=poster.dbml&postertype=c1c2a1&orgcode=101
or go to http://www.ncmec.org click on "Search for Child Photos," then enter in "Mullen" at the bottom, then click on either of the girls' names or "View Poster" under their names.
POST IT...in your car.
Final Words
JOKE
Q: You know why penguins never get married?
A: Cold feet!
QUOTE
"He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for."
--Moroccan Proverb
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AT&T's Community Port
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