MAKE A NOTE!! -- May 19th, 2004
CIRCULATION - 41,473 (From Around the World! :-)
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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 JUNE 2ND, 2004
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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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My Favorite: Books
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"Our Last Best Shot" for Middle/High Schoolers
Summer is coming and we will find ourselves spending a lot more time with our children. If you have middle/high schoolers, then you might want to get this book BEFORE summer starts; and it may open a whole new window of understanding. "Our Last Best Shot: Guiding Our Children Through Early Adolescence," by Laura Sessions Stepp, is one of the best books I have read about those pre-teen/teen years. But this is not some dry how-to book with rules and steps, Mrs. Stepp uses anecdotes from the lives of children, from all over the country, that she studied over many years. One reason that so many great teachers use parables or stories to convey their messages, is that personal stories stick in our minds so much more than a clinical explanation. I think that any parent, by reading this book, will have a better understanding of the needs of their middle/high school children. I keep saying high school because, although the book is directed more at parents of pre-teens, I think a lot of high schoolers are still going through a lot of these stages. The book is also available in many libraries. If your library doesn't have it, don't be afraid to ask them to purchase it. You can also read an excellent article on the dynamics of middle school girls by the same author at... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55070-2002Feb22.html So what better way to start out the summer than reading a book that will help you understand and get along with your kids better. Just a little encouragement before closing...when she began the book, the author wanted to "minimize the significance of parents and emphasize the importance of other adults, (but) the kids themselves kept leading (her) back to their families." You can make a difference in your child's life, even if things seem bad.
POST IT...on your reading list.
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Easier Blood Draws
For those of us who feel that we become a human pin cushion every time we need lab work, here are some suggestions that I have collected over the years from lab techs to make things easier. I have veins that roll, tend to "blow," & often collapse as soon as they snap that vacuum tube on. Advice that the lab techs have provided, has seemed to make things go a little better. First, let the techs know right up front that you have problem veins. That way they will be less likely to let the "new guy" handle you, and will have the best work on you. Make sure you stay well hydrated, if you are dehydrated, it will be harder to hit the veins. So drink lots of water, or other fluids IF allowed. Most people wake up a little dehydrated in the morning, so be sure to drink a lot first thing if you are having the blood drawn in the morning. A little warmth can bring veins closer to the surface. Some techs will rub the area (friction) to help in this area, or may even apply a warm towel. If your tech isn't up to this, you can rub the area yourself before going in, or use some kind of heat pad. Camping stores sell hand warmers that will heat up on their own. In some cases, the techs may tell you to suggest that future techs use "butterfly" needles, which are a little smaller and less likely to cause problems. Let the techs know which veins have been successful in the past, arms or tops of hands, etc. Be sure to let the techs know if you start feeling dizzy. Most importantly, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR to make sure that the suggestions above are compatible with the tests you are having done. Always, always, check with your doctor first.
POST IT...with your doctor's phone number.
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Kitchen Disposal Tips
We all know what a mess a kitchen disposal problem can be, so here are some ideas to keep them in good health. First, remember that a garbage disposal is NOT a food processor. Many problems are caused by people stuffing things down that have no business going down that hole. Never put anything fibrous like celery, asparagus, etc. in a disposal. Small pieces of food are fine, but large pieces should be thrown into a trash can, not the disposal. To keep the blades sharp, put some ice cubes into the disposal and turn it on. Citrus peels are excellent things for deodorizing the disposal. If you are still having problems with overflowing or clogged drains (whether at your disposal or other drains), try the following before running out to buy the expensive drain cleaners. First, remove the stoppers and clear our as much debris as you can, but NEVER PUT YOUR HANDS INTO A GARBAGE DISPOSAL DRAIN...NEVER! Use a plunger if you can, the idea is to trap air in the plunger and push it down to force the air & water below it against the clog. Then when you pull up, clear any debris that comes up. If that doesn't work, pour 3/4C baking soda down the drain, follow with 1C of vinegar and try to push the stopper down to keep the mixture in the drain. Let sit about 30 min, then pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain. Let sit overnight if possible. Flush with hot water from the faucet. These tips should help keep the blades sharp and the drains clear of gunk. But remember, NEVER EVER PUT ANY PART OF YOUR BODY DOWN A DISPOSAL DRAIN and teach your children to do the same.
POST IT...on the inside of your cabinet under the sink.
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Cicada Tips, Part II
Well, they're out now and will soon be singing and swarming. If you live in
an area where they are active (or live in an area with similar creatures), here
are some additional tips for living through the next few weeks. If you have long
hair, consider keeping it under a hat, or tying it up, while you are outside.
Wear sunglasses when outside. Women might prefer to wear pants while they are
active (ladies who related experiences from 17 yrs ago talked about the cicadas
flying under their dresses). If you can hold off on outside errands or
activities until it is dark, cicadas are less active at night. Keep the windows
of your home & car closed. Have family members use the door to the home that
seems to have the least activity, and keep a broom near the door to sweep any
bugs off before you open the door. Have family members remove their shoes when
they come in the house if they have been walking on any bugs. If you sleep
during the day, invest in some ear plugs. If you have kids, try to stay calm
around the bugs, kids will usually take their cue on how to handle things from
their parents. This is not the time to plan outside activities, but scientists
say that the critters should be gone by the beginning of July. If you are a
business, consider embracing the cicadas by selling t-shirts that say, "I
survived the 17 yr cicadas," or something like that AND your business name. Have
a special cicada menu item, like a green milkshake with red hots, or mint ice
cream with rice krispies & red hots. Or if you are feeling especially brave,
then you can try these actual cicada recipes on the U of MD site, but be sure to
read the health disclaimer before making any...
http://www.urhome.umd.edu/newsdesk/pdf/cicada%20recipes.PDF
If you have a restaurant, some people might come in just to take a look at the
cicada food (I'll pass :-). If you would like to report the cicada activity in
your area, go to...
http://www.msj.edu/cicada/report.html
And if you are nowhere near the cicadas, be thankful, and check out this live
cicada cam site if you like to see what you are missing...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/webcams/cicadacam.htm
POST IT...on your calendar.
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Recipe: Crabbits
Mince 16 oz pkg of imitation crab meat (or you can do half crab meat and half tuna), add 1/2C finely chopped celery, 1-2 chopped green onions, 1/2C mayonnaise, and 1 tsp lemon juice, and mix all together well. Toast 8 slices of your favorite bread in the toaster, then place on a baking sheet, and divide crab mixture evenly over the pieces of toast. Sprinkle with a good amount of shredded cheddar cheese, and sprinkle real bacon bits (can buy in a jar in the salad dressing section) on top of the cheese. Place baking sheet under broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 min. Salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy. :-)
POST IT...in your recipe box and shopping list.
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Back Issue Treasure: May 1st, 2000
Check out this back issue for another fun recipe to do for Easter (along the same lines as the cookies above), along with Easter Egg Hunt tips. Traveling for the holidays, check out our travel helps. How do you decide if you need a stand alone freezer?...we have the info in this back issue. Have a preschooler and looking for some easy ways to incorporate learning activities into their lives?...we have some advice on that as well.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
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Missing Child Info: Joshua Antone
Joshua Antone (5 yr old, white male, brown hair/eyes, 4', 50 lbs)was abducted
by his non-custodial mother, Melissa Lynn Stewart (22-yr-old, white female,
brown hair/eyes, 5'9", 126 lbs) from Pickens, SC, USA on May 1st, 2004. A felony
warrant was issued for the abductor. They may also be traveling in the company
of an adult male relative and an adult female relative. They may have traveled
out of state in a green Pontiac Grand Am with Ohio license plates DBW3856. The
abductor has a small tattoo on her back. Go to this link for photos...
http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=987813&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
OR go to
http://www.ncmec.org, click on "More Search
Options," then enter in "Antone" under "Last Name" at the bottom of the page,
then click on link.
POST IT...in your businesses or in your car, esp. if you are in & around SC
or Ohio.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Some of you have tried to access files of children featured in past issues without success. This usually means the children were found and the files were removed.
Final Words
JOKE (By Andy K.)
Why couldn’t the cicada sing? He was a sick-cada.
For more cicada jokes, go to...
http://frontier.cincinnati.com/comments/threadView.asp?threadid=40
QUOTE
Years ago I read a story comparing a man's character to a sinking ship. I
have searched & searched, but have been unable to find the actual quote again. I
liked the story so much, that I've tried to put it in my own words below. If
anyone has the original quote, I'd be happy to print that in a future issue. The
quote as I remember it...
A man's character is like a ship. A ship may travel along looking like a
beautiful thing. But if the ship starts to sink and it has rats, then the rats
begin to come to the surface. It isn't like the rats were suddenly created; the
sinking only revealed the rats that were already there. It is the same with the
character of a man (or woman). When a crisis comes and a decision to do what is
right or wrong must be made, the character that was already there, good or bad,
is revealed. It isn't that the person suddenly "became" a hero or coward, the
crisis has only revealed the truth that was already there.
It is time that certain people stop blaming orders, others, or circumstances for
their actions, instead of taking responsibility for the choices they make.
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