MAKE A NOTE!! -- July 15th, 1999

CIRCULATION 2,171+

A Free Twice Monthly Newsletter with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics

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In This Issue:

NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the newsletter, cut out each entry & post it at these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it.

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A NOTE TO OUR INTERNATIONAL READERS

As the number of our readers continues to grow, I am aware that many of you are scattered far and wide around the world. After the last issue, for example, I received a very kind letter praising the Church & Kids article....from Western Australia, half way around the world from me. The internet is truly an amazing thing. While I try to always have at least some things in the newsletter that will be helpful to everyone, I would love it if our international readers would let me know if there is a corresponding web site for their country when I do an article. So in this issue, I have a couple of articles on how to find a good nursing home and/or hospital in the USA. So if you have a similar web site for your country I would be happy to make the info available as space allows. POST IT...by your computer and thanks for your support.

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AARDA

This stands for the American Autoimmune and Related Diseases Association and I highly recommend it for anyone with an autoimmune (or related) disorder.  Some that you may have heard of are Lupus, certain types of arthritis, some hepatitis, some vasculitis, Anti-PhosphoLipid Antibodies (APLA) Syndrome (known as Hughes' Syndrome in some countries), Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and far too many more to list here. Due to the large number of Lupus and MS patients, they have their own very wonderful support organizations. But if you have one of the lesser known autoimmune conditions, as I do (APLA), then I highly recommend this organization. They have a newsletter that keeps you up to date on the latest treatments and also alerts you to clinical trials that you may be eligible for. For more information go to http://www.aarda.org or call (313)371-8600. They ask for a $24/yr donation to receive the newsletter, but will work with you if you cannot afford it. If you have a rare condition that is NOT autoimmune, try the National Organization for Rare Disorders at http://www.rarediseases.org Being an informed patient is one of the best ways to take care of yourself.  POST IT...by your computer or phone.

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ICED TEA MADE EASY

Now y'all lissen up ya heah (translation: Now you all listen up you hear-in "southern"). Okay, I grew up in SOUTHERN California (no, I do not surf, have blonde hair, a tan, or blue eyes :)). BUT I did go every summer to visit family in the true south when I was young, then married an Army man & we have been stationed in sweet ice tea country for the last 18 years! So, I did acquire a taste for sweet tea. And have you heard that regular tea is also good for you, not just green tea. And you can get Decaf now too. So here is an easy way to make iced tea, sweetened or not, in your microwave.  Find either a plastic or glass bowl or pitcher that will fit in your microwave. Place 4 Family size (large) tea bags (usually they come in packages of 24 bags to a box), 2 Cups of water, and whatever amount of sugar you prefer into the container. Cook on HIGH for 4 min, then let steep for 8 minutes. If you have added sugar then stir several times during the 8 minutes. Fish out the tea bags & discard, then add water (6C more) to make a gallon, chill or add ice to serve. POST IT...in your recipe box.

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NURSING HOMES

While I hope that most people will end up staying with family instead of a nursing home, I know that there are times when the amount of medical attention needed becomes just too much for a family. With that in mind, here is a Medicare web site where you can go and check out the record of nursing homes across the country. It will tell you about any violations in care, if it was a one time thing, or a pattern, and how serious it was. Check it out at http://www.medicare.gov and click on Nursing Homes Compare. POST IT...on your computer, and possibly with the medical insurance cards of relatives you care for.

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HOSPITALS

U. S. News and World Report have also recently come out with their annual list of the best hospitals in the country. They asked doctors around the country, regardless of cost, to list what they thought was the best hospital in general and for particular specialties. You can also look them up by region. Go to http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/tophosp.htm POST IT...on your computer, & possibly with medical insurance cards.

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JOKE

Five-yr-old Bobby was told by his father that he would get hurt if he kept jumping on the bed. "I won't get hurt," Bobby said & kept jumping. His father also told him he might break the bed, but Bobby said he would not.  Finally dad gave up and said, "Okay, but you'll have to live with the consequences." Bobby suddenly stopped bouncing and said, "I don't want to go live with them Daddy, I don't even know the Consequences." :)

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QUOTE (COURTESY OF CORRINE S.-This is a bit long, but it was just too good NOT to pass  on.)

Many parents are hard pressed to explain to their youth why some music, movies, books, & magazines are not acceptable material for them to bring into the home or to listen to or see. One parent came up with an original idea that is hard to refute. The father listened to all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie. It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. Even church members said it was great. It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex-they never really showed it. The language was pretty good-the Lord's name was only used in vain 3 times in the whole movie. The teens did admit there was a scene where a building & a bunch of people were blown up, but the violence was just the normal stuff. It wasn't too bad. And, even if there were a few minor things, the special effects were fabulous and the plot was action packed. However, even with all the justifications the teens made for the 13 rating, the father still wouldn't give in. He didn't even give his children a satisfactory explanation for saying, "No". He just said, "No!" A little later on that evening the father asked his teens if they would like some brownies he had baked. He explained that he'd taken the family's favorite recipe and added a little something new. The children asked what it was.  The father calmly replied that he had added dog poop. However, he quickly assured them, it was only a little bit. All other ingredients were gourmet quality & he had taken great care to bake the brownies at the precise temperature for the exact time. He was sure the brownies would be superb.  Even with their father's promise that the brownies were of almost perfect quality, the teens would not take any. The father acted surprised. After all, it was only one small part that was causing them to be so stubborn. He was certain they would hardly notice it. Still the teens held firm and would not try the brownies. The father then told his children how the movie they wanted to see was just like the brownies. The movie industry would have you believe just a little bit of evil won't matter. But, the truth is even a little bit of poop makes the difference between a great treat and something disgusting and totally unacceptable. The father went on to explain that even though the movie industry would have us believe that most of today's movies are acceptable are for adults and youth, they are not.  Now, when this father's children want to see something that is of questionable material, the father merely asks them if they would like some of his special dog poop brownies. That closes the subject.

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FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK

RE: Free or Inexpensive Summer Fun

Debi of Simple Times, and author if "Frozen Assets", has told me that she now has a link on her web site to the list of Free and Inexpensive Summer Fun (that I lost when my computer crashed). Check it out at http://members.aol.com/Dsimple/index.html and sign up for her newsletter while you are at it, it is a great resource.

RE: Cholesterol Ratio

Harriet S. wrote and said, "Thank you so much for your information on cholesterol ratio. I, too, have a problem with 'inflated' readings. My HDL is 61 (which is quite good), but my doctor is having a fit about my going on medication. I refuse (have you read the side effects of that stuff???). I have eagerly looked for more material to share with him..to back up my 'instinct'. As usual, your information is a blessing."

RE: Finding Old Classmates

One reader wrote (name lost in computer crash) with another resource for finding lost classmates from high school or college. Check it out at http://www.alumni.net

RE: Church & Kids

From Connie N., "I enjoyed the last 2 newsletters very much. Great advice on kids' worship service/public place/classroom attention. I love it that you are coming from a Christian viewpoint. I tell my children all the time that they should do the 'right things' because THEY ARE WORTH IT, and being good people glorifies and rewards this blessing of having life given to us by God. They really understand this. I give treats here-and-there when they least expect it (and are not asking) for their unexpected 'acts of kindness' to say, 'I'm proud you did this with a good heart and not for any reason personal or selfish.'"

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Thanks again for all your input. Please pass the newsletter on to anyone you think might be interested. 

God bless,

Sharon ^i^

Make-A-Note@worldnet.att.net

Editor, Make a Note

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