Living Rural

My goodness, it can not be … but it is … another Monday! Maxine says it best, “The only thing worse than a Monday is a decaffeinated Monday!” Old Maxine always says what I feel and it is getting scary! My college, AIU, started back today. I am taking Medical Terminology and Accounting. Both classes are very detailed and lots of material to cover in five (5) weeks - wish me luck. The weather has turned cold again … a freeze warning tonight … March 20 was the FIRST DAY of SPRING, right? Daylight savings time screws up everything, doesn’t it! My days and nights are a little mixed up since the change which makes the time to study interesting.   Even with the chill in the air, my “little piece of heaven” is a nice place to be! I’m headed out …Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ here!” 

a picture tell is all.   John works at the Cargill plant in Eddyville, Iowa. 

Wouldn’t it be fitting if this went completely around the world!…..    John Gebhardt’s wife, Mindy, said that this little girl’s entire family was executed.  The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head…but they failed to kill her.  She was cared for in John’s hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing. He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.This, my friends, is worth sharing.  Go for it!!   Please keep this going.  Nothing will happen if you don’t, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we’re doing over there is making a difference.  Even if it is just one little girl at a time. James Gates U. S. Navy   

Has it affected you, a family member, friend, co-worker, or an acquaintance through one of the aforementioned?                                            Chances are that it has, or will. My father-in-law suffered from MS for over 30 years, passing in 1982. He was a brilliant man that could not voice or make his brilliancy known, as his ability to communicate was slowly taken away. Oh, but those eyes!  How they could talk!  For those of us privileged to be close to him, we knew what he meant - each sparkle, each blink, every tear.  I feel privileged to have known him and loved him …. here, it comes …. BUT, I would not wish his life with MS on anyone. 

Official PR Announcement:        

The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC) www.msrc.co.uk and cre8Buzz http://cre8buzz.com/ announce the launch of a unique and inclusive Multiple Sclerosis Community on the Internet, providing not only up to date MS News and Stories, but a place where those affected by Multiple Sclerosis can communicate with others affected by the disease, and the wider public, by means of Online Blogs, Discussion Forums and Net-based social interaction.

To find out more please visit the cre8Buzz Multiple Sclerosis Community at: http://www.cre8buzz.com/multiple_sclerosis

 About the cre8Buzz MS community:

The place for families and friends affected by Multiple Sclerosis to Connect, Share, and Promote.

Connect:

Connect with others with MS. Talk, befriend, engage.

Share:

Share your stories, pictures, ideas experiences, give a little of yourself to others

Promote: 

Promote the wonderful community of MSers, family, friends, and supporters who are all fighting this disease

By partnering,

cre8Buzz/MSRC will create THE single “HUB” for family, friends and those affected by MS to come together and drive public awareness of the disease. By leveraging the power of social networking MSRC and cre8Buzz are excited about the ability to give a voice to those with MS and empower them to interact with others with the disease in a safe and supportive environment, breaking down the barriers of isolation which can occur for those suffering from a chronic disease.

 About cre8Buzz:

cre8Buzz is a social network, designed to connect and promote the voice, talents, and ideas of people and communities to the world. cre8Buzz wants to change the world by bringing people together over common interests, and ideas to provide information, interaction, and entertainment.

About MSRC - Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre:

Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC) is a proactive and innovative charity, passionately committed to supporting anyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis through access to unbiased information and advice. Our approach is to encourage  make choices that are appropriate to their daily lives, empowering them to   potential.

MSRC Services

Personal MS Support

24 Hour Telephone Counselling within the UK on 0800 783 0518 (Option 1)

Specialist MS Advisor

New Pathways Magazine

MS Discussion Boards

 Live MS Chat Room

 MS Information Leaflets  

MSRC Insurance Services

Please Contact Us:

Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre,

7 Peartree Business Centre,

Peartree Road,  Stanway, Colchester, Essex. CO3 0JN

Telephone 01206 505444 Non UK - +441206505444    Fax 01206 505449

Website: www.msrc.co.uk  Email: info@msrc.co.uk    

Special thanks to Antman for buzz’n this info and being a huge part of our world at cre8Buzz.                              Remember, “Ya’ll come back, ya’ hear!”

as I sat thinking, my friend Mona sent this email … talk about timing, pretty good!

Enjoy, please read to the end.

Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this
true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t
waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up
your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can
extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer?
Take a nap.

———————————————————————-

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay
and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more
than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass
(green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your
recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

———————————————————————-

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,
that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even
more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms
up!

———————————————————————-

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to
one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

———————————————————————-

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular
exercise program?

A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!

———————————————————————-

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!!…. Foods are fried these days in vegetable
oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more
vegetables be bad for you?

———————————————————————-

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger: you
should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

———————————————————————-

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the
best feel-good food around!

———————————————————————-

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

———————————————————————-

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! ‘Round’ is a shape!

——————————————————————————–

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you might have had
about food and diets.

And remember:
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather
to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one ha nd - chocolate in the other
- body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO!
What a Ride”

AND……

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on
nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than
Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is what kills you.

Kudos to my friend! Enjoy your afternoon … BUT WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!

Like I said … mercy me!

You know you laughed, OK, it is PG-13, but it is so funny. Girls, especially, if you are there, been there or headed there …

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

Yes, February is National Heart Health Month. I am a member of the Advocacy for the Cure campaign. AHA has made tremendous strides in making the public aware of heart disease and stroke. Our area, the Pee Dee and surrounding counties in South Carolina, have one of the highest death rates due to heart disease and stroke in the nation, yes, in the NATION. This is the reason I have chosen the AHA as my focus this year for volunteerism. “You’re the Cure” as one campaign is known has been instrumental in a letter writing campaign to all legislators, keeping them aware of bills in our legislature concerning these diseases. It has been very successful. We have met with the legislators in our state for breakfast, sharing and getting to know one another.

Now, the AHA is looking for actual stories of how heart disease and/or stroke has impacted lives. I received this letter asking for my help or the help of people in my circle.

Share Your Story of Heart

Dear Pamela:

Our advocacy efforts can make a greater impact with legislators when the message comes from the heart – from people whose lives and families have been touched by heart disease or stroke, or have a personal stake in this fight to save lives. Are you one of these people?

Please share your story with us. Submit your personal account of how heart disease or stroke has affected your life or that of a loved one.

We have been working nonstop during American Heart Month to raise awareness about what can be done to beat heart disease and stroke – and your story is a powerful tool in this fight.

Why do you advocate for the cure? Did you or a loved one survive heart disease or stroke? Are you concerned about the toll cardiovascular disease is taking on our country and the affect it will have on the next generation? We could use your story as part of a future campaign to help fight cardiovascular disease – the No. 1 killer in the U.S.!

There are people just like you, living right in your community, who have already shared their story. Won’t you do the same?

It’s these kinds of personal accounts that really hit home and bring the facts to life for your lawmakers. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help encourage more people to get involved in the fight against cardiovascular disease – so please, share your story with us!

Thanks for your support this American Heart Month … and for all you’ve done to help the American Heart Association save lives.

Sincerely,

Clarissa Garcia
American Heart Association

P.S.- Do you know someone with a great story to share as well? Forward this message on!

Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure.

Sign our “ballot”, simply a contract with yourself to do what YOU can for yourself and your loved ones, you ARE THE CURE!

Healthy Heart!

“Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

it is a true winter day,

crisp and clear with a forecast for colder weather tonight.

WINTER finally made it to South Carolina!

Normally, depression will strike some readers when winter arrives. Why?

The reasons are vast, but most physicians say lack of sunshine/daylight is causing SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers have feelings of sadness, experience lethargy, and fatigue. DO NOT ASSUME it is “winter blues.” SAD is a depression disorder and should be treated. The link above is to the Mayo Clinic site and it has tons of helpful information!

Now it is simple to bask in artificial sunlight in your home or office. Check out this site. LampsUSA

winter, South Carolina, SAD, Mayo Clinic, Lamps USA, depression

If you have knowledge of the meaning of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant- Staphylococcus aureus), then you will appreciate this very simple sheet of facts from the CDC.   MRSA  The most important thing is washing your hands as often as you can. Follow the guidelines on the fact sheet and you and your family should be fine. The reason this has been on my mind  … a family member in the health care field has had several outbreaks. Health care workers need to be especially careful due to contact with patients, bed linens, door knobs, phones, fixtures, etc. Thank goodness, if treated by a physician in the early stages with a series of antibiotics, then recovery is possible. Can it reoccur? Unfortunately, YES ! Be diligent with hygiene, avoid contact, and seek medical attention at first sign of symptoms. (Another good reason for livingrural … not exposed to lots of people and their germs contact, LOL, JK!). I hope you are enjoying 451Press and that you read all (OK, the ones of interest to you) our blogs. The list and links appear at the bottom of each blog page and at 451PRESS . We have professional writers and bloggers who are dedicated to informing you of the very best information possible from art to yoga!  Also, support the writer’s strike! Those writers deserve their fair share of the profits being made because of their writing skills. Can you see my soapbox?  Remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

MRSA, CDC, health care, Staphylococcus, medical treatment, 451PRESS blogs, writers’ strike

Well, from the title I am sure you guessed it … tooth number 18 lost a crown and had to be pulled last Wednesday. It hurt. It still hurts.

I am one of the lucky people with TMJ problems. I have had surgery twice, braces to correct bite, crowns to keep correct bite and hours of physical therapy to help with the pain associated with TMJ problems. I have been pain free for a while, until a gall bladder operation and trouble with the intibation, stretched the joint  and bamm,  TMJ problems again.

The first problems occurred in the late 80’s, my oral surgeon does not want to go in again, the joint is to fragile. I guess ibuprofen will be my friend from now on! At least it helps with the pain and when I have an extra $1000 burning holes in my purse I will have a new splint made to wear to ease the stress on the joint. This is not what I wanted for Christmas!However, I am so grateful to have it out!On this Christmas Eve, may you be warm, safe, full of good food, and remembering the true meaning of Christmas … the birth of a baby in a manger 2000 years ago.Merry Christmas!

tooth, dentist, TMJ, pain, bite splints, Christmas, baby Jesus, gift of Christmas

To my readers, NaBloPoMo, 451Press and to the promise I made myself … to post everyday, 7 days a week for the entire month of November … I had to break that promise/commitment this weekend. Life will sometimes “kick you in the butt” to get your attention and let you know who is in charge! First, read the original post about NaBloPoMohttp://www.livingruralonline.com/nablopomo/ ; then read about my college, AIUonline http://www.aiuonline.edu/. You will be caught up to the present and my apology.

The third session of AIU ended at 11:59:59 PM CT, Saturday, November 10, 2007. My classes this session were Algebra and Computer Systems Management . The computer course was very helpful and not a problem. The Algebra class was quite another story! Anyway, to make a long story a short one … I did not have my assignments completed and began a marathon last weekend playing catch-up which we all know is usually impossible to do. I was giving it my best effort when my daughter called from her doctor’s office on Friday with the news that she was being admitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics and hydration; also, to be seen by an infectious disease doctor. Wham! All concentration and knowledge of my world around me vanished. The mother “thing” took over. Worry. Panic. Crying.

Posting was suddenly moved down the list of priorities by at least 10 other “priorities” and that gets us to … an apology. I am sorry I missed Saturday and Sunday, had I posted it would have said, “Still no answers for Betsy” and I still have no answers. They are “growing cultures” to find out what type of bacteria has invaded her body, un til they have the results, she will remain in the hospital on an intravenous antibiotic (which they are not sure is the “right one”, comforting!)

What else is happening in my rural space … weather is gorgeous, other children are fine, hubby is happy, and TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! So, Happy Birthday to me!

I must listen for the phone, plug away at overdue assignments in algebra, and begin two new classes at AIU … I am not whining … I am “sharing”. Anyway. remember, “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

birthday, NaBloPoMo, AIUonline, health, hospital, bacteria, daughters

My goodness, only day two(2) and I’m late with my post - not a good start,, but correcting the problem NOW.

If I have to pass the buck to someone for blame, it will be ALGEBRA. Yes, I know - algebra is a subject for high school students, freshmen, or math teachers - wrong! If you return to school (late in life, like I have), it is required to complete College Math which is the pseudonym for algebra. My last class of algebra was in 1966. Now, you tell me, how much of that have/should I have retained? I am finding out none! I am not going to let this get the best of me … or you guys. This class ends on November 11th, thank goodness and I will move on to psychology and business. I want to keep you updated on my progress in college, but I do not want to bore you with my personal stuff, day after day. So, enough said, right?

Moving on … how did everyone do with the first day of NaBloPoMo? The blogs I read were excellent, some mentioned it, most most went on business as usual. Most bloggers participating already post everyday or at least five days out of seven, for them it is “business as usual.” For me, this is a challenge I have placed on myself and one I want to accomplish. I told all of you rather than a theme I will be “wingin’ it.” Talking about the things of interest (I hope) pertaining to life in the country!

If you still want to check out what NaBloPoMo go here . I am not sure if you can sign up still, but I think you will be able too.

Until tomorrow … write, write, write … and “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

NaBloPoMo, education, AIU, algebra, college

I will not post today. Our area is in shock over the death of seven(7) students, from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University, in Ocean Isle Beach, NC after a fire destroyed the beach house where they were enjoying a last weekend at the beach. The AP story my be found here

My heart is aching. My physician’s son was one of the students that did not survive. Today will be a day of mourning.

My blogging neighbor at HOUSEHOLD TIPS talked about fire safety here.

Ocean Isle Beach, NC, USC, Clemson, tragedy, fire, mourning, fire safety, Columbia, SC, Florence, SC

I left my rural home on Tuesday to fly to Boston … missed my flight by 30 minutes! One of the drawbacks of country living (twenty miles of country roads and then 40 miles with tourist traffic!) and really hard to explain to the very sick child waiting on you to arrive to offer some TLC.

That was 15 days ago. It was a frustrating, tiring flight experience going up to Portland, ME and returning to Myrtle Beach, SC. So much so, I have not been able to finish this post. You see, I started writing it on Sept. 5 and it’s now Sept. 13 and still can not put the miserable flight experiences in writing. My first writing of this trip will be to the airline that caused the problems. I hope they will offer to mend their ways and offer compensation for the inconveniences I was put through. After thinking about this, I will give them a chance to reply before finishing this post … keep checking in to see how this ends …

Oh, child is fine! She made it to her first day as a senior at MECA! TLC works every time!

Spirit Airlines, Portland ME, Myrtle Beach SC, airlines, flying, travel, Maine College of Art, MECA

YAY ME, I did it … the “it” is completing my first week of class at AIU Online. I’m taking BUS 105, finished two assignments (on TIME, hard to believe, I know) and the second week is underway. I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience, meeting people from across the country and finding out my brain still works.

You may be wondering why I chose AIU … it’s online, all classes are archived, i can go in my PJ’s, my own time schedule (I’m still working on my time management!), material is covered thoroughly but quickly and I’ll have the first part of my degree in August, 2008.

I’m getting out even less now, classes take up more time. Back isn’t doing very good this week. Anyway, just wanted to catch you up! Remember to pray for my daughter on Thursday … she is having her thyroid removed.

OBTW: I made an A on each assignment!

“Y’all come back, ya’ here!”

AIU  Online, college, thyroid surgery

It’s to hot and humid to do anything but sit inside with the AC on high … would someone tell my hubby, please?

He’s decided this is the spring/summer he will do all the landscaping we’ve put off over the years. Granted the yard is looking good and I really appreciate his hard work, but I sit and worry is he going to succumb to the heat! Read about heat exhaustion and heat stroke here: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

My hubby is sixty and I worry. All of us over fifty should really be careful and remember to take frequent breaks, drink plenty of fluids (water is best) and wear long sleeve white shirts. The white shirts help to keep you cooler by letting the air circulate, pull the wetness away from you and protect you from the sun …. dryshirt: DRYSHIRT - White long sleeve- UPF 40

I guess my point is be careful, work wisely in the sun, stay hydrated, use sun screen and wear the proper clothing. The shirt above is a good one to try! Happy yard work and remember - “Y’all come back, ya’ hear!”

summer weather, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke, Dry-shirt