With the rise of handy listening devices which facilitate music being played for many activities during the day, one is confronted with decisions never before considered practical. Example 1: you are going for a five mile run on a Sunday morning in some pretty municipal park. It takes you 52 minutes on a good day, plus a few minutes for stretching and whatnot. You are no longer relegated to really long cassettes. Now you can get a 99 CD player that is the size of a dime and costs $15 and runs with Microsoft software, and for an extra $1.50 you can get stock prices and world headlines funneled directly into your cortex. Example 2: on a warm August evening you feel like swimming half a mile in your pool in the backyard. So you do. You have a 125 CD player hooked up to play through speakers lining the pool walls and floor. For an extra $2.50 you can get holographic projections of Esther Williams synchronized swimming routines. Example 3: in your private gym with your private trainer, you have a 199 CD player which will cater to your every need. For a quarter you can also get random voice recordings of Beat poets interspersed with Britney Spears clips from her “Diary…” special.

Two themes run through these examples: a need to identify a grouping of CDs which will fulfill a predetermined function; and differing requirements for music which will catalyze different activities. For instance, if you are running for an hour or swimming laps for 45 minutes, you don’t want one minute songs that are dissonant and aggressive. You want long happy songs that absorb your attention. However, if you are about to do some heavy lifting or work on your jabbing, you may want something with an edge, verging on the confrontational. Following, some CD and activity pairings.

Lifting, Crunches, Stretching

Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet6ths, Wasp’s NestRoyal Trux, Thank YouMinistry, In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Showing UpRevolting Cocks, Linger Ficken’ Good & Other Barnyard Oddities

Swimming

Lush, SplitTortoise, Millions Now Living Will Never DiePsychedelic Furs, Psychedelic FursCan, Cannibalism 1Edith Frost, Calling Over Time

Running

Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back HomeMary Lou Lord, Mary Lou LordBruce Springsteen, NebraskaBruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of TownJohn Prine, John Prine

Cooking & Drinking

Daftpunk, HomeworkBeastie Boys, Ill CommunicationMC Solaar, Prose CombatSerge Gainsbourg, Comic StripBats, Courage

Organizing Things/Cleaning Things

Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetters, Eastwood Rides AgainEnnio Morricone, Legendary Italian WesternsMassive Attack, Blue LinesBob Marley & The Wailers, African HerbsmanStan Getz, Bossa Nova-Vol. 53-Verve Jazz

Often people ask me, “How can I get my family to eat soy?” or “How do I prepare soy, how do I serve it?” When learning my background, some often remark, “Well, you’ve been a vegetarian for fifteen years. It’s easy for you to eat soy. My family, eat meat and hardly any vegetables at all. What will I look like trying to make them some tofu?”

Take heart, I understand how you feel. Soy products are considered mystery food even by some vegetarians. At the heart of the issue is taste: after a lifetime of eating meat and dairy products, certain soy “imitations are bound to taste funny. Also, I get the feeling that a lot of people think that soy is only for vegetarians and vegans. It’s not. There are many ways to integrate soy into a meat-based diet slowly with simple, basic recipes.

Cow’s milk is a basic staple of the American diet and a vastly over-rated part of American children’s diets. Although it is not neccessary, many people wrongly believe that cow’s milk is a fundamental part of their child’s diet. It isn’t, and is easily replaced by soy milk. That is one way to bring soy into your diet. Soymilk also comes in different flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, as well as unflavored. Children generally accept the change easily and find soy milk to taste very good. It might take adults a while longer to appreciate the taste, but this can be helped along by using soy milk in coffee and in recipes that call for cow’s milk, like cakes, cookies, etc.

Another way to get soy into your diet is by using soy protein crumbles or “fake” hamburger in recipes that call for ground beef. This might include tacos, lasagna, and casseroles. The texture is thicker, more denser than ground beef or ground turkey, and due to the spices and other flavorings in such recipes the taste is virtually unnoticed. Soy by itself tends to be bland which makes it appealing for many recipes as this contributes to it’s absorbing flavor easily. Most big chain supermarkets carry this product or other type of soy product these days, you can also pick up a wider variety of soy stuff at health food stores and food co-ops.

When I first heard about ear candling, I pictured someone lighting a candle and dripping the wax into my ear! I thought, no way! After talking to an ear candling professional, however, I learned a little more about the technique and the benefits, and I decided to give it a try.

What Is Ear Candling?

Ear candling is a relaxing, very comfortable way to remove excess earwax, bacteria, fungus and yeast from your ear. It’s a wonderful alternative to having that burst of water flooding your ear, a procedure most of us knew and dreaded when children, whether at the hands of good ol’ Doctor Mom or at the doctor’s office. Candling is less expensive, definitely less invasive and works better at removing the heavy impacted wax than the traditional method of forcing water into the ear canal. Ear candling also detoxifies the sinus, lymphatic and other systems by realigning the flow of cranial fluids. It’s even thought to remove remnants of past infections. One medical journal reported that the types of bacteria we fight in our ears include streptococcus pneumonia, staphylococcus aureus, anaerobic bacteria and influenza A and B.

The ear is full of intricate crevices, so debris can really stack up! The accumulation can create a breeding ground for problems as well as interfere with hearing. A lifetime of accumulated wax can block incoming sound waves, pile up against the ear ducts and may explain some of the hearing problems we develop as we get older. Reports show that 20 percent of adults between 65 and 74 have hearing problems .

Candling can be done on people of any age. Children, even babies, can benefit. Inner ear infection is one of the top reasons children are admitted to hospitals. Ear candling has been used to treat chronic ear infections and to avoid ear tube placement.

How Does Ear Candling Work?

The ear “candle” is actually a fabric cone covered with wax, perhaps eight to 10 inches long, with one end tapering to a small open point and the other end a wider opening. You, the “candle-ee,” lie on your side and the smaller end of the cone is inserted into the mouth of the ear canal. This creates a seal. The wider end of the cone is lit, and the vapors of smoke travel into the ear canal, warming the pores and softening the earwax. It is important that the candle block the entire auditory canal so air cannot get by. It must create a “seal.” Incorrect placement is indicated when wisps of smoke leak around the ends of the candle. It’s not necessary to push too hard to attain this seal, so be careful not to use too much force. The shape of the ear and the cone should create a natural seal with a few minor adjustments, not force.

The flame of the candle creates a vacuum or “draw,” which pulls the wax, candida, yeast and debris out of the ear and up into the bottom of the cone. The vacuum is caused by the mixture of warm air from the flame and the colder air moving through the hollow chamber of the cone. The movement and compression between the ear canal and the cone generate airflow with increasing velocity, literally sucking all the bad stuff out.

As the earwax and other debris are drawn from the ear into the cone, the air flow can become disrupted, so some recommend removing the candle and tapping out the contents periodically through the process. The cone may be inserted through an aluminum pie plate (or paper plate covered with aluminum foil) to protect the face and hair. As the top of the cone burns down, it must be snipped off safely to avoid burning the candle-ee. Usually a bowl of water is kept handy, and the candler brings the bowl close to the cone. The material that is snipped off the burning cone falls into the bowl. Mark the cone before starting four inches from the small end and don’t burn below this line.

From one to three candles are typically used for each ear. The number can vary depending on the age of the candle-ee, the type of problem he or she is experiencing, and the frequency of candling. Candling usually takes from 15 to 20 minutes per candle, so provide a comfortable place for the candle-ee to recline. The vacuum sound is much like the gentle hum one hears when a seashell is placed against the ear. Some candlers also massage the area surrounding the ear as the treatment progresses, which is very pleasant and relaxing.

Some of the benefits reported are: better hearing, absence of noises in the ears, better lymphatic circulation and pressure regulation, less irritation of sinus and relief of vertigo.

After candling, gently rinsing the ears and placing a couple drops of herbal garlic oil into the ear is recommended (see recipe below). The normal wax will be replaced within 24 hours, so during this period, protect the ears from wind, cold and excessive water.

A Bit of History

The ear candling technique is centuries old, dating back to 2500 B.C., though the holistic community has rediscovered it in the past decade. It was thought to have originated with the Egyptians, used for spiritual as well as physical cleansing. Besides cleaning all the accumulated junk from the ear, it was believed that the spirit centers and auras would be opened and cleared from candling as well.

Parchment scrolls discovered in the Orient also describe the ear candling procedure. This ancient therapy may have been developed with the domestication of the honeybee, as beeswax was used to coat cylinders made primarily of linen from flax. Originally, the Egyptians used hollow reeds. Today, ear candles resemble a large straw. Although there are commercial differences, they are usually made of 100 percent unbleached cotton fabric coated with purified paraffins and/or beeswax. Some contain herbs and oils.

A Couple of Success Stories

My 81-year-old aunt was complaining about not being able to hear her radio next to the bed when she settled down to sleep at night. She was going to make an appointment at the doctor’s to get fitted for a hearing aid. I offered to candle her ears, and she agreed to give it a try. I don’t want to be “gross” about what came out into the cone, but let it suffice to say that my aunt called me the next day and told me she was able to hear perfectly again. She thought it was a miracle!

A mother called me to see if I could candle her five-year-old daughter’s ears. She and her husband had divorced and shared custody. The father lived in the mountains, and the mother “down the hill.” The little girl was experiencing chronic ear infections and was unable to “clear” her ears from all the traveling to and from. It was a little tricky candling such tiny ears, but the candling did help with her ear pain.

Ear Oil Recipe
(From “Herbal Teas: 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality,” by Kathleen Brown, published by Storey Books, Pownal, VT)

This is an antiseptic herbal oil. It doesn’t have a long shelf life, so discard after one week. To use, gently warm one teaspoon at a time. Saturate half of a cotton ball with warm oil and place in the ear canal. Use the other half of the cotton ball to hold the oil-drenched part in place.

? cup olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, freshly crushed
? teaspoon pure tea tree essential oil
? teaspoon pure lavender essential oil

Put the olive oil in a small clean jar and then put the jar in a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water. Gently warm the oil. Turn off the heat, add the crushed garlic, stir and cover the jar. Let it steep one to two hours. Strain out the garlic and add the essential oils.

DISCLAIMER: Ear candles are a home remedy and should not take the place of medical treatment. They make no medical claims and are not a medical device.

To my cigarette:
Well my better half says he can picture peace in the Middle East and a lasting truce in Northern Ireland more easily than he can picture me without my cigarettes. The truth is that no one can picture me without my cigarettes at all. Everyone thought that was funny and laughed heartily, but my little grandson didn’t. That night he asked me to stop smoking so the world would be at peace.

Well I can’t bring peace to the world, but I sure would like my grandson to believe that I somehow hold an important key to things. Somehow, my cigarettes are not as appealing any more. So old buddy, when I light my last one on Friday, I won’t look back. We’re through. I may miss you now and then, but I have to do this for me, and to show my family that I care more for them than I do for you. Simona from the UK

Dear “Friend”
In the beginning, I sought an escape from a bothersome college professor who would not let me enter the students’ smoking lounge because I wasn’t a smoker. So I took up smoking. What a smart move that was. I got away from the professor and felt so free. I was eighteen then.

Over the years, I could count on you to be there whenever I felt pressure and stress, which was on most days. I could count on you to be a constant companion and it was fun to feel part of the smoking gang. That fun became expensive and I began to resent paying more and more for you. I decided to quit, but somehow could not. I realized then what a hold you had on me. I hated not being in control of myself. I used to think you were a friend, but a friend would not hold me hostage, control me, and enslave me as you do, nor endanger my health. I have come to depend on you, but I will overcome this. I really don’t want you in my life any more. Annie

Tim says
“I never thought much about it before. I’ve been smoking all my life except for the first ten years, as has my wife almost. As people around us gave it up and asked us why we continued to blow money on cigarettes, we gave weaker and weaker answers. When I learned about all the cr*p that’s added to smokes, and find out that I’m supposedly an addict, I’m not so interested anymore.

We caught our kids lighting one up behind the cottage and I almost snapped. So we’re going to attend a quitting program together. I don’t want my kids to face what I’m going through. It’s time to stop the cycle. So to our cigarettes, I say enough! You’ve had us in your clutches for too long. You’re just not cool any more.”

Low self-esteem, unrealistic expectations and self-loathing are all products of the ideal beauty image projected in America. These images have damaged women to the point where they willingly subject themselves to painful treatments, plastic surgery and expensive skincare products and cosmetics.

The skincare and cosmetic product aspect of the beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar a year business providing to women “hope in a jar” or tube. Out of the many large upscale cosmetic companies like Lancome, Este Lauder and Clinique only four cater to African-American women and even less addresses the needs of other women of color. I wonder, in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society like ours, how this is possible. I find the biggest offenders to be department stores.

Even though most carry products, foundation particularly, in colors that are appropriate for women of color they only use European models in their commercials and print ads. As a beauty advisor for a major cosmetic company I find many women of color patronizing lines that don’t even find it necessary to include women of color in their counter displays promoting a new product or new colors for the season. These companies gladly take our money but refuse to use women of color in their ad campaigns to let us know that their products are for women of color too and that our patronage is appreciated.

Is it ignorance or blatant bigotry? I think it’s a little of both. According to Business Trends Analysts statistics show white baby boomers, the main purchasing demographic for most cosmetic companies are approaching the end of their cosmetic buying years. While African- American women, who are younger than average are still in their cosmetic purchasing prime.

Some of the largest cosmetic lines will indeed feel the pressure as the ethnic makeup of the United States changes. By the year 2020 32% of the US population will be people of color. The fastest growing ethnic groups according to Business Trends Analysts are Asian-Americans, Hispanic Americans and American Indians with Caucasians growing the least. By the year 2050 the US population will have a “minority majority”. States like California, Florida and New York have already experienced the switch.

In the not so distant future mainstream cosmetic companies will have to change their paradigm and create and market products that will meet the varied needs of women of color or else they won’t survive.

I must admit cosmetic companies mostly sold in drug and discount stores like Revlon, Maybelline and Covergirl have risen to the occasion and have incorporated products for women of color and also feature them as spokeswomen. But will higher priced and more prestigious companies occupying the aisles of department stores follow suit? We have yet to see.

That comes as a shock for those of us who grew up thinking that medical society doctors is noble and humane. Maybe it is, but what is noble and humane about shutting people out of life saving treatment simply because they have little or no insurance? In the movies and in story books, they were the good guys, they were the heroes, they didn’t let the lack of money stand in the way of helping those who were sick. Hospitals and their staff were nurturing, their business was making people healthy, saving lives. Now, they are in the business of making money. Ask anyone who has become sick or who has had a loved one has become sick with little or no insurance and you will find out quickly how disposable people are. Oh, there was a time when you could get a little help and understanding. At one time you could depend on your physician to be genuinely concerned about your health.

The movie “John Q” starring Academy Award winning actor Denzel Washington, dramatizes how de-sensitized our healthcare system has become. The fact that hsopitals were put on alert when the movie opened speaks volumes. The new reality is-if you don’t have the means, you don’t count and that mentality is not exclusive to healthcare. Our country is full of sick people. Good people who need help but can’t get it. Is it fair that the friendly, neighborhood, serial killer can get medical attention because his job provides healthcare and you can’t because yours doesn’t?

I’ll use myself as a perfect example: A few years ago, when I was preparing for my then fiance’s arrival from England, I had a flare. I was working for a small software company in downtown Denver for about six weeks. This was a new and permanent position, after a string of temporary jobs, so I had not been there long enough to qualify for insurance. I knew I could not afford to stay home and get better because I could not afford, so I wasn’t taking, the medications that would keep my condition stabilized. The only one I could afford was prednisone, which is relatively cheap, so the lack of proper medications and stress probably contributed to the flare.

Soon my condition was so bad that at one point, all I could do was get up and drag myself to work and then drag myself back home and sleep until the next morning so I could do it again and it was getting harder and harder. I finally went to see my doctor and she reluctantly took some test (because I was uninsured) and gave me the bad news that my liver was storing iron and it was causing a form of hepatitis and it was very serious. She never mentioned that I should be hospitalized, just that it required medical attention, which is what I thought she was. Her remedy was for me to increase my prednisone, quit my job and rest as much as possible. Two weeks later, I was getting worse, so I called her to let her know that new symptoms were taking place and she finally told me to check myself into the hospital. I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, sinusitis, dehydration, muscle fatigue and a host of other problems. I had wittled down to 85 lbs. After a few days of steroids and antibiotics, my condition stabilized and I was released.

My fiance’ was worried that I might not make it, so he surprised me by coming over earlier than planned. Coming from a country where healthcare is a given, he didn’t understand the way I was being treated and because I didn’t understand it, I couldn’t explain it to him. Not long after that, my legs gave out on me and I was told that I needed an MRI to find out what was going on but because I had no insurance, I could not have the $800.00 procedure. My physicians answer to the problem was to stick an band-aid in it, i.e., stick me in a wheel chair and give me pain killers and come back when you have insurance.

I couldn’t get insurance because I had no job. My new husband’s job with IBM, was contractual so he wasn’t offered insurance. The Social Services dept. at the hospital, told me that there really is no way to expedite medical insurance for me, because we had to wait for some medical board to go over my records to determine whether or not I was disabled. I was already going through an appeal process with Disability and they couldn’t help me until I was approved. All of these entities knew how precarious my situation was and were all unified in their refusal to help me.

There was a certain, sympathetic tone to every rejection but the one I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that my doctor, whom I had been seeing for years, was going to let me deteriorate and I was extremely hurt and depressed. I thought that we had a common goal, a relationship and my dillusion was a slap in the face. It was apparent that I really wasn’t important enough to help, quality of life meant nothing. It was a scary, humbling and degrading experience and one that I have experienced many times. Just like money can buy you a lawyer that will ensure justice, it can buy you a doctor that cares and a long high quality life.

Sure enough, when I returned with insurance a few months later, my physician’s attitude, my options, her level of committment, completely changed. By this time my legs and whatever was wrong with them, had improved but in case it happened again, here is a nice orthopedic surgeon that can help you. I discovered while she was writing out a nice pile of prescriptions, that there were certain medications she thought I should be taking but because she didn’t think I could afford them, she didn’t offer them as options.

So I had to be near death in order to get medical attention and even then it was reluctant and almost too late. That situation might have been prevented and not so costly if people weren’t making decisions about healthcare based on ones socio-economic situation. Just because a person doesn’t have money or access to insurance doesn’t mean that their lives are any less important than someone who does.

Doctors and administrators say that healthcare is expensive and they can not afford to prescribe costly procedures on people who can not pay. After all, they gotta eat too. This attitude probably wasn’t so prevalent before big companies starting buying up hospitals and creating a bottom line. Our politicians make it apparent that this is a problem but have yet to do anything about it.

When a person loses their insurance due to job loss, they have three options: Private insurance, Cobra (a law that provides continuation coverage requirements applicable to group health plans). Cobra was a component of the massive Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 and became law COBRA became law in 1986, or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) for households with children younger than 18 and annual income under 30,000.

The options for health insurance becomes less as we get older, just when it is needed. Many are caught in a situation where they are too old to get insurance but too young for Medicare. Medicare has decreased the amounts it reimburses physicians and pharmacy’s, so some are refusing to treat new Medicare patients. That can be devastating when you’ve built a trust with a particular doctor and you have to find someone who may or may not be as good and does not know your history.

* Coenzyme Q10–90 mg. daily is generally agreed upon. CoQ10, as it is commonly known, improves cellular oxygenation. Cancer patients usually have low oxygen levels.
* Selenium–200 mcg. daily. A powerful free radical scavenger, it also aids in digestion. One study found that those who took 200-mcg cut their rate of overall cancer by 39 percent and their rates of lung, prostate, and colon cancers nearly in half.
* Multi Vitamin including Vitamins A and E, B Complex and C.
* Herbs including green tea, pau d’arco, cat’s claw, and Essiac tea.
* Dr. James F. Balch, MD, in his book, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, would include several other things, such as garlic, melatonin, natural beta-carotene, shark cartilage, and maitake and shitake or reishi. All these things, plus some, are listed in his book. He also recommends not eating animal protein.

According to Prevention’s Natural Healing Guide 2008, these three are on the cutting edge of cancer research:

* resveratrol–a substance found in ordinary grapes, which inhibits cancer growth by preventing three things: the start of DNA damage in a cell, the transformation of a normal cell into a cancerous one, and the growth and spread of tumor cells.
* catechins–the antioxidants found in tea, especially green tea.
* soy–contain high amounts of substances called isoflavones.

In my family experience with cancer, my Dad has taken the CoQ10, selenium, multi vitamin, liquid minerals, green tea, and colloidal silver. Why the silver? Well, some cancers are thought to be caused by a virus. Colloidal Silver is a natural antibiotic, which targets virus cells and the bad bacteria, and you don’t become immune to it like prescription antibiotics. You also don’t have the side effects of prescription drugs. Dad has done very well, by the way.

“Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide” by Michael Castleman suggests these for prevention: alfalfa, apple, chaparral, garlic and ginseng. For cancer treatment, chaparral and mistletoe. Mistletoe can slow the heart rate and affect pressure. If you have heart disease, consult your physician before using it.

No matter which supplements you choose to take, all agree that diet plays a major role in the treatment of any disease. As Rex Russell, MD, says in his book “What The Bible Says About Healthy Living”, you can’t go wrong if you eat the foods God created for you, whether you supplement or not.

The most effective cycle duration is either 12-months or 6-months. One reason is simply because you can break the year into 2 equal cycles; it’s easy to track. The other reason is that you need to allow your body to get everything it can out of each phase of the cycle. You’ll be losing some benefit with anything less than a 2-month phase.

The relative beginner to strength training should adopt the 12-month cycle. As a beginner, you’ll make good gains for the first year without having to follow a “complex” training plan. Since your body has never really experienced a consistent strength program, you’ll more than likely easily achieve good gains. Enjoy the feeling and try to learn about your body.

If you’re past the beginner stage, you need to adopt the 6-month cycle. You’re going to have to start “shocking” your muscles into further strength growth. Look on the bright side, though, because this is where the fun begins by incorporating different exercises and set patterns.

Each phase of the cycle should be broken into 3 equal parts (4 months each for the 12-month cycle and 2 months each for the 6-month cycle). Phase 1 is the preparation phase and incorporates the use of lighter weights and higher reps (12 to 18 per set for big muscle groups {legs, chest, back} and 10 to 12 reps for smaller muscle groups {arms, shoulders, calves, forearms}).

The focus of this phase is to prepare your muscles for the next phase by strengthening your tendons and ligaments and building a good muscle foundation. Unless you’re a beginner, you may not gain any strength during this phase, but you will benefit. You will definitely tone your muscles, prepare a good support structure and become mentally “hungry” to get to the next phase.

Phase 2 is described as the strength phase and incorporates the use of heavier weights and less reps (10 to 12 per set for big muscle groups {legs, chest, back} and 8 to 10 reps for smaller muscle groups {arms, shoulders, calves, forearms}). This rep scheme provides the best potential for muscle strength, definition and shape. You should be really geared up for this phase and hit your workouts with “hunger”. If you’re feeling really good and strong, throw in a little bit of exercise variety and see what happens.

This is the phase where you have to really try and “listen” to your body. If you’re feeling motivated but don’t think you’re getting everything out of your workouts, ask yourself these questions: Do I need to change around my exercise scheme? Do I need to add some exercises? Am I starting to overtrain? How is my nutrition and sleep patterns? Do I need to eat a little more? Monitor yourself closely. You should peak out and look your best during the middle to end of this phase. By the way, you should begin feeling wiped out by the end of this phase. Which brings us to the next phase.

Phase 3 is described as the growth phase and incorporates the use of even heavier weights and fewer reps (8 to 10 per set for big muscle groups {legs, chest, back} and 6 to 8 reps for smaller muscle groups {arms, shoulders, calves, forearms}). Also, this is the time to decrease the intensity of your workouts. Give you body a chance to recover from phase 2. You may want to even cut out a few sets.

Take a little more time between each set so you can push a little more weight (with good form) with probably fewer reps. You should get your biggest muscle mass gains during this phase. You’re going to be expending less calories during this phase (doing less reps and sets), so be aware of your diet. Your muscles should become more “full” with the added rest, heavier weight and lower rep scheme. After all, you’re in the growth phase and will be starting phase 1 with added strength and muscle.

Adopting this “cyclic” approach puts you into a routine and gives you a roadmap to follow down your road of fitness. Does it work for everyone? Absolutely not. However, the human body (and mind) needs to have different experiences: building a foundation, experiencing intensity, recovering. We don’t achieve our “best” by doing the same thing day in and day out. We need some variety; it’s good for the body and mind.

* Run a cool mist vaporizer at baby’s bedside while he/she sleeps. Change clothing and bedding dampened by the mist to prevent chilling.
* Tilt the baby’s mattress so that their head is raised slightly higher than their body.
* Encourage the baby to drink plenty of fluids, at least 2-3 ounces every 1 to 2 hours while awake.
* If the baby has a fever, Acetaminophen Infant Drops (Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol) may be given every 4 to 6 hours. For best effect, give a dose based on the baby’s weight:
o 6-11 lbs: 40mg (1/2 dropperful Infant Drops)
o 12-17 lbs: 80mg (1 dropperful Infant Drops or 1/2 teaspoon Elixir)
o 18-23 lbs: 120mg (1 1/2 dropperful Infant Drops or 3/4 teaspoon Elixir)
* Watch the baby’s breathing closely.

Call Your Doctor or Return to the Emergency Department If Your Child:

* seems to be having more trouble with breathing
* wheezing is worse and/or breathing is fast
* the stomach sucks in as the baby breathes in and the nostrils flare open
* the skin color is pale or grayish
* seems to have shortness of breath following a cough
* refuses to drink from the bottle or is not nursing well
* becomes sleepier and is not waking up for feedings as usual
* is irritable, sleeping poorly, and hard to calm
* has a rectal temperature 102 degrees C or higher
* has not wet the diaper in six to eight hours, the soft spot on the top of the head is sunken, and/or the mouth and lips appear dry.

See more: www.kshealth.org

Hot Sensuous Teens Want Me?

I’m puzzled. I live a relatively decorous life. I tend to behave in public, although I do apologize to lamp posts and low tree branches when I bump into them. Carelessness is part of my blundering about in the world.

But, I don’t cavort or attend amateur nights at Hooters. I don’t order bawdy books or vegetable shaped marital aids from anywhere. I don’t go to chat rooms. There’s nothing in my AOL profile that mentions pierced body parts, breast enhancement, hot dogs, or thongs.

I don’t even get the Victoria’s Secret catalogue anymore. Much to my husband’s disappointment. Although I’m not sure how I got on their list either.

So, I wonder why it is that I get questionable, unsolicited email entreating me to enjoy cyberbabes frolicking in hot tubs. I don’t want to. I never do. So why am I on a list, blind or otherwise?

Plesure can be yours…

invite yourself…just seconds

away from enjoying Pure Ecstacy!

Well, hell. If they can’t even spell “pleasure” or “Ecstasy” correctly, perhaps these folks might not know much about either. Or my version of both. Girl Scout Thin Mints are involved.

Speaking of cookies….and please understand that I am a Computer Ignoramus…the only thing I can think of is this: I’ve got cookies hidden somewhere on my web record that is telling men who dress in gold chains and have obvious comb-overs about me. But they are wrong.

The cookies might be spreading the word that I am a tattooed, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, wandering hetero teen-age, middle-age, lonely voyeur who loves “Do Me” shoes, whips, and smut cams, Live! Live! Live!

Why would a cookie do this? I believe I have figured it out. Two years ago, when we moved south, we needed furniture for our new living room. I didn’t know where I was or where to go. So, of course I did a web search to find out where I could get a couple of couches made quickly.

Because I am a careless bumbler and the dog is allowed on the furniture I decided to get leather. I typed in Leather Center, a chain of stores that promises two week delivery.

Get it? LEATHER! It was an innocent word search. I had to go take a cold shower after I found what I was looking for what with all the other kinds of offerings that got triggered by my innocuous quest.

It’s either that, or someone remembers a party I went to in nineteen seventy-five. I swear I didn’t stay long.