I am sure most of you have heard of an ENT (ear, nose and throat)doctor. These doc's specialize in issues dealing with said parts of our bodies. What I didn't realize is that these doctor's can specialize even further in this field. Case in point. Last week I went to the mainland to see a specialist, his specialty was dealing with medical issues of the larynx.
It's a long story which I will try and make short. It all started last year when I was at work and the cleaning staff at the hospital were using a cleaning agent which caused me to almost immediately lose my voice. I ended up in ER and had to be given a variety of medications. The ER doctor told me I had Reactive airway. By the next day I could barely speak...and when I did speak it was only a whisper.
Since that time I have suffered intermittent episodes of hoarse voice, cough(mostly at night which I thought was related to my asthma or allergies), constant clearing of my throat, a sore throat and a feeling that there is something in the back of my throat. When I went to see the specialist last week he asked me a ton of questions and performed an examination with a scope and took lots of pictures. After the examination he told me that my vocal cords were slightly inflamed but that my larynx was severely inflamed and that it had most probably been like that for sometime. He told me that the symptoms I was experiencing was a result of
laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR). Who would have known....not me of course. All this time I thought I was just experiencing bad allergies and that my asthma was acting up causing me to cough and hence lose my voice and get a sore throat. I asked him if there was anything I could do to repair this and the first thing he said was that I needed to be put on a medication that would help decrease the gastric secretions which was causing my larynx to become inflamed. I told him that only once had I experience any heartburn and that was only recently. He said with LPR you don't feel the heartburn but rather you have the symptoms as I listed above. Very interesting I thought.
I belong to website called badgut. It's focus is gastrointestinal disorders. Today's topic was GERD(gastroesophgeal reflux disease). Needless to say my curiosity was piqued and so I checked it out Yes this specialist was indeed correct.
What I don't understand is why when back in the fall of 2009 when I went to go see an ENT doctor why he didn't see or say anything, especially seeing as he scoped me as well. Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Anyhow, I have now started on the medication and I really hope this helps settle things down for me.
I'd like to make this my public service announcement. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms I have, please check out this web site badgut.org there you will all the information you would like on GERD and LPR. Don't stay in the dark. Information is power. If you find you have similar symptoms as mentioned in information might I suggest you go see your family physician and talk about it.
I have given you a condensed version on all what has gone on with me, so please don't use my explanation of things, check it out for yourself.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Something to Ponder
A very good blogging friend of mine sent me a link the other day on Facebook. She said she thought I would enjoy the photos as she says she thought of me and how I love to post photos of my surroundings and places I have been, which I do. Attached to the photos were religious quotes and excerpts from the bible. As I said I enjoyed the photos but I found the religious attachment to them a little hard to grasps and distracted me from the flashcard presentation.
I questioned myself as to why I should feel that way and many thoughts entered my head but I think the prominent one was that I felt religion was being pushed on me. Why couldn't I have just viewed those photos with some wonderful classical music playing in the background. Why did the author have to attach religion to the presentation....I guess of course that was her intent. The author must feel strongly enough about her faith that she wants to share it. And you know what...that is ok, it's just not for me.
I wrote my friend and thanked her for sending me the link and gave her my views after I had viewed it. Confession time here....I didn't watch them all, actually I only watched one....and that was enough for me...it was to religious for me. Did you notice how I used the word "confession". That is my catholic conscience for you...."guilt'. Catholicism is built on guilt.
I was raised in a staunch catholic household. I went to catholic school my whole life, I went to church every Sunday and during Christmas week and Easter week it was more frequent. There were things about my faith that I strongly believed. Primarily that there is a force much greater than ourselves out there. As a child I believed in the Virgin Mary, the Holy trinity and that Jesus was God and that he died on the cross to save our souls, well I believed it to a point. And then I read the bible, and that changed everything for me.
When I was in elementary school I can remember getting kicked out of class because I challenged my teacher who was a nun about Adam and Eve and asked her why we couldn't believe in Darwin's theory of the evolution of man. Yes, I did ask that....and you can thank the National Geographic for that one.
In school we never studied the bible. Yes we read excerpts from the bible. Every Sunday at mass the priest would read the Gospel According to one of the Apostle's...and of course there were two other readings that took place. After the priest read the gospel we sat down and listened to him for 20 to 30 mins go on about something that was suppose to be related to the readings that day...most of the time I didn't understand....most of the time I fidgeted in my seat, or fell asleep.
That was how it was for many years, I blindly believed or well thought I believed. I believed because that was all I knew...that was the faith of my parents and the environment in which I was raised. It wasn't until I went to high school and I had the most amazing Religion teacher. She actually talked about religion in terms that we as teenagers could understand. She introduced us to Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Protestant faiths. I was intrigued. I think I enjoyed learning about Buddhism the most, it seemed to fit my philosophy more...not that I realized thought that I had any philosophy when it came to religion. The last confession I went to was when I was in Grade 12 and we had to go to confession before we could go to our Graduation mass.
I rarely went to church after graduation and yet when my daughters were born I had them all baptised in the catholic faith. Looking back again I think it was a guilt thing again....I was taught that a baby was born with original sin....yes a baby was born with sin....and they had to be baptised to relieve them of this sin and if they weren't baptised and died then their souls would go to purgatory and would stay there until someone said enough Hail Mary's and Our Father's to set the poor little souls free and send them to Heaven. Now how awful is that, and yet as I said I had my daughters all baptised and for some reason I believed.
I have long put my birth faith behind me, but I still believe I am a christian. I still believe in the goodness of man, I still believe that we must not harm each other, that we need to have more patience and tolerance for others differences. We must learn to debate and dialogue without judgement but rather to get a clearer understanding of the person and their position.
So I would like to close this post with some of the photos that I have taken over the summer. These photos make me know there is something greater than I, and every day I give thanks for the opportunity for being able to enjoy all that I have been given!
I am but a simple flower, spreading my arms to reach out and grasp the sun and it's warmth to help make me grow and to be strong and to flourish.
I questioned myself as to why I should feel that way and many thoughts entered my head but I think the prominent one was that I felt religion was being pushed on me. Why couldn't I have just viewed those photos with some wonderful classical music playing in the background. Why did the author have to attach religion to the presentation....I guess of course that was her intent. The author must feel strongly enough about her faith that she wants to share it. And you know what...that is ok, it's just not for me.
I wrote my friend and thanked her for sending me the link and gave her my views after I had viewed it. Confession time here....I didn't watch them all, actually I only watched one....and that was enough for me...it was to religious for me. Did you notice how I used the word "confession". That is my catholic conscience for you...."guilt'. Catholicism is built on guilt.
I was raised in a staunch catholic household. I went to catholic school my whole life, I went to church every Sunday and during Christmas week and Easter week it was more frequent. There were things about my faith that I strongly believed. Primarily that there is a force much greater than ourselves out there. As a child I believed in the Virgin Mary, the Holy trinity and that Jesus was God and that he died on the cross to save our souls, well I believed it to a point. And then I read the bible, and that changed everything for me.
When I was in elementary school I can remember getting kicked out of class because I challenged my teacher who was a nun about Adam and Eve and asked her why we couldn't believe in Darwin's theory of the evolution of man. Yes, I did ask that....and you can thank the National Geographic for that one.
In school we never studied the bible. Yes we read excerpts from the bible. Every Sunday at mass the priest would read the Gospel According to one of the Apostle's...and of course there were two other readings that took place. After the priest read the gospel we sat down and listened to him for 20 to 30 mins go on about something that was suppose to be related to the readings that day...most of the time I didn't understand....most of the time I fidgeted in my seat, or fell asleep.
That was how it was for many years, I blindly believed or well thought I believed. I believed because that was all I knew...that was the faith of my parents and the environment in which I was raised. It wasn't until I went to high school and I had the most amazing Religion teacher. She actually talked about religion in terms that we as teenagers could understand. She introduced us to Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Protestant faiths. I was intrigued. I think I enjoyed learning about Buddhism the most, it seemed to fit my philosophy more...not that I realized thought that I had any philosophy when it came to religion. The last confession I went to was when I was in Grade 12 and we had to go to confession before we could go to our Graduation mass.
I rarely went to church after graduation and yet when my daughters were born I had them all baptised in the catholic faith. Looking back again I think it was a guilt thing again....I was taught that a baby was born with original sin....yes a baby was born with sin....and they had to be baptised to relieve them of this sin and if they weren't baptised and died then their souls would go to purgatory and would stay there until someone said enough Hail Mary's and Our Father's to set the poor little souls free and send them to Heaven. Now how awful is that, and yet as I said I had my daughters all baptised and for some reason I believed.
I have long put my birth faith behind me, but I still believe I am a christian. I still believe in the goodness of man, I still believe that we must not harm each other, that we need to have more patience and tolerance for others differences. We must learn to debate and dialogue without judgement but rather to get a clearer understanding of the person and their position.
So I would like to close this post with some of the photos that I have taken over the summer. These photos make me know there is something greater than I, and every day I give thanks for the opportunity for being able to enjoy all that I have been given!
The power,drama, and elegance of the mighty ocean
The ruggedness of the coastline
Some creative and strong resourceful individual managed to carry this couch to the rock, so they could sit and enjoy all the beauty that lay before them....
and nature can still grow and flourish on the craggy slopes and shores
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Reunion
The baby is due in 10 days. Actually, baby will be born on November 25th. And how do I know this....well a planned C-section might explain that, not only that but we know they will be having a little girl.....modern technology is something isn't it.
After 10 years. finally my hubby and his daughter reconnect. It's a long story, one I might share one day. Regardless of the reasons for the separation they are now reunited.
Back in the spring she made contact with her father. She wrote him on facebook saying she was going to be out our way in June and she would like to come see him and introduce him to her husband.
Needless to say my hubby was a little taken aback, but excited all the same. They sent emails back and forth, and the planning and preparations began.
There were huge jobs which needed to be done between the spring and her visit in June. We had already decided to get our roof replaced so we got that project going, then it was the building of a new deck. Now that was a project. In order to help defray the cost hubby helped with construction of the deck and we paid for most of our own supplies. I had the great privilege of digging holes for the foundations and shoveling and spreading of the gravel. It was a lot of work but so worth it in the end.
Of course we had to wait for the finer weather to begin the deck project. Well wouldn't you know it, it was the beginning of June by the time we got started. His daughter's visit was the 2nd week of June. One would think that building the deck would suffice, but no, my hubby rented a backhoe and started pulling up old shrubs, more dirt and moved land from one spot to another. As you can imagine one project just led to another.
A day and half before her visit I decide to do something really stupid. I was clearing up the deck area of lumber and nails. I was getting rid of the old boards, when wouldn't you know it I stepped on a nail. I remember it as if it was going it in slow motion. I saw the nail and yet my foot still kept going towards it....I knew it wasn't good when I felt it go through my runner. I quickly pulled off my shoe and sure enough I was bleeding. Hubby went and got the peroxide and we cleaned my foot well. Or though we thought. That evening when I went to bed my foot was hurting but I didn't think it was that bad. In the middle of the night I woke up with the most excruciating pain in my foot. It hurt for the sheet to even touch my foot. I attempted to get out of bed and go downstairs. No such luck. I couldnt' even step on my foot, I couldn't hop as that made it hurt as well. So down on my hands and knees I go. I make my way to our staircase and get onto my bum and get myself down the stairs step by step, bump by bump. Hubby has fallen asleep with the TV blaring I try to get his attention...but there was no waking him. So once again I got onto my knees....now this is a time I wouldn't recommend slate flooring...it's really hard on your knees. Anyhow, I make my way to the living room where he is sleeping, somehow I manage to wake him. He helps me up and I explain what is happening.
Bless his heart he went to the kitchen to make me a bread poultice and then with a tensor bandage wrapped it around my foot. By this time my foot is swollen, I elevate it on a few pillows. I take a couple of Tylenol and eventually I am able to fall asleep with my leg up high as I lay on the couch.
The next morning it still hurts. So on with another bread poultice. Yes I know what you are going to say or ask....was my tetanus up to date....well that thought had entered my head but I had no idea. I watched for any signs of poisoning...but I thought I was home free. I didn' have time to spend in the ER I had a reunion party to plan for. Hubbies daughter was going to be here and there was still so much for me to do.
Well I hobbled around and somehow managed to get things organized. The big day arrives and let me tell you when she got out of her car and gave her dad a hug...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! As she hugged him she whispered in his ear "Hi Grandpa!" Yes she had come all that way to tell him in person that he was going to be a grandpa. Oh what a double bonus.
We spent a couple of wonderful days with them before they had to go back to the mainland to go see her husbands family.
So as I started my post out...in 10 days we will be blessed with little sweet Paetyn! Our first grandchild.
Hubby and I, daughter and her husband, grandma and grandpa(oops soon to be great-grandparents)!
After 10 years. finally my hubby and his daughter reconnect. It's a long story, one I might share one day. Regardless of the reasons for the separation they are now reunited.
Back in the spring she made contact with her father. She wrote him on facebook saying she was going to be out our way in June and she would like to come see him and introduce him to her husband.
Needless to say my hubby was a little taken aback, but excited all the same. They sent emails back and forth, and the planning and preparations began.
There were huge jobs which needed to be done between the spring and her visit in June. We had already decided to get our roof replaced so we got that project going, then it was the building of a new deck. Now that was a project. In order to help defray the cost hubby helped with construction of the deck and we paid for most of our own supplies. I had the great privilege of digging holes for the foundations and shoveling and spreading of the gravel. It was a lot of work but so worth it in the end.
Of course we had to wait for the finer weather to begin the deck project. Well wouldn't you know it, it was the beginning of June by the time we got started. His daughter's visit was the 2nd week of June. One would think that building the deck would suffice, but no, my hubby rented a backhoe and started pulling up old shrubs, more dirt and moved land from one spot to another. As you can imagine one project just led to another.
A day and half before her visit I decide to do something really stupid. I was clearing up the deck area of lumber and nails. I was getting rid of the old boards, when wouldn't you know it I stepped on a nail. I remember it as if it was going it in slow motion. I saw the nail and yet my foot still kept going towards it....I knew it wasn't good when I felt it go through my runner. I quickly pulled off my shoe and sure enough I was bleeding. Hubby went and got the peroxide and we cleaned my foot well. Or though we thought. That evening when I went to bed my foot was hurting but I didn't think it was that bad. In the middle of the night I woke up with the most excruciating pain in my foot. It hurt for the sheet to even touch my foot. I attempted to get out of bed and go downstairs. No such luck. I couldnt' even step on my foot, I couldn't hop as that made it hurt as well. So down on my hands and knees I go. I make my way to our staircase and get onto my bum and get myself down the stairs step by step, bump by bump. Hubby has fallen asleep with the TV blaring I try to get his attention...but there was no waking him. So once again I got onto my knees....now this is a time I wouldn't recommend slate flooring...it's really hard on your knees. Anyhow, I make my way to the living room where he is sleeping, somehow I manage to wake him. He helps me up and I explain what is happening.
Bless his heart he went to the kitchen to make me a bread poultice and then with a tensor bandage wrapped it around my foot. By this time my foot is swollen, I elevate it on a few pillows. I take a couple of Tylenol and eventually I am able to fall asleep with my leg up high as I lay on the couch.
The next morning it still hurts. So on with another bread poultice. Yes I know what you are going to say or ask....was my tetanus up to date....well that thought had entered my head but I had no idea. I watched for any signs of poisoning...but I thought I was home free. I didn' have time to spend in the ER I had a reunion party to plan for. Hubbies daughter was going to be here and there was still so much for me to do.
Well I hobbled around and somehow managed to get things organized. The big day arrives and let me tell you when she got out of her car and gave her dad a hug...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! As she hugged him she whispered in his ear "Hi Grandpa!" Yes she had come all that way to tell him in person that he was going to be a grandpa. Oh what a double bonus.
We spent a couple of wonderful days with them before they had to go back to the mainland to go see her husbands family.
So as I started my post out...in 10 days we will be blessed with little sweet Paetyn! Our first grandchild.
The new deck it's about 540 sq.ft
The embrace!
Father, daughter and son-in-law
Hubby and I, daughter and her husband, grandma and grandpa(oops soon to be great-grandparents)!
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Saturday Photo Hunt
This weeks theme is "Alive"
There are so many things to be thankful for that make you feel "Alive" The other morning my husband and I were driving north and the sun was rising behind us. It was a glorious morning something I felt so thankful for being able to witness such beauty, it made me feel thankful to be "Alive"
If you would like to join in on the fun please check out http://tnchick.com/ for all the fun.
Happy Hunting all!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
A Love Story......
They met in their senior year in high school. It was almost love at first sight. Something told them it was more than just a friendship. Graduation came, and they were a couple, they couldn't imagine life getting any better.
Life changed quickly for them. He got transferred to the far north, she still wanted to start nursing school but nature was taking it's tole on her body. A baby was soon on it's way. While their friends were all out partying and doing what it is the average 18 year old does they were living the life of our parents. Their days were full of how they would pay bills, the rent and the extra mouth to feed was what in store for the two of them. However, they ventured forward.
The baby came one warm summer morning. Although they were struggling, life was looking good and the future bright. Unfortunately, things took a turn, and life threw them a curve ball. The bills started to pile up the electrical company took no mercy and cut off their heat. They did their best to put on a cheerful face and faced the storm that life as a young couple with a child would deal them.
A few years passed and they decided it was time to marry and make good on their promise to each other. It wasn't long after that the second child arrived. She was well into working double shifts, and going to school. She was determined to become the nurse she had dreamed she would be. He worked at odd jobs to put food on the table. They struggled but remained happy, well as happy as they could be.
Years later they looked back on their life, their children now grown and left the nest. They wonder what their lives now held. The struggles that kept them strong and bonded, their children's school and community involvement now a thing of the past. They looked at each other as though they were strangers. They asked themselves "who is this person I have shared my bed with all these years. Do I really know them"? Life continued and eventually they both wondered off doing their own thing, he playing golf, fishing and work, she playing softball interspersed with her work. Little time was left for each other. They began to grow apart. These two people who had known each other for over 2 decades no longer knew each other and drifted apart.
One day they realized that they didn't share the same ideas for the future. After almost 30 years together they decided to go their separate ways. It wasn't because of infidelity on either part, no it was simple, they realized they just weren't blending and maybe it best they lead separate lives. So the decision was made and they sold the family home and went their separate ways.
Time passed, he moved into a few different apartments attempting to make them home. She filled her time with extra overtime and lots more softball, and yet they managed to stay friends and communicate.
He moved and took a job 4 hours away, she continued to work in the city. She missed him, he missed her, they missed the simple things that made their relationship what is was for all those years. She came to visit him on what would be their 28th anniversary.
They connected, they found the love that was always there but temporarily got lost. He is looking for a home for them to share in the new town and she is excited for the move and the new life.
Love reunited....it doesn't get any better.
Life changed quickly for them. He got transferred to the far north, she still wanted to start nursing school but nature was taking it's tole on her body. A baby was soon on it's way. While their friends were all out partying and doing what it is the average 18 year old does they were living the life of our parents. Their days were full of how they would pay bills, the rent and the extra mouth to feed was what in store for the two of them. However, they ventured forward.
The baby came one warm summer morning. Although they were struggling, life was looking good and the future bright. Unfortunately, things took a turn, and life threw them a curve ball. The bills started to pile up the electrical company took no mercy and cut off their heat. They did their best to put on a cheerful face and faced the storm that life as a young couple with a child would deal them.
A few years passed and they decided it was time to marry and make good on their promise to each other. It wasn't long after that the second child arrived. She was well into working double shifts, and going to school. She was determined to become the nurse she had dreamed she would be. He worked at odd jobs to put food on the table. They struggled but remained happy, well as happy as they could be.
Years later they looked back on their life, their children now grown and left the nest. They wonder what their lives now held. The struggles that kept them strong and bonded, their children's school and community involvement now a thing of the past. They looked at each other as though they were strangers. They asked themselves "who is this person I have shared my bed with all these years. Do I really know them"? Life continued and eventually they both wondered off doing their own thing, he playing golf, fishing and work, she playing softball interspersed with her work. Little time was left for each other. They began to grow apart. These two people who had known each other for over 2 decades no longer knew each other and drifted apart.
One day they realized that they didn't share the same ideas for the future. After almost 30 years together they decided to go their separate ways. It wasn't because of infidelity on either part, no it was simple, they realized they just weren't blending and maybe it best they lead separate lives. So the decision was made and they sold the family home and went their separate ways.
Time passed, he moved into a few different apartments attempting to make them home. She filled her time with extra overtime and lots more softball, and yet they managed to stay friends and communicate.
He moved and took a job 4 hours away, she continued to work in the city. She missed him, he missed her, they missed the simple things that made their relationship what is was for all those years. She came to visit him on what would be their 28th anniversary.
They connected, they found the love that was always there but temporarily got lost. He is looking for a home for them to share in the new town and she is excited for the move and the new life.
Love reunited....it doesn't get any better.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween
Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
~ HALLOWEEN ~
By Harry Behn 
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday Photo Hunt
This week's theme is "Dark"
A couple of years ago there was a large fire on the property just up the road from us. It started in the late afternoon and went into the "Dark" of the night. I was so impressed with the forestry fire fighters, they did an amazing job and were so calm!
if you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchick
A couple of years ago there was a large fire on the property just up the road from us. It started in the late afternoon and went into the "Dark" of the night. I was so impressed with the forestry fire fighters, they did an amazing job and were so calm!
if you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchickWednesday, October 27, 2010
What kind of consumer are you?
The other day I was shopping with my eldest daughter in order that she could buy her sister a present. One of the items on youngest daughter's list was clothing from a store called lululemon athletica. It's a store that sells yoga clothing and active wear. This company is a huge success story, in that it started out in Vancouver in 1998 and now has over 100 stores in Canada, USA, Australia and Hong Kong. You can click on the link if you would like to know more.
This, however isn't the purpose of my post. My purpose is to you as a consumer what kind of consumer are you? Are you the type that shops all around looking for the best price, do you only buy name brands or will a knock off do?
When do we as consumers say enough is enough. Case in point, when we were in the store my daughter purchased a "wee" and I mean "wee" little yoga top and headband for her sister. The yoga top on sale was $44 regularly $68 and the headband was $12 add our 12% sales tax and these two pieces cost $63.84! Is your chin dropping? If it isn't it should be. If you can get out of that store for under a $100 you have done well. I think it's criminal, and as consumers we should just keep our wallets shut, but we don't. Why, because this store is "Trendy". This company espouses to promote community awareness and healthy life style. Well that is all well and good, but should I be paying for their advertising and community programs? If they truly wanted to do something for the community why don't they make their products more affordable. It's a darn piece of stretchy material for goodness sakes! A headband for $12! Give me a break, silly of my daughter for paying that price, I told the clerk in the store that their products are way over priced and that I thought my daughter irresponsible for purchasing it....but she wanted it for her sister, so what to do.
Well what I have chosen to do is write this post as my public notice and I won't shop at their store and I have written to the store itself to voice my concerns regarding their prices, whether it does any good I don't know.
So I ask you, what kind of consumer are you?
This, however isn't the purpose of my post. My purpose is to you as a consumer what kind of consumer are you? Are you the type that shops all around looking for the best price, do you only buy name brands or will a knock off do?
When do we as consumers say enough is enough. Case in point, when we were in the store my daughter purchased a "wee" and I mean "wee" little yoga top and headband for her sister. The yoga top on sale was $44 regularly $68 and the headband was $12 add our 12% sales tax and these two pieces cost $63.84! Is your chin dropping? If it isn't it should be. If you can get out of that store for under a $100 you have done well. I think it's criminal, and as consumers we should just keep our wallets shut, but we don't. Why, because this store is "Trendy". This company espouses to promote community awareness and healthy life style. Well that is all well and good, but should I be paying for their advertising and community programs? If they truly wanted to do something for the community why don't they make their products more affordable. It's a darn piece of stretchy material for goodness sakes! A headband for $12! Give me a break, silly of my daughter for paying that price, I told the clerk in the store that their products are way over priced and that I thought my daughter irresponsible for purchasing it....but she wanted it for her sister, so what to do.
Well what I have chosen to do is write this post as my public notice and I won't shop at their store and I have written to the store itself to voice my concerns regarding their prices, whether it does any good I don't know.
So I ask you, what kind of consumer are you?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Let's talk about this....
I watched a movie the other night staring Al Pacino called "You Don't know Jack" In this HBO movie Pacino plays Dr. Kervorkian.Dr. Kervorkian also known as "Dr. Death" was tried and convicted and sentenced to 10 -25 years in prison. He was released in June 2007 after serving 8 years in prison for his role in patient assisted-suicide. What an interesting man. A man of conviction and willing to put everything on the line to change what he considers an unjust law. He's the kind of man you either admire for his convictions or hate him for his beliefs.
In the state of Michigan where Dr. Kervorkian was practising they didn't have laws which would allow him to participate in patient assisted-suicide. He challenged the law on many occasions. In 1998 he was accused and then convicted — of murder after injecting lethal drugs into Thomas Youk, 52, an Oakland County man suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Dr. Kervorkian now 81 years old still believes that people have a right to choose when they want to die. He is a advocate for terminally ill patients right to die via physician assisted-suicide.
I listened intently to the movie and then did my own research on Dr. Kervorkian and physician assisted-suicide. I personally don't like the term assisted suicide, to me it immediately implies criminal activity. I don't believe it is and here's why.
Let me play devils advocate for a moment. We already have in place "Advanced Directives" and "No Code" orders. Some of you may argue that Advanced Directives and No Code does not mean that the doctor's assist you in your dying process. Well let's look at that. A No Code order means that if you heart stops or you stop breathing the doctor or health care practitioner is not going to stop that process and they will allow you to die. So how is that any different than saying ok..... you have a terminal illness the medical field has done all it can for you the outcome will ultimately be death....you may die today, tomorrow, next week, next year who knows...but you will die from your disease.
Let's imagine your disease is Lou Gehrig(ALS) or MS or even something like advanced emphysema where you struggle for every breath you take, how long would you fight this battle?
Prior to any of the 130 assisted-suicide Dr. Kervorkian participated in he interviewed the patient and the family to assess their mental well being, he wanted to make sure they understood what it was they were asking him to participate in. He video taped his interviews. From what I could tell all of these people had done everything the medical field had asked them to do and they were just biding their time on this planet before nature took their last breath. These individuals felt that their quality of life was gone.
Now the anti Dr. Kervorkian activists felt he was playing god and feared that by legalizing physician assisted-suicide you were opening the door to the possibility of doing away with people prematurely.
On a personal note I can remember when my mom was caring for her dying husband at home and I asked her about his pain, or what he wanted with regards to death. He had extremely advanced cancer had undergone chemo, radiation, surgeries you name it. He had led a full life and he knew his time was coming. The doctor overseeing his care had written him a prescription for a liquid morphine. My mom told me she asked the doctor how much she should give him, the doctor's response to my mom was pour him a tumbler full leave it at his bedside he will take what he wants...and so that is what she did. He drifted off to sleep, only to wake briefly the morning of their anniversary to say his good-byes and he was gone. So you tell me....did the doctor assist with his dying process?
This is definite food for thought....what do you think?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Saturday Photo Hunt
This week's theme is "Miniature"
This was a hard one. The first thing that came to mind was miniature figurines. Well I don't have any of those nor do I have photos, then I started thinking about something the same that is big and small, but again I didn't have anything. Then it dawned on me. When my sister got married as part of the table favours at her wedding we put miniature champagne bubble bottles.
If you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchick for all of the instructions. Happy Hunting!
This was a hard one. The first thing that came to mind was miniature figurines. Well I don't have any of those nor do I have photos, then I started thinking about something the same that is big and small, but again I didn't have anything. Then it dawned on me. When my sister got married as part of the table favours at her wedding we put miniature champagne bubble bottles.
If you would like to join in on the fun please check out tnchick for all of the instructions. Happy Hunting!Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Words......
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Well you didn't know my mother.
When I was growing up my mother had what I would have considered an extensive vocabulary. At times I swore she was making words up. I loved listening to her stories and how she spoke, I could always imagine the places she spoke about and the adventures. There were certain words that my mum(that's how she spelt mum)used frequently, and to this day I use many of these same words, even though I may get a quizzical look from the recipient.
What sparked this flashback of memories you might ask. Well I'll tell you. Are you familiar with Reader's Digest? If so you will know they have a section in there called "Word Power". It tests your vocabulary IQ or Word Power. I love that section. You go through the words pick your answer and see how many you got right and then you are rated fair, good or excellent. Some months I am just so pathetic, I haven't a clue as to what most of the words mean. Each month they present the words based on a theme. The July issue was "Manly Man" celebrating all things manly. In another edition they did it on newspaper names and their meanings. This month's theme "Words of Yesteryear". Of course my curiosity was piqued so I quickly looked down the list and out bounced words I haven't heard of in a while nor had I used since my girls were little.
Here are a couple of the words.....Ragamuffin(I love that word and how my mum made it sound), Lollygag(again another of my favourites it use to remind me of Lollies{lollipops}) of course that isn't what it meant. Or what about Rapscallion.....awe yes that was one of my mums all time favourites. It's funny you know even as a little child I knew what those words meant only because of the tone and the situation in which the words were used. I still use those words to this day, however, as I said I do get the odd look as if I made it up.
If you want to know the answers to those words check out Reader's Digest September 2010 edition.
When I was growing up my mother had what I would have considered an extensive vocabulary. At times I swore she was making words up. I loved listening to her stories and how she spoke, I could always imagine the places she spoke about and the adventures. There were certain words that my mum(that's how she spelt mum)used frequently, and to this day I use many of these same words, even though I may get a quizzical look from the recipient.
What sparked this flashback of memories you might ask. Well I'll tell you. Are you familiar with Reader's Digest? If so you will know they have a section in there called "Word Power". It tests your vocabulary IQ or Word Power. I love that section. You go through the words pick your answer and see how many you got right and then you are rated fair, good or excellent. Some months I am just so pathetic, I haven't a clue as to what most of the words mean. Each month they present the words based on a theme. The July issue was "Manly Man" celebrating all things manly. In another edition they did it on newspaper names and their meanings. This month's theme "Words of Yesteryear". Of course my curiosity was piqued so I quickly looked down the list and out bounced words I haven't heard of in a while nor had I used since my girls were little.
Here are a couple of the words.....Ragamuffin(I love that word and how my mum made it sound), Lollygag(again another of my favourites it use to remind me of Lollies{lollipops}) of course that isn't what it meant. Or what about Rapscallion.....awe yes that was one of my mums all time favourites. It's funny you know even as a little child I knew what those words meant only because of the tone and the situation in which the words were used. I still use those words to this day, however, as I said I do get the odd look as if I made it up.
If you want to know the answers to those words check out Reader's Digest September 2010 edition.
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Thanksgiving Poem
TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Nature at it's finest....
Oh I am long past due for making a post. Holy cow how time flies. Summer is over and we are well into fall.
This weekend Canadians will be celebrating Thanksgiving. As a child I knew we celebrated our thanksgiving earlier than our neighbours south of the border, but I never understood why. In simple terms, Canadian Thanksgiving is all about celebrating the harvest.
Being farther north we harvest our crops earlier and we give Thanks for their bounty.
I have always loved fall. I love the smells, the crisp leaves the beautiful colours it's so gorgeous that I am in awe of it's beauty and at times it takes my breath away and draws me to tears.
Last weekend my youngest daughter and I went on a lovely walk/hike to a place called Seal Bay. The trails as Seal Bay are on both sides of the road. If you
Melda's Marsh
Melda's Marshgo to the right you make a long steep trek down to the water...it's great going down but can be challenging coming up. If you go to the left you follow along a lovely trail which takes you to a marsh and you can observe so much of what nature and fall can bring to such wooded areas. My camera was misbehaving, and hence I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked. It would appear by the photos that I did take that I was in awe of the variety of mushrooms and how and where they grew. My daughter and I walked both sides ....the marsh and the water......
My peace plant in bloom.....And with that I leave you.....Peace Out!!
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