Mark For Life T-Shirt

On The Doctors they did a segment on tips for early detection of breast cancer. They showed a t-shirt that is being marketed to assist women with self breast exams. Performing self-exams is unerving to begin with because most women don't know what they're looking for. Created and introduced in 2004 by two Atlanta women, the "Mark For Life" T-shirt was an idea they came up with to teach women how to properly conduct a breast self exam and illustrate where potentially cancerous breast tissue exists. More importantly, they wanted a product that would allow women to track the results of their monthly exams to enable them to compare against past exams for any changes.




Interesting facts from their website at markforlife.com:
97% of women survive breast cancer when it is discovered early.
90% of women who get breast cancer have no family history.
70% of women find their own breast cancer using breast self-exams.







The T-Shirt comes with an instruction card listing 9 steps for use of the kit. Utilizing the enclosed marker you follow the spirals on the form fitting shirt and mark this shirt up to take it with you to your next doctors appointment and you can discuss your findings with your doctor. So many times women do not remember where they may have felt something questionable and cannot recall the location. This T-shirt eliminates that problem. There are even monthly reminder stickers to mark your calendar as well as an email address you can submit to for reminders.

Acting F.A.S.T. Can Save Your Life

May is Stroke Awareness Month. What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke?










Did you know that acting "FAST" can save your life:

It's important to remember that not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore any signs of stroke, even if they go away.

Remember to check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay. Immediately call 9-1-1.

If you're with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest — denial is common. Don't take "no" for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.

Prevention is key when you've a history of high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Along with regular medical check-ups, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, it's also recommended to:

Avoid excess fats: Eating a lot of fat, particularly saturated fat and cholesterol, may contribute to atherosclerosis, which is associated with stroke.

Avoid excess sodium: Excess sodium in the diet is linked to hypertension.

Limit alcohol intake: Individuals who have more than two or three alcoholic beverages a day are at an increased risk of stroke.

For more information visit the American Stroke Association's their website at strokeassociation.org

For Patrick....I love you Sweetie.

For my nephew Patrick, an amazing kid I might add, who has Cystic Fibrosis. I decided to post information about his donation page, to inform people about CF and bring attention to his cause.

In hopes to raise money to find a cure and awareness about CF, this little darling has named his team named "Cough Up the Bucks." The name comes from his "hopes that all will dig deep and cough up a few bucks to help him make a difference."

Patrick, along with all the other CF kids would like CF to someday stand for Cure Found.



To register as part of Pat's Team, or to simply made a secure donation , Please visit his page.


So what Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

. clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
. obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.



In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

very salty-tasting skin;
persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
frequent lung infections;
wheezing or shortness of breath;
poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics
About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.

Allergies

My daughter suffers from allergies which can trigger her asthma at any given time. Trying to find the right medication, whether OTC or scripted, is a challenge. There are so many different medications out there and it really is trial and error. Benadryl seems to knock her out within the hour. Other medications just have her "feeling like her head is floating" and only slightly relieves the allergy symptoms.

I took her to our family doctor who performed a blood test and diagnosed her with some common allergies which include dust and pollen of course. Nothing really surprising other than a slight allergy to milk. Which to me doesn't make sense because she can drink up the milk and leave me with none for a bowl of cereal and not once has she had an "allergic reaction." My daughter begged the doctor for a note for school so that she can have water or juices with her lunch. We haven't seen any significant changes....because she still drinks up all the milk. NOW she's upset because the school won't allow her to drink milk with her lunch. I told her that's what she gets for being a blabber mouth.



Getting back to allergy relief, this spring season has been killer on her allergies. The best allergy medication for her (this year) has been Claritin D. It's the 24 hour type of relief so she only has to take it once a day. That has been key since she's horrible at remembering to take her medication. Go figure, she's the one that suffers the watery eyes, sneezing, and just feeling miserable, yet she forgets. Apparently, hindsight is not 20/20 when you're "Super Teen."

Most importantly, as with any medication, its best to take it before your symptoms show their ugly head. Using an OTC nasal salt water rinse also cleans out deposits that may trigger allergic reactions.

Spicey tips

While reading Women's Health magazine I learned that some spices have healing powers. Did you know????

Allspice blocks glycation, which is connected to aging.


Aniseed (anise) aids in digestion and stamps out date-killing bad breath.

Chili powder curbs appetite and reduces calorie intake.

Cinnamon contains antioxidants that keep blood sugar and energy levels on an even keel.

Cumin is used to improve digestion and contains more energy-boosting iron than other spices.

Curry Powder contains antiocidants that may combat heart disease by reducing fat buildup in arteries.


Fennel Seeds have a licorice-like flavor and if you chew on a few you can freshen up your breath and help relieve bloating after a pig-out.

Ginger Powder is an anti-inflammatory compoud that can tame postexercise muscle pain.

Mustard is high in selenium, which may protect against skin cancer.

Paprika is brimming with vitamin A, which aids vision, bone growth, and immunity.

Saffron has been found to ease PMS symptoms.


and my personal "Wow Really?" is Vanillin, the active component in vanilla, has been shown to help kill cancer cells.

Incorporate some of these spices into your recipes for some yummy, healthy and healing dishes.

Deals, deals, deals

I wanted to take this opportunity to share a special deal that I found for students from Microsoft. Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 is available at a 91% discount to qualifying students. That's not a typo....91% discount ($59.95) to current students of a registered and approved and you must have a valid .edu email address.

Visit Microsoft's site to verify that you qualify and you can see all of the highlights of this special offer. You can also find other deals on this site especially for students.

Happy shopping and saving.

Safe gardening

While gardening this past weekend I discovered two things. One is just how important stretching is prior to any type of strenuous activity. I awoke muscles that have been sleeping even while I'm at the gym. Two days of extending my flower beds which including tearing out lawn, beating the lawn sections to get the dirt out of them, bagging, dragging, cultivating soil and fighting off the dog, really took a toll on my body. I didn't "feel it" until Sunday evening.

The second thing I discovered is no matter how how much the sun is covered by clouds, skin protection is important. Although I didn't get sunburned I did notice a bunch of freckles that I normally get when I'm out in the sun too long.

I did remember to keep hydrated. I drank so much water that I could hear sloshing as I was going along. So here are my tips for gardening stretches and sun protection:

Stretching:




Sun protection:
While researching minimum SPF, which I believed was 15. I discovered the new recommended minimum, by the American Academy of Dermatology, is SPF 30. Doctors are now recommending SPF 30 to their patients and the reasoning behind this is that those that do apply sunscreen are not doing it as often as they should so at SPF 15 they were really receiving only half of the recommended protection. Therefore, at SPF 30, at the minimum you're receiving SPF 15 and adequate protection.




Utilizing a hat and other gear is recommended as well while working in the sun.


I did a lot of work in the garden and the rewards are still to come. I can't wait to add more to the new beds and to watch the new perennials bloom and get stronger every year. Happy & Safe Gardening.

Best and worst brain foods

I was reading today about foods that are good and bad for your brain. Being three quarters of the way done with this semester, which has been hell I might add, I wanted to see what I should be consuming/avoiding. At this point I'll try anything. So here's what I've found.




To help you concentrate: Studies found that the scent of peppermint is supposed to help you focus and boost performance. Better yet, when you have a long drive peppermint helps you to remain more alert and less anxious.


For sharpened senses: Include a tablespoon of ground flaxseed daily to your diet. You can sprinkle it on salads or add it to a smoothie or shake. Flaxseed is a healthy fat that improves the function of the cerebral cortex.



For good moods: Eat more leafy greens such as spinach, chard or arugula. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, a lack of B6 can cause nervousness, irritability, and even depression.

Looking for an energy boost: Stay away from a high-carbohydrate breakfast such as pancakes or bagels. Choose instead a high-protein breakfast. Two hours after eating, the carb eaters had tryptophan levels four times higher than those of the people who had eaten protein.

Short-term memory boost needed: Coffee is the ultimate brain fuel. Caffeine has been shown to retard the aging process and enhance short-term memory performance. However, too much caffeine, especially from late afternoon onward can have a negative effect on the short-term memory as well. Too much caffeine can interrupt your normal sleep pattern. Sleep is reboot time for your mental computer, and you don't want to mess with it.

Here's one that I know.



Long-term memory boost: Eat blueberries. Blueberries contain antioxidants which protect the brain from free-radical damage and lower your risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. If you can find wild blueberries, they have even more antioxidants than the cultivated variety. Another tip within this tip is if your favorites are out of season, buy them frozen. Freezing them locks in flavors and nutrients, so the berries' antioxidant capacity is maxed out. It's better consuming the off-season berries.

Spreading the word......

This is for my beautiful niece....Love you Sweetie!!!

Friday March 26th is Epilepsy Awareness Day....Wearing purple on Friday demonstrates support for epilepsy sufferers, showing them that they are not alone.

Message heard around the world

Creative advertising is said to be the best way to get your message across about your product. However, one of the new commercials by GlaxoSmithkline has crossed a line.....or has it? The commercial is titled "Message in a Bottle" and the message is Cervical Cancer Kills. GlaxoSmithkline has a new vaccine to compete with Merck's Guardasil and GS is not taking the subtle approach. But is scaring the best method of educating us to the preventative measures to take for cervical cancer?

The reviews are mixed. Some are horrified and have gone so far as to post on Ihatecommercials.com that the marketing technique GS has used is one they do not like. When I first saw this commercial I was taken back. I was wondering what new perfume was on the market. What a surprise it was to me to see on the pretty bottle the words, "Cervical Cancer." Another commercial in GS's campaign to educate America was an instant message conversation between two friends concerning another girlfriend who wasn't able to partake in drinks with the girls. When the other girl questions "why not?" the response is that "she just found out she has cervical cancer." GS is getting down and dirty about this subject.

I agree that cervical cancer is nothing to take lightly. My family has been crushed by the loss of a very young mother of two to cervical cancer. So our fear was one of reality and enough to have the women of our family to have anual Papsmears, educate our friends, and to simply speak openly about it with our children. I also support parents vaccinating their daughters, as I myself have chose to do with my own.

So is the new commercial harsh and tasteless??? It has many women talking about it...therefore bringing awareness to the reality of cervical cancer.....so yes it's a strong message....but one that is being heard. Knowledge is power. Learn about cervical cancer prevention at helppreventcervicalcancer.com

Workout Prep?

On The Doctors today they discussed how having a cup of coffee could ease the muscle soreness brought on from working out. I decided to research it being that I suffer from a little muscle soreness after a workout. My workout includes a half an hour of cardio and an hour and a half of weight machines.

I researched this online and found mixed reviews. Studies have been done to show that some women have reported consuming about two cups of coffee prior to a workout eased muscle soreness during their workout. In one study, the pain relief from caffeine was stronger than from painkillers such as Tylenol or Aleve. Research has also shown that Ibuprofen has shown inconsistent results, and it hasn't been proven in delaying muscle soreness

However, before consuming coffee before a workout, it is recommended to consider the possible side effects of doing so. Caffeine can increase anxiety, heart palpitation, and blood pressure. Careful consideration should be used when choosing the caffeine route. Obviously, if you're hypersensitive to caffeine, you'd be at a higher risk for these side effects.

Bottom line is that it's not going to work for everyone, however, I'm going to give it a go to see if it helps me.

Peace

I want to thank PioPio (NYC's West Side location) for yet another amazing night out of great food and festivities. Since we chose to celebrate with an early dinner, we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. It also helped that the weather was horrid. We counted 4 destroyed umbrellas flying by the restaurant's windows. The waitstaff was amazed by the size of the cake but they added the candles, got together a group of five waiters, dimmed the restaurant lights, and came over in a group with the music blaring and even added horns to their customary birthday song.

Needless to say my daughter had a great birthday dinner and she loved her cake. Spending time with family is always fun, but coupled with something to celebrate makes it all the more enjoyable.

Proper Pairing Aids in Digestion

So we've all heard the claim that pairing the correct wine with your meal makes the meal that much better. Always searching for a new reason to indulge in a glass of wine with my meal, I was delighted to hear of the newest claim of how correct pairing can aid with digestion. This has been a great debate for sometime now with scientists. Some have found that alcoholic beverages speed the digestion, stimulate gastric acid, while others are steadfast that one has nothing to do with the other.

The unwritten rule with wine is to drink light-to-dark and pair with meals delicate-to-heavy. This is why red wines are better paired with heavier foods such as beef. Which follows the one studies research that concluded protein softened the wine's tannins and in return the red wine also helps counteract Malondehydes (MDA), potentially harmful substances, which are released when meat is digested.


White wines are best served with appetizers or lighter dishes such as fish and poultry. In another study, it was found that a serving of dark meat from turkey elevated those same MDA in a subjects blood. Further founded, coupling this meal with a glass of cabernet sauvignon, the increase of the substance was "completely prevented."

Moral of the story? Pairing the right wine with your meal is not just about flavor, it also aids in digestion.

Uh-Oh....Look who's a teenager.

So my daughter is going to be thirteen this coming week. I have learned that it's not like the terrible twos that starts just about at two years of age. The terrible teen attitude was developed around her tenth birthday. She's actually perfected it at this point. This new "tween" attitude started when she was ten years old. I don't recall being a tweenager...but I absolutely remember becoming a teenager.

Every birthday I think back to the day she was born and remember every detail. I usually run through this reminiscing for about a week or two before her birthday. I kept a journal from before she was born, until her third birthday or so and then from then on it was the milestones that I would document. I love that I can open up to any page and flashback to that exact moment and remember just about every detail.

With her upcoming celebration we asked her what she wanted to do. She wants dinner in NYC at Pio Pio and to be able to bring a friend. Hmmmm...I can do that. That works for me. But I wanted to do something a little special. So I invited friends and family that she hasn't seen in over a year or so which I'm sure will delight her. But I wanted to order her a custom cake. So off to the internet I went to google some ideas.

Who would have thought that it would be so difficult to find a cake? I spent less time finding the design for my wedding cake. The cakes ranged from simple to extreme. The cake is for fifteen people so I don't see why I need to order one for a hundred plus. Then it dawned on me....I have a friend that bakes cakes and she's pretty darned good. So I posted on her Facebook page and she responded right away. I told her what my daughter was into and we decided on a peace sign cake. Crazy as it is in 2010 I've got a kid that loves peace signs. I guess I should be grateful that it's not skulls that she's into.


So the cake is ordered and I cannot wait to see the expression on her face when she sees people she hasn't seen in so long come to celebrate her breaking into teen-hood and to eat her custom peace sign cake. I will be sure to post pictures of the cake.

Cherry Coke Zero....Fighting the Addiction

I kicked the soda habit over two years ago because I had turned over a new leaf. More so for my daughter, but still also for myself. My new drink of choice was water, or flavored waters. I really didn't miss the soda which was a surprise for me. Even when I was out to eat I'd ask for a glass of water with a slice of lime. I'd been fine all this time having cut soda out of my diet. Until a few weeks ago when the school store was out of flavored water. Now, I have a prefererred brand of bottled water. I prefer Aquafina. There are also brands that I don't like and Dasani is one of them. Unfortunately, the college store sells Coke products, so Dasani was all that was available. Which wasn't too bad when it was at least a flavored version. But this day there were no flavored Dasani's to be found. Feeling that it wouldn't be a big deal for one day, I picked up a Cherry Coke Zero.



And that my friends is where my short addiction to Cherry Coke Zero began. It was two weeks, but it was two weeks of CCZ bliss. I would look forward to class ending to get to the school store to buy my bottle of CCZ to quench, not my thirst, but my addiction. It got so bad that one day the school store hadn't received their soda shipment and there were no CCZ's for the taking and I had to settle for a Sprite Zero. It did not comfort the craving. I left school that day and went grocery shopping. I went directly to the soda aisle, an aisle I hadn't been in for a very long time, and anxiously looked for the black capped, black labeled bottle of CCZ. One bottle...are you kidding me? There's only one bottle left on the shelf? I was grateful that my fellow addicts left me at least one beautiful, 2 liter bottle.

I completed shopping and made it home and cooked dinner. All the while I was thinking about how good my tall glass of CCZ was going to taste with dinner. Needless to say no one was allowed to touch my bottle of CCZ. I did, however, hesitantly offer a sip to my husband. I imagine that my face told the true tale of not wanting to share, because he chuckled and declined my offer. Phew, that was close. I enjoyed that bottle, alone, as if it were a good year of chardonnay.

After only a week of my new addiction I was feeling the effects of it's ingredients. Now Coke Zero products are not to be mistaken with diet sodas. It's its own separate category of drink with its own list of ingredients. So how can a drink without sugar and calories taste so darned good and yet be oh so bad? The headaches, abdominal pain and lower back pain I was experiencing was no joke. As I evaluated what in my diet had changed recently there was only one culprit, Cherry Coke Zero.

I did some research on the internet and found other fellow addicts as well many conflicting opinions, professional and non, regarding the sweeteners in my beloved CCZ. Acesulfame Potassium is one of the newest sweeteners used in CCZ and the controversy surrounding it is that it hasn't been extensively tested. But the FDA did approve it for use in certain products. There's actually a list of products it can be used in. The other culprit...ummm...I mean sweetener is Aspartame which has been surrounded by so much controversy.

So much information to contemplate but the deciding factor for me was the way I felt. I know the only change to my diet prior to my symptoms was the CCZ and as much as I enjoyed it, I wasn't going to subject my body to it any longer. I'm back to water and it's been only a week, but I feel much better. I carry a bottle of water with me now to school so I don't have to go to the school store. Lesson learned.

Take two and don't call me in the morning

Since I've had my past med experience on my mind I wanted to post some more information on "where to go" when you're about to start a new med or thinking about a treatment plan. My research has lead me to two great sites: askapatient.com and medications.com have both been helpful to me in the past.

Medications.com is easy to navigate and even has quick reference tabs for side effects, videos, conditions and questions. This site also provides information in the news about various drugs and a message board that you can use to communicate with people who have taken the medications and they can tell you what experiences they've had. While it's understandable that every persons experience is different as well as their reason for taking the medication, it still is very helpful.

Askapatient.com is a site that I have found the most helpful. It has the same information as medications.com but it's patient created and has more "down and dirty" information on medication and health care opinion. It provides medication reports and FDA alerts as well as a prescription report cards. There are opinion polls which have links to even more related articles on medications.

The News tab is a great resource for todays health care and pharmaceutical news. The news section provides a blurb from the article and a link from the media in where the article can be found. Furthermore, you can find similar articles from that article. Included in the news tab are drug safety alerts where you can enter your medication for an easy check.

Being able to find as many resources for any and all information (good or bad) pertaining to medications you might currently be taking or may be thinking of taking, is helpful. These sites helped me and I felt it was important to pass on this information for anyone who might be considering taking a new drug that they're not familiar with. Also, if you're on a drug and you're experiencing side effects that your doctor insists is not due to the drug....you'll be surprised to see just how many other people might be suffering from the same issues. You're not alone and information is out there, if you know where to look.

Have a healthy day!

Following the Yellow Brick Road......

With yet another school cancellation due to inclement weather I had the opportunity to watch an episode of Dr. Oz. He usually has very interesting but short segments. Today though was "The Number One Surgery Women Don't Need: Hysterectomy." It primarily focused on those women who were suffering from fibroids. This was of great interest to me considering I've been torn over whether or not to have a hysterectomy myself. I have two very close friends (close in age as well) who have opted to have the surgery and so far one is very happy with her decision. The other, well it's too soon to tell as she had the surgery just a little over a month ago. It is amazing to me how doctors are making a hysterectomy their first choice and not the last resort.

Facing the decision myself, I did extensive research on other options. I was disappointed that Dr. Oz didn't go into more of the other options available to women. He suggested one medical option and then went into some herbal teas and ibuprofen. While I agree ibuprofen helps with some pain associated with fibroids there are times that it just doesn't cut it. I've battled with the pain for so many years that my tolerance is pretty high. I have been prescribed Mefenam Acid, which helps tremendously.

I was surprised to hear that a myomectomy was one of the worst surgeries to have. I have had one to remove a fibroid which was in my uterine wall. Come to find out this type of surgery causes a lot of scar tissue....which is part of my problem as well. I have endometriosis as well as adenomyosis. All of the aforementioned coupled with fibroids has been the reason I have studied my other options extensively. I found an excellent GYN who was against the idea of a hysterectomy and we discussed other options and although the choice was difficult I opted to go with Lupron shots and Norethindrone (Add-Back Therapy) for a period of 6 months to reduce the fibroids.

Three months into this treatment and I was a basketcase. While this treatment effects everyone differently, my experience was the same as most of the horror stories I read on a site that I found dedicated to "help" other patients. I had every possible side effect associated with this medication. I suffered from insomnia, memory loss, couldn't remain focused on anything, mood swings, muscle pain, skin rash, hair loss, and the list goes on and on. The side effects caused many problems for me in my personal life. I was just promoted to a new position at work and had trouble focusing during training for this new job. Once I was out to dinner with family and lashed out at the waitress who was rude to my mother. I was so short fused that it became difficult even to drive to work without having several feelings of road rage during a 7 minute drive to work.

After month three I marched into my doctor's office and told him that I could no longer take this medication or he'd be treating me in the Psychiatric ward. All of the memories of this treatment was running through my head while I watched Dr. Oz today and I'm not really sure that hysterectomy is the wrong decision for every woman. I do believe that a psychiatric evaluation should be done before a woman has a hysterectomy for those women that are still in child bearing years. I also believe that it should be done when all other treatments have failed.

Why am I here?

When I sit and study and begin to stress out over my possible grade, I immediately begin to think "why am I here?" I think back to the days when I was employed and I have to say that there's more work involved in being a student then being an employee. I remember finishing my first semester, getting great grades and planning my next semester. Getting another step closer to my dream of being an RN. That was December 26, 2009 and that day I received a letter that my unemployment was running out so I said "That's it. The decision has been made for me. I have to go back to work." It was fun while it lasted. Maybe I can work and go to school part-time. It will take longer, but I have survived one semester. This was a day that will forever be emblazoned in my brain. Not because of the letter from UC, but how my evening ended.

After reading the letter I finished getting ready to head to the movies to see the movie Precious. Finally, it was here in a local theatre and despite the stress of having to hit the job market again, I was determined to enjoy the movie I'd been wanting to see. The movie was great. Some say it wasn't as good as the book, but since I hadn't read it, I enjoyed the movie.....well I enjoyed the acting in the movie. How can you enjoy a movie about the sad and horrific life Precious lead?

It was the day after Christmas and Airport Road seemed desserted. But the rain had let up by the time we left the theatre and it was only misting but visibility was low. As I was driving home past the entrance to the Airport, my husband asked, "Do you see that? Be careful." I had noticed something in the road and slowed down and as it all came into focus I realized that I was driving upon the scene of an accident. I drove as close as I could and threw the car into park, put my flashers on and yelled over to my husband to dial 911 as we both ran out of the car. I could hear my husband speaking to a dispatcher as he ran to one vehicle and I ran to the other. I don't want to get into the details of the accident . I only want to say that my actions were instinctual. I did what I hope someone else would have done for me or anyone in my family too.

As I walked away from the accident towards my car so many people came to me and asked if I was okay. They told me how amazing I was. That they'd never seen anyone "react" the way that I did. As I sat in my car, Airport Road was "alive" with paramedics, emergency vehicles and now many other drivers on their way somewhere, I watched as the police tried to redirect traffic so we could turn our vehicle around to leave the scene. The drive the rest of the way home was about 5-7 miles but seemed much longer. When I finally got home and into my home I was numb from the emotions that were bouncing around in my head. My husband held me and said "I don't care what that letter says. You follow your dream. You were meant to do this."

I met the family of the man who's hand I held, who's head and brow I rubbed and who I spoke to let him know he wasn't alone. They thanked me for being there with him when they couldn't be. They hugged me and told me their family has now been extended to include me. So on the days that I get frustrated and say "I just can't do this anymore," I remember Bill Weiss and I know that I absolutely can.

Happy Valentine's day!

Another day to fight the urge to eat candy! Just got past Christmas candy, cookies, dinners, etc....now it's time to fight the chocolate urges! But I made it. I actually spent most of my Valentine's day in the gym! It was empty! I guess everyone worked hard on their New Year's resolutions and now they're gonna cheat with a box of chocolate....I know I wanted to! I only ate a chocolate donut...BUT Saturday I went to NY to eat Peruvian food....hence the reason I was in the gym sweating it all off!

Ahhh the gym....I partake in as much gym activity as I can. For some reason once I turned 35 I started struggling with weight. Not a lot....just 10 lbs or so. But it was a constant struggle because I'm so accustomed to being on the go and grabbing what I can to eat but always had a healthy dinner. The worst part is now 7 years later I'm still fighting but it's with gravity!!! So I'm in the gym 5 days a week. I take the Zumba class twice a week, which is loads of fun and a great cardio workout! Then I hit the weights. My struggle now like I said was gravity and keeping my abs in check! All other muscles are responding well...thank heavens muscle has memory....but the abs for whatever reason seem to have dementia these days!

Studied the rest of V-day for that Biology exam! The first exam of the semester. Hoping for a good grade. Made my notecards and took the online textbook quizes and I did well. Doesn't mean that the exam will be the same...but the information is stored and ready for retrieval! Wish me luck

Conquering the Second Semester Blues

So here I am, a few weeks into the second semester and I'm feeling as lost as I did in the first. Haven't quite gotten my schedule down pat....sorry Developmental Psychology Professor...I really thought the class started at 12:30 and not 12:00....my bad. I am regretting not noting the Algebra class is computer based. It's not fun trying to make a computer understand what answer I "meant" to type. Also, the computer gives the same examples over and over as opposed to the instructor changing them and teaching you from scratch.

All in all I am enjoying college....when there's no snow of course! Seems these snow storms lately are coinciding with my Biology Labs....lucky me! So now I'm two labs behind thanks to Mother Nature. According to the professor, looks like we'll be doubling up for the next couple of weeks. Not cool!

Studying tip for today is I highly recommend studying with notecards. You take notes during class and just reading them over is not enough. Writing the note cards actually helps the information make it past your short term memory. You can recall the information more easily after writing them over and studying from the notecards.....well at least it worked for me last semester! It was a recommendation from my Speech Communication's professor that I will carry with me throughout college. I have my first Biology exam coming up so I will let you know how the notecards worked for me this time.....

Let's get it started

So this is where my story begins....What I thought was the end turned out to be a fresh new start. Flash back two weeks from "The Second Cut," where fiance, at the time, and I were closing on our new home. We waited until my job seemed more secure but little did we know what was in store for us. We were estatic. A new home and a fresh new start for us both. Now let's flash forward to the day I thought was the end of what seemed like a stretch of good luck for me. The day I was laid off.

I knew it was coming....just had that sinking feeling in my stomach that this time I wasn't going to make the cut. I had already told my fiance that chances are I was going to be one of the unfortunate ones. He assured me that all would be fine. How I couldn't understand. We were to be married in less than a month, just closed on our home two weeks ago and now I've lost my job. Chances of finding a job in The Valley making my previous salary was slim to none! I had a better chance applying at Taco Bell since I am bi-lingual.

Once I got over the bitterness and after many discussions with my fiance, we decided to just stop thinking of it all and enjoy planning the final touches to the wedding. Surprisingly it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be to let go of the past and start a new. The wedding went beautifully and the honeymoon in Aruba was amazing. Once back at our new home and finally finishing up painting and settling in the husband and I sat and decided my going back to school for my RN was the way to go.

Nursing was something I've always had a desire for. I never had the opportunity to do so and my being a "recently dislocated worker" ..... gotta love the way they make it sound so cool eh? ..... the college was offering a Tuition Waiver program that made me realize it was time to follow my dream. All fell into place regarding Financial Aid. My first semester had a rocky start and there were times I just thought I wasn't going to make it. However, I beat my first semester with three A's and a B+ which scored me a spot on the Dean's List!

Hmmmmm Maybe I can do this college thing after all ...... So here I am in my second semester....doubting myself again...but sure I can pull through again .... I think I can .... I know I can!