THE CAT’S MEOW
FOR WRITER’S & READERS
Issue 07, Vol. 05
©
June 10, 2005
“THE
CAT’S MEOW FOR WRITERS & READERS”
Newsletter/Ezine: ISSN: 2237-65
Published by Rosanne Catalano, (a/k/a R.C.Kayla)
Writer/Author and Ezine Chief Editor,
For Her Official Author Web Site – http://www.rosannecatalano.net
Editor and Proofreader: Nancy Peckford,
Technical Writer/Author, Web Designer and Assistant,
Our
Subscriber list is NOT made available to others.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S
CORNER:
by Rosanne Catalano – www.rosannecatalano.net
Hi dear readers, June is finally here so lets congratulate ourselves for surviving the cold, harsh winter (and what a winter it was!) -- this month’s issue promises to be fun reading for the beach… full of poetry, a short story and helpful, informative articles written by my wonderful contributing authors! You can read them at your leisure while bathing in the sun’s rays at the seashore or poolside…
Almost forgot some good news I have for everyone –more publication success happened with two poems I penned and submitted! The two poems are published in the June 2005 issue (Issue #6) of “The Pink Chameleon – Online,” a family-oriented small press magazine, and you can simply click on The Pink Chameleon – Poetry link (www.geocities.com/thepinkchameleon/poetry/poetry.html), then on the left-side click on “Open Letter to Grandma” and “Dear Mom and Dad” by Rosanne Catalano… Mrs. Dorothy Paula Freda, Publisher and Editor of The Pink Chameleon, and I would love for you to check out her eBooks at AngelFire.com, please do enjoy both her sites as I highly recommend them for family fun to be had.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Would like to thank all my contributing authors/writers for sending in your articles, but at this time I must inform you that I am not accepting any more article submissions as the response to my request has been so overwhelming that we now have enough articles for the remainder of this year – Thank you for making The Cat’s Meow for Writers & Readers a success! Unfortunately there are still not enough poetry, short story and flash fiction submissions, therefore the rest of the year I will not be able to highlight any artistic talent, unless I receive more poems, short stories and flash fiction in the coming weeks…
APOLOGIES TO CUTY BOY: In last month’s ezine,
I provided a link to CutyBoy’s web site in the
article I wrote but had not realized it did not work… please accept my
apologies for not realizing this when the issue went to press; The correct URL
is: http://www.cutyboy.com. I highly recommend checking out this amazing
feline’s site!
I found a wonderful and loving support group on the Internet called the Invisible Disabilities Advocate (http://www.MyIda.org), which I myself joined; living with chronic pain is just as hard and challenging as living with a chronic illness. Mr. Wayne Connell, Founder and President of The Invisible Disabilities Advocate (IDA), wrote a beautifully heartfelt and informative article on how the group got started due to his wife, Sherri’s long-term chronic illnesses… IDA’s support group also offers up plentiful prayers for those who need it and their family members, which is the greatest support people living with invisible disabilities can have! Throughout Mr. Connell’s article his love for Sherri shines through… an article I highly recommend to better understand what it is like to live with long-term chronic pain and illnesses.
Please do not forget that June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Pet Month through the ASPCA.org… if you can’t adopt, why not consider giving a gift so that the ASPCA and the HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States; http://www.hsus.org) can continue their wonderful work helping all living creatures. ASPCA accepts contributions online and by snail-mail… if you would like to give a gift online, please do go to http://www.aspca.org, and they will give instructions on how you can give a gift, either through their website or through snail-mail.
Okay now I’ve taken up enough of your time …
without further ado I’m giving the floor over so to speak, to all my wonderful
contributing poets, writers and authors; all listed below in the order that
their work appears… please do enjoy The
Cat’s Meow for Writers & Reader’s June
issue. Happy
__
© 2005 by Rosanne Catalano
written and published by Rosanne Catalano (aka R.C.Kayla),
writer/author and ezine chief editor
http://www.rosannecatalano.net
“The
Cat’s Meow for Writers & Readers” ezine chief editor
© June 10, 2005
EDITOR’S
CORNER:
by Nancy Peckford
– webwriterworx.tripod.com
Dear Readers, I am so sorry but there will not be an EDITOR’S CORNER for a while… as I am super
busy working with the illustrator of my children’s book; deadline for the book
is October 2005!
©2005 by Nancy Peckford
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NAME
OF AUTHOR TITLE
OF ARTICLE
Eve Hall (featured poet) “Sisterhood,”
“The Gift” and “Sweet Distraction”
E. D. Santos (featured writer) “Street Vignette”
Wayne Connell “A Voice for People Living With Invisible Disabilities”
Josephine Bearheart “Social Security
Disability: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear!”
Lesley Lavaro “Preparing
for a Job Interview”
Ami Deglai “Everybody
Needs a Friend”
Suzanne Falter-Barns Inspirational:
“How to Do Hard Things”
Wyatt Bauske “College
Grants”
Rick Miller “Internet
Millionaire Mindset: Is Your Brain Sabotaging Your Marketing Success?”
Tacquisto Pasall “Career Freedom
with Franchises”
Tevole Schenko “College in
Zeinee Plaat “Emotional
Eating will Affect Your Weight”
Al Rhetten “Success
is Personal”
Seena Fichen “Child
Care Guidelines”
Pendio Chussig “Food Safety”
Gochi Pionn “Safety
Measures for Water Skiing”
Sue Blaney “Teenagers
and Trouble – How Parents Can Keep their Teens Out of Trouble”
Fordie Herain “Chess Clubs at School”
COFFEE HOUSE 4
POETS & WRITERS:
(Every Month Highlighting Artistic Talent)
FEATURED POET
THIS MONTH: EVE HALL
AND
FEATURED WRITER
THIS MONTH: E. D.
“SISTERHOOD”
© by Eve Hall 2002
Different sizes, shapes, and colors, yet
We all have the same problems.
Male problems, children problems,
Mental and physical problems
You name them, we have them.
We comfort and share with each other,
we get on each other’s nerves.
Sistahs assisting sistahs, who are like us?
You give me your shoulders to cry on
I give you my helping hand.
You give me advice and strength
I give you my listening ear.
You give me love and support,
I give you my friendship.
© Eve Hall 2002
“THE GIFT”
© by Eve Hall 2000
I feel your breath upon me
Your breathing is in sync with mine.
We have promised to love each other
In sickness and in health, poor or with wealth.
Two hearts sharing this treasure of love.
Two people who have promised to become one
Two hearts entwined with one another.
A gift more precious than gold or silver
A gift meant for two, bonded together
A gift that is to be cherished and honored
This gift is not to be bought or sold
This gift is…
Marriage.
© Eve Hall 2000
“SWEET DISTRACTION”
© by Eve Hall 4-1-05
So much work to be done
Can’t concentrate, my mind
keeps drifting back to you.
Memorable moments, seductive thoughts and innuendos.
Never saying what we really mean
Always respecting each other’s
space, religion, ideas, choices, each other.
Time to get back to work… no more daydreaming.
Is he just another poet who has seeped into my heart,
Or is he just like the other poets, here today, gone tomorrow?
Maybe, just maybe tomorrow, I’ll encounter my…
Sweet distraction.
© Eve Hall 4-1-05
__
MORE
ABOUT THE POET:
COMING SOON BY EVE HALL: “Dontay’s Dog”
Illustrator: Bonnie Everett-Hawke
**************************************************************************************************************************
“STREET VIGNETTE”
(a short story by E. D. Santos)
© 2005 written by E. D. Santos
Recky was mumbling as she walked, a habit she’d gotten into long ago when she ran out of companions to talk to. She pulled her overcoat tighter, glancing up at the black sky beyond the city lights. “Why aren’t you doin’ your job?” she asked the streetlamp she was nearing, as though its small circle of heat could penetrate the pervasive coolness of a February night. “I thought that’s what you get paid for.”
Grumbling as she went, she passed a group
of tourists wearing light jackets or merely sweaters, taking in the warming
Gulf breezes of an early Spring in
Recky sprinted down St. Mary’s until she found a small side street that
cut over to
“Yeah, up yours,” she responded to the voice in her head, chuckling as she did so. Once inside her “Inner Sanctum,” as she called it, she unfurled the scarf around her neck, unzipped her jacket that contained her prize booty for the night: a Moon Pie and a banana.
“Got something, Lisa,” she told the sleeping figure that began to stir on the broken-down couch. “Here, I’ll open it for you.” She pulled the paper off the moon pie to break the morsel in half, storing the remaining half back into the wrapper for later. “Come on, I’ll make us a little fire so you can stay warm.”
Lisa sat up and stretched, sniffed at the delicacy and lay back down.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Ma,” Lisa responded in a whining tone, clearly not wanting to be disturbed.
“Okay, I’m sorry! Just wanted you to eat something before you go off… wherever you go off to at night.”
Lisa sighed, not turning around.
Then Recky sighed, eying her daughter’s back with anxiety. “I’ll make us a little fire, anyway,” she said more to herself than to anyone in earshot.
In the center of the abandoned warehouse was a blackened pit that had been dug into the floor by some other homeless person years before Recky had discovered the place. Several portable panels positioned around the pit concealed the light of the campfire from any cracks in the outer walls. It was in this innermost “room” that Recky and Lisa resided, far from the intruding eyes of the authorities, from meddling individuals who might try to tear them apart.
“This is a good place,” Recky said to herself, not caring if Lisa heard her. She flicked her lighter at a small wad of newspaper until it caught fire, then lowered it onto a fake kindling log. She smiled to herself with the memory of acquiring the log, as though having acquired the key to the universe. It had been the perfect heist – while the crowd was focused on a retreating robber brandishing a gun, Recky had seized the opportunity to scoop the display log into her big coat. And since it was out in the open air during Fiesta, there were no cameras trained on that particular spot. In the ensuing chaos, she had gotten away with it!
Now she used the log sparingly, ever mindful of its precious gift of heat and the transcendence of karma. She knew from her wanderings of so many years that even material things have a soul. That if you take the trouble to steal something, it should be because you really need it... and that you will use it wisely.
She watched the dancing of the flames for some moments, until she felt the pull of sleep on her eyelids. Then, covering the log with an old singed table mat, she snuffed out the fire, its usefulness having been spent for the night. As she drifted off, she could hear Lisa getting up and leaving, out to chase the nocturnal call of the wild.
Officer Acuna stumbled onto the lifeless little body piled up in the street gutter like garbage. He bent down to inspect it more closely, poked at it, saw the dried trails of blood from the mouth and the center of the body where a car had obviously trampled it, crushing ribs, spine and internal organs alike. The black matted fur clinging to ripped hide half-concealed the sparkle that had attracted his attention to the animal in the first place. It was a St. Christopher’s medal made of dime-store gold leaf that he recognized as belonging to Recky’s cat – Recky’s “daughter” – Lisa.
He debated mentally whether or not to give the sad news to Recky, or just to give her the medal, claiming innocence about the fate of Lisa. Maybe he should just throw the medal away and not say anything at all. Not knowing where Recky made her home these days – not really wishing to know – he was content in the conviction that he would not be able to relate his findings to her immediately anyway, and decided to mull his decision over a while longer. Meanwhile, not wishing to cause any undue stress to Recky should she come across Lisa’s body herself, he pulled the medallion off the string around the cat’s neck, wrapping it in a police baggie, and stowed it in his pocket.
There were times when he cursed his empathy
toward these homeless people. Maybe it
was because he saw his own family in their eyes. It wasn’t that long ago, after all, that his
father came here from
If not for that break, the Acuna family would have continued to drift through life without home or pride. Now, it seemed that he felt responsible for others in their quest to find the same sense of belonging and self-worth. He clutched the enveloped medal in his pocket, still unsure as to what to say to Recky should he meet her around the next corner. He hoped he wouldn’t.
The walkie-talkie on his shoulder crackled,
the dispatcher’s voice garbling a request for assistance at a convenience store
a few blocks away. “Officer on the way,”
Acuna responded, then added:
“Sandra, would you send Animal Control to the corner of
“
It had been a few days since Lisa hadn’t come home and Recky could only imagine the worst. “Maybe she’s laying in a ditch somewhere, hurt,” she fretted to herself, scrounging through the garbage bin behind a Denny’s Restaurant. “Maybe she hitched a ride with some crazy person and they crashed and left her in a ditch.” The thought of that scenario made her suddenly stop, clutch her gut. “No, no. She’s fine. She’s okay. I can feel it… In here,” she thumped her stomach with her fist as though to reassure herself that her daughter was indeed fine. With that, she smiled, and resumed her search for left-overs.
As she picked through the garbage, a policeman appeared around the corner of the building, eying her threateningly. Several restaurant customers were heading for their car, making something of a commotion, which attracted Recky’s attention. Glancing up, she saw beyond them to the advancing cop, and immediately jumped to run. But another cop lay in wait for her to pummel right into his arms.
“Let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Easy … Easy, now. Come on, Recky, you know we gotta take you in.” It was Officer Lopez. The other cop, Officer Winn, was just approaching with the handcuffs.
“Why are you always doing this to me? You know I never do anything wrong! I don’t panhandle!”
“We know, Recky. We know.”
“Then why? Oh, wait, is it election year again?”
Both policemen chuckled to themselves, but continued wordlessly to escort her to their patrol car.
In lock-up with seven other women, Recky kept to herself in a far corner, not wishing to mingle with what appeared to be members of a girl gang. They looked tough, all sporting tattoos, some with partially shaved heads, and all wearing at least one item of clothing made of leather. They also all looked hung-over.
At last, Officer Acuna appeared. The gang girls suddenly came to life, wolf-whistling at the young officer like a bunch of hardened criminals ogling “fresh meat.”
“Oooh, baby,” one of the girls fawned, “you make me want to change my ways, papasito.” She sucked in through her teeth provocatively, swaying her hips as she neared the bars that separated them by mere inches.
Officer Acuna did not seem the least bit fazed by the display, and focused his attention on the lone woman in the corner. Turning to the attending jail matron, he motioned her over. Pointing to Recky with his chin, he told the matron, “Her.”
The matron banged the bars with her nightstick. “Okay, back, everybody! Back!”
The girls retreated grudgingly as the matron pulled at her retractable key chain to unlock the door, and motion Recky forward.
“Hey, hey, hey, Officer! Why don’t you take me? I can be your love slave, baby. I’ll do anything you want!”
Recky couldn’t get out of that cell fast enough, almost stumbling over the matron’s shoes as she did so. She felt a sigh of relief from the officer, as well, once the metal door was locked behind her.
“You must have a guardian angel watching out for you, Recky,” the matron told her as they walked out into the booking room. “Somebody thought you needed to get out of here quick.”
Recky was too busy planning her escape out the front door to hear what the woman was saying. But Officer Acuna’s grasp on her arm prevented her from telegraphing her next move, so she stayed put. For now. No doubt a lecture about finding a job and cleaning oneself up to get out of the street was about to follow. Recky figured she could endure another windbag speech from some well-meaning yet totally clueless civic minded person – usually it was followed by a breakfast of doughnuts and a cup of coffee right there in the police station. Her mouth began to water at the prospect of doughnuts and coffee.
“Okay, I’ll try to find a job just as soon as I can find a place to shower. Now, where are my coffee and doughnuts?”
Officer Acuna and the matron glanced over at one another and cracked a reluctant grin. Then the officer spoke to Recky.
“Recky, we’re gonna have to take you to the state hospital for observation.”
“What?”
“Yeah, you’re looking kinda pale and thin, you know.”
“What are you talkin’ about? I always look like this!”
“No, Recky, you don’t.”
Just then, another official-looking person appeared, a woman in a dress suit flanked by two tall male attendants. Recky’s heart skipped a beat, her first instinct to turn and run. But the attendants were strong, catching her in mid-flight towards the door.
“Tell your goons to take their hands offa me!”
“It’s okay, Recky,” Officer Acuna tried to reassure her. “They’re not gonna hurt you. Just quit fighting and go easy. Then they won’t have to restrain you.”
Recky quit fighting them, trying to follow the officer’s advice, but the attendants’ grip on her arms was nonetheless vice-like. She felt a lump of frustration gathering in her craw, a sob escaping her lips. She looked over at Officer Acuna’s face with an expression that conveyed helplessness, fear … the sense that she had been betrayed.
“I thought you were my friend,” she half-whispered through her tears.
“I am your friend,” he answered, his voice equally strained.
Officer Acuna visited Recky at the state hospital a few days later. She was in the main room humming a song that was vaguely recognizable to him, a tune from the late Sixties. She wore a state-issued hospital gown, her hair and face with a just-washed sheen to them. She looked older somehow, he thought. Maybe the scruffiness of street life rendered a kind of innocent aura to people, their alert eyes glowing with what could appear to be naivete, though in truth he knew it to be the look of constant alertness.
When she spotted him, she turned to run away, but a vigilant hospital attendant caught her. “You’re always running, aren’t you? You’ve got to stay and take in the sun …” he escorted her back to a seat by the sun-drenched windows. “Here you go.”
“Please, I want to go back to my room!” she insisted, her eyes peering over her shoulder at Officer Acuna.
“She’s afraid of me,” the officer explained as he approached them.
“Not afraid of you,” Recky insisted, now defiant. She sat down with a determined plop.
“Mind if I sit here, too?” Acuna asked her, motioning to the attendant that he could take it from here.
“I’m not talking to you!” She barked bluntly, fixing her gaze out the window.
“That’s okay … Look, Recky, I know you’re mad at me, but can I tell you something?”
She wouldn’t respond, only stare harder out the window.
“They were fixin’ to give you a long jail sentence.”
Recky swallowed, still not facing him.
“They’re trying to … uh … clean up the streets … They … don’t want to see-- “
“Why should I believe you?” At last she faced him, but with an accusing glare.
“It’s been in the papers, Recky. I know you can read. Ask the librarian for the latest paper and you’ll see I’m telling you the truth.”
Recky’s face finally softened. She swallowed again. “So what am I gonna do now?”
“I don’t know. But I want you to know that I want to help you.”
She glanced up at him as if for the first time. “Why?”
Officer Acuna found himself at a loss to explain. Perhaps it was for the same reason he got into the police force in the first place – because he wanted to help the helpless. Saying it out loud, though, made it sound phony, and he refused to let her see him try to sound sincere.
“Because I’m a cop and I help people.”
“No, you’re not like other cops. They don’t all care like you do.”
“Well, whatever, I still want to help you. If you want me to.”
Recky shook her head at the enormity of the struggle ahead of her and shrugged. “Well, what should we do?”
“First, I want you to get better. Eat. Put a little meat on your bones. Then I’m going to help you get a job. Didn’t you tell me once that you used to wash dishes at the Paloma?”
“Yeah, but that was years ago. I don’t think anybody there will remember me.”
“That’s okay. I’ll put in a good word.”
“I still don’t get it… Why?”
Acuna searched for the right words to say. “Everybody needs help sometimes. That’s all.”
Recky seemed to want to reach out to thank him, but didn’t know how.
When he stood up to leave, she reached out to grasp his hand. Unable to voice her gratefulness, she pressed him for another reason. “Have you seen Lisa? She hasn’t been home for a few days…”
Acuna shifted his feet. She’d have to find out sooner or later. Should he risk sending her into a psychotic episode? Might as well, he thought, she’s in the right place for it.
He sat back down and took both her hands in his. Then, haltingly, reaching into his pocket, produced the medallion that he had already cleansed of blood and fur, placing it in her hands.
“I found it … just before they brought you here.”
Recky sighed when she rolled it over in her hands. Her eyes filled with tears, but she choked back a sob. Then, resignedly she uttered, “Damned cat!”
Acuna was surprised. “So you know it was a cat?”
“Well, of course! What did you think? That I really thought she was my daughter?”
His surprise was tinged with relief. Now he was certain that he could in good conscience recommend her for employment, glad that he had managed to have her sprung from jail. He patted her hand with a wide grin as if to acknowledge that fact.
As he happily galloped off, content with his new good deed, Recky pondered the long road ahead and knew in her heart that she wasn’t up to it.
How could she explain to such a do-gooder like Officer Acuna that it was easier to be at the mercy of the wind and the stars and the rain? That fighting those uphill battles were now a distant memory for her?
She had relented to giving him some satisfaction by acknowledging that her fixation with her cat/daughter was nothing more than a fantasy. But there was no way she could let him into her private hell of mocking demons who constantly tormented her with their barbs. Barbs in the form of accusations: “You’re an evil mother, you witch, and you’ll burn in hell!” Barbs in the form of memories fresh in her mind of children who had been betrayed by their own mother, a mother who chose drugs over them. The boy had turned against his mother at a time when she most needed his help. Instead, the boy, then thirteen and by all rights a young man, vowed to raise his little sister in the belief that their mother was dead, and he shut her out of his life completely.
He was right, Recky knew, though it didn’t make things any less painful. Her new life of drifting from town to town – how long had it been? – was now all she knew, as though she had been doing this all her life. And those distant memories must surely be of someone else.
How could she even think of bettering herself now? What would be the point? She rolled the medal in her palms over and over, as though seeking an answer from the object, as though something might spring to mind by the action.
“Well, I guess it’s time to move on,” she
said to herself, planning her departure from
The glitter of cheap gold leaf dancing in the sun’s rays hypnotized her into mental ramblings about a future home somewhere in the warm climate of another Southwestern city. Recky planned to find another place as secretive as the Inner Sanctum. To find another Lisa. To have another chance to lose herself once more. It was easier this way.
__
MORE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
If you liked and were touched by this short story by E. D. Santos, please contact the Featured Writer at edsantos@hondo.net!
“A Voice for People Living With Invisible Disabilities”SM
Copyright © 2005 The
Invisible DisabilitiesSM Advocate
Written By Wayne Connell, Founder and President of The Invisible DisabilitiesSM Advocate www.MyIDA.org
From the time my wife,
Sherri could talk and walk, she began to sing and dance! Life was a stage to
her and anyone willing to watch became her audience. She got her first horse at
the age of 10 and spent many afternoons riding, racing and even performing in
shows. By 13, she had a job at a pet store. Later, she was a cheerleader,
worked through high school and college, sang and danced in musicals, lifted
weights, rode horses, was a model and obtained 3 college degrees. Although she
had a history of a low immune system and often struggled with the flu,
bronchitis, pneumonia, pain and paralysis, she still remained active. She truly
loved to work, she was goal-oriented and nothing was going to slow her down!
At the age of 27, she suddenly lost the
use of her extremities from the ribs down, was hospitalized and was diagnosed
with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. However, Sherri was not fearful,
because she figured she would just go home and rest for a couple of weeks and
then return to work. Sure, the wheelchair was a new challenge, but she knew it
was not going to hinder her career plans and love for singing. After all, no
illness had ever kept her down before and this was certainly not going to stop
her from achieving her goals!
Through much physical therapy and
fortitude, Sherri did regain most of the use of her legs, even though it is
still very difficult to stand or walk. Nevertheless, despite her utter
determination, she never recovered from the disabling, extreme fatigue,
headaches, pain, weakness, exhaustion, nausea, cognitive impairments and
dizziness that kept her from returning to work or even function on her own. It
was now all that she could do to get a shower or go to the doctor, as she
remained unable to even care for her daily needs.
Sherri found out in 1992 that she also
had Late Chronic Lyme Disease from a tick bite when
she was 14. It all made sense, how her immune system was suppressed, followed
by such severe symptoms. Her doctor was amazed that she is even still alive. In
1994, I asked Sherri to marry me.
When Sherri was first diagnosed with
the MS, she wrote a pamphlet to help her friends better understand her new life
and challenges. She then continued to write here and there over the years in
her journal to help her cope with the changes. The biggest hurdle Sherri and I
have struggled with is the fact that to others she does not look sick. This has caused us much
heartbreak, as people tend to only believe what they can see. We found that when living with Invisible Disabilities, friends and family often do not
understand the limitations because to them their loved one looks fine.
Unfortunately, this often leads to
those around people like my wife, claiming they must not be trying hard enough,
they are lazy or they must be exaggerating. For Sherri, because she had always
been a very goal-oriented extremely active person, these claims were more
devastating than the illness itself. After all, she would never willingly give
up the activities in her life that she loved and cherished! Still, because to
others she looked okay, people often
treated her like a malingerer.
One day, I offered to post some of
Sherri’s writings from her journal on the net. I thought it would be a great
way to save her the energy trying to explain what she was going through to
loved ones and to people she met. Much to our surprise, the message spread like
wildfire, far beyond just our friends and family! It did not take long for us
to discover how vital this message was to millions of Americans
who live with various chronic long-term conditions.
Later, I compiled some of her writings
and had it printed into a booklet titled, But
You LOOK Good! A Guide to Understanding and Encouraging
People Living With Chronic Illness and Pain. I offer it without
profit through the website and have sold many copies across the globe. In 2004,
I founded the website, The Invisible
Disabilities Advocate (www.MyIDA.org) as a non-profit organization
and have given seminars to our community. Through word of mouth, the website
became a worldwide outreach, as we now get over 120,000 hits a month.
From the very beginning, we have
received notes from people telling us how much the site had been an
encouragement and comfort. What amazed
Sherri was that she had thought she was the only one going through
these strains in relationships. Apparently, she was wrong! Not only was she not
alone, but we received an overwhelming number of visitors who told us, “You
have said exactly what I have been trying to say!” or “Now I know I am not
alone!” One lady wrote, “Terrific insights and communicated clearly...my
husband said it finally opened his eyes to what I had been trying to say all
these years. Thanks." Another even told us her husband got down on his
knees and asked for her forgiveness after he read the booklet!
Sherri and I have a passion to
send a message to the world. These people are not lazy malingerers! They are
people who have had dreams and goals stolen by illness. We want people to
see the determination in those living with debilitating conditions. We long to
stand on the mountain top to shout to them, "What courage! What strength!
What perseverance! We commend you! You could give up, but you rise to fight!
You are heroes!" Sherri and I want to let everyone know that even though
the mountains may seem overwhelming, those living with illness and pain are
still climbing!
Sherri continues to mourn the loss of
her singing, dancing and business career. She even mourns the ability to do
things that others take for granted: like cooking, shopping and cleaning.
Instead of a life on stage or climbing the latter of a corporation, Sherri
struggles just to get dressed, take a shower or go to the doctor. Nevertheless,
I believe we are grasping a greater purpose in our lives– to be a voice for others living with Invisible Disabilities.
|
_Copyright © 2005 The
Invisible DisabilitiesSM
Advocate: www.MyIDA.org.
Learn More About the booklet, But You LOOK Good! A Guide to Understanding and Encouraging People Living With Chronic Illness and Pain: www.MyIDA.org/booklet.htm. For permission to distribute or publish this article, write editor@myida.org. |
“Social Security Disability: Don’t Believe Everything
You Hear!”
Copyright © 2005 Josephine Bearheart
Written by Josephine Bearheart – www.fmsdisability.com
Needing Social Security disability benefit is not a new thing to many Americans. There are often times when an accident or illness means that we are unable to function properly for a period of time. It is for this time that we need the Social Security system. Unfortunately, not everybody who is entitled to get benefits actually gets them. Applications are made to the Social Security Administration (known as the SSA). Here are some hints and tips that will help ensure that you get the benefits to which you are entitled.
Mistakes are made everyday and the SSA is not immune to human errors. You may find that you get different advice from different offices or from the same office on different days. The only way to be certain that you are getting the correct information is to take your situation to a specialist disability lawyer. They will be aware of the most up-to-date laws and regulations in this area.
When you have a genuine claim it is hard to believe that it may be rejected. However, this is all too often the case. The reality is that 75% of first time claims are rejected. Of those that are rejected and ask for an appeal only 18% are given that chance. Unfortunately, in most cases it takes a judge to overturn a denial of benefits. Of those that are granted benefits after a rejection, 53% have had to go to court.
What you write on your form is fundamental. It is not the case that the more you write the better your chances. In fact the reverse is true in most cases. The more you write the greater the chances that you will contradict yourself. This is not to say that you should be untruthful, but you should make sure that the detail you give is consistent throughout. Lack of consistency can lead to an automatic dismissal of your claim. Where possible include reports from health care professionals such as physicians or psychiatrists.
Besides, there are a few other steps that you can take to increase your chance of success. Make sure that you submit your claim at the earliest opportunity. The SSA will not look favorably upon delay. Do not feel that you have to see their doctor – you do not. When sending medical reports try to get a report from a specialist rather than a general practitioner. Ensure that you show a willingness to be treated and that you are using conventional methods to rehabilitate yourself. Lastly, do not simply include a list of symptoms; be sure to tell the SSA how these symptoms effect you.
Avoiding appeals and courts will save you a lot of time and energy, so follow these tips and you will, hopefully, be one of the lucky few who get their benefits first time!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Josephine Bearheart is the proprietor of FMS Disability, which is a major helpful resource about disability on the Internet. For more help and information and complete article archive, go to: http://www.fmsdisability.com.
“Preparing for a Job Interview”
Copyright © 2005 Lesley Lavaro
Written by Lesley Lavaro – www.fillajob.com
None of us feel completely comfortable at interviews. Most of us feel nervous.
I believe the secret to winning at a job interview is confidence. Not really confidence in yourself but give your interviewer confidence in you. That you can do the job and that you can do it better than the other interviews he has.
When preparing for an interview, concentrate on the person that will be interviewing you. Imagine all of the things that they may or may not ask, and figure out what responses would mean the most to him or her. When they ask about your strengths and weaknesses, be honest, and be thorough. Do not leave things out, but be candid. Most interviewers will have a better response to you if you do not look like you might be hiding some things. Also, look for some opportunities to use humor. To most potential employers, this is a sign of comfort and self-confidence, and they will be impressed to see that you are able to think clearly even in a high pressure situation such as an interview. Be clear in all answers, and do not be too fearful about questions that might make you look bad. Remember, interviewers want to know who you are, not what kind of front you can put up during an interview.
One important thing to not do at a job interview is to not oversell yourself. Many people get carried away about themselves in there resume and in their interview, saying that they can do things that they can’t necessarily do. Then, when the interviewer asks about a particular subject that you do not know, you don’t want to be caught in a clueless daze. Just be careful about what you say you know.
Remember the person interviewing you is a person too. Personality is a huge thing when it comes to interviews. As you are talking to the interviewer maybe find out some of his interests and talk about them. But the main thing is just be yourself and be comfortable.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lesley Lavaro is proud to be the webmaster of Fill-A-Job, the Internet’s hot spot for all things employment. You can read more of her work at http://www.fillajob.com.
“Everybody Needs a Friend”
Copyright © 2005 Ami Deglai
Written
by Ami Deglai – www.friendsocean.com
Everyone needs a friend – friends play an essential role in your life. Most people look for friends that share and treasure our important life experiences and desires. Friends are the people we trust with the most intimate details of our life. Remember the old chestnut, “You can choose your friends, but not your relatives.” Friends don’t necessarily replace our family but they are the people we feel the most comfortable with. We can find a balance between our family and our friends.
A person without friends may feel isolated and alone. After all, we all need someone in our lives that we can talk to. It doesn’t mean that we have to have friends to make us happy, but it helps to lead a full and rich life. Most people really only have one or two close friends, the rest are acquaintances or mates. We may socialize in large groups, but typically only one or two of the people in the group are the ones we can trust with our most intimate details of our lives, true friends are special and unique.
A friend is someone we can rely on to be there for us in any situation, not only in difficult times, but also in times of celebration. Friends are there for the good and bad moments of life, they laugh and cry with us, talk or just listen. A friend is unconditional, giving and receiving, someone that loves you and never is judgmental.
It is not easy to find a real friend. We may find a friend overnight or it may take us years to find one. But the moment we find him or her we are going to feel happy because we have found someone with whom we are going to share from the most simple to the most intimate experiences in life; if we choose to do so. Thus, if we have a real friend we should try to give him or her as much as he or she gives us, so as not to lose our friend.
If you are looking for friendship make sure that you are a type of person that everyone would want as a friend.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ami Deglai is an inspirational writer and speaker. Visit her at FriendsOcean or http://www.friendsocean.com, where you can find this article and direct questions or comments.
“How to Do Hard Things”
Copyright © 2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns LLC.
Written by Suzanne Falter-Barns – www.howmuchjoy.com
One of the harsh little realities of pursuing a dream is that sooner or later, you’re going to have to do some stuff you don’t like very much. It’s just plain inevitable. Enter procrastination. Dread. Meltdown. Complete inertia.
But the prospect of doing the tough stuff doesn’t have to stop you cold. To that end, I’ve been teasing out some different ways you can keep going. Here are a few of my favorites:
In fact, I recently saw a movie in which a soldier talks about overcoming his fear and going into battle by listening to heavy metal music piped into his helmet. Neurosurgeons, emergency room docs, and others in high-pressure operating theaters often play lightly upbeat, soothing music to keep stress under control as they work.
That should give you some fodder for facing the harsh realities of life, and getting on with those annoyingly procrastinated to-do’s. Feng Shui experts insist that this ‘mental clutter’ keeps us small and inefficient; once we actually go through the hard stuff, and clear out our anxiety and procrastination, we thrive.
And guess what? They’re absolutely right!
TRY THIS …
Create a better to-do list
One of my little projects for the summer was to tame my unruly, wildly unreliable to-do list. Somehow it spilled out of my date book, spewing Post-Its all over my desk and computer, with another undocumentated stack of tasks always clogging up my inbox. What to do?
First I read David Allen’s book, “Getting Things Done,” and a little light bulb went off in my head. Allen suggests organizing tasks by location where you do them. So you maintain lists like ‘At Computer’, ‘Errands’, ‘Office Time’ and ‘Calls to Make’. That’s easy and efficient. Allen then has several suggestions on where to keep these lists.
I choose the Tasks function of Outlook, on my computer, and boy is that terrific! Every day when I turn on my email, there’s my task list staring me in my face. Productivity experts note that a graphic portrayal of tasks is actually helpful in understanding, and being motivated by them. Some are done, some are undone … and I can divide them into location lists, check lists, a timeline, or any kind of list I want at the click of a button.
Not only that, the computer actually gets me to put a time frame on all tasks (if I want) and then reminds me when the deadline is near or past.
This is just the kind of office structure a meandering, creative mind like mine (and yours?) needs to keep focused and on track.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Falter-Barns’ free ezine, The Joy Letter, brings you a crisp, fresh burst of inspiration for your dream every week or two. Sign up at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/joyletter.html. And if you need extra help getting through the tough parts, check out her Passion Connector e-course at: http://www.howmuchjoy.com/passionconnect.html
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns LLC. You may reprint this, but it must be complete and include all contact information above.
“College Grants”
Copyright © 2005 Wyatt Bauske
Written
by Mr. Wyatt Bauske – www.firstgrants.com
College costs are on the rise as they always have been. This year, the college board guesses that the average four year college costs around five thousand dollars per year to attend, while a two year college will cost around two thousand dollars per year. This does not even include the rising and sometimes out of control cost of text books. However, there is some good news to be had here. Roughly one hundred five billion dollars are available from the government and from other sources. Applying for aid is usually free, however, it can be a tedious process. However, the benefits far outweigh the costs invested in the time it takes to perform the actual application.
Probably the most common form of a federal grant is what is called a Pell Grant. It depends on financial need, but students can get up to three thousand dollars each year. It is only for undergraduate studies, but it can be used in combination with other grants or financial aid packages.
Another grant that is common today is the Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant). Similar to the Pell Grant, the SEOG is for undergraduate studies only and the award is based upon your individual financial need. This grant can also be combined with other grants and financial aid, although the cap is $1,000. per year.
In many cases, colleges and universities offer specific grants that they offer only to their students. These amounts vary from grant to grant, and from college to college. Many times, colleges take into account a number of things when considering who gets these grants, such as ethnicity, gender, and less frequently grades.
You must complete a financial aid form known as a FAFSA to even be considered for any of these types of grants. There are deadlines for this application to be completed, so keep that in mind when planning your education. Your college will also help you through this process. There are also web sites online that can guide you through the forms. Be vigilant, and complete this process as soon as possible, as early completion will help your chances of getting aid.
College costs are on the rise, and there is no end to it in sight. However, stay alert and look for the rising opportunities that may come up. College grants are a great option for financial aid, because they never need to be paid back, unlike a loan. So, complete the FAFSA and good luck!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wyatt Bauske is the Owner of First Grants, the Internet’s hot spot for all things grants. You can learn more about the site at http://www.firstgrants.com.
“Internet Millionaire Mindset: Is Your Brain
Sabotaging Your Marketing Success?”
Copyright © 2005 Rick Miller
Written
by Mr. Rick Miller – www.scientificinternetmarketing.com
and www.listcrusade.com
Have you ever wondered why some Internet marketers seem to have success with every single project? Do they have some magical power that you don’t?
Would you like to quickly get that power?
In a recent interview for the List Crusade program, T. Harv Eker revealed what he called the Millionaire Mindset-which gives extremely successful Internet marketers and offline entrepreneurs what seems to be an “unfair advantage.”
(Note: To access T. Harv Eker’s complete audio interview for free, see end of article)
Harv is the author of the best-selling book, “SpeedWealth,” as well as several highly-acclaimed courses such as The Millionaire Mind Intensive, Life Directions, Wizard Training and Train the Trainer. He is also the producer and trainer of the world-famous Enlightened Warrior Training.
He went from zero to millionaire in only 2-1/2 years using the Speed Wealth principles he teaches. He shows you how to instantly rid yourself of limiting beliefs that have stopped you from accumulating wealth in the past.
According to Harv, your subconscious mind may actually be holding you back from the success you want in Internet marketing and in life.
The subconscious is much more powerful than your conscious mind.
It’s like an iceberg, most of it is beneath the surface, and that’s usually what sinks ships.
Ideas and misconceptions you formed as a child can affect your life right now. If you believe that money is evil or that money is hard to get, then your success will be limited. Even though you go through the motions with your web page, email marketing and other marketing tasks, you’ll always fall short on something that is critical to your success.
Your mind will automatically stop you just like a thermostat turns off the heat at a certain point.
Harv revealed 4 easy actions you can do today to change your money thermostat and gain a millionaire mindset right now.
1) Stop blaming. You must take absolute responsibility for every result in your life. If you didn’t cause it that means it’s out of your hands. If you did cause it then you can change it and get a different result. What an empowering concept…
2) Stop complaining. When you complain you are focusing on the problem. The Universal Law of Attraction states that what you focus on expands. So if you focus on what you don’t want, what do you think you’ll get?
3) Use the power of intention. Take your current goal and double, triple it, or even quadruple it. For example if you want to make an extra $2000 a month from your website, raise your goal to $8000. According to Harv, the Universe usually gives you only what you ask of it. You’ll probably find that the higher goal will spark your enthusiasm and energy and make it much easier to accomplish.
4) Bless that which you want. If you see someone with a fancy car, say “Good for him!” Don’t use your key to scratch it as you walk by like a lot of jealous brow people may do. If someone you know gets a promotion, congratulate him. This secret alone will cause money and wealth to start flowing to you effortlessly.
The more you practice these Millionaire Mindset secrets, you’ll discover that you too will experience dramatic success and your income from Internet marketing will skyrocket.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rick Miller is a Certified Master of Web Copywriting and co-founder of List Crusade.com. For free access to T. Harv Eker’s entire interview, along with 51 other audio lessons from top Internet Marketing and Self Help Gurus—go to:
= =>http://www.ListCrusade.com/rickm.html
© 2005 Rick Miller. All rights reserved. Feel free to reprint or forward this in its entirety to anyone you wish. For additional reprint articles, email: mailto: articles@scientificinternetmarketing.com.
“Career Freedom With
Franchises”
Copyright © 2005 by Tacquisto
Pasall, Apex Consultancy
Written by Tacquisto Pasall – www.franchisebx.com
Businesses take time, money and an incredible amount of energy to get kicked off the ground. Finding success means even more time. There’s an easier way for everyone who’s ever dreamed of starting their own business: becoming a franchise. Franchisees are business owners in every sense of the word except someone has already done all of the difficult leg work, has developed a marketing plan and had solved any anticipated problems ahead of time. The one thing franchisees never have to worry about is the business failing. After all, it’s already been proven a success with other franchisees.
A French word meaning ~freedom from servitude,~ a franchise provides their owners just that. Unfortunately, too many franchisees have gone into business without first having educated themselves, so they could make an informed decision. That inability to make an informed decision has cost thousands their businesses and life savings.
The rules and procedures that go with the ~Name Brand~ dictates every tiny aspect of how the business is to be run ~color schemes, what is sold and who you buy it from, hours to be open, type of employees to hire and exactly how to train the employees. The innocent purchaser now has a new boss who is a hard task-master. This new boss comes in the form of detailed manuals that must be followed.
Many, many franchisees have thriving businesses and love the opportunity of running a business without all of the worry. They’ve succeeded and are happy because they educated themselves before making a commitment.
Potential franchisees no longer have to worry about scams, to the degree they once did, thanks to a 1979 Federal Trade Commission law that requires all franchisees be given all pertinent information related to the franchise. The strict enforcement of the law comes as a result of a series of scams in the 1980s. Get rich quick scams were everywhere, trying to convince people that they could start a franchise and become rich overnight. Unfortunately, it was difficult to tell the scams from the reputable franchises, thus making potential business owners wary. Today, there is much, much less worry about scams thanks to the Federal Trade Commission.
Franchises do incredibly well, and there are plenty of examples to back up that claim: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, to name just a few. Before deciding to purchase a franchise, one must take time to weigh his options by writing down, or at least thinking about, all of the pros and the cons. Potential franchisees should take the time to think about what they are about to do and whether or not it’s really for them.
Purchasing a franchise is much safer now than it was during the 1980s. During that decade, scam artists preyed on hopeful franchisees by offering them get quick rich schemes. This led to an increase in potential franchisees’ wariness of purchasing franchises. However, to abate customers’ fears, the Federal Trade Commission began strictly enforcing its 1979 ruling that required franchises disclose all pertinent information to potential purchasers. Look around you, and you’ll see plenty of proof that franchises succeed: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC and Taco Bell are just a few.
However, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you do your research. Ask plenty of questions of yourself: what do you want from a business? can you see yourself doing this five years from now? Also, make sure to ask plenty of questions about the franchise. Really know what to expect. A great way to gauge whether the franchise is for you is to do an experiment. Say, you’re considering purchasing a McDonald’s. Go to a nearby McDonald’s, find a booth and get comfortable. Spend 10 consecutive days at the restaurant from opening to closing. Still excited on day 11? Or, do you find you started skipping days, came in late and left early? The result of this experiment should tell you whether this is the franchise for you or not.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tacquisto Pasall is the Owner of Apex Consultancy, One Stop shop for all franchise info. For questions or comments about this article, please visit: http://www.franchisebx.com.
“The
Copyright © 2005 Irvine Baert
Written
by
You’ve probably seen the commercials on television talking about the ~you~ you used to be before depression set in. Such commercials are generally aired by drug companies promoting an anti-depressant. But what these commercials fail to tell you is depression is common, and not everyone who feels down or blue is suffering from depression. You need to know the facts about depression before you and your doctor determine you are indeed suffering from this illness.
That’s right. Depression is a real mental illness that
often requires anti-depressants or therapy to relieve symptoms. You can’t fix depression by yourself, and
without treatment, you’ll likely face an uphill battle you probably aren’t
going to win. More than 18 million
people a year ~or nine and a half percent of adults in
Symptoms of depression vary from person to person, and you may find you have one symptom, a few or all of them at one point during your depression. Feeling persistently sad or anxious, being overcome by hopelessness or pessimism, loss of interest in things you normally enjoy, having a lack of energy, feeling excessively tired, having difficulty making decisions or concentrating, insomnia, sleeping too much, excessive weight gain, excessive weight loss, irritability, restlessness and thoughts of suicide. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms have been persistent for two weeks, you likely have clinical depression and should get to your doctor immediately.
The causes of depression are as varied as the symptoms. Scientists determined depression can be genetic, running from generation to generation. Others faced with depression might have no history of depression in their families. People with low self-esteem and who have a pessimistic outlook on life are also often afflicted with depression. Depression may also be the result of stress, illness, life changes or financial difficulties; there are many reasons a person may become depressed. By talking to your doctor you may pinpoint the exact cause.
Go to the doctor if you think you’ve got depression. He will do a thorough battery of tests to rule out any other possible causes before diagnosing depression. Once he’s determined you do have depression, you and he will discuss the available treatment options. Most people take medication, go to therapy or follow a combination of both.
As with any type of medication, you’ll probably find you suffer from one or more side effects. This is normal and is nothing to worry about. However, if you do worry, contact your doctor and share your concerns with him. Side effects of many anti-depressants may include dry mouth, constipation, bladder problems, dizziness, nausea, nervousness and insomnia.
The trip to the doctor is your first step on the road to recovery and to regaining your happiness.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Irvine Baert is the webmaster of Healing Point, One Stop site for all depression info. For questions or comments about this article, please visit: http://www.depressionbs.com.
“College in
Copyright © 2005 Tevole Schenko
Written
by Tevole Schenko,
President and Editor of
The university degree, as a job requirement
and element of social prestige, embodies a troublesome set of contradictions in
There are many world-class colleges in this country, but there are also some that barely deserve the name. Some schools are known as ‘party schools,’ and this designation is not undeserved. With all the binge drinking that goes on it’s a miracle that any work gets done. Obviously, the college that you went to reflects the value of your degree. Yet, to many employers, a B.A. is a B.A., no matter if it came from the Ivy League or Party Central.
The cost of a college degree sucks away a large portion of the income and savings of middle-class families. Yet, if they want their kids to have a chance in the job market, it’s necessary. Now that a college degree is considered the lowest possible baseline for most employers, and so many people go for degrees, you’d think that colleges could find a way to lower their costs.
While American undergraduate education is
denigrated by the world, American graduate schools are among the best
available. They are full of students
from all over the world. These
international students may come from a much better system than ours in the
From the European standpoint, not everyone
needs to attend a university to succeed in life. Learning a trade is just as valued, and
college is definitely not for everyone.
One could argue that the European system is overly rigid. Most countries there begin to channel students
in the pre-teen years based on their test scores and classroom
performance. In countries like
The American system has many benefits, on
the other hand, that allow students time to try different subjects and time to
mature. Although neither system is perfect,
both have positive elements. The
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tevole Schenko is
the President and Editor of
“Emotional Eating Will Affect Your Weight”
Copyright © 2005 Zeinee Plaat
Written
by Zeinee Plaat – www.urweight.com
Do our emotions change our eating habits? Recent scientific studies suggest that the answer may be yes. We know that body chemistry affects our emotion, and women say that hormone changes when they are pregnant or throughout their menstrual cycle cause craving and affect eating patterns. An Australian study cited by Prevention.com suggested that there are foods that, when eaten, have the beneficial effect of raising serotonin levels, so people may eat them as self-medication when experiencing stress or lots of emotion. This was demonstrated in another part of the study, which showed that women watching a sad movie ate 20 percent more chocolate than women watching a travelogue.
Several factors may combine to make food an emotional crutch for people. In our mobile and success-driven society, many people lack the networks of family and friends that can help reduce stress. Such people may turn to food instead– and it’s easy to, since we live such sedentary lives sitting in office cubicles and watching television.
If it’s true that sedentary lives lead to unhealthy emotional eating, an important facet of wellness will be staying active. If you are sedentary at the office, make sure that you take a brisk walk everyday to get your body moving. When you feel like eating at home, try to find diversionary activities to keep you busy. One way to satisfy any food cravings you may have is to chew a stick of sugar-free gum.
If you think that you are an emotional eater, explore what emotions cause cravings. You can do this several different ways—by keeping a journal, unburdening yourself to a close friend, or speaking to a therapist. Obviously, you need to eat to survive physically, but when we start eating for emotional reasons, or simply because we are bored, it can be very unhealthy. There are very positive ways, like exercise, to deal with stress.
Some cravings may be due to an imbalanced diet. The body knows when it isn’t getting the right vitamins and minerals and will send out signals to this effect. Unfortunately, these signals can cause us to overcompensate, and eat too much of the wrong thing. Avoid this by eating plenty of fresh foods, like fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugar and white flour, which are found in many snack foods.
Everyone wrestles with their emotions sometimes, but eating simply isn’t a healthy way to deal with them. Mix in exercise when you are emotional—it will help you feel better about yourself, so get out there once a day, regardless of the weather. Finally, try to determine what facets of your life are contributing to your desire for unnecessary eating.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Zeinee Plaat is the Chairperson of UR Weight – which is a popular resource for information on weight management. To read more articles by this author, please go to: http://www.urweight.com.
“Success is Personal”
Copyright © 2005 Al Rhetten,
Fully Success
Written
by Al Rhetten – www.fullysuccess.com
Success can take many forms but at its fundamentals, success means attaining something that you desire, such as achieving a goal. An individual can be successful in various arenas in their life, such as family, career, sports. Success is a personal perception and the idea of success does vary with the individual. What is of great importance to one person, for example athletic ability, may be of least concern to one who is focused on gaining spiritual success.
Sometimes we think of a successful person as one who has all the money and power that anyone could ever want, even though they aren’t happy. Others view success as being happy and fulfilled from within, and the external, material world doesn’t matter. In other words success varies by individual beliefs. You can go to bookstores or websites and find any number of techniques for attaining success. Those lessons are all subjective as they too depend on one person’s definition of success.
Most how-to methods addressing success stress the fact that self-confidence and self-reliance are important. We’ve all heard sayings similar to “you can do anything you want if you want it badly enough.” There is a lot of truth to that concept. If you don’t really believe in yourself and your capabilities, you aren’t liable to achieve much in the world. We live in a blaming world and many feel like they will never be successful because they weren’t treated well as children or didn’t have the opportunities growing up that so many others had. We’ve all read about people who rose to greatness from humble and often extremely negative beginnings. Then there is the opposite extreme of people who were given everything when young not being able to make it as adults.
A successful adult person accepts responsibility for their own actions. Everyone has made some glaring mistakes in their life; anyone who hasn’t is not being honest with themself. However, the past is over and each new day provides the opportunity for success in some form. A positive attitude about each new day is the best precursor to success. People with a negative attitude doom themselves to failure.
As we can see, success can mean a number of things. In the end though it all comes down to what we choose to do with our lives. The happiest and most content people seem to be those who treat others and themselves well and have a love and respect for life. Here’s to success for all of us!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Al Rhetten, owner of Fully Success, has created an enlightening success resource. For more information go to: http://www.fullysuccess.com.
“Child Care Guidelines”
Copyright © 2005 Seena Fichen
Written by Seena Fichen – www.foochild.com
Raising a child is the most important task that a person can undertake. However, life today is complicated and the age-old model of stay-at-home parents has significantly disappeared from the American landscape. Daycare has become a necessity for many families and single parents and locating quality daycare is a problem for many. The following guidelines may help you in locating quality child care.
First, start your search early. If you wait until you absolutely have to go back to work, you’re going to make your decision under pressure and feel desperate to find a solution regardless of whether it’s the ideal place for your child. Of course, there are a lot of options to consider, are you looking for a child care center, an in-home child care facility, or someone to help in your home. Many cities offer non-profit organizations that give out listings of licensed child care and day care operators. Check in your phone book for listings under child care resource and child care referral.
You may be able to get a list of reputable day care providers from a local non-profit organization dedicated to child welfare. Some day care centers may simply be located from phone book or internet advertising. Once you have identified potential day care providers, you can start visiting them in person. You will need to ask some of the following questions.
What is the Adult to Child ratio? The best situation for any child is a caregiver that guarantees your child the most attention. The younger the child, the lower the ideal ratio of adults to children. A baby needs a ratio of 1:4 (one adult to every four infants); a toddler or preschooler is well served with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children). It’s important to also consider the group size. Even if you have sufficient adult to child ratio, if the group size is extremely large, it may be a confusing and disruptive environment.
Ask about the caregiver’s qualifications. What training or education do the caregivers offer? If possible, it’s ideal to have a child care professional with special training, or at least training in CPR and some other child care classes or workshops.
For a daycare center, ask about the turnover rate. Children bond and feel secure being with the same people every day. Staff will stay in an environment that meets both their needs as well as the needs of the children.
Finally, ask if the child care provider has any kind of accreditation. There are several national organizations that provide child care centers with accreditation, provided the center meets standards for training and education. These standards are voluntary, so a center that meets them has a lot invested in caring for your child in a professional way.
When you find the perfect child care facility, think about your decision before committing. If this continues to seem like the best place for your child, make sure that you stay involved—check in periodically, drop by for surprise visits, and schedule frequent conferences with the child care provider.
You can find a reliable, safe place for your child – all it takes is a little work.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Seena Fichen is webmaster of FOO Child, which covers all types of child-related topics for families and educators. Comments and questions: http://www.foochild.com.
“Food Safety”
Copyright © 2005 Pendio Chussig
Written by Pendio Chussig – www.foodeq.com
A comprehensive study carried out by the Food Safety Project at Iowa State University Extension, brought out that there are a series of events that take place between purchasing food at the grocery store and its preparation and subsequent storage. Unless recommended precautions are observed to ensure proper preparation and storage to obviate spoiling of food, chances are that you would fall ill owing to consumption of the same.
First, there is the purchasing of the food. The most care should be taken when you are buying meat or poultry items. These items should always be purchased last, so they remain cool until you can get them home. When you put these kinds of foods in your grocery cart, they should also be kept away from other foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. Placing meat and poultry items on the lowest level of your grocery cart will keep them from dripping on any other items purchased. Wrapping these items in plastic bags when you check out is another way to keep them separate and away from other grocery items.
Amongst packaged foods, anything that is open or broken should be avoided. Also avoid canned goods that have dents, popped lids or any blemishes. When buying food, it is prudent to always check the expiration date lest you buy something that is already getting bad.
The way food is stored is also very important. Meat items should always be packed in another bag and then stored in the refrigerator for freezing. Special care should be exercised while storing canned food. They should be always kept in a cool and dry place. Since meats and fresh items can get spoiled fast, they should be stored the first.
When commencing to prepare the recently bought or stored food, you must first wash your hands. This is critical to remain healthy as it avoids transmission of germs that you may be carrying owing to your other daily routines. Food that has already been cooked or that which is to be consumed raw must not come in contact with any juices from raw meat, poultry or seafood. Any unused items must be placed back immediately, and thawing of frozen items must be carried out in the refrigerator and not on the kitchen counter. Having prepared the meal, finish up with cleaning the cutting board, the counter, the vessels and lastly but most importantly; wash your hands.
To ensure that bacteria do not remain in your food, all food must be cooked to the right temperature. Half-cooked or semi-cooked food is a bed rock of active bacteria and must be avoided. Usage of a meat thermometer is recommended if there is any doubt on the internal temperature of your food.
The serving of the food should be done
quickly after the cooking step.
The left over foods should be refrigerated fast after the meal is over. If the food has been out for too long before refrigeration, its probably best to put in the trash. Also if the food has been stored for too long, throw it away. Properly refrigerated left-over should be reheated thoroughly before consuming.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Pendio Chussig is the Manager and Webmaster of Food EQ – the number 1 resource for information on food. To read more articles, be sure to visit: http://www.foodeq.com.
“Safety Measures for Water Skiing”
Copyright © 2005 Gochi Pionn
Written
by Gochi Pionn – www.yesskiing.com
Water skiing is a very popular sport nowadays. It is fairly common to find youngsters indulging in this sport every time they are near water. However, people often forget the various safety measures that they should observe while water skiing. Nonetheless, these safety rules are important and must be adhered to every time you water ski.
Here are the water skiing safety rules that are important:
1. Flotation devices are essential to your safety as they keep you afloat in case of an accident. There are numerous kinds of floating devices that you can pick from. Some of these have even been approved by the Coast Guard. Make sure that when you try on these devices, they fit you properly and won’t fall off particulary while traveling at high speed.
2. You should take proper care and maintenance of your skiing equipment. Insure that all screws are tight and that your skis have no sharp edges. Ropes and handles that you hold for support should not be frayed. Do a thorough check before every skiing outing to prevent accidents.
3. Make sure that you are clear from any kind of obstructions and there is no slack in the line before “signaling” to start.
4. Keep your focus on where you are going so that you can avoid any unexpected obstructions. It is prudent not to ski near docks, other boats, swimmers, jet skiers and pilings.
5. Also insure that you don’t get tangled in the rope. Don’t wrap the rope around your arms and hands. If you do so, you should have a trick release installed to get out of harm’s way.
6. Stay away from shallow water and from areas where obstructing items might just be below the surface of the water.
7. If you are going to fall, make sure to fall backwards or to a side. Falling forward can cause injury much more easily.
8. Keep in touch with your driver and see that you both follow the same hand signals for speeding up, slowing down, turn, back to dock, stop, ok, and okay after a fall. These signals should be discussed and practiced before starting to ski.
9. More often than not, you will end up falling in the water. Besides harming yourself, you also put other skiers at risk if you fall amidst them. In such a case, you should try to raise your ski half way out of the water to inform others of your location and to avoid collision.
10. Stop water skiing before you become overly tired and fatigued.
11. Water skiing has a specific timeframe within which you can enjoy it. This timeframe is from sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. At other times such as night, it is illegal.
12. Don’t ski in front of another boat.
13. While enjoying water skiing in doubles make sure that you and your partner are using ropes of equal length.
14. When a skier is entering the boat from the water after skiing, turn off the boat.
15. In addition to the driver, you just have an observer in the boat at all times to keep an eye on the person water skiing.
16. Keep track of local laws about water skiing.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gochi Pionn is the Owner of Yes Skiing, LLP – a valuable resource for information on skiing. To obtain detailed information, please go to: http://www.yesskiing.com.
“The Health Benefits of Green Tea”
Copyright © 2005 Lorraine Bevan
Written
by
The Chinese have known about Green tea as a
powerful medication for at least 4000 years.
According to legend, tea was discovered by a Chinese emperor called Shen Nung. Some tea leaves accidentally fell into
boiling water, and he tried it and found it invigorating. Green tea became part of the Chinese diet and
many important health benefits were attributed to it. Now recent medical studies in both
There are three main types of tea – green, black and oolong. All three come from the dried leaves and leaf buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Green tea differs from black tea in that the leaves are not allowed to ferment. Instead they are steamed, then rolled and dried. This process is used to inactivate the enzymes in the leaves so that oxidation process does not occur. The result is that the leaves remain green and retain their nutritional qualities. In fact, the properties of the green tea are very similar to that of the fresh leaf.
The benefits of Green tea to one’s health has been increasingly demonstrated by modern scientific research. Many of these health benefits come from the fact that tea contains high levels of antioxidants called polyphenois or flavonoids. These compounds are most prevalent in green and white teas, but are also present in varying degrees in Oolongs and black teas. Green tea flavonoids show antioxidant activity. Antioxidants impair the ability of free radical cells to harm the molecules that make up our bodies. We all know that fruit and vegetables are good sources of antioxidants but recent scientific research have shown that one or two cups of green tea has the same ‘radical scavenging capacity’ as five portions of fruit and vegetables. Of course we should all eat plenty of fruit and vegetables every day but why not top up our antioxidant intake by also drinking green tea every day!
Green tea offers many health benefits. Recent medical studies suggest green tea to be of benefit in many areas including the following:
- Boost the immune system
- Reducing levels of cholesterol
- Lowering of blood sugar
- Digestive and respiratory health – tea is antibacterial
- Oral hygiene – help to prevent tooth decay
- Acne and other skin conditions
- Arthritis – displays anti-inflammatory properties.
Weight loss is another area that is attracting huge attention. Recently published research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that an extract from green tea may speed up fat oxidation. A study was conducted on ten healthy men over a period of 6 weeks. It was discovered that those men who were given green tea extract burned more calories per day than those who were not given the extract. Much more research needs to be conducted in this area, but the signs are certainly very encouraging. Anyone for tea!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lorraine Bevan is the webmaster and operator of FOG Tea, which is a premier source of information about tea. For more information, go to: http://www.fogtea.com.
“Teenagers and Trouble – How Parents Can Keep their
Teens Out of Trouble”
Copyright © 2005 Sue Blaney
Written
by Sue Blaney – www.PleaseStoptheRollercoaster.com
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky business. Many kids get into some kind of trouble at some point, and, although this can provide them a powerful learning opportunity, taking a “kids will be kids” attitude is downright irresponsible parenting. Good parenting requires us to remember that, even if they look fully grown, they are not. Teenager issues abound, and parents need to be aware of all we can do to keep our teenagers on the straight and narrow. Here are some tips to help you because what you do can make all the difference.
1.) The “basics” count more than anything else. Let your teen know that s/he is loved unconditionally, and s/he won’t want to let you down. Not wanting to disappoint parents really is a big deterrent for teenagers.
2.) Let your teenager know what you expect of him. Be specific. Let him know where the boundaries are firm, and where there is room for negotiation. Share your values. Be clear in your communication so there is no room for confusion.
3.) Invest in your relationship. Spend time together having fun. Listen to your teen’s thoughts, goals, fears and questions. Show her that you care about what she says, thinks and feels.
4.) Encourage him to develop healthy outside interests. Sports are wonderful, as is participating in music and theatre, clubs… almost any other such activity. Not only does this keep your teenager busy in a productive way, it helps to build his self-esteem. And a healthy sense of self-esteem can keep kids from getting into trouble.
5.) Help your teenager develop responsibilities. A teen with responsibilities will be more mature, more reliable, and have a higher self-esteem than one without responsibility.
6.) Look in the mirror and practice saying “no.” You’ll know if this applies to you; if you have trouble saying “no,” practice. It is a parent’s job to say it sometimes; and it may be the most important to do so when it’s the hardest, so get prepared.
7.) Learn how to ask the right [sometimes hard] questions of your teen and don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and [tactfully] verify what s/he’s telling you. (see next item) Be plugged in to what’s going on in your teen’s life. Get your teen used to the fact that you know other parents, and that you will be in touch with them.
8.) Learn how to ask the right [sometimes hard] questions of your teen’s friends’ parents. Probe. Find out if there really is going to be supervision to your satisfaction. Not all parents are as vigilant as others. Offer to help supervise. Offer to send food. Keep it friendly, but be clear.
9.) Be smart about cell phone and internet use. Cell phones can be your friend and help you and your teen stay in touch, but they can also be abused. Teens have been known to be places other than where they say they are, and if the cell phone is the only method of contact, parents can be caught unawares. Have a good sense of what your teen is doing on the Internet and consider using some of the blocking methods available.
10. Know the facts about drug and alcohol use and abuse. Your teen needs you to be knowledgeable, otherwise you are unable to help her in this area. Know what is common in your kid’s school. Know what the signs are of use and abuse. Do not stick your head in the sand. Be vigilant, informed and smart.
11. Teenagers feel emotions twice as intensely as adults, and this is a developmental fact. Intense emotional responses can impact their behavior, and so parentsneed to encourage teens to have appropriate outlets for emotional tension. Physical activity is particularly effective.
12. Expect to give up your weekend. Not all the time… but you may not actually have the freedom that you envisioned when they were little. You need to be attentive to keep them safe, and you need to be around and available.
13. Earn your teenager’s respect by your good, honorable, ethical and respectable behavior. Your teenager has been learning about adult behavior from you, and she is likely to behave like you. Better give her a great example!
Parents have tremendous influence… don’t underestimate the importance of your behavior, because what you do counts – a lot!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sue Blaney is the author of “Please Stop the Rollercoaster! How Parents of Teenagers Can Smooth Out the Ride” and “Practical Tips for Parents of Young Teens; What You Can Do to Enhance Your Child’s Middle School Years.” She offers resources, information and tips for parents of teenagers and those who work with them. She provides an effective guide for parents and professionals who want to create a parenting discussion group. Visit: http://www.PleaseStoptheRollercoaster.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
“Chess Clubs at School”
Copyright © 2005 Fordie Herain
Written
by Fordie Herain, ROM Chess
– www.romchess.com
Many of the extracurricular activities available at school center around sports. High school sports are usually football and basketball but baseball, soccer and basketball are offered in the elementary grades and for pre-schoolers as well. However, not all children are interested in playing sports or some have physical impediments that keep them from participating in sports activities. Some other group activity is needed for these children to learn sportsmanship and fair play with others. An excellent alternative is the game of chess. If you are willing to start a chess club in your area, you will have the opportunity to influence the lives of children in a positive way.
Starting a chess club can be quite easy and uncomplicated. The only equipment to buy are some chess sets. And unlike other equipment that needs to be fitted to the child, the same chess set can be used by everyone. Chess does not require a special playing field either. All the chess club needs is a place with the right number of tables and chairs. Inexpensive plastic chess sets suitable for children can be purchased at your local discount store.
Children, especially at first, will be playing chess at a very novice and child-like level. Your skills don’t need to be at a high level when you start a chess club. Particularly at the outset, the primary goal is to get the students involved in a wholesome social activity.
You will need to approach the principal, PTA, or school activities director for the proper procedures to follow to start the club. The chess club will need a coordinator, either a parent, teacher, or other volunteer. With today’s hectic lifestyle, finding a coordinator may be the most difficult part of establishing the club.
Consult with the school’s activities coordinator to determine when the chess club could have regular meetings. Younger children in the primary grades will have about a 45 minute attention span for the cognitive tasks involved in chess. Older children can be expected to play for a longer time. Club meeting time can be divided between instruction and actual play.
There are many benefits from establishing a chess club at the elementary level. Perhaps foremost on the list is to enhance self-esteem for children who are not good at sports. Success at chess club may compensate for a negative self-image. The chess club provides the opportunity for children to interact in a healthy way in a supervised environment.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Fordie Herain runs ROM Chess, a website with chess information such as rules, collectors sets, online games and more. Visit: http://www.romchess.com.
-written
and published by Rosanne Catalano, a/k/a R.C.Kayla
http://www.rosannecatalano.net
-edited
and proofread by Nancy Peckford
http://webwriterworx.tripod.com
©2005 by Rosanne Catalano, aka
R.C.Kayla