Moon's Blog

Sweet Misery

2010-02-23T12:39:00.001-05:00

Recently in the news, a medical study revealed a direct relationship between diet sodas and a nearly 30% decrease in kidney function. That's pretty significant!

My doctor has continually begged me not to use any artificial sweeteners because they promote insulin resistance, contributing to weight gain and diabetes.

Today, I happened onto this documentary called Sweet Misery with delves into the details of aspartame. Below are the notes I took while watching the documentary. At the bottom, I have provided all the links to the 10-minute segments of the documentary.

Notes:
Increase in specific brain cancers since 1985, possibly even 1984 has also possibly been linked with aspartame, which hit the market in 1983. Consumption doubled by the following year and climbed into the '90's.

It was fully marketed for pop July-August 1983, six months later, by 1984, the brain tumor rate jumped by 10% in the U.S. and diabetes by 30% and incidence of a very aggressive and unusual lymphoma jumped 60%.

In 1988 80% of food additive complaints submitted to the FDA were of products containing aspartame products. "92 Symptoms" http://www.dorway.com/92symptomsfotocopy.html

Most of the symptoms are neurological (headache, dizziness, change in vision, memory loss, fatigue, rash, etc.). Aspartame affects protein synthesis, brain synapse, and DNA.

It has been known for a long time that consumption of aspartame combined with carbohydrates decreases the availability of L-tryptophan (which is the building block of seratonin).

Research on MSG was found to cause holes in the brains of rats and mice in lab tests and thus, MSG was removed from all baby food products. The same doctor who did that study found that aspartic acid (a component of aspartame) did the exact same thing.

If aspartame is so bad, how did it get approved by the FDA?

In 1965 an ulcer drug substance research led to discovery of aspartame.

First safety tests on aspartame in 1970 was for 52 weeks on monkeys to determine the effects. Seven fed aspartame with milk, five had grand mal seizures and one died. In the same year, Dr. John Olney found that aspartic acid caused brain tumors in mice and reported the evidence to Searle. Regardless of findings, in mid-’73 Searle applied to the FDA to use aspartame as a food sweetener.

FDA, Searle, General Foods and Turner met to go over studies. Searle didn’t provide FDA evidence of negative aspartame studies and thus aspartame was approved in ’74 by FDA with limited use. Dr. Olney and Turner filed a petition attacking approval. FDA said they’d look into it and have a public hearing.

In 1975, FDA appointed a special task force to examine 11 of the pivotal studies. Of 113 done on aspartame, 90 were conducted in early to mid ‘70’s. Every one of the 11 “pivotal” tests was part of the 90. In March ’76, FDA completed their investigation report. FDA knew they had a terrible situation and hired a pathologist group to review the studies …. FINANCED BY SEARLE!!!

In ’77 Richard Merrill suggested a grand jury investigate Searle for fraud, deletion, and falsification of records. The U.S. Prosecutor, Sam Skinner, took a job as an attorney with Searle’s legal department during this process and the statue of limitations ran out on prosecution. Seven of the key FDA employees who kept approving the use of aspartame, getting it passed through the system, went on to take jobs with Searle, soft drink and other industries who profited from the use of aspartame.

Searle was crumbling when Donald Rumsfeld took over as President of Searle in 1977.

In 1981, the day after Reagan took office as U.S. President, Searle re-applied for approval of aspartame. Three of the five FDA senior scientists who reviewed the brain tumor studies were against approval. The new FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hull Hayes, the panel lawyer assigned a new panel member which gave a three-to-three split. Hayes then overruled for approval in dry foods.

In 1983, FDA approved for use in carbonated beverages. Under charges of improprieties, left FDA and hired as a public relations consultant at $1,000/day by Searle.

WILL ANYONE STAND UP FOR AMERICAN INDUSTRY?

2010-01-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

I came across this article from another blog. Here's a quote from the article:

"...America, a country that once pulled off the most audacious of engineering projects with panache, one that put a man on the moon in the 1960s, now can't even build a bridge to replace one it constructed with ease in the 1930s."

It is quite disconcerting.

10 Ways to look Younger

2010-01-09T22:23:00.001-05:00

Found this article with tips on looking younger. I've put the highlights below, but please click on the link and read the details.

Pomegranates contain the antioxidant ellagic acid, which protects skin against the sun's free radicals. Eat 1/2 a cup of seeds or one cup of juice a day to help smooth fine lines.
Cucumbers help maintain collagen production.
Apply a cream or stain blush under make-up to mimic skin's youthful glow.
Apply sheer face coverage, avoiding creases with liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer.
Enhance cheekbones with a shimmer cream applied to the outer edge of the cheek bones and sweep it up and out to the hairline.
Get plenty of sleep to feel refreshed. Lack of sleep can cause blood pooling under eyes, creating under eye circles. To help camouflage under-eye circles, use a soft, flat-bristle brush to apply concealer from the inner corner under the eye to midway under, where most of the darkness lies.
Enhance eyes by drawing eyeliner or dampened brush dripped in eye shadow along upper lashes only, giving lift at the outter edge. Use mascara on upper lashes only to help give eyes a lift.
Look for make-ups and face products that contain firming peptides, antioxidants, and hydrating hyaluronic acid to get double duty
Get 30-60 minutes of cardio exercise per day for 25% oxygenation increase for healthier cells - also improving heart function and mental health.
Beta-carotene helps prevent collagen breakdown and protects skin from UV rays. Foods high in beta-carotene: peppers, green leafy vegetables (lettuces, kale spinach), carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, etc.
Feed your face (and skin) with omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, stress, and even reduces arterial thickening. Sources of omega-3's: fish oil supplments, salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, and winter squash.
Not mentioned in the article: Drink plenty of water. Keeping your skin hydrated is pertinent to healthy, glowing skin.

Vintage Cleaning Tips

2010-01-07T23:42:00.001-05:00

I always like hints and tips for making chores easier.

A Decade of Economy

2010-01-02T17:49:00.002-05:00

A lost decade for U.S. economy, workers

Economists, policymakers will be chewing on lessons of the Aughts for years

By Neil Irwin

Highlights of the article:

"The past decade was the worst for the U.S. economy in modern times,..."

"..debt-driven expansion that was neither robust nor sustainable."

"Economic output rose at its slowest rate of any decade since the 1930s as well."

"Middle-income households made less in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, than they did in 1999 ..."

"...we let housing bubbles get out of control."

"Total household debt rose 117 percent from 1999 to its peak in early 2008, ..."

"The first decade of the new century was an experiment in what happens when an economy comes to rely heavily on borrowed money."

"...people engaged in excessively risky behavior without realizing the risks associated,"

"...forecasters are now generally expecting the job market to turn around early in 2010 and begin creating jobs."

Feeling Ready for the New Year

2009-12-29T00:38:00.001-05:00

My New Year's resolution is to tap into my inner June Cleaver ... again.

While I've already been working at getting my health, house, and home back in order, Christmas was a definite detour. Now that Christmas is behind us, I'm feeling a very strong urge to get back on track. Every room in my house needs major attention. The girls need some stringent supervision in following through with their chores. I have a mile-long list of projects that need to be done. I'm just ready to get on with it.

I look back on my childhood and realize my mother was June Cleaver. The house was always spotless, there was never more than one load of dirty laundry, and hot meals were like clockwork. She baked, she sewed, and every celebrations was magical. I have no idea how she pulled it all off unless she just never slept.

I suppose I'm strange for wanting to try to perfect my inner retro mom. I enjoy making homemade foods and snacks for my family. I feel good about them eating the healthy foods I make, rather than what's on the school or fast food menus. Even sick, I enjoyed making Christmas cookies with the girls. I also feel good about making costumes for Halloween or school performances, or being able to whip-up a camouflage scarf on a whim when I find out at the last minute the school's clothes theme for the following day requires something camouflage. I like being here for the girls if the school calls and tells me they're sick.

I know society has shifted and most moms have careers now and many households find it necessary to have two incomes to survive. We sacrifice a lot of nifty and shiny new things for me to be able to be the traditional stay-at-home mom. However, we find our lives so much richer. I've had some "careers" I've sincerely enjoyed working outside the home, but when I do, even with everyone pitching in, too many of our domestic duties get neglected due to lack of time for all of us. Further, we lose all of our quality family time to time given to domestic necessities. All of that eats away at my core. Even when I don't work outside the home, I find it difficult to complete all of my necessary projects, much less my extended wish list projects.

Some of the things I'm looking forward to doing once the general household gets back in order:

cooking and baking snacks and things for home packed lunches

this reminds me I need a couple more thermoses

make slipcovers for the sofa and loveseat.
make kitchen shades
make a shower curtain (I can't find one I like)
make a new dog bed
put down the new bathroom floor
make clothes for the girls and myself
make aprons
paint the dining room and living room
redecorate the girls' room
finish the basement repairs (from the flood)
clear-out the sun room
garden
scrapbook again (it's been nearly two years)
making a family cookbook
strip the woodwork
Declutter every room for Goodwill or Spring yard sale

There's just so much that I really, really want to get done. I sincerely miss the days when most moms stayed home. How do career moms manage?

The Addict's Demise

2009-11-24T03:05:00.001-05:00

~by Kathy Ayres

The addict begins innocently enough.
Often starting with enjoyment of a small gift.
But the high soon fades and the addict seeks more.
Still a contributing member of society,
The addict seeks obvious easy sources.
Over time, each fix gradually increases to sustain the high.
Then the fix shifts and becomes not just larger, but more frequent.
Soon, the addict begins to fade in daily life,
unable to keep up with common, everyday necessities.
Eventually, it all comes crashing down and
the addict hits rock bottom.
Who is the addict?
Not the guy in the alley with a needle in his arm.
The addict is the guy that had to have stuff.
Lots and lots of stuff.

The State of Things

2008-12-14T14:45:00.002-05:00

I briefly commented on this just a couple blogs ago, but I feel the need to say more. Why? I don't know. Maybe I'm masochistic.

I’m not an expert of politics, the economy, or laws pertaining to such. I’m a middle-classed, married mother of three (with one having already flown the nest). I'm even a grandmother now at the ripe old age of 42. :-\ I worked administratively for 16 years, mostly in the medical field, and have a couple years of college under my belt. With the birth of my second child in '98, I chose to leave "the work force" and become a full-time mother ... a full-time job in itself! (Who knew?) These days, I can’t really call myself a “stay-at-home” mom because, I’m in the middle of a lot of volunteer and community efforts that rarely give me the opportunity to enjoy time at home. But the reason I'm so involved is because I want to improve my community and encourage my neighbors to do the same. I'd like to see the efforts infect all neighborhoods across the globe. I live in a neighborhood full of mostly '20's craftsmans, but dotted with a few victorians and some occasional other styles. Once upon a time, this was a bustling community with almost all necessities within walking distance. There were at least two mom & pop groceries within one and three (short) blocks from my home, not to mention many other necessary businesses that helped complete the community. All of the schools are even within walking distance (one of which is the very loved 1916 elementary school which I and my neighbors are trying to save). What does all of this have to do with anything? I am your everyday, ordinary average Jane.

Now, onto my "average Jane" thoughts. I rarely have my television on, but everywhere one turns, there's unavoidable daily banter of "the big three bail-out." Just behind this, there's "big news" about major budget cuts that are affecting every level of government. Because I've immersed myself in trying to save a very important part of my community (the school), and all I've come to learn about how negatively the loss of a good school can affect a neighborhood, not to mention working to create a neighborhood watch to decrease crime, along with a slew of other efforts, I can't help but think about ALL of these things together.

Educationally, we (the U.S.) have been falling below the mark in comparison with the rest of the world. This is nothing new ... it's been the case for quite some time ... and I guess that's how the "No Child Left Behind" act came about. However, our country’s future successesdepend on our children of today (whether you're a parent or not) receiving stellar educations. The kind of budget cuts that have been happening for a few years now - and that are assuredly to come - will not only halt our current mediocre educational system, but start an even faster decline to the quality of American’s education. Education is the foundation of … everything.

Also, in this kind of economic stress, crime sky-rockets. People are stressed and have shorter fuses (can you even imagine road rage worsening?). Others turn to theft while even more (than in the current population) will turn to chemical substances to numb themselves from their worries. Then, we'll have those that will suffer more health concerns because there's no secret that stress promotes a number of health problems.

But, due to the declining economy, there are budget cuts across the nation that are drastically slashing our emergency services (causing great loss of manpower to police, fire and EMS), as well as to our already limited educational system.

So this brings me to the proverbial elephant in the room (of at least my own head). In regards to the bailout to “The Big Three” – WHAT ARE THEY THINKING???

I understand the enormous impact and domino effect the failure of these companies would create, not only for the

United States

, but other countries, as well. What I don’t understand is why we’re considering bailing-out (for-profit) companies that, due to their own irresponsibilities, have dug their own grave, when our country’s most important foundational structures that are most needed (schools, police, fire, EMS, etc.) are being crippled by these severe budget cuts.

Growing up, I was taught "you make your bed, you have to lie in it." In other words, make responsible decisions or pay the consequences! I'm a firm believer in tough love. When my children make bad choices, I don't bail them out - - if I did, they'd never learn from their mistakes. Therefore, I obviously don’t agree with bailing-out self-made victims. Poor planning on their part should not constitute an emergency on our part. How … why … have these too-large companies been allowed to get so big? It’s one thing for a small mom & pop shop to fold. We lose one pawn in a game of chess. It’s quite another to lose a significant major piece such as a queen, as it will very likely lose the game. But this was one of the reasons the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was specifically put into place over 100 years ago - - to prevent these types of long-reaching negative fall-outs from entirely too-large of companies! So not only has "the big three" been irresponsible, so has the United States! We've allowed these colossal companies to do as they please, which means "huge profits" at any cost (and at the cost of all of us!?). This has not only depleted all of the "pawns," (a huge problem in and of itself) on the game board, but has also enabled them to move many of their game pieces to a completely different (less costly to them) game board - yet still play the game - affecting not only our own economy, but the economy of other countries as well when the game goes crashing to the floor. Why? Why? Why???

I could be a little more sympathetic if this wasn't their fault. But these auto industries in question have been struggling for several years, yet chose to ignore the warning signs and make responsible changes. But there are auto industries out there that AREN'T failing because THEY have made responsible decisions and adjustments along the way.

Unfortunately, this is where I falter. I don’t have any magical suggestions to this dilemma anymore than the next guy (or gal). But in my everyday life, when I’m doing something that isn’t working – I step outside of the box and try something completely different. So maybe what we need to do as a country is not hand-over even one dollar to irresponsible parties, but take that same money and find a constructive way of creating beneficial and good industries to help bring jobs back to the United States. Imagine if we returned to making 90% of our own toys rather than just 10% - how many jobs would that bring back? What if Walmart brought all of their factories back into the U.S.? Then there are green industries that we truly need to jump into. It seems like a no-brainer that bringing "industries" back into our own country would obviously create a good number of jobs, thus creating a "wash" for the job losses incurred by the fall of entirely too-big and too-irresponsible companies.

The other "problem" stems from the "gotta have it" and "have it now" people. No credit? No problem! We don't care if you don't make enough money to pay for your heart's desire, just sign on the dotted line. PEOPLE!!! GET A FREAKIN' GRIP!!! If you don't make enough to put back a savings to pay for something you want, how do you think you're going to be able to pay for the credit card or loan payment PLUS INTEREST?!? The media keeps hyping how credit is the root of the economy. Huh???? Our country existed for 150 years without credit cards! Home and property loans were also granted (or denied) by your neighborhood banker who also knew you because you BOTH lived in the SAME COMMUNITY - where your reputation meant something. If you were new to the community, or young and just starting out, then your well-known parent or other responsible party (who taught you to be responsible as well) *might* co-sign for you. What happened to those days? Oh yeah ... entirely too big monopolies, loss of community, and loss of parents teaching their children how to manage money.

*sighs*

Again, I’m not very knowledgeable on these issues, and I'm kind of blonde, too - maybe I just don't "get it." But from where I sit, I am genuinely perplexed. To me, I don't see this as rocket science - I see it as a disassociation from "the basics."

*edited to add*

I'd also like to comment on the unions. Unions, once upon a time, were a GREAT thing. I have a couple family members who great benefited, fairly, from unions a couple decades ago. However, the pendulum has swung entirely too far and what was once a fair and protective organization, has gotten way out of hand. We just went through a horrible negotiation process between our school board and our teachers' union. In the end, all teachers received an equal and across the board raise. I do not deny that they deserved a raise, as they hadn't had one in about three years. However, I do take issue with job performance not coming into play. As great as it would be if all teachers were identical in their abilities and efforts, they're all individuals and should be treated as such - thereby receiving raises according to job performance appraisals. So this is why I do not support the unions of today.

The Economy

2008-11-25T13:37:00.001-05:00

We all keep hearing about bailouts and who should and shouldn't get bailout money.
But here is what keeps me up at night: All the while these companies whose poor planning has left them with their hands out begging so they can continue to profit - many (maybe all) the cities and towns across the country are struggling with major budget cuts and therefore cutting funds to emergency, fire, police and even schools - the places where money is needed most. I realize that when a big company goes tumbling, the ripple effect causes others to crumble, and lots of unemployment. But why are we even considering bailing out companies who made their own beds with greedy hands - when areas where money was already too tight to begin with are being told to cut more??
Without adequate firefighters and emergency responders, your home will burn and you won't make it to the ER in a timely manner when the heart attack hits.
Without adequate police - there will be even more crime.
Without adequate school budgets - our already behind-the-global-grade schools are going to fail even more.
Where is the logic in all of this? Why has "the fall of Rome" been echoing in my head for weeks now?

Leaf

2008-11-06T03:27:00.001-05:00

~by Kathy Ayres
Yesterday you provided shade when the sun scorched
and oxygen to the depleted atmosphere.
Today you blaze in fiery glory
turning reality into an artist's canvas.
Tomorrow you will feed the soil
which will, in time, give you life once more.

The Dream

2008-11-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

~by Kathy Ayres
Sophia awoke herself by screaming-out from a frightful dream. She sat bolt upright and found herself gasping and in a cold sweat. It was the same dream again. She was a young girl, maybe 15 or 16 and being chased; she was running for her life. Just as she reached the gate, someone grabbed a fistful of her hair from behind, pulling with all of their might, causing her to fall. She screamed and awakened.
Although the bed was warm and cozy and she knew the hardwood would be cold, she had to get some water. Sophia’s mouth was as dry as cotton! She sighed and got out of bed to head to the kitchen. Every time she had the dream, she always awakened with such a dry mouth, she would swear she’d really been running.
The dream was always so real when it came. But who was chasing her and why? Why would she be running to a creepy graveyard at dusk anyway? But somehow she knew that beyond that graveyard, there was safety.
As she drank the water, she pondered what might trigger this dream over and over. Is it something she eats? Is it stress? She tried to remember how old she was the first time it came, but the dream has always been with her – for more than 27 years now. Sometimes there will be months between and sometimes only days. Nevertheless, it always left her feeling odd afterwards. She somehow knew it was more than just a dream. It felt as if it was a memory just beyond her grasp, like a word on the tip of her tongue that she never seemed to find.
She padded back to bed and struggled to go back to sleep to no avail. Every time she closed her eyes, she’d see that fence with the gaping hole triggering the fear of what she knew happened next making her heart race and keeping her sleep at bay.
At 6:00 AM, the alarm blared. Rather than doing the snooze alarm tango as she usually did, she went ahead and got up since she was awake anyway. Maybe a long, hot shower would wash away the fatigue. It didn’t. But, she laughed to herself with the thought that at least she wouldn't smell like she’d been running all night. She dried and styled her hair and did the best magic she could with her make-up, taking extra care to cover-up the strawberry birthmark on her temple, to make herself appear as refreshed as possible.
When she walked into her office, her co-worker and best friend since kindergarten, Ivy, took one look at her and said,
“Wow! I hope the reason you look so tired is because you had a great date last night.” Ivy knew Sophia better than that but always had a silly sense of humor. Sophia sighed in response,
“It was the dream again.”
“Again?!?” exclaimed Ivy. Ivy and Sophia had many sleepovers throughout the years. Ivy had seen the results of that dream many times. “Girl, what do you eat before you go to bed?”
Sophia just shook her head and gave a small smile. The smile was really because she was thankful she had Ivy in her life.
She and Ivy met on the first day of kindergarten, yet felt as if they’d known each other forever. For them, it seemed more like a reunion rather than an introduction. They soon learned they shared the same birthday and even resembled one another enough that they were often mistaken for sisters. Many times, they’d absentmindedly finish one another’s sentences. There were also regular occurrences of clairvoyance with one another. As young children, they didn’t realize how unique this was, but the adults around them were continually surprised by the many ironic events that happened only between the pair.
As Sophia filled her coffee cup, she reminisced about their long, close friendship and was happy they were able to remain close even in their professional lives. She couldn’t imagine life without Ivy. She filled another cup, added cream and carried it with her. As she made her way back past Ivy, she sat the extra cup of coffee on Ivy’s desk, just as Ivy was swallowing the last drop from her own cup.
“Just the way you like it.” Sophia stated as a matter-of-fact. Ivy smiled and thanked her as Sophia proceeded to her own desk to settle-in for what she knew was going to be a long, tiring day of boring meetings.
By noon, she wondered if the day would ever end. Still in a meeting, lunch was boxed sandwiches, catered by the corner deli. Sophia and Ivy worked for a large insurance company and their jobs were to secure accounts with other companies. As the lunch meeting started, the Director started the power point presentation on the next company. The first slide showed the next company of interest: Willow Pharmaceuticals. The slide was a picture of their logo which was a beautiful willow tree next to a pond with the setting sun at the horizon. Suddenly, Sophia had an odd feeling wash over her. It felt as if the blood was draining from her face and she felt light-headed. The room began to move around her as if on a merry-go-round. Or was it a train? There was a dark tunnel closing in around her. Everything faded to black.

Her name was Nadya. She was 14. She was traveling in a wagon with her family. They were Romani and fleeing the gypsy round-up. The year was 1938. They were headed to a church in France where they’d heard they could take sanctuary. They had traveled many miles over many days and were almost there. Their mood was lifting as they got closer. However, Nadya’s grandmother was very sick. They made camp for the night in a dark thick of trees below a small cliff which was situated just beyond a graveyard. Her grandmother was suffering from crippling pain and kept telling the family to leave her behind for fear she would cause them to get caught. Nadya couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her grandmother behind. They had always shared such a special bond. Nadya decided that while her mother and father were setting up camp, that she would go in search of some white willow bark and feverfew to brew a tea for her grandmother’s pain. She thought she had remembered seeing both not far form the camp. Her mother argued with her – telling her she wasn’t going beyond the camp. But she argued back that grandmother was suffering and she told her it wasn’t far from the graveyard. Eventually, her papa ended the argument by saying, “be back before dark.” That didn’t give her much time, as it was very late in the day. She kissed her papa on the cheek and then turned to her mother and assured her she would stay in the shadows. She left the camp and headed out of the graveyard, through a gap in an old, broken fence, and headed toward the pond where she’d seen some willows. There was plenty of feverfew growing wild everywhere, so she picked that on the way. Sure enough, there was the pond with two, mature willows. The branches looked as if they were swaying to some unheard melody.

After cutting what she thought was a few days’ worth of bark from the trees, she headed back to camp. Dusk was setting in, so she didn’t think she’d be noticed if she took the shortest route back – through the open field. About halfway between the pond and the fence, she heard shouts.
“Anschlag! Anschlag!” Her heart stopped! She turned to see half a dozen Nazi soldiers coming her way. Her heart then raced as did her mind! Maybe if she stopped and spoke to them politely in her best German accent, maybe they’d let her go. However, she knew with her dark hair and eyes, they’d realize right away that she was Roma. She panicked. She was far enough ahead of them that she thought she could outrun them and lose them in the graveyard. She bolted. They immediately pursued, all of them screaming “Anschlag!” She was almost to the gate when suddenly, she came to a screeching halt when something – or someone – grabbed a fistful of her long, dark hair. She faltered and fell to the ground. She screamed as she saw the butt of the soldier’s gun coming at her face. There was brief searing pain at her temple, then everything went black. There was complete silence. Time seemed to stop.

There was a pinpoint of light. Slowly the light grew, as did sound. She was two. She was sitting on her mother’s lap. Her mother was so pretty with her long, blonde curls and bright, blue eyes. Her mother was smiling and playing pat-a-cake with her. Her mother tickled her tummy and then hugged her close and sang out, “My sweet Sophie!”

“Sophia.” Her mother’s face faded.

“So-PHI-a!” She wasn’t two. Where was she? The surface beneath her was hard. She opened her eyes. The light was blinding.

“Sophia, are you okay?” Sophia winced but saw Ivy’s face slowly come into view, furrowed with worry. “Sophia, you fainted!”

She realized she was on the conference room floor. Beyond Ivy she could see all of the committee members gathered around her. How embarrassing to be flat on her back on the floor in front of them all, especially the department head. She tried to sit up, but felt too weak to stand. Ivy handed her a glass of water. As Sophia drank, she realized her mouth was just as dry as it was after her dream the night before. She reached up to stifle a pain that shot through her temple, exactly where her birthmark was. At that moment, the butt of the gun flashed before her and the realization of what she’d just seen while unconscious flooded her mind. She looked Ivy in the eye and asked her to take her home. Ivy understood Sophia’s expression more than her words. Sophia found her feet with the help of her friend and they made their way to Ivy’s car.

Once in the comforts of Sophia’s living room and settled down with some hot tea, Sophia told Ivy the whole story – the rest of the dream. After a pause and sip of tea, Sophia added,

“…and one last thing, Ivy – you were my grandmother.”

Dreams

2008-03-05T16:51:00.000-05:00

By Emily (age 8)
Dreams can make you fly away.
Dreams can make you hide away.
They are yours to keep forever and always.
Mine is mine and yours is yours.
They are dreams.

Thy Are Beautiful

2008-02-22T09:36:00.001-05:00

My 8-year-old daughter just gave me this poem:

Thy are beautiful

Thy are beautiful in every single way.

Thy are beautiful every single day.

Thy are beautiful in every single May.

Thy are beautiful in every single bay.

Thy are beautiful in every single way.

by~Emily

Recession?

2008-01-30T00:36:00.000-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but in my little world, it has seemed like, economically, we've been swirling in a recession. However, no matter how much I kept telling my husband that's what was happening, the government kept saying that the economy was fine. I just couldn't understand it! Were we SO BAD at budgeting? But, technically, as long as people are still making purchases and holding jobs, it's not a recession. Well, I don't see it that way.

The problem has been that masses of people have been making those purchases by accruing debt up to their eyeballs. Somehow, accrued debt doesn't come into play when considering an economical recession or depression. But suddenly, with Christmas 2007 behind us, the foreclosure epidemic, and the struggling stock market, we're starting to see that the masses are feeling the pinch of debt. It can no longer be denied with recent headlines, like todays:

Economy much weaker than expected

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/30/news/economy/gdp/index.htm?postversion=2008013008

You know what I think? I think that, to prevent mass hysteria, there was denial about the weak economy even a few years ago - - which also kept people shopping. But now that the pendulum has swung too far, it has to be admitted - - and so now we're getting it spoonfed to us a little at a time. First, it just wasn't a booming economy, but with a little work, it'll be fine. Then it was concern over Black Friday after Thanksgiving - - and even more concern as the shopping days for Christmas ticked away and stores were still struggling to get out of the red. Then there have been drops in the stock market and now: "weaker than expected." - - or should it read: "weaker than suspected?"

I just figured out income - - my husband's net is 55% of his gross. Yes, we do get a bit of a tax return, but it's not earth shattering, and even last year, we had to save a significant portion of the federal return to pay into our state taxes. So, it's not because he has the withholding too high. We have a significant amount going to taxes, insurance, HSA and a tiny drop of it going into his 401k.

Looking at our living expenses compared to the “standard American home,” we have very modest debts that should be paid off (with exception of our mortgage) before the end of this year. That leaves strictly our mortgage, utilities, insurances, gas and groceries.

Am I grateful for the bonus tax return we are supposed to get? Very! It may help us pay off those debts even sooner! But do I see it as truly helping? No. I see it as an aspirin for a brain tumor.

Currently, our healthcare system is absolutely a disgrace. No, I'm not going to sit here and say we should go to a national healthcare system. I don't think that's the answer at all. But I do think that private corporations shouldn't be profiting from our health "care" (that's an oxymoron!). When pharmaceutical companies are allowed to mark-up a drug 2,000% so they can profit, pay extra "legal drug pushers" to go around and convince doctors to prescribe their drugs, advertise on television, radio, billboards, magazines and other media - - well, I have a problem with that. I should be able to depend on my doctor's education to tell me what I'm "suffering" from - - not a television ad!

Further, while good doctors (emphasis on the word "good") do deserve to have a decent salary - - I think it should be fair. How many doctors went into the field because they had true concerns for healing the sick? If we put a top on their salaries - - would we still have people seeking riches going into the field? Please don't misunderstand -- some of my best friends are doctors. But I've worked with doctors for years and I know plenty that could care less about the blood pumping container sitting in front of them!

As another thought, why are our school teachers given such sad salaries when they are the ones that shape our future?

There should be annual evaluations of these jobs and increases given for performance - - not for title.

Just because one wears a white coat and uses a scalpel only specifies that s/he is a physical brain surgeon. Our teachers are non-physical brain surgeons!

*sighs*

Blast away at me - I expect it coming.

We're so poor, that we can't even pay attention

2007-10-31T00:10:00.004-04:00

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, AP Business Writer Fri Oct 19, 7:51 PM ET
NEW YORK - The calculus of living paycheck to paycheck in America is getting harder. What used to last four days might last half that long now. Pay the gas bill, but skip breakfast. Eat less for lunch so the kids can have a healthy dinner.
Across the nation, Americans are increasingly unable to stretch their dollars to the next payday as they juggle higher rent, food and energy bills. It's starting to affect middle-income working families as well as the poor, and has reached the point of affecting day-to-day calculations of merchants like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 7-Eleven Inc. and Family Dollar Stores Inc.
Food pantries, which distribute foodstuffs to the needy, are reporting severe shortages and reduced government funding at the very time that they are seeing a surge of new people seeking their help.
While economists debate whether the country is headed for a recession, some say the financial stress is already the worst since the last downturn at the start of this decade.
From Family Dollar to Wal-Mart, merchants have adjusted their product mix and pricing accordingly. Sales data show a marked and more prolonged drop in spending in the days before shoppers get their paychecks, when they buy only the barest essentials before splurging around payday.
"It's pretty pronounced," said Kiley Rawlins, a spokeswoman at Family Dollar. "It seems like to us, customers are running out of food products, paper towels sooner in the month."
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said the imbalance in spending before and after payday in July was the biggest it has ever seen, though the drop-off wasn't as steep in August.
And 7-Eleven says its grocery sales have jumped 12-13 percent over the past year, compared with only slight increases for non-necessities like gloves and toys. Shoppers can't afford to load up at the supermarket and are going to the most convenient places to buy emergency food items like milk and eggs.
"It even costs more to get the basics like soap and laundry detergent," said Michelle Grassia, who lives with her husband and three teenage children in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Her husband's check from his job at a grocery store used to last four days. "Now, it lasts only two," she said.
To make up the difference, Grassia buys one gallon of milk a week instead of three. She sometimes skips breakfast and lunch to make sure there's enough food for her children. She cooks with a hot plate because gas is too expensive. And she depends more than ever on the bags of free vegetables and powdered milk from a local food pantry.
Grassia's story is neither new nor unique. With the fastest-rising food and energy prices since the 1980s, low-income consumers are stretching their budgets by eating cheap foods like peanut butter and pasta.
Industry analysts and some economists fear the strain will get worse as people are hit with higher home heating bills this winter and mortgage rates go up.
It's bad enough already for 85-year-old Dominica Hoffman.
She gets $1,400 a month in pension and Social Security from her days in the garment industry. After paying $500 in rent on an apartment inPennsauken, N.J., and shelling out money for food, gas and other expenses, she's broke by the end of the month. She's had to cut fruits and vegetables from her grocery order — and that's even with financial help from her children.
"Everything is up," she said.
Many consumers, particularly those making less than $30,000 a year, are cutting spending on nutritious food like milk and vegetables, and analysts fear they're further skimping on basic medical care and other critical services.
Coupon-clipping just isn't enough.
"The reality of hunger is right here," said the Rev. Melony Samuels, director of The BedStuy Campaign against Hunger, a church-affiliated food pantry in Brooklyn.
The pantry scrambled to feed 5,000 new families over the past 12 months, up almost 70 percent from 3,000 the year before.
"I am shocked to see such numbers," Samuels said, "and I am really concerned that this is just the beginning of what we are going to see."
In the past three months, Samuels has seen more clients in higher-paying jobs — the $35,000 range — line up for food.
The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which covers 23 counties in New York State, cited a 30 percent rise in visitors in the first nine months of this year, compared with 2006.
Maureen Schnellmann, senior director of food and nutrition programs at the American Red Cross Food Pantry in Boston, reported a 30 percent increase from January through August over last year.
Until a few months ago, Dellria Seales, a home care assistant, was just getting by living with her daughter, a hairdresser, and two grandchildren in a one-bedroom apartment for $750 a month. But a knee injury in January forced her to quit her job, leaving her at the mercy of Samuels' pantry because most of her daughter's $1,200 a month income goes to rent, energy and food costs.
"I need it. Without it, we wouldn't survive," Seales said as she picked up carrots and bananas.
John Vogel, a professor at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business, worries that the squeeze will lead to a less nutritious diet and inadequate medical or child care.
In the meantime, rising costs show no signs of abating.
Gas prices hit a record nationwide average of $3.23 per gallon in late May before receding a little, though prices are expected to soar again later this year. Food costs have increased 4.5 percent over the past 12 months, partly because of higher fuel costs. Egg prices were 44 percent higher, while milk was up 21.3 percent over the past 12 months to nearly $4 a gallon, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average family of four is spending anywhere from $7 to $10 extra a week — $40 more a month — on groceries alone, compared to a year ago, according to retail consultant Burt Flickinger III.
And while overall wage growth is a solid 4.1 percent over the past 12 months, economists say the increases are mostly for the top earners.
Retailers started noticing the strain in late spring and early summer as they were monitoring the spending around the paycheck cycle.
Wal-Mart and Family Dollar key on the first week of the month, when government checks like Social Security and public assistance generally hit consumers' mailboxes.
7-Eleven, whose customers are more diverse, looks at paycheck cycles in specific markets dominated by a major employer, such as General Motors in Detroit, to discern trends in shopping.
To economize, shoppers are going for less expensive food.
"They're buying more peanut butter and pasta. And they're going for hamburger meat," Flickinger, the retail consultant, said. "They're trying to outsmart the store by looking for deep discounts at the end of the month."
He said the last time he saw this was 2000-2001, when the dot-com bubble burst and the economy went into a recession after massive layoffs.
For now, low-price retailers are readjusting their merchandising and pricing.
Wal-Mart is becoming more aggressive on discounting. It announced Thursday it is expanding price cuts to 15,000 items, ranging from Motts apple juice and Progresso soups to women's fleece tops, heading into the holidays.
Family Dollar, whose food offerings were limited to candy and snacks until two years ago, has expanded its mix of groceries like fruit cups, cereal and such refrigerated items as milk and ice cream while cutting back on shoes. This summer the chain began accepting food stamps.
Food pantries are also getting creative. Samuels said her church, Full Gospel Tabernacle of Faith, just started offering free cooking classes to teach clients who are diabetic or have other health conditions how to prepare vegetables like squash. It's also offering free exercise classes.
"We are trying to make them health conscious," Samuels said. "It's not right to give them just anything. Our mantra is eat well and live well."