Penne, Tomatoes, & Spicy Sausage. Feeling like some Italian?

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 pound hot Italian chicken or turkey sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with added puree
• 8 ounces whole wheat penne or other whole wheat tube-shaped pasta
• 2 cups (packed) fresh arugula, stemmed
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and bell pepper, sauté 2 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add sausage; cook until browned, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Add wine, diced tomatoes with juice, and crushed tomatoes; increase heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cool, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing.

 

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. 

Stir pasta, arugula, basil, and oregano into tomato sauce. Simmer until arugula wilts, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper (remember the Parmesan will be salty). Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan. 

 

Borrowed from: www.handletheheat.com

Beyonce - Top Ten Blonde, Really?

“The Top 10 Blondes in Hollywood

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce's shimmering dark blond has a regal gilded cast to it. "It's really on trend right now to see a little gold in blond hair," Backe says.”

Am I the only one who sees the irony?  Am I the only one wondering how or why Beyonce has made the list of top 10 blondes in Hollywood?  Clearly, her heritage excludes her from all probability that her real hair is anywhere near blonde.  Does this mean that in order to gain fame and fortune in mainstream America, ethnic individuals have to chemically, and surgically remove as much of their heritage as possible?  What a role model for young girls.

Recipe: Candied Yams

3 pounds medium-size sweet potatoes

1 cup of sugar

1-½ tablespoons of cornstarch

1-½ cups of water

2 teaspoons of vanilla

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Miniature Marshmallows (optional)

Scrub sweet potatoes and cook in boiling water covered 25 to 40 minutes until tender being particularly careful not to overcook.  Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process; drain on paper towels, peel, and set aside.

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan; stir in water until smooth.  Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly until sugar melts.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Preheat oven to 350^oF.  Cut potatoes into chunks or slices and arrange in a single layer in a greased shallow 2-quart baking dish.  Pour sugar mixture evenly over potatoes.  Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly on top.  Bake for 30 minutes.  If desired, drop some marshmallows over potatoes after 20 minutes of baking time.

Sunburn and Children



What is sunburn?

Sunburn is the burning, redness, or blistering of the skin caused by overexposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun or a sunlamp. Most people have been sunburned many times. Vacations can quickly turn into painful experiences when the power of the sun is over-looked.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of sunburn do not begin until 2 to 4 hours after the sun's damage has been done. The peak reaction of redness, pain, and swelling is not seen for 24 hours. Minor sunburn is a first-degree burn, which turns the skin pink or red. Prolonged sun exposure can cause blistering and a second-degree burn. Sunburn never causes a third-degree burn or scarring.

Repeated sun exposure and suntans cause premature aging of the skin (wrinkling, sagging, and brown sunspots). Repeated sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer in the damaged area. Each blistering sunburn doubles the risk of developing malignant melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer.

How can I take care of my child?

• Pain relief: The sensation of pain and heat will probably last 48hours. Ibuprofen products (such as Advil) started early and continued for 2 days can greatly reduce the discomfort. Nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream applied 3 times a day may also reduce swelling and pain but only if the cream is used soon after your child was sunburned. Continue using the hydrocortisone cream for 2 days. Do not use petroleum jelly or other ointments because they keep heat and sweat from escaping. The symptoms can also be helped by taking cool baths or putting cold wet cloths on the burned area several times a day. Showers are usually too painful. Your child should drink extra water to replace the fluid lost into the swelling of sunburned skin and to prevent dehydration and dizziness. Peeling usually occurs in about a week. Put a moisturizing cream on the skin.
• Blisters: If your child has broken blisters, trim off the dead skin with small scissors. Then apply an antibiotic ointment (no prescription needed). Wash off and reapply the ointment twice a day for 3 days.
• Common mistakes in treatment and prevention of sunburn: Avoid putting ointments or butter on a sunburn. They are painful to remove and not helpful.  Do not buy any first aid creams or sprays for burns. They often contain benzocaine, which can cause an allergic rash. Do not confuse sunscreens, which block the sun's burning rays, with suntan lotions or oils, which mainly lubricate the skin.

How can I help prevent sunburns?

Apply sunscreen any time your child is going to be outdoors for more than 30 minutes a day. Wear a hat with a brim. Set a good example. Apply sunscreen to your own skin as well as your child's skin.

• High-risk children: About 15% of white children have skin that never tans but only burns. These fair-skinned children need to be extremely careful about sun exposure throughout their lives. If a child has red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, freckles, or excessive moles, he or she is at increased risk for sunburn and skin cancer. These children need to use a sunscreen throughout the summer even for a brief exposure. They should avoid the sun whenever possible.
• Infants in the sun: The skin of infants is thinner than the skin of older children and more sensitive to the sun. Therefore, babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Keep them in the shade whenever possible. If they have to be in the sun, sunscreens, longer clothing, and a hat with a brim are essential. When a sunscreen is needed, infants can use adult sunscreens.
• Tanning: For teenagers who are determined to have a suntan, guide them as to the limits of sun exposure without a sunscreen. Try to keep sun exposure to small amounts early in the season until a tan builds up. (Caution: While people with a suntan can tolerate a little more sun, they can still get serious sunburn.) Start with 15 or 20 minutes of sun per day and increase by 5 minutes a day. Decrease daily exposure time if the skin becomes reddened. Because of the 2- to 4-hour delay before the symptoms of sunburn appear, do not expect symptoms (such as redness) to tell you when it is time to get out of the sun. After 1 hour of sun exposure, always apply a sunscreen.
• Time of day: Avoid exposure to the sun during the hours of 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, when the sun's rays are most intense. Do not let overcast days give you a false sense of security. Over 70% of the sun's rays still get through the clouds. Over 30% of the sun's rays can also penetrate loosely woven fabrics (for example, a T-shirt).
• High altitude: Be especially careful about exposure to the sun at high altitudes. Sun exposure increases 4% for each 1000 feet of elevation above sea level. Sunburn can occur quickly when a child is hiking above timberline. Remember also that water, sand, or snow increases sun exposure. The shade from a hat or umbrella will not protect your child from reflected rays.
• Eyes, nose, and lips: Protect your child's eyes from the sun's rays. Years of exposure to ultraviolet light increases the risk of cataracts. Buy sunglasses with UV protection. To prevent sunburned lips, apply a lip coating that contains sunscreen. If the nose or some other area has been repeatedly burned during the summer, protect it completely from all the sun's rays with zinc oxide ointment.

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to prevent sunburn. Although skin cancer occurs in adults, it is caused by the sun exposure and sunburns that occurred during childhood. Every time you protect your child from too much sun exposure, you are helping prevent skin cancer.

What kind of sunscreen should my child use?

There are good sunscreens on the market that prevent sunburn but still permit gradual tanning to occur. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that screens out both UVA and UVB rays.

The sun protection factor (SPF) or filtering power of a sunscreen product determines what percentage of the ultraviolet rays get through to the skin. An SPF of 15 allows only 1/15 (7%) of the sun's rays to get through and thereby extends safe sun exposure from 20 minutes to 5 hours without sunburning. No matter what the stated SPF rating, no sunscreen product available provides 100% protection. An SPF higher than 15 is rarely needed because protection against sunburn for 5 hours is usually sufficient.

Fair-skinned children (with red or blond hair) need a sunscreen with an SPF of 30. The simplest approach is to use an SPF of 15 or greater on all other children.

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposure to the sun to give it time to penetrate the skin. Give special attention to the areas most likely to become sunburned, such as the nose, ears, cheeks, and shoulders.

Most products need to be re-applied every 3 to 4 hours, as well as immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. A "waterproof" sunscreen stays on for about 30 minutes in water. Most people apply too little sunscreen. Use about as much sunscreen as you would lotion on dry skin.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call IMMEDIATELY If:

• Your child starts acting very sick.

Call during office hours if:

• The sunburn looks infected (red streaks, yellow pus, etc.)
• You have other questions or concerns.

Information in this blog courtsey of B.D. Schmitt, MD, author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books

Additional sources for more information:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003227.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sunburn/DS00964

Black-Eyed Peas

Start by filling a pot with water and turn up the temperature so that the water boils.

Add 2 lbs. of dried black eyed peas to water (sift through beans and throw away all dark colored beans or small rocks. Yes, sometimes there are small rocks in a bag of dried beans). 

Boil for 10 minutes and cover.

Let sit for 60 minutes. 

During the waiting time, cook 1 lb. bacon and retain the drippings. 

After an hour, drain the water from the beans by using a colander.  Depending on where you live, "colander" is pronounced either "co-land-er" or "col-an-der." I won't even argue with you if you say it wrong (wink).

Once drained, pour the beans back into the original pot and add water to about 2 inches above the beans. "Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."

Dice about 2 cups of onions and add to beans. "Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."

Add about 2 tablespoons of salt and about 1 tablespoon of pepper. 

Unhealthy ingredient alert: Add the drippings from 1 lb. of cooked bacon.  Reserve cooked bacon for later.  My grandmothers used fatback or salt pork.  Yummy artery cloggers! 

Bring all ingredients to a boil and then cut heat back to a slow simmer. Cook until beans are tender.  Simmer long enough that the liquid cooks down and thickens.

Fill bowls with black-eyed peas and add the crunchy cooked bacon pieces on top. Enjoy every bite.

Add cornbread on the side for a truly delightful meal!

Black-Eyed Pea Recipe courtesy of The Redheaded Writer!

 

 

Our Banana Moments: FREE Download - Ashton Kutcher

Our Banana Moments: FREE Download - Ashton Kutcher: "Is this the season of Ashton Kutcher ? First Two And A Half Men and now a Twitter client, it sure seems that Ashton is poised to str..."

FREE Download - Ashton Kutcher

Is this the season of Ashton Kutcher?  First Two And A Half Men and now a Twitter client, it sure seems that Ashton is poised to strike.  Wake up fans of all things Twitter or Ashton Kutcher and download the first ever Ashton Kutcher Twitter client called A.Plus, which is set to be unveiled at TechCrunch Disrupt (May 23-25).  Thus far, I am loving the look and feel A.Plus, there is so much to see and do on the five channels that I completely ignored my timeline.  In fact, I enjoyed the five channels’ what is behind door number two feeling that I had to force myself to check for important features such as my facebook feed.  Fast forward one hour and I still have not found a magical button to click to add my facebook feed or any button for that matter.  Oh, I am already missing Hoot Suite. 

Despite the lack of facebook, A.Plus is likely to be the next big thing Ashton’s more than 6 million fans will be eager to support.  Ashton’s other successful projects are the DNA Foundation (Demi and Ashton Foundation) he runs with wife Demi Moore and Katalyst a media development company.

Love Advice - From a banana?

While scrolling through facebook, I stumble upon some back yard relationship advice.  If you are in a troubled relationship, just ask your local banana, who, by the way, is likely divorced with a string of failed relationships under his or her belt.  If you think you have some good advice to share, please weigh in.  Caution: take advice at your relationships own risk!


GT: I have a handful of friends that seem to break up then get back on a regular basis. With every breakup they act like the world has come to an end. When they get back its like they JUST found true love! Then they repeat the cycle... I find it hilarious! They were doomed from the first cycle and don't know it...
Saturday at 6:36 pm via Mobile Web · Like · 8 people like this.

GT:  Just an observation...  Saturday at 6:37pm · Like



KR: That's f'n pathetic...they are doomed. But than again there are only so many to choose from on the island.  Saturday at 7:32pm · Like · 


 

JF: ‎...i should have joined the active army after college,I was already in the reserves. Very True.  Saturday at 7:58pm · Like


 

MJ:  I am just happy that I am not one of your friends, otherwise I would tell you to mind your own business!  Saturday at 8:08pm · Like · 


 

LA:  ppl do changeSaturday at 8:21pm · Like


 

GT: ‎@MJ, mind your own business!! @Jeff, uh, cool! @KR, u know what I mean! @LA, don't kid yourself! Lol... permanent changes? Haven't seen it :(  Saturday at 8:26pm · Like · 


 

KR: Many times people are AFRAID to be alone so they keep going back to the person that they know is not right for them. They may require a serious intervention. Intervention like - "Throw a nasty ass old puppy eaten slippah' at their head like in a numb chuck motion" lmao. I'm guilty of doing it too but learned what my own worth and happiness was.  Yesterday at 4:52am · Like



MF: GT, don't you find it hilarious when divorced people give relationship advice as if they got it right?  21 hours ago · Like · 


 

GT: Live and learn huh!? Its sad for me to see friends doing this, at years on end! Its crazy!  21 hours ago · Like


 

MJ: It's live and learn only if you have learned anything! Of course, this isn't the land of plenty when it comes to acceptable/qualified single adults. If I am going to fall in the muddy waters of love, it will be unconditionally.  21 hours ago · Like


 

GT:  Unconditionally!? What's that!? Never heard of the concept ....  21 hours ago · Like


 

MJ: LOL I know you haven't heard of that concept. It's too complicated to break it down on fb but essentially it's that person who loves you including all of your faults despite the fact that your a big asshole. That person is always there to catch you when you fall and faces life's challenges standing beside you. You will easily know this person, if you ever meet them, because you will say to yourself "wow, I have done some f'd up shit and he or she is still in my corner.  21 hours ago · Like ·



Macho Man - No Heart Attack

Apparently, it was not heart attacks, which lead to the death of Randy Poffo (Macho Man) as his completed autopsy revealed no extensive trauma noted to his body. Surely, a massive heart attack would lead to widespread damage to the heart muscle and possibly surrounding tissues, which would be easily identifiable during an autopsy. So, if it was not a heart attack, then what caused the Macho Man to lose control of his vehicle, which slammed into a tree?  Could this have been drug related and would it be a surprise?  Unfortunately, toxicology results are still out and are not expected for another four weeks.  I guess we will have to wait and see.

Cast-Iron Cornbread: Forget Jiffy

Kitchen Bananas 

My favorite recipe!

4 cups of cornmeal

2 teaspoons of baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

4 eggs, beaten

4 cups of buttermilk

½ cup of bacon drippings, melted

Preheat oven to 450^oF.  Combine dry ingredients and make a well in the center.  Combine eggs, buttermilk, and bacon drippings, mix well, add to cornmeal mixture, and beat until smooth.  Heat a well-greased 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the preheated oven until very hot.  Pour batter into hot skillet; bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown

Hives - Children

Nurse's Notes

What are hives?

Hives are a very itchy rash usually caused by an allergic reaction. Hives look like raised pink spots with pale centers on the skin. The spots range from 1/2 inch to several inches wide (hives often look like mosquito bites). The spots may be different shapes. The spots rapidly and repeatedly change in location, size, and shape. Giant hives are called angioedema.

What is the cause?

Widespread hives are an allergic reaction to a food, medicine, viral infection, insect bite, and other substances. Often the cause is not found. Hives on just one part of the body (localized) are usually due to skin contact with plants, pollen, food, or pet saliva. Localized hives are not caused by drugs, infections, or swallowed foods. Hives are not contagious.

Rarely, hives may also be caused by:

• exposure to cold air or water
• exposure to sunlight
• becoming overheated from exercise or a hot shower

How long do they last?

More than 10% of children get hives. Most children who develop hives have them only once. The hives come and go for 3 or 4 days and then mysteriously disappear.

Large swellings are common around the eyes, lips, and genitals if hives occur there.

Some young children become sensitized to mosquito or flea bites. They develop big hives (called papular urticaria) at the sites of old and new bites. These hives may last for months.

How can I take care of my child?

• Antihistamine medicine The best drug for hives is an antihistamine. An antihistamine won't cure the hives, but it will reduce their number and relieve itching. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is the most commonly used drug for hives, and is available without a prescription. The main side effect of this drug is drowsiness in some people. Other antihistamines (for example, store brands of any drug for hay fever) will also help. When you give Benadryl, give it 3 to 4 times a day until the hives are gone for 12 hours. Use the dosage given on the product. Use the drug recommended by your child's healthcare provider.
• Itching Give a cool bath to relieve itching. Put a cold washcloth or ice cube on itchy areas for 10 minutes. Avoid heat or rubbing.
• Avoidance and showers

Avoid anything you think might have caused the hives. For hives triggered by pollen or animal contact, take a cool shower or bath. For localized hives, wash the allergic substance of the skin with soap and water. Localized hives usually disappear in a few hours and don't need Benadryl. Avoid heat or rubbing, which makes hives worse.

• Common mistakes in the treatment of hives

Many parents wait to give the antihistamine until new hives have appeared. This means your child will become itchy again. The purpose of the medicine is to keep your child comfortable until the hives go away. Therefore, give the medicine regularly until you are sure the hives are completely gone. Hives are not contagious and your child can be with other children.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call IMMEDIATELY if:

• Breathing or swallowing becomes difficult.
• Your child starts acting very sick.

Call during office hours if:

• Most of the itch is not relieved after your child has been taking an antihistamine for 24 hours.
• The hives last more than 1 week.
• You have other concerns or questions.

Information inserted from B.D. Schmitt, MD, author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books

More information can be found @

http://health.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977509324

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/symptom-index/hives/

http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/wellness/at_home/skin-widespread/hives.aspx

Aloha Salads: A Review

Aloha Salads

I typically shy away from restaurant reviews, but I have fallen in love for a place in Hawaii called Aloha Salads.  For starters, they use locally grown produce, which I could not begin to say enough about the freshness of their fruits and veggies.  The closest Aloha Salads restaurants is 11 miles from my house and I like their stuff so much, I see fit to hop in the car and make 22 mile round trip run for some good eats.  My favorite salad is the Kamuela Cobb. The Kamuela Cobb’s ingredients are grilled chicken breast with bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes, island fresh eggs, and avocado slices.  This salad comes with a creamy herb ranch dressing of which I order extra.  I never said that this was a haven for dieters.  From their sub menu, I am fond of the sinfully delicious honey glazed ham.  This toasted sub sports thinly sliced ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, topped with mayo and Dijon mustard.  The subs can be made with your choice of Ciabatta Wheat, Ciabatta White, or Pita Bread.  I, myself, enjoy my honey-glazed ham on Ciabatta white.   As for soups, they feature a “soup of the day” menu, off which, I have had the tomato bisque.  The tomato bisque soup was simply delicious, served hot and creamy along with warm pita bread. 

The Skinny

If you have already figured out that my favorite menu choices are not for those who fall faint at the first sign of possibly gaining a pound, you can design your own salad.
Aloha Salads has a 5-step design your own salad menu item.  The 5-steps consist of choosing your lettuce, selecting four fresh toppings (additional toppings are available for an extra fee), pick your cheese from an assortment of nine, and, finally add your dressing.  Your choice of dressings is impressively versatile from house specials, traditional, and spa favorites.  If you are looking for a fresh fruit bowl, Aloha Salads has this too.  Design your very own fruit bowl from locally grown selections such as mango, coconut, papaya, strawberries, lychee, pineapple and more.

The Ambiance

Aloha Salads is a busy restaurant with heavy foot traffic and tends to be noisy.  Most of the noise is chatter from people ordering take out or dining in mixed with the staff calling out your name once your delicacy is ready for you to pick up at the counter.  This would be a good place to eat-in during lunch or on the weekends after a morning of shopping.

If you are fortunate enough to have an Aloha Salads near you, I recommend you stop in and get familiar with their fresh, locally grown, healthy and downright delicious foods.
 

WTH - Pageant Mom Shocked by 8-Year-Old's Botox Injections

I generally do not get caught up in or chase the latest articles, but, while surfing around I ran across the story below about a mom giving her 8 y/o daughter Botox injections for pageant contest.  I have never advocated for plastering makeup inches deep on a little girl’s face, or dressing her in mini adult outfits to be judged in any category.  Little girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice and therefore do not need any of the product adults use to hold on tooth and nail to their youth.  Worse, yet, these pageant moms are stealing childhood, which is already way too short, from their daughters.  With all of that said, WTH would drive a mother to inject Botox into her 8 y/o daughter’s face?  This is and should be criminal.  Can you imagine the psychological damage being done to this little girl?  If she is getting Botox injections at 8, how is she going to feel about herself when she is 20?  Have you seen the video clip?  This story has a video clip of the mom and daughter and it is clear to me that the mom is living through her daughter when she should be taking all of that money she is spending on trying to improve on perfection and apply it to a gym membership, a makeover and some clothing.  Just saying....


Pageant Mom Shocked by 8-Year-Old's Botox Injections
Miss Teen Scottsdale also weighs in
Updated: Friday, 13 May 2011, 5:41 PM MST
Published : Friday, 13 May 2011, 5:41 PM MST

SCOTTSDALE - A San Francisco mom is under investigation after admitting she injected her 8-year-old daughter with Botox for a kiddie beauty pageant.
As you can imagine, this has sparked an uproar in the medical community and among pageant moms.
17-year-old Ally Winski, Miss Teen Scottsdale, has competed in five pageant systems since she turned 11.
"Everything I've worked with in the pageant system has been the best experience," she says.
Winski finds it disturbing that a pageant mom in San Francisco injected her 8-year-old daughter with Botox.
"I've seen moms who have wanted their daughters to be someone they weren't, or have been grilling them and telling them the right answers to say in an interview, but I've never come across something where it's gone to plastic surgery or injections," says Winski.
Registered nurse Patricia Foley says Botox isn't even approved for cosmetic use for minors.
"Botox has been used a long time therapeutically safely on children, that is correct, but for cosmetic reasons I've not heard of it," says Foley. "I think it's a little bit over the top… what kind of 8-year-old has a wrinkle?"
Ally's mom agrees, and says moms like this woman give pageants a bad name.
"The competition is really tough in a lot of these pageants but I can't imagine that you wouldn't want your daughter to be her own self," says Amy Winski, a former Pageant Director. "It's supposed to be more of the inner beauty than the outer beauty."
The mom says her daughter asked for the anti-wrinkle injections. She is a part-time aesthetician, but she wouldn't say where she got the Botox. She is now being investigated by Social Services.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/health/pageant-moms-botox-injections-5-12-2011


Sucker Punch - Who gets the swag?

Our Banana Moments

Readers be forewarned, as the content to follow is a rant, albeit this banana’s rant.  So, Doo Funny Banana (Doo Funny) has decided to leave our particular bunch and I want to know who gets the swag.  More specifically, who gets the Cuisinart blender, microwave oven, coffee pot, air mattress, lap top computer, and the Shark Vac then Steam Mop?  These items are just a portion of the swag that I so generously loaned, gave or bought (not a gift) for Doo Funny and I want them back.  Maybe the problem is in the definition of a gift.  Do not begin to feel sorry for Doo Funny because he has gotten rather nice gifts…4 brand new Dueler Tires for his truck, Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, Burberry Cologne, numerous assortments of kitchen utensils, bathroom décor, and hundreds of dollars spend on dining out.  As you can see, from the impressive list of gifts, it is only right that he return the items that were not gifts.  Doo Funny indomitably disagrees (hence the handle of Doo Funny) with my demands.  Instead, he insists upon labeling me as petty while demanding that I never call or text him again.  This is a mighty fine conundrum! Apparently, while he was enjoying purple label treatment, I was not behaving at all out of the ordinary.  After all, he relished the fine dining and our “throw it in the bag” style of shopping. Sadly, at this point, all I can do is rant and prattle on about this situation. Doo Funny has made up his mind that he, under every circumstance, is going keep everything down to the chopsticks.  I feel bad, in advance, for the poor sap to follow him, as he will get nothing more than a roll of cheap toilet paper to wipe his little (or big) bottom.  I will be the one who changes the Charmin roll for the off-brand, guaranteed to take two layers of skin, sandpaper roll whenever he comes to visit.

Cholesterol: Pop Quiz

So, you think you know all there is to know about cholesterol?  In fact, it isn’t news to you that all cholesterol itself isn’t bad and that cholesterol is just one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy.  We would be just wasting your time to tell you that there is “good” and “bad” cholesterol and how important it is to understand the difference.  Let’s put that knowledge to a test.  Below is a pop quiz on some basic facts about cholesterol.  Take the quiz and see how much you really know about cholesterol.

1. Nothing I do can lower my cholesterol.

2. All cholesterol in my blood is bad.

3. Exercise cannot help me control my cholesterol.

4. I do not have to worry if my cholesterol is just a little high.

5. To lower my cholesterol, I just need to stop eating eggs.

FALSE – Your eating and exercise habits play a big role in controlling cholesterol.  If you smoke, quitting can also help you get cholesterol under control.  In addition, your doctor can prescribe medication if you need extra help.

FALSE – Some cholesterol is needed for your body to work.  In addition, some types of cholesterol are better for your body than others.

FALSE – Exercise increases the amount of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in your bloodstream.  This is good for your body and your health.

FALSE – Even if your cholesterol is just a little high, you are at increased risk for a heart attack or stroke.

 
FALSE – Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, but all animal products contain cholesterol.  Eating foods high in cholesterol or saturated fat can raise your cholesterol level.

For more information on cholesterol - http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/About-Cholesterol_UCM_001220_Article.jsp