VIOLATED PRIVACY

As much as people wanted to have privacy to their personal affairs, it is common knowledge that malice have been with us since the early times. And to this day, it is present and actually becomes more and more pronounced…we see them around us and we see them mostly in the television, because it is mostly affecting celebrity lives.

Most recently, a personal sex video of Philippine Movie Stars ended up in the wrong hands and made public. How degrading it can be when you know that your most kept act was seen by EVERYONE? Reputations are damaged, and persona affected.

With this I recall reading an article regarding Personal Injury Attorney.

They have it in California. And they especially deals with cases like the above mentioned. The article cited incidents of the same nature and has classified how to get the right personal injury attorney in differing cases. Torts were categorized for easier handling of the violation by the attorney. Torts “are acts of negligence or direct behavior that result in harm to another person”. The article was written well enough to have given me insights on how to find a good personal injury attorney and how things like such is handled if incase a friend or myself needed one.

It’s easy enough to find the professional to stand for a defendant, but aside from the cost it will incur, the stress that will come out of such ordeal is such a high price enough for the accused to be penalized. I personally pity the victim of such violations, but I pity the accused as well for the judgment that will be given him or her in this life to the next.

FOOD INTOXICATION

Being now into food business, just as was posted in my Earthymsjen blog, Profitable Small Business, I believe it my responsibility to remind mom of food safety precautions to be imparted to the food handlers. Since I have been exposed to such knowledge, being a hospital employee that is responsible for ensuring food sanitation (in the dietary department specifically). We had seminars for such like the HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point) aside form constant reminders.

Food safety and sanitation should be a concern one mustn’t look at lightly. One must be aware that a problem concerning such does not only happen in public eating places or in the food processing plants…it can also happen in our very own kitchen if we’re not careful.

There are ways in preventing food borne illnesses…primarily is by ensuring sanitation through food handling. And it starts with personal hygiene. Frequent hand washing is a must. If we are making ourselves clean, we also must do so with our surroundings. Our kitchen mainly!

I GOT FLOWERS!

It isn’t everyday that I get one…and it’s a nice feeling when you do so without any occasion. No matter who it’s from=)

Fresh flowers need special attention and care…that I know! I remember receiving loads of them during my younger days…and how it felt especially when there is no special occasion for it to be given. No matter who gives it, it always adds up a little height to my not so tall one (actually, I’m below being tall, hehe!)

Each time I get one, I wait for sundown before cutting the stems at an angle. I was told to do this during Sundown or Sunbreak, and that I should use a sharp knife than a scissor. I bought myself vases of different size and shape then. Some for a single bud, and some for dozens or halves. I don’t like the idea of choking them into a small container; I notice them staying fresh longer if they can breathe. I have the vase washed before arranging the flowers, and add a little charcoal or salt into the water. It’s said to minimize bacterial growth which causes the flower to wither fast. Some advised ammonia but I don’t really like smelling my flowers with a touch of urine-smell in it.
I cut the stems everyday as I change the water. It’s not just for the flowers, it’s also in avoidance of Dengue-carrier mosquito’s from reproducing in my house.

Once I wasn’t able to immediately give the right attention to bouquets given to me on my debut, and the following day, I found my grandma “steaming” them. She placed it in a container with hot, not boiling, water for a few minutes…after which she transferred them all to a cool dark place (my room then!). An hour after…it’s revived!

COLOR EFFECTS

When I first visited the Neuro-Psychiatric Ward in Makati Medical Center, as per request by one patient’s attending physician to assess and modify his patient’s diet, I remember appreciating the color scheme used in their rooms. They were mostly blue, but in some areas, they were pink. I simply thought them to be colors for male and female distinctions. But now I learned that there is the so-called “color effects on the brain”.

Light pink (or passive pink, a hospital term) says to have calming effect in mental patients. In a study made at the University of Texas, they tested subjects’ hand-grip as a colored light was flashed on them, and their grip tightens a few percent higher when the red light was flashed indicating that red excites the brain. In a hospital study on the other hand reveals that there is a relation to calming patient’s tremors which lessen when exposed to blue light.

I’ve always thought that green is the most calming, color of nature. Now I remember that it’s just the coolest to the eye and doesn’t necessarily mean cools the head as well. That may be the reason why I don’t steam down when I go look at the trees when pissed-off, haha!

HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Have you ever noticed being suddenly irritable, depressed or hypersensitive? And that you tend to feel your stomach growls more often lately? Headaches frequently comes as well, or there’s the feeling of tiredness and anxiety…and you feel unusually Hot? (After all, we’re also part of the animal kingdom that goes in heat in certain seasons?!)

I learned this to be part of Hormonal Imbalance. I observed to be feeling these monthly, a week before or until my monthly flux. Ovulation obviously, and upon further digging-up, it’s the delicate balance of our estrogen and progesterone levels. Our hormones. Such imbalance depends on different factors as well, such as stress, nutrition, exercise and ovulation.

MEN’S MOST SENSITIVE THING…EARS!

“Ears definitely…so stop the NAGGING!

Actually, it’s not so negative all the time. Some men gave their words of appreciation when Cosmopolitan Magazine tried to get their comments on this. Nagging them to get more rest from work, or for them not to forget to take their medicine when sick, pleases them. I believe they feel the love more when they are pampered and cared for.

But…a big BUT here, girls tend to overly care for them (according to them). They obviously think differently than the female population. They seem to feel shackled, or restricted, or spied on, or controlled when we ask questions more than they want to be asked. Though we were just innocently asking of what they are doing or of their whereabouts because we miss them, and wants to somehow envision them as a pretense that we are with them…or when we vocally disclose to them of our jealousy over their peers (“barkada”)…they perceive it differently.

If for us it denotes love or simple yearning for more time with them…for them it’s nagging. Not blaming anyone here, nor being biased…we just have to accept the fact that by nature, men and women are created differently. And for men…repetitive texting, constant “barkada” issue, boy-toy concerns, goatee matter, early morning dragging out of bed…are simply “driving-them-crazy” nagging.

SEEING GOODNESS IN EVERYTHING

Just recently, I was made aware that I’m doing just “that”! In fact, way too much of that.

In the positive side of it, it brings about the purest of heart, devoid of malice, wickedness, malevolence, enviousness, jealousy…evil deeds! Life is lived lightly.

Until this simplicity was corrupted by the dark side. Then, I was enlightened to being naïve. A target for abuse, manipulation, taken advantage of…and so forth.

In this day and age, we have to be defensive drivers to other travelers along the road of life. It is proper to be on the right side, to be an exemplar. Yet, as disconcerting it is to realize the fact that in this world there are a lot of offensive drivers, we have to be conscious of them, and be prepared to stand firm and show them they are mere pests to our journey. That they are co-existing with us…but they need not affect how we live our lives, or on who or what we are!

NOT ALL MEN ARE CIRCUMCISED?

I wonder why…

moreso, I wonder if this is really true.

There’s a 1990 data

that only about 15%

of the worlds population practices circumcision.

Is it still thus this century?

OVERHEAT

I am a good driver…but not so good with engine troubles. That’s why I’m learning from the expert, my dad! Just yesterday I asked for his advice…because my car overheated on my way home. Luckily, it happened just a few paces from a gasoline station.

He started by reminding me that overheat can ruin my car engine very quickly. So, if the temperature gauge starts edging up, do something about it right away (I have to remember looking at it then, haha!). That I should not wait for the warning light because the moment it does, the problem is already at hand. Since the traffic during rush hour is heavy, I should shift to neutral. When on stop, rev the engine. If it still doesn’t stop temperature rise, he says I need to raise the hood, and see if there’s a broken fan or belt, leaking coolant, or something in the condenser or radiator. If nothing evident, then just wait for it to cool down, an hour maybe, then check the coolant level in the radiator. If low, let engine idle while you top it up (plain water will do). Have the system drained as soon as possible and fill with the appropriate coolant.

Phew! And that’s just overheating?!@

BLACK CAT

Who said that a black cat crossing your path is bad luck?

I don't know where that came from.

What I know is in Japan, they believe it to be the opposite:

GOOD LUCK!

WHAT IS THIS MY KID HAS?

Filipino’s call it “singaw”. It is common to have this whenever it is hot, as it is now that it is summertime, or those times you unintentionally biting your own tongue. What is uncommon is, my daughter have it more often than normal…almost every after two months since she was a baby. This was referred to all her pedia’s and ENT’s…but no conclusive answer was given (until one of her pedia’s reliever advice for me to consult an immunologist). I am now trying to gather information through the net for possible reason for its continuous, bothersome manifestation.

Stomatitis and Canker Sore are the medical terms I find closely resembling it’s features. Prevention mentiones were being observed already, like cleanliness and sanitation. Some noted advices were using water with salt as mouth rinse. Considerations are observed now to pinpoint the most possible culprit. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in toothpaste for one should be avoided (unfortunately all toothpaste in the market has it?!) Though a couple of months ago, I tried all together avoiding the use of toothpaste on her just to see. She still developed the mouth sore. Octyl Gallate as preservative is another ingredient that may cause the problem. None written as such in those foods that is not fresh that I give her. I gather that I also have to check with the manufacturers. But thinking about it, these mouth sores started even before she had her solid foods. Nutritional deficiencies in Fe, Folic Acid and B-Vitamins is also mentioned, but then again, she’s a perfectly healthy baby if not for this eruptions. Emotional stress do not pose as a problem to consider, I am definite at this. A plugged nasal airways causes dryness of mouth tissue. We both have nasal allergies, and though nasal congestion is not evident, it is still best to consult a specialist. Will tell you what they think the moment we have her worked up!!!

As of the present, I blame it on heredity since her dad up to now have episodes of having tiny “singaw’s”. Though hers sometimes aggravate to a week-long sore with high fever and too much pain (the photo says it all!!!) and her dad’s to a mere few days and minimal pain, a kid is still a kid. Immune system may not be strong enough to fight it.

I really wish to find out the nature of this ASAP!

AKIN TO A FOOT-MASSAGE

Being a dietitian that goes on hospital rounds has its ups and downs. Self-fulfillment in being able to share knowledge, and assist others in their dietary concerns was few of the “ups” of it. The “downs” part of it for me is nothing big, but definitely as important…MY ACHING FEET!

Reaching the comfort of my home, a bath precedes any other. Soaking of feet in warm water always is the first step, soothing the tiredness of the all-day walking, and all-day day confinement inside a shoe, even comfy, a shoe nonetheless. This is the next best remedy to my exhausted feet akin to a foot massage. While watching telly thereafter, a mat upfront, I roll a cold can of softdrinks (or any bottle available) under one bare foot at a time. It reduces the tension in the arches, and takes away the burning feeling in my toes.

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FINANCIAL SECURITY MAY BOOST INFIDELITY

I firmly believe that! Everywhere I look, it seems that more and more of my acquaintances go into divorce. Waving off religious concerns (though this really should be the main reason such actions be reconsidered), let us look into the social factors, especially of financial status.

To put it more realisitic, just a month ago, Russel, a childhood friend, went into these tedious sessions of a divorce proceeding. He so wanted to do this years ago, according to him. But his financial constraints will not allow it. It is way below capable to handle even the lawyers fee. Just last year and the year prior, his brother and his mother passed away , leaving him the sole inheritor of a large amount of money. If before he tried to hold on to his marriage (with two kids), now he have the means to go on with the proceedings, and indulge himself with a "better" (according to him) partner.

This goes without saying then, that if he didn't get that inheritance, his family would have continued to try to hold on. Mayhap, in time it will survive. He would have tried avoiding INFIDELITY.

REMOVE STAINS

Nothing more irritating than to see a stain in your new dress, curtain, wall...or wherever else at home. There are a lot of stain remover brands you can see in the grocery, but why not look into your cupboard first? You might have the easiest and cheapest solution to your stain problem. Try it (I did!) and you'll see what I mean.

- FRUIT & WINE STAIN: pour salt solution or hot water on stain and soak in milk before the actual washing


- COFFEE: mix eggyolk in lukewarm water and rub on stain

- INK: soak in milk or blotch with hydrogen peroxide

- BLOOD: soak in cold water; but for hard-to-remove stains, apply a mixture of cornstarch and talcum powder, allow to dry then brush
away

- CHEWING GUM: rub with ice until gum hardens and peel off

- RUST: saturate with lemon juice then sprinkle and rub with salt. Allow to dry in direct sunlight before washing

DENTIST SCARE

My househelp, Josie, is scared to go to the dentist. Though, I wonder why when she admitted that she have never tried it ever before. Unfortunately, the tooth that troubled her a year ago is back to pestering her. If before, a perfume in a tiny piece of cotton inserted within the decayed tooth worked, now an anti-inflammatory drug which works its magic for a mere couple of hours, is needed.

She finally succumbed to my urging, and we made an appointment for her later in the evening. One advice I could give her to ease her nerves, try spraying a floral scented perfume minutes before meeting her most unfathomable fate of seing her dentist. I heard it has a calming effect that may help her be more at ease.

SPICY TUNA EN PASTA

Trying to sound Italian here…though not one bit of one, I love Italian dishes. Thus, mostly preparing (and concocting) pasta. Try this recipe that I tried, which is both tasty, healthy and economical.

Ingredients: cooked pasta (according to your desired style, but preferably spaghetti noodle), minced garlic, chopped onion, chopped celery, sliced mushroom, drained hot and spicy tuna, commercial spaghetti sauce, tomato paste (as thickener, may disregard), salt and pepper to taste, sliced finger pepper (for additional spice, may disregard)

Procedure:
1. Cook pasta in boiling water with a little oil and a little salt to desired texture

FOR SAUCE
2. Saute’ garlic till fragrant
3. Add onions till transparent
4. Throw in tuna, celery and mushroom
5. Pour tomato sauce (and tomato paste, if desired)
6. Salt and pepper to taste
7. Add finger peppers (if desired)
8. Pour over noodles when served

PMS? STRESS?

Headaches, acidity, palpitations...symptoms I now suffer that can relate to different factors. It's been a week that my little one is sick. Sleepless nights and tension in handling the situation may be one of the reasons. Another is my monthly flux. It can also be possible that my over consumption of cola's lately due to intense heat produced gas and increased my acid; its caffeine content resulting to my increased heart rate; and it being a migraine precipitant is also another consideration.

Or maybe...I'm just overly stressed!

VARICOSE VEINS

I accompanied my mom to her doctor yesterday when she voiced her discomfort with some protruding veins in her legs. Just as I perceived, the docotr confirmed it to be varicose veins. She was then adviced to:

* exercise her legs regularly (jogging, walking, cycling)

* avoid prolonged sitting or standing

* avoid wearing overly tight socks, hose or boots

* wear 1inched-heeled shoes, and avoid flats, sneakers, high-heeled or thin-

soled shoes

* keep her weight down

HOT-TEMPERED

That lady in the grocery may be like my hot-tempered neighbor!

I hear him shouting, jeering, yelling, rumbling, squabbling, bickering, clucking his tongue or banging doors most of the time. I don't really know what causes such reactions, but the constant manifestation of his anger reminds me of an article I've read in my college days. Something about a "relief room" in Tokyo that people go to. A release-tension room where they pay to smash false ceramic antiques. I remember very well that they most often have clients with unfaithful spouses or tyrannical bosses. Maybe my neighbor is stressed out too...unfortunately, he have only his door and other people's ear to use as his own destressor!

TSK! TSK!

I was doing my weekly groceries when a glass shattering in the next aisle followed by an angry reprimand caught my attention. Instead of it ceasing, it got louder, and another set of vrashing called more attention. What appalled me more though, was the words of accusation the lady was showering down the embarassed three year old (yes, you got that right, "3year old"!!!). I just couldn't believe my eyes (and ears!). Shaking my head i moved on wanting so much to remind her that it is her fault and not the child's. After all, she's suppose to look after the kid!