World Asthma day

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.  The theme of World Asthma Day 2011 will be "You Can Control Your Asthma." GINA will also launch the next phase in its campaign to reduce asthma hospitalizations by 50% in 5 years. 

What is Asthma?

 

Asthma is a chronic (lifetime) inflammatory disease of the airways. 

The signs and symptoms are:

·       Wheezing

·       Panting

·       Shortness of Breath

·       Coughing

·       Tightness in Chest

Causes:

·       Genetic

·       Environmental

Treatment

·       Bronchodialators

·       Inhalers

·       Corticosteroids

 

Prevention of Attacks

Avoid Irritants such as:

·       Dust

·       Pet dander

·       Smoke

·       Mold

·       Perfumes

·       Extreme heat

As of 2010, 300 million people were affected worldwide. In 2009 asthma caused 250,000 deaths globally.  With proper control, the prognosis is usually good.

Asthma is a very serious condition.  My family doctor was diagnosed with Asthma at an early age.  He had it under control.  His wife was a nurse, and was also familiar with the care necessary to prevent attacks, and the medications used to control them.  However, even their skills, knowledge and medications were not enough to prevent his death from a severe attack.    That is why it was very discouraging to hear this quote from President Obama.

OBAMA:  "Everybody knows that it makes no sense that you send a kid to the emergency room for a treatable illness like asthma, they end up taking up a hospital bed, it costs, when, if you, they just gave, you gave them treatment early and they got some treatment, and a, a breathalyzer, or inhalator, not a breathalyzer. (Crowd laughing) I haven't had much sleep in the last 48 hours."

Everyone, especially if you have family members and friends with Asthma, needs to be aware of the causes and treatments of Asthma and what emergency measures to take in the event a severe attack takes place.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANE!!!

Our good friend and guest author celebrates her birthday today, May 3rd.  She likes surprises and I figured this would be one and something that hasn't happen before.


Wishing you a wonderful Birthday Diane and enjoy your lunch today with your folks at the Castle!!

The Castle

Got Cake?

National Teacher Day May 3, 2011

 

National Teacher Day is celebrated this week and time to break out the soap box for these brave men and women who put forth a tremendous effort to teach our children (and grandchildren) who are grossly under paid and many lack the tools they desperately need to carry out their jobs.  It is my belief that our value system is out of balance and has been for decades.  We, citizens of this great country need to take a hard look and review what is really important in life.  Enough said for now on this issue.

Teaching is the profession of shaping young minds into the future leaders of the world.   

Have you ever had a teacher who has had a great influence on your life and who went above and beyond the standard to increase your personal growth and development? If you have ever had a teacher like this, it is time to show them that you appreciate all that they have done for you.

Around 1944, Wisconsin teacher Ryan Krug wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt about the need for a national day to honor teachers. In 1953, Mrs. Roosevelt persuaded Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day, and the rest is history. National Teacher Day is celebrated around the world, though in different countries it is observed on different days. 

Teachers are a significant part of everyone's life. They show us the right path and groom us to become a better citizen and a better person. They teach us to face the most difficult challenges of life and get through them, easily. Teacher's Day is celebrated to pay tribute to teachers, who have dedicated a considerable part of their life to impart moral and academic knowledge to their students. 

Wonderful Teacher

With a special gift for learning
And with a heart that deeply cares,
You add a lot of love
To everything you share,
And even though
You mean a lot,
You'll never know how much,
For you helped
To change the world
Through every life you touched.
You sparked the creativity
In the students whom you taught,
And helped them strive for goals
That could not be bought,
You are such a special teacher
That no words can truly tell
However much you're valued
For the  you do so well.
- Author Unknown

Melanoma Monday

May 2, 2011

Cancer awareness can be seen everywhere.  If you see something pink, you almost always think of breast cancer.   See smoke, you think of lung cancer.  Men worry about prostate cancer.  Cancer is a subject that weighs heavily on people's minds and hearts.  Nearly everyone has a friend, family member or neighbor that has either experienced cancer, or knows someone who has.   Organizations across the world hold numerous fund raisers to aid in finding a cure.  However, something you may not know, the number one form of cancer is skin cancer.  There are over 1 million new cases every year!   It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal.

Risk factors for developing skin cancer:

·       exposure to sun;

·       age ( usually appears after age 50, however the damage begins early in life);

·       fair skin;

·       exposure to ultraviolet radiation such as tanning beds;

·       therapeutic radiation such as radiation treatment for other cancer; and

·       weak immune system either by disease or medication.

Diagnosis:

·       once a growth or sore is noticed, your doctor will perform a biopsy which is done by taking a scraping of the area.  The shaved cells are then examined under a microscope to determine if there are any cancerous cells.

Treatment:

·       There are several different methods for treating skin cancer, it depends on the size and location, so each treatment plan is individualized for the best possible method.

·       Curettage and desiccation: Dermatologists often prefer this method, which consists of scooping out the basal cell carcinoma by using a spoon like instrument called a curette. Desiccation is the additional application of an electric current to control bleeding and kill the remaining cancer cells. The skin heals without stitching. This technique is best suited for small cancers in non-crucial areas such as the trunk and extremities.

·       Surgical excision.

·       Radiation Therapy.

·       Cryosurgy using liquid nitrogen and freezing the area.

·       Medication therapy using creams.

Prevention:

·       limiting recreational sun exposure;

·       avoiding unprotected exposure to the sun during peak radiation times (the hours surrounding noon);

·       wearing broad-brimmed hats and tightly-woven protective clothing while outdoors in the sun;

·       Use sunscreen;

·       Regular check-ups and report any suspicious skin changes; and

·       Avoid using tanning beds.

As my daddy says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Use common sense while outdoors, however if you do notice new or unusual changes in you skin, seek treatment quickly.  There is a 90% chance of full recovery.

National Truffle Day

May 2, 2011

Truffles are a delicious dessert made with a chocolate gouache center that is then coated in chocolate powder. Talk about a piece of chocolate heaven!

The chocolate truffle was invented in 1895 by M. Dofour in Chambery, France. Their popularity increased dramatically after the Prestat chocolate shop opened in London in 1902. There are three types of chocolate truffles: American, European, and Swiss. All of these types of chocolate truffles are different in look, taste, and shelf-life of the truffle.

The American truffle was created in the mid-1980's by Joseph Schmidt. His truffle consists of a half-egg shaped chocolate coated truffle that mixes milk chocolate with butterfat. The European chocolate truffle is made of syrup, cocoa powder, and milk powder. The Swiss truffle is made by combining melted chocolate into a boiling mixture of dairy cream and butter and it is then sprinkled with cocoa powder. Swiss truffles have the shortest shelf-life and should be eaten within a few days of making.

To celebrate today, try making your own delicious chocolate truffles to enjoy or head over to your local candy shop!

Coming this week on Keeping it Simple (KISBYTO)…

A new month, May is full of many events, activities, observance and other interesting things to share with our beloved readers.  It is also the week prior to our family cruise which will depart on Sunday, May 8^th for a week in the Atlantic. Granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law, grandma and I are all mentally sync for this trip.  So let us share with you what we have planned for this week – knowing things can changes, but this is what on our plate to deliver.

Mother Goose an all time favorite with young and old – stories to share and to tell over and over.

May Day is celebrated all over and in many different ways – but a lot of us it’s the blooming of the flowers that gets our juices flowing.

Melanoma Monday:  The number one form of cancer is skin cancer.  There are over 1 million new cases every year!  It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

 National Truffle Day: Delicious dessert made with a chocolate gouache center that is then coated in chocolate powder. Talk about a piece of chocolate heaven!

World & National Asthma Day is both celebrated this week and our team will cover these observances.  This year’s theme, of World Asthma Day 2011 will be "You Can Control Your Asthma."

National Teacher Day is also celebrated this week and time to break out the soap box for these brave men and women who put forth a tremendous effort to teach our children (and grandchildren) who are grossly under paid and many lack the tools they desperately need to carry out their jobs.

  

International Firefighters Day to honor and support firefighters who risk their lives every day to help their communities.  As many of you know, my son-in-law Darrin in Seattle is a fireman. It is a special day that I take pride in recognizing and give my sincere thanks to all the men and women do this job.

 Cinco de Mayo has been a celebrated holiday since May 5, 1862 after the unexpected victory over the French army.

National Nurses Week begins on the 6^th of May and is also Nurses Day that ends on the 12^th.  Like other important dates in life, birthday, anniversary, when you first met your spouse and where, this celebration is also high on my dates to remember.  My wife is a nurse.  Diane is a nurse and several other friends are nurses or in the process of becoming one.  We will do our best to help celebrate!

Mothers Day – A very special day and we all give thanks to our mothers.

Did you know?

Brothers and Sisters Day is a day to cherish your siblings that is celebrated on May 2. Sure, there's times when you love your brothers and sisters. And, there's times when you want to disown them. All in all, having a brother and/or a sister or two is invaluable. The older you get, the more you learn to appreciate them.

National Hoagie Day is celebrated every May 5^th and was created to give us a special day to enjoy and celebrate a big, tasty hoagie. You know of this big sandwich as a hoagie, a sub or a hero. And, it's a regular on most diets in America. People eat them for lunch, dinner, and even as a late night snack. It's a quick meal or people on the go.

National Train Day is celebrated on May 9^th. The year 1869 was a really exciting time in America. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads were speeding across the wild, American frontier, laying tracks for what would soon become the first Transcontinental rail line.

Other things going on in the Month of May are:

·       Date Your Mate Month

·       Foster Care Month

·       National Barbecue Month

·       National Bike Month

·       National Hamburger Month

·       National Photograph Month

·       Older Americans Month

·       First Newspaper Cartoon was in 1754

·       Butterscotch Brownie on May 9

·       Fruit Cocktail on May 13

·       Friday 13 on May 13

·       First Nickel Day on May 16, 1866 and was called ‘Shield Nickel’

·       Also on the 16^th is Sea Monkey Day

·       Cheese Soufflé on May 18

·       Visit Your Relatives Day on May 18

·       Strawberries and Cream on May 21

·       Lucky Penny on May 23^r

·       Escargot day is May 24^t

·       Wine Day on May 25^t

·       Blueberry Cheesecake on May 26

·       Grape Popsicle on May 27

May Day 2011

by Diane Forrest




May Day Baskets


May Day is a day of celebration for workers rights around the world. In some cultures, it is associated with International Workers’ Day or Labor Day.

The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the festival of Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowers. Ancient Celtic cultures also celebrated May Day with a Pagan festival honoring Beltane, the God of the sun.

In more recent centuries, working people would often take the day off to celebrate May Day – without the support of their employers. In 1600’s, Parliament even banned May Day festivities and observances in England. It was reinstated with the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Today in England, May Day celebrations include crowing a May Queen and dancing around the maypole.

Though it was celebrated in Colonial America, today the United States and Canada do not observe May Day. President Eisenhower perceived May Day celebrations as communist so he instead proclaimed May 1st as “Law Day” and moved Labor Day to September.

Growing up I went to a small Presbyterian Day School that went from grades 1 - 6. Each year we celebrated May Day the first Friday of the month. It was a wonderful time! The classes were small, only about 30 in each grade. We began the day at lunch by eating sack lunches with our class under one of the large Oak trees on the ground. Following lunch a group would perform the dance around the may pole. The kids were then divided into two teams, the green and the gold, as those were the school colors. Then began the friendly competition of relay races. Activities such as the sack race, 3-legged race, egg
toss, tug of war, and many others were completed until a team winner was named and the gold loving cup trophy was presented.


Celebrate the rich history of May Day by attending a May Day festival if there is one in your area or by listening to traditional Maypole music!