National Taco Day

By Diane Forrest

It's 1:00 am and you have been up studying all night for that big test.  Your stomach lets you know that all that extra work requires some extra energy...fuel.  You think to yourself, its too late to cook something, and a sandwich just won't do.  So what do you do?  Make a run for the border!  I'm mentioning this because today is National Taco Day.

Tacos are one of your near perfect foods.  Not only do kids love the, and they are inexpensive and easy to make, they also contain all the major food groups.  With one taco you can get meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable and grain.

There are so many ways to make a taco too.  For example they have hard or soft shells, and you can get beef, chicken and even a fish taco.  My husband and I had strange sleeping habits.  Since he was bedridden, he slept a lot, while I hardly slept at all.  He had to be turned every 2 hours to prevent bedsores.  Occasionally during the turning times he would be hungry and ask me to run to the border.  He was a fan of the soft shell chicken taco, while I like the crunch beef taco.   My son, who recently graduated from college, made many trips to taco bell for that "4th meal". 

Cat Fish Taco's

Of course late nights aren't the only time to eat tacos.  They are great at any meal.  In fact they are perfect for a group of friends.  All you need is some bowls with the taco fixins, brown some ground beef and heat up the shells, and you have a party!   I was talking to my cousin from Texas last week.  It was my aunt's (his mother's) birthday, so he took her to lunch.  When I asked him what he had, he told me fish taco.  Well I have to say I had trouble picturing a catfish sticking out of a taco shell, but I'm sure they must fix a different way.  He told me they are very good, so I will have to try one when I get out to San Antonio.

In a sadder note, Mr. Arch West, creator of the famed Dorito's chips passed away at the age of 97 on September 20, 2011.  The original flavor was Taco.  On Saturday, October 1, his family sprinkled his urn with the taco chips following his ceremony.  Frito lay reintroduced the Taco flavored chips last year.

Let's all celebrate taco's today, and either scramble up your own beef or chicken, or make a run for the border and have a fiesta!

Did you know that the first documented consumption of a taco occurred in 1520 by Spanish soldiers Bernal Diaz del Castillo and Hernando Cortez while visiting the New World of the Aztecs in Mexico? The soldiers loved the Mexican tacos so much that they wrote to King Charles V of Spain about them. (Akindman)

"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of"

Song Lyrics

(Carly Simon)

Take a look around now

Change the direction

Adjust the tuning

Try a new translation

Don`t look at your man in the same old way

Take a new picture

Just because you don`t see shooting stars

Doesn`t mean it isn`t perfect

can`t you see...

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

It`s the slow and steady fire

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

It`s your heart and soul`s desire

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

So what`s this about your best friend?

She`s got a brand new shiny boy

And they`re moving out to Malibu

To play with all his pretty toys

And you feel closed in by the same four walls

The same old conversation

With the same old guy you`ve know for years

But use your imagination

And you will see....

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

It`s the slow and steady fire

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

It`s your heart and soul`s desire

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of

What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale

Is right here in disguise

And what if the stars you`ve been reaching so high for

Are shining in his eyes

Don`t look at yourself in the same old way

Take another picture

Shoot the stars off in your own backyard

Don`t look any further

And you will see

It`s the stuff that dreams are made of....

A long time favorite of mine, Carly Simon has continued to produce quality music from her early days in New York in the 1970's with twenty-four studio albums and nine compilations one of which I recently purchased and have on my iPod.


This morning while shopping I was listening her "Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits" CD played this song a couple times - reflecting on the lyrics - and the meaning - well at least to me today.  


So take a few minutes to read the lyrics and then to Carly singing it.  Let me know what you think.
Cheers, Akindman


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-FOedJswHY

World Habitat Day

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day.

World Habitat Day 2011:

This year, Habitat for Humanity will engage in a series of special activities over six weeks to highlight the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter.

The activities will begin on World Habitat Day, Oct. 3, and will end in November with the 28th annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Haiti.

The three primary events are:

• World Habitat Day: Habitat organizations in every U.S. state and in more than 40 other countries around the world will organize local World Habitat Day events throughout October. Have your WHD event listed on Habitat.org.
• Build Hope, An Evening Honoring Humanitarian Leadership: An evening event with dinner, entertainment and remarks from special guests will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Washington, D.C. Build Hope will focus attention on World Habitat Day and will emphasize Habitat’s post disaster recovery work in Haiti. The event will also launch Habitat’s flagship annual event, the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. View the sponsorship opportunities.
• Habitat’s 28th Annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project: This event will be held in Haiti, Nov. 5-12, as the culmination of Habitat’s observance of World Habitat Day. Carter Work Project volunteers will build 100 earthquake-resistant homes in the city of Léogâne — considered to be the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake. Learn more about the 2011 JRCWP.

The purpose of World Habitat Day:

• To call attention to the current global state of the human habitat. To push toward adequate housing for all.
• To dismantle and alter the systems that reinforces and entrench poverty housing.
• To make an affordable, decent place to live a reality for all.

Mental Illness Awareness Week 2011

By Diane Forrest, RN

In November, 1848, East State Louisiana Mental Hospital was opened in Jackson Louisiana.  The patients were provided by the Charity hospital in New Orleans.  They arrived by steam boat down the Mississippi River, then transported to the hospital on an ox cart.  Some of the first residents included a 18 year old slave with a diagnosis of mania, a 75 year old French woman, name unknown, for senile and dementia, a 21 year old female with epilepsy, and a 5 year old little girl with a diagnosis of idiot.   This hospital was one of the first 10 opened in this country, and it is still in use today.  I am telling you this because this is Mental Illness Awareness Week.

While I was in nursing school, I was fortunate to do my psychiatric clinical at this hospital.  My classmates and I spent 4 weeks here, living on the grounds.  When we arrived, we were taken on a tour that included some of the original structures.  A picture of how this hospital looked in 1907 can be seen above.   They had rooms/cells in the basement for the criminally insane that would send chills down your spine.  The accommodations for the non-criminals were nearly as appalling.  Residents would be handcuffed to the beds at night and at times during the day.

While mental illness has been documented for centuries, the causes and treatments are still evolving. In the 19th century the terms used for mental illness included crazy, from the term cracked; lunacy, madness and psychosis.  People were placed in "madhouses", insane asylums, or the lunatic asylums.  Some people were kept in the family homes, locked away in attics or basements.  There was a real stigma associated with these patients, and their families.  This stigma is still noticeable today.

Treatment for these patients was also experimental.  Not only were they locked or chained to prevent them from escaping, they were also sterilized, given electroshock treatments, had lobotomies performed (a procedure that removes part of the brain believed to be the cause of the illness) and given lithium and during World War II, they were put to death by Hitler.

Following World War II development in the US of a new psychiatric manual for categorizing mental disorders, which along with existing systems for collecting census and hospital statistics led to the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) followed suit with a section on mental disorders.  This manual is still being used today, and it is constantly being updated, and expanded.

There are many different mental illnesses recognized today, these include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Eating disorders
• Impulse control and addiction disorders
• Personality disorders
• Adjustment disorders
• Dissociative disorders
• Factitious disorders
• Sexual and gender disorders
• Tic disorders
• Somatoform disorders
• Sleep related problems and many forms of dementia because they involve the brain.

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year. However, stigma surrounding mental illness is a major barrier that prevents people from seeking the mental health treatment that they need.  Programs during Mental Illness Awareness Week are designed to create community awareness and discussion in an effort to put an end to stigma and advocate for treatment and recovery.

For more information and for ways you can help, visit this website:  http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week

National Fried Scallop Day - Yum

By Diane Forrest,

Scallops are a sea creature that lives in a shell. They range in size from 2 inches to 5 inches and have the ability to swim and leap about by snapping their shells. They also snap their shells when their eyes sense a change of light or danger approaching. The muscle used for these activity is the only part of animal that is eaten.  They are like oysters, but they do not make pearls.

I am telling you this because today is National Fried Scallop Day, and if you are gonna fry some up, you might want to know what they are.  I am not an expert on this subject, in fact I can honestly say I have only had them once from a seafood buffet, and they didn't leave a memorable impression on  me.  After doing some research on the subject, I have found that the goodness is all in the way they are prepared.   In fact there were so many glowing reports about fried scallops, that I am gonna give them another try!  I found a quick and easy recipe for you to try, so if you have never tried them, today would be a great time to see what you have been missing.  If you are already a fan of scallops, then there is no better day than today to enjoy them again.  Like my mama always told me, You won't know if you like it if you never try it, so on National fried Scallop Day, try some for yourself to see if you will become a fan.

Fried Scallops

Ingredients:

• 2 cups scallops, cut to about 3/4-inch cubes if large
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons water
• fine dry bread crumbs

Preparation:

If scallops are large, cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Dry completely with paper toweling or clean towels. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and paprika. In another bowl, whisk eggs with water. Put bread crumbs in a third bowl. Dip scallops in the flour mixture, and then dip in egg, then in the bread crumbs. Fry in hot oil at about 370° until nicely browned, about 2 minutes.

Serves 6.

10/2 October is Talk about Prescriptions Month

By Diane Forrest, RN

"What time is it?" I would ask my dad.  He would answer" Why? You taking a pill?"  I said, "Yes".  He would reply, “What time is your next pill?"

I always had to work to get the time out of my father, and I can't tell you how many times we had that same conversation, but one thing is certain.  If you are taking medication, you must take it at the prescribed times.  October is Talk about Prescriptions Month, so today I would like to share with you a few rules about Medications.

First and foremost, only take medications that are prescribed for you.  Even if medications treat the same problem, they may work differently.  If you have an infection, and a friend offers you an antibiotic.  Don't take it, wait till you see or call your own doctor.

Take your medication at the prescribed time.  They have these doses for a reason.  This reason is very complicated, but in a nutshell, drugs have what is called a half-life.  What this means is the amount of time it takes for a drug to lose half of its effectiveness.  For example, you are prescribed a pain medication.  It is ordered to take one every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.  This medication will probably have its half- life in 6 hours, you will need to take another one if the pain is still present to keep the amount even in your body.  If you take the drug too soon, you will have too much in your body, and if you wait longer, it will take longer for the medication to work.  Your main objective is to keep an even amount of the medication in your bloodstream so it will be effective in relieving the problem.

Check all the rules for the medication.  There are so many different rules that come with each medication.  While some may not have any special directions, some include things like:

• Don’t take with another type of medication or certain type of liquid, like milk;
• Take on an empty or full stomach;
• Don't crush;
• Keep in the refrigerator;
• Keep out of sunlight;
• If you miss a dose, wait til the next scheduled time, do not take 2 at one time;
• Take first thing in the morning;
• Take at bedtime; and
• Take all the medication and Do not stop if you are feeling better.

There are many other rules.  These are in place to make sure the medication is working properly.  Some medications, if stopped suddenly can cause the body harm.  They are required to be tapered off.  Antibiotics, if stopped too soon, will allow the infection to return.

Side effects:

Always know what side effects are caused by your medication.  Some side effects are minor and can just be an inconvenience.  Others can be dangerous and life threatening and require immediate emergency treatment.  These days when you pick up your prescriptions at the drugstore, they will attach a sheet that covers all the special directions, and side effects, and precautions.  Make sure you are familiar with this information, and even if you have been taking the same medication for a long period of time, it is still a good idea to refresh your memory every now and then.

Other important information includes:

• Only take medications that are prescribed for you;
• Never share your medications with anyone;
• Check the expiration dates, and disposes of out of date medication; and
• Keep all medications away from children.

 Also talk with your primary physician about your medications, especially during your annual physical – to review the current medications that you’re own, and those you have been taking for an extended period of time. (Akindman)

World Veggie Day

By Diane Forrest, RN

While looking at my assignment sheet I see that today is World Veggie Day.  I was thrown for a loop.  Out of all the vegetables out there, how was I possibly gonna mention them all, or just pick only one to write about?  Luckily, its Vegetarian Day, so that makes it a little less complicated.  I mean I don’t have to focus on all or one vegetable, but more about a way of life.   This day is used to promote awareness of the issues, and encourages others to become vegetarians.

This day was established in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian society as a way to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.  It brings awareness to the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.

A vegetarian, by definition, eats no meat. That includes fish and other forms of seafood. Bottom line is, a vegetarian eats no animal. Their diet consists of plants....fruits and vegetables. They are ethically and morally opposed to killing animals for food. They are also against poor treatment of animals at farms ad slaughterhouses.

As a nurse, I can say that vegetables and fruits are very nutritious and healthy for you, however the body also needs protein.  Protein can be found in meat, chicken fish, as well as dairy, eggs, nuts and legumes (beans).

Your body needs protein for nearly everything it does. Protein is needed to build and repair our muscles, to make our hair and skin, to fight against infections and to carry oxygen in our blood. Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. There are about twenty different amino acids, and your body can actually make some of them. There are nine amino acids, however, that your body can't make. These are called essential amino acids and the only way to get them is through the food you eat. It's important to eat a variety of protein foods every day to make sure your body gets all of the essential amino acids.

However, today since it is World Vegetarian day,  try a vegetarian diet. You might just be surprised at how good it tastes, too.

Here is a quick and easy vegetable soup recipe for you to try today:

Ingredients

• 1 pkg (16 oz each) frozen pasta & vegetable blend in garlic sauce
• 1 can (14.5 oz each) Hunt's® Diced Tomatoes, undrained
• 2 cans (14 oz each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

Directions

1. Combine pasta and vegetable blend, undrained tomatoes and broth in medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer until hot, stirring occasionally.

Seeing as fruits and vegetables are very healthy for you, World Vegetarian Day is a good day to try a vegetarian diet. You might just be surprised at how good it tastes, too.