Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Gulf of Mexico oil spill: How bad is it? - CSMonitor.com

We have people saying 'Drill Baby Drill' and here is a huge catastrophe hitting our Gulf coast. It can be seen from space and is currently about 600 miles around. The oil spill in Valdez, AK still has consequences after 20+ years. At first the oil company didn't there was a leak and then discovered it was indeed leaking. There is a valve that is supposed to activate to shut off the leak and it didn't activate. Now remotely operated vehicles (ROV) have been deployed to try and get that shutoff valve to work and stop the flow. Burning off the oil is being considered. This appears to be a very strange leak that is not reacting as the oil company is used to, like a rebelling child. Murphy's Law is in effect here.

Does this mean there should be more maintenance, more oversight, more testing, more emergency response test runs, old wells replaced with newer equipment, or....??

In any case, consequences for birds and marine life could be huge even though right now this oil slick is not as large as Valdez. If BP and all the agencies assisting them can't get it shut off, it could continue to grow. The currents will carry the oil slick toward land - then shorebirds will become covered in the oil - then they will die. Even with numerous ecology groups cleaning the birds and the gooey mess from the shore, it will be a disaster.

Of course some will say the ocean will cleanse itself, there are ups and downs in nature.........but when man interferes, the consequences are always larger and skewed. 

How about exploration for alternative fuels instead of more oil exploration?  We need creativity, thinking outside the box: electricity, microwave technology, microchips, lasers, satellites, etc. were innovations - we need that "100th Monkey" awareness and breakthrough with the oil and energy companies.

Adopted Pets Are The Best!

When Ava, my 21 year old cat died, it didn't take me long to want another cat.  Our dog had also died but it took longer to be OK with getting another dog.  I guess Ava had been around with me so long that when we had to humanely help her transition, she took all of her presence with her.  I needed a feline companion and kind of wanted to 2 cats this time.  I've had cats and dogs all my life.  I guess I am more of a cat person ('cause I'm a LEO?). 

My intuition told me to stop at the vet's.  Don't know why - they didn't adopt pets or sell them.  When I walked in the door, I knew why the little voice had guided me there.  On the counter was a picture of the most magnificent cat and a non-profit organization was adopting him out. He was in a 'foster' home.  I called the number and they set up a meet and greet. 

The cat was creamy orange, with Paul Newman blue eyes and Angora fur.  He was gorgeous.  He looks like Aslan in the Narnia film, with a large mane.  He had been somewhat abused and had 3-4 pins in his paw from surgery needed due to an untreated injury by the previous owners.   I took him home for a try and he hid under the bed because of the dogs we had already adopted (another story).  After a few days he came out and decided he would stay with us.  Now Simba runs the house, just like a king should.  We didn't change his name because Simba suited him and he had that name for 3 years.  A few weeks later I picked up Miles (renamed Miles from 'Tiger') and brought him home.  Miles was a stray and the same organization had him.  Miles is a much larger version of the old Ava, a brown tabby and looks like a cougar.   Miles is my protector.  He slapped Simba around when Simba was hissing at me right after I brought Miles home.  He basically let Simba know that good manners must be observed in the adopted household!  He also lets us know by hissing and growling if there is something outside the bedroom window (another cat? a raccoon? we never have seen what it is).  2 male cats who never knew each other and are fast friends - it's great to watch. 

They play rough, tumbling around, pouncing and swiping at each other.  Older and street wise (he was an outdoor cat), Miles tires of Simba chasing him and turns into Bruce Lee.  Simba is larger, but is the "student" and Miles is the Kung Fu master.  Simba is mischievous, getting into everything and going wherever he wants - he opens cupboards, tests his jumping skills, takes anything new as his own.........Miles is more reserved and nervous, especially when my husband is around. 

All 4 of our adopted pets get along - no issues or messes in the house. Simba loves the dogs!  (The Aussie mix Mariah doesn't like it when Simba gets too close).  Ruby, the Akita/Ridgeback mix allows Simba to rub on her and snuggle.  It's a great happy home, much of it due to the magnanimous nature of Simba and Ruby.    Our crazy zoo of adopted animals

- each with his or her own quirks or issues.

Non Profit Fund Raising with Shaklee

Shaklee guarantees the unconditional safety of its products and has supported environmental causes, Olympic Gold Medalists and was the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment. Of Time Life book’s 25 Greatest Adventures of All Time, seven were powered by Shaklee.  People want their purchases to count towards making a difference and now Shaklee has created a way to help non-profits, based on a simple concept called “Cause Marketing.”  Non profits can partner with Shaklee distributors to create a stream of income for their cause.  http://images.shaklee.com/library/shakleefundraising_041610.pdf

- Independent Shaklee Distributor

How Arnica Worked For Me

Years ago we were in a Bed and Breakfast in France.  Having taken 8 years of French in school, it was coming back to me nicely and I was acting as interpreter for my husband - sometimes well and sometimes with poor grammar. 

One morning we were speaking to the owner of the B&B in her office.  The room was one step up from the 'sunken' breakfast/dining area.  I stepped back, and, being close to the edge of this room's floor, I stepped backward and harshly down into the breakfast room, fell, and twisted my ankle.  Europe doesn't post all the warning signs that America does.  I had not taken note mentally to be careful at this exact location in the home we were staying.  It was my fault.  The owner was upset but not as upset as an American would be (probably because lawsuits don't happen there like in U.S.?). 

This was not just any twisted ankle.  Ice was brought and my husband helped me hobble back to our private room.  Then I let loose with my pain, extreme (!) - away from everyone but my husband.  The ankle swelled to twice its size and I was worried about the rest of our vacation.  We continued icing it and the next day went to the Pharmacie.  I was familiar with ARNICA's use for bruises and tried to explain that is what I wanted.  The staff didn't understand until I showed them my ankle and somehow imparted the quest for a product to help with bruising (contusions to them).  Arnica appeared.  It worked magic on my ankle.  I am certain that the Arnica we purchased there is stronger than what you can get in the U.S. health food stores but it is something I keep in my herbal "medicine cabinet" along with myrhh (will write about that in a later blog).
(I am not offering medical advice, just a personal experience.)

We’re not getting any younger - Progressive ideas needed to help aging population | Regional Voices - The News Tribune

The link below is to my local newspaper's article on aging. When I was young some people on the outskirts of my circle had grandmothers living with them. It seemed odd to me at the time because the kid my age had to take orders from both the mom and the grandmom. Mothers hung clothes on the outdoor clotheslines and talked across the fence (if there was a fence, it was not the norm then). Now elderly people are many times quite spry so their families forget they have been on this Earth as long as they have. They might not visit as often or offer help because they don't see the person's age or deny it in their own mind.

There are assisted living centers, and centers where one can rent a small apartment (very small) and have one meal a day or more. Long term health insurance came into being, became popular and now is considered more essential. The authors here pose questions about having multigenerational neighborhoods where everyone helps and cares for each other.

I think it's a good idea to look upon the elders of the community as a resource of wisdom and knowledge, having broad experience from one generation to another. The elders have seen many changes in their lifetimes and can contribute in ways that the younger generations may not have yet imagined. Just as visits to nursing homes with a pet or a child can cheer up the nursing home resident, so can an elder share time, fun, or stories with younger people and out of these experiences could come new innovations just from a conversation.

We’re not getting any younger Progressive ideas needed to help aging population Regional Voices - The News Tribune

How to Conduct a Home Fire Drill - wikiHow

I came across this article and want to share it because it is so important! 
How to Conduct a Home Fire Drill - wikiHow

Killer fungus seen in Pacific Northwest

In the past few years a fungus, Cryptococcus gattii (or C. gattii), has infected humans and animal, including cats, dogs, and dolphins, in Washington and Oregon .  It appears there is now a new strain that can cause respiratory illnesses in normally healthy people.  It is said that people do not need to worry about this becoming an epidemic or even a common condition.  It's good to know about it though.  A strong immue system is important to fight off everyday germs but even more important to fight off something unexpected that can hit you - ecoli, C. gatti, swine flu, etc.
       Here's a link to the article on C.gattii: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/22/killer.fungus.pacific.northwest/

     Recommend you take an immune builder such as Shaklee's Nutriferon which boosts the body's natural interferon.  Its 4 plant extracts are shown in studies to boost the immune system.  Two caplets contains 500 mg of a patented, proprietary 2:1 powdered botanical extract derived from the flowers of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), the seeds of pumpkin (Curcurbita moschata), and Asian plantain (Plantago asiatica).

 http://www.physicians.shaklee.com/displayContent.htm?fileName=nutriFeronPDR.xml§ionName=shakProdInfo