Lacrosse

An annual Memorial Day weekend event - the NCAA Lacrosse championship game!

Each year as lacrosse season begins, my husband, an alumni and former lacrosse player for Johns Hopkins University himself, watches as his former alma mater battles toward the Memorial Day championship game. This year, after a slow start, the JHU team came alive and weaved their way through the season. But first I must explain the season as it went.

Since Johns Hopkins is in Maryland and we live on the West coast we don't have access to the games on TV. Ever the avid fan, my husband found an ingenious way to get all the scoop. Each week, he would tune into an internet station to listen to the play by play action. It is addicting to listen to the announcer call out the movements, gains, goals and penalties.

As Johns Hopkins' season gained momentum, my husband had visions of another championship to match the one in the '05 season, for which he proudly dons his t-shirts. Now that the shirt is ready to be retired for wear, it's time the team won another championship game. Week after week we would listen as the team won or lost their game. My husband's 30 year college reunion gave him an opportunity to see a game first hand and another win.

Hopes were alive as the team played on through the season. Then, as other teams in the conference gained their wins and losses, Johns Hopkings University made it into the Championship playoffs. Through the driving rain, Hopkins pulled through game one. Next game, again Hopkins pulled through. Now down to the final four, Hopkins is set to play Delaware, a fairly new team on the final road to the championship, while Duke was faced with Cornell two well known teams with winning records.

All weekend the tension was high as we watched Hopkins run, score, and win their way into the championship game. They beat Delaware and were on their way to the last game. Duke and Cornell had a nail biter of a game when Cornell came from behind to tie the game in the last seconds. Then, by shooting a hail mary, Duke scored with 3 seconds left in the game to win the game and their chance at the Championship title.

Going into the game on Monday, Duke was favored to win in more ways than one. After a year of scorn and negative publicity when 3 teams members were accused of rape, Duke was coming back. The men had been falsely accused and the team was back with a vengence. They were out to win and they were in the position to do so. All the sports announcers had their bets on Duke.

The game began with Hopkins scoring in the first seconds. Everyone was surprised, especially my husband. JHU went on to score 6 goals, totally shutting out Duke until the 2nd quarter. At the half, Johns Hopkins was ahead. Not long after the 2nd half of the game began, Hopkins is in with another goal but that was to be the last as Duke came back, one after another, stealing away Hopkins' lead. As the game teetertottered, Hopkins was 1 goal away from the championship title when Duke scored to tie the game. Nail biting it was because overtime meant more play until the first team scored. With 3 minutes left in the game, Hopkins scored the tie breaking goal! Now to keep that lead would take a lot of team effort. The Hopkins goalie was playing the last game of his career and he had saved many attempts by Duke to score. Could he do it for 3 more minutes? Other teammates needed to keep the Duke big scoring players away from the goal but 3 minutes is an eternity in game play.

Last several seconds and Duke attempts a goal, SAVED! Again another another attempt......
SAVED! As the final seconds ticked down......Hopkins held on to the lead and went on to win the championship game.

Another National Championship title for Johns Hopkins University. Now I write this for two reasons. Of course we love lacrosse here but also because the newspapers and sports shows merely made mention about Hopkins and focused all the attention on Duke. It was as if Hopkins had done the worst thing possible by winning the game. Now I ask you, because Duke went through the horrific year they did was that the reason Hopkins didn't deserve to win. I didn't know a team should win out of sympathy. If that were the case , then Duke should have won without playing the game. Truly, Hopkins played the game just like Duke did and they both played a great game. The fact that Duke overcame many obstacles through the year in light of the accusations against the former players is a testament to true sportsmanship. However, does that mean that the Hopkins players are any less sportsman? Does it mean that Hopkins doesn't have players who would go above and beyond for their teammates and school?

I only want those who do the job to get what they deserve - recognition for achievements well done. So a big huge cheer for Johns Hopkins University's Lacrosse team of 2007! They deserve some recognition for winning as the underdog!

Mother's Day

I read this yesterday and thought of sharing it with all of you as you think of your own mom. I lost my mom over 2 years ago and this is the first time I have been comforted by thinking of her and remembering her. Now as I reflect or as I am reminded of her, perhaps because I make a dish she taught me, think of a quote of hers, or do something just like she once did, I can see that she is right there with me. Instead of loss, I can feel comfort and actually feel her. Now I have something to look forward to from her everyday! What a positive perspective!
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Your Mother is always with you.

She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; She’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you picked and perfume that she wore; she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well.

She’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day.

She’s the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the color of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every tear drop.

A mother shows every emotion….

Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow…and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.

She’s the place you came from, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space…not even death!

“The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched; they must be felt with the heart.” ~ Helen Keller

Spring Swing

Ok, I have a question for you - be honest - when was the last time you rode on a swing? You know the kind at the park. Well, if it's been awhile, you have to go and give it a try.

Today, my daughter and I took my grandson to the park. After he climbed on the ladders and slid down the slides, ran over the bridges and jumped off the steps, we made our way to the swings. Of course, I immediately started pushing him on the swing. He loved it and wanted to 'go fast'. He loved it and laughed as we talked about all the things he could see now that he was so high up 'in the sky'. Then he asked if he could ride with me. He giggled as he leaned back on me and we looked up to the sky as we moved back and forth.

Now for the big deal! He wanted me to ride alone! Me! The nona - yes a little bit of time has definitely transpired since I last rode a swing alone. Ok, I'd love it! So off I went, higher, higher and higher! It was so much fun. Addicting I would say! Once you start you really don't want to stop. It's such a free feeling and not much work needed. It was having a great time and so was my grandson.

Then it was his moms turn. I pushed her and she laughed so hard as she was riding higher and higher. We both forgot how much fun it is! Remember that little tickle in your stomach when you were swinging? It was there!

Another great day at the park with me being a 'kid' again. All this time, I have always thought I still had that little bit of a kid inside and today was definite proof. So I challenge you to and ride a swing and see what you think. Have a blast!

Here comes the sun

Finally - it's here and we hardly knew what it was at first. Let me start at the beginning. We live in Seattle where it rains or it sprinkles or it mists - A LOT! This can go on for months and months at a time. If it's not raining or snowing or sleeting or whatever, it is very gray. Of course, there are different shades of gray but to me, gray is gray. Now, this type of weather is expected for a majority of the year, about 7 months to be exact. This winter was especially rainy with record rainfall and flooding. Believe it or not, we actually have less annual rainfall than people on the east coast but we do have those misty days or whatever you want to call them.

Now it's May and we get the tease. Yes, every spring, we get this tease of days that are bright with that unfamiliar thing in the sky. We can finally go outside and see this thing and it actually feels warm. Of course, it's the sun but to those of us in Seattle, it is a true wonder of the universe since we don't see it for 7 or more months in a row. The tease is that we get a couple of days in a row with this beautiful sunshine and vivid blue skies and then BOOM! Out of nowhere we are back to winter weather with rain, and wind and cold. I kid you not. Our summer doesn't actually begin until after the 4th of July. Most areas of the country are sweltering at this point and we sit up here all bundled up waiting for the fireworks.

So "here comes the sun". But for how long we don't know. Meanwhile, I'm going out to enjoy it with a little planting and swinging. I'll let you know when summer is here for good. In the meantime, stay happy and enjoy the sun wherever you are!

Make it a green sweep this spring
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It's a whole new world of non-toxic clean for this gone-eco reporter

By Barbara Mahany
Tribune staff reporter

April 15, 2007

Excuse me while I finish something here -- gurgle, slurp, kerplunk. That noise in the background? The sound of me dumping out my old toxic cleaning caddy.

I am here to tell you, I am born again. At least at the well-scrubbed altar of cleaning green, I am.

Now waking up to parsley scent in my salle de bain. Rubbing windows shiny with eau de vinegar, or, perhaps, purified H2O laced with essential lavender oil. Rinsing toilet bowl, should you care to peek in there, with coconut-derived surfactant in natural cedar scent.

But not a toxin do I own.

Not anymore anyways, and not anywhere in the vicinity of my cleaning shelf. I am, I swear on a stack of holy books, deeply steeped in keeping my clean green.

I once was in the dark, but now I've seen the streak-free, smudge-proof, dust-swiped light.

I once had wronged, but now I'm free. Free of 2-butoxyethanol, free of n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, free of hydrocarbon propellant, for crying out loud.

There's a maxim in the world of cleaning green, and it is this: If you can't pronounce what's in it, toss it out.

So toss I did.

At first, this was just another story, this cleaning green. And I'll be honest, not long after I started, my head was spinning. You quickly come to find out that in the world of so-called eco-cleaning, there's a whole slew of terms that frankly are more than somewhat slippery. What really defines green? Or natural?

Is it biodegradable? Plant-based? Sustainable? Organic?

Turns out, there's no one keeping watch on how these words are being used. Unlike organic food, which now comes under the certification of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are no federal or industry standards for household cleaning products claiming to be "green." Rather than muddy the waters, and slinging dirt on companies who contend they're doing the right thing, I will simply fill you in on the cleaners I now count on, to get the job done, get it done sparklingly, and to preserve the planet while doing so. (We'll save what to do about laundry another day, another story.)


What you were afraid to ask

Before we turn to my reborn cleaning ways, I need to let you in on a few spine-chilling facts I turned up in talking to chemists and environmental engineers, some of whom are independent academic researchers, others in-house eco-gurus at respected green-cleaner firms.

The bottom line, before we get into details, is that you have every reason to be worried about the toxins you bring into your home, via your cleaning caddy.

William Nazaroff, professor of environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, led a four-year, $400,000 study looking at what he calls "the pollution sources right under our nose."

Considered the first, most comprehensive study to measure emissions and primary and secondary toxic compounds under typical indoor-use conditions, the Berkeley analysis, published just last May, found two serious causes for concern.

Looking at 17 cleaning products and four air fresheners, the researchers found that, under normal conditions, six of the cleaning products emitted a toxic compound, ethyl-based glycols, at levels up to three times higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would allow for outdoor pollution standards. Glycol ethers, widely used as solvents, are considered by the EPA to be "hazardous air pollutants."

And 12 of the tested cleaning products contain a class of chemicals known as terpenes -- again often used as solvents, but more frequently as the citrus-based scent in so many cleaning products -- that rapidly reacts with ozone, producing harmful byproducts such as formaldehyde and small-particle pollutants that no lungs need inhale. Nazaroff points out that ozone can seep into buildings through ventilation, or even just an open window.

The worst scenario, explained Nazaroff in a recent telephone interview, is when you clean a large surface in a small, say, bathroom, and spend up to 15 minutes scrubbing, say, scale off the shower walls. It is particularly troublesome for anyone who cleans four houses a day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year, he adds. That means that if you employ a cleaning service, the ones who scour your shower might be inhaling truly hazardous fumes, at three times the amount that would be allowed to spew from a factory.

The damage wrought by the cans and bottles that hide in the underbelly of your kitchen sink might be anything from nausea to kidney, liver or blood dysfunction to pediatric cancer to diminished sperm count, said Nazaroff, who is not an epidemiologist but thoroughly reviewed published studies linking toxic compounds to a host of health concerns.

A 15-year study in Oregon, presented at a recent National Center for Health Statistics conference, looked at death rates from cancer in women who worked in the home versus women who left their homes for work each day. Researchers found a 54 percent higher death rate from cancer in the women who stayed home; the study strongly suggested household cleaning toxins as key culprits.

Anecdotally, it seems that every week I hear news of someone else with cancer -- often someones who don't smoke, and try to live a healthy life. I find myself scratching my head, wondering what unknown substance is wreaking all this hell. And, as if I needed further motivation to clean up my cleaning act, I already have one son with asthma and I fear for the other.


But how does green clean?

I'm telling you I dove into my spring cleaning with a vengeance. The burning selfish question, the one most everybody asks: What's the point of cleaning green if my house no longer sparkles?

I am here to tell you, my house is sparkling. To tell the truth, the window panes are sighing, so worn out from all the rubbing.

I spent weeks collecting cleaners claiming to be green. I checked what's called Material Safety Data Sheets -- MSDS, for short -- on most of the products, which is really the only way to know what's in the stuff you spray, you squirt, you pour.

I followed the green-clean maxim: If my tongue got twisted trying to read ingredients, I tossed.

And, yes, I started out as kitchen chemist. Gathered vinegar and lemons, baking soda, Borax and pitchers full of water. I stood there with my funnel and my measuring cups. I poured, I spilled, I read the teeny half-cup marker lines. And then, not long after, I surrendered.

You might get your kicks stirring your own stuff. Dropping essential oil to make it smell all yummy. Indeed, if you care to mix it up, there are many Web sites rife with recipes. One you might check out is www.biggreenpurse. com (see a few of their recipes in an accompanying story).

But I'm a low-grade cleaner, I suppose. I've been seduced and I've succumbed. I go for nifty premixed bottles by companies I truly think I can trust.

One fascinating wrinkle in all this cleaning whirl, is that the good folks at Whole Foods seem to be among the toughest in setting green-clean standards. If it's on their shelf, you can safely assume they've done the dirty work already and consider it mighty green.

"That's what our cleaning aisle is all about," says Will Betts, Whole Foods' Midwest regional grocery coordinator. "You don't need to do the legwork to do your housecleaning. Our standards are certainly stricter than the standards at all the conventional markets."

Biodegradability, he says, is standard No. 1.

But even that, counters environmental engineer Nazaroff, is a claim with not much meaning. "It tells me that it won't be there for 100 years. It's not going to be bio-accumulating in fields in the Arctic, but it really doesn't tell us anything."

What's needed in this country, he says, is a complete U-turn in how we look at how we clean. "The rule in the U.S. is that chemicals are innocent until proven guilty. Europeans have flipped that. The idea there is that before [a chemical] can be introduced, it has to be demonstrated safe."

Not one to wait, I read my labels, called around with laundry lists of questions, cleaned like crazy and, at last, restocked my caddy.


The price of green

Oh, one other thing, one thing you really might be wondering: cost. What's the wallop on your wallet? Depending where you shop, you might spend anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent more on cleaning green, per bottle. But here's my take: On the one hand, toxins that lead to God only knows what dangers; on the other hand, a few bucks.

I'm no clean freak, and I'm no slouch. I'd say I'd buy two, maybe three, bottles of all-purpose cleaner per year, the way it lasts. So, for the price of some grande triple mocha something, I can save the Earth and make my counter sparkle. A deal I am proud to call my own.

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My personal comments:
I totally agree with this author or else I wouldn't give her the space on my blog. One thing I don't agree with is the price of the products. I happen to know of a great company that manufactures green and clean products for your home and family. If you would like more info please send me an e-mail or go to my website and fill out the get more info. The company has over 400 products that you use on a regular basis and it won't break the bank. Actually, price comparisons show that they are more cost effective than the leading brands and as or more effective than those purchased in your local health store.
Thanks for reading!

Time to take notice - it's about your health!

(Passing this on....check it out!)

It's about a medication that is familiar to many of us. Note also the FDA 's comments at the end of the message. Received this information from someone who recently lost their mother to one of these medications.
Apparently, this was caused by a medication that is deadly. Here are the details.
Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

I would like to thank those of you who expressed condolences on the recent passing of my mother. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was driving home from my house on 7/30 and passed away on 8/3. My mother's stroke and passing was an enormous shock to my family because she did not have any symptoms or risk factors for a stroke. Just the week before she had gone to her doctor for a check up and received a clean bill of health. She did, however, develop a cold while she was visiting me and had taken Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. Since her passing, we have learned that Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which can cause hemorrhagic stokes or cerebral bleeding even with the first use. I am forwarding a list of other medications that currently use PPA. These medicines are supposedly being recalled but my mother just purchased this medication less than two weeks ago. Pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years, we unfortunately, did not.

I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these medications. All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are dangerous. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:
Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or or ange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion

Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
3D Cold & Cough Berry
3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children,

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa

Unpredictable

There are always days that I think about what I am going to blog about, yet I don't quite get 'around to it'. Since my last post, so much has transpired. It's still a fresh memory so why not continue to blog about it.

Hawaii - February 21, 2007

It's difficult to imagine that the ocean is a playground that we share with so many others, not necessarily of the human species. Of course, the first would be fish. Everyone thinks of the fish in the ocean. And then the sharks that we are reminded of each summer as we hear yet another attack story. But what about those magnificant whales! What a playground they have made of the sea! Watching this is so awe inspiring.

Each time we visit Hawaii, we purposely plan our trip in February/March - the most opportune time to see the Orca whales at play. The warm Hawaiian waters are the breeding grounds for Orcas. But the playful nature of this great mammal is something to behold! As I was sitting on the beach with my binoculars, I could see fins and tails, flipping and flapping, splashing and spraying out in the waters. A young Orca was playing with its momma. The scenario is one that any mom would appreciate. The youngster would flap and flip, over and over. Occasionally you could see the mother Orca slap her fin but the playful encounter had fun written all over it. It makes you giggle just watching. As the scene plays out for more than a half an hour, the young Orca never seems to tire. Oh the energy of youth! How much do our lives parallel these wonders of the sea. Their playground is so immense!

What a delight to observe nature at play. What a blessing to be able to participate in it all!

Remembering

This is a traditional Hopi prayer written for those who have passed from the world as we know it.

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints of snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumns rain.

When you awake in the morining's hush,
I am the swift unlifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.

This prayer is in honor of two beautiful people who have left this world as we know it. My brother left on Dec. 17th and my dear friend Beth, left on Feb 17th. These two people left such different legacies in their lives but they both left with thoughts that will last forever. Over the next few days, my blog will be focusing on these thoughts and feelings. Blessings to all.

Valentine's Day

Today is the day that everyone expresses the thoughts and feelings they have for others. Why is it that Valentine's Day is set aside for that sentiment? Is this a reminder to us that we should be doing this everyday? or Is this the one day that people can express it without feeling silly? As I researched the history of Valentine's Day, I came across some interesting information about the events that took place before the 4th century. I prefer to begin there.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

After spending the day with my two favorite Valentine's, my husband and grandson, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love and happiness to follow throughout the year.

Global Warming

Laurie David, the Force Behind the Solution
We all need a source for inspiration, fortunately I've found one. It's Laurie David's new book "Stop Global Warming, The Solution is You!". That book just brings it home for me. Laurie David is truly my eco-hero (sorry Al Gore!). ...doesn't look like she lives in hemp and on granola (not that those are bad things of course!). Click on the link below for a 10 minute PBS interview where she talks about fighting the good fight - truly inspiring!
PBS Interview with Laurie David