Hyper-Holidays

Ahhh, the holidays. A time to remember others, to be thankful for what we have and to promote peace and love for our fellow man.


Yee-ah, right!

If all of that is the object of the holidays, can someone explain, please, the "Day After"?  You know, the "Day After" is when every store in the entire world suddenly must have a sale of gi-normous proportions. A One-Day-Only, 10-50% off sale with an extra 20% off that if you have the coupon in the flyer from your local paper.

The same paper your neighbor stole because she's too cheap to buy her own so she hid in your bushes and waited 'til the paper boy let fly then, making a dive Greg Loughainis would've been proud of, she snatched it from mid-air and scuttled back to her house, slamming her door and thereby robbing you of that extra 20% off the 50% off sale!

Yep, love for our fellow man just permeates the air.

Personally, I blame the department stores.  They are so bent on getting more sales than their rivals that they've turned the holidays into a huge competition.  A rather fierce one, at that. Why, just the other day in our mall, as I was resting my weary, sale-battered body, I witnessed a horrific sight.

A man who had obviously finished his shopping early was innocently walking past a JC Penney store when, like one of those trap-door spiders you see on the Discovery Channel, a store worker leapt from behind a rack of 10% off Christmas sweaters. Knocking the poor, confused man down, she proceeded to drag her stunned victim toward a 75% off Summer-wear rack. The mans' terrified wails for help echoed from the walls, unheeded by the dedicated Safari Bargain Hunters around him.

Now, I ask you, is there a more horrendous sight than that of a man who's gotten all his shopping done...early!?

As for the stores, they push the holidays earlier every year, urging the consumer to buy now, hinting that waiting will not only be detrimental to the pocket book but that (horrors) there might not be anything left to purchase at some later date. A terrifying thought that can bring the strongest woman to her knees.

Now, I don't mind a little hard selling, it's the basis of free commerce. I do tend to get a little testy, though, when they're promoting Thanksgiving and Christmas at Easter time. I suppose it is easier to just leave the decorations up year round. I mean, all that fuss to take them down and pack them carefully away when they're going right back up in only three months? Really!

And what about us? Some of you people start stringing lights and setting out Santa, Frosty and Nativities almost before Halloween. If the Christmas tree were available, you would have it up November 1st. As it is, the tree gets left up 'til it's so dry that the Fire Department declares your living room a national fire hazard and brings in a back hoe to dig a fire-break around your home.

And, I'm sorry, but people who leave Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations up in their yards until July need to be smacked and forced to stand on their front lawns flapping and hooting like owls (well, the police tend to frown on tar-n-feathering).

I suppose my point of view regarding the holidays is slightly warped, but one can only take so many repeats of Burl Ives singing "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" before turning psychotic. I think that, this year, humanity should slow down, take a deep breath and attempt to focus on what the holidays are really all about.

Uh... does anyone remember what that is?

© Copyright 2003 Pam Sears (UN: condorsfan at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

Stop The Madness, Part II

So, I went and got my hair cut a few weeks ago, along with a deep moisturizing treatment.  My hair dresser, a younger woman, had already been told I was planning to grow my gray out. I was pretty sure she was going to try to talk me out of it when I got there.  I was right.  But, I didn't really give her the chance.  Knowing she's a good sport and has a really sweet and helpful personality, I simply told her "The decision's already been made. I'm going to grow out my gray.  You only get to be supportive about it."  She laughed and agreed (and later told me she loved my "you have to be supportive" speech).  So, she washed my hair first, took a good hunk off the ends to get rid of the dead parts, then put a hair mask by Enjoy Hair Care on my hair and stuck me under the dryer.

Now, I bought a book called "Going Gray, Looking Great" by Diana Jewell and it's got all sorts of wonderful tips and suggestions for your hair, your skin, your clothes, your makeup.... everything that's needed for a woman with a full head of silver.  I had shown it to my hair dresser, but was reading it as I waited for my hair mask treatment to finish.  When it was done and I was back in her chair she said "Oh! My friend wanted to see your book. This is the book I was telling you about!(to her friend/co-worker)" and pointed to my GGLG book. Asking permission, her friend picked it up and thumbed through it to the part where it talks about what hair dressers can do to assist silver ladies in keeping the shine and good look to their hair.  Apparently these two had already had a few Silvers come in and ask for this sort of treatment but they neither of them had any idea what to do.  Well, now they do!  They can buy this WONderful book and study what the Minardi's of Minardi Hair Salon in New York have to teach them!  The girls were quite excited by this (and so was I since MY hair is on it's way to silver.... I hope it's silver!)

Anyway, I love my new cut but I'm a little bummed because with the weight being off the ends, my hair has "lifted" a bit and the new-growth silver is once more in hiding.  But, that's okay. My hair dresser and I have agreed to keep it this length and I'll be getting a deep moisturizing treatment about once a month (or so... as finances allow) to keep it healthy while it transitions to silver.  Now that I know she's in my corner, and willing to learn all she can to keep it looking it's silvery best, I'm secure and happy to keep going to  her.  It's always best to have a hair dresser you can trust who also WANTS to learn new hair therapy and treatments!

 Anyway, I've taken so long to update my blog (sorry, folks!) that my hair's grown and it's time for another trim. I'm thinking of going even shorter this time, we'll see what my hairstylist says. I'll try to update the blog sooner, this time. Especially because my silver/gray/pewter/mist(?which?) is starting to show more!  Yes, it can actually be seen! Woo HOO!
(more to come!)

Perfect Imperfections

My friend, Scasmflop, came to me a little while back and asked me to employ my creative jewelry making abilities to help her with a gift for some new friends she was going to meet for the first time.  You see, they were a group of mothers who had something in common, a difficulty not many women (or men) are called upon to deal with.  They're all parents to a child with Spina Bifida and they've been supporting one another on-line for ..... well  .... quite a while now.  They were meeting for the first time since their separate yet similar journeys began and Scasmflop wanted to make it as special and meaningful as possible.

And that's where I came in.  She told me she wanted a necklace that would represent Spina Bifida, with a Remembrance Ribbon as a dangle attached.  As if God leaned over and whispered in my ear, the name for the necklaces came to mind... Perfect Imperfections.

These women are raising children gifted to them by God, yet they are children a number of people in the world would see as useless or not worth the effort it will take to give them a good life.  During Hitler's reign, these children would have been killed at birth and their mothers told they were stillborn or had died of complications.  They were imperfect humans.  But, that's not how God sees them and He has given these gifts to parents who see what God does. 

The necklaces were long chains with yellow agates to represent the Remembrance Ribbon for Spina Bifida, except for the main bead.  It was red with a discolored stripe through it....  the "Imperfection", if you will.  The ribbon dangles from the end of a bent wire that goes across the face of the stone, representative of the difficulties of their journey through life.  I'm told the ladies loved them, but judge for yourselves!





I did one other thing, I wrote a couple things to go with these necklaces. One, Scasmflop knows about, the other she doesn't.  They're both called "Perfect Imperfections".  Here's the one she knows:

PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS

Man says "They're broken, throw them away."
God says "I can use them, give them to me."
Man says "What can they do? They're useless."
God says "What can't they do? I will use them!"
Man says "Don't bother, they're imperfect!"
God says "for my strength is made perfect in [their imperfections]."
   "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my [imperfections], that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
II Corinthians 12:9

.....  and this is the one Scasmflop doesn't know about, but I hope she'll still like:

Perfect Imperfections

God gave me a gift from His mercy and grace,
A new life to add to this great human race.

But to this great gift He added a string
And when I was told I tho't "What can it mean?

"Why did God ask you this burden to bear?
And why did He think I could handle your care?"

So heavy my heart, so frightened my mind,
The way out of fear I just couldn't find.

For Satan would whisper "Your failure is set.
"The needs of your child will never be met."

I cried out to God for His great healing touch.
"Let my child be whole, I'm not asking too much."

I felt my God's love as He cradled my heart
And He told me my child, in His plan, had a part.

His plan for my child means he comes with a flaw
But others to God, with his life, he will draw.

It's not sin in my life or God's lack of love
That caused imperfection in my gift from above.

God's strength is made great in our weakness of life.
Imperfections made perfect when backed by His might.

He can use for His glory the imperfect and flawed.
All it takes is surrender to the mercy of God.


We are all imperfect sinners in God's sight. Only by His mercy, and acceptance of the Gift of His Son, are we made Perfect, indeed.

Stop The Madness

Okay... I have faced a choice, reached that fork in the road, stood at the edge of that cliff and wondered if I should step off into the unknown....

No, I'm not talking about love.  I have made.... a decision!

I am going to stop coloring my hair, let it grow, and see what God and genetics have bequeathed me!  Yes, my dears, I am growing gray!

Oh, I can hear you now, I've heard much the same already from my mother and Bunso...  "It'll make you look old if you go gray!"  "You're already fair skinned, this'll just make you look more washed out!"  "You won't like it! You'll be begging your hair stylist for an appointment before you grow two inches!"  "You'll never get a guy to look at you twice if you look all gray and old!"

Well, let me answer these attempts to make me "see the light": 1) no, I don't believe it will make me look old, OR washed out. Just because I choose to let my gray/silver/pewter (?) grow out is no guarantee I'll look old.  I found  a web-site where women who have chosen to eschew dye and "go natural" call themselves "Silver Sisters" and encourage one another to explore their natural beauty.  There are tips and ideas for transitioning from color/dyed hair to natural gray and even suggestions for make up and how to keep those lucious locks lush! If you're curious, it's called "Going Gray Looking Great" and you can find it at http://www.goinggraylookinggreat.com/ where you'll find shots of women who are simply beautiful, and even more youthful looking, once they've grown in the gray.

2) I may not like it, but I won't know until I try.  If it just so happens that I don't, my hair dresser has the colors she's used to keep me a red head written down and can whip up a new batch of the Pamela Special in no time flat. The point is, I'm going to do something I happen to see as fun!  I'm going to play with my hair in a new way.  Who knows?  I may have more fun than I can handle, which leads me to - -

3)  So what if I don't get a second look from a guy just because my hair is gray?  I don't get second looks now so why should that "threat" worry me?  You all know from a previous post that I've pretty much come to believe God wants me single (and I believe it's because there isn't a man alive who could handle me, too!) so what do I care if the only reason he looks again is because of the "skunk stripe" of new, silver growth and he can't decide whether to laugh or wait til I'm out of range? (he'd better wait... I may not care if others like it, but I'll still put a hurt on him for laughing!)

So, why am I telling you this?  Well, the GGLG site wants all their newbie grayers to post pics of themselves as they transition.  I don't know if y'all care as much as they do, but I tho't I'd share the journey with you, too.  So, I'll post pics and updates on here, from time to time, to let you know how it's going and whether or not I give up and give in to the dye chair once more. (Mom and Bunso are really hoping I give in... Bunso doesn't like gray hair - she's the "washed out" culprit - and Mom says she's not ready for a gray haired daughter) 

SO!  Here are the beginning photos (hard to take your own pic in your bathroom, forgive the poor job!)  I haven't had any color since (I think) about May.....

Okay, hard to see, but there's a fine line of gray showing in the 1st picture around the hair line (it IS lighter than the rest), you can see the beginning of the "Skunk Line" in the part of the 2nd picture and there are a LOT of silver strands under all that red in the 3rd shot.  Give it a few more weeks, that Skunk Stripe'll be HUGE! (heheheheeheee)

How To End Up Under The Knife

For those of my Facebook friends and followers who are jealous of my recent surgical odessy, I am now going to post my suggestions for how to put yourself in a position to end up in a Surgical Suite and under the doctor's knife.  Ready?  Here we go:

How To Require Surgery:

1. Wake up with what you assume is heartburn one Saturday morning (this is important, it must be a Saturday), take over-the-counter generic antacids, ignore any ensuing problems the rest of the day
2. Have severe "heartburn" late at night, try taking more antacids followed by Alka-seltzer, then Advil. Have no further symptoms or problems for a week.
3. Suffer more "heartburn" the following Saturday, take more over-the-counter generic antacids. Tell your sister that, if it happens the following Saturday, you're calling your doctor.
4. Late that night (any time after midnight is optimal) skip the Alka-seltzer and go straight to the Advil.  Spend the night sitting at a 45 degree angle in your recliner because it's too uncomfortable to lay flat - getting less than a couple hours of sleep is best at this point.
5. Have a good day the following day, no pain, no need for antacids of any kind until late evening.
6. Once again, after midnight, have another serious problem with "heartburn" and spend the night in the recliner.
7. Call your doctor's office for an appointment first thing the next morning and find out you likely have gall stones (if it's not constipation or gas.... it won't be)
8. Get an ultrasound and be told that you have a "sludgy" gallbladder (this means they cannot see for certain if you have gall stones - they will still be certain that you do), it will need to come out.
9. That Friday, throw your doctor for a complete loop by going off schedule and have severe pain in the general area of the gallbladder. 
10. Go to the Urgent Care to have it checked.  After having a shot to reduce the pain (an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 is best for this type of episode) return home with the doctor's diagnosis of pancreatitis (resulting from the sludgy gallbladder) and a prescription for Vicoden (you will learn to love this drug!)
11. Walk - and eat - gingerly for the rest of the week until the doctors schedule you for (not quite emergency) surgery for that Friday.
12. Go to the hospital for your scheduled surgery (hope you don't get a nurse who admits she's not really a prep nurse and needs to "read a book" before continuing to get you ready for your surgery and who KNOWS HOW TO PROPERLY INSERT AN I.V., .... this does not usually include keeping your fist clenched!)
13. Have the anasthesiologist and the O.R. nurse enter, proclaiming it's "Margarita Time!", and shoot you up with whatever cocktail they've mixed especially for you (you may remember the ensuing teasing and/or ride into the O.R., but this is doubtful.... do not expect to)
14. Slowly become aware of someone insistently calling your name and telling you that you have to wake up now.  This is not a bad experience, but if you're slow to wake up in a normal situation, it's even more difficult at this particular time. The nurses are not understanding of this.  They will continue to insist that you must wake up.  You will eventually oblige just to get them to quit harrassing you.
15. Moving very slowly, go home to recover.  Expect some discomfort from either the surgery or the post-operative effects of the CO2 they will pump into you at the time of the surgery.  Of course, if you've already suffered the effects of pancreatitis mentioned earlier, any effects from the CO2 will be less than negligable unless your are a bigger chicken-sissy-la-la-baby-girlie-man-nerd about pain than I am.  Expect to be fussed over for no more than a few days. After that, it gets tedious for the fussers, especially if they are constantly having to put your recliner down, or pull it up, or help you out of the chair, or into the chair, or buying you jello (since you shouldn't eat much more than bland food for several days) or.... well, you get the idea...

Following these instructions will ensure you your own trip to the doctor followed by a quick trip to the O.R. and the locally recommended surgeon after which you may lounge about in your p.j.s and play the sympathy card for as long as you can get away with it. Just be sure to follow any post operative care instructions your doctor gave you.
Failure to stick to your doctor's orders may earn you a second trip to the O.R.  While that didn't happen to me (I behaved!) a 2nd trip sounds like even less fun than the 1st.  And I doubt your family members will be as sympathetic and/or helpful as the first time around. 
Remember, this is a cow you can only milk once.

How To Greet A (single) Friend

We've either got them, or we are them.... Single Friends. I'm actually in the latter group. So, for those of you in the former group (meaning those who have "Someone Special"), here's some advice for greeting a Single Friend you, perhaps, haven't seen in a long time. Also, some secondary advice on introducing them to someone you just know will be perfect for them.

The Greeting ~ ~

It's quite alright, in the midst of the hugs and -for the ladies- squeals to ask if they've met anyone. It's a normal question and is merely meant to catch up. However please, please, if the answer is "No, not yet." do not follow up with "Why not?" I've gotten to where I tell people it's because Sean Connery is too old and Vin Diesel is no longer available, that's why not.

I mean, really?  "Why not?"

What this does is make the questionee feel like they've failed somehow. That they aren't doing something right in order to find Mr. or Ms. Right. Then they get defensive trying to come up with a good answer (sorry, Singles, the Vin Diesel line is mine, find your own!) and not come off sounding pathetic. This is not actually possible.

And it is also never a good follow up to ask "Well, are you getting out and meeting people?" And what would you have us do? Stand in front of Wal-Mart, offering to shake hands with everyone so we can introduce ourselves and maybe luck out enough to meet someone mildly interesting? (which, if you surf the 'net, you know that "interesting" and "Wal-mart" in the same sentence redefine "interesting".)

All I can tell you well-meaning Couples is, God is in control. If He isn't ready for us to meet our life-mates, we aren't going to find them by running frantically through the aisles of our local Albertson's hoping that the cute guy checking the snow peas isn't married or "other". Don't get me wrong, Singles. I'm not telling you to hole up at home and only venture out for food, work and church while you "wait on God."  Go to a class for Mediterranean cooking just because you want to learn that style of cooking, not to "meet someone." Take a course at your college in something that interests you because you want to learn about it, not to "meet someone." Volunteer at your local library, youth center, etc. because you want to help out, not to "meet someone." Doing these things will make you interesting if and when God does bring "someone" into your life. You're going to need things to talk about as the relationship progresses. Play Station 3 and World Of War Craft will only get you so far and then the conversation stalls.

"I-Have-A-Friend-I-Want-You-To-Meet" ~ ~
Now, for you who want to introduce your Single friend to another Single friend, be cautious. I'm not saying don't do it, but PRAY ABOUT IT FIRST! "Oh, but I know what I'm doing and they're both single and I just know they'll like each other and God's too busytoworryabouthissoIcantakecareofitforHim!"

I have just two words for that..... BACK. OFF.

Yes, if you have a couple of single friends you think would hit it off, that's great, but praying about it FIRST can keep potential problems to a minimum. I had an aquaintance who just KNEW that I'd be perfect for her son and got me to let her give him my (snail mail) address so he could write. You remember what I said about being interesting? Well, folks, don't be interesting by being ONLY "into" whatever they're "into." I was taking classes to become a Certified Massage Therapist at the time and, lo and behold, SO was HE! (gasp) I play one of the pianos for our church and HE works in a piano store and LOVES the piano! (gasp ~ the compatability!) I mentioned that we had recently seen a melodrama here in town where they did a goofy version of "The Mikado" and that it was interesting to me because our college had done that play (though less cat-in-the-hat-ish) and I'd helped with the make-up for it and suddenly HE was SO into plays and stuff and he even had a box of STAGE make-up! (isn't it aMAzing how much we have in common!?) Ahhhhno! No. Nonononono. (I believe I mentioned in another post that doing this kind of thing smacks of desperation, no matter which gender is doing it ~ ~ don't.... just, don't)

If you pray before you introduce, not only will you get the Lord's leading (He may want the introduction, but not for the same reasons as you) you also stop to think about whether these two might not be as compatible as you first believed. Just because two people are single doesn't mean they must be meant for each other. And, remember Couples, ask your Single Friend(s) before you plan the introduction. They may have reasons for not wanting this type of set up. After being on the receiving end of two (there was another after the aforementioned disaster.... yes, it was almost as bad but for other reasons), I've decided to tell my well-meaning Couple Friends thank you, but no. God has a plan for the life of the Single. Right now, in this Single's life, it's for me to be Single. I don't know why, I'm not God. I've pretty much come to the conclusion it's because He's decided there's just not a man on this planet that could handle me! (snerk!)

It's best not to get in the way of God's Plans, but we well-meaning, bumbling-about-out-of-love humans do this all the time. God usually just shakes His head and waits for us to give up and/or get out of the way again. He's never wrong, He's never cruel and He's never late (tho' I sometimes have difficulty with that last one, I am 42, you know!) When I taught the kindergarten thru 3rd grader Sunday school, I would tell my kids that God has three answers to prayer; Yes, No and Wait. He loves to tell us "Yes", I believe He wants to tell us "Yes", but sometimes - for reasons we may never understand this side of Eternity - He must tell us "No." We have to choose to believe this is for our good because, like I already pointed out, He's never cruel or wrong.

But, sometimes, He tells us "Wait." "Wait, it's not the right time, yet." "Wait, you're not ready, yet." "Wait just a little longer and it will be absolutely perfect for you!" Unfortunately, we humans have difficulty with both the "No" and the "Wait" answers and we try to take things into our own hands. When we do that, things get broken; broken hearts, broken lives, broken dreams. God knows our dreams, we've told Him about them since childhood. He knows our deepest heart, He listens to it daily. He wants the best for our lives, after all, He gave them to us.

So, Couples, it's okay to want to help out us Singles, there's no law in the land or Scripture against it, but just pray and ask God for His leading before you step in. God can use you to bring joy to a friends' life, but getting ahead of His plans may bring heartache instead.

Don't listen to your own heart, listen to His.

Preferences vs. Convictions: Aromatherapy Is Not A Sin

I'm going to start this post with the short version of a story that may seem to have no connection at all to where I'm going, but stay with me.  My grandfather was a minister and often asked to speak at different churches for Missions' Conferences, etc.  One such church told him if it weren't for who he was (he was a well-known minister and, later, evangelist) they wouldn't have allowed him to even be on the platform, let alone speak to the church.  You see, Grandpa had a full beard going on at the time and this church "didn't allow men with facial hair onto their platform."  0,o*  Whaaat?  But, but, what about your eyebrows?  Did they require their men to shave their eyebrows?  Because that's facial hair! 

My point with this story is that preference is not conviction.  Preference is a greater liking for one thing over another - i.e. clean shaven vs. beards.  Conviction is a firmly held belief and ought to be based on facts.  In the case of a Christian, it ought to be based on Biblical principles.  As for beards, as far as I can tell, there is no Biblical precedent against them, it would have to be preference.

The same can be said of aromatherapy and holistic remedies.  There is no Biblical precedent against them, and God said in Ezekial 47:12 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, ....and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."  So, we know that God intended plants to be beneficial to our health.  And I'm sure we'd find the word "oil" to be an interesting word study in the Bible.  The choice to use aromatherapy or holistic remedies is a personal choice for each individual and should not be frowned upon or condemned by others as non-biblical or immoral.  Simply be aware that some practitioners of these ancient methods don't follow Christian principles.  They want to attach some Great Goombah "spiritual" hocus-bogus to what they do.  Two things; 1) educate yourself first before you choose the holistic or aromatheraputic paths and, 2) if they want to share the "spirituality" of their chosen path with you, simply smile, thank them for their product and leave quietly.  You don't have to accept their philosophies to make use of their skills.  Aromatherapy and holistic remedies are not, of themselves, "spiritual" in any way.  Things and circumstances are what we make of them, according to what we choose to believe.

With that in mind, I am publishing the following interview I had with Judith Fitzsimmons, co-author of the book "Aromatherapy Through the Seasons" and author of "Aromatherapy Answers". Remembering both that God intended plants for medicinal use and that He also gave us physicians (the book of Luke in the New Testament was written by a doctor!), I want to show that aromatherapy and holistic remedies can work in conjunction with modern medicines (remembering, too, that some things just do not mix well with prescribed medications, always check!). Judith Fitzsimmons is a certified aromatherapist and has been working in the aromatherapy field for more than 19 years. She has conducted educational programs about essential oils and aromatherapy at the local, regional, and national levels. Judith discovered aromatherapy first on a personal level and, after noticing its positive impact on the health of herself and her family, pursued certification as an aromatherapist and began sharing her knowledge with others.

Judi, I'll start with my previously made statement; do you believe that aromatherapy and/or holistic remedies can work hand-in-hand with modern medicine?

Absolutely, let me start by saying that my definition of aromatherapy is "the use of the chemical components of essential oils to treat physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual issues." The key word to focus on right now is chemical; keep in mind that all essential oils contain nutrients, chemicals, hormones and the greatest gift of all, essential oils are the largest natural producers of oxygen. Let me sidetrack just for a moment and tell you that I started using essential oils specifically for their oxygen-producing capabilities; disease cannot live in an oxygen-rich environment, so if I could do anything to increase the oxygen in my internal body to ward off disease, why wouldn't I? So that was how I started with essential oils, but what really made me choose to invest my time in learning more about essential oils was the fact that they contain natural chemicals. So when you think about the fact that modern medicine frequently relies on synthetic chemicals to achieve a desired result, it would seem that natural chemicals could do the same; what I have found over the past 19 years, is that is true. Whenever I work with clients, the first thing I ask them is if they have consulted a physician; I believe that physicians and the tools that they have at their disposal, make them great diagnosticians. You can't treat something until you know what it is, so the first thing I suggest that people do is work with a physician; one who is willing to take the time, listen carefully, ask questions, and explore the condition that the patient came to them to determine not only what the symptoms are, but what could possible be the source of the problem.

Would you recommend to someone that they keep their physician apprised of their herbs and their therapist of their medications?
Yes

Why?
Please know that I do not claim to have any knowledge when it comes to herbs or supplements, but regarding essential oils, I do tell my clients to keep their physician informed because we are both introducing chemicals into the person's body and we want these chemicals to work together as well as possible. Even though the prescribed medications contain synthetic chemicals and the essential oils contain natural chemicals, chemicals are chemicals and we want to create an internal environment for a person that best supports their health. Now I will say that many physicians get a glazed look in their eyes or even roll their eyes when a client tells them about essential oils that they are using, but when I provide the chemicals that these essential oils contain, the physician typically does pay attention.

Understanding that, as individuals, we have the freedom to make choices that both positively and adversely affect our health, what would you tell someone who wanted to completely replace prescribed medication (such as those for high blood pressure, heart troubles or diabetes) with a strictly holistic approach? Especially if they chose to do so without their doctor's knowledge?
First of all, NEVER make the choice without their doctor's knowledge. Your health is not some game of hide and seek that we are playing, it is the most important thing that you have and you must call upon all resources to ensure you stay as healthy as possible. Can you completely replace prescribed medications with a strictly holistic approach? I personally believe that the answer is yes, but let me be clear, I am NOT saying that you can completely replace prescribed medication with essential oils only, but with an entire holistic approach, yes.  I have seen it done many times with high blood pressure and high cholesterol especially. However, most people have no idea what an entire holistic approach is and I am not trying to be mean here, I don't think I fully understand what an entire holistic approach is but I know that nutrition, exercise, food choices, mental health activities, spiritual health support are just some of the things that people would have to educate themselves about before they undertook an effort to change their current course of action.

How would you respond if someone made the statement "I heard the natural way is better than synthetic medicine" or "I've heard the all-natural route will cure what modern medicine can not"?
What does natural mean? It means from nature, that is all. So I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "the natural way." Would I choose essential oil chemicals over synthetic chemicals? If there was a complete match between the two then yes I would, but let's be clear on one thing, essential oil chemicals cannot cure something that synthetic chemicals does not cure. And let's also be cautious about the word "cure" because to me that word means that the infringing condition is no longer in your body; so the management of symptoms to me is not a cure.

I knew someone who had been told by a self-proclaimed holistic practitioner/healer that she (the healer) could detect ovarian cancer before modern doctors and that the medical tests for this cancer not only couldn't detect it (it was at too early a stage) but the tests themselves would "cause the cancer to spread like a wild-fire", that only her teas, tisanes and herbal concoctions (which were quite expensive) could keep this cancer at bay. What advice would you give about this type of holistic practitioner?
Run, hold onto your wallet, and run. People need to understand that healers of all kinds are driven to help people heal; that includes "conventional" doctors as well as certified aromatherapists, as well as the whole entourage of people who are committed to healing. When someone makes outlandish claims, we have to question their focus; are they focused on your health and helping you find solutions that are right for you? People today are beginning to understand that they are responsible for their health and wellness. They must use all available resources to seek solutions that best meet their needs. I hope the days are gone when a person blindly walks into a doctor's office and walks out with too many questions and too much medication.

How can aromatherapy and holistic remedies benefit someone suffering from: physical problems, age related problems or emotional problems?
I don't want to lump all of the answers together in one response, but simply speaking, essential oils contain chemicals that provide support for all those conditions you mention. Again I am not going to speak about holistic remedies in general because I am not a holistic healer, I am a certified aromatherapist, but when you apply essential oils through the skin to the site of a physical ailment you are allowing the natural chemicals to go directly to the problem, without having to travel through the stomach, kidneys, or liver before they get there. Where I think essential oils are extremely beneficial is with emotional problems. Let me give you an example, a woman whose husband passed away came to me because her physician put her on an antidepressant and she was feeling that her emotional health was not improving. Well it might make sense to the physician that she was depressed; her husband just died. But after taking time to speak with her, it became quite clear that her predominant emotional health issue was fear; fear of paying the mortgage, fear of being alone; and so much more that she was afraid of. We were able to create a custom blend that dealt with fear and she was able to wean off the antidepressants and gain emotional strength. Regarding age-related problems, honey child, that list is long - I would need you to be more specific about whether you are talking about hormonal changes, appearance changes, or what.

How would it benefit someone as healthy and fit as a pro-athlete?
I always wanted to give my Tendonitis blend to some tennis players who are suffering from tennis elbow. By applying the chemicals directly to the impacted area, you are getting a full-strength of chemicals right where you need it. Athletes push their bodies and their minds to excel; just that idea of pushing means you are going to overdo at times. Essential oils assist an athlete to keep their bodies healthy.

Is there an age range within which you recommend aromatherapy?
There are over 400 essential oils so we have a wide variety to choose from. However, there are only a limited number of oils that are recommended for infants, there are a limited number of essential oils that are safe to use during pregnancy, and you always have to make sure that the essential oil chemicals are not going to counteract or intefere with the synthetic chemicals you are taking. And as with prescribed medications where dosages vary on weight or age, I do factor those into the amount of the essential oil I use for children and the very aged.

Is there a time where you would not recommend its use?
Never use essential oils if they interfere with your synthetic chemicals. Never use essential oils if they have not be recommended by a certified aromatherapist. I can't tell you how many clients have come to me and said, "I read this in blah blah magazine, or I saw this on the Internet, and when I used it, I got a bad reaction." Again I don't mean to sound nasty but would you take a prescribed medicine if you saw it in the magazine or on the Internet?" Deal with a professional, that does not mean just blindly do what they tell you, but people who DIY when it comes to chemicals are asking for trouble.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the largest number of people willing to try aromatherapy or holistic remedies are women. Since, obviously, this is not a Women Only club, what are some areas that would benefit our male counterparts and how would you suggest they approach it in a way that would be comfortable for them?
Most of my male clients came to me as "a last resort" which is fine with me. The largest percentage of my male clients come to me for lower back pain (due to yard work or golf), tendonitis or carpal tunnel, and other physical ailments. Once they see the benefits they receive in treating these physical conditions, they are more receptive to discuss their emotional and mental health needs as well.

Last question: as was mentioned at the start of this, I'm writing from a Christian perspective. I believe a lot of Christians look at these natural remedies as New Age-ism and to be avoided at all costs! How would you answer that and what suggestions would you give?
I often tell people that there are over 180 references to essential oils in the Bible not only to acknowledge that essential oils have a solid Christian foundation but also from a chronological perspective so that people see that essential oils have been around since the beginning of time. Keep in mind that all essential oils come from plants so prior to synthetic chemicals we really only had plants with which to treat ourselves. You remember your grandmother taking a peppermint leaf or grinding some Ginger root and putting it into hot water to drink to soothe her stomach aches, well guess what, that is the precursor to essential oils. In fact, many pharmaceutical products are plant-based, so not only do essential oils have a solid Christian base, they have also been used for centuries. And let's not forget that two out of the three gifts given to the child Jesus were essential oils; not bad!

You can learn more about Judith and find out about her products at:
http://www.aromatherapysolutions.com/index.html

For those of you who are either athletes or go to the gym and exercise regularly, here is another one of Judith's aromatherapy recipes.  This one is for achy muscles and I used it frequently on the hockey players I worked for and on.  Believe me, they loved it!

MUSCLE STRAIN REMEMDY
10 drops Eucalyptus
10 drops Peppermint
10 drops Rosemary

Mix all oils together. Use in any of these ways:

• ~ Put 10 drops into 2 tablespoons of *vegetable oil and massage the affected area.  The ideal time to  do this is after a warm bath and before bedtime.
• ~ Put 8 drops into a bath. Relax your cares away while you soak the strain from your muscles.

*(vegetable oil, like the canola oil that can be found at any supermarket, is best because it absorbs easily into the skin and it won't cause a reaction if you have nut allergies)

Real Simple's Answer To.....

If you're anything like me you despise cleaning the bathroom as much as I do.  If they ever invent a self-cleaning one, I'll be as close to first in line as finances allow!  Since they haven't invented it, yet, and finances probably won't allow, I look for every short cut I can find (I really, really hate cleaning the bathroom!). 

In line with that, I was recently perusing the magazine, Real Simple, and they had an article explaining how to clean your bathroom in five minutes.  I will now share that article with you:

SPEED CLEANING YOUR BATHROOM: Ten Times Better In Five Minutes Or Less

written by: Allegra Muzzillo

SECRET WEAPONS

Real Simple's top picks for the job at hand:

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Disposable and bleach-free, they kill most germs and don't leave streaks on chrome. Can be found in the cleaning-products section of any Rite-Aide, Wal-Mart or Walgreens.

Method Window & Glass Microfiber Cloth. Reusable and lint-free. $5 at methodhome.com

Alka-Seltzer Plus Orange Zest cold formula. (Yes, you read that right.)  The surprising alter ego of these effervescent citrus tablets? Bowl freshener.  You can find them in the cold & flu section of any drug store, Wal-Mart or Walgreens (not to mention most grocery stores)

START HERE:

> Mintue 1 ~  Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into the toilet bowl and let the bubbles do their magic.  Toss used towels in a pile outside the door; stash odds and ends (brushes, hair dryer) in drawers or a pretty basket.  Get rid of melty soap bars and lingering chips.

> Minute 2 ~ With a damp microfiber cloth, swipe cobwebs from ceiling corners (stick the cloth on the end of a broom to reach) and dust door frames, tile ledges, moldings, shelves, framed art and sills.  Rinse and wring.  Do the light switch and the soap dish with a disinfecting wipe.

> Minute 3 ~ Spray mirrors with glass cleaner and rub in circles with the cloth (or newspaper if you can't locate the microfiber cloths).  Then run a wipe over the vanity and the sink to pick up rogue hairs, powder and toothpaste.  (Clorox brand is safe for most hard surfaces, including marble.)  Grab a new wipe for the faucet handles, the wall behind the faucet and any light fixtures.

> Minute 4 ~ With a fresh wipe, clean the top of the toilet tank, the flusher handle and the lid.  Use a new wipe for the top and the bottom of the seat and the lip of the bowl - in that order.  Take one more wipe and do the base of the toilet and the floor around it.  Next, swish water around the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush and flush.  Using (you guessed it) another wipe, clean the vents and the baseboards.

> Minute 5 ~ Move the wastebasket to just outside the door. Set out clean hand towels and a roll of toilet paper.  With a couple of wipes, tackle the floor.  Clean dust and hair from every corner, starting with the corner farthest from the door and backing out.  Empty the trash and you're done.

This really does work, but only if you already do a fair job of cleaning your bathroom thoroughly on a regular basis.  This is the Mom's-coming-for-a-visit-panic-cleaning method.  I tried it, but I forgot that, yes, even a bathroom needs to be dusted once in awhile, so it took me somewhat longer than five minutes.  Still, it was the fastest I've ever gotten through the job.  Whether that's due to the "Attack Plan" Ms. Muzzillo has laid out for me, or the motivation to try and get through it in five minutes, I'm not sure.  But it worked.

Now, my fellow Donna Quixotes, let us attack the enemy! Disinfecting Wipes at the ready!!!!

Sense About Your Signature Scents

This one's going to be a bit shorter than most of my blogs.  Let's start with the fact that fabric softners (and some liquid laundry detergents) are getting on the aromatherapy bandwagon, Downy being the leader with - currently - five different scents to "fit your mood."

I'm not big on using synthetically produced scents to "scent" my clothes, mostly because I don't want the scent of my laundry soap to clash with (or overpower) whatever perfume I want to wear (which is why I never have understood why scented deoderant for your ARMPITS was so dang popular!  I'm sorry, it's just not romantic to me for some guy to say "My, you smell wonderfull!" and have to reply "Yes, it's Passionate Plum for your pits!")  ANYway, as I was getting around to saying, I do want my clothes to smell nice.  I also want to have a "signature scent" that makes someone remember me or tell me I smell nice and ask what perfume I'm wearing (don't we all, ladies?)

The answer is simple:  essential oils!

Whenever I do my laundry, I simply add about 6 to 10 drops of my favorite essential oil to the water.  Once the clothing has gone thru washer and dryer, then cooled to be hung or folded, you don't smell the oil.  Even after you put your clothing on, you don't smell the oil.  However, as your body heat begins to warm your clothing, the scent from the oil begins to escape and you are surrounded by a softer version of the oils' scent.  Others can smell it as you walk by, or even as you sit and talk to them, but it's not overpowering and it does make an impression!  (and you still don't smell it, so it's a bit of a nice surprise to have someone tell you "boy, you smell nice!")

HOWEVER!  You do want to be careful which oil you use, how you put it into your laundry and how much of it you use.  Here's a basic outline/plan for you to follow if you choose to try this at home (I don't really recommend this if you have to use a public laundromat... others might get - testy - if you "share" your signature scent that way)

1st, go to your favorite health food store and find the essential oils section.  They usually have sample bottles out so you're able to open them to see which scent appeals to you on the I-want-this-as-a-perfume basis. 

~~Word of warning, our olfactory senses can only handle about 3 or 4 scents and we clog up. If you want to test several of the oils, I suggest taking a small tin of some type with unbrewed coffee grounds in it. Believe it or not, fresh coffee grounds clear the sinuses and you can test another 3 or 4 oils before having to clear your nose again!~~

Once you've found the scent that appeals to you (stick to the .5oz bottles, these things last for months) buy it and take it home.  When it comes time for your next load of laundry you can add it to the water.  Just be sure you don't drop the oil onto the clothing themselves.  That could leave a stain behind.  For those with a front-loader washing machine (like myself) you can put several drops (3 to 5, depending on size of load) into the detergent port as the water starts rushing through (after it's cleaned out the detergent).  I also add about 3 drops into the fabric softner dispenser when I have a large load.  Just remember, the stronger the scent is to you, the less you'll want to use.  In fact, it might be good to start with only 2 or 3 drops per load until you find out how the scent carries for you.

For those of you with top-loader machines, I suggest putting the drops into the fabric softner dispenser instead of trying to get the drops to mix as the water starts spouting in.  It's just better not to take the chance you'll get oil spots on your clothes.

I've had several complements about my "perfume" since I've started doing this (I chose Patchouli for it's rich, earthy scent) and I even had one man ask me if there were any "manly oils" so guys could add them to their wash.... not... real sure about that.  How-some-ever, if you men want to do this, I have no objections.  Just, please, take a female friend or your sister (if you don't want to ask Mom) to help you choose the oil.  It's not that I doubt your sense of smell, understand, but it's always nice to have a lady-friend who can tell "This makes me think of you" or "No, I don't think 'King Kong' is the scent you're going for!"  Whichever oil you choose, folks, don't be afraid to experiment slightly ~ but do be money-wise.  If you're not 100% sure you like a scent, don't buy it.  Some of these oils are more difficult to process and produce and are, therefore, more expensive.

Aromatherapy as a Signature Scent.... now laundry can be enjoyed again!

***

Okay... maybe not so much; but you can add an element of mystery, eh!?

Cherub Learns Lesson #51 About God

I know I use this column for (unsolicited) advice, but this is too good not to share.  A young couple in our church were going to have a baby and, shortly before his birth, learned he would have Spina Bifida.  You can imagine the shock, the desire to learn what it meant followed by more shock. They learned to lean hard on God and that, while God doesn't always give us answers, He's always good!  Mrs. Teacher wrote a story to help Ker-bear and Scasmflop (he chose the nickname, not I!) to always remember God's goodness and read it at her baby shower.... and had everyone of us sniffling and boo-hooing right along with Ker-bear because it was such a good story.  I've been given permission to share it and so I do.  Here is "Cherub Learns Lesson #51 About God"

It was a BUSY day in Heaven! Oh my, so much was happening!  That meant that there were so many things to record in his big book that Angel had been sitting at his desk working steadily for... well... for quite a long while!

All of a sudden, Angel heard a sound he knew very well.  His young friend, Cherub, was coming his way.  Well, not just coming his way, but galloping like a runaway horse AND yelling very loudly at the same time.

"Angel, Angel!"  Cherub slowed to a fast trot as he breathlessly called out "Angel! Angellll! Are you here, Angel!?" 

As Angel stood up to welcome Cherub, Cherub BURST through the door and ran smack-dab into Angel! They rolled across the floor, robes, legs and arms spinning in wide circles.  Before Angel could pull his robes down over his knees, Cherub bounced up beside him, talking very loudly and very fast.

"Angel, God has another baby almost ready to go to earth!  But, Angel, I was watching, and He's not finished with the baby, and He doesn't know it because He's already started His Special Blessing Song.  Oh, Angel, help me tell God the baby isn't done yet! Please, Angel, we have to hurry!  Otherwise God will make a mistake!"

At this remark, Angel knew it was lesson time again.  Yes, indeed, it was time for Lesson #51 about God.

"Come along, Cherub."  said Angel, holding out his hand so that Cherub would lead him directly to where God was at work.  Cherub chattered excitedly about the new baby as they hurried to a special valley known in Heaven as "Babies Place".  As they entered, Someone was singing in a soft voice.

"God your Father loves you so,

Loves you so,

Loves you so.

God your Father loves you so

Now off to earth you go."

Cherub yelled before he even knew what he was doing!  "NO!"  And then, because he was terrified, he hid behind Angel's robes, hoping that God couldn't see him.  But Angel knew Cherub had to learn lesson #51, and so he reached behind his back, caught Cherub's arm and pulled his young friend around to face God.

God was looking right at him!  Then He spoke right to him, "Cherub, do you have something to tell Me?"

Cherub pointed to the baby boy in God's arms and blurted "God, that baby You're holding isn't finished!  Don't send it to its home on earth yet!"

God gazed down at the baby boy and then looked up.  "Yes, Cherub, this little boy is ready to got to his home on earth.  His Mommy's name is Karen and his Daddy's name is Bob.  They are waiting for him right now."

"But, God, his back isn't finished and his feet need a little more work!  Can't you please just finish him before he has to go?"

"Cherub, would you like to hold him?  His name is Carson."

Cherub looked up at Angel who nodded his head yes.  Cherub ran to sit beside God, but God pulled him right onto His lap and put little baby Carson in Cherub's arms!

God began speaking so softly that only Cherub could hear His voice.  "Cherub, you are very young.  Some things are not going to make sense to you right now.  Cherub, do you trust Me?"

As he thought about his answer, Cherub counted the baby's tiny fingers - yes, there were ten.  "Yes, I trust You."

"Will you trust Me even though you don't understand what I am doing in Carson's life?"

Cherub counted Carson's toes - yes, there were ten.  "Yes."

"Carson's mommy and daddy already know that Carson will need some finishing work on his back and feet.  But, Cherub, they know, and they already love him so much, they can hardly wait for his arrival."

Cherub continued touching the baby's soft skin.  "They know he's not finished but they love him anyway? Really God?"

"Yes, really."  God and Cherub looked at each other, and then Cherub hugged God's neck with all his might.  "God, I do trust you.  I'm sorry I yelled at you.  Will you forgive me?"

God hugged Cherub very closely and said in his ear, "You are forgiven, Cherub.  Now, would you like to sing My Special Blessing Song with Me before Carson goes to meet his mommy and daddy?"

As they watched Carson being whooshed over the edge of Heaven, carried in his guardian angel's protective arms, God and Cherub blended their voices in joyous song (of course, Cherub sang the loudest!)

God your Father loves you so,

Loves you so,

Loves you so.

God your Father loves you so

Now off to earth you go!

Later, as Angel and Cherub walked back (well, Angel walked, but Cherub - he ran back and forth looking at all the flowers beside the path), Angel asked Cherub, "What did you learn about God today?"

Although Cherub continued to examine a big yellow sunflower, he answered immediately and loudly, "God never makes mistakes!"

"Cherub, one more thing you might like to hear is a chorus that Carson's mommy and daddy learned as a choir song at their church.  It goes like this:"

God is too wise to be mistaken,

God is too good to be unkind.

For when you don't understand,

When you don't see His plan,

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart.

After a rare moment of silence, Cherub asked "Angel, isn't that like Proverbs 3:5 and 6?"

And, of course, it is.

THE END (for now)

By the way, the little Sweet Potato is over 3 months old now..... Does this look like God made a mistake to you?!?

Also by the way, if you know someone who has Spina Bifida kids, or who knows someone who knows someone.... This is a good web site for information, support and connecting with other parents of Spina Bifida kids.  It's wonderful!

http://spinabifidakids.blogspot.com/

Top Ten Suggestions For Driving Like An Idiot

10.  Talk or text on your cell phone while driving at speed.

9.    While talking to your passengers look at them, not the road.

8.    While talking, use frequent hand gestures to illustrate your point.  Gesturing with both hands is ideal.

7.    Change lanes at the same time you turn on your blinker. Do not check to see if next lane is clear. Ignore any honking you may hear, obviously they were in your way.

6.    Weave recklessly in and out of traffic at 20mph over the speed limit. Scream at the other drivers for not getting out of your way.

5.    When you see a highway patrol officer, come to an almost complete stop in the fast lane.  Do not move out of anyone's way as you do this.

4.    When you are in the fast lane and see you are about to pass your exit, cut across traffic to reach it.  Go over the median if you need to.

3.    Do not use the cruise control while driving on the freeway.  If someone tries to pass you, you will be able to quickly speed up.  Of course, then you will need to slow down again to conserve fuel.

2.    Drive with your head in the clouds.  Long trips on the freeway can get boring and monotonous.  Use your imagination and look at your surroundings rather than the road as you drive.

......and the number one suggestion for driving like an idiot:

1.    Get in, start the car and pull out of your driveway.

**Why, nooooooo.  I haven't been on the road with any idiots recently.  Why would you think that?  0,o*

The Gray Ghost Eats It All

We have in our home a beast known as a Weimaraner.  They're beautiful dogs in the Sight Hound Hunter family and are usually a cool silver coloring with eyes that are an unusual yellow color as adults.  They are graceful, aristocratic, love kids and are usually gentle whenever encountering someone who is in some way physically challenged.  They are also known as The Gray Ghost because of their unusual coloring and they way they hunt.  Jack is known as The Gray Rat!

That darn dog eats anything he can get his lips around! And I DO mean anything!  He's what our family has come to call a "counter surfer".  That means if you leave something on the counter, be sure it's far enough from any edge that the Gray Rat can't reach it!  I've lost a lambskin hat to The Rat.  The Squirt has lost several pairs of hosiery and we've all lost innumerable socks, kitchen towls, napkins, shoes, shoe inserts, etc. to this walking stomach!  Problem is, most of this stuff isn't good for The Gray Rat's digestive system.  In case you, too, have a counter surfing, laundry sniffing, get-into-whatever-it-can dog, here are a few tips to aid in your beloved Rat's digestive relief.

Hosiery:
When the Squirt lost hers we called the vet (since we didn't want nylon getting lodged in his intestines) and, once the giggling stopped, were told to use Ipecac on him.  Thing is, we didn't have any in the house and it was a Wednesday night, about an hour and a 1/2 before church.  We ran out the door to Walgreen's and bought some Ipecac (and promptly received a lecture from some stranger daring to give our child such a wicked source of evil harm to their little system! Oooooookayeeeee!), then raced home.  Now, the Squirt has trained The Gray Rat to let us hold his head and/or open his mouth, so he was okay when we first did this.  The directions say to give a specific amount, but all we had was a medicine dropper and we ended up having to give two shots of the stuff to get the correct dosage down his throat.  He allowed the first shot of the stuff, but it was nasty and he wasn't about to make the second shot quite as easy! (so be prepared if you have to do this!)

After giving him the correct dosage, we once again read the directions and found it takes twenty minutes to work! Sheesh!  So now, we're following The Gray Rat around to make sure he's outside when this takes effect.  He was, and the look of utter horror on his face as he retched up his stomach's entire contents made us feel like the worst of villans.  Once "The Event" was over, we gave him a little water and set about finishing getting ready to leave for church.

UNTIL!  We heard him making an odd "smacking" sound and realized HE WAS ABOUT TO BARF AGAIN! OUTSIDEOUTSIDEJACKOUTSIDENOW!  We got him out but a word to the wise. Ipecac makes you barf twice.  So, don't think your own beloved Rat is done doing the psychedelic yawn after only once.  And do NOT let him eat right away, either! (sometimes, you learn the hard way.... I don't really recommend it.)

We later learned another truth.  Like it or not, nylon will work it's way through a dog's intestines and no harm to the dog.  However, you will have to "assist" your dog's attempts to relieve himself of this undigestable mass.  It doesn't like to exit the rectal area on it's own and he will look at you with panic in his eyes over this THING hanging from his tuckus! Make sure he's OUTSIDE! and have several pairs of latex gloves for your hands as well as a bag to put this ICK into.  Plus, remember, nylon streeeeeeeeeetches!  So it's nice to have an assistant if possible.... although it's not always, as my dad found out.  Welcome to my world, Dad (snerk!)

Kitchen towels and/or socks:
Yes, he will eat these if given the chance.  Once again, this will actually make its way through his digestive tract (providing this is an on-the-large-side medium sized dog... or the towel/sock has been well shredded).  And, once again, depending on the amount of shredding, you may have to "assist" your dog by removing the shredded ICK from his tuckus.  To assist in the so-called digestive progress, it's a nice idea to give your dog a tablespoon of olive oil a couple of times a day until he passes his latest non-meal.  In fact, olive oil is a good thing to add to your dogs' meals on a daily basis as it helps keep his skin healthy and flake free and his coat soft and shiny.  But, on those (hopefully rare) days he decides he needs the extra fiber, give him at least 1 tablespoon extra per day.  It just makes it easier to get through and, hey! You may be lucky enough to NOT have to "help things along", as it were.

Chocolate:
We've all heard that chocolate is poison to your dogs' system.  It is.  If you happen to own a Dachshund, however, this is not as scary as it might seem.  We've owned two in my lifetime and I know others who have them as well.  It seems Doxies have cast-iron stomachs and can (and WILL) eat just about anything, too.  ESPECIALLY chocolate.  I know one over in Belgium that raided the suitcase of a couple visiting with her owners and ate two bags of chocolate.  My own Doxie ate at least a bag and a half of Hershey's Kisses (not at the same time).  In each of these two cases the only result was the dogs pooped colored tinfoil for a week.  This is not to say it's okay to feed your dog chocolate.  It's not.  Not even to a Doxie!  I'm just saying, don't panic if they get into it.  If your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet. Depending on how recent the ingestion was you may be told to feed her Ipecac.  Hmm.... I'm seeing a pattern here.  Perhaps now would be a good time to say Ipecac would be a good thing to have in your (locked!) medicine cabinet.  Just in case!

Finally, have a sense of humor, people.  Dogs are like kids (only furrier!), they get into everything!  It does not get better with age, in their case.  They don't stop being nosey, they just slow down a little.  The Gray Rat is six, now, but he still eats the occasional sock (or whatever) just to keep us on our toes.

Hey, Squirt? Where's the Ipecac!?

The E-Scent-tials of Life! Mentha X Piperita:

Oh, wondrous mentha x piperita, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways!!!

Okay, okay, I'll dial it down.... 1/2 a notch.... maybe! Essential oil of peppermint, how-some-ever, should be in EVERYone's medicine cabinet. Allow me to explain (and I'll try not to dramatize too much). I am learning about, and coming to love, essential oils. That is, the oil that is extracted from such plants as roses, lavender and, yes, peppermint to name just a (very) few.

About four or five years ago, I discovered this wonderful book called "Aromatherapy Through The Seasons" by Judith Fitzsimmons and Paula Bousquet. It's a terrific book with a list of quite a number of essential oils along with recipes for their various mixtures and uses. I will, from time to time, bring up various oils and have been given permission by Ms. Fitzsimmons to reproduce some of her recipes. If you want them all, well, you'll just have to buy the book yourself. Trust me, it's well worth the money!

The main reason I decided to buy this book was because I am a certified massage therapist and, at the time, was working for a minor league hockey team. I needed good oil recipes for the care of these men's abused muscles. I found those recipes in Aromatherapy and learned a good bit for my personal use in the process.

From time to time, I suffer from migraines. Well, I suffer from them if I don't catch them early enough or, occasionally, if they're so bad catching them early enough merely means being able to keep the pain to a semi-tolerable level. On those particular days, I resort to a trick I learned from reading Ms. Fitzsimmons' book. Mentha x piperita. Peppermint oil. A drop (just 1) on the finger tip and massage it into my aching temples, across my forehead at the hairline and even up the back up of my neck. Peppermint has properties that cause a capillary reaction; they warm from the oil (which is a conundrum because peppermint is cooling oil... but it really does warm!) and expand allowing increased blood flow which, in turn, allows the meds to reach where they're most needed. The warming action is also a distraction to your nerves. Instead of busily throbbing from the pain, they think "Oh. Look. Heat. Let's pay attention here!"

A piece of advice when using this oil in this manner? Make sure you have nowhere to drive yourself. Something about the fumes from the oil can make your eyes feel like they'd rather stay closed. Indulge them. Lie back and let the oil and meds, do the work. Also, if your headaches and/or migraines make you sensitive to smells, you might not want to try this. The Squirt absolutely can NOT stand strong smells when she gets a migraine. Which, unfortunately, means she can’t use this oil to reduce her pain. If you're desperate enough to try it anyway, try it in smaaaaaaall doses. Peppermint oil really is very strong. I would suggest diluting it in a small bottle of canola oil (yes, canola cooking oil can be rubbed into the skin and it will absorb. I used it on my hockey players all the time.). One drop in about 2 tablespoons should do it. If it's still too strong for you, dilute it with one more tablespoon of oil. If that doesn't work, you may be one of the unlucky few like the Squirt.

(aside)
Another headache reliever is Lavender oil. It's a milder scent than peppermint and also very good at relieving tension headaches. In this case, don't rub it into the skin. Put a few drops on a cotton ball or tissue and keep it near your nose. As the scent soothes and relaxes you, the pain should also subside.

(back to the story)
Another thing about peppermint oil, it's good for an upset stomach. I'd actually recommend drinking peppermint tea rather than the oil, but I know Europeans will put a drop or two in a glass of warmish-hot water and drink it. I tried that. Not a pleasant taste (tho' it did work). Go with the tea. Honestly. Or, as an alternative if you don't have tea, peppermint gum. Of course, now you're diluted with sugars, etc., but it can help a bit to calm the tummy and when you're hurting... any port in a storm, eh?

Now, for the treat. A couple of Ms. Fitzsimmons recipes using that wonderful oil, mentha x piperita.  We've all pushed ourselves a little too far, or turned at just the wrong moment in just the right/wrong way and BAM! we've pulled or sprained a muscle. I've used the following recipe to great effect on both athletes and non-athletes alike. If you want to make up more than just a couple of tablespoons worth of this mix, be sure to put it in a dark brown or blue bottle and keep it stored in a dry, dark place (like your pantry... just label it well so someone doesn't mistake it for some sort of exotic cooking oil!)

Muscle Sprain Remedy:
10 drops Eucalyptus oil
10 drops Peppermint oil
10 drops Rosemary oil
Mix the oils into 2 tablespoons of vegetable (or canola) oil. Cool sprain with ice pack for 20 minutes, then massage with blend. (Warning: do not use rosemary oil if you are pregnant or epileptic. It is not recommended to use rosemary oil on infants as it is rather strong for them.)

This still feels good if you don't have a sprain, just stiff, tired muscles. Rosemary and peppermint are very good for getting the circulation going.

And for those of you who can't use an alcohol-based mouthwash, this next (and last for tonight) recipe is for you.

Mouthwash:
4 drops Lemon oil
2 drops Peppermint oil
Mix the oils into 2 cups of distilled water (or water you have boiled and allowed to cool). Don't knock it until you've tried it. The flavoring differences between peppermint and lemon make a refreshing, effective and tasty brew. [just be sure to shake well before each use.... oil and water and all that]

Now, lest any of you think I would just pull an idea or recipe out of my hat and throw it at you, rest assured that I will not post anything on this site for which I haven't already done empirical testing. In other words, I've already tried it and it's worked. This is also not to say the things that work for me will have the same effect for you. If you even suspect you are having a reaction to something, cease all usage immediately and, if it doesn't clear up, see your doctor. Better safe than sorry.

That said, I also want it understood that, while I like essential oils and think aromatherapy is a good and relaxing thing, I do not think these things take the place of medications your doctor may have prescribed for you. If you are already on medications, please check with your physician to be sure none of your medications will react badly to any essential oils.

However, I do think essential oils have their place in our arsenal against headaches, germs, cuts and scrapes, insect bites, tummy troubles, etc. After all, God created the plants these oils came from and He said in Ezekiel 47:12 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side on and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat....: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." God wanted us healthy. He wanted us happy. He invented herbs, oils and, more recently, what we call "modern" medications for us. Trying the "natural route" is fine and to be encouraged, but don't abandon your doctor all together. Learn to mix the two harmoniously.

One final note, a legitimate, caring herbalist or aroma-therapist will be more than happy to deal with your doctor as needed.  If you find someone who tries the line "I can help you where your doctor cannot. And he will not be able to find out about this illness without causing it to spread too rapidly to cure...." is a snake oil salesman.  Pure and simple.  The same way "beautiful oriental women to massage you" parlors give legitimate massage therapists a bad name, so do these snake oil salesmen give legitimate herbalist and aroma-therapists a bad name.  RUN. FROM. THEM!  You can find someone legitimate by asking around.  And by questioning the herbalist or aroma-therapist about their willingness to give details to your doctor.

 Okay, okay one more "One Final Note", this one from Ms. Fitzsimmons' website (which is listed below):
Leave It to the Pros:

Just because [plants/oils are] found in nature, that doesn't mean you don't need to exercise care when using essential oils. Essential oils are potent and concentrated extracts and are approximately 75-100 times more concentrated than a dried plant. Pure essential oils from plants must appear in the product in quantities considered therapeutic and should ideally be of the finest quality.

A trained aromatherapist understands the therapeutic properties of each plant that offer natural healing actions and knows the appropriate use of each essential oil, including how to blend oils properly. This allows them to create safe and effective aromatherapy solutions.  
 
This is not to say you can't use the recipes provided.  These are recipes Ms. Fitzsimmons has specifically created and printed for your use and enjoyment.

And don't be afraid to educate yourself!   http://www.aromatherapysolutions.com/