Okay. I’ll admit it. The past month broke my spirit a bit and it was difficult to come back to earth. But I’m back now and ready to share a recent trip with you.

I’m a Washington State resident. I’m also am a grandmother and part of a loving extended family of many generations. These include aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Seeing family is often at the root of our travels when I have a need to escape the nest, so visiting family seemed just the prescription for a vacation from the world.

When I finally conned my husband into getting away from work (his favorite place in the world is home), the first stop on this trip was across the state to Spokane to visit my daughter’s family.

We played with our grandchildren, which is always an antidote for a tired soul. But even more fun was the opportunity to see their new pets: small puppies. An Akeda, Buddy and a Black Lab, German Shepard mix, Cinder.

It was fun watching the grandkids enjoy them. Somehow I managed to get away without even a photo – not like this grandma, but I’m trying to learn a new digital camera and just plain didn’t do it. Of course, I got pictures of the kids, though.

Next Stop for the Night, Missoula, MT

After getting our fill of kids and grandkids we took off from Spokane to do some northern sightseeing: up to Newport, Idaho and on down and across to Missoula, Montana – then from Missoula to Idaho Falls. If you want to just travel and see some of the most beautiful country in the world, then I recommend the drive between Coeur d’Alene, ID and Missoula, MT. Expect some snow and chilly temps this time of year, though.

We stayed in a beautiful lodge in Missoula called the Come On Inn just off Exit 101 – five hot tubs and a huge pool inside a cavernous log building with a continental breakfast to boot. Just what you’d expect in a Montana town. BIG and nice. Reasonable prices, but a new Motel 6 is also at the same exit if you’d like to stay there.

We did a lot of sightseeing in Idaho, so you can easily do the driving trip from Spokane, WA, to Idaho Falls, ID, in nine hours with two meal stops and various other “necessary” stops if you don’t want to take a Missoula break.

Idaho Falls, ID – “A River Runs Through It”

From a bit west of Butte, Montana off I-90 you go south on I-15 to Idaho Falls. Not much in between, so be prepared for that. But Idaho Falls is a beautiful city with a man-made waterfall in town, where a “River Runs Through It,” the Snake. It’s farm country and cold in the winter.

If you don’t exit there you might just see the huge Budweiser Beer towers full of barley and forget to exit into the city. Then you might have a differing opinion. If you don’t go downtown the freeway doesn’t lend much of a view that would even make you want to stop by. It’s a stop to make, though, and there’s a two-mile walk around the falls and portions of the Snake – over a bridge or two of course.

The Snake River is a beautiful river and the landscape around it throughout Idaho is mesmerizing. We took a little jaunt on I-20 from Idaho Falls and saw a beautiful mini-Niagara Falls, the Upper Mesa in Targhee National Forest.

The photo I’ve shared with you above is view south on Highway 33 between Lamont and Tetonia, Idaho, of the grand Teton mountain range from the Idaho side – taken just last week. Now doesn’t that take your breath away? Most of the tourist pamphlets will show you the Teton Range from the Wyoming Side.

My uncle has a new Golden Retriever, Theo, so he was fun to see. My uncle and the pup, actually! (Love all those doggie babies on this trip!) My uncle’s a great cook with a great sense of humor – he spoiled us. We had our own room and his full attention while there!…

Everyone I’m sure has heard of the terrible death of Diane Whipple in San Francisco. A dog brutally and fatally attacked her, as she tried to enter her apartment. The circumstances and details of this abominable event are not the focus here. The aftermath of the tragedy strikes home again the need for continued advocacy and equality for lesbians and gays.

Whipple and her partner, Sharon Smith tried for many years to have their relationship legally recognized. Many lesbian couples want acknowledgment of their relationship in this way. The reasons are obvious and but for one, need not be expanded on here. When a heterosexual couple marry, rights of survivorship automatically apply. They seem to apply regardless of the intent or length of the marriage (All I’ll say to illustrate this is Anna Nicole Smith.)

However, despite the longevity of Whipple and Smith’s relationship, no such survivorship rights apply. And to compound the grief and suffering of the survivor, Smith now finds herself in a legal battle to be recognized as someone who loved and cared for Whipple; to be recognized as someone who shared the everyday trials and tribulations such as bill payments, car payments, vacation expenses and so on. Count this as one more example of inhumanity and injustice towards another human being. When will it end?

This scenario was highlighted in the television movie If These Walls Could talk 2. The difference being the story line was set many years ago when perhaps society wasn’t considered as evolved as today (my tongue is in my cheek, you just can’t see it!) What a disgrace that no change has occurred. It’s ironic that the movie in question focused on the evolution of lesbians over time, climaxing with the wonderful story of lesbians rearing children. Oh can’t you smell the roses…no? Me neither.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has joined Smith in her fight to be recognized as Whipple’s beneficiary. It is a case that committed same sex partners must watch carefully and pray for the right outcome. Unquestionably the gay community is divided about the issue of marriage and whether or not it should be legalized. Some don’t want their relationship defined by the patriarchal system of marriage. But some do. In this case and many others, the tragic death of a loved one would not have been compounded with the survivor feeling like a second class citizen if the legal paperwork had been signed.

The NCLR represents and supports many clients who may find themselves in the same boat as Sharon Smith. It is a sad testament to our times that the need for such an organization exists. Perhaps one day the term human rights will apply to everyone and the need for a separate organization for lesbians will desist. A victory for Smith will not bring her loved one back, but it may prevent a similar travesty in the future.

Where was this person that I had heard so much about? I was getting very impatient. You see patience is a virtue of which I have very little. I suppose that even at the young age of six this was true. I half whined and half sang, “Where is he, Dad?”

My Dad flashed his famous grin. A smile that always let me know that he had a secret, or that he thought he had got one over on us. His bright blue eyes twinkled and gleamed as his large, over six-foot frame stepped aside to reveal Rob standing right behind him. I smiled and then it seemed that the smile just froze there, decorating my face. Rob was not at all what I had expected.

As Dad walked further into the house, I glanced to Rob. He looked about fourteen or fifteen. I couldn’t remember how old Mom and Dad had said he was. As Rob walked further into the living room, I realized that he was different.

There was something about him that bothered me, but I could not quite put my finger on it. He walked slower than I thought he would. Rob was shorter than I thought he would be. His hair and eyes were darker too.

My dad had showed me a picture of Rob and Sally when they were around my age, and they both had blonde hair and light eyes. On closer inspection, I noticed that he looked scared and nervous. Of course, he didn’t know any of us yet, even Dad.

Even though my Dad had never missed a support payment, he had not seen his other two kids in many years. He lost contact because his ex-wife, Alice, had moved four or five times a year. I had gotten most of this information from my many eavesdropping opportunities, since my room was right next to my parents’ bedroom.

My mind and my eyes turned back to Rob. He was heavier than I thought he would be; he was downright chubby. He wore tattered and stained clothes. His shoes looked as though the dirt was what was holding them together. None of these things still explained the weird feeling that I got when I looked at him. I could feel my stomach doing summersaults whenever he was nearby.

I noticed that Rob looked a little bit like Dad, but not nearly as much as I did. His eyes were much smaller than our large, expressive ones. The best way to describe them would be as beady little eyes. The color was much darker- a deep, navy blue. He had medium brownish-red hair that was rather long.

Of course, looking back on it now, for the early seventies, I suppose his hair wasn’t really that long. He seemed to move very slowly as he walked further into the living room. His steps seemed calculated, as if each one was thought out purposefully. I had no idea then how this confused and seemingly lost boy would change my life.

About this time, Mom and Grandma entered the room. They greeted Rob warmly, and urged everyone into the large, eat-in kitchen for supper. Rob simply chirped a quick response. “Hi,” he said quickly, as lowered his eyes to the floor.

During dinner, I noticed that Rob ate as if he were starving. He must have polished off at least 6 pork chops. I felt very sorry for him. I realized that it must have been so hard for him to be shipped off to live at a church, where he knew no one. He was taken from the only people that he really knew- his mother and sister.

This all must be so hard for him. To come to Ohio, move in with a family that you never knew, and act as if you belong here. I looked at Rob again, and realized that the strangeness that I felt must be due to the fact that Rob was different than me. We came from opposite worlds. There also was nearly ten years separating us too.

After dinner, Mom and Grandma cleared away the dishes, and Dad took Rob on a tour of the house. I followed behind them. Dad gave Rob the room on the other side of mine. That meant that my room was right smack between my parents’ room and Rob’s bedroom. After the tour, my Dad sat in his old, tattered recliner and watched TV. Anyone looking in one of our windows would have seen a normal family relaxing after dinner.

Rob glanced at me, and smiled. His smile gave me that strange feeling in my stomach again. It was a sick, nauseating feeling that gripped me. His eyes just leered at me, as if they expected something. What I saw when I looked at the same scene was a boy who sort of gave me the creeps. A boy that was supposed to be my brother sitting on the couch, twiddling his thumbs. I saw the family that I loved making room for this kid, changing their lives to include him.

I went to bed that night with a very uneasy feeling. Again, full of questions about the day’s events. What did we really know about this boy? How was he raised? What was he taught? Would I ever feel like he was really my brother?

The next day brought a few answers, but more questions. Grandma got us up pretty early. She wanted to get out in the garden to weed and water. After finishing breakfast, we hurried out to the large half-acre garden. The way Rob looked at the garden was almost comical. I had to keep myself from chuckling aloud. He gazed at the land before him, looking very overwhelmed. From the look on his face, I would guess that he had never seen a garden before.

Grandma instructed, “Now, get over there under those beans. See those weeds? Pluck them out!” Rob bent over, and he slowly tugged at the wayward plants growing beneath the tall, sturdy bean plants. “Hurry it up. They won’t bite ya,” Grandma added curtly. I smiled at the no nonsense tone of voice that she used. This was Grandma’s way of saying that you needed to get the lead out.

After helping for a bit, I wandered back into the house. Since Mom was upstairs in her room and Dad was at work, I had the television all to myself. I sat down and began watching Captain Kangaroo. I chuckled at Mr. Green Jean’s antics. Just then, Rob came in and headed into the kitchen. He came back with a tall glass of water. He sat down beside me on the couch. We watched Captain Kangaroo silently for awhile, and then he spoke.

Rob asked me cautiously, “Do you want to listen to some of my music?” I shrugged and nodded my consent. He turned the TV off, and then Rob got out his albums. He removed the vinyl record from the sleeve, and placed one upon the turntable. Loud rock music filled the room. I had never heard music like this. The sound excited me. I had only heard it briefly on the car radio, before my Dad switched the channel.

Rob came over and sat beside me on the couch. He was looking at me again in that creepy way that I had come to know. His hand reached out, and touched my shoulder. He had startled me. I turned quickly and asked, “What?” Rob shook his head like he had changed his mind, but his hand didn’t move.

“You are really pretty,” he said very quietly. His hand slipped lower still. His hand was resting over my chest, which was flat as a pancake. Since I was a six-year-old girl, this, of course, was normal. What wasn’t normal was the way he looked at me, as if he expected something from me.

His stale breath filled my nostrils, and I had an overwhelming sense of danger. I struggled to move away as quickly as I could, but his hand held me firmly. “Let me touch your boobie,” he said gently. He pressed his face closer still, as his grip on my chest tightened. I used all of my strength to break free of him. Just then, Grandma walked in. She asked loudly, “What are you two doing here?”

My embarrassment and the pervasive feeling of guilt overtook me. I could not bring myself to speak the truth. I simply replied quickly, “Nothing Grandma, we were just listening to music.” I tried to mask my surprise. Of course, I am sure that Grandma noticed my obviously labored breath, flushed cheeks, and nervousness. I hurriedly excused myself, mumbling that I needed to use the restroom. I hurriedly ran into the bathroom. The churning in my stomach had the force of a volcano now. It felt as if Mount Vesuvius was erupting in my very stomach, and my intestines would spew forth like lava. I definitely needed to go to the bathroom. It was no longer a reason to escape. It had become a necessity!

After my insides settled a bit, I gazed into the mirror. I asked myself questions, many of which are still unanswered today. Why did Rob do that to me? How on earth could he think a little girl was cute or sexy? Why didn’t I tell on him? How am I going to stay away from him? I glanced at my young, fair face in the mirror, but the only thing I seemed to see was the terror. My blue eyes were shadowed by the fear, darkening them to a deeper cornflower blue. My face was pulled tight, almost frozen into a shocked expression.

Peak season: Available throughout the year.

Selection: Look for potatoes that are smooth, firm and free from blemishes, sunburn and decay. Avoid green potatoes which will have a bitter flavor. Also, avoid potatoes with bruises, sprouts or have a shriveled skin.

Storage: Protect from sunlight or artificial light which can cause green spots (a sign of too much light) and makes the potato inedible. Store in a well-ventilated area, preferably a wooden container with slats. Store in temperatures above freezing. When buying potatoes in a plastic bag, remove them immediately when you get home from the grocery store to prevent humidity from rotting them.

Preparation: New potatoes can be used for creaming or boiling. The round and long types of potatoes can be used for boiling, frying and baking. Choose more carefully the potatoes that you bake. A common variety for baking is the Russet potato.

“We have heard and seen enough to know that teens are in trouble,” says Dr. Claire LeBlanc, a member of the Canadian Pediatric Society. “Research shows that only 36 per cent of Canadians under age 19 are active enough to maintain cardiovascular health. The disease process leading to osteoporosis (brittle-bone disease), hypertension and cardiovascular disease begins in childhood if physical activity levels are insufficient.”

Adds LeBlanc: “We can help prevent these diseases through an active lifestyle.”

Kids can best benefit from getting at least 40 minutes of physical education daily at school. However, only 10 per cent of 15,800 Canadian schools have quality daily physical education programs.

Exercise increases blood flow and nutrient and oxygen use in the brain so it increases alertness, working memory capacity, optimism and in many cases, exam performance too!

Physical education classes are the most powerful factors in school which influence student activity behaviours, but there are others, including recess periods, intramural sports, proper facilities and school officials.

The institute recommends that schools get students involved in planning, organizing and administering intramural programs, and that they increase access to safe play places and equipment before, during and after the school day, on weekends and during summer and other vacations.

If you’re not excited by the prospect of regular opportunities to learn life-time skills such as baseball, skiing, soccer, martial arts, dance, skating, swimming, basketball and gymnastics, try these other ideas: -Try a wide choice of activities beyond organized sports, such as planting a garden, washing the car, playing tag, vacuuming, walking the dog, shovelling snow, building a snowman,  mopping the floors or sweeping the garage.

-Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a brisk walk, try a new activity, or leave the car at home for short trips.

-Be active. Plan activities like hiking, cycling, walking or skating with your buddies and significant others.

Raspberry leaves improve uterine muscle tone in females, and are believed to help to relieve menstrual cramps. Manganese is important for fat metabolism, healthy nerves and immune system, blood sugar regulation and breast milk production. The fruit also supplies a B vitamin, folic acid, for healthy red blood cell production, and niacin and riboflavin to boot.

Blackberries are closely related to raspberries but are more perishable. When picked in early July, they tend to be quite tart, changing to sweet as it ripens. They’re best used to day they’re picked, and taste great in jams, pies ad cobblers. The humble blackberry is high in folic acid, potassium and magneiusm. Great for diarrhea and hemorrhoids, and a great blood cleanser.
Factoids:
The powdery gloss on blueberries is actually a natural protective coating.
A 3.5 ounce or 95 mL serving contains 13 mg of vitamin C and 89 mg of potassium. Look for firm berries, uniform in size with a deep indigo blue and silvery frost. Don’t wash until ready to use.
Blueberries are more frequently found in supermarkets than raspberries or blackberries due to their ease of transport, flavor and high yield per blueberry bush. The range of varieties means that blueberry harvests can start in June and continue through late August.

The plants continue to bear fruit for up to 40 years, and will produce berries for up to three weeks each year. Blueberries are a great source of vitamin A, iron and manganese. They have a slight laxative effect due to their high fiber content, and are useful in countering urinary tract infections. They also have a documented positive effect on night vision and other eye functions. Eaten fresh, blueberries will help heal mouth infections.

Huckleberries are often confused with blueberries. They’re either blue or red and are found growing in the wild. The huckleberry is one of the oldest living plants on earth; one plant in Pennsylvania covers several square miles and is estimated to be over 13000 years old!

Strawberries have the largest global harvest of all the berries. They’re easy to grow, and have the highest vitamin C and ellagic acid of all the berries. Wild strawberries have a sweet flavor unlike any other berry. It takes time and patience to gather more than a handful since they’re usually less than one centimeter in diameter! They’re usually found in wooded areas, so they great subjects make great fruit-treasure hunting expeditions.

Strawberries help to clean the skin and blood and break down toxins in the liver. They’re also great for cardiac health and are easily digested, though the seeds may irritate those with bowel disorders. Strawberry leaf tea can be used to ease diarrhea and increase the flow of breast milk.

Most berries are fragile, and strawberries are prone to bruising if allowed to become overly ripe before eating. All berries freeze well; just lay them in a flat tray on a baking sheet and place in the freezer in one flat layer to prevent clumping. Then scoop them into an empty milk carton container or Ziplock bag for future use-blueberries will keep from 10 months to 1 year.

To help you deal with back problems or avoid, them follow our suggestions below:

- Adjust your office chair so your arms are in a parallel position to your spine, and your forearms are leaning at a 90 degree angle to your upper arms. If needed, adjust your chair up or down so that your arms can reach this position. Many current office chairs are adjustable in an up or down position, so you don’t have any excuse not to have your chair in the right position.

- Make use of the arm rests on your office chair. These should be moved so your arms are somewhat lifted at the shoulders; this will take some of the strain off your neck and shoulders. Your backside should be close against the back of the chair and there should be a cushion that positions your lower back slightly forward so that you can prevent slouching. Try not to slouch down in a chair, since this will put pressure on your lower back.

- Take breaks regularly. Walk around and do some stretching. Exercises can be done so you can stay mobile and help take away stress that can pile up while you are working.

- As you are seated with your backside close to the back of the chair, attempt to put a closed fist in the middle of your calf and the chair. If you can’t do this then your chair should be readjusted. You can adjust the backrest forward or use a lower back support as an alternative.

- Your eyes should look at the middle of your monitor. If not, you need to move the VDU or chair in the right position.

- Make the effort to exercise to remain fit and healthy. Yoga is a gentle way to exercise and help lessen stress, which is an additional possible reason for back pain. Stress causes your muscles to tighten up, possibly causing trouble.

- Legally, your employer is required to look out for the health and well being of its workers. They can assess your risks for you and they must do something about any reports of bad health resulting from work. Speak with your boss if you think they can do something to make your working environment better.

As we age, the stress put upon our joints from everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs and bending begins to take a heavy toll on our knee joints. The knees are the largest joint in the body and have the responsibility of supporting your body weight every time you twist, turn, bend, walk or run. It’s not surprising then that the knees are often the first joints to begin feeling the painful effects of arthritis and aging.

There is a debilitating type of arthritis that affects the knees called Osteoarthritis or OA. A remarkable 16 million Americans suffer from this kind of arthritis. This condition is a painful and often debilitating type of arthritis that attacks the fluid inside the knee joint. This fluid, called synovial fluid, acts as a lubricant in the knee joint and absorbs shock put up on the knee by daily activities. OA begins to dissolve the fluid, which in turn leaves the cartilage that allows our knees to bend to become damaged. Once this happens it’s hard to even rise from a chair, let alone even attempt to climb a single stair.

Luckily, there is a new treatment for OA. In 1997 the FDA approved Synvisc, a medication, which helps replace the joint fluid destroyed by OA. In the past doctors have used anti-inflammatories, joint braces, and joint replacement surgery to treat patients affected by OA. Since its release, Synvisc has been used by millions of people with good results, and it may be used in combination with other treatments to provide long-lasting relief from pain.

Synvisc isn’t an oral drug. It’s derived from the exact same chemical found in joints, Hylan A. This substance is responsible for lubricating the joint and allowing flexibility. Synvisc has been manufactured into a substance that can be injected directly into the joint space where it can replace damaged synovial fluid and supplement your own bodily fluid to improve flexibility and range of motion. Though Synvisc is used primarily in the knee joint, some Physicians report having used it in the hip and shoulder joints with good outcomes.

Synvisc can be administered in a doctor’s office in a series of three injections, given one week apart. Once administered, patients have reported feeling consistent relief from joint pain within 8-12 weeks. Synvisc offers a long-term solution to chronic joint pain, and may be repeated 6 months to a year after the last series was completed. There have been no reported side effects to Synvisc, and because it’s not a drug, there are few contraindications to using it with other medications.

Though Synvisc offers a non-surgical alternative to joint pain, it may not be the first choice your physician offers to treat your OA. A trial of anti-inflammatories and possibly Cortisone injections to the painful joint are often tried first. Some insurance companies are requiring that doctors take these measures of treatment before giving Synvisc because of its high cost. Some insurance companies do not yet cover it, so be sure to check with insurance provider before your physician gives you that first injection.

As with any new medication, be sure to talk in depth with your physician before receiving it. Do your own research to make sure the treatment is right for you.

How is diet of an assistance in the control of asthma symptoms? Specific foods act on the body to decrease inflammation, thereby reducing asthma symptoms. Asthma is an ailment defined not just by restricted airways, but also swelling which causes extra mucous to be made and obstruct airways. When airways are swollen, they have a tendency to close up and cause you to feel uncomfortable and occasionally have harmful symptoms of asthma.

What should your diet consist of for the minimization of symptoms when you have asthma? Most likely, just changing the way you eat won’t be an asthma cure alone, but eating healthy might reduce the number of attacks and make them less trouble by decreasing the inflammation. The first thing to do is to avoid processed foods as much as you can and substitute fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of junk foods loaded with sugar and saturated fats can also cause inflammation. Some people with asthma notice their symptoms come on with an intake of Sulfites.  Sulfites are often found in canned and processed foods. There are high amounts of antioxidants as well as anti inflammatory phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables that are beneficial for the immune system and conquer the inflammatory response.

People who suffer from asthma can benefit from a diet that contains fish. Fatty fish like salmon contain omega-3’s which are documented as having anti-inflammatory effects. Research with children discovered that if they used fish oil supplements, their asthma symptoms got better. Harvard Medical School researchers found out that omega 3 has a substance known as Resolvin E1 that assists with the reduction of airway inflammation and might be the reason for omega 3’s benefits when it comes to asthma. Eat fish that contains fat, like sardines, mackerel, and salmon; but don’t eat too much because some fish contain high levels of mercury and PCB’s.

To figure out whether certain foods cause asthma symptoms to develop, try writing down what you eat for a few weeks, keeping track of everything you eat as well as how your asthma reacts to this. You will learn within several weeks what foods trigger your asthma symptoms. To attempt to reduce the symptoms of asthma, get rid of the food triggers that are suspect.

And lastly, be certain you ingest enough vitamin D when you have asthma. Asthmatic attacks and severe asthma symptoms are connected to a lack of vitamin D. The sun is the ideal source for this vital vitamin, but fish oils, enriched cereals and milk have vitamin D as well. Talk to your doctor about checking your level of Vitamin D.  You may need a supplement if it is abnormally low.