How to Eat to Prevent Cancer

Of course, staying away from processed and artificial foods and eating as organic as possible is important, too. Raw veggies are better than when they are cooked. In other words, the more natural, the better for you!

If you or someone you care about already has cancer, my doctor's website, Health Quest, has more advice. --LKR

Letter to the Editor on Healthcare

This is a note written as a Letter to the Editor in the Clarion Ledger by Dr. Roger Starner Jones, an ER doc in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dear Sirs:

During my last night’s shift in the ER, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient with a shiny new gold tooth, multiple elaborate tattoos, a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and a new cellular telephone equipped with her favorite R&B; tune for a ring tone.

Glancing over the chart, one could not help noticing her payer status: Medicaid.

She smokes more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and, somehow, still has money to buy beer. And our President expects me to pay for this woman’s health care?

Our nation’s health care crisis is not a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. It is a crisis of culture – a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on vices while refusing to take care of one’s self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance.

A culture that thinks I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me.

You don't have to be a health care worker to appreciate what this brave and honest man has said. Sure, there are going to be some people who need some help, like the disabled, single moms, or people out of work, but people who's income are handouts are wrong.

I'm always amazed while standing in line at the store and watch as people put a cart full of unhealthy junk "food" onto the conveyor belt, then pay by food stamps. Not to stereotype, but it's often overweight women that I observe in these lines, and in summer attire, you can often see many sporting tatoos. I think tatoos are cool, but where are they getting money for something like that, and why aren't they purchasing better foods to nourish their bodies?

Better food choices will keep them--and their children--out of the doctor's office thus keeping healthcare costs down. There is truth to, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"! Thank you, Dr. Jones, for your common sense conclusion on the health care crisis. --LKR

Scuba Kitty and Feline Demonstrating Proper Etiquette!

Christmas Family Get-Together

We hosted Christmas in our home, this year, and had a blast! Since moving from the Chicago area and away from long-time friends and our church's youth group (that we hosted monthly), we don't do a whole lot of entertaining, anymore.

The menu is the same at Thanksgiving as it is for Christmas: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, rice stuffing, gluten-free bread stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, canned cranberry sauce, and a gluten-free green bean casserole--or just served with sliced almonds as it was for today.
Every year, starting right after Thanksgiving, begins dessert making. Cookies, candy, and other goodies are made for friends, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, and last but not least, family. Our large freezer, aka garage, keeps these treats safe and cool 'til the opportune time.

Because a large crowd was coming, my youngest made a veggie tray while I made a parsley ranch dip shortly before family arrived. Cheeses and sausage also were served. A few days before this, I also whipped up two different cheeseballs. Gluten-free crackers accompanied these appetizers. Salmon pinwheels made with rice tortillas, a big hit, were a new hors d'oeuvre that wes served, this year.
After the feasting, there was a flurry of activity. Time flew by too fast, and soon people began trickling out, family by family.

A very Merry Christmas and Hannukah to you all! --LKR

Hunger Strike???

Q: How do you tell if a snake is sleeping? A: You can't! They sleep with their eyes open!

Actually, if the scaled creature is all curled up and looks comfy and cozy, chances are he is asleep. However, when they are "lounging" over rocks and branches, your guess is as good as mine!

Our little fox snake still has his wild instincts and goes into semi-hibernation from fall to spring. This is the second season of winter we've had Jake, so I was familiar with it. Early on, he gets rather urgent in his slitherings, more than likely looking for a suitable place to do some serious snoozing.

My real quandary is this: How often do I feed him? I feel like an awful mother when he rejects food I've offered. So, he's not hungry, but I still worry--did he eat enough the last time I fed him??? Well, he obviously thinks so, but you know us moms. You can imagine the scenario:

"What?! You're going to be sleeping for how long, and that's all you ate?! Eat! Here's a fuzzy! If you don't eat that, I'll get you a smaller-sized portion. Oh, here's a pinkie for you anyway, just in case! Now, eat! Pleeeeese eat?"

A very knowledgeable man from a local pet shop came to my rescue, telling me I had an ideal situation. He wished domesticated snakes wouldn't loose that God-given instinct. "They eat less, and as a result, grow slower so you don't have to buy them a larger home as often," Jim told me.

Actually, I wouldn't mind that, but at least I now know for certain that eating even a little about once a month or so is normal. It's always nice to have something other than "huntches" to go on, you know? Especially when you have a critter whose well-being depends upon you!

There are choices. Jake can be kept warmer with a light added to make him think it's not wintertime. He can be kept the way he is, thinking he's in a warmer state like Kentucky or Kansas. Or, his quarters could be made darker and cooler to sleep away the winter blues and blahs.

Which would you choose? --LKR