My Mom & Chichi

This is a picture that I worked on with Ulead Photo Impact 8. It is my mother and her puppy Chi Chi. Chi chi is a full blooded toy poodle that mom will breed when she turns two years old. Right now she is like a kangaroo as she hops everywhere and likes to get into things. That is a puppy for you. I hope you enjoy the altered pic! Below is a picture of some of my mother's orchids as that is one of her favorite flowers.

Pancake Poison and Paranoia

Mold in Outdated Pancake Mix Causes Acute Allergic Reaction
Netlore Archive: Email flier quotes a 'Dear Abby' column in which a parent describes her 14-year-old son's severe allergic reaction to mold in outdated pancake mix
Description: Email flierCirculating since: April 2006Status: TrueAnalysis: See below

Email example contributed by C. Cooper, 17 April 2006:
PANCAKES MADE FROM OLD MIX CAUSE ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTION
DEAR ABBY: I recently made a batch of pancakes for my healthy 14-year-old son, using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted "funny," but ate them anyway. About 10 minutes later, he began having difficulty breathing and his lips began turning purple. I gave him his allergy pill, had him sit on the sofa and told him to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling.
My husband, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soon, his breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color.
We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found it was very outdated. As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male DYING after eating pancakes made with outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic!
When we told our friends about my son's close call, we were surprised at the number of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they don't use it often, or they had purchased it some time ago. With so many people shopping at warehouse-type stores and buying large sizes of pancake mix, I hope your readers will take the time to check the expiration date on their boxes. -- SUE IN WYANTSKILL, N.Y.
DEAR SUE: Thank you for the warning. I certainly was not aware that pancake mix could turn moldy and cause an allergic reaction in someone with an allergy to mold -- but it's logical. I wonder if the same holds true for cake mix, brownie mix and cookie mix. If so, then a warning should be placed on the box for people like me.
We hear so often about discarding prescription and over-the-counter medications after their expiration dates, but I don't recall warnings about packaged items in the pantry. Heads up, folks!
Comments: This "Dear Abby" column was published in newspapers in April 2006. The story checks out. As Abby's correspondent mentions, her son's allergic reaction to the "funny-tasting" pancakes she fed him matches a case reported in the September 2001 issue of the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology in which a 19-year-old male with mold allergies died of anaphylactic shock after consuming pancakes made from an outdated mix.
Note that in both cases, the patient experiencing the attack had specific allergies pertaining to food molds.
These molds can grow in all kinds of food products, not just baking mixes, bacteriologist Chris Atkinson notes in an article in The Hub Weekly, so it behooves consumers to monitor the expiration dates on packaged foods across the board. Since not all food molds are visible to the naked eye or detectable by smell, nor are the mycotoxins they produce eliminated by cooking, Atkinson recommends a better-safe-than-sorry approach and shares several helpful tips for preventing mold contamination of food in the home.

Sources and further reading:
Dear Abby: Mold Could Be Lurking in Old Pancake MixUniversal Press Syndicate, 13 April 2006
An Unusual Case of Anaphylaxis - Mold in Pancake Mix(Abstract) American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, September 2001
Pancake ParanoiaTheHubWeekly.com, article by bacteriologist Chris Atkinson

Gwen Araujo The Lifetime True Story

In Memory of Gwen Amber Rose Araujo
February 24, 1985 to October 4, 2002 Murdered at age 17


Imagine feeling like you're trapped in the wrong body, that there's been some sort of mistake — that you're supposed to be a girl instead of a boy. How would you tell your family and friends that you wanted to change genders? Would you bring it up with someone you had a crush on? And what would you do when society not only refused to accept the new you, but was violent toward you? Well, Eddie Araujo didn't know the answers, but he did know he was supposed to be female, so he began to dress as a girl and changed his name to Gwen.
You won't believe what Gwen endured just to live her life as who she was and feel normal. It's a shocking true story about courage and tolerance, and is sure to stay with you long after the credits roll.
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland Written by: Shelley Evans

This Gender Identity Disorder is common and so misunderstood and even less tolerated. Please see the two links below. One is of the actual Gwen and her mother and the other is an article out of Rolling Stone magazine. Post your comments PLEASE!

http://www.jaimesite.homestead.com/GwenAraujo.html

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6959159/the_murder_of_a_boy_named_gwen/

The true story and Lifetime movie touched me and I plan to volunteer in the community to help young people and give them the guidance and support they need. I hope I can help and that this society will become a little less ignorant! Gwen's murder was a HATE crime regardless of what the court said!!

“A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story”
Replays:
June 25, Sunday, 9:00 pm et/pt and again on June 30, Friday, 9:00 pm et/pt

Resources
The following organizations are working to end discrimination and promote tolerance in schools and communities nationwide:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Horizons Foundation
National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Transgender Law Center
YWCA

Deep Stealth Productions

TS Roadmap

Locally we are very lucky to have: ALSO

Fun With Friends On Father's Day

Our friends Robin and Bethany came down to Bradenton from New Tampa. We headed to the track where we go four wheeling and dirt biking, then to Daddy B's place for some Golf Carting and more four wheeling, and then Friendly's Restaraunt. It was very hot out today but the kids and adults had a blast. Thanks for coming down you two!!! See you soon :)

Wild West Walmart

It was just a usual Saturday after Parasailing we went to get Anthony's haircut at Walmart Super Center. Within minutes all hell broke loose this white trash (Jerry Springer reject of a mother) came into the salon yelling at Caroline the stylist and manager. "What the f*c% did you do to my son's hair...you call this a haircut?...I am going to kick your a$% ..." I told Caroline to call security and then I went to the entrance and mentioned calmly for the woman and her redneck ignorant husband that they may want to leave as security was coming. Her husband told her to hit Caroline and after I mentioned for her to leave...obsecenities flew my way. Think people all of this because of a haircut and it actually looked fine! These trashy people made a huge scene and were just trying to get a refund. You are probably asking well how did it end. Martha asked me to stay out of it and yet I defended the manager and they left and she thanked me and told security who arrived a whole lot later that I was a hero. Martha was right though these days you never know if people are packing heat so I guess I should start carrying my GLOCK around more often. That is how the West was won at Walmart. What would you have done? By the way Anthony's hair came out great and he and his brother Derek got a good laugh out of it!

Parasailing Fun

This morning Anthony and I went Parasailing for our first time. It was very relaxing and a whole bunch of fun. We were 500 feet above the Gulf of Mexico and I saw a huge Sea Turtle and Anthony spotted some Stingrays. We used Fun In The Sun Parasailing (941) 795-1000 and I highly recommend them. We want to put a big shout out to Dave to thank him for hooking us up and doing such a great job making the parachutes, harnesses, and ropes. Enjoy the pics!

The Real Deal Anthony Easton!!

Anthony has been racing since he was 13 years old beginning at the Port Charlotte, FL track in the mini stock division. The Real Deal Easton #95 enjoys racing at Desoto Speedway and has been there for about 1 and 1/2 years now he has a little less than 20 trophies for the Cowboy Cadillac races. His father William Easton spends a great deal of time with him training and preparing for these races. Check out the 2 attached links by clicking on the buttons below and there will be plenty more to come!!! In his freetime Anthony enjoys dirt biking, four wheeling, driving his 67 camaro, fishing, playing lead guitar, and of course the ladies. Our son also attends Center Academy in Bradenton Florida where he is an above average student. You can reach him at either of the following email addresses hottiekidfl@aol.com or hottiekidfl@verizon.net.

STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lousy Weather

Well it is pouring today and the news said we might have a tropical storm as the start of the glorious Hurricane season was on June 1st. My dogs would not go outside to the bathroom this morning because they are afraid of the rain. Lets think about that...hmmm I can see us calling into the office and telling our boss that we cannot come into the office because it is raining. That would go over real well. I am at the same job I have been at for over four years now and in a different capacity. For the first four years I worked as an Independent Living Counselor assisting those with severe and persistent mental illness to recover roles and duties in their lives. I am now in a position that I feel was doomed from the start! I was offered a promotion with the promise of more and it ended up being a lateral promotion. I am supposed obtain referrals from another agency and get people jobs...there are zero referrals and a zero case load. Anyways is it raining there? It is now 10:35 p.m. and it is so windy the street signs are moving and I am not able to sleep as I am a tiny bit worried. That is the price we pay for sunshine, oranges, and beaches.

The Slow Process/Building A Home

The Lot is Sold to Martha & Lori Cruz

The Future '07!

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The trickiest part was selling our other 2 homes...YIKES talk about a hair pulling experience. The first Real Estate lady we had did not know her head from (well you know) and then we lucked out. Tim Lester (1-941-524-8465) of Horizon Realty in Manatee County, Florida http://www.manateehomelink.com/ swooped into our lives and sold one home in 24 hours and the other in less than 20 days. He knows the prices, location, interest rates, and is a real go getter. Thanks again Tim if you are reading this you took a lot of stress out of our lives. People you must understand we already signed a contract to build the new home closing contingent on the sale of two of our other three properties.

Seven dogs in one house!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha ha I am 33 and fortunate enough to be able to move into my mother's home. My partner, two sons, and four dogs. Mom's dogs are Sassy, Queen, Mini Me, and Chi chi and mine are Rogue (Shep-mix), Little Bit (Basenji-mix), and Isabel (Shitzu). We are awaiting the building of our new dream home and sold our others first :) Stay tuned to this site for at least the next twelve months to learn the trials and tribulations of this household and our ever evolving lives...Ha ha!