Ooh, A Squirrel!

Life Hacks: In the Kitchen

2015-11-11T15:08:00.000-06:00

Use dish gloves to open jars.
To save leftover liquids like chicken stock, freeze them in ice cube trays. Once they’re frozen, can store them in anything you like.
Put open ice cream containers in freezer bags. It keeps it soft and prevents freezer burn.
To prevent cheese from molding: fold a paper towel down to a 2 inch square, dampen with vinegar (barely damp), wrap cheese in the paper towel and place inside a zip lock bag and refrigerate.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It stays fresh much longer and won't mold.
To remove coffee stains from the inside of a glass carafe: (carafe should be room temperature) add 4 teaspoons of salt, 1 cup ice (crushed works best), 1 tablespoon water. Gently swirl until clean.
To clean brass or gold: squirt a spoonful of ketchup onto a clean, dry cloth. Work it into the brass or gold surface. Let a thin layer dry on the surface. Wet another cloth and wipe off the ketchup. Use a dry cloth to buff the metal, until it shines.
Use coffee filters to clean glass. No fibers or streaks.
To remove gritty residue from the bottom of a flower vase: Mix 1/3 cup salt and 2 tablespoons vinegar, to form a paste. Apply to the inside of the vase and let stand for 20 minutes. Scrub and discard paste. Rinse and dry.
To remove burned on spills from your stove top or oven: wet surface thoroughly, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for 1 hour. Wipe away the baked on mess. Repeat if necessary.
To prevent your bananas from ripening too quickly, break up the bunch and store them in a six pack carrier. Bananas ripen much faster in a bunch.
To make it much easier to pull the garbage bag out of the can, drill holes around the bottom. It stops the suctioning effect.

Did You Know...

2015-10-27T17:19:00.001-05:00

Did you know that if you keep a condom in your wallet for longer than a month, it wears down and has a 50% greater chance of breaking?
Did you know that if you go to KFC at closing time, they will probably give you extra chicken and other types of food?
Did you know that if you use the promo code “9ANY” at Pizza Hut, you can get any pizza for $9?
Did you know that if you put a dryer sheet in your pocket, it will keep mosquitoes away?
Did you know that you can stop static cling with a safety pin? Just attach the pin to an inconspicuous seam or hem.
Did you know that if you are stuck on a level of Candy Crush, you can play in the Facebook platform and get a lot of boosters?
Did you know that if you type in “listen to” after the www. on youtube.com it will download the song?
Did you know that if you put your phone in airplane mode in spotty coverage areas it extends battery life?
Did you know that if you put your phone in airplane mode while playing games, it will prevent the ads?
Did you know an orgasm will stop the hiccups?
Did you know that if a Duracell battery leaks and destroys your device, Duracell will replace that device if you send it to them with the batteries still in place?
Did you know that if you lick someone's elbow when they aren't paying attention, they won't feel it?
Did you know that Wendy's has a policy that they will give free food to a customer if they say, “I am not from this area, I'm lost and I don't have any money”?
Did you know that someone won a Nobel prize for discovering that an anal massage can cure hiccups?
Did you know that OpenOffice is the same thing as Microsoft Office and it's free?
Did you know that Gimp is the same program as Photoshop and it's free?

More Reasons to Despise Asian Beetles

2015-10-24T15:31:00.003-05:00

Asian lady beetle

Over the past week, scores of Asian beetles have bivouacked on my screen door. They're driving me nuts. They get into everything. You can't keep them out. When I was a kid, I considered myself lucky to find a lady bug. Not these suckers. They're a plague.

Here are some interesting facts.

Did you know that someone deliberately brought the Asian beetle to the US? Yep. In 1988 they were introduced to combat native aphids. But they're so prolific that they have displaced our own beloved lady bug.

The Asian lady beetle can lay from 20-30 eggs a day. That's up to 3,800 eggs a season.
The reason so many of these pests congregate is that they are called by a pheromone they secrete in the fall.

Depending on temperature, Asian beetles can live anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. (Not if I see 'em.)
You may or may not know that Asian beetles bite. But I'll bet you didn't know that their bite can cause pink eye.
Asian beetles also have a defensive odor. So, like the stink bug, they stink if you smash 'em. Go ahead, try it.

What's the moral here? Humans rarely, if ever, improve the natural order.

Eighteen Months to Live - Review

2015-10-22T22:20:00.000-05:00

Eighteen Months to Live

by Rachele Baker

In the spring of 1990, Midge Rylander rushes to the hospital because of a persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. She believes she has pneumonia but her diagnosis turns out to be much worse. Malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lung cancer from prior exposure to asbestos.

Midge’s doctors advise her that she has less than eighteen months left to live. While recuperating at home, Midge begins a daily journal to document her experiences during her final months. Eighteen Months To Live is the transcription of Midge’s handwritten journal as well as letters that Midge wrote to her daughter Rachele during that time. Midge writes about her emotional struggles, her physical pain, and her search for answers.

My Review

How do you give a review on a woman’s last words in this world? How can you put a star rating on them? I don’t know but that is my task here.

Midge Rylander found that information about her disease, malignant pleural mesothelioma, was extremely scarce. Eighteen Month’s to Live is a collection of her journal entries and letters from the time she was diagnosed until her death in the spring of 1992. Midge dedicated her life to helping others and this journal is no different. Her final wish was to provide much needed information about her disease to doctors and patients everywhere. In this, with her daughter, Rachele Baker’s help, she succeeded.

Taken as a whole, the journal shows Midge’s journey of self-discovery and her struggle to deal with her physical and emotional issues. Half of the entries are limited to her physical symptoms and daily life. It is a challenge to read. However, between the lines, we all bear witness to her bravery, determination and will to survive. She chose to refuse treatment and live alone but she chose to live.

I can’t say that I enjoyed this ‘book’. Who would? But I am glad that I read it. If you pay attention, Midge can teach us all a thing or two about what is important in life and in death. Everyone should read this ‘book’ at least once but those that have a terminally ill loved one especially. Thank you, Rachele, for sharing your mother’s wonderful gift. It is truly priceless.

The Goldenwealth Light - Review

2015-10-22T22:18:00.000-05:00

The Goldenwealth Light
The Traveler of Ord Book 1
by Scott McCloskey
YA Fiction

Rather than being a hero with the fate of an entire world on his shoulders, Theodore Ellsworth spends his miserable days suffering merciless humiliation at the hands of prep-school bullies. It just so happens that an ancient prophecy, a shimmering city, and a herd of six-legged horses are about to change all that.

When a mysterious book transports Theo and his overachieving little sister Marie to a world full of wonders that defy anything he’s ever read about before, Theo finds himself accused of a crime he didn’t commit that carries the ultimate penalty. A reluctant princess, a winged gnome, and a hot-tempered young sorceress are there to help, but will they be enough to prove to an arrogant knight and thousands of fanatical citizens that the Ellsworth children aren’t an evil that must be destroyed?

Told in the tradition of classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Neverending Story, The Goldenwealth Light is the first book in a fun-filled romp through the unique realm of the Traveler of Ord, blending high adventure and deadly intrigue in a fanciful tapestry that will keep readers from ages ten to adult turning pages for hours.

My Review

The author provided a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

The Goldenwealth Light, the first in the Traveler of Ord Series, is an entrancing, riveting fantasy for all ages. If you liked The Chronicles of Prydain, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Neverending Story, this series is for you.

From the beginning, Theo Ellsworth captures your heart. He’s the kid with his nose stuck in a book, trying to escape his miserable life. An absent father, superficial mother and rich prep-school bullies all work to crush Theo’s spirit. The only person who truly cares about him is Marie, his over-achieving little sister. She doesn't know—he isn't a hero. Not yet. Theo finds a book in the school library that changes his life forever. The children are transported to Quaylund, where fantasy is reality. But Theo’s misfortune holds true. Chained like a criminal, he is put on trial for blasphemy. The penalty: death.

Scott McCloskey’s new world, Quaylund is depicted in rich detail, without overwhelming the reader. I could picture everything, from the stunning spires of the Gossamer City, to the forbidding shadows of the Reflectia Woods. Fresh, creative species abound but again are easily visualized and remembered. Character development was particularly impressive. Every character was dynamic, unique and memorable, their personalities and motivations unfolded, each in its proper time and place.

Theo’s struggle just to survive drew me in but the story wouldn't let me go. With his declaration of innocence, Theo makes his first step toward the hero he wants to be. I loved that he didn't miraculously transform from nerd to superstar. Each new situation is a learning experience for him as well as the reader. And no fantasy novel would be complete without a dangerous quest. Just waiting to see what was around the next corner kept me turning the page until it was finished.

There were only two small issues having to do with characters. Olby Noggin speaks with an accent. In some instances, his speech is a little difficult to understand. Just enough to slow the reader down, nothing major. The second is Marie’s habit of referring to Theo as Brother. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with it but it feels awkward to me. However, neither interfered with the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait until the next book is released.

Shadow of the Blood Moon - Review

2015-10-22T22:14:00.000-05:00

Shadow of the Blood Moon
The Blood Moon Series Volume 2
by Robin P. Waldrop
YA Fiction

Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster. Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces. Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late?

Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

My Review

The author, Robin Waldrop, hit her stride with this one. No one can compare this book to the Twilight Series (not without losing all credibility). The story is unique and riveting. There are enough action and plot twists to keep anyone turning the page. The characters were very well developed and scene description was vivid.

Gen has grown up a lot. I could relate to her much better than in the first book. Her feelings and reactions are no longer completely self-involved. Gen’s struggle over decisions in impossible situations made her a much more empathetic heroine. She’s still Gen, just more likable, which makes the relationships of the love triangle more believable. There is something for the guys to love. Waldrop didn't completely abandon the mystical angle between Gen, William and Joseph, though. She just backed it up with real people. I tend to favor Joseph. William is way too moody. William and Joseph are slowly becoming Will and Joe, while Gen is more often called Genevieve. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I guess Gen’s name change makes sense, given her position. I can even see Joseph calling William, Will. The one I have a problem with is Joseph. Joe is just… It feels awkward but new things often do. I’ll have to see with the next book.

That was the good; now the bad. Editing. Misspelled words, extra words, misused words, missing commas and missing words were fairly common. As much as I read, I expect a few errors but this was well past the norm. However, I wouldn't let that dissuade you from reading the book. It’s well worth your time.

Overall, this installment of The Blood Moon Series is wonderful. The characters, description and plot are outstanding. I can’t wait for book 3 to be released in a few weeks.

Whorticulture - Review

2015-10-22T22:13:00.000-05:00

Whorticulture
by Marie-Anne Mancio
Fiction

As a girl waits for the return of her disappeared father, the story of four migrant women unravels. In antebellum America: a daydreamer from the country gets an unexpected education on the Mississippi river; a storekeeper falls in love with a thief amid the chaos of Gold Rush San Francisco; a fugitive quadroon re-invents herself in a New York brothel; and a young bride is trapped on a Louisiana sugar plantation. Though they do not know it, their lives are inextricably linked by the men they encounter. Peopled by whores, tricksters, gamblers, do-gooders, liars, and fools, and with allusions to the coded language of flowers, Whorticulture is about prostitution in its myriad forms. Contains a helpful discussion guide for book groups and a flower dictionary.

My Review

The author provided a copy for my honest opinion.

Whorticulture gives us a glimpse into the lives of four women in nineteenth century America. They have never met, nor will they, but their lives are inextricably linked. Each woman’s tale is a piece added to the mosaic of a larger narrative, detailing the history, plight and choices of women in a male dominated society.

An incredible amount of research and thought went into this book. The format, title and use of historical flower dictionaries are as unique and clever as the women themselves. Mancio’s attention to detail is amazing. Her poetic description is beautiful and evocative. It drew me in and then it smothered me. Too much of a good thing, I think. The only other issue I had was the use of present tense. At first it felt awkward but halfway through the first story, I was acclimated.

My favorite story and character was the little devil, Seraphine. Her rambling way of telling her story was lively and entertaining. Abigail was my least favorite. Her frequent, short, jerky phrasing made it difficult to stay connected to her. As I finished the last line in the last story, I wanted to give Mancio a standing ovation. Nicely done. It’s a quote I want to remember. My memory being what it is, I’ll have to write it down.

Soldiers Rest - Review

2015-10-22T22:12:00.000-05:00

Soldiers Rest
by Kathryn Hohmann
Historical Fiction

A haunting historical mystery. Soldiers Rest explores the thin boundaries between illusion and truth, the past and the present.

It's 1899 in central Maryland when Tess McPherson marries into the powerful Wakefield family and moves to Soldier's Rest, their historic estate. She's expecting a bright future. Soon she knows that she's surrounded by wealth and cherished traditions – and a deadly secret.

Strolling the property, she discovers an abandoned greenhouse. Its transparent walls, worn dim by sunlight and rain, are made of glass-plate negatives salvaged after the Civil War years. In the glass panes, Tess can make out the faded, menacing faces of fighting men. Haunted by their images, she probes deeper, determined to learn why their spirits linger at Soldier's Rest. But the Wakefields will stop at nothing to prevent her from uncovering the truth.

My Review

The author provided a free copy of this book for my honest opinion.

Tess McPherson achieves her childhood dream by marrying into the powerful, high society Wakefield family. As a sensitive, Tess has had ‘spells’ her whole life but none more disturbing than what she encounters at Soldiers Rest, the Wakefield estate. Driven by her natural curiosity and compassion for Colonel Wakefield, she uncovers ancient secrets that may be best left buried, for everyone’s sake.

The tale of Soldiers Rest is a historical novel, beginning in 19th century Maryland that is obviously well researched. Author, Kathryn Hohmann, incorporates history into the story seamlessly and her imagery draws scenes in rich detail. Soldiers Rest begins slowly but gains momentum in chapter 3. Its unique story line is engaging and Tess McPherson’s character is well developed. Sentence length tends to be tedious, especially within the first two chapters and there is some unnecessary repetition. Overall, I enjoyed the book, though.

Ties to the Blood Moon - Review

2015-10-22T00:26:00.000-05:00

Ties to the Blood Moon
The Blood Moon Series Volume 1
by Robin P. Waldrop
YA Fiction

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

My Review

The author provided a free copy of this book for my honest opinion.

Ties to the Blood Moon, the first in the YA Blood Moon series, is the story of Gen Labreck’s initiation into the supernatural world of werewolves and vampires. Being the mother of three teen girls, I didn't find Gen’s behavior and attitude completely unrealistic but I did find her unlikable and annoying. However, the mystery held my attention, allowing me to ignore this mild irritation. What I did find very distracting were the grammatical and punctuation mistakes, as well as awkward or repetitive phrases.

The author, Robin Waldrop, relies heavily on mysticism to jump-start Gen’s romantic interests, which in my opinion just doesn't work. I never cared about either of the guys in the love triangle, since I wasn't under the same spell that the heroine was. There was more development of the relationship with Joseph; enough that I felt a tug of pity for him at the end. But that was it. Personally, I would rather have more character development than know what kind of jeans Gen wore on a particular day or what Aunt Bev’s room looked like.

I read some of Waldrop's other reviews for Ties to the Blood Moon and the major complaint seemed to be the similarity between Twilight and her book. Yes, the scene backdrops are in this book but the story and outcome is different. I didn't find them as objectionable as others obviously did, although, I found them a little gimmicky. Once past the Twilight-esk props, which mostly end about a quarter of the way into the book, it is an original, interesting plot. Coincidentally, this is where the story’s pace picks up speed and captures the reader’s interest (at least mine).

Constant twists and turns in the story keep the reader guessing until the climax, which doesn't disappoint. What was a let-down was the end. It felt rushed and weak, as if Waldrop didn't know what to do next. Coincidentally, this is also where she returns to the Twilight crutch.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the Blood Moon Series. I have even recommended it to one of my daughters and a friend.

Battle Against Toenail Fungus - Week 4

2015-10-21T19:55:00.002-05:00

No, I do not have a foot fetish.

*Sigh* I have literally nothing new to tell you. I put the vapor rub on every night this week. There have been no changes. I'm getting a little discouraged here.

It occurred to me that just from the images, someone might think I have a foot fetish. Or at the very least, a toe fetish. Yuck. Just—yuck.

Remember to check back here next week for an update on my personal battle against...

Shopping for a Template - Blogger

2015-10-21T16:48:00.001-05:00

Lunafy Blogger template

As you can see, we have a new look. After yet another session of tweaking my template, I was disgusted. It still looked like a kindergartner's attempt at making mom breakfast. Everything was cobbled together and it showed. There had to be a better way.

I thought, Maybe Wordpress has better theme options. So, I toddled over to Wordpress.com. It was—disappointing. I had a Wordpress website once upon a time, as Michaela McGregor. But that was Wordpress.org. Wordpress.com is a whole different kettle of fish.

Wordpress.com

Wordpress.org

If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, you aren't alone. Most people have heard of Wordpress. Wordpress is to blogs what the Colonel is to chicken. They redefined blogging or maybe defined it. But there are actually two different blogging entities named Wordpress. Wordpress.com is a blogging platform/community that hosts free blogs for the masses and is similar to Blogger. Wordpress.org is also a blogging platform/community, but it's for websites. If you have your own website, (i.e. a domain and host) you can download Wordpress and build your site with it. I loved it. It was very easy to deal with. There were tons of themes with every layout and color you can imagine. And the plugins rock! Alas, Wordpress.com doesn't have plugins. And the themes or templates they have didn't do what I wanted them to do.

Finally, it occurred to me to look for a custom made Blogger template. Talk about your DUH moment. I'm still kicking myself for all the time I wasted. Whatev's. It's done.

So, I typed Blogger templates in Chrome's handy-dandy omnibox and... Whoa. It was going to take a while. And it did. It took two weeks to find a Blogger template that did what I wanted and that I liked the look of. The main obstacle was finding templates that weren't black text on a white background. It kills my eyes to stare at black text in a sea of white. But most websites are still black on white. As a matter of fact, the template you are looking at was the ONLY one that had the features I was looking for and something other than white as a background. Sad. So, so sad. But, if my daughter hadn't given this one a thumbs-up, I would have bitten my tongue and gone with white as a background.

If you are looking for a Blogger template, I have some suggestions.

Make a list of all the features you are looking for and keep it where you can see it. It's like going into a model home. It's easy to get lost in all the shiny newness of it and forget to imagine your furniture in the rooms.
Make sure you test out everything. Don't make the same mistake as the designers. Use the demo. Click all the links. Where are they? Are they convenient? If you didn't like it, neither will your readers.
Find out if there is any kind of support. Most of us are going to use free templates. As a rule, free automatically means no support. But I saw a couple of themes where the people who paid the $10 for a license couldn't get a simple question answered. That's pretty bad. I didn't bother trying to install either of them.
Read through the instructions first. Are they complete? Can you follow them? I had a few false starts with templates, strictly because the directions were so poorly written, I couldn't follow them.
Before you install a new template, backup your current template first. If you don't know how, see this post.
Before you install a new template, remove any CSS or HTML you have added to your current template. Any alterations you made will probably mess with your new template and might even break it.

Move the Date Below the Post Title - Blogger

2015-10-14T00:31:00.002-05:00

I've seen a lot of other pages with tutorials on how to move the date under the post title. They all involved directly altering your template. And exactly none of them worked for me. I'm thinking that those posts were before Blogger did it's big design change. Either that or I screwed up every time I followed their directions. That's a ton of screwing up. Regardless, I found another, simpler way to accomplish the same thing. Ready? Let's do it.

1) Login to Your Blogger Account

2) Click Layout

Choose Layout from the menu
on the left side of your screen

3) Click Edit

At the bottom of the "Main" window, click edit

4) Uncheck Date

Uncheck the first date option

5) Check the Second Date Option

Make sure the second date option is checked.

Tip: Your blog will likely have "at" in the box before the date. I didn't like the way that looked, so I changed it to spaces. You will notice the box isn't blank in the image. It says, "   ". The gobbletygook is "escaped code". When working on a website/blog, if you type a character that is used for coding, it will trigger HTML and stuff goes wonky. Or in this case, HTML doesn't use spaces, so they're completely ignored. Here is a link to an HTML/escaped characters converter, if you're interested.

6) Drag the Second Date Option Under Post Title

Scroll down to the bottom of the window.
Click and drag the date under the post title.

7) Click Save

You're done! YeeHaw! It took a million times longer to figure this out than it did to actually do it.

As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please bring them up in the comments below. I'll be more than happy to address them. Thank you.

Battle Against Toenail Fungus - Week 3

2015-10-13T11:42:00.000-05:00

There isn't much to tell this week. I've only been applying the vapor rub at night. It's simply too much of a pain to keep it on during the day. Everything sticks to your toes. You wind up walking around barefoot with dirt and pet hair sticking to your toenails. Ick.

Ahem. I have a confession to make. I've been bad. I haven't been soaking my feet or filing all the sides every time. Hmm... Now that I think about it, you can't file your toenails every day. LOL. If you did, that might be an even faster method of getting rid of toenail fungus. Eventually, you would be past the nail and into the bed of your nail. But the vapor rub would probably sting like a mo-fo, though. Can't have that. Anyway. That's my big secret. I'm human.

I don't know if you can tell, but my nails are starting to turn a brownish color around the edges. This is normal. Eventually, they turn almost black. Bleh. Bright side? At least that way, you know it's doing something.

A friend who saw my last post called me a 'water slapper'. I had a good chuckle over it. I'd never heard that one before. It probably came from the tendency of people who walk around barefoot at the pool to catch toenail fungus. That's my best guess. Either way, it's kind of funny.

Backup and Restore Your Template - Blogger

2015-10-12T21:43:00.000-05:00

Anytime you change a color, add a widget or "tweak" your header, you are altering your template, regardless if you are editing the HTML yourself. And every time you do, it's one more chance for the template to be FUBAR. Before you make any changes, you should always backup your template. Always. You never know when something will go wrong. I say 'when' because something will go wrong at some point. Murphy was right. You will smack yourself in the forehead and say, "What the %&*# is this?" Make it easier on yourself. Do a backup. Okay, lecture over.

Backing up and restoring your template is so easy, once you know where the buttons are. The directions are the same for both until you get to step 4.

1) Log into your Blogger account.

2) Click Template

On the left side of your screen, select Template

3) Click Backup/Restore

In the upper right hand corner of your browser is the button you're looking for

Here's where you choose to either:
4a) backup your template
4b) restore your template

4a) Backup Template

Choose Download full template. Another popup (from your computer this time) asks where to save the file. Choose a location you will be able to find again. Click save.

That's it. You have now backed up your template. Easy peasy.

So, what do you do if the unthinkable happens? No sweat. Since you did a backup, restoring is a snap. Follow the same steps above until you get to number 4. Instead of choosing to download your template, you need to upload the file you just saved to your computer.

4b) Restore Template

A popup asks which file you want to upload. Select your backup file. The name will be something like template-abunchofnumbers.xml. Click upload.

You have now restored your template. Simple, right? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.

Battle Against Toenail Fungus - Week 2

2015-10-06T18:07:00.002-05:00

Tools used for toenail fungus treatment

As I explained in my first two posts, I began my regimen by washing my hands and tools with antibacterial soap. I absolutely do NOT want this to spread.

I clipped my nails down as far as was comfortable and filed every surface of the infected nails.

The suds are antibacterial soap.

I soaked my feet in warm water for 5 minutes to soften the nails.

Then I scrubbed my feet and toes, paying special attention to the nails. Picture a surgeon scrubbing for surgery.

Once I had gone over every surface, I thoroughly dried my feet and washed my tools again.

My toes after the treatment

It was all down hill after that. I slathered on the vapor rub. You really need to get it in all the nooks and crannies, even up under the nail as well as you can.

The picture shows kind of a goopy mess. It doesn't need to be that thick, unless you're going to put on socks. If that's the case, I would put it on pretty heavily, then be careful until the sock is past your toes. The goal is to let the vapor rub permeate your nails.

It stays on pretty well in shoes, but if you have to wear heels to work, I would probably stick with a bedtime application. Anyway, that's my spiel for this week.

Fish Antibiotics for People?

2015-10-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

Fish antibiotics I ordered online

I've read over and over that this is common knowledge. People take antibiotics intended for use in aquariums. Someone forgot to send me the memo. I just found out.

I thought, No, F'n way! It can't be safe, can it? Does it work? You be the judge. It is, after all, your life.

Before we go any further, I want to make sure everyone understands that the manufacturer/distributor of this product has done nothing illegal or ethically questionable. The product shown in the images is clearly marked "Not For Human Use." I have no specific knowledge that it has been used in any capacity other than specified by the directions. The manufacturers have not, to my knowledge, encouraged anyone to misuse their products.

Showing second half of pill imprint

Are fish antibiotics the same type of amoxicillin the doctor prescribes?

I found that, for example, the amoxicillin in the images (according to the pill imprint - not product literature) is the exact same capsule produced by human pharmaceutical companies and prescribed by doctors. Don't believe me? Good. You should always fact check everything. Enter the imprint number A 45 from the pictures into any online medical pill identifier. Here are the links for WebMD and Drugs.com. I'll wait...

See? There you go. It's the same stuff. Or is it? It looks the same but you have no idea. Not really. For the sake of argument, let's say it is the exact same pill made by the pharmaceutical company. Okay, great! I can take it, no problem. Right? Maybe. You don't know. Even if it is the same medicine made at the pharmaceutical company, once they sell it to a company that repackages it to sell for fish, there is no FDA oversight. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the FDA is all that, but they do have their uses. One of them is that they enforce the regulations concerning medications intended for human consumption. For instance, they would enforce the regulations relating to the transportation, storage and expiration of this medicine. Antibiotics don't like heat or moisture. Heat can render them ineffective. Moisture could cause yeast to grow. Combining the two might end up making you sicker than you were to start with. Not good.

Is it illegal to take these pills?

Obviously, it's legal to sell them. I tried to find a definitive answer on whether it is illegal to take fish antibiotics and failed. There were tons of sites talking about buying, selling, possessing and taking controlled substances like meth, cocaine and oxycodone. You would think there was a war on drugs or something. But I couldn't find a single page that addressed non-controlled drugs like antibiotics. (I'm sure there is something out there, but I couldn't find anything.) Before you start in on me... Antibiotics are classified as non-controlled because they are not listed in the Controlled Substances Act passed in 1970. Most people confuse needing a prescription with 'controlled substances'. Personally, I don't get it either. I understand why the FDA and doctors want you to have a prescription to get antibiotics. I don't understand why they are not classified as controlled substances and you still need a prescription. But, hey, it's the government, it's not supposed to make sense. In any event, I would assume that taking fish antibiotics is illegal, just to be safe.

Antibiotics are cheap and it's easy to get prescriptions for them. Why would anyone take the risk?

Lots of reasons.

Doctors are not all equal. Some are good, some are bad, some don't have the time and some just don't give a damn. I have been to the doctor's office many times (different doctors) for the same infection and was blown off every time. I had this infection for 3 years. The only reason it finally got taken care of was that I had to have my gall bladder removed. Even though this was an emergency situation, the surgeon took one look at me and refused to operate until the infection was gone. He sent me to a dermatologist who had a fit about the way I had been treated. She wanted names. A week on antibiotics and the infection disappeared. A week. Anyway, I went through 3 years of agony because these doctors either couldn't tell their butt from a hole in the ground or they really liked insulting me. And there are a lot of people with similar stories or much worse.

What if you are going hunting for a couple of weeks. You are going to be out in the middle of nowhere, days from civilization. Do you think your doctor would give you a prescription for antibiotics, just in case? Probably not. This is not a slam. Laws and penalties being what they are, a doctor would have to be crazy to openly hand out prescriptions, just in case. The same applies to preppers. They stockpile everything needed in the event a crisis does happen, including meds. Doctors are not going to write a scrip for a stockpile.

Some people simply can't afford to go to the doctor. You might think, That's what Obamacare is for. Sure. Obamacare still costs money, though. Ask anyone that was forced to take it. And, do you know how many hoops you have to jump through to get government assistance? It takes 5 months to qualify for disability, for Pete's sake. What do you do in the meantime?

These are just a few of the reasons some people might feel compelled to risk using these pills. If you know someone that has used these type of antibiotics and they worked with no adverse effects, that's fantastic! I'm glad it worked out for them. I am not here to condemn anyone. As I said, it's your life and your choice. But know the facts and risks BEFORE you order them.

Regardless of your opinion on the subject, during the next zombie apocalypse, everyone should remember to hit the pet stores too while you're out raiding for supplies. ;0)

Crazy Cat!

2015-09-28T22:51:00.001-05:00

This is my cat, Zoe. We haven't been together very long but I have never seen anything like this with any cat. Tigers play in the water but a house cat? Unfortunately, I missed the best part. Snorting and sneezing the bubbles. Too funny!

Battle Against Toenail Fungus - Week 1

2015-09-28T14:41:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned, I decided to try one of the home remedies. Specifically, I'm going to try vapor rub. Honestly, I don't know what made someone try it the first time. Like, who was the first person to consider putting Vagisil on their toes and WHY? Seriously. I probably know the answer but it's much more fun to wonder. Isn't it?

My nasty, ugly infected toenails

Anyway, according to the information I have about using vapor rub, you can apply it either once or twice a day. I'm hoping to speed up the process a little, so I'm going to do it when I get up and when I go to bed.

What to do About Unsightly Toenail Fungus

2015-09-27T21:57:00.000-05:00

Want pretty toenails again? Read below to find out how.

Toenail fungus is one of those dirty little secrets no one wants to admit they have. Unfortunately, it's difficult to hide, especially in the summer months. But most of us know at least one person that has this hideous affliction. I'm one of those people. Both of my big toenails are thick and misshapen and have been for years. No pedicures for me. Too bad, I hear they're the bomb.

Recently, I decided to try one of the home remedies I've heard about. And as long as I'm doing it, I thought it might be interesting to document it. Someone might find it useful. So, for the next however-many-months I'll post weekly updates (with photos) and tell you how it's going. For now, here is what I found out about the options for dealing with toenail fungus.

Medications

There is medication you can buy to kill the toenail fungus and eventually your nails will return to normal. Maybe. In the past, there hasn't been a lot of success from using these medications. However, according to their (likely biased) advertisements, they have anywhere from a 73% to 90% success rate. This page has a list of the best products on the market and step-by-step instructions on how to use them.

The problem is that they're expensive, as in 50$-a-bottle expensive. It takes at least 6-8 weeks of treatments of the best brand out there (NailRENEW), which translates to a minimum of 2 bottles. I'm assuming that is for one nail. But who has just one infected toe?

Home Remedies

So, that was the easy way, with the quickest results and best known percentages of success. But it's far from the only way to treat toenail fungus. There are tons of home remedies out there. You can use tea tree oil, corn meal, white vinegar, Vagisil (store brands too) and vapor rub, to name a few. With the possible exception of the tea tree oil, all of these remedies have one distinct advantage over the medications sold specifically for toenail fungus. Cost.

There is a disadvantage, though. Time. These home remedies generally take more time to be effective. Even the best nail fungus medications may take months to work but the home remedies can range from six to nine months.

Effectiveness

As to effectiveness, there are a few reasons toenail fungus cures of both classifications fail. In my opinion, lack of consistency is the most prevalent cause. Most people simply don't have the patience to stick with either the store-bought or home remedy cures consistently or long enough to ensure the fungus is dead. On the page linked above, they stress the importance of not missing a single application.

Another reason these treatments fail is that there are different kinds of fungus. What works on one type, may not work on a different one. Which may partially explain why there are such a wide variety of results.

And even if you manage to stick with the process long enough and are lucky enough to try the right remedy, it may still fail. The problem is that nail fungus lives inside the layers of the nail and surrounding skin. That is why it is so difficult to get rid of. To increase the odds of success, you need to get the treatment where the fungus lives–inside the nail.

Preparation

Regardless of the type of treatment you decide to use, preparing the infected area is key. Remember to always wash your hands and tools before and after treatment with antibacterial soap. Re-infecting the same toenails or someone else's... That would just plain suck.

You'll need: antibacterial soap, nail clippers, a metal nail file, a nail brush, a tub of warm water and a towel.

Trim the nails as short as possible without causing yourself pain.
Push the cuticles back and trim them.
File the top, sides and front of the infected nails.
Soak the infected nails in warm water for a minimum of one minute, twice a day.
Scrub the entire foot with antibacterial soap with special attention paid to the nail beds.
Dry, dry, dry. This stuff thrives in moisture.
Now apply your chosen treatment.

Tip to Help With an Anxiety Attack

2015-09-24T21:16:00.000-05:00

This is something I came across on Facebook. I'm not sure if it works. It's been a long time since I had an anxiety attack, but I wish I had had anything at all to try back then.

This is called grounding. It can help when you feel like you have lost all control of your surroundings.

Look around you.

Find:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Please re-blog, it could really help someone in need.