First Things First

Lately I am having this dilemma as to apply for employment in another country since my US employment is far from reality yet. As much as I would like to start applying, the thought of leaving Ronald behind is something I could not imagine happening the soonest time possible. Now that I am married, my priorities really changed. Even though the income abroad is very tempting and I mean really tempting, I can't afford leaving my hubby behind, not now, not yet. I just hope and pray that everything will fall into their right places. Who knows, will be having a baby first before we will be granted with our immigrant visa. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Chillin' at Cups & Lowercases

Grabbed these pictures from my good friend Maan. She was here for a week vacation.
The Assumption Parish Composers Group decided to chill at Cup n Lowercase and I decided to tagged along.

Cranberry Juice Anyone?

During my hospitalization, My dad bumped into his cousin and was advised to let me drink Cranberry Juice. At first, the taste was not that appealing to my buds but eventually specially if it is chilled, it taste like prunes. So why cranberry? How does it prevent UTI? Here's one article that somehow gave me an explanation.
Will drinking cranberry juice help prevent bladder infections?

Drinking cranberry juice is a useful home remedy for preventing bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections or cystitis, in women. These infections are caused by bacteria that travel from the urethra up into the urinary bladder.

Urinary tract infections can be quite painful. Women may feel like they need to urinate frequently, have a burning pain while urinating and may even see blood in the urine. Medical treatment is needed for cystitis and usually involves antibiotics.

Some women experience frequent, reoccurring urinary infections even with medical treatment. So a home remedy that can help decrease the number and severity of the bladder infections is drinking cranberry juice. A substance present in cranberry juice prevents bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder so that infections aren't as likely to occur.

The exact dosage of cranberry juice isn't completely clear, and the sour taste may make it difficult for many women to want to continue taking it. Fortunately, concentrated cranberry capsules (buy direct) or tablets are available, and they appear to be just as effective without the sour taste.

Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

• Drink seven ounces of cranberry juice daily. Remember to buy 100% cranberry juice, not cranberry juice drinks or cocktails because they contain much less cranberry juice and a lot of sugar.
• If you prefer, you can take cranberry juice tablets. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
• Drink plenty of water. When you drink more water, you will urinate frequently. This will flush the urethra frequently and remove the bacteria.
• Wipe your genital area from front to back after a bowel movement or urination. This will help keep bacteria from the vagina and anus away from your urethra.
• Take showers instead of baths.

While research supports that cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections in women, it may not be true for men or children. Women should speak with their doctors if they are taking medications because drinking large amounts of cranberry juice may interact with some medications such as anticoagulants.

Addicted to Scents

I could never go wrong with a bottle of perfume. Even if I don't have a my powder or my make up kit with me but I have my perfume, I'm off to go!. I just have this thinking that if I smell good, I feel clean and confident. The type of perfume I wear somehow expresses what mood I am in. I also considered perfumes as my best friend. When I feel down, I use scents with a fruity touch to fire up my spirit and if I'm feeling romantic, I use floral scents further set my mood.
My passion for different scents moved me to look for designer perfumes in the market. I specifically checked on Burberry scents because I think they are the best. The Burberry perfumes are so elegant from the packaging itself to the bottle content. My other favorite includes Clinique's Happy Heart and Lacoste's Touch of Pink. Since my husband and I will be celebrating our 2nd month together, I also checked online for a perfume gift set for him and I found Tommy Hilfiger's collection very promising and somehow fits his fresh, athletic personality. I guess I'm so lucky to check into Fragrance Online.Com because all the scents I have been looking for is there. The site not only sells designer perfumes but also skincare and hair care products at a cheaper cost. You think its amazing? Check it out!

Binge Eating Disorder

I got this article from Oprah.com. I just wanna share this one to you guys, especially those who loves to eat like me...

More than 7 million Americans struggle with binge eating disorder (BED), according to a recent Harvard-based study, yet few of us know much about the condition. Cynthia Bulik, PhD, director of the University of North Carolina Eating Disorders Program and the author of a new book, Crave: Why You Binge Eat and How to Stop, helps shed light on the problem.

O: What is binge eating disorder?

A binge is when you feel out of control while eating a large amount of food—you're eating past any need, shame, or embarrassment. It can be a response to stress or anxiety; instead of turning to a solution that speaks directly to a problem—like calling a friend or doing some physical activity—a person with BED manages anger or happiness or boredom with food. Officially, BED is defined as bingeing that occurs an average of at least two times a week for six months. And unlike people with bulimia, BED sufferers don't try to undo the binge by purging or fasting.

O: Is the condition genetic?

There is a genetic component, which is why battling it can be so challenging. But I like to say that genes load the gun and the environment pulls the trigger.

O: Have you found that BED interferes with relationships?

Absolutely—people feel that they would rather stay home and binge than go out with friends. Or they let their partner go to bed alone so they can binge in private. They prefer spending time alone bingeing rather than with the people they love or care for. BED can also cause substantial financial pressures in a relationship if the disorder begins to tax the food budget.

O: So what's the first step in treating BED?

I tell people to track their binges for a week. What set them off? What are the cues? Was it a call from your boss? People think their binges come out of the blue, but once they start writing them down, they're surprised to find out that they have clear patterns.

O: What should they do next?

Something I nearly always see with BED is skipping breakfast. They have to retrain their stomach to wake up with them in the morning. Missing breakfast sets up a binge eater both biologically and psychologically: Extending the fasting period from the night before intensifies hunger later in the day, making it more likely that they'll overeat and justify it by telling themselves, "It's okay; I skipped breakfast."

The next thing to do is find a better solution for dealing with emotional triggers. One of my favorites is to create a music playlist to help manage each mood—anxiety, depression, anger, boredom. When you feel the urge to eat, listen to the appropriate music or podcast instead. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also be necessary. It will take work, determination, and planning, but binge eating disorder can be overcome.

Feeling Young, Looking Young

I must admit, I'm aging! Lately, I have been experiencing memory lapses and frequent mood swings. I'm also having difficulty in sleeping and I tire easily now as to compare when I was still in my early 20's. Skin changes are starting to unveil and becoming prominent as days goes by.
Vanity as some may call it, but looking good and young is something everybody aims, both men and women. In a world where beauty dictates, I personally seek refuge in salons, spas, dermatology clinics and even cosmetology clinics to make me beautiful. I patiently watched every new line of make-ups, facial and skin products that keeps on emerging to fulfill my desire to be beautiful. In addition, quite a number of aerobic and dance gyms are now budding to accommodate a remarkable number of members who wants to stay thin and firm and sexy. These and other forms of beautification are surely a hit nowadays.
Now, a new approach to beautification has been discovered and it has been tested and proven by the experts. Their ultimate weapon is the Holistic and Integrative method approach in Anti-aging treatment. Dr. Kalitenko, an expert, introduces this unique bioidentical hormone replacement that would make you feel young and look young. This therapy is very safe as it uses hormones which are of the same composition as your own hormones. Furthermore, the therapy is very personalized that a consultation should be made prior to the treatment. Through the consultation and series of laboratory blood test, you will discover which hormones, vitamins and minerals is lacking and needs to be replaced. Amazing isn't? If you want to learn more of this therapy and take control over your health, visit their site and be enlightened.

Are You Damaging Your Kidneys Without Knowing It?

Because of what happened to me during the past days, I was moved to look for information regarding my precious kidney. Here's what I learned.

Some important ways to protect your kidneys from premature damage and disease:

1. Don’t force down 8-10 glasses of water per day unless your thirst dictates it
   Your body is not a long plumbing tube that gets cleaner by forcing more water through it. Every time you drink water that your body doesn’t need, your kidneys are forced to spend energy to filter out this excess water. This filtration process puts significant burden on the tiny blood vessels that line your kidneys, which can contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease.
   The amount of water that you need depends on a variety of factors. Eating lots of water-rich foods like vegetables and fruits decreases the amount of water you need to drink. Living in a warm climate, regular exercise, sweating, and eating salt all tend to increase your need to drink water. Ultimately, the amount of water you drink should be determined by your sense of thirst on a moment-to-moment basis.
2. Don’t eat too much protein
   Eating more protein than you need leads to greater workload on your kidneys, which must filter excess protein and a waste product called blood urea nitrogen (BUN) out of your blood. This increased workload can contribute to premature breakdown of the filtration mechanism in your kidneys.
   If you have healthy kidneys, you can safely eat up to half of your body weight (in pounds) in grams per day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you can safely eat up to 75 grams of protein from whole foods per day. If you have problems with your kidneys, you should decrease this amount to a level that results in a healthy blood urea nitrogen level.

   The link between eating too much protein and developing kidney disease is one that is not often talked about by supporters of a high-protein diet. While it is important to keep your blood sugar and insulin at healthy levels by avoiding sugar, sweeteners, and simple carbohydrates, please know that a high-protein diet poses many dangers to your health, especially if most of your protein is cooked. Your health is best served by replacing simple carbohydrates with lots of high quality fat, and moderate amounts of healthy protein and non-starchy vegetables.

3. Don’t take over-the-counter pain pills on a regular basis
   Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin are clearly known to cause kidney damage and disease if taken on a regular basis. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and Excedrin) can also cause kidney damage and failure if used on a regular basis. All of these over-the-counter pain medications probably don’t pose significant danger if your kidneys are relatively healthy and you use them for emergencies only.

   As many professional athletes have discovered during the past several years, regular use of prescription anti-inflammatory pain medication like Vioxx, Indocin, and Naprosyn poses even greater danger to kidney health than over-the-counter pain killers.

http://drbenkim.com/articles-healthykidneys.html

Room 256

Remember my last post about urinary tract infection? Well, here are some follow-ups. Last Thursday night, aside from the frequent urination that I was having, a started to feel flank pain on my left side. I was so worried and in pain that I convinced my husband to drive me to my parents house at around 4:30 a.m. When we arrived, my mom decided to bring me to the hospital but when she went to my room, I was already asleep. So she let me rest and did not bother to wake up. The whole day of Friday, I was feeling okay... no pain nor discomfort. I decided to go on with my 7pm-7am duty. When it was past midnight, I started to feel the flank pain again and this time, its on my right side. I tried to ignore the pain and focused on my work but the pain seems to worsen by the minute. I could no longer bear it that I had to call my mom to pick me up. She picked me up at around 3:30 in the morning and we headed directly to San Pedro Hospital. I was admitted and some ultrasound testing was made. Fortunately, my kidneys are healthy, my uterus is in good condition, only some slight fluid accumulation behind my fallopian tube. Maybe that explains the flank pain. Now, Im feeling better and was finally discharged. Thank God nothing serious is going on inside me. Thanks to the doctors who looked after me. Thanks for my parents who are very supported and never left my side the entire hospitalization.

Forum for Married Couples

Getting Married is another phase that almost all of us has to go through, except of course for those people who opts to stay single for the rest of their lives. We may read lots and lots of books regarding how to find your one true love, how to know if he's the right one and how to stay happy in marriage but none of them can really give us a concrete understanding on what marriage is and how it works. I really still do believe that our personal experience in marriage will make or break every relationship. Personal testimonies of married couple can also be a guide to the new and young couple and even those who are married for quite sometime now. Good thing, the Married Chat is now made available for all married couples out there. This wonderfully designed page is directly linked to numerous chat rooms that allows couple to chat with other couple to share their experiences in their married life. One nice benefit they get upon joining this site is that they gained new friends whom they can easily relate to. Married Chat Rooms is also very helpful for those couples who loss interests in their relationship and are seeking solutions and advices from other married couples. So visit their site, registration is free! Start Now and Gain New Friends!

Urinary Tract Infection

Three days ago I was feeling some frequent urgency in urination. Told my mom bout it and she said I might be having urinary tract infection. I read about it and found out some of the symptoms are true for me while some don't. Right now, I'm observing things and pain persists, I might be heading to the hospital. Pray for me kei? Wanna share to you the things we need to know..

A UTI is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract.* Your urinary tract includes the organs that collect and store urine and release it from your body. They are the

• Kidneys. Your kidneys collect wastes and extra water from your blood to make urine.
• Ureters. The ureters carry the urine from your kidneys to your bladder.
• Bladder. Your bladder stores the urine and squeezes it out when full.
• Prostate. The prostate adds fluid to semen.
• Urethra. The urethra carries the urine out of your bladder when you urinate.

What causes a UTI?

Usually, a UTI is caused by bacteria that can also live in the digestive tract, in the vagina, or around the urethra, which is at the entrance to the urinary tract. Most often these bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the bladder and kidneys. Usually, your body removes the bacteria, and you have no symptoms. However, some people—including women and older people of both sexes—seem to be prone to infection.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor if you have any of these signs or symptoms:

• burning feeling when you urinate
• frequent or intense urges to urinate, even when you have little urine to pass
• pain in your back or lower abdomen
• cloudy, dark, bloody, or unusual-smelling urine
• fever or chills

Women are more likely to get UTIs than men. When men get UTIs, however, they’re often serious and hard to treat. UTIs can be especially dangerous for older people and pregnant women, as well as for those with diabetes and those who have difficulty urinating.

What will happen at the doctor’s office?

The health care provider may ask you how much fluid you drink, and if you have pain or a burning feeling when you urinate, or if you have difficulty urinating. Women may be asked about the type of birth control they use. You’ll need to urinate into a cup so the urine can be tested. In addition, your doctor may need to take pictures of your kidneys with an x ray or ultrasound and look into your bladder with an instrument called a cystoscope.

• Urine tests. Your urine will be checked with a microscope for bacteria and infection-fighting cells. The doctor may order a urine culture. In this test, bacteria from the urine are allowed to grow in a lab dish so the exact type of bacteria can be seen and the precise type of medicine you need can be chosen.

• Images. The doctor may use either x rays, ultrasound, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan to view your bladder or kidneys. These pictures can show stones, blockage, or swelling.

• Cystoscope. The urethra and bladder can be seen from the inside with a cystoscope, which is a thin tube with lenses like a microscope. The tube is inserted into the urinary tract through the urethra.

How are UTIs treated?

Once it is determined that your symptoms have been caused by an infection, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria causing the infection. The antibiotic prescribed will depend on the type of bacteria found.

For simple infections, you’ll be given 3 days of therapy. For more serious infections, you’ll be given a prescription for 7 days or longer. Be sure to follow your instructions carefully and completely. If you have any allergies to drugs, be sure your doctor knows what they are.

Joke Time

I got some Filipino Humor here! So Laugh with me friends!!!

Ang mga Bisaya di ko maintindihan English nila.
English ng isda... pis.
English ng mukha... pis.
Ng pandikit... pis.
Ng kapayapaan... pis.
Tinanong pa ako kung saan ako nakatira... Pis 1 o Pis 2?
Pisti!


(in a cabinet meeting ...)
GMA: oshige ... kung shino man ang tamaan ng bola na 'to ay siyang magre-reshign
(initsa ang bola, tumalbog pabalik sa kanya ...)
GMA: o ... praktish lang un noh? ulet!


Director: "Sir, we have to do something with our population program. A woman gives birth every 30 seconds here in the Philippines .
Erap: "Ha?, you're right...FIND THAT WOMAN!!!"


Pare1: Pare, bat naman hanggang ngayon wala ka pang syota? Wala ka pa bang napupusuan?
Pare2: Meron.. Manhid ka lang!


Mom: baby, you're good in math. Now I'm going to ask you a question.
Baby: sure mom
Mom: if your daddy gives you 3 apples and I give you 4 apples, what's your answer?
Baby: thank you po!!!


BF: may malaki ako problema.
GF: wag mo sabihin problema MO lang, problema NATIN dahil nagmamahalan tayo. Ngayon ano problema natin?
BF: nabuntis NATIN si inday at TAYO ang ama.


Pare1: pare parang malalim ang iniisip mo!
Pare2: nanaginip ako kagabi kasama ko 50 contestants ng Ms. Universe
Pare1: swerte mo! ano problema mo?
Pare2: pare, ako nanalo!!!


Killer: father mangungumpisal po ako
Father: ano kasalanan mo?
Killer: pumatay po ako ng 20 tao
Father: bakit?
Killer: kasi po naniniwala sila sa Diyos, kayo po naniniwala ba?
Father: dati...pero ngayon trip trip na lang!


Patient: doc takot po ako sa bunot
Dentist: eto gamot pampatapang ng loob
Patient: (ininom ang gamot)
Dentist: ano matapang ka na ba?
Patient: oo doc! puta pag may gumalaw ng ngipin ko basag ang bungo!


Passenger taps taxi driver's shoulder...
WAAAAAHHHHHH!!! screamed the driver...
Passenger: bakit ka sumigaw?
Driver: sorry bossing bago lang kasi ako sa taxi. 25 years po kasi ako driver ng funeraria.


1 panget na babae, hinoholdap...
Holdaper: holdap ito! akin na gamit mo!
Babae: RAPE! RAPE! RAPE!
Holdaper: anong rape? holdap nga to eh!
Babae: wala lang! nagsusuggest lang...


1 lasing nasalubong ang matabang babae na may kasamang aso...
Lasing: hoy, saan mo nakuha yang baboy?
Babae: aso ito hindi baboy!
Lasing: huwag ka nga sumabat! yung aso ang kausap ko!


In a pet shop...
Customer talking to a parrot...
Customer: hoy! can you talk ha?! bobo!!!
Parrot: yes i can!!! ikaw?! can you fly ha? GAGO!!!


Priest: ang mga bakla'y walang lugar sa kaharian ng langit.
Mga bakla: okey lang po father..dun na lang kami sa rainbow mag slide-slide!!!

My All Time Favorite!!!

The sun was so high and it was "oven-hot" inside our house. I got so bored and uncomfortable that I invited my friend jing to go with me to SM for some window shopping and food tripping. I picked her up at a shell station nearby then off we go. We arrived at around 3 pm and decided to eat first before heading the boutiques and other stores. I was hungry since I only had a brunch and that was at around 9:30 am. I decided not to cook lunch since I will be going to SM anyways. I suggest to jing that if it's ok for her to eat at KFC and without any hesitations, she agreed. I ordered my all time favorite KFC ZINGER MEAL. Hmmmm.... YummY! I munched on it rightaway even if Jing is still at the counter placing her order! I just couldn't resist the Zinger! I dont know if you'll agree with me, but it is the best burger so far!

Optical Works from Zenni

I practically grew up in the eyeglass business. My mother used to work in one of the biggest eyeglasses supplier in Davao City. For some trivia, I was named after a known eyeglasses brand in the 80's. When I was in 5th grade, had my eyes checked and found out that I have a slight visual problem and has to wear glasses. Had my first pair of glasses and consistently wore them for 1 and a half year. Had my eye checked once again and the ophthalmologist told me that my problem has been corrected and I need not wear glasses anymore! Now that I am older, I gradually notice some changes in my vision. I now have difficulty seeing letters and numbers from afar. I need squint in order to focus my vision and I do feel frequent headaches already. I know this is a sign that I have to wear glasses again. I search over the net to look for the latest trends yet very affordable eyeglasses there is in the market, I encountered Zenni Optical and so lucky to found out that they offers a wide selection eyeglasses frames and different kinds of lenses. And not only that, when I checked on their prices, they are amazingly affordable and very customer-budget friendly. So, I grabbed every opportunity to check on their latest design and here is what i like best.

For me, this glasses is very classic. It is subtle looking yet very stylish. It also comes in different frame colors such as silver, gold, brown, pink and black. This glasses is perfectly match for both my uniform and scrubsuits. Want to know more of this products? Visit and check their website and you will see the eyeglasses with such high quality yet pocket friendly. New York times would not be talking about this if it is not one of the best!

Post Valentine Dinner @ Trellis 'N Vines

Since we were at the FLA Valentine Celebration last February 14, Ronald and I decided to dine at of the coziest place in the south of Davao City, the Trellis 'N Vines. They food was great and their crew is very friendly. They had a wide variety of dishes, from the known Filipino dishes, to Japanese and Korean favorites to the mouth-watering western cuisine. The overall experience was great! Definitely one resto to recommend to you all food lovers out there!

Family Life Apostolate Valentine Special

Valentine's Day is indeed a day of love! The Family and Life Apostolate surely commemorated this day with a blast! We had a sumptuous dinner with a formal ambience then followed with a very fum and memorable games for the couples. Though we were not a member of this prestigious group, we were invited to the celebration because Ronald was one of the invited singers to grace the show. It is so inspiring to see couples married for more than 25 years still have that spark in their eyes. Since I am not part of the program, all I did was took some pictures of their cakes and their nice and wonderful floral set-up.

Waxing

Waxing is a method of semi-permanent hair removal which removes the hair from the rootcause. New hairs will not grow back in the previously waxed area for two to eight weeks. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet. There are many types of waxing suitable for removing unwanted hair. If waxing is done regularly for several years, permanent hair reduction may be achieved.

Waxing is accomplished by spreading a wax combination thinly over the skin. A cloth or paper strip is then pressed on the top and ripped off with a quick movement against the direction of hair growth.This removes the wax along with the hair. Another method utilizes hard wax (as opposed to strip wax). In this case, the wax is applied somewhat thickly and with no cloth or paper strips. The wax then hardens when it cools, thus allowing the easy removal by a therapist without the aid of cloths. This waxing method is very beneficial to people who have sensitive skin.

Benefits and Drawbacks

There are many benefits to waxing versus other forms of hair removal. It is an effective method to remove large amounts of hair at one time. It is a long-lasting method. Hair in waxed areas will not grow back for two to eight weeks. When hair is shaved or removed by depilatory cream, the hair is removed at the surface rather than the root. Within a few days, the hair can be seen at the surface. With these methods, hair tends to grow back in a rough stubble. Areas that are repeatedly waxed over long periods of time often exhibit regrowth that is softer^[3]

There are many drawbacks of waxing as well. Waxing can be painful when the strip is removed from the skin. Although the pain is short-lasting, it can be very uncomfortable. Another drawback to waxing is the expense: waxing is usually performed by a licensed cosmetologist, and the cost can be very high. There are do-it-yourself waxing supplies, but they may be difficult to use on oneself on some areas on the body. Hair removal is not permanent. When removed against the direction of hair growth, the wax strip may disturb hair follicles, causing hair to begin to grow in different directions. This may cause hair growth to be more noticeable and make other methods of hair removal more difficult. Fortunately, this risk is negligible if the waxing is performed properly. One of the most annoying drawbacks of waxing is that many people experience ingrown hairs, red bumps, and minor bleeding. This is more likely to occur with men who are waxing areas with thick hair, especially the first few times when follicles are strongest. While usually impossible to eliminate, this can be reduced by regularly exfoliating, and applying an astringent or a solution of both astringent and oil (typically baby or azulene oil).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxing

I Give My All

I Give My All - WOODSTRUCK

Bless my life, take away the shame
Allow me to experience your most amazing grace
Fill my heart, it’s empty and frail
Make me whole again Lord, mend my broken soul

Refrain

I offer my life to you Lord
With all my strength I worship you

Chorus:

And I give my all ( take me as I am)
I am yours oh God ( lead me to your arms)
And I give you praise ( I rejoice in you )
‘till the end of my days I give my all……

Verse II

You gave your all unworthy as I am
You have died for me Lord and now I am free
You’re the only reason why my heart leaps for joy
I give you back the glory
Lord mold me and use me

Music that I Love

When I was in my teen years, I was a member of the CFC Youth For Christ. I grew up loving the praise songs we had. Most of it inspired me in my service and in my journey as a human being. In some of my future posts, I will be embedding some of the songs that I really love. These are the songs recorded by my brothers and sisters in the community. In my way of thanking them for continuing to inspire me with their songs, I will give them a special spot in my blog. Hoping you, my blogger friends will also enjoy their music. Keep posted!

Valentine's Day Origin

Every February of each year we commemorate the Valentine's day as the day of Love. We give all the gifts we could give just to show how much we care, adore and love that special someone. But how did it all started? Who is St. Valentine? I found this one.....Read On!!!

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

16 hours

just arrived from my 16 hours duty and I feel like my body's going to break down. My feet are tired, my hands are weak and my brain is very drained. Whew! sometimes things like these got me thinking why did I took up nursing in the first place. But on the second thought, nothing is more rewarding than to be able to extend your service to people without expecting anything in return. On the nth time, I paused and think... Is nursing really for me?....I just hope so, I hope I will be able to live up to the things that is expected of me to do... Still discerning... thinking...thinking... God help me!

Havin' a hard time

Since I moved out, I don't have a computer of my own. I only get to blog if I'll visit my parent's house. My day won't be complete if I wouldn't be able to blog or even check my mail. This has been happening for a month now, glad I had managed it somehow. Still, I'm planning to have a computer in our new home. In that way I can easily access the net. Please help me pray that I'll be given more opp to blog so that I can earn something for the PC and the internet connection. *wink*

How to Stay Happy and Positive

Self-enhancement is the key to stay happy and positive. Here are some easy tips

• Take time to acknowledge personal accomplishments and celebrate success in a manner that can strengthen relationships. Keeping good social and personal relations are very effective means avoiding stress.
• Take good care of yourself. When you feel good, you also feel good and vice versa. Love yourself each day. Tell yourself ‘I love you’ and give yourself a hug everyday.
• Wear a smile everyday, compliment at least one person in the day, greet people, and take each day as the first day of the rest of your life. Do something new every day or as often as you can.
• Practice self-help methods, like writing journals, being passionate about work, taking on some hobbies, improving social life by meeting up with friends and relatives.
• Figure out your fun quotient of the day.
• Avoid procrastinations and perfectionism.
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly. For this, all one needs to do is wear one’s exercise shoes and step on one’s treadmill for a few minutes or even better, jog on beautiful beach side.
• Avoid addictions or any such risk-driven activity

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Stay-Happy-and-Positive-Some-Easy-Tips

Your Personal Assurance

Life is never easy especially when you are living in a fast paced place like California. With the demands from the work or any job-related transactions, one is undeniably at risks for dangers, injuries and accidents. In the events like these, we need services from the experts like the Temecula Lawyers to assists us in dealing with the insurance companies and in acquiring the injury claims. This family of attorneys offers a wide areas of expertise and their main goal is to achieve a full recovery for each client. So visit their site now and be informed!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

We call some people odd for their unusual actions and words. Some are acceptable, some are not. There must have been a deeper reason that causes them to act that way. One common explanation for this behavior is the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

A patient of mine caused me to inquire about this disorder. Hoping I could somehow correlate her case with the disorder. Here's what i found.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more terrifying events that threatened or caused grave physical harm.

It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma. This stressor may involve someone's actual death, a threat to the patient's or someone else's life, serious physical injury, or threat to physical or psychological integrity, overwhelming psychological defenses.

In some cases it can also be from profound psychological and emotional trauma, apart from any actual physical harm. Often, however, the two are combined.

Diagnostic symptoms include reexperience such as flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, increased arousal such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger and hypervigilance. Per definition, the symptoms last more than 6 months and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (e.g. problems with work and relationships.)

Causes

PTSD is believed to be caused by psychological trauma. Possible sources of trauma includes encountering or witnessing childhood or adult physical, emotional or sexual abuse.^[1] In addition, encountering or witnessing an event perceived as life-threatening such as physical assault, adult experiences of sexual assault, accidents, drug addiction, illnesses, medical complications, or the experience of, or employment in occupations exposed to war (such as soldiers) or disaster (such as emergency service workers).

Traumatic events that may cause PTSD symptoms to develop include violent assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, being a hostage, prisoner of war or concentration camp victim, experiencing a disaster, violent automobile accidents or getting a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. Children may develop PTSD symptoms by experiencing sexually traumatic events like age-inappropriate sexual experiences.

Witnessing traumatic experiences or learning about these experiences may also cause the development of PTSD symptoms. The amount of dissociation that follows directly after a trauma predicts PTSD: individuals who are more likely to dissociate during a traumatic event are considerably more likely to develop chronic PTSD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder

Anime Mania

I was always fascinated with cartoons especially anime. Grewing up with 2 brothers, I was at first forced to watch these cartoons but eventually I learned to love it. I was impressed with the way they draw the characters and how they put life in it. It is simply brilliant how the artist and the editor incorporated dialogues into a particular character. Moreover, the stories, either realistic or out of this world imaginary scenario, viewers tends to religiously follow each scene, from the first season to the last season, series by series, volume per volume. Anime fanatics keep track of their fave series in TVs, VCDs or in the internet. In line with this anime, is not only for boys, even girls are inclined to these stuffs nowadays. Thus, i am more surprised when i overheard a group of men, on thier late 20s to early 30s, with corporate looks, seriously having thier discussion, only to find out they were conferring about a certain anime and how they chase the events of it.
Now that my brothers and I live apart, i miss the anime discussions we had, so i tried to surf the net for some anime updates and news and I came across with this amazing Free Anime Chat wherein anime lovers can meet up with another anime fans. I instantly clicked on this site and met new friends.
So anime lovers out there, if you're looking for someone who shares the same passion as you do, try this new incredible site and you see it for yourself!

Benjamin Button

I got to watch the movie the other night. All I can say is that it's a one great movie. So brilliant for them to think of a plot like that. This is the story of a man who aged backwards. He was a baby born with an old man's face and skin, grew up on a wheeled chair, started to walk with a cane, matured like a normal person would then aged in a little boy's body. The way they presented the short story was very detailed and precise that even if I hadn't read the story, I can readily cope up with the pacing of the story. Their choice of Brad Pitt as the lead actor is also a very nice move since he is a very versatile actor. Overall, I'll give this movie a Thumbs Up!

Hypertension! Silent Killer?

Just this afternoon, while blog hopping, a family friend came over and asked if I could check her blood pressure. According to her, she was not feeling well this morning and now she could feel some pulsating headache and weakness on her arms. I checked her blood pressure and it was 140/90. For Filipinos, it is on the borderline between normal pressure and high blood pressure. I advised her to rest for a while before heading home.

What really is hypertension? (here's an explanation from wikipedia)

Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. In current usage, the word "hypertension" without a qualifier normally refers to systemic, arterial hypertension.^[2]

Hypertension can be classified either essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e., secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or tumours (pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma). Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a person can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated.

Causes of Hypertension

ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

By definition, essential hypertension has no identifiable cause. However, several risk factors have been identified, including obesity, salt sensitivity, renin homeostasis, insulin resistance, genetics, and age.

Obesity

The risk of hypertension is 5 times higher in the obese as compared to those of normal weight and up to two-thirds of cases can be attributed to excess weight. More than 85% of cases occur in those with a Body mass index greater than 25.

Sodium sensitivity

Sodium is an environmental factor that has received the greatest attention. Approximately one third of the essential hypertensive population is responsive to sodium intake.This is due to the fact that increasing amounts of salt in a person's bloodstream causes cells to release water (due to osmotic pressure) to equilibrate the concentration gradient between the cells and the bloodstream, thereby increasing the pressure within the blood vessel walls. The inceased Na+ stimulates ADH and thirst mechanisms, leading to a concentrated urine and the kidneys holding onto water along with the person increasing the intake of water. Also, the water movement between cells and the interstitium plays a minor role compared to this.

Genetics

Hypertension is one of the most common complex disorders, with genetic heritability averaging 30%.^{[citation needed]} Data supporting this view emerge from animal studies as well as in population studies in humans. Most of these studies support the concept that the inheritance is probably multifactorial or that a number of different genetic defects each have an elevated blood pressure as one of their phenotypic expressions.

However, hypertension can be caused by mutations in single genes, inherited on a mendelian basis

More than 50 genes have been examined in association studies with hypertension, and the number is constantly growing.

Age

Over time, the number of collagen fibers in artery and arteriole walls increases, making blood vessels stiffer. With the reduced elasticity comes a smaller cross-sectional area in systole, and so a raised mean arterial blood pressure.

Bloggers! Be counted!

To all Bloggers out there, if you want to publicize your blog and increase your network of friends, check out blog directory. This is one great venue to make your blog known to the world and invite more advertisers to check you out! So, start submitting your blogs and get as much exposure as you want! Happy Blogging!

Operation Make Over

Soon Ronald and I will be fixing some details in our humble home. We will start with our car park for sure... My dad wants us to ensure the safety and protect the car from environmental hazards. Then we will buy curtains for our living room and maybe a living room set to replace the big bamboo chairs we are using at present. Then, if still feasible we will be purchasing a new dining set, a 4-seater table will do as of the moment. These are just but plans as of the moment but hoping to materialize it before summer.

A Promise to Heal

Rehabilitation came into my senses first when I was in my teen years. We were taught that those people who became addicted to substances and alcohol were encouraged to go to rehabilitation center to cure their addiction. When I studied nursing we get to visit some of the drug rehabilitation center here and had a chance to have a close encounter with their patients. But what do this drug rehabilitation centers do? I was so curious myself that I searched the net for answers. I came across with one of the nicest and informative site that talks about a rehabilitation centers, The Promises Treatment Centers. By merely looking at their home page, you can conclude that they are one of the best there is in America. The centers cater to almost all kinds of substance abuse and alcohol abuse. Their excellent location, being at the most scenic part of Malibu and West L.A., provides a healthy treatment and a great recovery to their clients. The center's treatment program is highly personalized to meet the client's individual needs. With their goal to aid in the achievement of the client's lifetime dreams, the Promise Treatment Centers promises a personalized, healthy and timely recovery.

"IT'S UP TO ME" NOW

I received this from my ate dadal. I would like you to be inspired with this acronyms. Keep the faith!

I - I create the quality of my life with my ongoing thoughts.

T - The choice of joy or the opposite is mine.

S - See, hear, and feel the way joyful people see, hear, and feel.

U - Unjoy is created by negative T.W.A: thoughts, words, and actions.

P - Perspective makes me happy or unhappy.

T - Talk to yourself the way you would if you were a master of joy.

O - Oneness of humanity gives me many opportunities for kindness.

M - My unconditional joy & love creates a magnificent life.

E - Every moment of joy is stored in my awesome brain and I can access those moments whenenever I choose.

"It's up to me" now!!!

Lawsuits? Worry No More

As we go through life's journey, we may encounter things that is really beyond our control. In some cases, we may encounter situations that would really test our integrity as a human being and worst, stepped on our human rights. Other victims of this circumstances chose to remain in silence because filing a complain would cost them a fortune. Now, there's a new hope for these oppressed people, an online lawsuit funding is made available to cater their needs. Lawsuit Funding is a form of financing that would cater nearly all the small to large cases filed. It also provides cash advances for those pending lawsuits and you only get to pay when your case wins. So it's a win-win solution to your plaintiff needs. Apply now!

Sick

I was not feeling well since the other night. I must have eaten something my tummy didn't like. I was not my usual self at work yesterday. I'm so glad and thankful that my colleague took care of me and allowed me to rest even for a while. Last night was terrible, all i did was vomit all the food i took. I felt so sick and powerless. When I woke up this morning, I felt a little better though I can still hear the dragons inside my stomach, its not as annoying as the other day. Hoping to feel better tomorrow.