Swine Flu

We've all been sick at our house. Although I'm fairly certain it is NOT swine flu, I can't help but wonder if that's what we will have at our house next. I've been sick on and off without more than a week of feeling healthy, since January.

The scariest thing about swine flu is that no one is quite sure how dangerous it is. The regular flu we get commonly here in the US can be deadly. It takes lives every year. Although we've just had the first reported death here in the US it is too early to tell if this strain of the flu will be as deadly as the flu we are used to having around here.

According to the Center for Disease Control, here are the stats on the normal flu:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and
• about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

As of 11 am today, the CDC reports 91 cases of swine flu in the US. That is well under the amount typically seen for the regular flu.

I'm not joining any of the hysteria that is taking over in some parts of the country just yet. Too much is unknown, and I am not exactly in the segment of the population that is high risk for complications from the flu.

Since I have a young child, I've been taking the following precautions that are recommended for everyone to take:

• limiting exposure to sick people
• frequent hand washing
• coughing into sleeve or kleenex instead of hands
• limiting our exposure to people with weak immune systems (since we could have the virus but not be showing signs, yet)
• closely monitoring our symptoms since we've been sick

Moms of young children, what are you doing to keep your kids healthy during this flu season?

Elmo Live

Have you seen this toy? This Elmo talks, dances and tells jokes. String Bean got it for Christmas this year and was scared to death of it. She's no longer scared if it, but very suspicious.

This morning she saw Elmo in her room and decided to play with him. She laughed and asked him to do "more" in her baby sign language. After awhile, you could see a bit of concern on her face and the sign for "all done" quickly came out and she high-tailed it out of the room.

I'm not sure what it is that makes her so concerned about this toy. Is this just a stage?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Looks like our friend Pete Ittersagen signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars! He does not have a job with them, but he does have a shot at a job with them. This is really exciting news for him and his family. It is definitely a lifelong dream for him to play in the NFL. Most people don't even get a shot and Pete will be right there at camp getting his.

Pete grew up in our church and went to the college where Mr. Bean works.

Good luck, Pete!

Lay-Off Update

As a follow-up to this post, I should mention our congregation decided not to lay off our music pastor after all, provided that the giving increases over the next few days (60? 90?).

I'm interested to see what happens!

Also, at our annual business meeting at church, Amy's husband, Filbert, and I were voted onto the Nominating Committee. (This is the committee that picks the Elders at our church.) Exciting things are happening!

Goodbye, Mom

I taught a 2nd grade class for the 2005-2006 school year. Those students are now in the end of their 5th grade year. One of those students, Casey, said goodbye to his mom yesterday. Casey is 11.

Casey's mom, Beth, had a very aggressive form of breast cancer which took her life rather quickly. Beth had an amazing attitude about her illness. You can read all about it on her website.

As of right now, I am not sure if I can make it to the funeral. I am certainly not looking forward to it if I am able to go. Even though it is a celebration of Beth's life, it is never easy to say goodbye to someone you love. I can't even imagine what Casey (and younger brother Paul) are going through right now.

Keep them in your prayers.

Spring Colds

String Bean and I are both suffering from colds. We can't breathe through our noses and most of our day is spent coughing. (There is nothing sadder or cuter than a little toddler coughing, especially when you get the stink-eye after each cough.)

I hope this is short-lived. *cough, cough*

This Day in History

Today is William Shakespeare's 445th birthday. At least that's what historians think. No one is really sure. To celebrate, today has been dubbed "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" by Mayor Daley, mayor of Chicago.

If you're interested, you can send a tweet to @shakespearesays and it will be translated into Shakespearean English for you!

Here are some examples:

Today's English: Be careful, you might hurt yourself.
Shakespearean English: Tarry and beware, thou mayst thyself gravely wound.

Today's English: I love you, but I'm not in love with you
Shakespearean English: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more -- oo, shiny wrapper.

Today's English: I really need a vacation.
Shakespearean English: Yea verily, a holiday needest I.

I never understood this stuff in high school or college. I'm really not going to try understanding it now!

Anti-Earth Day

In 2014, no longer will traditional light bulbs be available. Legislation has been passed that pretty much forces everyone to use CFL bulbs which are often touted as being the earth-friendly solution.

I found this article on NPR that says otherwise. Since the government has yet to figure out how to safely dispose of CFL bulbs, which contain mercury and can be toxic, it seems that the new earth-friendly option is only creating a bigger disaster. The article talks about the dangers including contaminating the soil, danger to children and unborn children due to neurotoxins, and risk to waste collectors who have to handle the bulbs that break (inevitably) on their way to the landfill. Do these CFL bulbs that save energy sound like they are worth the risk for saving energy? Is this really a earth-friendly option?

Glenn Beck of Fox News had a funny segment where he had one of his coworkers go outside, break a CFL bulb and go through the process of cleaning it up as recommended by the EPA. It is quite an undertaking.

Happy anti-Earth day everyone! Here's your bulb.

Goodwill

I am thrilled because a Goodwill shop opened just a few blocks from my house! My mother-in-law and I went there this evening and I found a few toys for my little one. I am most impressed that I found a starter set of Duplo (Lego) blocks! I've been considering purchasing them for some time. I'll take $1.99 over regular price any day!

Miss USA recap

My friend, Gabrielle, who competed in the Miss USA contest last night didn't place, but I was thrilled to see her on TV! Way to go Gabrielle!

Did you catch the pageant last night? If you didn't, you should check out this YouTube video. In short, Miss California was asked by Hollywood gossip blogger Perez Hilton and pageant judge about the legalization of gay marriage. Her response was as follows:

Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what? In my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be, between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.

If you don't know, Perez Hilton is homosexual and has been very verbal about it throughout his celebrity-dom. Following the pageant, he made a vlog (Video blog) on his blog about how Miss California gave "the worst answer in pageant history." I think that dubious honor goes to former Miss South Carolina 2007. He also said, "She got booed!" which is interesting because whenever I re-watch that video, I can't hear the booing. I suppose in person it may have sounded differently.

Interestingly, Miss California finished as the first runner-up. Many news stations are wondering if she would have won first place if she hadn't answered truthfully her feelings on the subject. According to the vlog by Perez Hilton, I can guess that the score he gave her for that answer was incredibly low. He also said if Miss California would have won, he would have gone on stage and snatched that crown off her head. I gotta wonder if there is going to be some sort of look into the judging practices of the pageant if contestants are penalized for answering truthfully. (I don't suggest you try to find his vlog on his blog if you are sensitive to profanity, which is why I did not link to it here!)

I found the answer given by Miss Arizona to be more comical. She was asked by judge whether universal health care should be a right for American citizens. Her response was to cite "integrity" as the only thing you need. Huh?