2009
H1N1 Vaccine
November/02/2009 10:16 AM Filed in: Commentary
by Nicole Hanratty
As a world community, we are up in arms over H1N1. We don't know if we should brush it off as an over-hyped media blitz reminiscent of the Richard Heene story, a government hyped political story to get health care reform passed (as Rush Limbaugh would argue), or whether we should just follow along and line up for the vaccination. Either way you slice it, the mounting number of young people from H1N1 this fall flu season is--without question--alarming.
Throwing paranoia to the wind, I admit I found myself in line. The benefits seemed to outweigh the risk with my family full of underlying conditions. (Everyone will handle this crises differently and opinions seem to get heated when you bring up the topic for discussion, so I am not in any way suggesting that any one should get this vaccine. Consult your doctor, your priest, your personal guru or your mother but do not interpret this as advice in way, shape or formation.)
For three hours I was entertained by the countless number of cameras, photographers, reporters, news vans, satellite dishes, radio djs, and personalities, including the man in front of us who listened to me quiz my child for a history test then explained a little more that we should know and told us about the book he wrote that he was promoting while in line. (Here's another plug for his book: Jacob's Rescue by Michael Halperin.) Hundreds of people, mothers with toddlers, pregnant women, health care professionals, teachers and critically ill patients were all brought together for one common cause: to fight the flu (or to report on fighting it).
Read More...
Histerectomy
October/27/2009 09:03 PM Filed in: Commentary
Written by Diane Bittiker
Edited by Nicole Hanratty
Hysterectomy: removal of part or all of the uterus. Derived from the Greek word hystera (womb) with the former notion being that hysterical women were suffering from disturbances of the womb. (Hence removing the uterus was believed to relieve a woman's hysterical behavior.)
The ancient Greeks may have been masters at throwing the javelin, but when it comes to trying to pinpoint the cause of a woman's hysteria they were way off the mark.
Having just had a hysterectomy--I can tell you first hand--my hysteria is still going strong drumming right along side the Duracell bunny. If hysteria was supposed to be removed with my womb then my doctor didn't get the memo.
My hysterical condition was diagnosed a few months back. My physician said my uterus had seen its' days and I would be better off without the old plumbing.
Telling my darling husband (here on referred to as DH*) went well, (I suppose), if you consider "Isn't that an ol' lady surgery" a positive response. He is very funny that sweet man, maybe even hysterical. Read More...
Closet Catharsis
September/14/2009 08:49 PM Filed in: Commentary
Closet Catharsis
by Diane Bittiker
I have to thank you for telling me your theory on clothes. I usually go through my closet at least once a year but today was the most thorough I have ever been.
I have to admit that at first, I was hesitant about the idea of casting my dearly beloved articles of clothing into the newly designated empty donation "bag." Yet when I started to look closer at what I had hanging in my overflowing closet--keeping the "when did I wear it last" question in mind--I realized it was time to get down to business.
For starters, did I need three identical pink polo shirts? NO! Out with two of them.
How about the shirt with only a "small" hole in it? Gone. The shirt missing a button? Nope. The 1980s blouse with the wide lapels? The too small blazer that hasn't been worn for at least a decade? Out! Out! Out! Read More...
Life parenting a teen
September/01/2009 10:29 AM Filed in: Commentary
Life Parenting a Teen
By Shawn Klein
Hello my name is Shawn Klein and I am a Marriage, Family Therapist who has worked with teenagers and their parents in therapy for many years. I would like to also share that I am the proud mother of one of those unpredictable and complex entities, The Teenager. I have had many parents ask me through the years for help in understanding their teenager. I thought it may be helpful to share some of my insights and a few of the most commonly asked questions that I have learned counseling teens
TEEN DEVELOPMENT
First, I always remember what a professor of mine once said while we where studying the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. She shared that while you are working with teens they can actually exhibit some of the symptoms of a mental disorder at many different times during their development. She then stressed that you need to be careful to really get a full picture when you are working with a teenager and don’t judge them by just one episode of difficulty. Right there, I have probably made a few parents nervous but I know that many of you have or will at some point look at your teenager with frustration and say, “I don’t understand you, what were you thinking and how did you ever think that THAT was okay.”
It is important when working with a teenager to understand that scientists have found that teenage brain chemistry is different than the brain chemistry of adults. According to Dr. Giedd and reported by Physorg.com in a study from the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent’s brain is not fully developed as scientists had believed in the past. The part of the brain that is not fully developed is in the grey matter which is responsible for the “brain’s executive functions.” This part of the brain includes, “the regulation of emotion, response inhibition, organization, long-range planning, and the ability to pay attention.” Giedd also stressed that these changes may cause teenagers “to take risks and seek new sensation and experiences.” So with this information and the fact that we know hormones affect our teenager’s emotionality, mood and physicality, what we need to understand is that our adolescents are still learning how to process, organize, feel and prioritize decisions while at the same time trying to understand how they can fit in with their peer group and feed their hunger for new experiences.
Now I would like to share some of the questions parents have asked concerning communicating with their teen or teenagers.
QUESTION: “How can I communicate with my teenager when she or he doesn’t seem to be listening to me or doesn’t seem to care what I have to say?” Read More...
By Shawn Klein
Hello my name is Shawn Klein and I am a Marriage, Family Therapist who has worked with teenagers and their parents in therapy for many years. I would like to also share that I am the proud mother of one of those unpredictable and complex entities, The Teenager. I have had many parents ask me through the years for help in understanding their teenager. I thought it may be helpful to share some of my insights and a few of the most commonly asked questions that I have learned counseling teens
TEEN DEVELOPMENT
First, I always remember what a professor of mine once said while we where studying the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. She shared that while you are working with teens they can actually exhibit some of the symptoms of a mental disorder at many different times during their development. She then stressed that you need to be careful to really get a full picture when you are working with a teenager and don’t judge them by just one episode of difficulty. Right there, I have probably made a few parents nervous but I know that many of you have or will at some point look at your teenager with frustration and say, “I don’t understand you, what were you thinking and how did you ever think that THAT was okay.”
It is important when working with a teenager to understand that scientists have found that teenage brain chemistry is different than the brain chemistry of adults. According to Dr. Giedd and reported by Physorg.com in a study from the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent’s brain is not fully developed as scientists had believed in the past. The part of the brain that is not fully developed is in the grey matter which is responsible for the “brain’s executive functions.” This part of the brain includes, “the regulation of emotion, response inhibition, organization, long-range planning, and the ability to pay attention.” Giedd also stressed that these changes may cause teenagers “to take risks and seek new sensation and experiences.” So with this information and the fact that we know hormones affect our teenager’s emotionality, mood and physicality, what we need to understand is that our adolescents are still learning how to process, organize, feel and prioritize decisions while at the same time trying to understand how they can fit in with their peer group and feed their hunger for new experiences.
Now I would like to share some of the questions parents have asked concerning communicating with their teen or teenagers.
QUESTION: “How can I communicate with my teenager when she or he doesn’t seem to be listening to me or doesn’t seem to care what I have to say?” Read More...
You're Only As Old As Your Slang
May/13/2009 05:49 PM Filed in: Commentary
Ridin Dirty
It’s funny how age creeps up on you. While watching Q Wreck in a YouTube video the other night it became glaringly obvious that my youth vanished long ago with Milli Vanilli.
The moment Q Wreck pronounced, “I ain’t getting caught riding dirty,” my age began to rival that of a Roman statue.
What does riding dirty mean? I made this inquiry the first order of business on my morning walk with my girlfriends, but let’s face it...they’re as old as me. Poor things. They had good close guesses, but no one knew for certain. And none of them could say they had ever used the phrase nor heard it in play.
My last resort was the link to all things young and hip, the Urban Dictionary.
Read More...
It’s funny how age creeps up on you. While watching Q Wreck in a YouTube video the other night it became glaringly obvious that my youth vanished long ago with Milli Vanilli.
The moment Q Wreck pronounced, “I ain’t getting caught riding dirty,” my age began to rival that of a Roman statue.
What does riding dirty mean? I made this inquiry the first order of business on my morning walk with my girlfriends, but let’s face it...they’re as old as me. Poor things. They had good close guesses, but no one knew for certain. And none of them could say they had ever used the phrase nor heard it in play.
My last resort was the link to all things young and hip, the Urban Dictionary.
Read More...
Even My Dog's On Twitter
April/25/2009 03:11 PM Filed in: Commentary
When certain friends and family members in my life ask me, “What is Twitter?” I wonder how I know and they don’t. These people are not grannies in nursing rooms, they are young, hip and technologically advanced. (More advanced than me anyhow.) How can they not know what Twitter is? Even my dog is on Twitter.
Nope, I’m not kidding.
What doe she tweet about? Typically she likes to post information about her favorite treats, toys and napping locations. However, her mommy insists that she must also be philanthropic in her tweeting, so she posts tweets (and re-tweets) with information about doggies less fortunate than herself that need new homes. Sometimes she even tweets about outbreaks of illnesses in the news, such as Parvo, to remind pet owners that we need to keep our pets vaccinated and safe. Check out one of her recent tweets:
@SpoiledDog “RT @BigLapDogParvo outbreak at Pomona animal shelter; 50 puppies & dogs euthanized http://bit.ly/s87Bp”10:09 AM Apr 23rd from web
When @SpoiledDog opened her Twitter account she was worried she’d be the only dog in town, but to her surprise there are tons of canine friends to tweet with online! Check out some of her them: Read More...
Buzzwords at Home
April/09/2009 02:31 PM Filed in: Commentary
The Time report on the Top Ten Buzz Words for 2008 got me thinking about how these popularized words are impacting my life now in 2009.
10. Topless Meeting
While no one has asked me to turn my phone off in a brainstorming meeting, my husband has strict rules for date night. I am not allowed to text, email, google or twitter, much less take a call. And while I would like to bring my laptop along for quick access to movie times and reviews, restaurant suggestions, access to information that would settle our debate of the evening, and maybe sneak in a blog post while he is paying the bill, my computer is not allowed along either. Some might call this Topless Dating.
9. Tweet
Twitter is at my fingertips 24-7 with my favorite Tweetie iphone app. I can’t leave home or climb in bed without it. My favorite function of Tweetie is the Nearby feature. I love to see who is Tweeting in my neighborhood. Just one year ago, I wouldn’t have even known what the Tweet was going on. Read More...
Spring Break 2009: Staycationing
April/06/2009 10:01 AM Filed in: Commentary
Staycationing
By Life of a Rock Star™ contributor “GG”
It is a glorious, yet rare spring day: 78º in Southern California. The kind of day that makes residents remember why we live here...the kind that makes tourists decide to move here...the kind of day with no sports or activities for my very active family. That is what makes it rare. So rare that it hasn't happened in our always on the go home since November 2008.
When it happened in last fall, we went away on vacation. But this spring, we’re taking the ever-popular “staycation” and today we all slept in--waking up to TV instead of alarm clocks. We marveled at the idea of freedom: there was no need to search for cleats and uniforms, no ice chest to pack, no presents to purchase or wrap. This freedom allowed time to make breakfast in bed for the kids, served on trays filled with French toast, strawberries, bacon and love. (Ok, really they were cookie sheets designed to avoid powdered sugar & syrup landing on their beds, but it was still done with love!) Read More...
"How To" Refill the Soap Dispenser
March/30/2009 06:36 PM Filed in: Commentary
by Nicole Hanratty
It's tricky, I know. You actually have to pull the top off of the soap dispenser to squirt more liquid inside. It takes a bit of effort but the rewards are spectacular! Once you replace the lid--Voila!--one press produces enough soap to wash a sink full of dishes.
Just follow three easy steps: 1) Remove top. 2) Pour more soap inside the container--we keep the refill bottle under the kitchen sink--and leave an inch or so of space on top. 3) Slide the pump back inside. Read More...
Life of a Rock Star Birthday
March/19/2009 08:21 AM Filed in: Commentary | Charity
My sister Gina's birthday was this week and she has been kind enough to share with our readers what a real Life of a Rock Star™ Mom's birthday is all about:
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
Funny Signs of the Times
March/10/2009 09:58 AM Filed in: Commentary
by Nicole Hanratty
Seems as if the financial credit markets have finally loosened up. Fortunate Southern California residents can apply for financial aid for... their hair cuts*?
Yes, times are tough and no one can get a loan to purchase a house, car or help stock their small business shelves but this is an encouraging sign that some aid is still available. Read More...
Best Friends
March/02/2009 02:19 PM Filed in: Commentary
by Nicole Hanratty
You know I love my coffee, it gets me through the day. The steaming hot cup of sanity navigates me as I attend to the Monday morning marketing, laundry, car wash, pet store and dry cleaners. It gives me clarity and makes me whole. Java is my best friend and without it I am lost.
But today, in a tragic turn of events my BFF was squandered. I added a splash of soy milk, replaced the lid and walked away from the coffee bar only to realize far too late that the reason I was not tasting any of my beloved beverage is because I was pouring it down the right side of my body. No, it was not coming out of the plastic hole on top of the lid for my perched lips to sip because the lid was ajar and the coffee was instead pouring through the crack between the top of the cup and the bottom of the lid. Read More...
'Slamdog Millionaire'
February/23/2009 11:54 AM Filed in: Commentary
by Nicole Hanratty
It was late into the show when my child said to me, "That Slamdog movie is winning everything..." As a rule, I don't correct mispronounced words, they are too precious and such cherished innocent childhood moments, that I can't bring myself to eradicate them. For years, my frig was called a "refrigilator" and I was so angry the day my husband finally corrected the word. But as I sat on the couch pondering this title change, I realized there was genius involved. The movie had been predicted to sweep the Oscars as a slam-dunk winner, hence the revised title 'Slamdog Millionaire' could not be more appropriate.
I had heard earlier in the weekend that the mother of the little boys who appeared in the movie had to beg borrow and steal to scrape up enough money to buy the young actors a new pair of blue jeans to wear on the flight to America from India--their first time flying--and my heart melted for their story, their mother, and the real poverty that does exist in India. I was eager to see them on the red carpet because I knew their innocent eyes would be lit up with excitement as they took in the visceral experience. Read More...
Mammogram Fun
February/12/2009 01:01 PM Filed in: Commentary
By Nicole Hanratty
Okay so no one really has fun getting a mammogram, but they are so important to have annually that I figure I may as well find the humor in them to encourage women everywhere to make that dreaded phone call, schedule an appointment and get their boobies squeezed.
Never had one? Check your modesty at the door.
First, you will be handed a stylish blue paper top that is the size of Texas. Somehow the "one size fits all" has been recently translated into "supersize." This leaves those of us who are not the size of Big Foot swimming in the fashionable garment with most of our chest and ribcage hanging out the armholes. Read More...
Kettle One is for the Dogs
January/13/2009 12:42 PM Filed in: Commentary
Kettle One is for the Dogs
by Nicole Hanratty
I’m so done. The holidays are over, I can leave my house without worrying about whether or not I need a gift for anyone I’m about to see and I’ve jumped off of the Fall Holiday Wheel of Events that belongs in my nephews’ hamster cage purchased for their birthdays which they promptly returned after realizing hamsters poop.
January brings sanity, a return to my favorite routines and normalcy. We reclaim our weekends from family commitments and holiday cheer; they are once again free for us to use them as we choose. Read More...