Outcasts

November 9th People of Jewish faith remember the "Night of Broken Glass" or Kristallnacht, called this because so much glass from store windows were broken. The German propaganda minister and Nazis organized pogroms, a Russian word meaning "to
wreak havoc" which was organized against the Jewish population. Starting on November 9th, 1938 and lasting two days.

The Jewish people were considered inferior and labeled by the government as such, 30,000 German Jews were arrested following the assassination of a German diplomat in Paris by a Jewish teenager. They were arrested, per the Nazi party for being Jewish, which was considered a crime. During this time Synagogues were burned down, Jewish businesses, hospitals, cemeteries, and homes were looted and destroyed. Both men and women were sent to concentration camps were hundreds would die.

After the Kristallnacht, German and Austrian Jewish children and teens were not allowed to go to museums, public playgrounds, swimming pools, and public schools. They were literally segregated from the rest of the German population, for being ethnically inferior. Many of the families tried to leave, while others committed suicide.

The Holocaust would follow the state sponsored prosecution and murder of approximately six million Jews. If your not sure what the word Holocaust means, it is Greek, meaning to sacrifice by fire. Not only were Jews considered inferior, so were gypsies, the disabled, and last but not least - homosexuals.

To label a group of people as inferior, or to treat them differently, assigning a different set of rules for them to follow - how far will society go once again? The many decided over a few, who should have rights, and those who should not.

Do Not Honk! Vote No Prop 8

I am amazed that people are out in the street holding signs, asking us to vote in support of Proposition 8. First we vote to have separation of church and state, and now we have people out there stating that Marriage is only valid between a man and a woman in the views of God (Adam & Eve not Adam & Steve). I do not remember God telling me this, I remember he said to be good to your neighbor, treat everyone as you would like to be treated. The only people who make those statements about validity is regular people like you and me. So what makes one persons view better than another?

First off, a marriage is a partnership, it has nothing to do with the state, federal, or local level. What anyone, male/female, male/male, and female/female is asking for is the same treatment as everyone else. If they are married, they can have the same benefits reserved for a male and female marriage. It scares me to think people want government to decide who can marry and whom cannot. There was a time when you could not marry a black person if you were white- the outcome was ridicule.

Eugenic Laws Against Race Mixing
Paul Lombardo, University of Virginia

Laws forbidding marriage between people of different races were common in America from the Colonial period through the middle of the 20th century. By 1915, twenty-eight states made marriages between "Negroes and white persons" invalid; six states included this prohibition in their constitutions.

In the early 1900's, the eugenics movement supplied a new set of arguments to support existing restrictions on interracial marriage. These arguments incorporated a "scientific" brand of racism, emphasizing the supposed biological dangers of mixing the races – also known as miscegenation. Influential writers like Madison Grant, a leading eugenicist, warned that racial mixing was "a social and racial crime." He said that acceptance of racial intermarriage would lead America toward "racial suicide" and the eventual disappearance of white civilization.

According to Grant, the mixture of "higher racial types," such as Nordic whites, with other "lower" races would inevitably result in the decline of the higher race. In his immensely popular book The Passing of the Great Race (1916) Grant cautioned: "The cross between a white man and an Indian is an Indian; the cross between a white man and a negro is a negro… When it becomes thoroughly understood that the children of mixed marriages between contrasted races belong to the lower type, the importance of transmitting in unimpaired purity the blood inheritance of ages will be appreciated at its full value."

Grant's proclamations on the perils of race mixing mirrored warnings by Charles Davenport and Harry Laughlin, leaders of the American eugenic bureaucracy at the Eugenics Record Office. In turn, American political leaders like Vice President Calvin Coolidge repeated similar sentiments as scientific fact. Said Coolidge: "Biological laws tell us that certain divergent people will not mix or blend."

To prevent further pollution of the country's collective "germ-plasm" and a subsequent contamination of the white race, eugenicists argued for even tighter restrictions against racial mixing. Their efforts focused on new legal definitions of who could qualify to receive a marriage license as a "white" person.

Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924 stands out among anti-miscegenation laws that can be traced to eugenic advocacy. To fashion a successful legislative strategy, three local Virginia eugenicists – John Powell, Earnest Cox and Walter Plecker – consulted with Madison Grant and Harry Laughlin. Powell, a celebrated pianist and composer, was the founder of the Anglo-Saxon Clubs of America, an elitist version of the Ku Klux Klan dedicated to maintaining "Anglo-Saxon ideals and civilization in America." Like The Passing of the Great Race, Cox's book White America emphasized white supremacy and the dangers of racial mixing. Plecker was registrar at the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Virginia Board of Health. His ideas on racial interbreeding as the source of "public health" problems appeared in state-published pamphlets distributed to all who planned to marry.

When The Racial Integrity Act became law, it included provisions requiring racial registration certificates and strict definitions of who would qualify as members of the white race. It emphasized the "scientific" basis of race assessment, and the "dysgenic" dangers of race mixing. Its major provision declared: "It shall hereafter be unlawful for any white person in this State to marry any save a white person, or a person with no other admixture of blood than white and American Indian. …the term "white person" shall apply only to such person as has no trace whatever of any blood other than Caucasian; but persons who have one-sixteenth or less of the blood of the American Indian and have no other non-Caucasic blood shall be deemed to be white persons…."

It is interesting to note that at least 16 members of the Virginia General Assembly who claimed to be descendants of Pocahontas objected to the first draft of the law they proposed, because it defined as "non-white" anyone with 1/64 of American Indian ancestry. Alabama and Georgia eventually copied the Virginia law. Within a decade, similar laws prohibiting inter-ethnic marriages and attempting to sort citizens by percentage of Jewish "blood" were adopted by the government of Nazi Germany.

The 1958 case of Loving v. Commonwealth of Virginia initiated a challenge that would eventually overturn the law. That year, Mildred Jeter (a black woman) and Richard Loving (a white man) were married in the District of Columbia. After moving to Virginia, they were indicted for violating the Racial Integrity Act. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year in jail. The trial judge suspended their sentences on the condition that they accept banishment from the state and not return together for 25 years. The judge's written opinion declared: Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with this arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.

The Virginia Supreme Court upheld the judge's decision, and the Lovings moved back to Washington, D.C. In 1963, another attempt to overturn their convictions in Virginia was unsuccessful. The Lovings finally appealed to the United States Supreme Court. By unanimous decision, in 1967 the Court struck down the Racial Integrity Act and similar laws of fifteen other states, saying: "[T]here can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the Equal Protection Clause … Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state."

Will Prop.8 really impact all Californians? They say yesIt will elevate the rights of gay couples, conflicting with moral and religious grounds, and religious freedom of expression compromised. There are 98 % of Californians who are not gay and 2% are gay, so should that 2% be treated better?
* by whom, whose religious freedoms? How are they doing this? How does a gay couple compromise other peoples religion? How did they determine that only 2% of Californians are gay? What study did they do? Most Gay people I know have never been treated better, so lets have them be treated better for once!

Is traditional marriage worth protecting?
What is traditional marriage? Is that when there is spousal abuse? Does this make a traditional marriage: When the father leaves the wife for a new woman and refuses to pay child support? Then the state has to pay for welfare to care for these children from traditional marriages. How do you determine that traditional marriages are better than gay marriages? Where are the statistics on that?

I will not vote yes on Prop. 8, they do not teach same sex marriages in school. I attended school a long time ago and never was taught about same sex marriage. My three children went to school and they were never taught about same sex marriages. Maybe we should be taught that marriage is HARD WORK, not to engage in marriage until we are trained with certificates of completion before we can marry. Marriage is a personal and private matter between two consenting adults. No one has the right to determine who, where, or when we should marry. If we allow the state to determine this, then how far will they go? Maybe we will go backwards and only allow supreme races to marry, and who will determine who what that race will be?

Creativity with Halloween

I just had to share some pictures from my son Nicholas. He had taken a photography class in the summer and did really well in class. He has gone on to join the RCC Photography Club and become the Vice-President this year.

I thought he did such a wonderful job in decorating our house for Halloween, that I must share some of his pictures! I Think that everyone should try to join something, some type of club, while in college. It has really given my son some opportunities to meet new people and participate in things he wouldn't have done otherwise.

My Mom

I thought I had better say a little something about a very special woman in my life, who just happens to be my mother. She is the person who made me what I am today: strong. She went through so much with my father trying to give us the regular nuclear family. This was never to occur, my dad was a damaged child, to a damaged husband, and in the end a damaged father.

I always thought my mom was spectacular. She was an operating room technician, meaning she assisted the surgeons in the operating room. Back when she was a kid her mother found her a career, and she went on to work at hospital in Michigan. I am pretty sure it was Harper Hospital, her sister worked at Henry Ford's Hospital in Detroit. My Aunt brought my mother and father together, a fate I am sure she regretted over the years!

My mom Leona Olga Goralski, Aka Toni ( because her dad wanted a boy), was a knockout. Tiny little waist, big brown eyes, and long brown hair. She is much more though, she is one smart cookie with a personality to match. I know my dad loved her dearly, but just couldn't be a good husband, he lacked a lot of training in that department. My mom was young also, she also was not prepared for married life. They had three children right in a row: 1963, 1964, and 1965. I guess they didn't have a television in those years.

Even after the divorce from my dad she was gorgeous and re-married a man 10 years younger. She did this before Demi Moore made it acceptable, how is that for being before her time. She was there for me as a child, as she was for all of her children, always cooking great dinners and her soup, oh it was fantastic. When you live in cold weather, soup is a great warmer of the soul, both inside and out. When I moved out to California I missed my grandmother and my mom, those were a tough few years out here without them. I send for my mom to come out to California as much as she will let me. That is my payback for all that she has done for me in the past. I will never be able to repay her for helping me become what I am today. She taught me to stand on my own two feet, always have a career, and never need a man to survive. Luckily I never married a man like my father, and my mother just loves my husband. To every daughter out there, remember your mother works hard for you each and every day. Treat her like she is that best thing in your life, because she is.

My Sister: Amanda

I just got off the phone with my sister a few hours ago and she told me she had found my blog. Now how the heck she did that is a mystery to me. I have a hard enough time finding and logging on to my own blog! Every time I go back to this wondrous blog I always, and I swear this is true, I forget how to do things. Now if this is a sign of Alzheimer's disease, please someone call my doctor at Kaiser- Dr. Greg Bishago. I am still having a hard time with this B L O G, but heck who doesn't have a few hours to burn.

My little sister, Amanda, found that I had posted her as one of the topics. She seemed suprised, but to me she is inspirational, of course she would be on my list of things to discuss. My sister, georgeous as she is, is still looking for happiness with love. I hope and pray she finds it, because I know she would make a wonderful wife & mother. Besides, I really want to be a Godmother someday, and I think little sis is my last chance. Amanda has traveled around the world, lived in other countries, and finds time to run marathons. I would have loved to travel , and however doubtful it would be, I would love to run a marathon. My bad back and knees take me out of the race though, but I know I could walk for miles. Walking for 20 some odd miles would take a very long time though and it gets a little cold at night, so maybe I could ride a bike, or scooter, or just pretend I did it. Which would never work because I do not like to lie, my motto- just tell the truth.

So if my sister is reading this right now, remember this: I love the hell out of you! You are beautiful both inside and out, you need a little direction every now, but then again who doesnt. I will see you soon for christmas, wish you were coming for Thanksgiving, but we will have a wonderful time during December. Remember to be strong, take baby steps when you need to , and always ( I mean this) call me if you need me! Without you I would be empty deep in my heart. To have a sister is to have a friend for life..........I am your biggest ( no fat joke intended), and best friend in the world, never forget that.

Grandaughters

Today I took some time off with my studying, today was a family day.

I called my daughter and told her to bring the girls over early so we could go out for lunch and do a little shopping. They, Lila and Ariana, arrived at my house ready to go. As soon as they saw me, they screamed GRANDMA, and ran into my arms. I have made the right decision today, and that was to give them my whole morning. I put all the books away, my notebooks, and study items, and spent a wondrous day out with two of my most loved little girls in the world-my granddaughters.

We started at Chuck-E-Cheese, arriving at 9:15 am. They were wiggling in their car seats, consumed with excitement to get into the building. I took Lila, and my daughter Erika brought in Ariana, all together we got our hands stamped and entered into the Cheese zone. Here in Moreno Valley they had expanded and remodeled the whole place inside, new machines, more seats, and enlarged the children's area. They were in heaven. We walked in, ordered our regular large pizza, 4 drinks 2 which are in special Chuckie cups, and one all-you-can-eat salad. Then comes the greatest gift for these two overexcited granddaughters-tokens !!! We spent the next two hours riding horses, inside the princess carriage, and eating pizza. There was also lots of laughing and playing. It also gives my daughter a break, she can now talk to another adult for awhile. My daughter is a stay-at-home mom right now, and I think she needs a little break every now and then, so we sit and talk.

Then came our shopping time, so to Target we went! We went down almost every aisle and looked at anything they wanted to. We stopped in the shoe department, of course they both got new shoes. Then on to the movies, where once again we bought the new movie out this week-Tinker Bell. We ended the shopping excursion in the craft area, where we were able to find 3 Halloween crafts for Lila, Ariana, and Charisma.

We are in the check-out, when the inevitable occurs..........crankiness. The girls are now tired, I have over done it, time for them to head home. We leave Target and head for my house, and here we rearrange our packages to theirs and mine. What a nice morning it was, but the great thing about the visit: They go home! God I love grandchildren. You get to take them out, give them candy (within reason), and send them home.

Time spent with your family: priceless.

Being a Mom

Thursday night my two youngest children came home with a suprise.......fabric. They were going to make two costumes for themselves, with each bundle of fabric they were holding. I asked them just how they were going to do this, and they causually replied they were going to use saftey pins. "Hmmmmmmmmm," was my initial reasponse, to which they both just laughed.

Now I have not used my sewing machine in several years. Each halloween when my children were younger I made them all costumes. I made mummies, witches, dragons, princesses, and so many more that I cannot even remember. I had three children, and each would be made into whatever they desired to be, I held never held back. I have to admit though, those costumes where much smaller. My two boys are now 16 and 20 years old, that's a lot of fabric to be pushing through a machine. So I looked them straight in the eye and asked just what were they planning to be this year? The answers were scarey:

1.) a scarecrow with a horror element washed in

2.) A yetti

The fabric my oldest son, Nick, had a burlap type, that was itchy, hard to handle, and cut and held with, you got it, safety pins! I know I can do this for him, but when does he need it by? Big smile comes to his face and he tells me by tomorrow. OH GOD!! So I lay him on the fabric, cut out a pattern, and sew for almost three hours until we are finished. I was amazed at how good the finished product was after they added some paint, webbing, mask, and a rat on the hat.

The fabric my youngest son Alex had was no better! I had flying white fuzz all over the kitchen with every cut of the fabric I made. He informs me that he would like a full body suit of a yetti. What the heck is a yetti is my first question, to which he shows me on google, to which I turn white as a ghost. He has to be kidding, I am tired now, but he gives me a little hug and a smile. How can I turn him down. I am rolling though now, I had the sewing maching humming along, and in no time (1 1/2 hrs) we have a finished product. He puts the outfit on and thanks be to the halloween gods above--it fit. My husband helps with the head piece and on it goes, its not what I had planned, but what the heck it fits his head and he likes it.

My boys are ready for this years halloween celebration and making their costumes was a trip down memory lane. We were all in the kitchen working to finish the product, laughing, and talking about the good old days. I have to say this was one of the best thursdays I have had in a very long time. Spending time with your children is wonderful when they get older and choose you over their buddies.

Halloween

I went to the Riverside Ghost Walk last night, and we stayed until after 11:00. This was the first time my family and I had ever done such a thing. My husband treated us to the VIP tour so that we were able to walk into the catacombs under the Mission Inn. It was to support the California Riverside Ballet, and we were able to experience something new!

The one thing I like about being older, although not too pleased about looking worse for the wear, we are able to do anything we want. The kids are older, and we no longer have to worry about babysitters! So we started our night with Hor'dourves, a large glass of white wine, and people we had just met whom were also taking the tour. The room was decorated in a Halloween theme, music played in the background, and conversation flowed around the table.

I have never really been into watching a ballet, but then again I have never attended one either. So this night was an experience for us all. The tour started at 8:20 and we proceeded to walk to an older hotel, and there we were treated to the first ballet dance. Those little girls were pretty good! The music featured the ghoulish voice of Vincent Price and ended with Micheal Jackson's "Thriller." The chandeliers were swaying overhead, with smoke bellowing up and through them. The scene was spectacular. We then proceeded to a nearby church to watch a rendition of "Interview with a Vampire," and once again the show was very good, with wonderful dancing and acting.

Then it was getting late, and I kept looking at my watch. I keep thinking about my class in the morning, and how bad my feet were hurting. We still had not made it to the catacombs and I started to feel a little cranky! I was ready for bed. I forged onward to the next building, this time though, I was not all smiles. I felt the pain of getting up for work that morning at 4:30. My husband offered to take me home, but I wanted to see those darn tunnels under the Mission Inn!

Finally we walked into the Mission Inn and down the stairs to the basement. There was a wedding that night, so the Halloween music switched to typical wedding melodies with people dancing their harts out. We lined up along the wall, and waited anxiously to enter.

Finally we entered. God, it was so nice and cool down there. There are so many rumors about why the catacombs are there, but the true reason is they were made for the hotel as a marketing strategy. There was also a show down in the catacombs, and the acoustics made the girls screams echo throughout the basement! Was the tour worth the money? Yes, I think the kids did a great job, the tour was a little (very) long, and maybe we should have taken the first tour of the night, but all in all it was great. It was a wonderful way to spend a Friday night!

learning

I was asked today if I was learning anything in my English class-it blew my mind! I am learning so much in this class I have been blown away. This is my first English class in so many years, so every time I come to class I learn. Really I think sometimes I was placed in the wrong class, because I don't know if I never learned these things, or perhaps it was so long ago I do not remember! Either way, I am glad to be retaught the importance of a sentence.

A sentence: subject + verb. Such a little thing, but so hard to remember!!

I must say that learning in this class has been wonderful. Taking two classes at once and working is hard. I feel for the women in this class, and I am sure some men also, who really do not have the time to come in to English class every Saturday. I know that it takes so much determination to push yourself into something that tips the scale ever so lightly into pure pandemonium. It takes up so much of your time to enroll in a class, but the end result is so wonderful. Your education can give you so much in return, such as a better job, pride, and a feeling of accomplishment. To each and everyone of my classmates I give them a pat on the back for being there. I know its tough, but it is soooooooooooooo worth it!

I am rereading my essay from the remembered event, I should have gone back to the writing center one more time. I made some really stupid mistakes. My goal now is to watch the tenses, I have learned that when I was younger I did not care about writing, so I failed to learn so much. This time around, learning means so much to me. Maybe we should have kids work when they are young, and as they get older, give them an education. I know there are young people out there who are good in school, but I was not one of them. Too bad there is not a re-do on high school. I would so kick some arse now!

Death of a Parent

My dad just passed away this May after a long battle with Kidney disease. The one thing that I didn't expect was the actions of my older brother Rick. He believes that being the eldest son, he has the right to inherit everything. I know that I am half Hispanic, but this is not the way we were brought up. I grew up baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. I was never raised in a traditional Hispanic household, and today that is not how you divide assets of your family. I am not too sure which ethnic groups give everything to the oldest son anymore, but it just sounds so archaic.

I just received a letter from my brothers attorney inquiring if I am going to give up coins that he gave to my son while visiting a few months before he died. I put the letter away and have not read it, my husband did, and he told me not to even look at it. He laughed because they are awaiting my response, but didn't include a self-addressed stamped envelope back to them. What is this world coming to? Your own brother sues you for something given to your child.

My family dynamics are pretty crazy. I had not seen my dad for almost twenty years before I entered back into his life. He was sick with kidney disease and had just had a stroke. He wasn't doing well and my children begged for me to bring him to our house, they asked me to forgive him for all his past digressions. How could I not agree with my children, the man was my father, and he was sick. Forgiveness is what I always advise my children to do, then I must lead by example. I brought my dad out for a month, took him to dialysis every other day, and picked him up and cared for him. This started in 2004 and my dad died May 2008. I was lucky to have those last over four years to have a good relationship with my father.

My brother on the other hand was angry. He thought I was taking my dad from him, like my dad was a possessions, or piece of meat. What turmoil occurred with my brother was amazing. He felt that because he spent so many years with my dad that he should be compensated somehow. The repayment is what he is after now. My father and I didn't get along because he was so abusive. My dad could have been the poster boy for battered women and child abuse. Later when we talked about what happened he told me that is what he learned from his dad. Just like they say, abuse is a repeated cycle. I couldn't be Charles Atlas any longer-it was just to heavy to carry. So I forgave him and we became close. My brother feels that I waited too long, and that I should have nothing.

The thing that bothers me the most is I never took anything from my dad while he was alive. If he sent money I would give it to my children. I felt funny taking money from him, I wanted him to know that I didn't need a payoff, I forgave him without any strings. My brother on the other hand always asked for things: down payment for a house, money for activities, and to pay for all the meals. I didn't feel comfortable with that and I didn't know if he had enough money to pay everything. I wasn't sure how much money my dad had, and I never asked.

Just before my dad died my younger brother Kevin became his power of attorney(POA) after my dad had a kidney transplant. I told my dad that if anything happened to him while he was in the hospital who would care for his finances, and that he needed someone to protect him. My father asked me to become POA, but I declined, my older brother thought I was taking over too much as it was. My younger brother Kevin was a sweetheart, he helped my dad pay his mortgage while my dad's accounts got straigtened out. My dad also put my little brother down as POD. What is POD? If you have ever been in banking then you know, but for those of you who do not, it means "payable upon death." It does not enter probate either, after death it goes to that person. What a mess that caused! Our older brother wants that also, or at least his share.

You can look at my post and think why not just give him some, but I must complete the story with an ending. While my dad went to have tranplant surgery my older brother was in Iraq, he was a medic, luckily he wasn't out in the field very much. He gave vaccinations and helped on base because of his rank. I emailed my brother and told him that my dad was not doing well after the surgery and to please come home. He told me he would if I contacted the Red Cross and had them set it up. Luckily my dad was taken off the critical list, but he stayed in the hospital. My brother was given the option of coming home to see his father, but would have to use his own time. My brother declined. He went to the Domician Republic with his new wife to celebrate their honeymoon. Please let me say that my brother and his wife had lived together for several years, she only agreed to marry him when he went overseas and she could then get benefits. He told dad that he would come and see him when he got out of the military in September. That never occured, my dad died May 19th at 4:00 a.m. He had not seen my dad since 2006.

I don't know all the answers in life, but I do know that if your parent is dying - you come to them. How will this end? God I really do not know. It causes stress to everyone. My younger brother Kevin also is being sent letters from the attorney. All I can say to this whole mess, please stress to your parents get a living trust and put it in writing. I flew to Michigan twice to get my father to set up a will, but he declined. I even told him to put everything in my brother Rick's name- again he wouldn't. What was my dad doing? I really do not know. I think deep down inside he never thought he was going to die. That is the problem the complete cycle of life ends with death.

October is Flu Shot Month

Everyone loves October, the weather changes and people start to drag out their Holloween decorations. For the people in the medical field, October means one thing - flu shots. The phone starts to ring off the wall, and the question on patients minds is: When can I get my flu shot ? The question on the medical personnel minds is: should I get the shot? The best thing to do before you get the flu vaccination is to become informed.

The question I wanted to know about was: what does the flu vacination cover and what is in those tiny viles that they inject into you? Here is some information from the CDC on who, where, and when to get the vaccination:

The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.
There are two types of vaccines:
1.) The "flu shot"— an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
2.) The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine” or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.
About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

When to Get Vaccinated:
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.

Who Should Get Vaccinated:
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1.) Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2.) Pregnant women
3.) People 50 years of age and older
4.) People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5.) People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6.) People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
a. Health care workers
b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the fluc. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated:
There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include:
1.) People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
2.) People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
3.) People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
4.) Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

Vaccine Effectiveness:
The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation. Testing has shown that both the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at preventing the flu.

Vaccine Side Effects (What to Expect):
Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot.
Some minor side effects that could occur are:
Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
Fever (low grade)
Aches
If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005, people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
LAIV (FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely.)

In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include:
1.) runny nose
2.) wheezing
3.) headache
4.) vomiting
5.) muscle aches
6.) fever

In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include
1.) runny nose
2.) headache
3.) sore throat
4.) cough
More Information

Flu Shot : Vaccination Information Statement (VIS)
Nasal Spray : Vaccination Information Statement (VIS)
* "Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.
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Page last updated July 16, 2008
Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

As a final note I will say that I did get the flu vaccination. I received my first vaccination in 2004 when I started to work in the medical field. I also have had influenza in the past, aquiring it in 1996 while working at the CHP. I can say that influenza was the worst illness I have ever had. The symptoms that I felt were horrible, I knew this was something worse than the flu. I had the chills right down into my bones, so bad that I could not move. My children were young then and tried to care for me while my husband was at work. I actually had them call my work to have someone come and help me, they called my husband, who came home and took me to the emergency room (ER). I could barely move and cried all the way to the hospital. What an experiance, they took one look at me and gave me an injection. I do not even know what they gave me, but I am sure it was an antibiotic of some type- all I knew was that I was safge in the hands of a doctor and not two young children. The ER doctor told my husband he was lucky to have brought me in to the hospital, that annually 10,000 - 40,000 die a year from influenza. We were shocked!

Should you get the vaccination is a question you should ask your primary care physician. I work in the internal medicine department at Beaver Medical Clinic and have seen patients already getting very sick this year with pneumonia and colds. I think possibly this year we are going to be hit very bad with the virus, so please take care of yourself, wash your hands, and if your a candidate look at the options of being vaccinated.

To thyn own self be true

I agree with Mr. Ma in class Saturday about being true to yourself. I need classes like the hybrid. I work all week and I am taking a chemistry class twice a week. If this type of class didn't exist I would not be able to take two classes this semester. I need to take these classes to get into the RN program and to be honest with everyone, I am not getting any younger!

I do not have the time anymore to make changes to my schedule, nor do I have time to change my major. I have already had a career and this is my second time around. I realize for a lot of young students that going to college is something that your parents want you to do and that they are paying for it. When you get to my age, forty four, there is no parent making the payments! I have to be responsible, I have to be pulling the grade, and I have to show my children that they can do it at any age.

I realize that getting up on a Saturday is tough, but I am there! The instructor is there, even though he has a long drive from San Diego. Still coming in late after he asked us not to is just .................there are so many words, so I will let you fill in the blanks. Maybe if we all just pretended that the class still started at 8:10, we could just start on time.

I am not trying to preach, I am just saying that I truly need this class. A part of growing up is being responsible, and if your not ready to be at that place in your life, please party on!! Have fun, be a kid and enjoy yourself. For me that part of my life is way over. Someday a lot of the people in this class will be where I am today-older. Being older in a class is tough and I can give you so many reasons to get your education now.

Top 10 reasons to get your education now
1.) You will have children who need you, even when you have a paper or upcoming exam due
2.) Your children will become sick, and eventually pass the illness to you
3.) Your bills become higher as you get older- just try making my mortgage payments a few times ( I own 2 homes, so double everything)
4.) Everyone eventually retires, make sure your job has a good retirement
5.) We tend to get sick as we age- make sure there is a good health plan
6.) A retirement check is not enough, make sure you have enough money saved!
7.) You may have a good job, but like me, one day they just may retire you and you will have to get another job, and your mind is not that good at retaining things as you age (trust me)
8.) It pretty cheap right now at $20.00 per unit, I can imagine what it is going to be like in 10 more years. For those transferring to a university- what a raise in prices!
9.) Be a good role model for the community and your children- they really do look up to you
10.) Its your life, please make it worth something - you cannot blame your parents forever

Lets all go to class and be ready, if your taking this class please give it your best, Give it your all! If you cannot give it your best- take the class when you can!

When I first started college in the 80's I signed up for all these classes, I wasn't even sure what I wanted to take, or even what I wanted to be. I took a full load of classes and a full load of partying 101. Let's just say I passed two classes- swimming & Party 101. The end result was a $2000.00 bill and no real plausible job that needed a requirement for the swim class. I also had applied for the nursing program at Northern Michigan University, and there must not have been a big demand back then because I got accepted. I showed up the first day and never showed up again- I was too tired. The real reason, I just wasn't ready for school. When 2004 rolled around I was ready for school. I was more then ready, I was hungry for it. I wanted to complete 60 credits in one year, one month, even one day if I could.

I was lucky to be accepted into the nursing program at RCC, I was luckly to be given a second chance. The real reason I was accepted into the program was I worked my ass off in every class I took. I accepted no lower than I B, and I always strived for an A. Reaching your dreams takes hard work and determination, no more, no less. No one is going to hand you your education- get out there and earn it.

This is my little sister Amanda and she is running a marathon this October 12th for the Chicago Police Department! What a wonderful thing to do for one of the finest agency's in the city. The police are the backbone of the city and I am proud to announce that my sister is there to help raise money for the department and all the fallen heros that have given their lives for the people of the city.

My parents and my Aunt Ilona are also going to be at the race. They will be set up at one of the race check points to help pass out water to the runners. I have never run a 26 mile race in my life before, to be honest I do not think I ever will, but for those who can do it-----I give them credit.

I have posted information for two reasons:
1.) I want her story to be an inspiration to everyone out there that loves to run or just loves to give back to others and be part of the community.

2.) I want people to give her money!!!

DID YOU KNOW.... ?

1.) The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C.

2.) Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died.

3.) The Athens Marathon is recognized as the original marathon course and it's the same course used in the 2004 Olympics held in Athens.

4.) The first modern Olympic games were held in 1896 in Greece.

5.) The legend of Pheidippides was honored by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens.

6.) Athens Stadium, the finish line for the Athens Marathon stands on the site of a stadium used in classical times.

7.) Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker, won the first modern Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds, an average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile.

8.) At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, with the 2.2 miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting "God save the Queen!" (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed.

http://www.active.com/donate/teamcpdmemorial2008/AJurine

Amanda Jurinen's Fundraising Page
Help support the cause and register for Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Marathon Team- TEAM CPD.
Running for the families
Donation Amount: $

Chicago Marathon 2008!
On October 12, 2008 I will be running my 3rd Chicago Marathon and my 6th marathon overall. I have always said that I do not run for charities, but last year the only way into the race was through a charity (it sold out for open entries so early!) Through my running coach I got hooked up with the Chicago Police Department Gold Member Families and was so happy that I did. Not only is the charity fantastic but they offer overwhelming support to the runners. This once non-charity runner is running for TEAM CPD again. Last year the Chicago Marathon 08' was historically one of the most notorious, as the temperatures were in the 90's and only about 22,000 of the 45,000 registered runners started the race and finished. There was one death and hundreds that were hospitalized. I ran it and I finished in the top 10% but I have never struggled like this. I was about ready to give up but around mile 21 I was greeted by all the police officers and families I raised funds for. I cried and pushed on through for a 3:43 time. The photo above is me in my CPD shirt and finishers medal. Personally, I have family members in law enforcement, thus this organization does mean quite a lot to me. I would hate to think of loosing anyone of them while they were doing their job to protect someone. Here is a little bit about the Chicago Police Memorial Fund: The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of our fallen heroes. The Foundation provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago Police Officers who were killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. REASONS FOR THE FOUNDATION Since the murder of Officer Casper Lauer there have been over 525 Chicago Police Officers who have sacrificed their lives for the city. The families of these brave Officers are supported by the Department and other organizations, but as one might imagine, the cost in terms of financial, emotional, and psychological support is overwhelming. Other, perhaps less known, risks associated with being a Police Officer are the stresses of the job. These stresses too often lead to disastrous consequences such as when a Police Officer takes his own life. Finally, as a tribute to the heroic lives that these Officers led, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has built a permanent memorial to these brave men and women. A spectacular site just east of the new Soldier Field has already been donated by the Chicago Park District. WHY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATION By supporting these initiatives, the public-private partnership provides the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation with the means to achieve our goals. It is a sign to all the citizens of Chicago, as well as our nation, that Chicago's corporate family and business leaders care about its Police Officers and their families. Your support is a reminder that when troubled times arise, we come together, as families do, and provide comfort, support, and protection for one another.
NEVER FORGET!!! Please help Team CPD's runners reach their goal donation of $75,000! Any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated.Invite your Friends to Donate!

Frustration

I wish that I could do the blogging assignment with more ease and without feeling so lost. Maybe I need to be in an over forty english class that just writes on paper! I am determined to get this whole blogging concept no matter what. Although I maybe older, I am not beyond the age to stop learning. I will try to impress my children with this page and overcome my fear of technology in the web.
Now I need to learn how to post photos and music. Please enjoy the photo of two of my two granddaughters, Lila and Ariana, at least I was able to get that far.

This is a whole new area for me.........Blogging is not something I have ever done. I do not even ever read blogs for that matter. I feel like I have entered the new era!