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Entry bubble LASIK: To See or Not To See, That is the Question

By: Ginger | September 19, 2008 | Category: Health

I walked into my condo and threw down a bunch of gear on the sofa. I informed my husband that I had signed up for scuba diving classes. Off I went to practice buddy breathing, buoyancy, and taking dive gear off and on under water. I passed the written test and waited in anticipation for my trip to Mexico to do my certification dives.

Green eye.It dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to see very well without my glasses. Being able to see things swimming towards me while diving seemed really important. Even though my mask did allow for replacement corrective lenses, I decided to get LASIK instead.

When I was researching LASIK, I read a couple of publications we had here in the office. “LASIK Laser Eye Surgery” and “Laser Eye Surgery: Is It Worth Looking Into?” were very helpful.

You can also visit FDA’s LASIK website. It explains the LASIK procedure, risks involved, and what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. MedlinePlus Laser Eye Surgery has a multimedia and tools section with pictures, photographs and tutorials. The Eye Surgery Education Council Cost section mentions the price of the initial procedure, the cost of an enhancement procedure, and insurance considerations.

It is very important to do your homework when selecting a surgeon to do the procedure. Here is a list of questions to ask the doctor. Finding the best doctor is important, so don’t be afraid to ask these tough questions.

As for me, my eye surgery went without a hitch. I did experience dry eyes for a little while, but my eyes were totally healed for my first dive trip. That was 8 years ago. These LASIK-repaired eyes have seen all kinds of awesome underwater stuff in all kinds of interesting places. For me, the surgery was worth it.

How about the rest of you? Any LASIK stories to share… the good, the bad, or the ugly?

| Comments [0] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: eye   ginger   laser   lasik   surgery  

 

Entry bubble State of Mind

By: Nancy | September 18, 2008 | Category: Fun

Once again, I have not been nominated for the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Another year, another disappointment. But I'm trying to be mature about the whole thing. I can admit, without bitterness, that Jon Bon Jovi and Shaquille O'Neal should be on the list this year. And I didn't begrudge Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra their places of honor last year. I can even acknowledge the validity of Clara Barton and Thomas Edison being part of the first group to make it into the Hall of Fame. I'll be patient—my time will come. New Jersey is the fourth smallest state in the country in area and only the 11th largest in population. They've got to run out of people to nominate at some point, right? Then it will be Nancy, the famous government blogger's turn! Or not.

See, I may have gone to college, lived and worked in DC for the last 22 years, but I grew up eating corn and peaches from the Garden State's roadside stands, playing in its piney woods and shelling along its sandy shoreline. Dorothy may have been talking about Kansas, but when I think of New Jersey, I agree: "There's no place like home."

Whether you hit the road as soon as you were old enough to be on your own or you still live in the same town you grew up in, state pride can run pretty strong. The history and geography, accents, political leanings, and wacky little places you find along the way all add up to make your state absolutely unique.

So, what state are you from? What makes it special to you?

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| Comments [1] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: nancy   new_jersey   springsteen   state  

 

Entry bubble National Whole Grains Month

By: Colleen | September 17, 2008 | Category: Health

I was once a white bread eater. As a kid, anything with the word "grain" in it made me cringe. Now, whole grainever older and wiser, chowing down on white bread is the equivalent of eating paste.

As a reformed eater of refined grains, I am pleased to report that September is National Whole Grains Month. A whole grain is one that still has its covering, which contains the grain's fiber and many of its vitamins and minerals.

Whole grains are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also a major supply of fiber, help decrease the risk of heart disease, and can aid in weight loss.

The USDA suggests that adults get between three and five portions of whole grains per day. What are some easy ways to sneak some more whole grains into your daily diet?

  • Make sure your bread label reads, "100% whole grain" or "100% whole wheat." Otherwise, it may just be a mix of refined and whole grain.
  • Use whole-grain pastas when cooking. You'll never notice the difference. (Trust me, I had a dinner party with a whole-grain baked ziti—none of my guests were the wiser.)
  • Bake with whole-wheat flour. The coloring of your famous cookies may be slightly different, but the taste remains the same.
  • Order your Friday night pizza with whole-grain dough. Many national chains, like Papa John's, are offering this.
  • Substitute brown rice for white with your meals.

Whole grains are also essential for those who have celiac disease and need to maintain a gluten-free diet.

Does anyone have any tasty whole-grain recipes to share? Any suggestions for packing more whole grains into your diet?

| Comments [1] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: colleen   national_whole_grains_month   wheat   whole_grain  

 

Entry bubble Hurricane Ike Survivors: Find Family & Friends

By: Joanne | September 16, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Did you evacuate to get out of the path of Hurricane Ike? Do you need to find friends or family who were displaced by Ike? If you answered yes to either of these questions, read on.

There are websites you can register with to help you connect with your loved ones to let them know that you’re safe and well after the storm. I’m going to give you links to a few registries – if you were displaced by the storm or if you’re looking for someone, I suggest you visit them all.

  • FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, operates the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System. 
  • The Red Cross operates the Safe and Well List. The Safe and Well List even lets you to post a message (from a list of standard messages) so you can give your loved ones a little more information. For those without internet access, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) to register.
  • Next of Kin National Registry is a free tool for daily emergencies and national disasters. The system gives emergency response agencies the information they need to contact your loved ones if you’re ever missing, hurt badly or worse.
  • If you’re a tourist or other foreign national affected by a disaster in the U.S., contact your consulate.

And do remember that there are many ways that you can help the people impacted by Hurricane Ike by volunteering or donating. There are volunteer opportunities for kids, seniors, teens and groups and many reputable organizations you can support through donations to bring relief to hurricane survivors.

No matter what charity you chose to support, always be on the watch for identity theft and other scams and fraud schemes  that try to take advantage of your good will and desire to help those in need.

| Comments [4] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: disaster   flood   hurricane   ike   joanne   locator   shelter   storm   survivor  

 

Entry bubble Save on Heating Bills!

By: Jake | September 15, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

ThermostatFall begins next week and winter will be here before you know it. Joanne showed us last week the cost of heating oil is rising and there are sure to be other high heating costs this winter no matter what fuel you use to heat your humble abode.

A good place to learn about how you can save on heating costs is the new Energy Savers blog. The blog was launched by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the (surprise!) U.S. Department of Energy this month as a way to communicate with citizen's about consumer-related energy topics.

In September and October the Energy Savers bloggers are writing about "winterization"—topics to get you ready for the upcoming heating season. In one of their first posts on "winterization," they recommend that you conduct an energy audit where you inspect your house for drafts, correct insulation levels and heating unit filters.

Also, the Federal Trade Commission offers a website that shows you how to save on energy costs in every room of your house. What do you plan to do this winter to save on heating bills?

| Comments [0] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: energy_audit   heating_costs   heating_fuel   jake   winter   winterization  

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