You can zest the lemons.  The outside colored part of the lemons can be used for many things.  (Hmm, I think I see another blog post at of just that.)  I would think it would be easier to zest before you squeeze all the juice out of the lemon, but that is just me. 

You can use what is left of the lemon to try to “bleach” stuff.  For me I use it to lighten any darkness that might be on my kitchen grout.  It doesn’t always work on a dark-dark stain, but on anything light it usually does.  Often times I leave it for a few hours, but remember it is an acid so it might eat through some of the grout . . . so like most things you are trying for the first time test it in a small unseen area to make certain you can live with the results.

Or just take the lemon portion that has been squeeze and run it over your counters or your sink—-provided the surfaces can tolerate something like that.  Then wipe it down with a damp towel you might have the fresh sent of lemon in the kitchen.  I have tile on which I do that, but I do not do it on my granite. 

Then when you are all done using as much as you can out of that little lemon put it in your garbage disposal.  As long as your garbage disposal works well at grinding rinds that helps clean it and leaves a fresh sent in the kitchen.  Especially if you run the disposal at the same time you run some warm/hot water–it fills the kitchen with lemony scent.

What else can we do with the lemon “leftovers”?

I just happened upon that tonight. This might not be suitable for everyone and it certainly won’t interest everyone.

I have long wanted to donate my body to science. When I am done with it I have always hoped it could help people. I watched a special tonight that really amazed and interested me and really helped confirmed that donation is a great thing. I was of the belief that it would go as a whole to a medical school, but now-a-days with so much surgery being done laparoscopically the need to practice on real tissue has greatly increased.  So an entire body is not always needed. 

I understand that this might be against some people’s religion or beliefs which is understandable. But if not, it might be something to consider.  Even though I cannot dwell on the actual details, I love to focus on what a donation can mean: saving a life or improving the quality of one.  To me that is a tremendous gift. 

There is a company here in the United States* that will take a body at no cost to the family. For a lot of people not having the cost of a funeral or anything could be a very big relief. Plus the body can be used for great things.

Body parts can be used in medical studies, in transplantations, in medical products. We could keep on giving.

All of the information on this show** was amazingly fascinating to me, but I have a feeling that not many here would care for the details. I will say that due to all of the medical advances there is an increase in demand by as much as 50% per year. With this huge increase in demand for tissue the black market is getting larger. Since only 1% of Americans donate, it is still very profitable for thieves to steal and sell.  It is awful to think that some people are profiting from stealing someone’s body.  And on top of that, if they are doing it so dishonestly they COULD be doing it with potentially diseased tissue.  This TV program hinted that if more people were to donate through legitimate sources it might help make it less profitable for the shady ones and there for less worth the risk. 

Did you know:

—Bone graphs from one person could go on to help 80 people. (That is EIGHTY people that could live a better life because ONE person decided to be generous with something they are no longer using.)

—In Britain it was illegal to practice medicine on a cadaver until 2006.

—Organs need to be retrieved while the heart is still beating, but tissue can be retrieve up to 24 hours after death.

—They can use an achilles tendon to replace a ruptured knee ligament.

—Tissue transplant includes bones, tendons, and skin.

—Donated human tissue can be used in Medical Science, Education, bio products.

*Anatomy Gifts Registry (AGR) – Tissue Broker

**The show I watched was first aired in 2008, I just watched it July, 6, 2010.  All the information in this post is from the show.

Things change for cats when there is an adjustment to their diet or whatever and my friend is in the middle of a food transition for her cats.  It just follows that if you talk about what goes in, you end up on what comes out.

Now, I apologize if this is just too gross of a subject for you.  This might not be “appropriate for a health and wellness blog” and it might not a pleasant topic, but the more I looked for information regarding it the more I realized that people at least need to know what the possibilities might be so that they can decide for themselves, so hence, I am posting about cat poop.

I knew that pregnant women should not be in charge of changing a litter box.  The threat comes from handling the cats waste, but . . . just to be safe most women just avoid the process all together.  For most women it is roughly just a nine month vacation from having litter box duty.  But I bet, even though you have a new baby yet to be born to think about you probably are having conversations with the fill in litter-box-changer in regards to the cat habits.  Making sure everything is normal (again . . . that is how we gauge the health of the cats.)  Honestly it is not an examination, but somewhat of an unconscious review as we are scooping and cleaning.

Anyway, what I didn’t know is that you should NOT be flushing your cats poop.  Even without the litter.  So all of the stuff that says you can . . .INCLUDING the EPA information . . . you might want to think twice.  Research is proving that the eggs from the Toxoplasma gondii that causes Toxoplasmosis might survive up to a year even after having gone through water treatment.   This is the disease that can be fatal to infants and why pregnant women shouldn’t deal with the cat’s little box.

The eggs don’t die upon treatment and they get sent out to see where our sea life eats it.  And while I don’t see that this has a direct affect on us as humans the fact that our otter population has gone from 15,000 to 2,500 and a large percentage of dead otters have been found with the parasite in them, just gives you another thing to think about.  Since in the grand view of things it all affects us.

Not ALL cats even have this parasite. I was just surprised by the idea that flushing cats’ waste is not good since I had always thought that flush it was fine it was the LITTER that was the concern, but apparently not.  As with a lot of things it could have just changed since the population of humans has grown so has to populations of house cat.  Flushing is an easy way to dispose so more people might do it than have done it in the past and with all of the products that are out there that say it is fine, it is just interesting to know that it might be affecting our sea life.  Of course putting it in a plastic bag and putting it in the garbage that goes to a landfill is not necessarily the best way to deal with it either, but it is the alternative that was have at the moment.  Now at least you can have a little bit more information and make a choice.

So, since this is my blog, I like to share things I learn.  The things I learn might not always DIRECTLY relate to health and fitness, but I have said, “In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.”  I guess you could say I was inspired.

I questioned myself regarding posting about it, because I didn’t ask my friend.  But I received a sense of knowing that if I wrote this and one person read it and it affected their life in a positive way then even though my friend’s sister lost the battle yesterday (May 17, 2010) she would be happy. SHE would have wanted me to write this, because she fought with all of her might and all of her faith until the very end. So she would want me to remind you of some of the signs you might want to pay attention to.  She would want us to continue with the war with cancer. 

—A change in bowel habits
—Diarrhea
—Constipation
—Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
—Stools that are narrower or have a different shape than usual
—Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
—General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps)
—Change in appetite
—Weight loss for no known reason
—Feeling very tired

You might want to talk to a medical professional if you have any of the previously mentioned signs.  These symptoms may be signs of rectal cancer. (1)

I would like to remind you that you need to listen to your body, you need to take time out from your schedule and you need to question things when things don’t feel right.  We all suffer from, “Well, its nothing.”  “Its this.”  “Its that.”  It is scaring and frustrating that as we age our bodies change so we never know if what is going on is part of the natural aging or if something is wrong.  Then we rely on the medical professionals to tell us because that is their job, but they don’t know either.  The last time I went to the doctor I felt as if I greatly annoyed her and was wasting her time because I was healthy.  So, I understand hesitation in going to the doctor. 

But we all need to be better about it, myself included.  I learned some other things today that I didn’t know in regards to colon cancer*.

 -According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

 -Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.

 -You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you: Have a personal history of breast cancer

 -There is no single cause for colon cancer.  What you eat may play a role in your risk of colon cancer. (2)

The Mayo Clinic’s definition: 

*Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of the colon. Together, they’re often referred to as colorectal cancers.

You were brave and fought well, you will be forever missed and loved. When I think of the situation and your family I am sad, but when I think of you and your attitude during your battle, I smile.  Thank you for positive energy. 

(1) Information from the National Cancer Institute
(2) Information from Google Health

I vaguely . . . .I say vaguely because I purged the “who” and the exactly “how often”, from my mind, but I vaguely remember someone telling me their schedule and I was kind grossed out.  But since I don’t know yours and I am not sure if that person’s schedule was more to the norm, I am not going to say how “not-often” his/her sheets were changed, just in case that is your schedule to, I don’t want to offend.

So?  How often or not do you change your sheets? 

I guess how often you sleep in your bed would help determine how often you change your sheets.  Or if you have pets that sleep with you.  I would imagine that sheets would get changed more often if there are animal butts involved.  Also, activities, I would also imagine that if the bed sees a lot of “activity” there might need to be a more rigorous changing schedule.  That brings to mind more questions, like “when?”  Do you change your sheets before the weekend or after the weekend?  Or more accurately before the more frequent “activities” or after?

When you do change your sheets, do you put on sheets out of the linen closet or do you wash the sheets and put them back on?  I hate folding sheets (although, for the record, I am not ALLOWED to fold the sheets in our house because I can’t do it well.  They are never flat enough to fit in the cupboard.  My husband is a MASTER-sheet folder . . . so the job falls to him.  Since the job falls to him, I try not to leave the sheets for him to fold.)  I try to wash them and put them back on the bed.  And I say “try” because I am famous (did you know, do you want my autograph?) for putting stuff in the washing machine and forgetting about it.  So it could be all day until I go back upstairs and realize that I didn’t put the sheets in the dryer and it is time to go to bed so I end up having to get sheets out of the cupboard.

So, are you a wash and fold or wash and put back on the bed person?  I guess this could depend on how many sets of sheets you own and if you have to go to a laundry mat or you have your own washing machine. 

Whew!  A lot of questions running through my head about sheets.  Will any of you help answer them?  I am curious.  What are your thoughts on bed sheets?  What is your changing schedule?  How do you do it (wash and put back on? wash and fold?) 

I recently heard from someone who hangs their sheets outside to dry, they like the fresh air dried smell (they don’t live in San Jose because they wouldn’t smell very fresh dried outside here).  I can’t remember who that was.  I wonder how they do their sheets.  Hmmm?  So many questions.

Sodalite

Moonstone – I see that this stone is said to also bring calm. Most information states, “Moonstone is a stone of inner growth and strength.” Also, it is said to stimulate balance of hormones. (Which we must remember is necessary in males as well as females.) Several things say it is a stone of protection and that it is a healing stone.

This is stuff that interests me. At one time I thought it was pretty (what I call) woo-woo, but then when I start looking into Nia I started seeing things a little differently. When I first discovered Nia I bought the book (The Nia Technique Book). As I started reading it I thought it was too “woo-woo”, but then they related it to science and it made sense. Then I started thinking that there had to be things on this earth that we were given before we had science that could assist with our health and wellness. So I thought, “Why not energies in a stone?” So, I am just interested in this. I feel more comfortable when I read the information out there (and there is so much out there) and it states basically the same information. Then I feel like at least everyone is on the same page.

I was interested in some of the properties these two stones were said to have. I have not listed them all but just some. I have a few in the house. Not sure they are doing any good, but they are pretty.

Do you think stones have energies? Do you think stones have healing properties?

Used to be a broken vase would greatly upset me, but I think of myself as getting better with stuff like that.  He was in a hurry and was doing something nice for me (very nice*) and he accidently knocked a vase down.  Oh well.  I sighed.  I was sad for a moment.  He even said, “Vases are like that, ya know?  They break.”  Which is true and truly funny at the same time.  But for me, just going on with the evening is different than I used to be about a decade ago.  I am a “stuff” person so I used to lament over broken things.  Sometimes I do a little still, but I am learning—still. 

 I was wondering what to write today when I was rushing around trying to bake some banana bread for a friend who donated to my MS Walk.  Guess what I did?  I broke a vase.  I laughed.  Then I was sad.  But then I was happy because, “Vases are like that, ya know?  They break.” 

I know that often times it is so much healthier to let things go, but honestly it is not always easy.  Once upon a time I would have been so upset about the vase last night that I would have allowed it to ruin the evening.  Because accidents seem to happen when people are rushed (see the first sentence in this paragraph).  If I would have had a fit last night I would have ruined the evening AND had a totally impossible time dealing with the vase I broke today.  It would have been, “What?  It’s not ok for my hubby to break a vase, but when I do it, oh well?”  Yeah, right.  And we were both trying to do something for someone else.

So . . . . sigh.  I feel so much better that I had a nice evening last night with my hubby.  I will also be able to have a nice evening tonight too because he will just be able to tease me about breaking a vase, but I won’t be apologize because I was a jerk when he broke one.  So instead of getting upset (over something that really is not worth getting upset over) I let it go which actually helped me health-wise because I didn’t have a ball of anger inside.  That helped keep the evening open so that we could have a nice evening.  I am not worrying about how I am going to explain to him that I can break a vase and he can’t.

Being able to let things go and just move on away from it is a good thing sometimes.  Because really in life vases ARE like that, ya know?  They DO break.

*This is what my husband was doing when the vase broke.  He had gone outside in our yard and cut some flowers for me.  Usually he just gives them to me to put in vases, but I was busy cooking so he was being super nice and putting them in vases too.  Sometimes life it like that too, homegrown freshcut flowers brought to you by you love.

I believe that the life we have created with all of the packaging, electronics, and modern conveniences ensures that we are unintentionally a little wasteful, but if we ALL do little things to help it can add up.  So this day, which is celebrated on April 22, 2010 around the world, is set out to bring consciousness to our lives. 

Here is a video that was shared on Twitter (by @jfouts) and I think it just goes to show that EVERYBODY can do their part to help our beautiful planet.

Are you doing anything special or different than you do every other day to celebrate Earth Day?  Post a comment and let me know.

Well, I just habitual do things that some people think are cheap—but now its GREEN.  Sometimes these things stem from accidents.  Like dryer sheets.  Have you ever thought of re-using a dryer sheet?  If you use it for more than one load of clothes it probably won’t work well.  But have you noticed that after it has gone through the load it is kind of rough?  But not REALLY scratchy rough, but it might just be the perfect rough you need to scrub something?  This happened for me quite by accident.  I was in the garage and I need to wipe something up and I didn’t want to go in the house to get a paper towel so I thought about a dryer sheet.  I looked in the dryer and sure enough there was one, so I used it to “scrub” what needed scrubbing and it worked perfect.  Or sometimes I just want to wipe something while I am in the garage, and I am always lucky enough to find a dryer sheet in the dryer.

Now honestly I don’t save used dryer sheets for this purpose, but sometimes they are just lying around (or does that only happen in my house?  Seems like they stick to the towels and sheets and end up all over the house) and it comes in handy that there is one to use.  That just happened right now so that is why I am typing this post.

I am sure some will argue that NOT using dryer sheets at all would be more green.  I would say that I only use the dryer for my towels and sheets.  And if they are going to be used why not get TWO uses out of them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the dryer sheet people have this on their website or some other helpful hint website has it on there, but I thought I would share it with you on MY blog.  For once I just sat down and started typing and didn’t look all over the internet to see if I was copying someone.  At this point, I don’t care.  I thought of this myself and I am sure someone else has but more than one people can have a thought and share it, right?

Do you use dryer sheets for anything else?

While I was reading, I started thinking about my close friends from Junior High. I was reminded of my relationships with these friends and I likened it to us—there are four of us—walking through a forest on life’s journey, walking in a HUGE forest, yeah, “The Forest of Life”. We are walking together. Sometimes we are on the same path, either in a line or two in front of the others or whatever; when it is the same path we can all see each other. Sometimes, the path might become separate trails. Sometimes these trails can be separated just by pebbles or rocks on the ground. Sometimes the trails might be separated by low bushes or even high bushes, dense or thin. Sometimes there might even be HUGE trees and maybe even different levels that separate our trails from the one big path we were at one point walking on together, but I still hear them there. I still know they are there. The trails meet up and go apart, bushes, trees, pebbles, rocks, maybe even streams might separate the path sometimes, but we are all still on the hike, in the same forest.

Yes, what I AM saying is that sometimes things come up and these things get in the way of a closeness that might have been shared. Sometimes one of us might be going through a phrase where she might feel alone, on a side trail. Sometimes we can all be on completely different trails.  We have all had “stuff” in our lives that has taken us away from the group, but, that’s the way it goes. We’ve know each other since Junior High . . . about 30 years and there is no way that in 30 years the relationships of four people could not change and adjust, but we are all on the same walk.

I am so blessed to have three friends from Junior High that are my bestest friends. Even though at times we have slightly separated, and come together, and moved off, and come back, and we might not have all been super-duper close all 30 years, but we have not been apart. Since we were 18 we have been getting together for each birthday and Christmas. So for almost 25 years we get together AT LEAST five times a year.  It doesn’t always work out that all four of us get togther every time, but pretty much.  

Speaking of birthdays, one of these friends just happens to be having a birthday today. And I thought that I could post a Happy Birthday on here for her. I didn’t ask her and I didn’t tell her so . . . .I won’t name her, but she knows who she is. If she happens to see this and cares to step up, that is up to her.

Either way, I am wishing her a happy, happy birthday and letting her know that I have enjoyed all the years I have been able to do so and I look forward to being able to wish her many, many more. I could have subconsciously been thinking of walking because we are going to celebrate her birthday this year by walking in the MS Walk in San Jose.  Maybe, at lunch, after the walk they will let me take a picture and I will get their permission to post it here.  (So check back in a few days and maybe you can see us!   It took a week, but I did post a picture of us, see below.)

I always marvel at THEIR wonderfulness for having put up with me this long.

Here’s to us and the journey that we are on, walking through the forest of life . . . . . .