Healthy Work Environment

Yes, this is another blog related to the hot story in the news about flight attendant Steven Slater.   But not as a forum for debating whether Mr. Slater is a “hero” or a person who is guilty of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing charges for which he was arrested.�
My interest in the story comes from [...]

Healthy Living - Food Shopping

So, where was I? Peru, Asparagus & Food Inc. Well not that I travelled to Peru, ate fresh local grown Asparagus & made a movie about it, no. Quite the opposite. I bought Asparagus to cook in July in Florida & wondered about its “freshness”. Then I saw the movie Food Inc. with my husband & our lives were changed. Do you recall the last time something happened that drastically changed your life? Memories like your first kiss might come to mind, your first ride on an air plane, your first car & so on - but it’s been a while probably, right? This time around I was shaken up! My eyes were opened to our food industry, enslaved farmers & health risks I don’t tend to read or hear about in the news, or see on TV. I realize that everyone has a different view on things & therefore decided not to elaborate on my opinion, but suggest you see the movie for yourself to make up your mind… After watching the movie, I wished to have seen it with a group of people because it would have been interesting to discuss our opinions afterwards…

What has changed in my life so far, is WHERE I shop & WHAT I buy. For example, I now exclusively shop @ Whole Food stores in the neighborhood to buy local & fair trade foods. I especially like their large selection of bulk whole food items like dried nuts, spices, baking ingredients, grains, etc. Some bulk food stores allow you to bring your own containers & they will weigh the items for you. Great for small amounts & “budget shopping”. I also joined a food co-op of local like-minded food enthusiasts who grow, share or sell organic, healthy foods. I spruced up my recent Vegan Ethiopian Spicy Tomato & Lentil stew (see pix) with fresh herbs out of neighbors yards via the co-op! To state that the stew was YUMMY would be an understatement!

Healthy Living posts to be continued…

Cheers,

New Uniform Program Implemented at South Bay Hospital

South Bay Hospital has announced a new uniform policy.  The uniforms will be color-coded by profession.   The change will allow patients to quickly and easily identify their caregivers.�
“The decision to transition to caregiver uniforms was based on patient feedback and industry research.” said Sharon Roush, Chief Executive Officer at South Bay Hospital.  “It is part of [...]

Work Place Meltdown or Going Postal

I grinned at the news report of Steven Slater. Mr. Slater, a flight attendant, recently made the news by using his planes intercom to spew his workplace dissatisfaction. He then grabbed a couple beers and escaped using the inflatable emergency slide. There is a small voice in all of us that has had the desire or will have the desire to yell enough is enough. But there is also a calmer voice calculating the mortgage payments, car payments and other responsibilities that quietly states “take 10 deep breaths”.
The media coverage given this man is spurring reports of dissatisfaction and unhappiness in the U. S. workplace. But is this truly a new phenomenon? In my generation we called it “going postal” and believe me that was a far more serious situation.
All of us can sympathize with a man who was whacked on the head with a piece of luggage and then treated rudely by the passenger. But have you ever been to one of the Super Stores on a busy Friday evening and step in front of the lady with two children in tow and a fully laden grocery cart?
Part of society’s functionality is its member’s ability to not act impulsively in situations. I am not talking about jumping in a pool fully clothed, but rather telling your boss that perhaps he is a moron. Deadlines, rude customers, co-workers, all contribute to an environment waiting for an explosion. Thankfully most of us will not “go Slater” and positively work out the situation that has us steaming.
Making news headlines for irresponsible and impulsive behaviors is not productive and will surely have copy cats doing the same. Making people smile will not be a tangible component on Steven Slater’s resume unless Comedy Central has openings. Take 10 deep breaths and if your difficult situation cannot be resolved over time, resign responsibly and at your convenience. And probably your boss is not really a moron but stealing two beers from your company will make you one.

New iPhone App Used To Monitor Labor

The iPhone and similar mobile devices have made significant impacts on how we obtain information.  New applications for these phones are truly amazing.  HCA has implemented an iPhone application in two of our West Florida Hospitals to assist doctors and nurses monitor mothers in labor.  The AirStrip OB is in use at the Baby Suites at Brandon Regional Hospital and the Birthplace at Community Hospital in New [...]

Healthy Living - Food Education, Part I

Recently I re-discovered the pleasures of cooking. I especially enjoy cooking with fruits & veggies! I love to surprise my hubby with an exotic dish you’d otherwise order @ a fancy restaurant, or perhaps indulge in while on vacation in a dreamy location (braised pork with coconut milk & pineapple, anyone?!). I search & pull recipes of the Internet, try old family secrets & have bought cookbooks of international cuisines I love. Thai & Mexican to be exact. Believe me, there’s so much more to Mexican food than Taco’s!

When a recipe called for Asparagus the other day, I went to the nearest supermarket & bought some. The label of the package read “Produce From Peru”. Hmmmmmmm. Peru is about 2,600 miles away from Florida - by plane. It made me think about what keeps veggies so “fresh & green”, especially if they have to travel so far. Asparagus is a traditional spring vegetable & I just bought some in Florida in July… My family’s health is very important to me so I embarked on a journey to learn more about where our food comes from & what’s in it! First stop, we will finally watch a movie I heard a long time ago: “Food Inc.“, Academy Award Nominee “Best Documentary Feature”. I’ll be sure to report back on our impressions & next steps.

Are you concerned about our food? What are you doing to ensure you are eating a healthy, nutritious diet? Let me hear your thoughts!

Cheers,

I promise I’ll help!

For the last five years, my children have been begging and pleading for a dog.  After side stepping the issue through purchasing many other pets like fish, sea monkeys and hamsters (most of you know how badly that ended), the parental armor broke down.  We researched finding the best breeds for our family, because three out of four of us have severe allergies.  [...]

Google your life!

A strange thing lead me to write today’s post. Ever felt like you were distracted & are completely detached from your goal(s)? Maybe life, family, work or other problems have a tight grip on you right now & your vision got diluted or worse - you forgot about them! However, this little light continues to flicker in you as long as you live. Sometimes your inner voice gets louder, sometimes it’s off. You know yourself like no one else & know this light inside you is a BIG part of who you are. But you just don’t have the time to tend to your own needs. Then something “bigger” than you reminds you in awkward ways of this little light. Maybe a person with a similar interest enters your life, or your kid (of all people!) shares their dreams with you – dreams you once had, too! You are reminded of something you wanted to do, or try to achieve in life. If we were alert enough to recognize in that moment what is going on, allow our eyes to see, let it re-enter our lives - what would happen?

I hope you are following your dreams, doing what you think you were meant to do. But if you lost sight of your goals or dreams - why not sit down today & make plans how to get back on track? Resources are at our fingertips & readily available 24/7 it seems with the Internet and Social Media. Larry Page & Sergey Brin challenge you to write them if you can’t google it! Go for it!

I dedicate this post to a new found friend who entered my life a few clicks ago on Facebook & reminded me of my goals!

Cheers,

Growing Your Own

I consider myself very lucky to have a husband who has a love for gardening.  The yard is manicured and the flower beds are beautiful.  What he enjoys the most is his herb garden: rosemary, thyme, basil and chives just to name a few.  It’s always nice to know that fresh herbs are available at [...]

Tweet-le Dee and Tweet-le Dum (not about Johnny Depp’s performance in Alice in Wonderland)

In an attempt at social media irony, I have decided to Blog about Tweeting.  I really know very little (nothing) about Twitter.  One of the advantages to blogging is you do not need to know anything about the subject.  Maybe you don’t even need to know anything about any subject.
I surmise the term twitter comes from [...]