Breast Cancer Self Examination (Scary Topic; Fun Video)

For more information TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.

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Oprah:Celebrities And Their Must Haves

What was the show about?
Famous celebrities sit down with Oprah to show how they live and what things they cannot live without. Favorite celebrity things!
Who was on the show?
Cindy Crawford and husband, Rande Gerber, Ivanka Trump, Rachel Roy and Keisha Whitaker.
What were the main points?

1. Cindy cannot live without her tea in the morning and Rande loves Cindy's homemade Strawberry-rhubarb pie. Cindy loves family pictures and she loves to organize them into nice albums with fun captions for her guests. Rande has a motorcycle garage that is full of cool bikes. Aside from her beauty favorites, Cindy loves to wear cool mom T-shirts because they are cute and comfortable at the same time. Rande's favorite place in the house is his bar where he enjoys entertaining guests.
   
2. Ivanka Trump surprisingly grew up as a normal child even though she was a Trump. She was not given the expensive things, but she was given the best education. She developed ambition and love for real-estate like her father (maybe it's in her blood as she claims). At 25, she is now a successful real-state developer and also stars on the Apprentice show costarring with her father Donald Trump. Ivanka gave a tour of her apartment where she pointed out that she loved books, chapstick, jewelery, NY city and much more. She reads four newspapers every morning and has her own jewelery line.
   
3. Rachel Roy, a famous designer and wife of hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, loves her white sheets that are zen like. She has pillows from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Rachel loves bubble baths and can't live out Jo Malone and Burt and Bee's products. She likes to have National Geographic and Vogue in her library to give her inspiration for her designs. She loves the foot-massager as she is now pregnant and has swollen feet.
   
4. The down-to-earth, Keisha Whitaker, the wife of Forest Whitaker, loves to bargain shop at Marshall's and Target. She enjoys getting name-brand things for less. She can't live with out her Victoria's Secret Secret Embrace and Shapers. She loves finding discounted price shoes at Neiman Marcus. Surprisingly, she wears a trench coat from Banana Republic that she says every woman should have. She gives "favorite things" like Oprah to her friends to share her favorite things with people. She also has her own line of lip gloss called First Kiss Collection.
   
5. Oprah has a FAVORITE DESSERT and it's called Skinny Cow Ice cream with 90-150 calories, Oprah said it is the best dessert when you are trying to eat healthy.
   

What was the most interesting thing?
Cindy Crawford believes and practices homeopathic. She has the little homeopathic medicine kit for her family, which was neat. She says her kids eat up the small, sweet pills right away when they are sick.
What was the conclusion?
Celebrities definitely have perks and have their own businesses and night clubs, but at home, they are normal people who love to cook, read, have a bubble bath and shop to get great bargains.
For more info on the show, go to Oprah.com

Oprah: Dr. Oz And Medical Interventions

What was the show about?
Dr. Oz does medical interventions for Oprah Show viewers who are too scared to go see the doctor.
Who was on the show?
A man who promised to get a colonoscopy. A man who lost over 70 lbs. A woman who is scared of mammagrams. A woman who is addicted to tanning.
What were the main points?

1. Colonoscopy is not THAT BAD and it's for both men and WOMEN. You have to drink one gallon of liquid to clean your system the night before and that's the worst part. Everything else you are asleep and when you wake up, it's over. Colon cancer takes over 10 years to form, so if you have small polyps in your colon , they can be removed immediately and you will not get colon cancer. The man whose brother died of colon cancer did the colonoscopy and it was shown on the Oprah show. His colon was clean with out any colon cancer and he said he is happy that he did it and it was very easy.
   
2. One woman was worried about her overweight, snoring husband. She called Dr. Oz. for help. The man was hypertensive and had diabetes, this was about 11 months ago. After following doctor's orders and changing his diet, the man lost over 70 lbs and is not diabetic or hypertensive anymore. The sleep apnea is gone and a surgery was done on his nasal septum to help with the snoring. During the surgery a tumor was found and removed, so it's good he went to see the doctor and found the tumor.
   
3. Ladies check your breasts frequently for lumps or any unusual lumpy feelings. Get a mammogram done. A woman whose mother died of breast cancer refused to do a mammogram because she was cared, but finally she went with Dr. Oz's little push. It was not bad at all and she does not have breast cancer.
4. Tanning (booth or sun) is not good for your skin. A woman who tans 5 times a week got a wake up call on the show when she met another woman who was doing the same and developed skin cancer and had to have surgery. Her face was stitched up and she was in tears as she told the world about the dangers of tanning.
   
5. Prevention, early detection and healthy diet are the three main ways in which we can keep ourselves healthy for a long life. Don't be scared of doctors because they are there to help you detect your problems and fix them so they don't turn into cancer and death.
   

What was the most interesting part of the show?
It was mind boggling to see that many people just don't want to find out what's wrong with their bodies because they feel it is better not to know than to find illnesses and cure them early on, so they can have a long healthy life.
What was the conclusion?
Everyone needs to go see a doctor on regular basis so we can help prevent many of the diseases from occurring or getting worse than they are. Knowledge about your body is the best way to keep your self healthy and to have a long life.
For more info on the show, go to Oprah.com

Oprah: "Polygamy In America"

What was the show about?
Lisa Ling investigates the world of polygamy in America to break the stereotypes of the pleural family lifestyle.

Who was on the show?
A woman who is a third wife of a polygamist man attends the show talking about her normal life as a soccer mom. Lisa visits a family in Cetennial Park, Arizona who live as pleural family (practice polygamy). Lisa also takes the journey back to a pleural society with a woman who is now an outcast.
What were the 5 main points?

1. Not all men who practice polygamy abuse (sexually or physically) young children (especially girls). The infamous Jeff Warren dictated a lifestyle that doesn't reflect all pleural societies' values.
   
2. Pleural families have the same core values as every body else such as best education for their children, respect for their wives, etc
3. When asked if the wives, get jealous of each other, the answer seemed to be a "NO" which is a little difficult to believe but they claim that they have worked it out so they are like sisters who help each other in the home and are there for each other.
4. Most homes that Lisa showed were palacious because most pleural families have over 20 children and many wives
5. The woman who left a pleural society of Jeff Warren was not welcomed home. As Lisa and her walked through the streets, people honked to intimidate and scorn the two. The streets were barren and ghostly as people peeked from their darkened windows at the cameras. It was scary. The woman claimed that she left because of lack of freedom, jealousy and just unhappiness.
   

What was the most interesting part of the show?
The women in some pleural societies are very modern and educated. They don't wear those long dresses and they are not very oppressed. They know what they want and they know how to get it.
What was the conclusion?
The reason for why the wives came on the Oprah show was because they want polygamy to be considered a non-criminal act when it is not harming anyone. Polygamy, as the families claimed, is not for everyone but those people who believe in this type of life style should not be considered criminals. They are not hurting anyone; it is just another alternative lifestyle like so many others in America.
For more info on the show, go to Oprah.com

Brownie Sundae

Ingredients:
Pillbury Brownie Mix (any brand will work)
Chopped walnuts
Vanilla Icecream
Hot Fudge or Chocolate Syrup)

Preparations:
Prepare and bake brownies as directed on the Brownie Mix package. Remove the brownies from the oven and cool for only a few minutes because you want them to stay warm for the sundae. Cut the brownies into 1 inch pieces. For each serving, layer about two pieces of brownie at the bottom of a bowl. Place a scoop of vanilla icecream on top. Drizzle some chocolate syrup on the icecream. Top with some chopped walnuts and enjoy the sundae without leaving the comfort of your home. Enjoy!!!

Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:
Chicken Breast (strips)
Red, Green, Yellow Bell peppers (small strips)
Onion sliced
chopped serano pepper (optional)
Garlic and ginger paste
Vegetable oil
cumin seeds
salt, turmeric powder, chili powder (optional), cumin powder
Preparations:
Take 3-4 tbsp of veg. oil in a wok or pan. Heat on medium-high heat with 2 tsp of cumin seeds. Once heated, add the sliced onions and sautee for a couple of minutes. Add about 2 tsp of garlic and ginger paste and sautee for a minute. Then add all different color Bell peppers and serano pepper for heat. Sautee for a few minutes until the veges are a little soft. Then add 1 tsp of turmeric powder, 2 tsp of chili powder, 2 tsp of cumin powder and salt to taste. Sautee for about a minute to release the aroma of the spices. Add the chicken breast at this point and cook everything until the chicken is cooked through. It helps to cover the pan to help cook the chicken faster. Cooking time about 15 minutes. Roll it up in a flour tortilla or home-made chappati (flat bread) and enjoy as a dinner with a side of rice or as a quick snack. Just enjoy.

Oprah: Celebrity Couples

Show Aired:
10-25-07










Oprah sits down with one of the hottest couples, Heidi Klum and Seal. They seemed to have it all: love, children, careers, money, and happiness. The couple talked about how they keep things straight in their life and Seal said that "if wife happy, then life happy." He meant that he puts Heidi above all things, then his children and family and then work. The couple seemed to be very much in love as Seal kept reaching for her hand on the show, which was very sweet. Seal also spoke briefly about the way he proposed to Heidi in the most uniqe, romantic and extravant setting: in an igloo. It sounded very romantic and thoughtful. I agree that a wedding proposal, which is done only once for most of us, should be very special, romantic and well-thought out. Seal also got a suprise of his life when he met his long, lost sister from his adopted family that he recently found. It was a very touchy moment. The couple seemed happy and in love. Also, Seal sang a beutiful song from his new album at the end. I love his voice. He is great!
Another magical couple that Oprah visited was Stevie Wonder and Kai Milla. In their home, Stevie was all jokes, making everyone laugh and just being the life of the party. Eventhough Stevie cannot see, he was video taping, which was so funny but he did a great job. Kai Milla, Stevie's wife, a fashion designer brought her gorgeous dresses to the Oprah show. They were beautiful pieces. I loved the elegant dresses combined with the modern designs. To check out her fashion and information about his show, go to Oprah.com

Top Ten Attractions In Chicago

1. Sears Tower
2. Shedd Aquarium
3. Field Museum
4. Adler Planeterium
5. Art Institute of Chicago
   
6. Museum of Science and Industry
7. Navy Pier
8. Shopping at Water Tower Place (Magnificent Mile)
   
9. Millenium Park
   
10. Buckingham Fountain
    

Oprah: "Gay Around The World?"

Show Aired:
10-24-07










Oprah interviewed a prince from India, a woman from Jamaica and an NBA star who all had one thing in common: they were gay and had struggled in coming out because being gay was such a taboo where they lived.
The Indian prince, Prince Mavendra Singh came out when he had a nervous breakdown in a hospital and told a counselor about his feelings. His parents refused and still refuse to accept his sexually and the people also gave him a hard time in India. He said that it is because of ignorance and the lack of education that creates taboos because people don't understand that it is not a choice and that they can't help it if they are gay. The prince married and tried to have a normal life, but he could not. He knew something was wrong and different. He knew his marriage would not work; he did not consummate and his wife worried and cried. The lack of physical attraction between the couple led to the demise of the marriage and this all led to the prince's breakdown. Overburdened with the marriage failing and producing an heir, the prince had a nervous break down and finally decided to be true to himself and come out. This brought devastation and pain for the entire community but he said he is glad he did it finally. Now, he is working with the gay community in India in AIDs prevention and education.
Oprah also interviewed a woman from Jamaica who is now living in NY. She knew that she was a lesbian when she was living in Jamaica. She lived with her grandmother and her grandmother was okay with it but the community was not accepting at all. She described one horrific, sad event in her life where she was raped by a gang of boys because she was a lesbian. After this, she knew that she had to move if wanted to be open and free about her sexuality.
John Amaechi was the first NBA star to come out of the closet. It was so crazy about what people said to him, "big, black gay guy. How can that be?" He said it was very difficult to be a professional athlete and be gay, but he wanted to be true to himself and be free so he had to come out.
Being a homosexual is still a problem/taboo in many societies due to restrict religious beliefs as well as lack of education. America is a lot more accepting and welcoming about sexuality, but there are still communities in U.S. which don't accept the gay community. It is very interesting to know you can be prosecuted and even killed for being gay in many countries. I think education will definitely help change our views about this and other issues. For more information on this show, visit Oprah.com

Oprah: "Strive For Successs"

Show Aired: 10-23-07











Cathie Black is a big name in the magazine industry as she oversees 19 magazines in the United States including Cosmo, O (Oprah magazine), as well as 200 international titles in over 200 countries. Cathie Black is the president of Hearst Magazines. She was named of the most influential women in the business world. She is now sharing her savvy advice to get ahead in life and be succesful in her new book titled, Basic Black. Oprah said it is THE PERFECT BOOK for graduating seniors from college who are stepping into the work force. This book is filled with practical advise for all women and men who work at home or work in a corporate world. Cathie wanted the book to be a mentor or a coach for people. Following strategies and goals is the way to make life more effective and it is the key to getting ahead.
Cathies 7 Rules For A Really Big Career:
1. Take risks that are calculated, not crazy
2. The worst case scenario is rarely as bad as you think
3.Don't personalize things that are not personal
4. It's best in the long run to make your life a grudge-free zone
5. Be generous with praise—and careful with criticism
6. Know the rules so you know which ones to break
7. It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission
For more information on these rules and Cathie Black, go to Oprah.com
In the theme of "Basic Black," Oprah told the audience to dress in their best interview attire. Oprah's dresser, found a few audience members who were not dressed the best for the job and gave them a clean, updated look in basic black. Cathie said that first impressions are very important, so dress smart when you interview for the job because the first 20 secs may make or break you. Anyways, the makeovers were fantastic and I took away many basic tips for suits, handbags and shoes for interviews. I also learned about what works and what doesn't in an outfit for an interview. It was great. To find out more about this "Basic Black" fashions, visit oprah.com.

Symptoms Of CF

The specific symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) vary depending on the severity of CF and the age of the patient. This post is solely for information purposes and may not be used to diagnose a patient. Consult a physician for proper diagnoses and treatment for CF.

Newborn symptoms:
The first signs of CF in some newborn babies is blockage of their intestines. Normally, a tarry, greenish-black stool is passed by an infant in the first day or two after birth. A baby with CF will experience this stool becoming so thick that it can't move through the intestines. Other signs in newborns may include:

• Failure to grow
• Bulky and greasy stools (stool floats in water instead of sinking)
• Frequent respiratory infections

Children and Young Adult Symptoms:

• 
Salty taste to the skin
• Blockage in the bowels
• Foul-smelling, greasy stools (stool floats)
• Delayed growth
• Thick sputum (many times overlooked because most children swallow their spit rather than coughing it up
• Coughing or wheezing.Frequent chest and sinus infections with recurring pneumonia or bronchitis
• Protrusion of part of the rectum through the anus (caused by difficulty in passing stool) Enlargement or rounding (clubbing) of the fingertips and toes

Cystic fibrosis may have additional problems such as:

• Polyps in the nasal passages
• Cirrhosis of the liver due to inflammation or obstruction of the bile ducts
• Displacement of one part of the intestine into another part of the intestine (age 4 and over)

GIGI

Gigi is a perfect example of the musicals which were some of the best movies to come out during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. It won the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year in 1958. In no way is it heavy nor does it provoke deep thought. As a matter of fact, the basic pretense of the movie is not all that moral.

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe wrote the lyrics and music. They were one of the two great teams creating these musicals. The other team was Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Some of their musicals may be included in future reviews. Some of the songs which have become classics are “Gigi,” “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” “The Night They Invented Champagne,” and “Say a Prayer for Me Tonight.”

The setting for the movie is Paris around 1900. Gigi, played by Leslie Caron, is being trained to be a courtesan. The costumes and the scenery lend an aura to an era none of us can remember. In this comedy, it appears that it would have been a great time to live. Leslie Caron is a flirt and who matures and eventually gets the romantic attention of Louis Jourdan. To see what Leslie Caron looks like 42 years later, you can see her in Chocolat.

This is a movie to see when you are tired from a long week and just want something fun with a lot of memorable music.

Bruce Rosenberg

Oprah: "Dr.Oz: A Special Report on Death"

Oprah sits down with Kris Carr, a model and a photographer who was diagnosed in 2003 with a rare and incurable cancer. Kris had stage four cancer, which is the last stage of cancer. She was taking chemo, experimental medications and doing everything to fight the cancer as it had spread to her liver and lungs. She humorously calls the tumors in her liver "marks of beauty." She immediately started filming her journey and called it "Crazy, Sexy, Cancer." Now, she also has a book out titled "Crazy, Sexy, Cancer Tips."

Kris knew that modern medicine was not going to cure her cancer alone, so she looked into alternative medicine. She begin to eat healthier, whole foods (green smoothies), did yogo and other hollistic forms of healing. With the combination of modern medicine along with hollistic care, Kris's cancer has not gone away, but it has stabilized. It was fascinating to see how hopeful and full of life Kris has become over the years. The most profound statements was "Why, when we are challenged to survive, do we give ourselves permission to truly live?" We should live everyday and enjoy life without restrictions. Enjoying every moment is so important. Kris is an inspiration for me because although she has this rare condition of cancer, she still manages to LIVE LIFE. Being a CF patient is nothing like having cancer, but it is a chronic illness so having hope and living a productive life like Kris is the way to be happy and healthy. For more information on Kris Carr's journey and her show "Crazy, Sexy, Cancer," please visit http://www.crazysexycancer.com/

Randy Pausch, Carnegie Professor, has terminal pancreatic cancer. He gave his "last" lecture at Carenegie and he gave a brief version of it on the show. Professor Pausch is truly remarkable and down to earth. One of his main points throughout his lecture is about fulfilling your childhood dreams and helping others fulfill them. Another is the curve balls or "head fakes" you get in life. There is quite a bit of insight into how to truly live life in his speech. He even talks about "brick walls" and how they are in everyones life but they are there only to stop "other" people and it is you who has to find a way around or even through that brick wall.

Watch the entire video because there is one last big "head fake" at the end of his speech..

Tostadas

Ingredients:
Tostada Chips
half can of cooked pinto beans and half cup browned ground beef (eliminate if vegetarian)
1 sliced onion, 1 diced tomato, 2 tbsp of ketchup
1 finely chopped jalepeno (optional)
1 tsp of garlic and ginger paste
Tomato Salsa (see previous simple recipe)
sliced avocado, Grated mozzarella cheese, Sour cream, sliced lettuce
Vegetable oil, Cumin seeds (optional), turmeric powder, cumin powder, paprika (optional)
salt
Preparations:
Wash and drain the pinto beans. Lightly smash the beans. Take about 3 tbsp of oil in a hot pan. Add 1 tsp of cumin seeds. Let the seeds heat for a second or two. Add the sliced onions to the pan. Sautee the onions until slightly pink. Add 1 tsp of garlic and ginger paste and let it sautee for a few secs. Add the diced tomato, ketcup and jalepeno to the pan. Sautee for a couple of minutes. Then add the beans and the browned beef to the pan along with 1 tsp of turmeric powder, 1 tsp of ground cumin, 1 tsp of paprika and salt to taste. Sautee the mixture for 5-7 minutes until the spices release their aroma. Remove from heat and now prepare the tostadas. Take one tostada. in a plate. Spread about 3 tbsp of the beans and meat mixture on the tostada. Layer some lettuce on top of that, then layer some avocado slices, then add some grated cheese and finally top it off with some tomato salsa and sour cream. Enjoy as a snack or a meal any day of the week.

Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:
2 plum tomatoes finelly chopped
1 finely chopped onion (rinsed and drained)
1 jalepeno
1 clove of minced garlic
Cilantro (rinsed and drained)
fresh lime or lemon juice
Salt
paprika (optional)
ground cumin
Preparations:
Take a large mixing bowl and add the chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic and jalepenos. Add 1 tsp of ground cumin and 1 tsp of paprika. Add atleast 3-4 tbsp of lime (more if you like it a little sour). Add salt to taste. Coarsely chop some cilantros in the salsa and mix. Eat salsa with Mexican foods or just with tortilla chips. Enjoy!!!

Oprah: Are You The Other Woman?

Oprah interviewed four women who had dated or were dating married men. The conversation was interesting because you really got to hear the mistresses' side of the story, which rarely happens. The questions ranged from "Why did you choose to date a married man?" to "How do feel about the wife?" So it definitely covered a wide area. Most of the women said that they did not find out until later that the men they were dating were married. Some broke off the relationship and some, despite the knowledge, stayed in the relationship. One woman said that she enjoyed the fancy gifts, companionship, dinners, dates and even, money. The woman who still was with a married man was told by the psychologist on the show that it was not the right thing for her or her self esteem. She said she knew that it was not the right thing to do, but she feels that she is hopeful that she will not be the "other woman" for long. But as we all know, that in most cases, married men don't leave their wives for a mistress as confirmed by the other women on the show. To my surprise, Oprah even talked about her experience with a married man in her twenties. Ofcourse, when she dated him, she did not know that he was married and broke it off when she found out. But she could relate to the lies that men had told these women over the course of their relationship. One great thing I learned from this show was that men have us figured out and they use our vulnerability to get to us, but we still don't understand men and their habits of lies and manipulations to get what they want out of us. I thought this was a fascinating statement.
As the show continued, Oprah went on to interview two wives who were the victims of infedility. One of the wives had divorced and was in a happy place now, but the other wife seemed to be still greiving as she read the letter to the mistress. In this letter, she profoundly addressed the fact that why do women do this to other women when they know how much pain and hurt it causes. Ofcourse, it is not only the mistresses' fault, but if the mistress knows about the marriage and still continues to date then it is very sad situation. I liked what was emphasized on the show, that we can do better and we can be number one in our lives, so why settle for number two. In conclusion, the show was interesting and I really got to see the other side of the story of infidelity and cheating men. For more information go to Oprah.com

Oprah: Are You Spending More Than You Are Making?

Suze Orman, a personal financial expert, sat down with a family who seemed to have it all. But once inside their luxurious home, the dirty financial laundry was overflowing. They were over $700,000 in debt. With a family of six children,the mom spent a lot of money on designer clothes, shoes, Starbucks, spa treatments,cars, luxurious parties, etc. But when Oprah took the camera into her and the kids' closets, there were only like 3-4 pairs of clothes hanging. This was shocking. The mom said she likes new things so she sells things off quickly in garage sales. But why buy stuff in the first place? Any how, her life seemed perfect from the outside, but they were living way above their means like million of Americans and on the brink of bankruptcy. Suze, the straight talking financial advisor, told the family right out that they have to make drastic changes to get out of debt. Suze said they have to move out of Cali because Cali is way too expensive, they have to sell their house, the mom has to get a job, they have to stop with buying frivolous things, sell one of their cars and other drastic changes. It's so true, people need to stop maxing their credit cards and start living in reality. Spend only the money you have, not the credit. The interest rates and debt will definitely create many problems in your life and your children will pick up your bad spending habits. So learn to spend wisely and secure your future. Suze always gives very straight but great advise. If Americans read her books and spend what they made and not over than many Americans would not be in so much debt. Debt destroys homes, relationships and peace, so try to stay out of it as much as you can. For more info on this show, go to Oprah.com

CASABLANCA

Casablanca is usually at or near the top of the list whenever there is a Top Ten All-Time Movie list. For me, it is number one. The movie shows Humphrey Bogart at his best; unbelievably tough when he has to be but noble when the situation calls for nobility. Ingrid Bergman is the vulnerable and softly romantic woman in the triangle. Dooley Wilson sings “As Time Goes By” better than anyone else. Claude Rains is a delightful weasel in the role of the French police chief. Almost every other character is perfectly cast. But, the best part of Casablanca is the writing. Often, in an old movie, the dialogue sounds dated. This is one movie which has stood the test of time.

Today, the movie is on tv and can be rented from Netflix or Blockbuster. When it originally played in the theater, the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt. Also, the people making the movie were not sure of the ending until the movie was mostly filmed. They could not decide who should end up with Ingrid Bergman. As the pace of the movie hastens to the finale, it is easy to get caught up in the suspense. When you see it, try to imagine the reaction of the crowd back in 1943. I can imagine people selling War Bonds in the lobby after the show. Rent this great classic and enjoy a night at home with some popcorn. Feel free to post your feelings about the movie in the comment section.

Bruce Rosenberg

Sleep And No More Sheep!

I have had a hard time sleeping as far back as I can remember. My earliest memories of my insomnia are during grammar school when I would stay up until 1AM or 2AM every single night cause I couldn't fall asleep. The main reason I couldn't go to sleep was because I just couldn't shut my brain off. I now know there were many things I was doing wrong and so here is a list of things I try successfully now to go to sleep that I have picked up over the years.

If you think sleep is not a big deal then think again because it can cause problems such as: irratability, memory difficulties, reasoning impairment, decrease in alertness, and the list goes on.

Here are some tips I have picked up over the years to help me with my insomnia:

1. Focus on each part of your body one at a time and make sure it is comfortable. I start with each of my toes and then ankles, feet, heel, shins, knees,....,left arm, right arm, neck, etc. I often fall asleep before I get to my upper torso. Remember if something is not comfortable then make it comfortable before moving on. Detail is key.


2. Set the mood. I watch a little tv in the dark and sip on some hot chocolate. I also have picked up one of those reed diffusers (air freshners) to further set a calm mood.


3. I also went out and got comfortable sheets (300 thread count or higher) and a nice synthetic down comforter (Many real down comforters feathers come out). Target has good prices as do discount stores such as Marshall's.


4. Don't eat a lot of stuff before going to sleep because then your body is "working" and not "resting".


5. Don't drink water or sugary drinks. I sip on some hot chocolate but I use very small amount of chocolate because the sugar can also keep you up. Also drinking a lot can make you feel uncomfortable if your bladder gets full while sleeping.


6. If you can't sleep then read or do something else. Don't try to force the issue. Rather than lying awake tossing and turning, just get up and read or watch some tv. The most important thing regardless of when you go to sleep is the final tip...


7. Wake up at an early time no matter what time you went to sleep. This will train your body into getting tired earlier. Your body will adjust and even if you don't normally feel sleepy at an early time, you will start feeling sleepy if you wake up early.

Post your tips in the comments and as always if your condition is serious or even if it isn't make sure you talk to your doctor about it.

Oprah: "Come On People"

TV's favorite father, Cliff Huxtable, AKA Bill Cosby, sat down in his fashionable shades (he had a pink eye) with Oprah to talk about education for the minority. His moving speech in Washington to parents about stepping it up for their children and getting involved actively stirred up a lot of controversy. Bill Cosby clarified on the Oprah Show that he did not intend to attack all the minorities but SOME. The statistics given on the show were astounding with dropout rates of over 50% from schools and homicide rates sky rocketing in African American and minority communities, it is time to step up and make some drastic changes as Bill Cosby states. He has written a book titled Come On People to try to bring more light to this issue and help parents, teachers, schools and communites help children so the cycle of violence, poverty and abuse end with better education. Bill Cosby made many remarkable points, but the one that stuck on me was the one about fatherhood. He said that if a child has never been fathered in his life and does not know the responsibility, respect and love of fatherhood, then how will he know how to pass on this role to the next generation when he himself has not felt the importance of fatherhood? The domino effect needs to be stopped and those parents who are not involved in their children's lives need to get involved in daily activities such as homework, family dinner, etc. Also, have rules in your house and discipline your children so they avoid drugs and gangs. Bill Cosby mentioned one great phrase that I would like to pass on to you readers: "Hurt people, hurt people!" Well, let us stop this hurt and learn to step up because the children are calling out for help. Don't buy your kids $200 dollar shoes, as Bill says. Instead, buy them a set of "Hooked on Phonics" books, so they learn and become successful, productive human beings of soceity and not criminals. Sometimes, the truth hurts but parents need to get past it and take charge of their children's lives so a better and brighter future can be built for America. For more information on this show, go to Oprah.com

Looking for a bag like this from India?

I recently received this Indian style bag as a gift and wore it to work. Almost every person who saw me complemented me on my bag and wanted to know where they could fine one like it. My bag is from India, but I have seen bags like these at a store called WORLD MARKET and they are not very expensive. It's a fantastic store filled with bags, jewelery, furniture, china, paintings, wine, foods and lots of cool, unique things from all over the world. I absolutely love World Market and I go there almost weekly. I not only have chinese style bowls from there, but I have the most beutiful painting from there as well. It is a great store if you are looking for unique cool things from India as well as other countries of the world . Check it out for yourself, for gifts, for food and wine. For store locations and much more, go to www.worldmarket.com

Did You Get Your Flu Shot Yet?

Once again, we are starting the flu season in Chicago. It is very important to consult with your doctor about getting a flu shot especially if you are already suffering from chronic illnesses like asthma and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). You don't want to catch the flu bug from somebody at work, on the train or just on the street and get sick. It is important to get vaccinated for the flu season to stay healthy and away from the nasty flu bugs. I have already from doctors that people are experiencing flu symptoms already even though it's just the beginning of the season. Ask your doctor for the flu shot and prevent getting sick. I just got my flu shot today and yes, my arm is a little sore from it but I think it will be good for the long run (at least good for this flu season). For more information about the flu shot and the flu, consult your family physician or CF specialist. Stay healthy this flu season!

Oprah: Your Body Is Trying To Tell You Something

Dr. Christiane Northrup sat down with Oprah to talk to women about their pre and post menopausal health. She says that insomnia, depression, irritability, weight gain and other symptoms are big sign that something is wrong or unbalanced in your body. Through these signs, your body is trying to send you a signal to make a change. Oprah says Dr. Northrup's book, The Wisdom of Menopause, is like her health Bible. She refers to it and reads it daily. Oprah said that last year was a hard year for her because she was working hard and constantly felt fatigued for some reason. She discovered surprisingly that she had problems with her thyroid and that was causing many health problems that she was experiencing. Oprah's thyroid is under control and now she is feeling much better. Dr. Northrup strongly suggested not to ignore the signals of your body because the small signals might so significant that they may save your life. Dr. Northrup gave excellent advise to a mother of two that you have to be at your best to other your best, meaning that you must take care of yourself or your whole family suffers. Women should put themselves first so they are healthy and happy and this in turn, will make their spouses and children happy, too. It might be hard for women to put themselves first because we have not been brought up that way , but it is the most important thing you can do for your family. This is not something new, but I think it is not being exercised as much in our community. Dr. Northrup's three best step advise for a better life was : meditation, exercise and sex. These will keep your hormones balanced and will keep you happy through out the day. Cut the java jolts and grab your partner for some exercise in and out of bed. For more information, go to Oprah.com

Chili Chicken Rice

Ingredients:
1/2 lb chicken breast cubed
1 cup plain, white rice
1 cup finely chopped green, red and yellow bell peppers
1 onion finely chopped
1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 Serano pepper chopped (optional)
Garlic and ginger paste
Tandoor Chicken Shan Masala
Chili powder, Ground Cumin, Ground Turmeric
Salt, Sugar
Cumin seeds
Vegetable oil
Cilantro (optional)
Orange color (optional)
Preparations:
(Make rice your way or follow this recipe) Take 2 cups of water and add some salt. Boil the water. When it boils, add the rice to water. Cook the rice until they are soft. Drain off all water through a strainer leaving just the rice. Cover the rice and let it steam on slow heat for 5 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, add 1 tsp of orange/red color to it and mix it in with the rice. Rice is ready!
While the rice is cooking, Wash and drain the chicken. Cut into small cubes. Marinate the chicken with 1 tbsp of garlic and ginger paste, 2 tbsp of Tandoori Chicken Shan Masala, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp salt. Mix well and let it marinate for 10-15 minutes. In a big wok or pan, heat 3-4 tbsp of vegetable oil. Add 1 tsp of cumin seeds. Once the seeds are hot, add the chicken and cook the chicken through. Remove the chicken into a plate leaving the oil in the pan. Now add the onions to this oil. Sautee the onions until soft, then sautee the bell peppers, serano peppers and frozen mixed veges until they are cooked through (almost turning brown). Place chicken into the veges and mix with 1-2 tbsp of sugar. Let the sugar carmelize for a minute then add the cooked rice to the wok and mix everything together. Garnish with some cilantro and enjoy as a side dish or dinner. Enjoy!

Oprah: BEE MOVIE starring Jerry Seinfeld

The very funny, Jerry Seinfeld, sat down with Oprah to talk about his new animated film titled "Bee Movie." Jerry has been working on this movie for almost four years. He said he wanted it to be perfect so he paid attention to every single detail in the movie and drove everyone crazy. He is such a comedian that even while he was explaining the simple story about how he came about doing the movie with Steven Spielberg, he was funny. The entire interview with Oprah had a comedic tone because Jerry just likes to make people laugh. He said he really enjoyed doing the movie because it was a challenge but comedy is his life so he is going to continue his stand-up. Jerry's friends and co-stars Renee Zelweger and Mathew Broderick were also on Oprah to promote the Bee Movie. Oprah is also one of the voices in the movie; she plays a judge. The entire audience including Oprah wore bee antennas which made the show a little silly and fun for the kids and the family.
I think the movie is going to be great. The Bee Movie is an animated film in which Jerry plays the main character. The movie looked really funny for the whole family. It comes out Nov 2 and I look forward to watching it in the theater with my nephews and neice. So I suggest you take your whole family to see what funny things Jerry has in store for us in the Bee Movie.For more information on this show, to to Oprah.com.

Does Volunteering Really Improve Your Health?

As a CF patient or not, you can come up with a million excuses not to be productive. Excuses such as "I don't have time," "I am tired," "I don't feel like it," "I worked hard all week," etc. I know that it is easy to give these excuses when it comes to volunteering but it takes work to sign up to help our community and show up to volunteer. This work is well worth it and much needed, I think. I have been volunteering for the past eight years doing various different activities ranging from cleaning parks to medical research to tutoring. It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have to say that it feels good to stay late in bed on a Saturday morning, but that feeling only lasts for a few hours. Getting up and going to a volunteer activity on the weekend or after school/work feels much better and the feeling of doing good for somebody else lasts a life time. Volunteering not only feeds my altruistic side, but it also makes me feel healthier for some reason. I feel good after doing a physical activity such as cleaning parks or mental activity such as tutoring inner city High School children. Aside from health benefits, volunteering will definitely help you in your professional career. Volunteering has really changed my life. It has taught me to be considerate and caring about people in my community and the world.It has taught me to give back to others what life has given to me. Most importantly, it has taught me to be an active member of society and have a purpose in life by making small changes in any way I can. So this weekend, do a volunteer activity and feel good about it mentally and physically. Spread the word, VOLUNTEER. Tell me about your volunteer experiences and how they have changed your life in the comments.

Top Ten Bargain Clothing Stores In Chicago

1. Forever21
2. H&M
3. Charlotte Russe
   
4. Gap Outlet
5. Aeropostale Outlet
6. Guess Outlet
   
7. Marshall's
8. Filene's Basement
   
9. TJ-Maxx
10. Old Navy
    

Chicago: Sweet Home Chicago

I have lived in Chicago for over 20 years and here is the low down on visiting here.

First off, one of the most famous sites in Chicago is the Sears Tower but personally I would pass on that unless it was one of those things I really wanted to do all my life. I would replace this with going to the John Hancock Building and going to the "Signature Room" on the 95th floor. The reason being is that the Signature room is a restaraunt and lounge with no cover charge. You can spend money on their lovely specialty drinks (non-alcoholic available) instead of the $12.95 per adult and wait in long lines at the Sears Tower. The Signature room does get crowded during peak dining times so there could be a wait but just call ahead to find out.

Sears Tower Observation Deck: 103rd floor and 412 m (1353 ft) above ground. John Hancock Signature Room: 95th floor and 304 m (1000 ft) above ground.

Chicago has come out with a Free Trolley system which is mainly in Downtown Chicago that will take you to most all of the major attractions. And yes it is free so sometimes it does get crowded. I have ridden on it myself a few times and have loved it except for the occasional wait. Go to the City of Chicago website to find out more info. If you really don't want to wait then you can always take the public transportation known as the CTA or Metra. The trains are quite safe but might be a little time consuming with all the construction they have going on. The traffic is worst so the train is still the best way to get around. They usually have tourist passes for special prices and you can find out more on their websites.

One of the top things to do when visiting Chicago is walking down Michigan Avenue. There are many, many shops and you are almost guaranteed to see a tourist from every country in the world here. After your stroll down Michigan Ave., you might have to change it up a bit and take a stroll down my main reason for loving Chicago so much - Lake Michigan. Every nook and cranny of Lake Michigan is divine but the most convenient and probably one of the most beautiful is the Museum Campus area. Take the trolley or bus to the Adler Planetarium (in the Museum Campus). The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Wrigley Field are all nearby within walking distance. If the weather is warm then this is a perfect place to have a picnic.

Now I am sure you have done your research and don't want the same old sites to see that everyone else gives so here is the best part of Chicago. I do mean the BEST!!! It is the food. I could not even begin to list all the food places here because it would be way too long but there is food in Chicago from all over the world. And I am not talking about fake copies either. This food is as authentic as you can get without being in that country itself. You could go to Greek Town and walk into a restaraunt where its like you are in Greece (and no I don't mean Gyros). Go to a street called "Devon" to find Indian food that I could swear has been flown over from India that very same day. ChinaTown, Ethiopian, Argentinan, French, etc. Just use our good ol friend Google to find anything your heart desires or should I say stomach desires.

Finally, I would have to say you can't leave Chicago without going to a blues or jazz club or seeing a play. The Green Mill is one of my favorites with a lot of history and mystery to it. There are also some comedy clubs but again all of this stuff varies so whatever I write here will become outdated rather quickly so the best thing to do is to check the internet for what's available and match it up with your interests. Some places do require reservations so make sure to call all the places on your list first.

I will write more as I think of it or as people ask me questions in the comments area.

Oprah: "What Happens To Familes When Dad Becomes A Female?"

"What happens to families when dad becomes a woman?" This was the question that was being talked about on the Oprah show Friday as she interviewed one families' transformation. The parents were happily married for a long time and even had children. One day, the dad finally deciced to come out that he was transgendered after years of suppressing his true self because he could not live as a man any longer. The wife was supportive and the kids were very supportive, which was shocking for Oprah as well as viewers to believe. The ease of acceptance into the family as a woman was not as difficult as it seemed like for the families because they were understanding, open and talked openly about issues. Oprah previosly had done a show on trangender chidren, so I found the show to be not very interesting as I already knew much about it from the previous show. It was neat to learn the family aspect of it, but it seems that the pattern is that trangender individuals usually know that they are in the wrong body at a young age but they are afraid to express it. But it is an issue that exists in our society and it is great to learn about it. For more info, go to Oprah.com

Oprah: Kids and Divorce: Fix Your Problems Now Before It's Too Late

Gary Neuman, a divorce expert, sits down with Oprah to help familes struggling through divorce. Oprah says he is the best with children when it comes to coping with divorce. He spoke with a single mother of four, who is struggling after divorce to get her kids to talk and communicate about their emotions. Gary sits down with the children and asks them how they feel about their father and divorce. I was surprise, with a comfortable and nonthreatening setting, the kids tell Gary everything. It was sad to hear an 11 year old say that she heard her parents constantly fighting before divorce because her room was right below theirs. With the divorce rates so high in this country, it is necessary for parents to learn the ways to help ease their children through the rough waters of divorce. There are few rules that Gary recommends for all parents:
1. Talk to your kids informally (no family meetings)
2. Talk to them in a nonthreatening environment
3. Listen to what they have to say, don't shut them up
4. Let them cry and express their emotions
5. If you are divorced, give your kids atleast one year before introducing them to a new person
Gary gave excelent advise to help kids get through divorce and separation without the anger and frustrations. For more tips, go to Oprah.com
Baby Face, the singer, also sat down with Oprah to talk about his latest album and his divorce. He spoke about the importance of keeping his kids happy and staying together as a family even after divorce. He said spending time with the children as a family after divorce is the most important thing to show them that the love is still there eventhough mom and dad are separated.
I think divorce can have a long term negative effects on children so it is really important to get help and do things the right way, so the kids don't stray from a healthy upbringing. For more information on this show, go to Oprah. com

Importance of (Pancreatic) Enzymes in CF

Most Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients (95%) like myself need to supplement their diet with pancreatic enzymes to help in absorption of fat from their diet. This is because they are "pancreatic insufficient," meaning that they don't make adequate amounts of their own pancreatic secretions (enzymes that break down foods and absorb fats). These secretions include peptidases,amylases and others that help break down and absorb fats and and other necessary nutrients from the diet. Pancreatic insufficiency is one of the main reasons why a lot of CF patients are underweight and have trouble gaining weight. Even though they might eat a high fat and high calorie diet, they are just pooping it out and not absorbing it if they are not taking the enzymes. If you have CF, then you need to be tested for pancreatic sufficiency so you can know whether your pancreas is working as it is supposed in releasing the necessary enzymes. If you are pancreatic insufficient, then your CF doctor should prescribe you enzymes that you will take before each meal and snacks. This will help break down the food and absorb the nutrients from the food so you don't poop them out. Make sure you take them because it is so important to keep your weight up so you don't get ill easily.
For me, I had an interesting case in which my pancreatic sufficiency came out fine meaning my body was producing the enzymes, but I still had a hard time putting on weight despite trying to eat high calorie, fatty foods. So my CF doctor and I decided to try the enzymes to see if my weight would go up. To my surprise, I began to increase my weight slowly and I have maintained it for almost a year now. Although, I am pancreatic sufficient, I think my enzymes don't work well, so I need to take enzymes to help digest and absorb the nutrients from my diet. As you can see, it is very important to learn about pancreatic enzymes when you have CF because it can really change your life. Talk to your doctor and learn more about enzymes.

FREE Warranty from your top Credit Cards

I have a habit of reading everything and as I was reading my American Express card information I found out that they give me a free warranty with my purchases. Basically from what I understand of it, if you buy a Laptop and it comes with a one year warranty then American Express or even some of the other cards will double it and give you one more year.

The American Express is so good that I told a friend about it when his patio furniture got stolen and they paid him back.

American Express offers the following:

• Automatic Protection - Charge your covered purchases that have a valid U.S. manufacturer's warranty entirely to the Card.


• Extend Your Warranty - The Buyer's Assurance Plan will extend the terms of the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty for up to one additional year on eligible purchases with warranties of 5 years or less.


• Don't Think Twice - Coverage is available for eligible items for up to $10,000 (not to exceed $50,000 per Card account per policy year).

I found that other cards have this too but you have to do your own homework. Visa says the following on their website for their Warranty Manager Service:

• To be eligible for this benefit you must be a valid cardholder of an eligible U.S.-issued Visa card.


• Warranty Manager Service offers Extended Warranty Protection that doubles the free repair period under the original manufacturer’s written U.S. repair warranty up to one (1) additional year on eligible warranties of three (3) years or less when an item is purchased entirely with your eligible Visa card.


• To file a claim, copies of your Visa card receipt, your store receipt, the original manufacturer’s written U.S. warranty, and any other applicable warranty are required. You will need to retain copies of these records unless the purchase is registered.

NOTE: All cards are different so check your card or call them for further information. As far as I know bank "check" cards are not covered.
V.R.

Oprah: Nate Updates Homes of Viewers And You Can Be Next

Nate Berkus saves two families from "time warp decorating" disasters. It's hard to describe the classic Nate updates because you have to see the amazing changes yourself. So go to Oprah.com for more on the show footage. But I will share with you the few decorating tips he gave. He said if you are stuck in a time warp in decorating, then do the following changes to update your home:
REMOVE FROM YOUR HOME:
1. Get rid of dried flowers
2. Get rid of teddy bears from master bedrooms
3. Choose colored paint or border, not both
4. Remove lacy drapes
5. Remove flowery furniture
INSTALL IN YOUR HOME:
1. Classic, clean colored sofa
2. Accessorize with classic pieces
3. Use pillows to accent rooms
4. Use drapes that will elongate your windows
5. Use fresh flowers sparingly
You may win the next home makeover by Nate, so get your videos into the Oprah show now. For more information on how to apply, go to Oprah.com.

Oprah: "Wombs For Rent"

You might be taken by surprise from the title, but keep reading and hopefully, you will come to know more about this issue. Lisa Ling visits Anand, India with an American couple who have been struggling to have kids of their own. The couple tried everything to conceive including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, but they were not successful. So they decided to go with surrogacy as their final option. Surrogacy in America would be very expensive, somewhere around 70-80 thousand dollars. For this reason, they looked for alternative options and found Anand, India, where women are willing to carry a couple's baby in exchange for 7-8 thousand dollars (price may vary). Dr. Patel, who runs the Anand hospital, said that women not only have to be fertile (criteria: at least one kid of their own), but they have to be healthy to conceive and carry the baby for nine months. They also have to be prepared and willing to give the baby up after nine months. Not all women qualify for surrogacy due to age and health problems. The couple began their surrogacy process in India. It included surgically removing the egg from the American mother and fertilizing it with the sperm from the father in a lab. Once the egg and the sperm were fertilized, the doctor implanted them into the surrogate mother from India. After 15 days, the doctor confirmed that the implantation was successful and the couple would be having a baby. The American couple were filled with joy and happiness with the good news.

Throughout the pregnancy the surrogate mother has to live at the hospital away from her home to make sure she is getting the proper care that she needs until the birth. This is hard for the women but the classes in the hospital and ultimate reward for a better life is well-worth it, they said. One woman Lisa visited after giving birth to foreign twins is now living in a nice, big house and her kids are able to receive an education with the money. Without surrogacy, the woman would have stayed poor and without any education for her kids for the rest of her life. Many women keep their pregnancy a secret because their families don't approve and don't truly understand the science of in-vitro fertilization. When I first started watching the show, I had no clue about this topic and so I was indifferent about my opinions. After watching the show, I have come to realize that maybe it is not so horrible to exchange services between two women that can save two families from falling apart. As Martha Stewart's daughter, Alexis talked candidly with Oprah about her struggle with IVF treatments and trying to conceive, it is clear that women are waiting way too long to have children. And for those who have waited and unsuccessfully tried IVF but still want children of their own, surrogacy might be another option for them. For more information, go to Oprah.com

Oprah: Jessica Seinfeld and Dr. Oz tackle kids' eating habits

Jessica Seinfeld, the wife of Jerry Seinfeld, came up with clever ways to incorporate healthy veges into kids' diet. She is a mother of three kids, all under the age of seven. Like most kids in America, the Seinfeld kids do not like healthy veges such as broccoli, carrots, etc. So Jessica decided to take an alternative route. She purees each vegetable and stores the purees in plastic bags once a week. Whenever she is making dinner, she puts some of this puree into the food that the kids already love to eat. For example, she said she puts cauliflower puree in mac&cheese and the kids eat it up without even realizing that there is cauliflower in there. From cakes to cookies, Jessica has mastered the art of combining vege purees into normal diet foods. Her recipes can be found in her book titled Deceptively Delicious. I think its a genius idea to get kids to eat healthy everyday. Dr. Oz thinks Jessica's ideas are life changing and has written the forward for her book. The most fascinating thing I heard from Dr. Oz on this show was that aversion to veges for kids is a natural, biological response. Kids have 10,000 taste buds as opposed to adults who only have 3,000 taste buds. Back in the olden days, kids used their abundant taste buds to recognize bitter/poisonous foods that were probably dangerous and only ate sweet/bland foods that were safe. This phenomenon is still illustrated by kids today and so, parents have to try extra hard to introduce them to veges that are healthy for them. In a new show on Discovery Health channel titled "Honey, we are killing our kids," families see their kids morph into obese adults at age 40 if they continue to keep the same eating habits. One family on the show was terrified by the morph of their three boys and drastically changed their lifestyles and lost weight because they wanted their kids to have the best health. I agree, that it is not easy for parents to spend time cooking but they have to find alternative ways to get healthy foods in the diet. Fast foods and pre-packaged foods have a ton of sodium and fats that are not all that good for anyone. So I say cook everyday or at least few times a week with your children. Eat healthy and feel good. For more info on this show, go to Oprah.com

Importance of Visitors In The Hospital

Hospital stays are inevitable for CF patients because no matter how well we take care of ourselves, we end up in the hospital for a tune up atleast once a year if not more. And these stays are long and boring, but they are necessary for our well-being, so we have to go through them, but not the boredom part. To avoid boredom, have your favorite friends, relatives, parents, significant others and loved ones visit you. Plan so you have atleast one visitor each day, so you don't feel alone and sad. Plus you can have something to look forward to in the day besides million doctors, nurses and respiratory therapaists . Don't get me wrong, health specialists are necessary, too, but it's nice to have something fun to look forward to. Have people bring your favorite foods, movies, games and whatever else that makes you happy. When I go the hospital, my sisters visit me often but they have kids and are not able to make it daily . So my mentor and dear friend, Bruce, visits me religiously everyday bringing me movies, magazines, food and my favorite, coffee to keep me entertained and distracted so I get better sooner. He simply listens to my frustrations and gives me strength in my low times. I think if we feel better mentally then it is easier to get well physcially, so it is crucial to have visitors who cheer you up when you are down and help you go through your therapy with laughter. So next time, plan your tune up with daily visitors who bring fun and joy to the dreadful hospital stays.

Chicken Egg Rolls

Ingredients:
1 lb Chicken Breast (cubes)
Egg Roll Wraps (store bought)
1 Red, Green, Yellow Bell pepper (finely chopped)
1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
1 Canned corn
One Jalepenos (finely chopped)
Cilantro (finely chopped)
Garlic and Ginger Paste
Salt and pepper
Ground cumin
Paprika
Turmeric powder
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Lime (or lemon juice)

Preparations: (makes about 25 egg rolls)

Wash and drain the chicken. Marinate the chicken with one tbsp of garlic and ginger paste, one tbsp of cumin powder, 1/2 tbsp of turmeric powder, 1/2 tbsp paprika, salt to taste, and half a lime. Mix so the chicken is well coated and leave in the refrigerater for half hour. In the mean time, take a non-stick pan. Add a tbsp of vegetable oil and add all three different kinds of bell peppers. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Sautee on medium high heat until the bell peppers are soft and cooked through (about 10-15 min). Take the peppers out in a big bowl to cool. In the same pan, sautee the onion until they are soft (about 5 min). Place the onions in the same big bowl with the peppers. Drain the can of sweet corn and sautee them also with 1 tbsp of oil, salt and pepper, in the pan until all the water is evaporated (5-7 min). Place the corn in the bowl with the rest of the sauteed veges. Lastly, remove the chicken from the fridge and cook it in the pan with 2 tbsp of oil until cooked through. Let it cool off the heat and shred into tiny pieces. Add the chicken to the bowl with the veges. Add as much jalepeno and cilantro as you prefer. You want the stuffing to have no extra water, so drain the cilantro and dry before use. Add half a lime and 2 tsp of pepper flakes. Mix all ingrediants together and taste to make sure there is enough salt and the spicyness. Let everything cool down and fold the stuffing in the egg rolls as described in my section "How To Fold Egg Rolls." Fry the egg rolls and enjoy with chutney or ketchup. Or freeze them for later use. Here is a picture of the stuffing all done and ready to fold into rolls. Enjoy!!!

How To Fold Egg Rolls

To seal the egg roll:
Take 3-4 tbsp of all purpose flour. Add a small amount of water so it becomes like a thick paste. Use this paste as a glue to close the egg rolls.

Oprah: "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a book about spiritual journey and finding inner piece. Elizabeth sat down with Oprah to speak about her book, which has been on New York Best Seller List for 35 weeks now. She claimed that she was not happy with her life and marriage and she cried almost every night on the bathroom floor for six months trying to figure out what was wrong with her. It was very interesting to hear her say that her marriage and life looked perfect from outside but inside things were very different. This made me think that I should not look at somebody's life and think, "wow, look at them. They are so happy. I want that," because you never know what's going on behind the scenes. Anyhow, Elizabeth decided to leave her marriage and tried to find inner piece by traveling to three different countries for three different aspects of spirituality. First she visited Italy, where she ate and ate delicious Italian food to gain the weight and the strength the she had lost over the years. Her speaking about the Italian pizza made me very hungry. Her reason for chosing Italy was that she wanted the best pleasure possible and she claimed Romans know pleasure the best. She spent four months in each country and documented her days in a journal. After Italy, she traveled to India. In India, she wanted to learn more about yoga,spirituality and prayer. She said that once while she was doing yoga she felt, for a split second, that she was in the palm of God's hand. To combine this spirituality and pleasure of both countries, she traveled to Bali, where spent time with a monk who taught her to combine the two concepts efficiently. She called it learning to love. The most fascinating, simple thing she talked about from Bali that she learned was that to find happiness and peace, just smile. Smile from every organ in your body, even smile with your liver. And this will reflect in your life eventually. I found this to be a profound way of thinking. She compiled her experiences from Italy, India and Bali and wrote this book. It is a memoir about her life journey but the concepts and the experiences seem to be universal, she claims, and that is why it has been such a popular book. I found Elizabeth to be a very interesting person who has a very unique view on getting better and dealing with life. I look forward to reading this book soon and learning more about her spiritual journey, so I can try to find my own some day. For more information on this show, go to Oprah.com

Top Ten Pizza Places In Chicago

1. Giardano's Pizza - www.giordanos.com
2. Rinalli's Pizza
3. California Pizza Kitchen - www.cpk.com
4. Chicago's Pizza - www.chicagos-pizza.com
5. Pizza D.O.C. -
6. Lou Malnati's Pizza - www.loumalnatis.com
7. Suparossa - http://www.suparossa.com/restaurants/sup_suparossa.asp
8. Pizza Ria - http://www.pizza-ria.com/
9. Pizzaria Uno- www.unos.com
10. Bacci Pizzaria - www.baccipizza.com

The Darjeeling Limited

Featuring Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody and Jason Schwartzman. This movie takes place in India. It is about three brothers on a spiritual journey. Some parts were quite funny as the three brothers try to find the spirituality within themselves. The unusual problems they encounter and deal with is what makes the movie interesting. I thought that guys probably could relate to it more than girls and those guys with brothers would relate to it the most and enjoy it. Women will enjoy it, too, but I feel that is more geared towards a male audience. I enjoyed the movie because it was funny and the story was not typical; it was interesting. The subtleties in the movie about relationships made it quite nice to watch. The funniest parts were about the cough medicines that they constantly took as drugs, you have to see it. It's hilarious. The Indian trains made me nostalgic as I remembered my younger days in India when my family used to travel together. I thought the movie was good, not great, but I do recommend it those who enjoy watching artsy movies. The acting from Owen Wilson and Adrian Brody is fantastic and very funny. So check it out and tell me your thoughts on the movie.

Other Movies out this week:

Across The Universe
Feel The Noise
In The Valley of Elah
Into the WIld
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
The Heartbreak Kid
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

Oprah: Sinead O'Connor-Her Battle With Bipolar Disorder

Sinead O'Connor sat down with Oprah to speak about her fight with bipolar disorder. She claimed that she was not born with it but developed it due to abuse in her early days. She has been suffering from bipolar since she was in her twenties but was not diagnoses until her late thirties. That is shocking because bipolar is a very studied disease that can be treated. Anyhow, she said she was depressed in her twenties despite the records and the fame. The media scrutinized her and that didn't help. She considered committing suicide. Her friends from Ireland spoke about this manic episodes and how they took care of her. It was great to see that she had friends who were there for her and took care of her because not many people have friends like that who will take care of your children and lay in bed with you all day. Sinead has four beautiful children and she is doing much better now with medications and help. She seemed well and just wanted to speak about her battle so more people will come forward and see a specialist to get help. I believe that people just don't know that much about this disorder so they are hesitant to speak up or see a doctor. More awareness is definitely needed for bipolar disorder.
Later in the show, Oprah spoke to a man who was suffering from bipolar. He was married and had children. He has been suffering for a long time and has not gotten better. His manic episodes and suicidal thoughts scare his family and have a huge impact on his children. His mother said that he is on Lithium treatment but no change has happened. The doctor on the show suggested that he join a support group and seek additional help with treatment. She suggested to ask about other medications that would work for him since there are many medications that are studied and seem to work. She claimed that bipolar is a very old disorder and has been studied extensively and there is a way to treat it well. It was surprising to see that the family had no idea about support groups or the studies especially now that we live in the world of world wide web. Patty Duke, one of the first persons to be diagnosed with this disorder spoke with the man and his family. She told them that with help, he can get better like she has.It's a lifelong recovery not a one day thing. It was very sad to see a grown man cry on TV but he seemed very sick. He looked distant and scared. Bipolar disorder is a very serious disorder and more awareness needs to be established for this dangerous disorder. To learn more about the show, go to Oprah.com

Chili Chicken

Ingredients:
Chicken Breast (cut into cubes)
Garlic and Ginger paste
Tandoori Chicken Masala (Shan Masala from Indian grocery store for 69 cents)
Salt
Chili powder (optional)
Ground Cumin
Ground Turmeric powder
Red Food Color (optional)
2 tbsp of Tomato sauce
Vegetable Oil
Sliced Onion (you can also add bellpepper with it)
Cumin seeds

Preparations:
Wash and drain the chicken. Add 1 tbsp of garlic and ginger paste. Add about 3-4 tbsp of Tandoori Chicken Masala (until all the chicken is coated well and looks red). Add some chili powder (taste before adding because the Shan Masala might be hot enough), ground cumin, turmeric powder, and the tomato sauce. Add about 1 tsp of red food coloring for show. This gives the chicken nice red color, like the color of red chili. Mix all the ingrediants well and leave the chicken in the refrigerate for half hour if you have time. Remove the chicken from the fridge. Take about 3-4 tbsp of vegetable oil in a nonstick pan (Wok style). Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add 2 tsp of cumin seeds to the oil and add the chicken to the oil. Add the onions after a few minutes and let the chicken cook until tender. Enjoy with some pita bread or a side of plain rice.

Antibiotics and Stomach Problems

If you have CF, you have taken a lot of antibiotics in your life. Some IV antibiotics and some orals (pills). Some of these antibiotics can be very strong on the stomach meaning they can upset your stomach, make you nauseas, make you constipated, give you diarrhea and many other problems. I have a very sensitive stomach so a lot of antibiotics (most of them orals) make me feel very nauseas and upset to the stomach. Instead of feeling better, I get worse from the medications, which is kind of ironic. If it is just nausea then I ask my doctor for nausea medicine along with the antibiotic, but if it's worse than nausea then I tell my doctor to give me another antibiotic that is not as stressful on my stomach. So I suggest that if you are experiencing GI problems when on certain antibiotics, let your CF doctor know as soon possible and ask for alternative medications that will work. Don't hesitate to speak up because it is not fun to have these stomach problems along with CF problems. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND FIX THE PROBLEM. Your doctor needs to know how you are feeling with any medication, so talk openly about your issues. There are a lot of good drugs out there that might suit your body and your stomach, so ask and you will get.