A Primer on C.A.D.

By Dr. Herm Valenzuela, M.D.

Topics on coronary artery disease and related subjects come almost quarterly because together with stroke are the most common causes of fatalities (more than all types of cancer combined). BTW skin cancers are still the most common form of cancer world-wide than all of the other body cancers combined accdg to the W.H.O.

This week's consultant is Dr.Giovanni Ciuffo, professor & surgeon in the Cardiothoracic Dept. at Mount Sinai M.C. (NYC); with my addenda from other refs.

"No one is exempt from heart disease, an umbrella term used for those diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels; heart disease (coronary artery disease) and cardiovascular diseases are often used interchangeably," Dr Ciuffo states.

"The most recent studies show that up to 50% of the world population will eventually be affected by significant heart disease," he added. About 80 M Americans suffered from heart disease in 2006 and about 865,500 died of this in 2005; about 410,000 men & just under 455,000 women accdg to the A.H.A.

"There was a whole misconception- that women are immune to C.A.D." says Dr. Ciuffo, "The reality is that one woman in three will die of a heart attack and they worry more about breast cancer," he added. Many patients are familiar with the classic symptoms, or what Dr.Ciufo calls "distress signals;" when a portion of the heart does not receive enough blood or is severely impaired by a leaky or calcified valve, it screams for help with chest pain and/or a sense of pressure, often asso. with shortness of breath, palpitations, fainting or leg swelling."

Angina: refers to symptoms such as chest ache/pain or discomfort caused by reduced flow to the heart. It is often the first sign of heart disease (H.D.); usually caused and made worse by exercise or exposure to cold weather and eased by rest and getting to a warmer environment. Some signs that angina is very serious to call 911:

1. Chest pain or discomfort that is very bad in the pain scale of 5 or more/10, gets worse and last longer than 10 minutes- don't wait for another 5!

2. Pain & discomfort along with weakness, heartburn-like symptoms with sweating and/or fainting and/or palpitations.

3. Pain & discomfort that does not go away when taking nitroglycerine (NTG) pills.

4. Pain & discomfort that is worse than you have ever had before

Thus: If you have P & D while planting seedlings in the spring, mowing your lawn in summer, raking the garden leaves in Autumn or shoveling ice in winter- call 911 or better yet have someone drive to the nearest E.R. while someone, if possible, notify the medical staff there and your PC Provider later but be ready for your list of medications. And..

5. I can't help myself adding this: Beware of the "Rockefeller Syndrome!"

Types of angina:

Common or stable A: Is a disorder of chest discomfort that usually occur in unexpected pattern, changes only slowly, e.g. under mental/emotional stress, running to catch a bus, suddenly exerting to walk uphill, etc. Resting or relaxing usually eases the discomfort.

Unstable A: May first appear as a very severe episode or a frequently recurring bouts of P & D; is unexpected and may wake a person in the night.

Variant A(Prinzmetal A): Is quite rare, but causes discomfort at rest due to coronary artery spasm that decrease the blood flow to the heart. If after this attack is gone or abated somehow and an ECG is done, it is usually normal. Hence a E.S.T. (exercise stress test) may reveal the condition or better yet a 24-hours continous ECG (Holter monitor) is indicated.

Microvascular A: results from poorly functioning smaller branches of the coronary arteries, when seen is common with diabetics.

Ischemia (fr. C-V Disorders, SourceBook, 3rd Ed, 2005): Is the term used when any part of a body organ is not getting enough blood like T.I.A= transient ischemic attack in the brain.

Silent ischemia: Cardiac ischemia happens when an artery becomes narrowed or blocked for a shorttime preventing 02 rich blood from reaching the heart. If ischemia is severe or lasts too long, it cancause a heart attack (myocardial infarction) and can lead to death of the heart tissue. In certain cases there is no pain hence called "silent ischemia" but may also disturb the heart's rhythm and pumping ability causing fainting or sudden cardiac death (SCD)- more on this later.

How common is silent ischemia (S.I.)?

An estimated 4 M Americans, mostly men over 65 have episodes of S.I People who have had previous heart attack or those who have diabetis are specially at risk. Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) that is cause by S.I. is among the 4 most common cause of heart failure in the U.S. Other risk factors are hypertension, obesity and alcohol/drug abuse. Since it is "silent" however, most researchers have found that if you have noticeable chest discomfort and you have the major C.A.D risk factors, you may also have episodes of S.I. hence, a comprehensive C-V evaluation is indicated.

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): Fr. the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center-2004.

SCD is an unexpected death caused by a loss of cardiac function, occurs mostly in adults in their mid-30s to 40s; 1-2 children per 100K per year mostly due to congenital heart disease. In the elderly, it is the largest cause of "natural death" in the U.S. causing about 250K deaths each year. 80% ofSCD is asso. with C.A.D. and about half of the fatalities are sudden. Causes: Most SCD are caused by arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) i.e.: Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib) which is a "fluttering" or "quiverring" of the main heart muscles (ventricles) that goes on an erratic, disorganized "firing" of conducted impulses. Death will occur w/in minutes if left untreated. Ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)- this is an abnormally rapid heart rhythm that does not propel enough blood to the circulation and usually occur after a heart attack or in an unstable angina. Risk factors of SCD: History of heart defects w/ or w/o syncope. History of some major ECG abnormality like extremely slow heart beats or a heart block. Obesity & diabetis; First to 16 months after a coronary event.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy = an increase growth in thickness of the left ventricle.

Dilated cardiomyopathy = an abnormal enlarged heart may be the cause of SCD in 10% of cases.

Emergency treatment of SCD: The AHA (American Heart Asso.) promotes using the 4-steps called "The Chain of Survival" which may prolong life by 90% if initiated early on with f/up in the E.R. or CCU.

> Quick access to emergency care is essential; call 911!

> Early CPR: If performed properly CPR can help save lives as the procedure keeps blood & 0 circulating until emergency medical help arrives.

> Early defibrillation: In most adults, SCD is related to V-Fib and quick application is necessary to return the heart's rhythm to normal. Frequently, there are public access to defibrillators (AEDs= automatic external defibrillators) and if one or more of you are so inclined- it is very easy to learn how to apply it and the life you save maybe close to you ! Usually the ARC (American Red Cross) offers
instructions how to use AEDs

> Early advanced care: Most patients require hospital care to prevent future events.

I'm not going to present clinical/laboratory tests & treatment options: In October 2003 the NIH rec. key steps to help prevent/manage C.A.D: the major message is to control the various risk factors. The most important are: Control diabetis- It affects 17 M Americans and up to 75% develop heart & bood vessel diseases; can also lead to strokes, kidney failure, blindness and various forms of neuropathies. Manage hypertension and control Lipids- lower LDL-cholesterol & triglycerides and elevate HDL-cholesterol. Overweight & Obesity increases the risk not only of heart disease but also stroke, gall-bladder disease, arthritis, breast & colon cancer. Maintain a healthy BMI= body mass index. Here's how (if you don't own an abacus): 1). Multiply your weight in pounds by 703. 2). Divide the answer (fr step 1) by your height in inches. 3).Divide the answer (fr. step 2) by your height in inches again to get your BMI (Heck, if you're "bad" in 'rithmetic, like me- your PC Provider has a graph and just check where you are! Normal is 18.5 to 24.9; Overweight is 25-29.9 and Obese is 30 and >.

Lastly, to my lady friends: Parting words from Dr.Ciuffo: "Women are far more likely to present with irregular symptoms (of heart disease) then men, and sometimes these symptoms are non-specific and hard to diagnose. They can just have this profound sense of frustration but deny chest ache/pain. They say, ' I'm really tired; I can't lift my arms up' and it can be a heart attack. One key warning sign is if you notice a sudden drop-off in your physical ability level; if you get short of breath suddenly (especially if you don't smoke or have a history of COPD), if you remember that 1-3 months ago you can easily climb up the stairs, and now it's a big deal, then something must be going on!"

Herm C. Valenzuela, M.D. (Ret)
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234 (Nov. 2009)

Tina and Tekka

What I consider to be my favorite watercolor is this one of my daughter Tina and Tekka, her dog. Tina and I played tennis one summer day on a Saturday morning at our local sports club. After tennis, we went to our house for lunch in our backyard. It was a nice sunny day. Tina was relaxing, sipping a glass of red wine in our backyard while Louise, my wife was preparing lunch. I looked out and saw a beautiful composition of Tina and Tekka. I happened to have my camera in my pocket and pulled it out to take a photo. With the hills in the background, I thought it would be a good composition. When I first saw the photo on my computer screen, I knew I had to paint it. I had been looking for a good subject for a watercolor painting and I knew this was it. I took my time to paint this one. After about a month, I finished my work. I am very happy with the results.

Zack

Zack the Steward

On the morning of November 27, 1959 at Sangley Point, Philippines, I was very excited when I took the oath to enlist in the US Coast Guard. There were 25 of us and we all knew that after our swearing in process we would be confined on base and could no longer go home. We had a short indoctrination after swearing in and we learned we were steward recruits. I felt homesick already. I had to accept the fact that the next time I could see my family again would be when my four-year enlistment was over or sooner if found to be unfit to serve. We all looked pretty scared not knowing what to expect. We filled out more enlistment paperwork until around noon when it was time for us to go to lunch.

A petty officer marched us to the mess hall. This was the first mess hall I had ever seen. Everybody formed a line to get their food. It was cafeteria style. Everything looked delicious. There were green salads, fried chicken and roast beef for the main course and assorted cakes and ice cream for dessert. I couldn’t believe my eyes, seeing all the food. I was thinking that if this would be the way I could expect to eat every day then I wouldn’t feel so bad about being homesick. Now I could forget about having fish heads and rice for a meal. I filled up my food tray with everything that looked good, not knowing what it would taste like. I was disappointed that there was no rice, only mashed potatoes. In the salad area I saw my favorite fruit ‘duhat’ (a Philippine sweet dark berry) so I took a bunch, and I heard the server at the other side of the line say “You are in for a big surprise”. When I sat down to eat my meal and tasted a duhat fruit, it was so bitter I almost threw up. Later on I found out what I believed to be duhat were olives. Overall, it was a good meal, the best I had ever had.

Being a steward recruit was the lowest position one can be in the Coast Guard. While at Sangley Point waiting to be shipped out, we participated in work details picking up trash all around the base, cleaning the mess hall after each meal, dumping garbage, etc. Then while we were on the USNS Barrett enroute San Francisco, we were assigned to the galley as mess cooks. It was a relief when we arrived at Fort Mason and were transferred to the USPHS Hospital for quarantine where we hardly did any manual labor.

The twenty-five of us steward recruits merged with seaman recruits in boot camp at Government Island. Our company was LIMA 29 comprising of whites, blacks and Filipinos, and our Company Commander was BM1 Roche, a Frenchman. It was a gruesome 8 weeks of recruit basic training. There were no racial issues that I can remember. Some recruits dropped out for one reason or another. All 25 Filipinos made it through boot camp only to endure four more weeks of steward training before they were sent to their first duty stations. After steward training I received orders for US Coast Guard Air Station in St Petersburg, Florida.

Being the most junior steward in St Pete was not fun. Besides being homesick, I had to constantly take orders from the old timers Busabos, Manese and Amano to do all the menial work. I had very little time to myself. I spent my free time writing letters, playing the ukulele, and sometimes dabbling in art.

When I was on duty one evening, I just finished serving the evening meal to the duty officers. The Mess Treasurer, LT(jg) Bain, who was in charge of all the stewards, walked in the pantry on his way out to his quarters. I had left my artwork on a small table in the middle of the room and he stopped to examine it. I think I had some pencil sketches and maybe a rough watercolor piece. He complimented me on my work. The next day, he called me in to his office to talk to me about an art project. The wardroom had a mural of Coast Guard ships and sailors in action at sea in the old days and the mural was in bad shape as the paint was peeling off. He asked me if I could touch up the mural as a VIP visit from the District Office was scheduled and he wanted the wardroom to look good. At first I hesitated, but then I realized doing something I enjoyed during working hours would be much better than washing dishes, cleaning toilets and making up officers’ beds. I accepted; Busabos and the gang didn’t like it because now, they would have to do the menial work normally assigned to me while I was working on this project.

It took me about three days to complete the mural project. The VIP’s came and left. They saw my work as we served them lunch in the wardroom during their visit. Later, Mr. Bain congratulated me for the fine job I did in fixing the mural. He said he received a lot of compliments from the District staff who saw it.
Now many on base heard about my art skills. I got assigned other art projects, including painting signs and notices outside the Coast Guard Exchange building.

The Coast Guard did not enlist me as an artist. When there were no more jobs to utilize my art skills on base I did my steward chores. I guess my performance as a steward was satisfactory because Busabos recommended me for promotion from E2 to E3 when I met my time in grade requirement. I learned that the only way to be successful in the Coast Guard was to continually strive for promotion until you have served 20 years then you can retire. To advance in the steward rating was almost impossible. The Coast Guard needed more stewardsmen (the workers) than steward petty officers (the supervisors). In the steward rating, it would take typically five years to get promoted to E4 (Petty Officer Third Class) from the time you enlist while most other ratings would take only two to three years. And it got even harder as you move up the ranks. When you reached your 20 years of service as a steward you could expect to retire as an E6 while the non-stewards achieved a much higher pay grade for the same years of service.

I wanted that promotion to Third Class Steward no matter how long it took me. I completed the required correspondence courses in no time; I completed my practical factors and I was almost ready to take the service wide exam for promotion. I still needed to demonstrate to Busabos I could be Steward Third material before I could get his recommendation to take the service wide exam. What this meant was to demonstrate that I could prepare a dish as part of a wardroom dinner menu and the officers would be the ones to judge my cooking.

I was newly married to Louise at that time. I consulted her about what to prepare for my cooking proficiency test. I always enjoyed her cooking and she would make dessert for me even though I wasn’t much of a dessert person. But I always liked her pineapple upside-down cake. I decided I would bake a pineapple upside-down cake for my test and that Louise would be my adviser. I got approval from Busabos about my plan. Louise said I could use her recipe which she had taken from a Betty Crocker Cookbook.

The cook in charge of the galley was CS1 Spencer, a 250-pound black guy that looked like Aunt Jemima. Spencer and I got along well. We shot craps a lot in the storeroom, and we frequently played poker with a bunch of guys after payday. I told Spencer I needed to use his oven for my proficiency test and being such a nice guy, he gave me permission. Now I was all set. On the menu for dinner that day, the main course was Prime Rib Au Jus to be prepared by Busabos, and the dessert was pineapple upside cake.

I examined the Betty Crocker recipe for the pineapple upside down cake and I realized it was a recipe to serve 6 people. We were expecting 20 officers for dinner that day. No problem I thought. With simple math, multiply each ingredient by 3.33 and that should do it. I adjusted the amount of each ingredient to serve 20 people and went on with my baking. Somewhere along the line I must have made a serious error with my calculations. It must have been converting teaspoons to tablespoons and I ended up putting a lot more baking powder than what was required. The oven door popped open and what looked like a lava flow oozed out of the opening down to the floor. It was a big mess and Spencer witnessed the whole thing. He was fuming mad and told me clean up my mess and that I couldn’t leave the galley until he was satisfied the oven was spotless. I had never seen him this mad before.

I fixed up my pineapple upside down cake by getting rid of the excess cake, and served it to the officers anyway. I was too embarrassed to show my face in the wardroom while the officers were having dessert. The officers were aware I made the cake for my proficiency exam. Later I asked Busabos what the officers thought of my pineapple upside down cake. Busabos said that he got feedback from Lt(jg) Bain , our Mess Treasurer, that the officers liked my cake and they unanimously recommended that I should be allowed to take the service wide exam for promotion. That was a big surprise. It could not have been my cake. I think I know what it was. It was the mural in the wardroom walls that I revived and many admired my work including the District Commander! They must have been thinking I had this special talent that the Coast Guard could utilize during my service -- so forget about the cake, give him a chance to advance his career!

I took the service wide exam for Steward Third Class and passed it, but I was so low on the advancement list because there were hundreds of TNs ahead of me that had seniority. Realistically I would have to keep taking the service wide exam for several years to gain seniority before I could get promoted.

After serving three years at the Air Station I was transferred to the USCGC Nemesis across the harbor. The Nemesis was a 165-foot cutter home-ported at the USCG Base, and whose main mission was to patrol the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. During the time that I was on the Nemesis, the cutter was very active in rescuing many refugees from Cuba who were trying to reach Miami on their makeshift boats. So we spent a lot of time at sea picking up refugees. This was my first sea duty. I got seasick a lot and it was not pleasant. There were two of us stewards on board. I worked for Steward Third Class Felix Aguilar. I was totally useless when I was seasick and Aguilar didn’t like it one bit because he would have to carry out my duties when I was seasick. He got so fed up with me one time and reprimanded me for being incompetent and told me I should get out of the Coast Guard as I would not make anything out of myself in this outfit. I couldn’t argue with him. I thought he was right. I wasn’t carrying my load. But I couldn’t leave the Coast Guard now. I had a wife and two kids to feed. I told myself I just needed to try harder to be good at my job no matter how much I hated it.

One sunny Sunday afternoon on a routine patrol, the sea was calm like glass and I wasn’t seasick. I had just cleaned up the wardroom after serving lunch. I had heard we picked up about 20 refugees, including women and children drifting on a raft. Our captain had them all on the fantail. They were fed and given blankets to keep them warm and dry. I had about two hours of free time before I would be preparing the wardroom for the evening meal. I went outside on the main deck to get some fresh air strumming my ukulele. I saw the refugees. They were looking at me with curiosity. I approached them and tried to start a conversation in English but nobody seemed to understand me. Two young boys smiled at me pointing at my ukulele. I started strumming, thinking of a song they would know. The only Spanish song I could remember then was “Cielito Lindo” so I started humming the tune and playing the chords on my ukulele, and pretty soon the kids were singing the lyrics and everybody joined in. Then I played and they sang “La Cucuracha”. Some members of the crew came and joined the group. We started singing English songs like “You are My Sunshine” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Everybody was having fun. I looked back and saw the captain on the starboard bridge wing witnessing the whole thing. We had eye contact and he gave me the thumbs up of approval. That turned out a very good day for my morale. Even Aguilar was proud of me.

Soon after I married Louise I applied for U.S. citizenship. By virtue of my being married to an American citizen, I was able to acquire my citizenship pretty quickly. I became a citizen in late 1963. While on the Nemesis, I requested to change my rate to Electronics Technician and I received a highly favorable endorsement from the captain. I was given the Electronics Technician entrance exam and passed it. After clearing a background check for Secret security clearance my rating was changed from Stewardsman to Seaman and I was given a set of orders to undergo six months of Electronics Technician ‘A’ school at the Coast Guard Training Center in Groton, Connecticut. It was a great feeling to know my job as a steward had finally come to an end.

My Post-war Story: Joining the U.S. Coast Guard

It was 1947. I was 6 years old. We moved to Santol where my parents started a laundry business. They would pickup dirty laundry from customers near us, wash their clothes, iron them, and deliver them back. Everything was done by hand. We could not afford a washing machine. The laundry business was our only source of income. When I was about 12 years old and strong enough, I helped my parents by picking up and delivering laundry.

One of our customers that helped shape my life was Generoso Fernandez and his wife Miling. They had six children: three girls and three boys. The boys were about my age.

Mr. Fernandez was a civil engineer. When I graduated from high school, Mr. Fernandez encouraged me to take civil engineering in college, which I did.

Mr. Fernandez taught me how to play chess. When I became good enough playing the game I became his regular chess opponent. I became good friends with his sons Boy, Bert and Sonny. They would frequently invite me over to play table tennis and basketball in their yard. They became my favorite playmates in Santol. By the way, my nickname while I was growing up was “Junior” or sometimes “Jun”. When we went to visit the PI in 2003, The Fernandez’s, my relatives and other friends still addressed me as “Junior” and I was 62 years old!

While the Fernandez boys attended San Beda in high school, I went to Mapa High. Because I started first grade when I was five years old (normal starting age was seven), I was the youngest in our class in high school. My favorite subjects were math and science. I also liked art, so I took Graphic Arts as an elective in my junior and senior years.

There were about 50 sections in our graduating class in Mapa High. Each section had about 30 students. Each student was assigned to a section based on his or her grades the previous year. Students in Section 1 would have the highest grades, while those in Section 50, the lowest. I was in Section 2 in my senior year. Our class graduated from high school in March of 1957.

I attended the University of the Philippines right after high school but I only studied there for one semester for financial reasons. I transferred to the Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines (PCP), taking evening classes. In my second year in college, I began to realize I could not complete my education to get a degree. My parents would not be able to pay for my education for very long. My parents were getting old and it was getting more and more difficult for them to run their laundry business. But if I quit school, I wouldn’t know what to do with my life with no skills. I wouldn’t be good at doing manual labor. I was a 100-pound weakling when I was in college.

I learned that a couple of young men in our neighborhood had joined the U.S. Navy as stewards. I also learned that stewards in the U.S. Navy worked in the kitchen and cleaned the officers quarters.

I became interested and wanted to know how they got in. I talked to their families to get more information and I learned that I had to get an appointment first at the U.S. Naval Base at Sangley Point to take a written test, to be interviewed, then to pass a rigid physical exam. I thought I would give it a try just to see how far I would get in the application process. Even if I passed the written test and the interview, I didn’t know how I would pass the physical exam with my 100-pound frame.

I wrote to Sangley Point several times requesting an appointment but all I got back in response to each letter was a rejection postcard saying “We will contact you when we need you” or words to that effect. Oh well, that was the end of that, I thought.

Then a classmate from PCP told me how I could get an appointment at Sangley Point. He said I should first write the President of the Philippines at the Malacanang Palace to get a letter of recommendation, then enclose that letter in my letter to Sangley Point requesting an appointment. So I wrote President Carlos P. Garcia, the sitting president , requesting for a letter of recommendation. It must have been election season because I got a quick reply with the recommendation letter. The response was from his Vice President, Diosdado Macapagal. Enclosing the recommendation from the Vice President. I asked Sangley Point for an appointment, and within a week, I was delighted when I received a reply telling me when I should report for my appointment. That was in 1958. I was only 17.

My Uncle Pelagio accompanied me to Sangley Point as I didn’t know how to get there. We took the bus. He waited outside the gate while I went in for my written exam and interview. It must have taken all day for the whole process as there were hundreds of us. I passed the exam and interview, but when the recruiter realized I was only 17, he told me to come back the next year for my physical exam. I was given an appointment for October 22, 1959. I will never forget that date as that would be my 18th birthday. I was disappointed at first that I would have to wait another year, but then I realized I could never pass the physical if I had taken it right then. Right away, I would flunk it because I was underweight. But now I had one year to get in shape.

Mr. Fernandez and I played chess a lot. We became close; he and his whole family treated me like I was part of the family. When he learned about my prospects to join the U.S. Navy and that I needed to be fit for my physical exam, he offered his help by enrolling me in a physical fitness program at the YMCA. I exercised, lifted weights and swam three times a week for a year. I weighed 115 pounds just before my scheduled physical. I heard that the weight requirement was 120 pounds. I needed to gain five more pounds before I stepped on the scale at Sangley. The trip to Sangley was two hours from Santol. My Uncle Pelagio gave me a brown paper bag full of bananas to take on the bus. His instructions were to eat as many as I could before I got to the gate at Sangley. I must have eaten five pounds of bananas. I passed my physical exam.

After meeting all the requirements to enlist and now waiting to get sworn in, I asked myself if I really wanted to do this. I would be away from my parents for the first time not knowing when I would return. I wasn’t sure how I would perform working as a steward. At that time I knew I couldn’t be anything else but a steward. If I didn’t go through with this I would have a dead-end career at home. I wanted to help my parents as they got older. At least as a steward I would have a steady income and would be able to help them out financially. It was also exciting to think now I would have the chance see the United States of America. I had seen a lot of scenery in U.S. movies in technicolor and now I could see them in real life. I signed up.

Archemides' Principle

Thank you for appreciating my "postings."

Let me now relate a "session" among several body organ's self-importance for the body.

A happy and contented wife was sleeping in bed while the body organs continued to work at a relaxed pace automatically.

The Brain & spinal cord partners started the boast- "We are the most important part of mom's cuerpo. We made her intelligent- making smart descisions, controlled her emotions specially when the husband goes bonkers, make the muscles move so she can do all her work and I am the body's main computer to store all the data and info of her life," said the brain. "And, remember Christopher Reeves ?- he may be superman but was paralyzed form the neck down when he broke it!"

The Lungs almost had an apneic attack and the wife coughed and wheezed briefly. I'm better than you- I make the body breathe and without oxygen you guys will not last 3 minutes! Remember Kathleen Quinlan ? She was in coma but the docs supplied her with oxygen and I kept her alive for 8 years 'til they removed her respirator!"

"That maybe so," said the Heart..."But I pump the oxygen all over yours including all the nutrients so y'all can stay well. You also won't last 3 minutes if I stop my beat ! The Liver interjected..."Well, I'm the refinery that purify these foods and detoxify some of the junk she eats and alcohol she drinks. A liver transplant is hard to get if I become cirrhotic!"

The Kidneys then reminded the other organs what Doc Herm posted recently and continued filtering the urine from the blood while the lady sleeps- the "golden flow" continued.

Then the Ovaries and the Uterus exclaimed together..."Hey, we're important too...and necessary! Of course we need that "ding-dong" guy next to her who at 70 years old is still full of testosterone ! Without us he's just for "show" and mankind is doomed like the dinosaurs but they have already eleven kids and we're tired- mom is only 28 years old so, we can afford to close the "factory!"

After mulling the other organ's contribution they turned their attention to the lowly Colon- "What about you ? You're just full of shit and farts a lot!"

The Colon, quiet as a mouse didn't say anything. It just closed the anal sphincter real tight- like the vaults at Ft. Knox that no amount of purgative will pass thru nor an enema could get get in but continued his business smug as a rug. The next day the wife woke up and sat at the "throne" to do # 2 but was surprised that nothing is coming out.

This continued for 3-days then she started getting sick into the 5th day. The friendly and useful bacterias in the colon started to get pissed-off, their numbers were multiplying by a factor of 4 and the colonic effluent starts to get hard like the rocks of Gilbaltral so, the E.Coli metamorphosed into germs absorbed by the blood thru the mucosa and flowed into the body- first causing peritonitis and appendicitis. When they reached the heart it caused pericarditis and endocardititis to the lungs causing bilateral pneumonia into the liver causing hepatitis; then the brain causing meningitis and brain abcess. All the while the lovely lady reeked like a cesspool when the indole & skatole (gases of waste from the trapped stools emanates thru the skin and dissipated in the air.

Luckily, when rushed to the E.R. a young Pilipino medical resident-surgeon recognized all of this and performed an emergency colectomy(surgical removal of the colon). sutured a colostomy bag thru the abdomen, instituted peritoneal dialysis round-the-clock, put her on a respirator with strong I.V. antibiotics and placed her in a private sterilized and deodorized room with U.V. lights. Alleluyah- she recovered!

Moral: Respect also the "crap!"

I almost forgot about Archie- love those Greeks..."The sum of all parts is equal to the whole."

Get his drift?

Herm

One More for the Road

Suckling Pig Lechon

I decided to do something special for a small family get-together, something I had never done before. I thought I’d try doing a pig roast Philippine style on our charcoal grill in our backyard. After doing my research on line on how to cook lechon, I special-ordered a small suckling pig at a local market. I made sure the pig would be 15 pounds or less as the maximum weight my rotisserie could handle was 15 pounds. The pig we got was 14 pounds – just perfect, as the length was also a perfect fit on the grill.

It took five hours to roast the pig. We pulled it at 170 deg F. It looked delicious even before we carved it. My wife Louise made the liver sauce. I am ready to do this again!

Thanks to my son-in-law Dave for all the help. My daughter Tina took this video. The family dog Tekka kept us company throughout the roast.

Gout Comes Back: High-Fat Diet Causes Painful Arthritic Condition

Submitted by Dr. Herm Valenzuela

Why Is This Old-Time Rich Man's Disease Making a Modern Comeback?

By Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh
Boston University

Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News

October 5, 2009

Brought on by overindulging in food and drink, gout was once considered a disease of the monied classes, but nowadays those of a lower socioeconomic status may be more likely to have the disease, due to overindulgence in fast food and sugary drinks. Research suggests that the number of cases here in the US doubled from 1977 to 1997, with an estimated six million Americans suffering this painful, debilitating form of arthritis.

Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness typically affecting the big toe, but potentially other joints, such as the ankles, knees, fingers, wrists and elbows as well. Gout incidence is more common in men, although women are increasingly susceptible after menopause. I was told by Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh, professor of medicine at Boston University and an expert on the topic, however, that the reason behind the resurgence of gout is obesity and certain western lifestyle factors. Eating the kinds of foods that lead to being overweight, including red meat, particularly in combination with sugary soda, is the key factor behind this trend, Dr. Choi told me, noting that gout is also a red flag for metabolic syndrome. Sixty percent of those with gout also have metabolic syndrome, he said, adding that "it’s not just about having gout, it is also about associated serious medical conditions in the future."

ALL ABOUT GOUT

Gout develops from a buildup of uric acid, a chemical in the blood formed by the breakdown of purines, which are found in meat, seafood and in some beers. Consuming lots of these means that your body has more purines to break down -- and more purines lead to higher levels of uric acid. This can cause the formation of uric acid crystals (a solid form of uric acid), which accumulate in the joints, causing inflammation, swelling and pain.

The good news is that changing your ways usually reduces symptoms and also can prevent recurrence of gout altogether. Step one, of course, is to lose weight. "Being overweight is the most important of all the risk factors," emphasizes Dr. Choi. "Increased fat cell mass increases uric acid production, decreases uric acid excretion and increases risk for metabolic syndrome." In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, gout sufferers should limit alcohol and sugary drinks and reduce consumption of purine-rich foods, such as animal proteins.

In addition to altering your diet, natural remedies include...

If you’re a coffee drinker, keep at it. Both regular and decaffeinated coffees have been found helpful in lowering uric acid levels and reducing risk for gout. Experts believe an antioxidant in coffee decreases insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance is strongly linked to elevated uric acid levels. Drinking coffee black is best. (See Daily Health News, December 27, 2007, for more on the health benefits of coffee.)

Take vitamin C. Supplements of 500 mg to 1,500 mg increase the excretion of uric acid. Research reported in the March 9, 2009, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who took vitamin C supplements reduced their risk of developing gout by up to 45%.

Choose low-fat dairy products. Research has suggested that choosing low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt, over the higher-fat products increases uric acid secretion.

Eat cherries or drink cherry juice concentrate, both of which seem to help reduce symptoms for some people. Soothe sore joints with a comfrey poultice application, which has been used since 400 BC. (Grind comfrey leaves and mix with distilled water to apply as a paste, then wrap the afflicted area in gauze or an ace bandage.)

PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS

Though lifestyle changes are always helpful, they may not be able to control severe cases of gout, Dr. Choi told me. So, predictably enough, drug manufacturers have seen opportunity in the rising numbers, leading to the first new drug for the condition in 40 years. Until now, the medication most commonly used to ease discomfort and prevent future gout attacks has been zyloprim (Allopurinol), taken orally, which works by reducing the uric acid level in the blood. Dr. Choi told me that it is prescribed by many doctors but only about half of patients get "satisfactory relief" from the drug.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved another oral drug treatment, called febuxostat (Uloric), which works similarly to Allopurinol but seems to be more effective in lowering uric acid levels. Uloric is also a viable alternative for the 2% of patients who are allergic to Allopurinol.

Another new drug, Krystexxa, awaiting FDA approval, also lowers the level of uric acid but is administered by intravenous infusion every few weeks. It seems to work faster than Allopurinol and Uloric, but it is much more expensive.

Finally, there is some promising new research coming out of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions that indicates a gene variant may be a factor for about 10% of gout patients. Researchers believe the mutated gene can cause insufficient excretion of uric acid. They hope to target the gene with a drug that makes excretion faster and more efficient, though that will be years away.

Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh, professor of medicine, Boston University.

Red Neck Margarita

By Raf Rovira

The Redneck Margarita Recipe comes to us from Redding. Jason Dunn's Mom gave him the recipe (though she called it Whitetrash Margaritas... not really sure why or how the name got changed... but either name is fitting!), he was kind enough to share with me and I have been cooling countless parched throats since then.

One thing I would recommend is to resist using an expensive/high quality tequila, since the Cuervo Golds of the world provide the most "bang" for the buck. Also, the recipe calls for specific brands of "mixers", they can obviously be substituted, but (as it stands) this is a winning combination. So, alas... here's the mix:

1 Corona Beer - 12 ounces

1 Can of Limeade Concentrate (comes frozen) - 12 ounces

1 Can of 7-Up - 12 ounces

Tequila - 12 ounces. I find using the empty can of Limeade after you empty it, is most useful.

Put ice in a cup and ENJOY!!!

Lechon: Philippines’ Favorite Delicacy

http://www.philippinesinsider.com/philippines/filipino-cuisine/

Lechon is a Spanish word meaning “suckling pig”. In the Philippines, Lechon always means a whole roasted pig commonly known as Lechon Baboy. Beef and chicken are also popular as lechon commonly known as Lechon Baka and Lechon Manok, respectively.

The method of cooking the lechon is that the whole pig is roasted slowly over live charcoal. This method is also similar to the way the Chinese Peking duck or the Balines Guling celeng is cooked. The tedious method of long-hours roasting the whole pig leaves the meat very tender inside and a crispy skin outside.

The lechon is a popular dish in any of the festivities in the Philippines such as fiestas, holiday seasons, and special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and other family gatherings. It is said that celebrations are not complete without the lechon as the table’s centerpiece. It is always served with a liver-based sauce making it more tasteful and delicious.

The lechon kawali is another version of lechon in the Philippines. The method of cooking includes boiling the pieces of pork first then fry till it turns into golden brown.

The leftover lechon is recycled in the Philippines. It is easily turned into another delicious dish called Lechon Paksiw.

In Manila, Philippines, La Loma is the popular place where one can buy the delicious lechon. Many food establishments are selling it throughout the year in this area.

Cebu City, Philippines is famous for cooking the mouthwatering lechon. Other regions in the Philippines have their own way to cook lechon but the ones from Cebu City are the favorite. The lechons are air-shipped from Cebu City to different food establishments throughout the Philippines.

The lechon in Cebu City has its own distinctive taste that is why it is the Filipinos’ favorite. Cooking lechon is very simple but arduous.

A whole pig is cleaned very well, taking the pig’s internal organs out at the belly’s opening. After cleaning, seasonings are stuffed into the pig’s stomach such as garlic, onions, soy sauce, lemongrass, salt, and monosodium glutamate. The measurements of the seasonings are according to the desired taste.

When the seasonings are all stuffed in, the pig’s stomach is stitched to keep the seasonings from spilling out. The whole pig is impaled on a clean bamboo pole like a barbecue. The pig is then bathed in soy sauce and roasted over live charcoal.

The average time for roasting the pig is about two hours. When it is cooked, the pig is now turned into a lechon. A crispy and juicy lechon can really satisfy your appetite.

Pinoy commands US navy base in Florida

By Rodney J. Jaleco Aug 21st, 2008

MILTON, Florida = Naval Air Station Whiting Field mirrors a typical American mid-size town – homes, offices, parks and other amenities to sustain 3,800 people. But it also hosts 120 planes and 150 helicopters of the US Navy. The man charged with keeping this large community and everything in it, is Navy Capt. Enrique “Rick” Sadsad, a 51-year-old Olongapo City native, who rose from the ranks to become one the highest ranking Filipino-Americans in the US Navy.

Whiting Field, about 30 minutes away from Pensacola, is the US Navy’s premier basic flight school. A sign on the entrance of a classroom building says it all – “Through these doors pass the future of naval aviation”.

“At Whiting Field we train navy, air force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps to be pilots, naval aviators,” Capt. Sadsad explained. Students include those sent by America’s allies, including a few from the Philippine Navy and Air Force.

“We have the fixed wing part, which are three VT (training) squadrons. They do the primary part of training. Once they finish that, they choose whether to go to jets or helicopters. If they select helicopters they stay at Whiting Field until they earn their wings. The rest of them will go either to Mississippi or Texas to continue their jet training,” he elaborated.

Capt. Sadsad is a naval aviator himself, and commanded one of the training squadrons, VT-4, at Whiting Field in 2001. The unit was named best Navy Primary Training Squadron during his tenure.

He has received numerous awards and decorations, in a career that’s already spanned over 30 years.

Capt. Sadsad grew up in the East Tapinot district of Olongapo, a city then dominated by Subic Naval Base. But it was the collective influence of three uncles who were already in the US Navy that pushed him to follow the same path. He was already working as a helicopter technician at the Philippine Aerospace Dev’t Corp. in Pasay City when he passed the entrance tests and joined the US Navy at age 21.

“This was when there was still this agreement for the US to recruit so-many Filipinos for the US Navy,” he averred.

He reported to “boot camp” in San Diego then to the Aviation Training School in Tennessee. His first assignment was as a jet mechanic with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 10. He later qualified as a search and rescue swimmer.

At the start of 1990, there were more than 19,000 Filipinos in the enlisted ranks of the US Navy, representing nearly four percent of its total force. They all have their tales of how they overcome discrimination and other barriers. Capt. Sadsad described his shock when he was ordered to clean toilets even after the US Navy had already trained him to fix its fighter jets. But he took it and endured, he says.

“Went to school at night, went to school on weekends and got my degree in aviation management (at the Southern Illinois University),” he averred. He was later accepted in the Aviation Officer Candidate School, received his commission as an Ensign, and immediately went to flight school.

Capt. Sadsad flew aboard P-3 Orion “submarine hunters” and later qualified as an instructor. In between missions, he was able to earn a Masters degree in Business Organizational Management from the University of La Verne.

In 1992, he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, occupying various positions, including as anti-air/anti-surface warfare weapons coordinator and tactical action officer. Those duties, he says in civilian jargon, meant he was basically in charge of defending the flattop.

He was designated Commander Patrol Wings of the US Pacific Fleet and OIC of Naval Air Station North Island in California.

In 1996, Capt. Sadsad became aircraft maintenance officer for Patrol Squadron 47 in Hawaii, and later became Head Enlisted Community Manager under the Chief of Naval Operations Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division in Washington DC.

This was followed by command of VT-4 in Whiting Field. In 2003, he was made executive and operations officer of Fleet Air Keflavik in Iceland. Two years later, he was designated chief 6th Fleet liaison officer with NATO Strike and Support Forces in Naples, Italy.

“In my last year in Naples I was working as chief of staff of Maritime Air Naples. I was basically responsible for the command and control of all maritime patrol aircraft in southern Europe,” he explained.

In 1989, there were only 588 Fil-Am officers in the US Navy. By 1992, this has grown to 653 – nearly half of all ethnic Asian naval officers. They were composed of 14 Captains, 46 Commanders (who included Cmdr. Tem Bugarin, the first Fil-Am to command his own ship, the tank landing ship USS Saginaw), 89 Lieutenant-Commanders and 414 junior officers. That number has swelled as second-generation Fil-Ams, especially those who graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, rise up the command ladder.

Capt. Sadsad has cut his own trail up the ranks of the US Navy. “There was a time Filipinos were not allowed to do any other ratings except steward-type ratings. By the time I got in the Navy had opened up the ratings. I was able to become a jet mechanic and when I finally got my citizenship and my college degree, that opened a lot of doors for me,” he explained.

“I attribute a lot of where I am now to a desire to get advanced education, and I guess, just to do your job and do it well,” he declares.

We asked if he had a formula for success. “A lot of perseverance,” he replied, “and a lot of luck”.

Capt. Sadsad, his friends say, still has crack at being admiral. The US military has a complicated system of setting mandatory retirement, which can be as late as 62 years old. At the senior level, retirement is often dictated by the Pentagon’s policy of attrition.

If he does accomplish this truly impressive feat, he won’t be the first, however. Eleanor “Connie” Mariano joined the US Navy in 1981 and served as chief physician in the White House during the Bush and Clinton administrations. For her services, President Clinton promoted her to the rank of Rear Admiral before she retired from the service.

But Capt. Sadsad could be the first Fil-Am “from the line”, someone from Olongapo who rose from the ranks to reach such a lofty post.

Gratitude

By Carole Tarantino

Sometimes I am so amazed when something like this crosses my path and I have had the experience. On my way back from Pohnpei this summer, we had a few days layover in Honolulu at a nice hotel to de-compress, and our hotel had many, many soldiers, men and women, in transit, just coming back, and on their way over. One morning I rode the elevator down with a tall gentlemen in fatigues, and as we stepped out of the elevator, me first, I turned to him and wished him God's blessings and safety wherever he might be. His face showed bewilderment at first, then a smile, and I swear his eyes were misty as I smiled and walked away. How many times have I passed a person in uniform and felt too awkward to express my appreciation, regardless of the political posture? Many times, for sure. And I use this expression that shows love in my heart for another when I have not been allowed to speak to the defendant. No one ever stopped me from this expression.

It’s easy to just say thank you.

Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how, or it felt awkward?

A gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used to express your thanks and has started a movement to get the word out.

Please everybody take just a moment to watch..... The Gratitude Campaign ...and then forward it to your friends! THEN START USING THE SIGN.


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re: Gratitude
By Dennis Wharton

Last summer I was at a restaurant on the Jersey Shore with my Mom and my, at the time, 91 year old Aunt.

Sitting at a table to our right was a couple who looked to be in their mid 60's or so. The woman was wearing a Marine Corps jacket.

I asked her who was in the Marine's. She told me she was, during Vietnam. I asked her, jokingly, if she was called a BAM (Broad Assed Marine).

That started a fun conversation. Her husband was a Korean Army vet. She asked about me, and I told her I was in the Army during Vietnam, but, that my Aunt had been a Navy Wave (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from Nov 1943 to Dec 1945.

She got up, came over to our table, kissed my Aunt on the cheek and thanked her for her service. They were from Texas, visiting relatives in New Jersey. They left before we did, since my Mom and my Aunt wanted desert.

When I ordered, the waitress told me there was no charge because the couple who left paid for our desert. A special day.

Dennis
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re: Gratitude
By Herm Valenzuela

Nice vignette, Dennis, worthy to be read in the Post-Op section of the Saturday Evening Post. There is always a camaraderie when veterans meet out of state and strangers become friends even for a few minutes. However, some civilians don't care whether you served in the military or not.

Last Sunday I visited my cousin-in-law in Metuchen, N.J. I took the NJ Transit from MSG; I was late for the next trip so, I rushed in w/o a ticket and waited for the conductor to issue one which meant I have to pay for the whole fare plus a surcharge but not if one has a disability (half price- NJT rule). So, I showed my U.S.Veteran's disability card but the conductor informed me that N.J. Transit does not recognized a U.S.Veteran's card even it shows that I have a 30% service-connected disability. Not that I do not wish to pay full fare price but I was sticking to their rules. Finally, I took off my baseball cap to show the conductor that I'm a senior citizen and eligible for a half fare.

FYI: An active duty servicemen's or officer's service I.D. card is not recognized or accepted as a means of identification in any U.S. Post Office- go check it up. I "boil" inside me to the point of crying when I see this sign posted.

Herm
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re: Gratitude
By Zack Chavez

My 27 + years in the Coast Guard gave me the opportunity to see lots of places. In my younger days I did a lot of bar-hopping with fellow Coasties, and those were the times when being in the military made you feel welcome just about anywhere. We all felt proud and safe to wear our monkey suits when going on liberty. I remember a good bar to go was Stick-N-Rudder outside the US Coast Air Station in St Pete, FLA, and we frequented the place (that was before I met Louise). After hitting our favorite places downtown, we would end up at the Stick-N-Rudder for a one-for-the-road, and almost always, there would be a friendly guy at the end of the bar who would buy us all a drink and would always be willing to propose a toast to honor us servicemen. But those days are over.

Batan Island, Philipiines 1965, I was on isolated duty tour with about 20 Coast Guard crewmembers operating a LORAN station in support of our Air Force and Naval forces in Asia. It was intensive work when I was on duty, but liberty was a lot of fun. The nearby friendly town of Itbud always welcomed the visit from the Americans and me, the only Filipino in the group. We would bring several cases of San Miguel Beer when we visited town on weekends. The villagers would always have a feast for us, we provided the beer, they provided the food, the music, the dancing girls, and the local wine Paluk. We had to be back to the station by midnight per CO's instructions but we weren't concerned. The villagers always had a free 'taxi service' that would bring us back before liberty expired. It was a wooden cart pulled by a carabao. The Coasties who overindulged didn't have to worry because they knew the Itbud villagers would make sure they got back to the station before midnight. My isolated duty tour at Batan was not so isolated at all in the sense that the local villagers made us feel welcome and they seemed to understand we where there to accomplish a mission that agreed with their political beliefs.

Zack

Ghandhism

By Celia White

A must read for parents

Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story:

“I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced.

When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, ‘I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.’

After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00.

He anxiously asked me, ‘Why were you late?’

I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, ‘The car wasn’t ready, so I had to wait,’ not realizing that he had already called the garage.

When he caught me in the lie, he said: ‘There’s something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn’t give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I’m going to walk home 18 miles and think about it.’ So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads.

I couldn’t leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again.

I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don’t think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday.

That is the power of non-violence.

Noong araw. . .

By Celia White

Panciteria Moderna was the place to go for pancit miki and miki bihon already wrapped in their version of 'tetra pak' (banana leaves on wrapping paper tied with a rubber band). Pancit bihon was the specialty of Panciteria Wa Nam .. Kung gusto mo naman ng chopsuey rice doon ka sa Hen Wah, tabi ng Avenue Theatre. At sa Ma Mon Luk, siopao was at 30 centavos; mami was at 70 centavos or 2 pcs. of siomai (large) with unlimited soup for 30 centavos.. So with one peso busog ka na. Ngayon bigay mo piso sa pulubi, titignan ka pa ng masama. The Shangri-la in the basement of Shelborne Hotel (at the back) was the place to go for dates if you wanted a dark and cozy atmosphere. The Black Angel along Shaw Blvd near the corner of Kalentong in Mandaluyong was a very good place to listen to soft music (Fleetwoods, Lettermen, Cascades) and the lights were also quite low.. Then with the introduction of the 'black light' you look like Dracula about to devour a beautiful victim. Kaya lang pag may pustiso ka itim ang labas kaya mukhang kenkoy ka. So do not dare to smile. With Php 30.00- 50.00 in your pocket you were in pretty good shape for a date. 'Bakuran' was the in-thing at parties with 'screening' from a friend to assist you in getting a dance with a girl who was very sought after. Wack-Wack, the Sky Room in Jai-Alai, the penthouse at the Rufino Bldg. as well as Capri at the Sarmiento Bldg right opposite it were the favorite places for proms and balls. Sikat ang event if the DynaSouls (dubbed the Beatles of the Philippines), The Tilt Down Men (the Sotto brothers, Tito, & Val, favored the Dave Clark 5), Hi-Jacks, the Electromaniacs (later Electros) or the Bad Habits was the 'combo' playing.&n bsp; Other popular bands then were the Bits and Pieces ( after the Dave Clark 5 hit), Purple People, Versatiles (remember the late Bobby Lim), Technicolors (whose drummer Tony Tuviera is now the producer of Eat Bulaga), Red Fox (forerunner of Hotdog), Jungle Cats, Glenmores, Robins, Crystals , Phantoms, and the Downbeats (where most of the Juan de la Cruz band came from notably Pepe Smith or Joey Smith then). What about gate crashing a 'Tipar' (for party) and the ensuing rumble between feuding barkadas: Havocs, Combat, Axis, Amboys, Mobs & Exotics, meron pang kanya-kanyang busina (car honking ID)... Remember BMI (Baguio Military Institute)? That school was a dumping ground for kicked out students from Manila and kids that needed discipline. Let us not forget ang mga taga 'Baste' (San Sebastian). Ang daming siga noong araw. Alta Vista along Roxas Blvd. was the favorite place for wedding receptions at Php 8.50 per cover! Ngayon, kulang pang pambayad ito sa parking fee. Special ringside seats for performances at the Araneta Coliseum were at P5.00 per. So with P20.00 you could safely invite someone and still have enough for a snack afterwards or a game of 'putt and putt' at the mini-golf place located at the back of Araneta. Among the more popular celebrities who performed at the Big Dome were Neil Sedaka, Anita Bryant, Teddy Randazzo, Nat King Cole, Jo Ann Campbell, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Matt Monro, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Dave Clark 5, Zombies, Peter and Gordon and many many more. Noon 5 centavos sa mga bata at 10 centavos naman para sa matatanda ang bayad sa jeep. Manila and Suburbs ang lahat ng biyahe ng jeep noon na 3 seater lang (AC ang tawag nila dito) at talagang Upong Diyes lang ang sigaw ng driver. Sa Avenida Rizal at Sta. Cruz, Blumentritt, Tayuman, Es piritu Santo Church , Grace Park, Pasay-Taft, Dakota - Harrison, Paco-Taft, Sta. Ana Tulay at BBB-Monumento ang mga sikat na lugar. Did you get an opportunity to ride the G-Liner from San Juan to Quiapo? It would crawl up to the corner of N. Doming to pick up passengers. That's why we called it Gapang Liner. Gas was very cheap then and they can afford to keep the motor running for 2 hours at a snail's pace. Gasoline prices then were at 25 centavos per liter and there were only two types of gas; Premium or Regular.. Caltex called their premium 'Boron' as advertised by that multi-colored dancing lights on top of the old San Miguel Ice Plant. Near those dancing lights was the big white kettle pouring hot chocolate on a giant cup. It was sponsored by Cocoa Ricoa. Esso named theirs Extra to 'put a Tiger in your tank'. Yung Good Earth Emporium pwede ring idagdag sa mga magagandang shopping mall noong araw. Yung Manila Grand Opera house, Clover, Odeon, Roxan, Hollywood , Cinerama, Avenue, Universal, Dalisay, Ever, Galaxy, Ideal, State, Lyric, Capitol ang mga sikat na 'first run' na sinehan noon. Movie tickets were selling at P1.20 and P1.50 kung Advanced Roadshow (meaning kasabay sa international release) . Kung medyo nagtitipid ka naman doon ka na lang sa 'second run' theatres for P0.85 lang double program pa mapapanood mo. Remember those second run theatres like Main , Times, Society, Scala, Globe, Esquire, Vista, Republic, Mayfair , and Palace. Pero iyong last two theatres e medyo notorious sa mga 'singit' where they show the 'censored' portions of the movie. These two theatres also showed the early foreign 'bomba' films, or skin flicks. Bodavil was still a hit during the early 50s where Opera House featured the Lopito, Patsy, the Lou Salvador clan, Toto, Chichay, Ike Lozada, Pabo, Cachupoy etc. while Clover Theatre featured Pilita Corrales, Wing Duo, Reycard Duet, Bobby Gonzales, Sunday Contreras (anak ni Pugo), Eddie Mesa, Pugak & Tugak, Chuchi, Aruray, Doro & Popoy.. Did you know that German Moreno started as a utility man at Clover Theatre and did bit parts until he was discovered later on by Sampaguita Pictures. Sa Q.C ay sikat yung Max's Chicken, Aristocrat Cubao at Dayrit. Ang dollar rate noon ay P3.70/1$ ang palitan. Kung medyo kapos ka e takbo muna kay Tambunting or A. Aguirre pawnshop. Ang Cosmos Sarsaparilla ay 5 centavos at 10 Centavos ang Coke at Pepsi. Mayroon din Cosmos Orange kung ayaw mo ng Sarsi. Kung may extra ka e di Royal Tru-Orange na. Pero sikat din yung 7-Up, Lem-O-Lime , Canada Dry, Uva at Bireley's strawberry and pineapple. Kalaban ng Cosmos noon ay Ideal at Avenue softdrinks. Remember Fress Gusto, Yes Cola, Grassland Milk, Choco Vim. Pag may sakit ka naman pinapa-inom lang sa iyo RoyalSoda Water at soda crackers. Kaya naman pag galing natin e takbo kaagad sa intsik (yun ang tawag natin sa kanilang sari-sari store noon bago sila nag diversify sa mga malls, transport, food production) at bili ng Coke and junk foods. Pag Pasko madalas kami sa Sta Cruz para manood ng palabas sa Manila COD para sa Xmas season. Mas magaganda ang mga palabas pag Christmas kasi wala pang Metro Manila Film Fest noon kaya lahat ng sinehan pagandahan ng pelikula. Noon wala pang Chippy at nachos, ang merienda ay banana cue, camote que, palitaw, biko, pinipig, halo-halo, carioca, pilipit, butsi, hopiang hapon, hopiang munggo, hopiang baboy, bibingka, puto, cassava, cake o budin, suman at mani. Ang mansanas ay apat-piso ang benta sa Lawton Bus terminal at sa Avenida. Mas mahal pa yung local na chico na pineras. Ang grapes, pear, at apple ang karaniwang binebenta sa mga bus terminal na papuntang south (BLTB). Ang bus noon ay bukas lahat yung isang side kaya doon dumadaan ang mga pasahero. Puwede ka rin bumili nito sa Echague (now C. Palanca) tapos bili ka na rin ng hopia at mani. Mga sikat noon ay Kim Chong Tin at United Foods. Dito din nakakabili ng Chinese ham na por kilo or isang buo na nakabalot pa sa papel at plastic net. Ang sikat na mga Plaza noon ay Plaza Goiti, Plaza Miranda at Plaza Sta. Cruz. Huwag kalimutan ang Barbecue Plaza na may "Pula-Puti" at beer. Sa mga bakery sa Manila ay sikat yung Herran Bakery, Jo- Ni's, Hizon's (favorite ni Dolphy kahit noon pa), Sta. Romana Bakery. Remember Halili Beer (baka sa mga lolo ni Katrina ito) , Tody chocolate drink in cans, Horlicks malted milk tablets; Halili (baka kila Katrina din ito) bus, Super (dog logo) Transit, Yujuico, JD & MD buses; MM Liner, Medina Transit, Capistrano Transit, Pantranco, La Mallorca Pambusco buses and taxis, Golden Taxicab and Yellow Taxicab, Dollar Taxi. Your favorite past time then was reading comics like Pilipino Komiks, Espesyal Komiks, Hiwaga Klasiks, Kenkoy Komiks. Kung medyo class ka naman binabasa mo mga Classics Illustrated (sometimes we get our book report from these comic books instead of reading the assigned novel) o kaya ay Tiktik. Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics from the US were also available at magazine stands. ShoeMart started in Carriedo (the first SM was named Shoe World) followed by the 2nd ShoeMart beside Ideal Theater and then SM Echague with a revolving restaurant at the top floor. Safari Club beside Manila Zoo at the height of the 'Twist' craze, Dance-O-Rama with Pete Roa & Baby O'Brien every 5 PM on Channel 5. If you wanted an earlier teeny bopper show, you watched Eddie Mercado in DJ Dancetime on Channel 11. Siyempre naman pag Friday, Nite Owl Dance Party hosted by Lito Gorospe, featuring the Celtics. Another delight to watch was 9-Teeners hosted by Jose Mari Chan, Rom Azanza and Tito Osias (all Ateneans) on Channel 9. Sampaguita was first seen as a cage dancer at 9 Teeners. Her real name is Tessie Alfonso. She got married to Nilo Santos of the Jungle Cats. Jeanne Young also hosted another teeny bopper show called The Insiders which guested the more popular combos at that time. Siyempre sikat pa rin ang Student Canteen pag tanghali followed by Darigold Jamboree, hosted by Leila Benitez with Eddie Ilarde and Pepe Pimentel and Bobby Ledesma. Sa primetime naman nandoon ang The Big Show nila Cris de Vera, Oscar Obliga cion a t Sylvia La Torre. Then it evolved into Oras ng Ligaya when it migrated to ABS-CBN. Remember Uncle Bob's Lucky 7 Club. Who would forget Buhay Artista starring Dolphy and Panchito and a take off of a popular radio program Sebya Mahal Kita, Tang Tarang Tang with Pugo and Bentot on the lead. Sa radio naman siyempre ang Kapitan Kidlat, Kwentong Kutsero, Gabi ng Lagim, Salamat Po Doctor, Lola Basyang and of course Kahapon Lamang and Tia Dely's program which followed. Konti pa lang may TV set noon kaya sikat ka sa kalye niyo pag mayroon ka ng television at minsan SRO pa nga pag basketball (Yco, Ysmael, Utex, 7-UP) Now anyone who missed those days can't really claim they've seen and tasted the best. Every generation has its own set of 'Aces'. Do you recall when: You tasted Darigold Evap, Liberty Condensada, Sunkist Orange (in tetra packs), Magnolia Chocolait, Klim (the word 'milk' spelled backwards), Big 20 Hamburgers, Foot-long hotdog, Nectar choconut, Tweet & Jiggs Candies (by Mr. Krieger), Tootsie Roll, Serg' s Chocolate, kerosene-flavored popcorn and kropeck along Dewey Blvd, dirty ice cream, Magnolia Ice Cream sandwich, Selecta ice cream (now Arce Dairy) and their fresh carabao's milk, Magnolia popsicles in orange, chocolate and tutti frutti, langka flavors, Sison Ice Drop in monggo, and buko flavors, Milky Way's buko sherbet, Acme Supermarket' s sundaes and Coney Island 's 32 flavors? You went to: Arcegas at the Maranaw Arcade, Funhouse at Bricktown, Aguinaldo, Erehwon Bookstore, Alemars Bookstore, Bookmark, Botica Boie, Makati Supermarket D'Bankers Barbershop and Leila's Coffee Shop, Tropical Hut along Estrada, Acme Supermarket, Cherry Supermarket (now Foodarama), The Regent of Manila, Hotel Mabuhay, Manila Hilton, Christmas carnival (at Lawton in front of Letran College), Villa Pansol and Lido Beach, Aroma Beach and Jale Beach? Rizal what? 'Who would be crazy to build a cinema in the middle of nowhere?' It turned out to be the best theater in the city of Makati then (at the same site now occupied by Shangri-La Hotel). We ate at: The original A&W along UN Avenue in Manila , Aristocrat's Flying Saucer (across Malate Church), Bonanza Restaurant, Little Quiapo, Country Bake Shop, Selecta Restaurant, Taza de Oro, New Europe, Madrid , Cucina Italiana, La Cibeles at A. Mabini, Luau, The Makati Automat, Sulo Restaurant ( Makati ), Bulakena, Casa Marcos, Au Bon Vivant, Salambao Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Di Mark's Pizza in Cubao, the elegant dining room of the old Army & Navy Club. Botica Boie in Escolta, Alba's in Florida St., Malate, Brown Derby and their signature foot-long hotdog came with its special, extra tarty mustard sauce and a hot, crispy bun. We used to park at their drive-in bays after we were exhausted from all-night partying but with enough energy to gobble down sausages and soft drinks. The Plaza was the favorite venue for all formal school and social functions. Every Friday night the Plaza became an instant disco-teque called 'POW'. Food was not a big factor so long as cozy couples could have their special table for two. You shopped at: Bergs, Soriente Santos, Assanda's, Oceanic Commercial (where you bought original watches and jewelries), Syvel's, Walk-Over in Escolta, Good Earth Emporium, 15c and Up, Manila COD, Avesco at A venida Rizal, Rustan's San Marcelino, Aguinaldo's in Cubao. The original Rustan's was the garage of the Tantoco's residential house which was eventually converted into a dazzling shop filled with eclectic things and collectibles. You would want your wardrobes (pang-porma) tailor-made. So you went to RM Manlapat, Toppers, Fifth Avenue, Estacio's, Sleek's (owned by Eddie Ilarde) or D'Sharp (owned by Dolphy) for your Continental style pants and shirt-jack (Marcos loved this style) or the sleeve shirt. If you wanted a groovy denim pants, you would buy the finest denim material at Divisoria and brought it to Gulapa's. Levi's was not a by-word then. For school uniforms, we would love to wear our khaki pants from the famous RTW shop called Macomber in Quiapo. Or, our parents would just buy us a pair of Sabur or Savalbarro khakis. When it came to footwear, siyempre mas maganda pasadya especially when you want a good Chuka Boots, Spanish Boots or Beatles Boots. You went to Glenmore or Camara shoe makers. Pag casual naman siyempre US Keds, pero kung medyo low budget lang e puwede na rin ang US Kids. For sports shoes you would want a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor, and if you were on a low budget you bought Custombuilt or Edwardson. But if you wanted to float on water (as the advertisement claimed) you wore Marcelo Rubber Shoes black! Yan ang sinusuot ni Kenkoy. Blockbuster movies were: The Ten Commandments, Shane, High Noon, King and I, South Pacific, Horrors of Dracula, Gunfight at OK Corral, Psycho, House on Haunted Hill, Magnificent Seven, The Alamo, Spartacus, West Side Story, Ben Hur, Longest Day, Madame X, Guns of Navarone, King of Kings, El Cid, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Birds, Elvis' movies like Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Blue Hawaii , GI Blues, and the Beatles' Hard Days Night, Help, Yellow S ubmarine, The Graduate, Romeo and Juliet and of course the ever popular The Sound of Music. You had your hair styled or permed by: Nomer's, Lita Rio, Grace Lagman, Dick & Lucy, and Kayumanggi. That was the time of Aqua Net stiff, foot-high beehives, French twist and Kiss Me liquid eyeliners and Pretty Quik instant facial blotters. You sang: Dont Be Cruel and Hound Dog by Elvis, April Love by Pat Boone, Fool's Paradise by Buddy Holly, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby by Jo Ann Campbell, Devoted to You by the Everly Brothers, Someday by Ricky Nelson, One More Chance by Teddy Randazzo, Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka, Puppy Love by Paul Anka, Young Ones by Cliff Richard, Walk Dont Run by The Ventures, Apache by the Shadows, A Hard Days Night, All My Lovin, Yesterday, Hey Jude by the Beatles, WorldWithout Love by Peter and Gordon, Cherish by the Association, Because by Dave Clark Five, Distant Shores by Chad and Jeremy. Saved your whole month's allowance of P50.00 to watch the Beatles perform live at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in 1966 (July 4). It was hip to listen to: Bingo Lacson, Lito Gorospe, Bong Lapira, Eddie Mercado, Jack Henson, Art Galindez of DZMB and Jo San Diego (past midnight) of DZMT, Sonia Basa, Ronnie Quintos, Naldy Castro of DZWS, Harry Gasser, Joe Cantada and Jose Mari Velez of DZHP; the singing sensations from Ateneo de Manila, RJ and the Riots, The Loonilarks, Jose Mari Chan and the Twofus (Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes) and dance to live combo music garbed in cocktail dresses and dark suits. DZMT was affiliated with the Manila Times and was one of two radio stations operating after 12 midnight... The other station was DZHP whose program was taped. Jo San Diego of DZMT went on live (she with the velvety bedroom voice. She could still be heard today at DWBR every Sunday afternoons). And danced at: Manila Hotel's Jungle Bar, Stargazer, Bayside Night Club (with live music by the Carding Cruz band), the Nile, D'Flame, Rino's, Wells Fargo, Nautilus, Hi-Ball and Bulakena. Or, maybe rode a Motorco with your date and went around Dewey Boulevard. When you got hungry you would drop by the Barbecue Plaza. You tried your luck at the Pula-Puti joint in Russell Street. Do you remember when: Malate streets were named after US States (Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Carolina, etc.); Paranaque , San Juan, Makati, Pasig, Las Pinas, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa were municipalities of Rizal province; DLSU was De La Salle College, Poveda was Institucion Teresiana, Adamson University was the original St. Theresa's campus in San Marcelino, Robinsons Mall was the Assumption Convent campus, Petron was Esso, Villamor Air Base was then known as Nichols Air Base, bancas were aplenty in the Baclaran side of Dewey Blvd. (now Roxas Blvd.) and traffic was non-existent in Tagaytay. PLDT telephone numbers were five digits and you used your index finger to dial a number one at a time. Sikat ka sa barkada kung may 'syota' kang 'Colegiala' (Assumption, STC, St. Scho, Maryknoll, Holy Spirit, St. Paul 's, St. Joseph's , Sienna, PWU, Sta. Isabel). Siyempre hindi rin naman papahuli ang mga coeds natin from UP, UST, UE and FEU. As proof, you should be wearing her high school ring in your pinkie finger. If you remember all these things, you're history in great company and I dare say......... ......... HAPPY TO BE !!! : )

My Eagle Eye Helicopter

Last year on my birthday my son Carl who lives in Brazil was visiting with us and he gave me a present, a toy he bought from Target for $40. It was an Airhog Havoc Remote Control (R/C) helicopter. It was designed to fly indoors only so I flew it in our living room and family room. One problem was it was difficult to control and several times, I crashed into Louise’s houseplants causing damage to the plants and also to my toy. Luckily, it came with several spare rotor blades so I was able to make repairs for a while. I played with it for several weeks, then after one hard crash, it was totally unrepairable. The fun I had playing with this toy was worth $40.

I missed my Airhog helicopter. I searched the Internet for a replacement and found a bigger model that would also fly outdoors, the Art Tech Eagle Eye. It features an on-board video camera system that allows you to record what the helicopter ‘sees’ while airborne. The video signal is transmitted to a receiver on the ground where the video is recorded on my laptop’s hard drive. It was Christmastime 2008. I bought me a Christmas present.

It didn’t take me long to learn how to fly the Eagle Eye. After about two weeks of training in my garage I was ready to fly it outdoors. I have room in our backyard to fly it. Tekka, our family dog likes to join the fun when I fly my helicopter in our backyard.

'Tis History

By Celia White

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.........if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor" But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...........they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . .. . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouqu et when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip an and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thres h (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not20get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer...

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !

Quirky Queries for the Inquisitive Person

By Celia White

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of murdered?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, are you eternally stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons does morality come from morons?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

And some anagrams..

DORMITORY
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

MOTHER-IN-LAW
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

SNOOZE ALARMS
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z'S

A DECIMAL POINT
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

CELIA WHITE
When you rearrange the letters:
I HEAL TWICE
WE EAT CHILI

Maturity Matters!

By Celia White

Some sage words for those who believe that growing old is a serious impediment…….

“An adult with a capacity for true maturity is one who has grown out of childhood without losing childhood„ his best traits has retained the basic emotional strengths of infancy, the stubborn autonomy of toddlerhood, the capacity for wonder and pleasure and playfulness of the pre-school years, and the idealism and passion of adolescence and has incorporated these into a new pattern of simplicity dominated by adult stability, wisdom, knowledge, sensitivity to other people, responsibility, strength and purpose.”

Stone and Church, 1973

With luck we will ALL attain maturity some day – remember though it’s all about how we do the journey not just getting to the destination!

Herm added these gems:

Maturity leads to old age. So, here's some aphorisms on aging:

Colette (French author):

You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the surest way of not growing old too quickly.

James Russell Lowell:

As life runs on, the road grows strange
With faces new,- and near the end
The milestones into headstone change,
'neath every one a friend.

O.Wendell Holmes:

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more
cheerful than to be forty years old.

John Barrymore:

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.

Maurice Chevalier:

Old age isn't too bad when you consider the alternative.

C. May Harris (U.S. Author):

A woman would rather visit her own grave than the place where she has been young and beautiful after she is aged and ugly.

Bob Hope:

I don't generally feel anything until noon, then it's time for my nap.

Rochefoucauld (French writer):

Old people love to give advise to console themselves for no longer being able to set a bad example.

H.W. Longfellow:

Age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
Whatever poet, orator or sage
May say of it, old age is still old age.

Groucho Marx:

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.

G.B. Shaw:

Old men are dangerous: It doesn't matter to them what is going to happen to the world.

Margareth Meade:

If you associate enough with older people who do enjoy their lives, who are not stored away in any golden ghettos, you will gain a sense of continuity and of the possibility for a full life.

Eric Hofer (U.S. philosopher):

The best part of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.

G.C. Lichtenberg (German philosopher):

Nothing makes one grow old so quickly as the ever-present thought that one is growing old.

Andre Maurois (French critic):

Growing old is more than a bad habit which a busy man has no time to form.

And finally from Robert Browning:

"Come grow old with me The best is yet to be!"

The Song of Ruth

By Dr. Herm Valenzuela

I was a medical resident at the Albert Einstein M.C. and rotated to the Bronx-Lebanon Hospitals where I met "David" & "Lydia," retired from work, as my patients. They were old and fragile as I remember, survivors of the Holocaust as indicated by the tattoed numbers in their forearms. They may have met in The Exodus, the ship that ferried hundreds of Jews to Palestine.

Then David & Lydia got married and immigrated to New York. They told me that the Liberty Statue was the most beautiful lady they ever saw. They even knew that a poem was written there by Emma Lazarus. They lived in the Morrisiana section of the Bronx for years at Jerome Avenue where an elevated train runs.

David and Lydia had no child as they were a victim of the Nazi "experiments." David worked at a bakery and Lydia as a seamstress till their fingers were deformed by arthritis and their eye sights were failing them so they retired. They did not have any medical insurance and was relying on Medicare.

While at home they were beset by thugs and goons who would beat them up on the side streets, up the 3rd floor walk-up stairs for the little cash that they have. Their black & white T.V was even stolen and the mail-box robbed off their SS checks- constantly. How it was cashed I did not know and the Dept. of H.E.W took too long to issue a new one. Their Synagogue would helped them with food and warm clothes and coats for the Winter and the Rabii would constantly advised them to moved to a nursing home but David & Lydia refused- the spartan apartment where they lived was their home.

Finally, they gave up probably not the living but the jungle that was Bronx, New York. David shot-off the heater, layed down with his wife on their neat bed and slept. The police found their hands clasped tightly as if death shall not do them apart!

"Wither thou goest I will go;
Wher'er you stayest I will stay.
Your people shall be my people;
Your house will be my home!"

I am sure there are a few life stories like David & Lydia's among the squatters along and below the EDSA overpass. But it is not where you go in life, it's who you have beside you that matters.

Couple's love spans 75 years

By John Johnston
jjohnston@enquirer.com

It was a small ceremony attended by only a few family members and friends. They gathered on a Tuesday in the priest's parlor at St. Boniface in Northside and listened to a young couple recite their wedding vows.

To have and to hold, from this day forward...

"They wouldn't let us in church," recalls the former Thelma Wiesman, who was the bride that day.

Walter Shroyer, the groom, wasn't Catholic, although he later converted.

"That's a long time ago," Thelma says.

Seventy-five years.

She was 18 and Walter was 19 when they married on Aug. 11, 1934. Now 93 and 94, they will mark a milestone Tuesday that few others attain.

They're sitting on the patio of their buff brick home in Colerain Township, enjoying a summer breeze and eyeing Walter's large garden in the distance. Its dozens of tomato plants are beginning to produce plump, juicy fruit.

Walter thinks back to the fall of 1933. He was working part-time as a waiter at the Graystone Ballroom in Music Hall when he spotted an auburn-haired hat-check girl.

Thelma.

"I think I fell in love with her the minute I saw her," he says.

"I asked to take her home one night. She agreed. I think she thought I had a car. But I didn't, so I had to take her home (to Northside) on a street car."

They had few luxuries. The nation was mired in the depths of the Depression. Unemployment in Cincinnati was at 30 percent. By 1934, the year the Shroyers married, unemployment was 25 percent and only 62 percent of local workers had full-time jobs.

For richer, for poorer...

"My mother and father didn't have anything," Thelma says. "His mother and father didn't have anything.

"In other words, we were poor."

Relatives treated the newlyweds to dinner on their wedding night. The family then gathered and quaffed a keg of beer.

The next morning, "I went to the grocery store a half square up," Walter says, "and bought two eggs, 5 cents apiece, and brought 'em home for our breakfast."

Their first home was a third-floor, two-room apartment in Northside. Rent was $10 a month. "But we didn't have any heat. When cold weather started coming, we had to move out," Walter says. They found a place for $13 a month, heat included.

Walter eventually got a job at Formica. He was a senior account representative when he retired in 1978. For years, he also supplemented the family income by working Saturdays at a nursery.

For better, for worse...

Thelma says the happiest days of her married life were when she welcomed their children into the world. The couple had four: Walter Jr., Mary Lou, Margie and Jane.

Perhaps the saddest day was when they lost one. Margie was 48 years old when one of her sons came home and found her in a chair, dead of an aneurysm.

It happened 20 years ago, but Thelma's eyes water and her voice cracks when she thinks about it.

"You're not supposed to outlive your children," she says quietly.

In sickness or in health...

Three years ago in October, Thelma suffered a heart attack.

"The doctors told us to say our goodbyes because she wasn't going to make it through the night," daughter Jane Frey says.

The three adult children gathered outside Thelma's intensive care room with their father.

"That's just about the worst feeling a person can have," Walter says. "All I could do was just visually, mentally, pray that it wasn't going to happen."

Morning arrived, and Thelma's heart was still beating. She received a pacemaker, and was home for Christmas.

"They didn't want me up there," Thelma says, referring to heaven.

To love and to cherish, till death do us part...

Walter says their "policy" since Day 1 of their marriage has been: "If we had a problem between us, everything was solved and forgotten by the time we went to bed."

"And," Thelma says, "he never goes to bed without kissing me."

And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.

Walter won't deny that, on occasion, he has "looked at a pretty girl when she walked by."

But, "Neither of us ever cheated," he says. "That just has to happen once and that could spoil the whole rest of your life. But I know it never happened."

"Oh my goodness, no," Thelma adds.

Then Walter blurts out: "I could never figure out how she could put up with me for 75 years."

Says Thelma: "I guess I just loved him."

Walter thinks about that, as if searching for another way to express how they've lived out their wedding vows the past three-quarters-of-a-century, before finally agreeing with his wife. "It's nothing but just love," he says.