Paul's Corner

Dearest Paul,

No doubt you will receive much advice about your high blood pressure on PC, but the best route is just to "listen" and get as much information as you can from the experience of others, your doctor, and your own investigation, (the best being "Google" under the topic "high blood pressure.") There are thousands of entries!

It seems that the medical community has lowered the bar on what is "normal" or "acceptable" blood pressures. It used to be that 140/90 was the acceptable high/normal but that now is considered just high!

The docs want to see pressures in the range of 110/80, and that could be managed sometimes, with complete avoidance of salt, weight loss, exercise and a diet called the DASH diet,(again, look up Google.)

I have been on medication for years, and am doing okay. Since I lost weight and use no salt, my pressure has gone from 140/90 to the 120/80 range, sometimes dropping down to 110/75.

There are many blood pressure medications, and it's trial and error. If one medication doesn't agree with you there are many others that can be tried.

Good luck, darling, and remember, we're rooting for you! (if there is salt in beer, cool it!)

Your everlovin'

Gran Mil

Paul, I'm sorry to hear this. I don't like to hear that anyone has a dr. questioning something in their health. I have not advice about high blood pressure (mine as always been on the low side). But I do agree with listen and research. AND remember that in the end it is your body and your health and YOU have the final say. And also it is okay to take your time (to an extent) in making any decisions.

I do have to gently nudge about taking drugs tho. The side affects for chemo were awful (in my case - doable but awful). BUT the alternative was worse. Remember too, that often times they can mess with the drug, dossage ect to help with the side affects.

(((hugs)))

Jill

Paul, my older son was diagnosed with high blood pressure last year (he was twenty one). He had a reading of 150/100. It was suggested that it was hereditary but there is no family history on either side.

The doctor who was treating him is very much involved in alternative therapies as an option. He said that one explanation for high blood pressure at any time is from a build-up of toxins in the body due to food allergies and intolerances. He put Martin on a detox programme followed by an avoidance diet for a number of months.

It didn't work for him unfortunately but the blood pressure in his case has been just one of a number of symptoms that have kept him unwell for the last couple of years. Apparently this doctor has treated others successfully in this way.

He is on a low dose of medication at present (Natrelix 1.5mg per day) and that is controlling it without any (obvious) side-effects. When it had stabilised for three months, he tried coming off it, as like you, he would prefer not to have to take it, but it started to creep up again. He now has a steady reading of 120/80.

One more thing that might be worth checking out is your serum iron count. We have just discovered that Martin's is high. This means that his body is storing too much iron. He is in the early stages of having it investigated. It is possible that it is the explanation for his symptoms (including the high blood pressure). We're hoping something good will come of it for him. A simple blood test is all that is needed but (over here at least) it is not one of the routine ones given. We heard about it through someone we know and asked for it to be done. It's a long shot I know but it may be worth checking out.

I wish you the best with this.

Mary

Dear Paul,

So sorry to hear you have hypertension, but it is good that it was discovered and now you can do something about it.

I have had high blood pressure since my 30's but didn't know it until a blood vessel broke inside my eye, resulting in a "blind spot" in my peripheral vision, which is irrepairable. I am on two different medications, Calan and Inderal, and my pressure is at an acceptable level. I visit my doctor regularly for BP checks and any adjustments in my meds that need be.

They call hypertension "the silent killer", and I truly believe that. So, for your sake and the sake of those you love and those who love you, work with your doctor and follow his instructions. You will find something that works for you, but it might be by trial and error, so good luck!

Be well.

Hi Paul,
a few things that come to mind in terms of natural/herbal products that are known for lowering high blood pressure:
garlic
misteltoe tea & whithorn tea
roibos tea and also green tea

apple vinegar infusion:
2 tsp. apple vinegar in a glass of water (I perfer it hot with some honey in it as well)

olive tree leave infusion:
40 - 50 g olive tree leaves
1 l water
cook the olive tree leaves in the water and cook down slowly to about 1/2 liter. Drink 2 - 3 cups daily.

I've used most of these myself, not for high blood pressure, but to strengthen my immune system and overall health maintenance. Good luck in lowering your blood pressure and keeping it at a healthy level!

Hi Paul,

A few thoughts which may or may not be of help ...

First, it occurs to me as a dancer that I should ask if you happen to take any other medications to help with pain & inflamation from old injuries?

My Mum had a serious problem with high blood pressure for 18 months until she had a hip replacement and turns out the anti inflammatory medication that was keeping her walking around all that time was also raising her blood pressure ... check side effects of any other medications.

That includes "natural therapies too" - I had a bad experience myself with a high dose gingko biloba based supplement intended to fix another problem, but which sent my normally "abnormally low" pressure to the verge of hypertension and two other people I know had the same problem with the same pills.

Also, listen hard to Grandma Mil when she warns you off the SALT (sodium)- nastiest substance known to man, and found in incredibly high amounts in every form of processed food and mostly we don't know about it - there is a fantastic book available called Salt Matters written by an expert physician from a Tasmanian research centre which is actually a little scary, but in my grandfather's case has been life saving. We manage his pulmonary and cardiac fluid problems by ensuring a low salt diet (that means only eat foods which contain 120mg per 100g of sodium or less). Its everywhere ... even the cake and bickies are made with SR Flour (sodium bicarb @ 850mg per 100g of good old flour!) Its a bit frightening once you start reading the labels, but the food actually tastes better!

TIP - when cooking without salt, you need a Flavour (ie garlic, chives, onions,) a Sour (ie lemon juice, vinegar,tamarind) and an Enhancer(ie herbs, sugar, honey) if you apply this rule you'll enjoy some great food.

and finally, I read somewhere that a glass of milk a day keeps your blood pressure low (of course it should be low fat to keep everyone happy) ... and lots of Omega 3 keeps the yucky bits from sticking on your insides according to a cardiologist I know.

Phew!

and a wish for you to Be well.

Paul...My husband was diagnosed with high blood pressure a number of years ago. His blood pressure was in the moderate to high range every time he went to the doctor. He bought a home BP monitor so he could check it himself regularly. The good news for him was that he found he had a syndrome that caused elevated BP when being examined by the doctor! Probably not your situation, but the home BP monitor might help you get a handle on your condition. Apple cider vinegar suggested by Evelyn is also effective for high cholesterol.

Be well.
Linda

As it's already tomorrow down under, I hope no-one minds if I change the subject just for a second to say...

Happy birthday Peter!!

I hope you have a wonderful day and that the year ahead is a great one, filled with hopes and dreams fulfilled.

May the purle in your suit never fade.

Love to you,
Mary

Happy Birthday Peter!

Hope you can take the day off and just enjoy yourself, bask in the sunshine and dream big about what lies ahead of you and then of course let it /make it happen.

Love Evelyn

Happy Birthday Peter!

May today and every day bring you much joy and happiness.

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
(Les Brown)

Love,
Sally

A very happy birthday Peter!!!!! I hope you find great joy and peace this year.

And I hope you're warmer than we are - still below zero here!

Jill

Peter, Peter, we January babies (Aquarius??) are a hardy lot, and like old wine, improve with age...(so they tell us!) Happy Birthday to you!

Linda, I invested in a home wrist BP monitor also.

The condition you mentioned is called white coat-itis, and it's true that when the doctor walks into the room, sometimes the pressure rises, (especially if you're a woman, and the doctor is young and handsome!)

However, I find that some nurses in a doctor's office can never seem to get a decent reading, and I always have the doctor retake the pressure when he comes into the room. Every time, his reading is much lower than the nurses's!

Shazee, I use only Mrs. Dash seasonings, no salt ever, and the selection is wonderful! I don't miss salt at all, and yes, some foods have some salt which cannot be helped, but one has to learn to read labels. Processed foods and breadstuffs are terrible culprits, so, again, read labels, Paul!

We had our first semi-dress "Follies" rehearsal today, and I had the horrible task of telling my English friend who was a showgirl in her past life, that the dress she wore for the last number in the show, was too tight!

She still moves beautifully, like the professional she once was, but the dress did her no justice. Thank goodness, she only paid $8.00 for it at the flea market!! Oh, the trials and tribulations of show biz!

Our next dress rehearsal is in a week, and right after that, the lighting and sound technician comes aboard for the final dress and technical rehearsal before we open with our FIF darlings in the audience!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Peter, I'm so glad to know you. You bring a wonderfully unique, positve energy to PC, and for that matter the world! The Universe is smiling, the stars are twinkling, and all of us are celebrating YOU with All That Is.

Happy Birthday, my friend! May love light every corner of your life, this and every year.

Michelle

To all you lovely people, I say thankyou.

Peter

Paul, regarding the high BP.
I don't have very much to offer other than this:
Drink plenty of water - always.
This will help raise your blood volume and make it less viscous, thereby reducing the blood pressure and giving the heart an easier time.

Dehydration is something which usually goes unrecognised. Unfortunately, this is one area where our bodies let us down. It is well established that by the time our brains register that we are thirsty, we are already more dehydrated than is good for basic health.
Dehydration down to a cellular level can take months to reverse.

So, my advice would be to drink, drink, drink!
(Water, that is).

Peter

Peter if you dont mind I will have a drink a beer that is and raise it in honour of you and your Birth Day! I wish you all the best for your new year of age - may you enjoy the journey and may it be both profitable and positive!

Thanks all for the advice re BP Shazee you had some good comments to make and have given me some food for thought. Thanks Millie for the Dash diet info.

My confession - I am a saltoholic!! Love the stuff and in fact I often crave it. I love having a good fresh carrot and dipping it into the salt jar, hot chips with salt - heaven in a paper bag (yeah and I guess death on a stick)

The long and the short of it is my salt in take is probably a big part of my high BP so from now on I am changing that pattern.

More water, more fresh fruit and a lot less salt!

Peter - I agree. For several years I suffered from frequent headaches. Too all the normal headache drugs with no help, went to a chiro and found some help but nothing that lasted. Finally I read about being dehydrated. Now when I feel a headache come on, a take a normal dose of Ibruprofin and drink as much water as I can handle. Poof! No headache. What floors me is that NO dr. mentioned this to me, even the chiropracter. As student at school mentioned it once, so when I read about it later I remember what he said.

Bad part of this. During chemo you are told to drink, drink, drink. I did first dose and created an aversion to water for the rest of chemo. I still have some problems. Can't drink it like I could. AND I had to throw away the water bottle I drank from during chemo. It was actually casing a lot of the lasting water aversion. Goofy things our bodies!

Jill

Paul - give me the chills. We were posting at the same time. Freaky!

Yup that salt will do ya. Stay away from it.

Jill

Okay, now looking at the times. Maybe it was different times, but your post wasn't there before I posted to Peter. I can never figure out these clocks. Mine says 10:58 am and it's 9:58 pm here (the day before I'm assuming).

Oh well, just another thing I'm confused about. Getting used to it as right now I'm confused about my job and if its what I should be doing. I'm starting to dread more teaching days than I'm enjoying. Getting really tired with my whole job revolving around making other people behave and they have them treat me like dirt when I ask them to stop whatever inappropriate thing they are doing. PLUS I've been asked to do sooooo many wasted time things lately and asked to do WAY more things in my classroom than I have time for AND make sure my students pass every standardized test Pres. Bush can throw at them. I'm suppose to make sure my students aren't "Left Behind" regardless of what is going on in the rest of their lives. Just making me crabby. To top it off I attended a mandatory workshop of indentifying mental illness in children. It is now required for relicensing. I want to help students all that I can, but now I'm suppose to teach them how to read and write and watch to see if they are OCD. It's frustrating and I'm starting to wonder if it isn't time to move on. The problem is, I don't know what to move on into.

Sorry to dump. Gotta sleep.

Jill

Paul..

Welcome to my world. I don't like meds either. And they destroyed my body..gained weight like a pig..but that was the mental prescriptions. I'd like to point out that I have lost 20 pounds. Still taking it slow.

Hypertension. I've had it for a LONG time. Mine was always strange though 160/80 or 166 over 75. So my Doctor put me on meds and it came down to 140/80..then he said no I want it lower. Now I'm on Tarka and Hydrochlorothiazide (long version for diuretic.) It's been great, however since I've been working in Birmingham for the past three months my salt intake has gone way up. Two weeks ago I was sitting at my desk and felt REALLY bad. Just couldn't shake it. Since the client we are working on is Healthsouth we are in a medical building adjacent to their corporate headquarters. I go to a Doctor downstairs. Never met this guy before. Talk about southern hospitality. He spent over and hour with me. My pressure was up so high he wouldn't let me leave. Stroke level. We went over my background ran some tests. And made me relax drink a lot of fluids. It came down to 140/80. He then said don't forget you meds and come in from time to time to check it. Amazing guy charged me harly anything.

Point of story..even if you don't like meds...don't risk it with hypertension. Yes you can lose sex drive or ability to put it bluntly. However, be open with the Dr. Just say this is NOT working, he/she will put you on something else. You'll find a fit.

Hey buddy don't mess with this stuff. It can kill you even though you are a young man like myself. : )

Take care everyone. Still working hard as ever here. Making lots of money..I don't take it for granted though. Saving at least half of it. I don't trust corporate america at all.

talk to you guys soon.

love and peace

tim

Paul..

Welcome to my world. I don't like meds either. And they destroyed my body..gained weight like a pig..but that was the mental prescriptions. I'd like to point out that I have lost 20 pounds. Still taking it slow.

Hypertension. I've had it for a LONG time. Mine was always strange though 160/80 or 166 over 75. So my Doctor put me on meds and it came down to 140/80..then he said no I want it lower. Now I'm on Tarka and Hydrochlorothiazide (long version for diuretic.) It's been great, however since I've been working in Birmingham for the past three months my salt intake has gone way up. Two weeks ago I was sitting at my desk and felt REALLY bad. Just couldn't shake it. Since the client we are working on is Healthsouth we are in a medical building adjacent to their corporate headquarters. I go to a Doctor downstairs. Never met this guy before. Talk about southern hospitality. He spent over and hour with me. My pressure was up so high he wouldn't let me leave. Stroke level. We went over my background ran some tests. And made me relax drink a lot of fluids. It came down to 140/80. He then said don't forget you meds and come in from time to time to check it. Amazing guy charged me harly anything.

Point of story..even if you don't like meds...don't risk it with hypertension. Yes you can lose sex drive or ability to put it bluntly. However, be open with the Dr. Just say this is NOT working, he/she will put you on something else. You'll find a fit.

Hey buddy don't mess with this stuff. It can kill you even though you are a young man like myself. : )

Take care everyone. Still working hard as ever here. Making lots of money..I don't take it for granted though. Saving at least half of it. I don't trust corporate america at all.

talk to you guys soon.

love and peace

tim

Paul, Thanks for your well wishes.
That's very nice of you.
I have a feeling that this year will be very good.
I might just have a beer (or two) myself tonight.

Salt can be BAD.
I gave up adding it to food (except chips of course) many many years ago.
My BP is fine, but I'm guessing that I'm one of the lucky ones. I had it checked last month.
It was 120/60. It used to be 110/60, so I was a bit concerned, but it's probably the extra blubber that I'm carrying that's doing it.

Jill, Hi. It's really easy to get dehydrated, or rather, not to be optimally hydrated. We also seem to have different tolerances for it.

Hi Tim, Very nice to hear from you.
What is it with doctors and drugs?
For many of them, it's the first thing that they reach for. The threat of litigation sens them into a drug prescription frenzy.
Drugs are often a band-aid approach.
I say no thanks, but I guess sometimes they are neccessary.
I hope you keep well, Tim.
Congrats on the weight loss. Slow & steady is good.

Hi everyone, It's me!

I know , I have been gone a long time. My health has not been well, and I did not have a computer for quite a while as it was in the shop.

after struggling with health insurance changes and not being able to find a Rhumatologist that would accept me as a patient, my employer allowed me to switch my insurance yet again to a very poor one, but one that took my rhumatologist. I got in to my Rhumatologist and he told me I am too sick to be seen by them, I need to go see an Ifnfectious Descies (I know I spelled that wrong) doctor. I go this morning for blood work and a TB test. I go back Thursday to have the spot they test for TB looked at. They say my Ear Nose and Throat guy is crazy as all he does for my ballooning neck is make me take Prednisone, which decreases the swelling but makes me seriously bitchy. My supervisor has pulled me aside 3 times now for the way I have been giving to the nasty people that call and bitch us out for no reason. Hey, they got it coming to them! I have always been touted as one of the best in the customer service field and have always had glowing reviews, so she knew something was not right, I told her about the meds and she is trying to understand, she has been pretty good but I think I am walking a thin line between employment and unemployment. Not something I am used to and I really don't care cause deep down I know I am doing the best I can. Now I am off the prednisone and my neck is huge almost immediatley and now I have alot of trouble breathing again and the pain in my chest is back. The fatigue is back, it's all back and I am even sicker than before. They won't give it to me anymore which is ok I guess, but I can't see the Infectious D. doctor till middle of February so I have to go a month yet. BY then the limphnodes will be sqeezing my throat again. It's always something.
At least I will be even tempered again.

Paul, sorry about your high blood pressure. My folks have it and its not fun. You just have to deal with it, sorry. Just remember, it could always be worse. I hqave never had high blood pressure, not even when I was pregnant, which is odd for a "big girl". But then again, I despise salt, and eat relatively healthy food, so maybe thats why I never had it. Best of luck to you. I hope you find a copeable resolution and treatment with minimal medications.

Sally, I still have your dvd, sorry , I tried the stuff that Brian was telling me about to copy it for you and I really messed up my computer, so I was not able to get it copied for you. I am very sorry I have had it so long, I will be sending it back to you. with your $5.00. You silly, that is not necessary.

My husband hurt his back at work and has been on workmans comp for a month. We jsut got his first check this week. Finally! I felt drowned just by not having his income! And knowing I was treading thin at mine didn't help. He goes back to the doctor on Wednesday and I think he will probobly go back as he is afraid I won't be able to swing his 66.6% pay checks from workmans comp. I just deal the best I can. That is just what you do. Cut back on unecessary spending and stupid stuff like eating lunch out or picking up a burger when your out on the weekends. I think I willstay doing that even after Tom goes back to work and put the extra on the credit cards. Nice thought , anyway.

Clay starts physicall therapy for his shoulder tommorrow. I finally got them to approve PT but no MRI. I cant belieive they wont do an MRI. I am going to get the therapist to demand an MRI and we will see what happens. H e is done as an athelete, we hae accepted this. NO pitching, no first base, no football. The poetry in motion boy has been defeated. I think he is taking it well. Baseball season started (the camps anyway) and he is handling it all in stride. He is brave.
It is crushing to him and to us but we are trying to be strong. I know it's just sports and its just a shoulder and he's just a kid, but our lives have revolved around this kid and his sports, and the thousands and thousands of dollars spent over the years on equipment, and hotels and camps, all with the drems of what could be, are just so finished now. Now we focus on the academic, (Clay is honor roll, always has been in advanced classes). We focus on the carreer and not the sport. Oh well, at least we had the world series last year, they cant take that away from us!

Well, sorry for the long post. had to catch up. I have only breezed over the last few hundred posts I willt ry to catch up.

Lizzie, don't worry about your boyfrind, there are more around the corner, there always are for bright , beautiful, positive minded girls like you!

I thought about you all so much lately in the last few weeks. Love to everyone,

KISS KISS KISS

Kelly : )

Paul - I got nuthin' for ya on the HBP. Nada. Except lay off the "death on a stick" for the love of mankind! Jeesh...for such a smart boy...;-)

Peter! Happy (belated) Birthday, Dear One! Here's to a very wisdom-filled year, my friend. BIG smooch!

Kelly - so glad you checked in! Sorry to hear of the Workers' Comp woes, and poor Clay...kids, aren't they amazing? You'll miss seeing him in action, I'll bet.

Well, it's officially colder than a witch's t*t in a brass brassiere (not that I am wearing brass actually)...wind chill was -19F as I was pumping gas at 5:45 this am. CRIPES, why do I live here??? Someone remind me. The goats actually flipped me off when I went out there to see if their heated water bucket was working this morning. And of COURSE the Newf was dawdling in a pile of snow..."Wha? Me? Inside? NOW? But I just got OUT here! It's awesome, Mom! Just let me snuffle this ONE last snowbank..." Foolish things...

Allright, gotta work.
Hugs all around...and MILLIE! Happy birthday coming up in case I miss it!

Love,
Dhi

Happy Birthday to the Purle suit man! May this be the best year of your life!

Kelly, you're in my thoughts in the hopes that your situation will take a turn for the better. A big hug from me.

Paul, I have no advice to share on the subject of high blood pressure. Unfortunately, both my parents have high blood pressure.I'm a vegetarian, escercise 3-4X a week at the gym and been at the same weight since high school and I'm 30 now and I've never had the problem. But everyone is different, how everyone's body with regard to nutrition is different. I know a Bariatric Physician, Dr. Jamie Redwing, MD, in Fort Lauderdale who may be able to help. She looks at Nutrition as a way of healing the body. She's also a regular MD and can give you a few treatment options. Let me know if you want the contact info.

a hello to Gramdma Millie,

take care all!

I think my pressure went up a bit this early a.m. when I got a phone call from Evelyn, the second half of Evelyn and Peter, our premiere Latin dance couple...she was in tears, explaining that they had split up, and they will not be in the show.

I tried not to panic, for the playbill (program) had not been printed, and the music tracks that they danced to could just be advanced by the technician, skipping them with the touch of a button, and going on to the next music track in the show.

Needless to say, the cast was very down this morning at rehearsal, but like good troupers, we all got through the rehearsal with not too much difficulty. I left the door opened to the couple's coming back. They don't have to be lovers any more, just dance partners, so we'll see, stay tuned!

This "problem" pales in comparison with the challenges with health and livelihood, and this too shall pass!

Dhi, on every Inauguration Day, I turn 72. I think Mr. Bush should have invited me to his big bash, but, on second thought, we don't see eye to eye on most things, so I'll just celebrate with my Stud Muffin, and just be grateful!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

...a correction. Every Inauguration Day falls on my birthday. I will turn 72 on this one.

P.S. Warm thoughts for my darlings suffering through this cruel winter... the FIF people are coming soon, and for the rest, I wish I could share the warmer breezes of Florida!

Gran Mil

Paul, I saw an ad for DWTS last night, saying that it is back in February.

Any news?

Signed and sealed the deal this week but still working out some of the finer points. Not supposed to tell anyone as it has not been announced but if the adds say it is back in Feb then that is most likely the case. It is going to run for 10 weeks this time so I have a little bit of breathing space!

Hiya Everyone,
I fell over your web site Paul but wow what a read !!
Internet is such a freaky thing , could you ever imagine
finding these people as mates anywhere else !
HBP - salt salt salt ,no no no .
And just an observation ( with respect and admiration )
(( oh oh if Rick Price gets a hold of that line... )
your a very passionate man but that lends you
to extremes in emotions in very quick turn arounds.
Hormones and body chemicals from emotional reactions can put amazing stress on your organs.
Tai chi, good and any other meditative pursuit has got to help , maybe even some cognitive therapy to change some thinking to even out good to bad swings ???
Definitley some backyard psycho babble from me but chu never know.
Good luck with the show . Even though you look at the bank balance and activity now and it seems that your not quite satisfied , have a look at your biog ,look at old tapes and pictures from Sydney Dance and remember those works still affect people that saw them and they have been entertained , inspired and all the reasons you are a performer are being created now by
past works as well as the work to come.
eg I found an old " Danceshots " photo book by Greg Barrett - you and Andera both have some amazing piccies in there. I showed them to my 3 year old and she hopped up and started trying to copy poses and then went into some creative free work ( doting mother cuts in around about here )
SO....you know it s ups and downs always in the biz but
know you have made a significant mark that still has a very strong imprint BUT STOP WITH THE SALT.
And any sly chippie fetish as a salt lover you may have.
ps I did one of my best auditions ever for " Fran " , talk about a long time ago huh !!! but I was very proud of meself.
I don't get all that much time on things like this but hopefully I can drop by kinda regularly.

Good luck for shows, races and stuff to all
Noice to meet cha
cheers
Manda from Sydney , Australia

Paul, Good news.
I hope they sharpen their pencil.

I promise not to breath a word!

Paul, congratulations, didn't we tell you so?
(I think we knew that you would be called back after the success of DWTS as touted by our gang here in the states who were able to view it!)

My January movie last night was Strictly Ballroom, and the audience in our multimedia auditorium, with the 9 ft. screen, was enthralled. Many had seen it before and were back!

They were very impressed that a group of young people from all over the world are coming to Florida, to our retirement community, to celebrate YOU, your talent, and your generosity of love and compassion!

As I saw you again on that large screen, Paul, I felt myself getting a bit emotional, and I had to resist the urge to freeze one of those closeup scenes and hug the image!

Manda, a big welcome! It's great to have another Aussie to keep us up to date! (Peter has been doing a wonderful job too!)

If you auditioned for the part of "Fran" you should be proud of yourself. Tara Morice eventually received the British Film Institute and the Australian Film Institute nomination for best actress for the role back in 1993...she had stiff competition from Judy Davis, Jessica Tandy, and Emma Thompson, who eventually won for "Howard's End."

Tim, welcome back! It's wonderful to hear about your success in the business world! We knew you could do it!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Congrats Paul!!! So glad to hear the news. Wish I lived there so I could see it first hand.

Jill

Hi all,

I always tell the guy at the ‘fish and chips’ shop; “More Salt. I need it to toughen up those arteries. You don’t want floppy arteries do you?”

I might organize to have it put on my gravestone if I die young from heart disease.

To Jill:

I know it’s lots of work and an extra thing for you to worry about, but early detection and intervention for an autism spectrum disorder might just have saved my son from a life long problem. I now belong to the ‘all teachers should be able to recognize the signs’ camp. The old adage that family and friends will let you know if they see something wrong with your kid is (sorry for the swear word) crap. Adam’s signs (I now know) read like a textbook copy of the DSM-IV and all we got was “Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. Just give him some time.” until a public health nurse pressed the panic button. Two years of intensive therapy and he now “fails to meet the diagnostic criteria”.

To Kelly:

I felt so bad writing up those instructions for you. The more I typed, the more I realized that the installation was going to be a nightmare. I kind of expected to hear if it all went well, so I thought it must be bad news. I just couldn’t think of an easy way to do it. Sorry.

Brian - please don't think this isn't something I want to do. I want to help my students in anyway I can - they mean the world to me. BUT what bothers me is the more and more things I'm being required to do beyond teaching. And to tell ya the truth, I'm around 900 6-8th graders everyday. I know what is normal and not for them, so I can pick up pretty quickly on something out of the ordinary. I feel it's then my job to alert the people in my building who are trained to do this. I would do this naturally without the government now tell me I need training on how to do this.

See the thing was, we had a workshop day and the WHOLE day was spent doing paper work (not the correcting papers kind) of various kinds to prove to the state that we have jumped through all their hoops. Nowhere in there was I given time to prepare for my classes and create lessons that incorperate all this hoop jumping. Right now I'm being told I need to differentuate my lessons and create oppertunities for students to learn and show their learning in various ways BUT AT THE SAME TIME, prepare them for these standardized tests they have to take each year. Now this tests are completely contrary to the other way I'm being told by my school district that I MUST teach. And depending on how we do on these test our school gets a big gold star on our School Report Card. AAARRGGGGG!!!!!!!! It's just gettting to me too much for me. I want to teach, but so much getting in the way.

Plus I have a Curriculum Advisor that believes I have made this binder of all my units and lessons - down to what I do each day. Now she believes that I should be using that binder to a tee every year. Any good teacher knows you can't and shouldn't teach exactly the same thing year after year after year. My co-teacher and I have changed tons of stuff because it just didn't work. My curruclum advisor would have a fit if she knew we weren't following our binders. She believes that we should be following them so closely that ANYONE could come in, pick up the binder and teach my class right from where I left off.

Okay I'm done sorry for the vent.

Brian - I am so glad your son is getting the help he needs. It hurts me to the core when I see students struggling and we can't help them. I have no problem with knowing the signs. Its the state stepping in and forcing on top of everything else that just got to me. (hugs)

Jill

Brian, it's not your fault, my coputer has been in nned of assistance for a while now, I would never have tried it if my computer wasn't messed up already, I figured if I screwed it up no big deal, it needed service anyway. It runs so fast and perfect now. It's like new. I don't regret it at all. thanks for the try, though I appreciate it greatly.

Paul, I think we all told you it would eventually happen. I don't know why you worried.
I cant wait for it to start! I have to reinstall all the decoders to see it but it is so well worth it. I have called Directv and Dish Network and neither of them offer Aussie tv.
I cant find anyone that can. There are plenty of Spanish speaking and Japanese and Chinese service available but no Aussie service. We just have to appreciate Brian and love him for giving us all access to the show.

Stay safe when you race and good luck!!

Love to all

Kelly

Dear Paul,
Being in the health care profession, please follow your doctor's advice and try to stay away from liquor except red wine. Being in my 40's myself, my body is starting to show wear and tear. I may need to go for surgery in the next few months. Again, be careful, people younger than you have had heart attacks and strokes.

Grandma Mil, what is the schedule for the upcoming show? February is mighty busy!

Jean, glad to hear from you!

Please call me, for it's easier that way then for me to bother you at work or at home when you are relaxing! I definitely have counted you, Julie, and Beth Ellen into the FIF count!

The show itself is Febr. 7th (morning, 10:00 a.m. when the FIF people will be in the audience) and Febr. 8th and 9th (Tuesday night and Wednesday night) ticketed for the people of our retirement community and others.

Love,

Gran Mil

Love,

Gran Mil

First let me start with a belated birthday wish for Peter- may the budgies in your smugglers always be chipper!
Happy upcoming birthday to Grand Mil. Sorry to hear about the loss of one of your acts, I'm sure the rest of the show will still be fabulous.
Paul, I had a bit of high blood pressure at the Dr. this morning but as I am already ill nobody was surprised. My mom has had high bp for years but she takes her meds...Meds, you try to avoid them but sometimes you just have to give in. I always balk at taking the pain meds but I never stop taking my inhalers even though they taste AWFUL.
Peace, Inn

Hi Ya!

Finally, something I can really help with!

It's been a while, things have been crazy with our book. First printing sold out!

So, don't know if you remember me, Michelle from NS, now it's Michelle from California. My husband and I have dedicated ourselves to research the truth about the poisons in our everyday processed foods and the myriad of health problems they cause. I have also been studying the great health benefits of a raw food diet.

Paul,my mother had hypo-thyroidism (no known cure and it comes with a life long sentence of medication) and high blood pressure.

She was on medication for both, but with determination, she took back control of her health. By eliminating all processed foods, relying on whole veggies and fruits (as much raw fruits and veggies as possible)and replacing 1 to 3 daily glasses of fresh carrot/beet juice in place of her daily medication, she has regained unlimited energy, perfect health and a consistent low blood pressure reading.

I offered you a copy of our book a while back, let me know if you are interested, as it has been quoted as "A Gift to Humanity". I think with your health issue, you will find the information valuable. I'm not mentioning the name or anything, as I don't want this to be interpreted as a "plug". It is just a very sincere offer.

It is so true, the best medication we can offer ourselves is a healthy diet.

Yours in health and knowledge,
Michelle from California

Michelle's advice is very sound - go for it (Paul, and everyone else in the world)! Also cutting back on high amounts of anything (salt included) is always sensible - "everything in moderation" as my grandfather always said (lived to be 99). Anything to avoid the drugs which all have side effects and do nothing to actually heal the body, just treat symptoms (as Peter mentioned). If all the natural approaches don't work, only then consider pharmaceutical intervention, as a temporary solution.

Peter: belated Happy Birthday, as always I agree with your opinions, we seem to think alike. Maybe a running thing!

Manda, I enjoyed reading your post - looking forward to future entries!

And congrats Paul on the DWTS news, like the others I wish we could get Aussie TV here too. I rarely watch TV so I'm pretty picky about what I do watch. Mostly movies that we own or rent!

As usual I'm up at some ungodly hour - it seems to be the only time I check in here (during normal hours I'm too busy working on website stuff). See if anyone can figure out what time it is right now on the west coast of Canada, based on the time for this post!

Teresa : )

Wishing you a very happy Birthday Grandma Mil! I hope you have wonderful plans to just celebrate all the wonderful things that you are. I've been so blessed by just knowing you, can't wait to meet you soon, real birthday hug will follow then, but for now the not too terribly bad internet hug (hug).

Congrats, Paul on another season of DWTS!!!

Good Morning Gang,

Well, its morning in my part of the world.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I saw a commercial for Quantas advertising a new special. For $999.00 you can get round trip air fair to Australia plus 3 internal flights. Not bad. I don't know how far in advance you can book but its worth a look into if anyone here is interested in going sometime.

I'm finishing up Bill Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country" on his travels to Australia. I recomend it highly.

take care all!

Happy Birthday, Millie! Will there be chicken wings?
Have a wonderful day with your Ellie, and be assured your chickies all over the world are celebrating the beautiful person that you are! You're our rock here on PC.

I can't wait to meet you in TWO WEEKS!

With love,
Michelle

Peter, I have a question for you:
My running partner has sprained her SI joint and is unable to run for a while - any advice or tips for her on getting better as soon as possible? She's seeing a chiropractor who made the diagnosis and recommended not running for 4-6 weeks (it's been 2 weeks so far). I wondered about pool running (deep water exercise) which I've done a lot of in the past to avoid or heal from injury - did you do that while recovering?
She is only 18 and a keen "new" runner (about 1 year) so anxious to get back on the roads/trails!
Any advice would be appreciated, from someone who's "been there, done that".
(I tried emailing you directly but it bounced back, your address was "rejected" - ?)
Thanks
Teresa : )

Happy Birthday to Millie!!

Sending love and lots of good wishes across to you on your special day and counting the days until I get to meet you. Two weeks today! Thanks for all the joy your friendship has brought to me over the past year. Have a wonderful day!

Sally, hope you are well.

Michelle (Cal), well done on the success of your book. Good to hear from you.

Kelly, I hope things start to turn around for you all soon. Love to you.

Tim, I wish you continued success with everything. I'm so glad that things are going so well for you.

Hello to Michelle & Peter. Hope all is well with you both today.

Thanks to Brian & Evelyn for making it possible for me to see Through My Eyes.

Paul, your performance was so good. Wishing you continued success with DWTS.

Hi Manda and welcome!

Love to everyone in the Corner,
Mary

Happy Birthday Granda Millie!!!!!!!! I hope you have a fun, fantastic, fabulous day!!!

Jill

Happy Birthday to the Mil!

Sorry that I missed it on my last post but I didn't remember you mentioning it. Anyway, have a great birthday! Many great years ahead!

As is the norm I will be raising a Mercs Own Peach Ale in your honour Grandma Mil and this year will also take you for a quick swish around the dance floor!

Happy Birthday!!!!

XO

Dear Gran Millie; Happy Birthday to you, dear lady!

Teresa, I did so much water running that I almost made it fashionable.
However, you must be very careful regarding the technique, so that you ensure that there is not excessive torsion on the lower spine, which could aggravate the injury.
You really have to keep the torso stable by using isometric contractions of the pelvic foor muscles, tranverse abdominus, erector spinae and to strongly recommend that the rehabilitation included instruction by a physio on core stability, and that a good measure of stability is "patterned in" prior to getting too serious in the pool.
The muscles have to be trained to make this automatic.

Teresa, I was interupted mid-sentence and ended up leaving some words out, so the above message reads funny, but I'm sure you'll get the gist of it.

Hello, Paul

How are you? I'm sure this year will be wonderfull to you!
My mother has high blood pressure and she has 49 years old. She was with many preocupations and unhappy, so she think this problem is together with the feelings. Today, she is very better. I want talk what she did.

STOP: cool drink, alcohol, food with much salt and fat, little sleep and many preocupations.

FREE: Juice of fruits, water, exercises( to walk)and a natural life.

Very important: JUICE OF GRAPES or bunch of grapes. My mother drank much juice of grapes and her blood pressure is more ideal. We saw in a newspaper than doctors discovery juice of grapes regulate the blood pressure.
Lemon is very good too because destroy the fat in the blood.

Paul, please, care your health and tell us about this always. I'm sure you will be very well if have a natural life.

Grandma Mill Happy Birthday, many years with much sucess and love in your life!!!

Caroline

Happy Birthday to Gran Mil, and Peter.

SALT: Years ago when there wasn't any refrigeration the pioneers salted all their meat to preserve it. I too like salt, but have switched over to 'Dash'. There are about a dozen different combinations of of this brand. It's amazing how much salt is in our processed foods. I try to have fresh fruit and vegetables every day. I also watch how much salt is in the processed foods that I purchase.

My daughter had the same problem with her BP when she went into the doctors office. They found out it only happened at there. I have gotten a BP monitor. I have also found out that those BP machies in grocery stores, pharmacies, and drug stores are not very accurate.

Take care & Love to all
Marge

Paul
HBP. In 1971, I was diagnosed with HBP. The medication they gave me made my eyes bleed. All I could see was a red haze. Now for the past 14 years I have been on a different Medication with no side affects. My Mother-in-law has high blood pressure for years and they still haven't got the medication right. The medication she was taking made her faint. For several years I was having trouble with the conbination of my Meds. My doctor has finally gotten the right coctail for me. I guess it way they call it 'practing medicine. The doctor's say 'this isn't working so let's try this.

Thanks Peter! We're hitting the pool tomorrow, I'll show my friend the right technique and make sure she's careful not to aggravate things - also she can ask her chiro about the stability exercises - get a physio referral if necessary. The good thing is she's young so should heal somewhat faster than the rest of us.
Teresa : )

Thank you, Paul, for toasting me on my 72nd birthday, with a glass of Merc's Own Peach Ale!(I don't drink (ever) because of the medications I take, but I love peaches.)

As for swishing around the dance floor with you, I would swoon with happiness, but you'd have to catch me if you can, for I dance like a clod! (Just ask Ellie.)

I thank all of the other PCers that sent birthday wishes. Some of them will be here in two weeks for the FIF convention, and we'll be making toasts to you, Paul, and your family, for your good health and continued success!

The Latin dance couple that broke up the other day have decided to dance together in the "Follies" after all. I did some cajoling and some slight arm twisting, and it worked! I am indeed shameless, and it happened on my birthday!

Shalom and love,

Gran Mil

Hi all at PC!

Been a long time for me, work has kept me busy!

Grandma Mil - You go girl! :) I can't wait to see the follies!! And Happy Birthday!! May you live a long and happy life with Ellie!!

Got to go!

Beth Ellen

Happy Bday Grandma Mil!! Hugs n luvs :-*

Paul sorry to hear about the BP. I hope you can get that under control soon. I wish you success with that. I'm doing what I can to revamp into a healthier lifestyle. More water, more exercise, healthier choices. Sadly I have a salty, crunchy fettish with chips. eek dangerous. As I am noting from our posts, it's reminding me that it will have longterm effects if i do not watch it too. I guess it won't be a New Year's resolution..it may end up being a New Life Resolution! Oh well..i embrace the challenge.

Hi to PC gang...missed ya.

HI to m'Lady Dhi and Lady Evelyn - kiss kiss

warm wishes
Katalina de-caf Latte

Thanks Beth Ellen, thanks,our Latte Katalina, for the lovely birthday wishes!

I'm looking forward to FIF, only 12 days until the first of my chickies fly in...Mary from Ireland, and Michelle from Chicago on that first Thursday!

Then, on Friday,it's Monika and Koen from Holland, Evelyn and Diane, Linda on Saturday, and Inn and Cheryl on Sunday!

Monday morning, Febr. 7th, is the opening of "Follies" at a special performance for out of towners. Am I psyched? Well, our village of 10,000 people is abuzz, tickets sales are going strong, and our dance couple is back to heat up the stage, so Grannie is in an extended birthday mode!

I am especially happy that our visiting PCers will be getting out of the cold. The sun is shining as I type, and the temp is about 70. It should hold for February and March, the nicest months in Florida weather-wise.

Wherever you are, may you be safe and warm, and all blood pressures normal!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Anyone want some free snow? Got plenty to give away after our snow storm and digging out this morning from two snow banks in front of my garage and front door. Finally some snow!!! Timing's terrible, since I have tickets to the ballet in the Cities with a friend of mine and the tickets are with me, so she can't go if I don't make it. Will give it a try and if the roads are too horrible, then I'm going back home and will have to give it a miss --- I hope I can go, though, really want to see this ballet!!

Hi Katalina, good to hear from you, what have you been up to?

And dearest Grandma, you aren't the only one who's psyched about FIF and I'm so glad that Evelyn and Peter are back in the show. Every time you mentioned them here I went "What did I do???--oh must be someone else" you got me every single time with that.

Love to everyone!
Evelyn

Evelyn - you can have my snow - shipping will be cheap!!!

I hope you got to your ballet. It it is for Saturday there shouldn't be too much problem. My sister was out on 94 this morning and she said the roads were great. The snow ended in the Cities early enough last night, so the plows had plenty of time to work. The communte Friday was a different story. My sister's normally 30 minute commute was 2 and a half hours. She was excited to drive 25 mph.

Hugs to everyone else at PC.

Jill

We braved the storm to go buy beer and wine, you know, you have to have your priorities in order!

So far, there's a foot of snow and it's blowing all over the place. A real Chicago storm!

We put the beer and wine in a snow drift to chill, and I believe it's had plenty of time.

Paul, have you ever had snow-chilled Cooper's Pale Ale?

Dreaming of Florida, but the snow is pretty!
Michelle

Heh Paul, Happy New Year to you, Andrea and the girls. My wife has high blood pressure and also a very high blood/iron count. Her mother also has the same. Every time we check up on the pregnancy(you know the drill I bet!)the nurses go into quiet panic over the pressure reading of 180/90. Because Kati is aware of her genetically high blood presure, and also of the nurses panic responce every time, even after being told about it beforehand, her blood presure jumps up further before they take the reading in anticipation of there panic responce.
All I know is that the body is a highly complex organism powered by our brain, and no one is born with a users manual. Something I have understood from our little girl 'Milla' when she got a high temperature.

Anyway, when are you comming up to 'Holgates"?
Your old employee dancer Sean Dwyer svhdwyer@bigpond.com

Paul,
I saw the promo for DWTS last night.
You looked to be your usual cheerful, professional self!

How's the BP?

Paul,

Thank goodness I can stop worrying that DWTS has gone off the rails!

Best of luck with preparations and working out the finer detail.

Now seriously Paul, how can we get hold of Merc's Own in South Australia? Should I just start asking at my local why they don't have it? I do believe that market demand will drive sales and I can be pretty demanding when I want to be! LOL

On the subject of salt (read SODIUM) just discovered a new product made by Mother Earth for all the snack food junkies - flavoured air popped corn only 57mg per packet...and watch out for high sodium content in breads, cheeses, margarine, butter etc. There are some out there that are low sodium alternatives though, just READ those LABELS!

The book I mentioned earlier is Salt Matters by Dr Trevor C Beard...

Can't wait to see DWTS!

Happy thoughts for all

shazee

Hey all!

We are recovering from 3 feet tall drifts and snow. We have 25 acres behind us as our back yard. My husband went bac to work on Saturday.
The last thing I wanted him to come home to was all that snow in our driveway and on top of our carport. I woke Clay up and told him that the carport needed done and the driveway also. I told him I was headed out to do it. Before I could get to the door, He was up dressed and telling me he would take care of all of it. He didn't want me doing anything. We headed out and
and he tackled the carport first. We have a 30 foot snow rake so we could get the whole thing.
He has increadable range of motion with his shoulder since starting physical therapy. I can't believe the difference. He said he felt no pain at all. I held the ladder and we spent 3 hours getting all the snow off the carport. We took a 20 minute break for sandwiches and then Clay fell off the ladder into the huge snow banks he had just created from the snow on the carport. I took the liberty to bury him completely and take a photo. We had such fun! Then back to work. I did a littel of the carport but am not very comfy so high on the ladder so I got down. (Clay didn't want me doing it anyway.) Then Clay shoveled a 3 feet wide path to our shed and got the 5hp snowblower out. Dad showed him ropes last year so he had no problem firing it up and getting the job done. I shoveled the little stuff and threw a ton of salt down and before you know it dad was home and shocked to death what Clay had done. Kids really do follow the example that we lead.
He really proved what a fine young man he has become. Very responsible. Although he is back to his mouthy self today! It's the age.

The physical therapist thinks he will make a fullrecovery with his arm and feels he will be able to pitch again. I can't tell you how happy we were to hear that! Clay got a huge smile and teared up when he heard that! WE were so happy!

Happy belated birthdays to all, I am just getting to read some of the posts I have missed. Hopefully I will get to more. I have so little time on the computer now that my fatigue is back.
I am glad I have kids that can do laundrey and cook so they make up for me when I am not full of energy.

I am so jealous of all the poeple going to FIF. I wish I could give you a big hug, Gram Mil! My folks are taking thier first vacation in 15 years. They are going to Florida!!! The same week as FIF!!! Can you believe it? I am jealous.

Well off to do the bills. They seem so much bigger without all Tom's income for the last month. He told me today he went back for the money. He wasn't really ready. I begged him not to. But he is a great provider and I guess he felt it to be his responsibility to take the stress of the bills off me before it hurt my health. As big an ass an Tom can be, He is also an angel. And I love him.

Paige is flunking almost all her classes. I can't figure it out. She just isn't remembering her math or reading and she is struggling. I hope she doesn't flunk 6th grade. We have been working hard but don't seem to be getting anywere. We will have to keep plugging away. I told her if she pulls a C average next marking period I would buy her a portable dvd player. (she has been saving up for one. I know it's wrong to do it but I am desperate. Of coarse, Clay asked for something too. Since he is honor roll already I told him he had to pull straight A's and I would buy him a new computer. He opted for a new $300.00 cell phone. That's ok cause it's cheaper.

Clay has gotten very lazy with is homework lately so it will be nice for him to step it up again.

Well, gonna go now. I have taken up to much space as it is. Sorry Cat!

Love to all,

Kelly

Paul, good luck on your race coming up, stay safe and God speed. Literally. :)

Jill, I did make it to the ballet on Saturday, roads weren't too terrible, but not too great either, nasty ice spots all over the place, with drifiting snow and gusty winds. Made me enjoy the ballet even more, simply by having made it.
Re. the free snow, how about if we ship it to Paul? He's the one who wants to do a film in the snow, after all.

Michelle, I'd say you totally have your priorities right, putting the beer and wine into the snow drift to cool, oh and dreaming about warm FL. :-)

Kelly, don't give up on Paige. I remember a phase early on in high school, when I didn't do so well either, and it wasn't for lack of trying or working hard. There was just so much else going on in my life that wasn't easy to deal with that I couldn't handle it all. Is there something that changed for your daughter that makes it too much for her to handle? Just random thouhgts. Take care of yourself and keep being the super Mom that you are! Hugs!

Evelyn

Hello All,

Well, the high in Florida is 68 degrees today and it's been a chilly morning. Yesterday it warmed up a little bit but now its back into the sixties. Yes, those of you up north can beat me up in the parking lot after school today.

This past week-end had proved to be interesting. A friend of mine, Monica, who I meet in massage school, got two job offers last week, one from a chiropractor and the other from a small spa up in Boca. So she invited my husband and I out for a little celebration at a an Irish Pub, that I never been to, up in Pompano called "Bernie's" The name says it all. It had been a few years since my friend had been to the place but it was packed with the immaginable and unimaginable, some of the oddest people I have ever seen. A fifty year old woman wearing a white micro -mini and a fake ponytail, a group of men who looked like ZZ Top (who knows maybe they were) and the migit who despite his size and thick coca cola bottle glasses managed to get a very tall good looking woman to dance with him on the dance floor. In the first five minutes a man in his late forties came up to me, somehow overlooked the fact that I was arm and arm with my husband, introduced himself started to chit chat and asked if he could buy me a drink. At that moment by conservative husband whom his classmates nicknamed, "the nun" in high school picked me up swooped me into his arms and said to the guy, "Is it more obvious now that she's with me" and without putting me down we exited out of the bar with my friend following us. Heads really didn't turn I assume because it really couldn't complete with the other oddities that were going on in the place. He carried me all the way down the street to an ice cream palor. When we entered the place he finally put me down. I was in so much shock I never thought that I would see the day when my husband would carry me in public let alone down the street at least a half a block. I still trying to get used to the idea that this really happened. I guess a little jealously can bring out the Conan the Barbarian in some men. Or maybe he's been reading one of my old romance novels in the bathroom lately.

Take care everyone!

That no processed foods idea is great. Might be an idea to have regular walks and have some fruit after dinner. That's what Mum does (she gets high blood pressure too), and she forces it on me too. As of last week, she's been taking me out for nightly walks to someplace or other and then back home, and she's been dragging me along cos she's scared to do it by herself but reckons she now has to.

Wish I'd been posting more here, but the truth is I've been kind of busy with the whole uni business and starting up some new things.

With university and me wanting to do Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) in Wollongong, I had spent the last few days before January 19th absolutely convinced that my portfolio was terrible, unoriginal and they weren't going to accept me, so I was happy to hear that the cut off marks for uni were apparently going to either stay the same or drop, due to more people choosing not to go to uni.
Well.
I can't believe it.
This year I shall be starting my BACHELOR OF CREATIVE ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN CREATIVE WRITING AT UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG!!!
So it's a more than likely chance that I'll be selling off the rights to my stories to publishing companies for some horribly low advance, never see those stories again, and spend my days with some other jobs (I could be a proofreader for some publication or whatever, or I could be spending 15 hours a day cleaning toilets for my living), but I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was 7, so I'm not too worried about that, doing a regular 9 to 5 doesn't really float my boat.
So enrolment day for my degree is February 2nd, then comes Orientation Week, and lectures start on the 21st.

I attended my first meeting of my friend's bookclub (called the Alleyways bookclub). It's basically an excuse for a whole bunch of us from high school to meet up, as well as to get to know my friend's primary school buddies, as well as bring a few new people along as well.
As of the 23rd I am officially an adult. Like it says on the card my sister and bro-in-law gave me, it's time i started making to important decisions, such as "Which pub?" and "Who's buying?". I was obliged to wear the "I'm 18!" badge that came with the card for the rest of the night.
And I have had my first driving lesson. It's not as scary as people make it out to be, but still I now know why Dad refused to teach me. Dual controls are a wonderful thing. I ended up nearly amking the car fly over a speed hump, drove into the kerb twice, and nearly took the side mirrors off a few parked cars. I need to practise turning the car (must remember to let go of the steering wheel so then the car can straighten itself up!!!), slowing down, accelerating...controlling the car in general. Challenging, but I like it. It must be a tradition for my sisters and i - apparently, it's rained everytime each one of us took their first driving lesson.

This new start hasn't been too bad.

Jen

That no processed foods idea is great. Might be an idea to have regular walks and have some fruit after dinner. That's what Mum does (she gets high blood pressure too), and she forces it on me too. As of last week, she's been taking me out for nightly walks to someplace or other and then back home, and she's been dragging me along cos she's scared to do it by herself but reckons she now has to.

Wish I'd been posting more here, but the truth is I've been kind of busy with the whole uni business and starting up some new things.

With university and me wanting to do Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) in Wollongong, I had spent the last few days before January 19th absolutely convinced that my portfolio was terrible, unoriginal and they weren't going to accept me, so I was happy to hear that the cut off marks for uni were apparently going to either stay the same or drop, due to more people choosing not to go to uni.
Well.
I can't believe it.
This year I shall be starting my BACHELOR OF CREATIVE ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN CREATIVE WRITING AT UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG!!!
So it's a more than likely chance that I'll be selling off the rights to my stories to publishing companies for some horribly low advance, never see those stories again, and spend my days with some other jobs (I could be a proofreader for some publication or whatever, or I could be spending 15 hours a day cleaning toilets for my living), but I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was 7, so I'm not too worried about that, doing a regular 9 to 5 doesn't really float my boat.
So enrolment day for my degree is February 2nd, then comes Orientation Week, and lectures start on the 21st.

I attended my first meeting of my friend's bookclub (called the Alleyways bookclub). It's basically an excuse for a whole bunch of us from high school to meet up, as well as to get to know my friend's primary school buddies, as well as bring a few new people along as well.
As of the 23rd I am officially an adult. Like it says on the card my sister and bro-in-law gave me, it's time i started making to important decisions, such as "Which pub?" and "Who's buying?". I was obliged to wear the "I'm 18!" badge that came with the card for the rest of the night.
And I have had my first driving lesson. It's not as scary as people make it out to be, but still I now know why Dad refused to teach me. Dual controls are a wonderful thing. I ended up nearly amking the car fly over a speed hump, drove into the kerb twice, and nearly took the side mirrors off a few parked cars. I need to practise turning the car (must remember to let go of the steering wheel so then the car can straighten itself up!!!), slowing down, accelerating...controlling the car in general. Challenging, but I like it. It must be a tradition for my sisters and i - apparently, it's rained everytime each one of us took their first driving lesson.

This new start hasn't been too bad.

Jen

That no processed foods idea is great. Might be an idea to have regular walks and have some fruit after dinner. That's what Mum does (she gets high blood pressure too), and she forces it on me too. As of last week, she's been taking me out for nightly walks to someplace or other and then back home, and she's been dragging me along cos she's scared to do it by herself but reckons she now has to.

Wish I'd been posting more here, but the truth is I've been kind of busy with the whole uni business and starting up some new things.

With university and me wanting to do Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) in Wollongong, I had spent the last few days before January 19th absolutely convinced that my portfolio was terrible, unoriginal and they weren't going to accept me, so I was happy to hear that the cut off marks for uni were apparently going to either stay the same or drop, due to more people choosing not to go to uni.
Well.
I can't believe it.
This year I shall be starting my BACHELOR OF CREATIVE ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN CREATIVE WRITING AT UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG!!!
So it's a more than likely chance that I'll be selling off the rights to my stories to publishing companies for some horribly low advance, never see those stories again, and spend my days with some other jobs (I could be a proofreader for some publication or whatever, or I could be spending 15 hours a day cleaning toilets for my living), but I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was 7, so I'm not too worried about that, doing a regular 9 to 5 doesn't really float my boat.
So enrolment day for my degree is February 2nd, then comes Orientation Week, and lectures start on the 21st.

I attended my first meeting of my friend's bookclub (called the Alleyways bookclub). It's basically an excuse for a whole bunch of us from high school to meet up, as well as to get to know my friend's primary school buddies, as well as bring a few new people along as well.
As of the 23rd I am officially an adult. Like it says on the card my sister and bro-in-law gave me, it's time i started making to important decisions, such as "Which pub?" and "Who's buying?". I was obliged to wear the "I'm 18!" badge that came with the card for the rest of the night.
And I have had my first driving lesson. It's not as scary as people make it out to be, but still I now know why Dad refused to teach me. Dual controls are a wonderful thing. I ended up nearly amking the car fly over a speed hump, drove into the kerb twice, and nearly took the side mirrors off a few parked cars. I need to practise turning the car (must remember to let go of the steering wheel so then the car can straighten itself up!!!), slowing down, accelerating...controlling the car in general. Challenging, but I like it. It must be a tradition for my sisters and i - apparently, it's rained everytime each one of us took their first driving lesson.

This new start hasn't been too bad.

Jen

Just wanted to pop in to say "hi" from the Land of Snowed Under!

I made it to work today, but no one else has, so I get to do what I want - HeH, Heh. It's nice to have a quiet day once in a while.

Our computer has a virus and we don't know what to do about it. Brian, any ideas? I'm doing this from work, so at least I'm not totally cut off!

Be well everybody. Will check in again when I have more time. Good to see some of the old faces pop in on this thread..

Sally

Evelyn- I agree, let's ship it to Paul so he can have a snowball fight, make a snowman etc. All that stuff we wants to do. Then lets pile it high and make him first drive through it and then shovel it. I'm sure he'll still love the stuff in the end.

We love ya Paul! (can't you tell)

Jill

Oh man that should read "all the stuff HE wants to do"!!!!!!!

Jill

Gidday Michelle, firstly congratulations to you and your husband on the success of your book. No doubt a lot of extremely hard work and dedication went in to it and I trust that it has been a rewarding process. I hope also that it is rewarding finacially as that too helps!

Thank you for your reminder about the book, it is a very timely reminder and yes I would be very keen to get hold of a copy. Could you perhaps let me know how I could go about finding where to get one?

Thanks also for posting to the site again and by all means tell everyone the name of the book and where they can get it. I am sure people would be interested and once you have let us know about it, it is then up to the individual to decide wether they wish to buy it or not. Self promotion is absolutely fine and I will let you know if you put too many adds on the postings! I am sure you wouldnt anyway but please let us all know the title and where to get it.

When will you be doing a second print run?

Yes I shall be watching DWTS every week and i will not be in Japan so I won't be missing anything. Congrats, Paul!
That no processed foods idea is great. Might be an idea to have regular walks and have some fruit after dinner. That's what Mum does (she gets high blood pressure too), and she forces it on me too. As of last week, she's been taking me out for nightly walks to someplace or other and then back home, and she's been dragging me along cos she's scared to do it by herself but reckons she now has to.

Wish I'd been posting more here (Merry Christmas and Happy new Year, everyone, if i haven't said so already, even though it's really really late), but the truth is I've been kind of busy with the whole uni business and starting up some new things.

With university and me wanting to do Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) in Wollongong, I had spent the last few days before January 19th absolutely convinced that my portfolio was terrible, unoriginal and they weren't going to accept me, so I was happy to hear that the cut off marks for uni were apparently going to either stay the same or drop, due to more people choosing not to go to uni.
Well.
I can't believe it.
This year I shall be starting my BACHELOR OF CREATIVE ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN CREATIVE WRITING AT UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG!!!
So it's a more than likely chance that I'll be selling off the rights to my stories to publishing companies for some horribly low advance, never see those stories again, and spend my days with some other jobs (I could be a proofreader for some publication or whatever, or I could be spending 15 hours a day cleaning toilets for my living), but I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was 7, so I'm not too worried about that, doing a regular 9 to 5 doesn't really float my boat.
So enrolment day for my degree is February 2nd, then comes Orientation Week, and lectures start on the 21st.

I attended my first meeting of my friend's bookclub (called the Alleyways bookclub). It's basically an excuse for a whole bunch of us from high school to meet up, as well as to get to know my friend's primary school buddies, as well as bring a few new people along as well.
As of the 23rd I am officially an adult. Like it says on the card my sister and bro-in-law gave me, it's time i started making to important decisions, such as "Which pub?" and "Who's buying?". I was obliged to wear the "I'm 18!" badge that came with the card for the rest of the night.
And I have had my first driving lesson. It's not as scary as people make it out to be, but still I now know why Dad refused to teach me. Dual controls are a wonderful thing. I ended up nearly amking the car fly over a speed hump, drove into the kerb twice, and nearly took the side mirrors off a few parked cars. I need to practise turning the car (must remember to let go of the steering wheel so then the car can straighten itself up!!!), slowing down, accelerating...controlling the car in general. Challenging, but I like it. It must be a tradition for my sisters and i - apparently, it's rained everytime each one of us took their first driving lesson.

This new start hasn't been too bad.

Jen

25/1/05

ahhh okay i think there may be something wrong with the Net or the site because on my comp it said that my stuff couldn't be posted, and now i've ended up posting multiple copies of the same post...sry guys i don't mean to be spamming

Hi Paul, I'll tell what or rather who helps me, whatever it may be, and that person is Jesus. I have been a Christian for nearly a year now and it has changed my life around and not because oh I'm religeous and go to Church and think I'm better than everyone because I'm certainly not. I have a relationship with the Lord and he helps me get through everything. I can talk to him anytime and ask him for everything I need and he provides all my needs however small and insignificant, and now I'm not scared to die because I know I'll be with him. The thing that scares me is all the people who won't go to be with him. If your interested in hearing what God has done and is still doing in me then I'd be glad to tell you. I was baptized a couple of months ago.
Before I was a Christian I was a mess you name it I've done it, much to my shame, anyway like I say would be glad to tell you more If you wanna know. :)

Zealots make me crazy...sorry very rude but I'm in a "I'm bitter and crabby and I'm going to say what I want" kind of mood.
forgive me...Jesus would.

Good Morning from Florida,

This morning the weather is in upper sixties again and I'm going through my closet trying to find something that will keep me warm. I never lived up north and in florida we have only a short time (maybe a month and a half) of cool weather so I never really aquired a wardrobe for the winter season. I just have bits here and there that a scattered everywhere in closets and drawers and I have to play Sherlock Homes to find it. It's almost like being on one of those silly game shows from Europe.

Such exciting stuff....

Also Florida in the winter season is as unpredictable as lottery numbers. You may walk out of your house ten in the morning with a turtle neck and jeans, go to the grocery store, shop for an hour, and when you walk back out to the parking lot the sun in beating down on you as you hurry to put the groceries away so you can run the A/C full blast in the car. So the typical wardrobe for cool weather in Fort Lauderdale normally consists of shorts and a sweater with a short sleaved shirt underneath. Somewhat like San Francisco weather.

It was nice to see that someone else in my neighborhood was more prepared than I was for the cool season. The FLamingo Lady down the street has all her plastic Flamingos dressed in little sweaters and jackets. Where she finds this stuff baffled me for a few years until another neighbor of mine told me that there is are several clothing catalogs that exists just for plastic flamingos. Amazing!

Maybe there exists somewhere a "Purle Suit" catalog as well...where is Peter these days now that I'm on the subject?

I'll say a quick hello to Grandma Millie, and everyone else, unfortunately it would take me most of the morning to type everyone's name at this point.

And of course a hello to our "Big Cahoona" and his family. Hope all is well.

Zealot just because she expresses her love for Christ? Please, be respectful.

Jill

No, zealot because they try to push their religion on other people. I quote "The thing that scares me is all the people who won't go to be with him." Won't go to be with him...how do you know they won't. Are you saying because people don't believe what you believe the won't have an afterlife or are you saying you are sad because some people choose not to believe...believe the way you believe? Thinking that one religion is the only way is very limited thinking and I view it as dangerous. No one...Not one person alive, knows for sure what will happen after we pass into the next form of exisistance so don't tell someone who doesn't worship the way you do that they are wrong. You may BELIEVE they are wrong, but that doesn't make it so. I did appologize for being harsh..and I do so again.
Peace, Inn

Its ok being called a zealot is the nicest thing I've been called for ages. I just said what I thought and don't push anything on anyone. Of course you think your right if you believe something, otherwise you wouldn't believe it. Everyone has the right to believe what they like. I just personally belive what God's word tells me. One thing I don't understand is why Christianity always seems to offend people when other beliefs don't. I'm not here to offend anyone I just want to share the joy of something so life changing with the world.

Julie, did you call? Don't you know that it's my sworn duty to answer?!

Now how the bloody hell do I find my way out of this cave? Where's the dog?
Where are the keys to the Batmobile.
Oops, Sorry!....wrong, dark, brooding and twisted individual!

How are you, Julie?

Space Angel, think of this whatever you may, but don't make the mistake of discounting it. The following is real.
I have "known" Jesus. What I came to quickly understand is that me, and each and every one of us is no different to him. We are all wonderful and we are all blessed.
What's all the fuss about? I just can't see that this is such a big deal.
What is, is. No more, no less. We don't have to feel subservient in any way.
That's what love is.

Peter

Julie, did you call? Don't you know that it's my sworn duty to answer?!

Now how the bloody hell do I find my way out of this cave? Where's the dog?
Where are the keys to the Batmobile.
Oops, Sorry!....wrong, dark, brooding and twisted individual!

How are you, Julie?

Space Angel, think of this whatever you may, but don't make the mistake of discounting it. The following is real.
I have "known" Jesus. What I came to quickly understand is that me, and each and every one of us is no different to him. We are all wonderful and we are all blessed.
What's all the fuss about? I just can't see that this is such a big deal.
What is, is. No more, no less. We don't have to feel subservient in any way.
That's what love is.

Peter

Peter, I loved your comments and I totally agree. And lucky you, by the way!

In my opinion, Jesus was a highly evolved/advanced soul who came to remind us of EXACTLY what Peter said. We've all been spun off that same Divine Source and have the power within us to achieve what Jesus did, or even greater things. I believe he said as much.

Somewhere along the line, some/a lot of Christian sects have lost sight of the beauty of that message by re-interpreting and skewing the meaning of it to suit dogmatic interests. Along the way, a sense of entitlement and intolerance seems to have been adopted that tends to put off a lot of people. It's too bad, really.

Like Peter said, it really IS very simple. My wish for all of us is that we know love and live fully and happily being exactly Who We Are.

Love and Light,
Michelle

Holy Cow! I go away for a week or two and we're up to 80- something messages. I'm starting to pull out of my chemo-fog. Now I have a cold. Got to get well before I see the lot of you in Florida.

Paul, I'll see what I can find out for you about high blood pressure. My father-in-law has it, but I gather he's got it under control. It's getting late and I'll have to read all these posts tomorrow, but I glanced at Millie's response and I think she's got it right. You also might want to check with another doctor or two to find out what they recommend. Do you have a holistic practitioner in your area?

But you're right, changing your life is not easy because it involves changing how you think in addition to the choices, large and small, that you make. Making major changes can seem overwhelming, so you have to break it down into manageable parts. While going through the chemotherapy treatment, I started to feel that I would have to completely revamp my life to avoid recurrence of the cancer and I feared that it was beyond my ability to do so. Now that my energy and strength is starting to return, I am consciously making choices in how I respond to some of the stressors in my life and I'm feeling a bit more in control. I am also eating better and offering better food to my family since my sons will be more prone to cancer given my history. And I turn my focus to deep breathing exercises at night to help me rest. It's a start.

As always, Paul, I send well wishes to you.

Goodnight to you and your family and to all my friends here.

Love,

Diane

All I can say is again I believe what God's word tells me, and that tells me that Jesus was God, and came down to earth to save us.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which translated means 'God with us.'
Matthew 1:23

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

He was sinless and perfect and I could never put myself on the same level as the creator of the heavens and the earth and of every living thing.
I have only been able to know real love, to live fully and to be happy being exactly who I am since I have known Jesus Christ personally.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phillipians 4:13

All I can say is again I believe what God's word tells me, and that tells me that Jesus was God, and came down to earth to save us.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which translated means 'God with us.'
Matthew 1:23

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

He was sinless and perfect and I could never put myself on the same level as the creator of the heavens and the earth and of every living thing.
I have only been able to know real love, to live fully and to be happy being exactly who I am since I have known Jesus Christ personally.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phillipians 4:13

Space Angel: I'm glad for you, but this really doesn't belong here. That's why people get upset--devout Christians sometimes witness in inappropriate places. I understand that you want to tell everybody, but Jesus isn't a recommendation for high blood pressure.

He is the answer to everything, but I've said all I came to say, so I shall leave you all in peace.

Thank you Cat, you hit the nail on the head.

(Though I get the feeling that Space Angel WOULD say that Jesus is a recommendation for HBP!)

Teresa : )

Sorry to change the subject, I tried to post this in the recipe section, but it won't let me.
Paul,

I finally got around to trying your beer & sauerkraut soup recipe Thursday evening. I've been meaning to try it for a while. It's very tasty and delicious, can only recommend it to everyone else to try it. Thanks for sharing it. It is different from what I had as Biersuppe in Germany, although I couldn't tell you how at the moment. I only have a very faint taste-memory right now and can't pinpoint texture and flavors. But I love your recipe. I'll have some for lunch later on today.

Hello everyone. have a lovely day!! I got to go back to work, since I need to work ahead with my classes and committee work because of FIF next week. Yippee Yea! Can't wait!
Evelyn

Hello Paul,

Thanks so much for your kind wishes and congratulations.

The book is currently sold out as I had previously mentioned. We are expecting the release of our revised edition in late spring of 2005. The name of the book is "The Slow Poisoning of America" and the website is at
www.spofamerica.com. I know the title sounds ominous, but unfortunately it rings all too true.

It was my intent to offer you one of the few copies we kept for ourselves. I think the information in it is invaluable, and would benefit you and your family tremendously. I think you are such an inspiring person, and the love you have for your family is so evident in your writings. You are just the type of person we saved some copies to give to. Would love to give everyone a copy, but my personal supplies are very limited :)

If you have an address (maybe your agents, or some other address, we completely understand that the home address is sacred) that I could send it to, it would be an honour to do so.

I appreciate the chance to let the folks at the corner know about the book.

Thanks so much for your time.

Blessings to you and your family and all the folks at the corner (this is a Non-denominational, and general wish of blessings for everyone! *L* )

Michelle-CA

Hi Paul,

I didn't know your blog existed until someone on http://forums.fametracker.com started a thread about you and mentioned your blog. (Though a few people think its depressing....:-/ I don't think so at all.)

If anything I have been moved and touched by your raw honesty and entries sharing a piece of yourself.

I was disgusted at Fox/Warners (a livejournal friend is making his first movie with Sony and found out about what they did to you and said that amazingly with Sony they probably wouldn't have done that) and from now one will be downloading more of their movies *evil grin*

I remember seeing you in Medivac, I thought you were one of the best actors on there and they started you off as just the "husband" role.

Your blog sometimes reminds me of Wil Wheaton's www.wilwheaton.net who has struggled with his life post Star Trek and dealing with the "wesley crusher" character curse. He's now decided to give up acting as his be all and end all and is writing and doing stand up.

I wish you all the best and success with your beer career (woah what a bad rhyme) that you are cultivating of yourself.

I think putting hands in different pies are the way to go, especially with all the diverse interests you have.

Natalie

oh yeah i forgot to say:

have you thought about offering your services to teach at st martins youth arts centre (www.stmartinsyouth.com.au)?

Unfortunately the AD Brett, who I knew left late last year but Anthony Crowley is supposed to be a top guy.

I dunno what his plans are, but maybe contacting him might give you some teaching work in the future.

Unlike Australian Theatre for Young People who have Nicole Kidman, Fox (*shudder) and channel 9 throwing money at them St M's get their funding cut and are very much so, as per typical of Melbourne arts orgs, on the shoestring, but they do good work.

Either way, I think you have a lot of offer in that regard, maybe Anthony might want to hire you for a masterclass or something.

Dear Michelle from California: (I remember when you wrote from Nova Scotia, it's been too long!)

You and your husband are to be commended for your exposing the poisoning of the world by the money hungry drug industries, aided and abetted by governments that look the other way for their own political and economic gain.

I recall the plight of Jeffry Wigand, who wanted to expose the seven giants of the tobacco industry, (he worked as a scientist in the industry) but was thwarted by CBS who wanted to air Wigand's story, but had to withdraw the program because of the threat of a billion dollar lawsuit from the tobacco companies.

A young Russell Crowe, in his first major American screen role, played Wigand brilliantly in "The Insider."

Then, there was "Erin Brockovich", who got her story out about the poisoning of the land, and Hollywood brought her story, and Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her role as Erin. Erin is still an activist.

Now, it's the time for you and your husband, and it is thrilling to learn that you have sold out your first printing...go, girl! I fully expect to see you interviewed on television one day, and the story told like the others I mentioned previously. The word must get out!

Young and old have suffered the side effects of medications, and some people have actually died. Scary stuff, for sure!

You have done a "mitzvah"!! (a good deed for the world!)

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Michelle in CA, didn't you start the book project and research after someone in your family (a child???) get really sick? How is s/he doing?

Let me applaud you and your husband for all the good work you have and are doing with all of this. Best wishes for the second printing. This is exciting!!!

Evelyn

Hi All!
Sorry I've not been here for a while. Last time I wrote was a year or 2 ago. I was blubbering on about my gratitude for your performance in SB as being inspiring in my own quest for happiness and love as I was struggling along through a divorce. Sorry about that. None-the-less, I am grateful. Each day I'm finding a piece of my dream in me.

Sorry to hear about the bloodpressure challenge. I have faith that you will get that issue to a managable level.

Anyway, I wanted to ask if you would consider writing a book of your experiences of repeated struggle & triumph in the acting/dance world in combination with the sometimes sad but more often comical family events such as raising a teenage daughter and making your own brew. It seems like you've got some good literary fodder here and your writing style makes for an enjoyable read. Maybe it's not Shakespeare, but it is entertaining and after all, you are an entertainer aren't you?

Have you considered doing your own theatricals? You seem like a very motivated/talented and well known person in Australia, so you grab a few of your cronies in and put on a show and see what happens. You may fall right on your arse but you're in good shape, I can imagine you can get right back up.

Hi Grandma Mil,

It's always a pleasure to hear from you. I had to call my husband over to read your post. We both agree you have a flare for writing! Thanks for the show of support and encouragement. :) If we ever get on Oprah, I'll be sure to mention your name!

Evelyn,

You have an excellent memory. My daughter was diagnosed with Fluorosis, a form of Fluoride poisoning. (For those of you who aren't aware what that is, this is when mottling and grooves occur on the teeth, along with white patches and in advance stages brown patches. This can be a reflection of what is happening to the bones in our bodies.) So you could say, she started this adventure for us.

She is doing brilliantly, thanks to a wonderful and healthy diet her fluorosis has almost completely reversed itself, a feat the dentist swore to us could not happen. The more I get to know the "so called" professional Medical community, the more I trust my own research and treatments.

Thanks again for the great feedback.

Yours in health and knowledge,
Michelle Erb

Dear Michelle from CA, please contact me!

Gran Mil

Dear Michelle from CA, please contact me!

Gran Mil

Dear Michelle from CA, please contact me!

Gran Mil

Dear Michelle from CA, please contact me!

Gran Mil

Michelle, Grandma Mil will be in touch with you soon on my behalf - I look forward to reading your book!

As for Space Angel - I read the first post and decided not to reply to it. I think Inn said it well followed by Peter and then Cat so I guess I shouldnt fuel the cold coals with any other thoughts.......no I will not make a comment now.......it is past the point.......itchy fingers, cheeky grin, mischevious thoughts.....no one has ever quoted the Koran to me.

Time to start another post me thinks!

Grand Ma Mil is pretty damn quick for an old bird!

Chaos, thanks for your post. I had a look at the forum thread and was going to reply but I had to join up first and then await confirmation. I may drop inbut I guess I have said all I need to say here at PC. As always people will view it as they see fit that is the beauty and sometimes horror of life.

I did a little research on the web about massage & high blood pressure. I recommend speaking with your favorite therapist about the "Traeger" method. It was started by a Dr. Milton Traeger. It's not anywhere near as brutal as other massage therapies and for me anyway, it works better. I read that massage helps lower blood pressure. I cut and paste the benefits below. www.massagetoday.com is where this list of benefits comes from.

Physical and Mental Benefits

relaxes the whole body

loosens tight muscles
relieves tired and aching muscles
increases flexibility and range of motion
diminishes chronic pain
calms the nervous system
lowers blood pressure
lowers heart rate
enhances skin tone
assists in recovery from injuries and illness
strengthens the immune system
reduces tension headaches
reduces mental stress
improves concentration
promotes restful sleep
aids in mental relaxation

I hope this helps.

Hi Paul,

Unfortunately Wing Chun who runs it makes you have to wait for confirmation but I saw your post! Please accept my apologies for the error, I get involved in writing things I don't stop and think to say "i think" and invariably mis-read and then post it as truth. I guess thats how bad gossip gets around.
I think you've blown away a number of people for posting on there.
You're right about viewing it the way they want to. I've had a livejournal for years and its always interesting that its not so much a journal as a column about your thoughts and a snapshot in time of how you feel and then you vent and move on or are upset about something and once you've vented feel better.
Anyway, your site is bookmarked and I look forward to more updates. It needs RSS feed though! That way those of us with livejournals can view it on our "friends" page.
If you go to Wil Wheaton's blog or read his book "Just a Geek" you'll probably find and relate to a lot of the stuff he's been up to and had. He's been fighting casting directors in LA just remember him as a teenager in Stand By Me, etc.

Anyway, i'm going to look out for the Merc's Ale. My fave beer is Mountain Goat and I love microbrews and homebrews the best. Tastes so much nicer.

hello everybody and how have you all been doing in the time since you last posted?
final step towards uni for me is enrolment on wednesday. it's a whole new feeling not having a "first day of school". can't wait to be catching the train down again and taking a look at all that scenic stuff. i might go down with my friend this time, she seems pretty willing to come along even though she's not going to wollongong uni.

Michelle from CA - wow, sold out! Congrats! (word of warning: eexpect questions on the publishing business sometime in the not too distant future)

i too shall be looking out for the Merc's Ale.

had a birthday bbq with my friends at my ssiter's place. she and my bro-in-law were generous enough to offer to do all the work and everything since most of my mates would be in melbourne on my real birthday. and it was fun, ppl had plenty of melbourne stories to share (like how someone got their bankcard jammed in the atm receipt slot. they were going to buy lunch at the crown casino, they ewnded up trying to pick the card out with a bobby pin but it didn't work.) then we watched some dvds and went through my sister and bro-in-law's book, cd and dvd collection. it was hilarious trying to decipher my mandarin friend reading out cantonese phrases from the lonely planet guidebook.
it's good to be with friends and family.

Jen
31/1/01

Good Evening!!!(6;05pm florida time Jan. 31)
Im in need of as much advice possible!
As much as I would of love to come to you with a typical Teenage drama problem, this isnt half the concern-for me-.
My friend Amber-15-came to me a while ago...and----she told me that she thought she was pregnant, and asked me to get her a test. And my other friend(courtney)-Told her Mother-And Courtneys Mother told Ambers Mother. Ambers mother is blind-not literally-Ambers Mother didnt believe Courtneys Mom. Ambers Mom (Kathy) confronted Amber about the situation and Amber Denied the wHole THing!!!!!
Kathy said that she would call me to see what was going on--AMber called me and asked me to lie to her Mom--I told her Ididnt know what I was going to do and what really gets me ticked off is the fact that her life can be changed forever and the only thing she is concerned about is that she wont be able to see her boyfriend again......-She doesnt comprehend that she could have a number of diseases in her and shes not worried about it!
It just shows how careless and immature she is!!!!! First of all-She shouldnt have the slightest interest in sex right now and you think she should know that in her careless act to use protection!And if you asked me a girl like her should not even have a boyfriend!!
WEll-After about 20 min talkiing with my cousin I called Ambers mother and I told her the truth!!
Amber asked me to lie and I was Raised to tell the truth and to do the right thing and my mother was trying to convince me that I did do the right thingand if I did why do I feel like a bad person? I have no pity for AMber-She got herself in this and more than once.....I just dont know what to do.........help
Sicerely
Perplexed Lizee

Dear Lizee, You know if you had have lied you would feel worse than you do now. I am proud of you for doing the right thing and in a very difficult situation. It is hard to look after our friends when they infact are not looking after themselves properly. Sometimes to help your friends and to protect them you have to do something that they dont want (and cant do)and thus you feel like you are letting them down.

I feel that as a parent. Sometimes I want so bad to do what my kids are asking for but know that I cant because it is not what is good or right for them in that moment. It is a real confilct.

Anyway,hopefully Amber will appreciate that you were doing the right thing for her and that by asking you to lie for her she was not being the best friend to you - I understand that she is probably very frightened by the whole thing but I trust she will realize you were in fact looking after her best interests.

If she doesnt and if she takes it out on you then I fear she is going to be giving herself a pretty hard time of it at growing up, especially if she has done this before.

We all make our choices and must live by them. You made a good choice.

Dear Lizee,

What a conflict you must have had. You sound very mature for your age and the good values you have will lead you to "do the right thing" throughout your life.

I hope your friend will find someone who is a positive force in her life, like you are. It sounds like she needs help and it's a shame she can't confide in her mother. Try not to judge her and if you can, be a friend. She probably needs all the help she can get...

Sally

Good evening-
Thanks Sally and Paul-
My parents know of my situation and they are proud.I just thought I would feel good about doing the right thing.And Amber, I just hope she learns.
And in other news that makes my day is that my mother after almost ten years of being single is planning her Wedding!!!!!
My mother is getting married--im exstatic!!!Im so happy!!!!Finally-Shes happy and her and my father actually got along and had a conversation like civilized people and not arch enemies!
Life is good--It has its down-points but im thankful for it.....
With the happiness of life
lizee
-"Life is short, celebrations too few, friends too important and smiles too valuable to lock away for another day - so go ahead smile and brighten my day!!"-
P.Mercurio

Good evening-
Thanks Sally and Paul-
My parents know of my situation and they are proud.I just thought I would feel good about doing the right thing.And Amber, I just hope she learns.
And in other news that makes my day is that my mother after almost ten years of being single is planning her Wedding!!!!!
My mother is getting married--im exstatic!!!Im so happy!!!!Finally-Shes happy and her and my father actually got along and had a conversation like civilized people and not arch enemies!
Life is good--It has its down-points but im thankful for it.....
With the happiness of life
lizee
-"Life is short, celebrations too few, friends too important and smiles too valuable to lock away for another day - so go ahead smile and brighten my day!!"-
P.Mercurio

Good evening-
Thanks Sally and Paul-
My parents know of my situation and they are proud.I just thought I would feel good about doing the right thing.And Amber, I just hope she learns.
And in other news that makes my day is that my mother after almost ten years of being single is planning her Wedding!!!!!
My mother is getting married--im exstatic!!!Im so happy!!!!Finally-Shes happy and her and my father actually got along and had a conversation like civilized people and not arch enemies!
Life is good--It has its down-points but im thankful for it.....
With the happiness of life
lizee
-"Life is short, celebrations too few, friends too important and smiles too valuable to lock away for another day - so go ahead smile and brighten my day!!"-
P.Mercurio

Well, it's finally here! I'm busy packing and trying not to get too excited. This time tomorrow Millie will be at the airport picking me up, and later we'll be going to collect Mary.

Are you ready for us Millie? I can't wait to see you and everyone else. We're going to have so much fun!

Paul, I wish you could be with us. (Your name could possibly come up in conversation:)) I'll definitely have a beer in your honor while I'm there, and I'm sure you'll be present in spirit for Millie's Follies. What a woman she is, putting on a show and having guests from all over the world at the same time! Millie, you're amazing!

Gotta go see how much more I can shove into my suitcase. Safe travels, everyone! And for those of you not able to come, we'll take lots of pictures and have many stories to tell you, I'm sure!

Love to all of you,
Michelle

Thanks, guys, for gently getting the message to that person that "We understand. Really, we do... Now, stop!"

Pers