Happy Mardi Gras 2012

Mardi Gras Snack Café au Lait and Beignets

Happy Mardi Gras 2012 I actually haven't been to Happy Mardi Gras (which is French for "Fat Tuesday") in New Orleans since 1987. It's been 25 years. I attended every Mardi Gras of my life up until that point. There were Happy Mardi Gras and sad ones; stormy, cold and wet ones and even a few hot and muggy ones. That last Mardi Gras that I attended on Tuesday March 3, 1987 was wonderful. The weather was sunny, cool and crisp. I started my journey uptown at the intersection of Napoleon (actually Gen. Pershing) and St. Charles. I watched Rex and one of my favorites Zulu. Then of course the trucks. For someone not born in the crescent city. Most of the parades are Krewes (private clubs) of the wealthier families. The trucks are Krewes that are little less restrictive. I don't know what the exact membership requirements but I knew middle class and blue collar families who participated in those. The trucks also spent their time, money and effort on the throws instead of the float, costume or ball. I knew a family who used to sew up hundreds of bean bags to throw. There is pretty good live coverage at Experience Mardi Gras 2012

Asthma Apothecary Adventures

Xopenex® Inhaler with Spacer

My daughter and son both have asthma. In the last few years, they have had bouts with bronchitis and pneumonia treated at home and in the hospital caused by asthma triggered by environmental allergies. It has been frightening, expensive and complicated.

Luckily, my kids are both happy kids, mostly healthy. We are fortunate to be able to afford our United HealthCare self-employed insurance for $1,630.47 each month. Even with nearly $20,000.00 each year in insurance payments, the co-pay, deductibles and whatever the amount that we have to pay for the drugs is called exhausts me.

My daughter was using Albuterol as a rescue inhaler. She started having hives after each use. We used Benedryl (Diphenhydramine) to get rid of the hives. So the doctor switched her to Xopenex (Levalbuterol). Online it is described as a reverse isotope of Albuterol. Gladly, the Xopenex seems to open her airways without hives. I hate chasing one drugs side effects with another drug. i know there are times when there just isnt much of an option (like antibiotics) but as a general rule I want us to take as few drugs as possible.

I am trying to be prepared. Some of the medications are not readily available at the pharmacy. With my daughter the time from onset of symptoms to full blown pneumonia has been as little as hours so waiting a day for medication could land us back in the hopsital. The children seem to have the hardest time breathing in March (oak and pine pollen) and October (weed pollen). Today, I tried to enroll in a "Loyalty Club" to reduce our out-of-pocket cost for the medication. After much confusion it seems that the the "Club" has been discontinued. The nurse was sure that the company would not discontinue that unless there was a generic and there is not. It would have paid up to $50 towards the prescription. That would have only left another $50 for me to pay since my Insurance is paying $41. When I looked on the companies website I could only find information about the "Loyalty Club" for the inhaler Xopenex HFA which we do belong to but I could not find anything for the solutions for the nebulizer. I called the number on the card and it said that the program had been discontinued. A representative suggested that I look at http://www.internetdrugcoupons.com/ which indeed has a coupon for Xopenex HFA but none for the nebulizer solution.

Xopenex® HFA Loyalty Club Card

It reminded me of a Discount Prescription Drug Plan card that my friend Dawn got in the mail. I got that card and a few others. I am a little wary of these cards. I don't like that I cannot see who is paying for the websites, the actual printing of the cards, the television ads and the mailings. I am suspicious. My friend's recommendation and I found two additional that allow me to use them without anything from me: www.rxassist.org RxAssist Patient Assistance Program Center Discount Prescription Drug Plan; www.rxrelief.com RxRelief Pharmacy Discount Card; yourrxcard.com Your Rx Card Free Prescription Drug Card.

So next I call pharmacies to get the prices. I never get through to Walmart, it just rang and rang. Walgreens was very helpful but the lowest cost was $153 and I would have to buy a "Walgreens Card" for $20.00. Publix is the lowest price at $100 out-of-pocket.

I went to Publix armed with my cards and prescriptions of all types. The assistant told me that the Discount Prescription Drug Plan cards that I had printed out only help for generic drugs. Of course there is no generic of Xopenex.

When I got home I looked up generic Levalbuterol. It seems the initial patent expired on January 2010 but still there is no generic. The website asthma.emedtv.com/xopenex/generic-xopenex.html says "Sepracor will allow the generic companies to make a generic version of Xopenex 'early' in 2012 or 2013." That would explain why the "Club" has been discontinued. It says this information is from "settlements between Sepracor and generic manufacturers" which looks like litigation and that could explain the delay.

Emergency Room List: Plan Ahead for Your Visit to an Emergency Room

Medical Records - Proper ID for patient and if minor responsible adult, health insurance card, primary doctor name and phone number

Medical More - Bring all medicines and devices (for us that includes inhalers and spacers)

Toiletries - bring tooth brushes, toothpaste, contact lenses case and solution, brush/comb, mouth guard, stuff for period

Comforts - fav. blanket, a book to read, art set, favorite DVDs

Electronics - bring phone & cord, ipod, headset & cord, (gameboy, cord & games)

Clothes - PJs

Cleaning My Chalky Dishes in the Dishwasher

Chalky Dishes, Dishwasher, Limescale

I readily admit that housework is a challenge for me and that I use any shortcut or cheat that I can without endangering the life or well being of my friends and family. With that being said I had been using a powdered dishwasher distributed by Aldi's. I was happy for a while. Then this summer I started to notice that my dishes were chalky after they had been "cleaned" in the dishwasher. I was able to scrape the chalk off with my fingernail, it really appears as limescale. Not particularly a pleasant task to undertake. I use the dishwasher to make my life easier, not to add tasks to my day. I decided to buy Cascade. I have used Cascade over the years and I had never had any issues with it before. My first response was that Cascade has a new box. That is not really a big problem for me though. I am a firm believer in FUNCTION over FORM. I thought probably some research firm had decided that this newly designed box would entice more sales. The problem though was that my dishes did NOT improve. In fact, my previously black Farberware began to appear GRAY. My glasses and clear plastic cups all had a layer of limescale. I can remember an article, an announcement that my community had switched from using Chlorine to using Chloramine. So I decided to do some searching online. I found that many people across the country were having similar if not exactly the same issues as I was having. I asked a few local friends and they too were having trouble. I decided to try some of the solutions that I found online. I tried this first one, it works so I haven't tried any others.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
* 1/2 cup borax
* 1/2 cup baking soda
* 1/2 cup salt
* 3 envelopes unsweetened lemon drink mix (I am using Aldi's Flavoraide lemon-lime)
Use one tbsp for pre-wash and one tbsp wash.

I gave this recipe some thought. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) and Unsweetened Lemon Drink Mix (Citric Acid) make that lovely foam (http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/baking-soda-and-vinegar.html) giving off water and carbon dioxide. If I put salt in my bath it softens the water. For that matter people pay to have Calcium and Manganese removed from their water with salt in "water softeners." Now, I am certain that the gray is in fact limescale! And limescale is often Calcium Bicarbonate and can be removed with citric acid.

I like the recipe because I can mix it up from items I actually already have on hand. I give it a try. Immediately, my dishes were clean AND less scaley. I tried adding vinegar during the rinse cycle in a load with all of my Farberware. Now my spatula and spoons look brand new again.

I am happy with this simple solution maybe you will be too!

Finally Chalky Dishes in the Dishwasher Come Clean

Our Camping List

Your usage may vary. We are tent camping and this is list I use to gather and pack for our trip. I also check it as we pack the car to make sure some item didn't get left behind in the house!

Tarp, ground cloth
Tent
Stakes
Mallot
Air matress
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Flashlights, Lantern & related supplies
mess kit

Clothes
Plastic bag for wet, dirty clothes
Toiletry articles - soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shower shoes, washcloth, towel, etc.
Camp Fire Vest with Uniform or red, white, and blue clothing to wear during ceremonial
2 pairs comfortable shoes – tennis shoes are perfect - absolutely no open-toe or backless shoes
Raincoat or poncho - no umbrellas, please

Sit-upon or folding chair- to use when sitting on the wet, dirty ground
Quiet time activity - books, cards, a toy or two
Sunscreen and insect repellent
First aid kit for the trip
Firewood, shovel, bucket, charcoal (optional)
Camp chairs and table (optional)
Supplies for special activities you want to do
Food - food, plates, utensils, drinks, ice, ice chest, & any needed supplies

ALSO:
first aid kit
ice? water
chair
rope tarps
tent
matches

I wrote this to my mom. She and I both live without Gluten. She is planning a trip to New Orleans.
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I was thinking, have you traveled Gluten Free (GF) yet? Maybe you have, maybe you have not? Here are some of my tips.

I know you'll be staying with family but you will also have car trips etc.

I always bring trail mix. A handful substitutes for a light meal and it doesn't need refrigeration or cooking. I used Aldi's Fit & Active Trail Mix. It has raw pecans, almonds, hazel nuts, walnuts & a splash of raisins & craisins.

I like to carry my spray bottle of Braggs.

I try to find what I can eat of what others are eating, sandwiches can be rolled in one piece of lettuce or ingredients can be eaten separately. Two servings of peas instead of a roll. I know you do this well.

Most restaurants have something but some are VERY tricky.

Bunny told me breakfast is usually safe but I found out many restaurants add pancake batter to their omelets. So I ask. IHOP does but also has a healthy choice egg substitute omelete that is GF.

I have ordered sandwiches at fast food restaurants sans bread. They all accommodate thinking I am on the Atkins Diet. They'll allow doubling the lettuce & tomato too.

Popeys - red beans & rice are GF so is the french fries and coleslaw. Green beans are crazy. They have wheat flour & wheat gluten added.

McDonalds - an easy cheap meal, 2 side salads & a cup of H2O. It'll cost $2 + tax. I use 1 Caesar dressing for both salads. Fries are GF. There are more expensive salads but I wasn't really impressed. They also sell apple slices but I don't usually get them. Got a really nice fruit smoothie there for another $2.

Wendys - chili, fries & baked potatoes are all GF.

Taco bell -stick with hard shells, yummy.

Cracker Barrel - it was one of aunt annie;s favorites. They say these items are GF safe: bacon, sausage, grilled catfish, grilled chicken tenders, hamburger steak, rib eye & sirloin steaks, apple sauce, carrots, corn, green beans, pinto beans & turnip greens.

I never heard of anyone who thickens their jambalaya. Gumbo will be thickened but some families always used corn starch.

Many big chains have GF menus but I sometimes get frustrated trying to figure it out when I am hungry. PF Changs, Ruby Tues., Chilis, etc.

I don't know what to do about beignets & muffallattas. I am leaning toward ordering a muff without bread or handing them GF bread to make the sandwich on.

Hope this helps.

Arts and Crafts

I made "Jack" Pack by fashioning an emblem out of craft foam.

Have you ever figured out the difference between "arts" and "crafts?" I love art. I love to see it, feel it and create it. I love painting, drawing, carving, modeling, gluing, soldering, cutting and sewing. Most of the art I make looks much like the products your 7 year old brings home in the their backpack each Friday from school. But it is still my art. It makes me happy to create it, to look at it and to give it away. I do wish that in the end it would look better but only so that the people that I give it to could appreciate it better. So to me the difference between "arts" and "crafts" is only this: if I have created art others see it as a craft. Back to my beading now...