Protecting Pets in the Summer

It’s that dreaded time of year again.  Outdoor temps are climbing, moods are getting cranky, sometimes it’s too hot to even move.  Summers in North Texas can be brutal for all of us, including the animals who count on us for their care.   Keep the following tips in mind when making plans for your animal friends during this hot and steamy season.

•    Never leave an animal inside your vehicle while unattended.  Unlike humans, dogs and cats lack the ability to regulate body temperature through perspiration. A car parked in as low as 75 degrees can become a deadly trap for animals locked inside, where they can soon suffer heat exhaustion, stroke, brain damage, or death.  Cracking windows also does very little to provide relief from sweltering heat. Check out www.mydogiscool.com, a site dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of leaving pets inside vehicles on warmer days.  There you can find out just how hot a parked car can become, download a printable flier to place on unattended vehicles with pets left inside. Note: Contact police immediately if you witness an animal in danger or child left unattended in a vehicle.

•    Always transport animals safely inside the cab of a truck, or inside a tethered kennel in the pick-up bed.  Each year countless pets are killed by riding in the back of trucks, due to flying debris, being tossed out inadvertently, or jumping out on their own.  Each year, local animal groups, newspapers, lost pet websites, and animal controls are contacted by those who have lost animals because they were thrown or bolted from the back of a truck.  In warm months, restrict animal transportation to the inside of cabs only, as a pick-up bed can become dangerously hot in a hurry.

•    Many dogs are terrified in thunderstorms and by July 4th fireworks.  Leave animals at home when attending summer celebrations, and whenever possible, bring them indoors when neighborhood fireworks and summer storms explode.

•    Lawn fertilizers and insecticides can be fatal for pets and children.  Take extreme caution when using them in your yard.  Also, there are over 700 plant varieties that can be toxic to animals and children.  To find a complete list, visit www.aspca.org.

•    Whether indoors or out, make sure animals have access to plenty of water, and change several times a day.  When possible, keep pets indoors.  If your animals must be kept outside, make sure to provide constant shade, as well as bowls of water and food that will not tip over.  While exercise remains important, limit daily walks and play sessions to early morning or evening hours.  In days of extreme heat, skip outdoor activities.  Apply sunscreen on light-colored ear tips and noses, and never have coats clipped shorter than one inch.  Cutting fur too short can lead to sunburn and overheating.

•    Most animal bites occur in summer months.  Spay or neuter pets to reduce negative behavior, such as aggression and anxiety, and to help prevent thousands of unwanted litters born each year.   For information about low cost spay/neuter, call the Denton Humane Society at 940-382-PETS.  The incidence of rabies rises in summer months, too., so make sure pets are current on vaccines.  Heartworm is spread through mosquito bites, which increase in summer as well.  Keep animals on heartworm preventative to keep this potentially fatal disease at bay.  Summertime is also flea season.  Maintain your animal’s health and comfort by using a flea/tick control product recommended by your vet.  Always make sure your pet has a collar and ID tag, or have your vet implant a microchip, to insure your pet can be found in the case she becomes lost.

•    Use caution when exposing pets to pools and lakes.  Don’t assume your dog will automatically know how to exit the pool if he happens to go in.  Teach him where the steps are and never leave him unattended.  When boating with your dog, always use a canine lifejacket.

•    Make yourself aware of the signs of heatstroke and know what to do if your pet is in danger.  According to www.peteducation.com, signs of a heatstroke include:  panting, bright red tongue, slobbering, thick and sticky saliva, depression, weakness, reluctance to move, convulsions, eventual death.   If you see any of these signs, it is vital to lower your pet’s body temperature immediately:  move your pet to the shade or air conditioning, place wet towels on his body (on head, neck, and chest only), provide cool (not cold) water and allow him to drink in small amounts, offer ice in small amounts for him to lick, and call your vet immediately.

In today’s economy, it may seem difficult to dress as fashionably as we might like.  While limited resources might hinder our ability to buy anything we want, it can serve as a challenge to our creativity where fashion is concerned.  Fashion is available to anyone, regardless of economic circumstances!

I have been guilty of cleaning out my closet at the end of a season with no regard for how some garments might be reworked in the next season.  My attitude toward clothing could have been summarized like this:  “Oh, it’s just a shirt.  I can always get a newer, more stylish one!”  I know that my attitude was wasteful and uncreative.  As I have talked with older, more seasoned women about the role of fashion and clothing in our culture, I have learned that there is another approach to moving from season to season in the world of fashion that involves the creative use of clothing resources.

Most of us know what looks good on our own bodies.  Regardless of the current fashion trends, we should trust our instincts where clothing is concerned.  Just because pastels might be in vogue this summer does not mean they will work for every person.  For that reason, we all need to identify our personal style and use what we already have to develop our wardrobe for a new season.  With the addition of a few carefully selected accessories and some minor alterations, we can turn something old into something new and fashionable without breaking the bank.

Another side of this creative fashion thinking involves sharing clothing with friends and family.  We might look at last summer’s maxi dress with disdain, but our next door neighbor will look adorable in it with the simple addition of a belt or necklace.  This summer, examine your resources and get creative with fashion!

Compared with taking photos on film or video on tape, digital photography or videography provides more opportunities for editing, storing and sharing your media with friends and family across the globe in an instant. However, taking advantage of these compatibilities typically requires pairing your digital video or still camera with a relatively new home computer and some basic software.

Most digital cameras available today capture photos or video onto a small internal hard drive or on a removable media card.  A modern home computer, whether a Mac or a PC, if properly equipped, will provide all the tools necessary to get the most of this digital media.

The first challenge to overcome involves transferring video and still images from a camera’s internal hard drive or removable media cards onto the computer for editing.  USB (Universal Serial Bus) has become the standard interface for most consumer digital cameras and all modern home computers.  Many PCs also come equipped with a variety of media card readers installed.  Macs typically do not include media card readers, but all-in-one media card readers which connect via the USB port are inexpensive and readily available.  In either case, it is important confirm the compatibility between media card reader and the camera.

The right software can make the transfer process relatively painless and offer a range of editing and sharing options.  Some cameras come with very basic editing software, but it is frequently only Windows compatible.  For Mac users, software that comes preloaded such as iMovie or iPhoto, might be all that is needed.  Those programs are designed to automatically detect a camera connected to the computer’s USB port and help streamline the process of copying the files onto the computer.  They also provide basic video editing capabilities and photo enhancement tools like easy “red eye” reduction.

PC users might want to look to third party software for more powerful editing capabilities.  Adobe’s Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements are scaled down versions of their professional video and photo editing applications and are surprisingly powerful and easy to use.  Premiere Elements will easily transfer video from hard drive based cameras, removable media cards, DVDs or tape based digital video cameras.  In addition to basic video editing one can incorporate still images, titles, music and narration.  Once a video has been edited, it can be shared by burning it onto a DVD or exporting it to a compressed video file such as an .mp4 to be emailed to friends or uploaded to a social networking site like YouTube or Facebook.

At The Panhandle House, we frequently transfer older home movies, videos or photos shot on 8mm film, VHS or camcorder tapes and 35mm slides, as well as, audio recordings to digital files which the savvy home editor can incorporate into a video using their own editing software.  For those who would prefer to leave the editing to the professionals, we can do that as well.  We create simple videos for families and friends just as frequently as we produce slick corporate promotional materials.

Our Daily Bread serves a noon meal Monday through Friday to the homeless and those in need. No questions, paperwork or sign-in. Just a desire to provide a daily meal in a safe environment for all who are hungry, as well as physical and emotional support for the needy people of Denton County. Our Daily bread located in the kitchen and fellowship hall of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at 300 W. Oak Street in downtown Denton. A professional chef, assisted by volunteers from more than 26 local churches and other community organizations, prepares and serves an average of 175 meals a day, Monday-Friday (12:00 noon until 1:15 pm daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Also, snack packs are being offered to patrons for the weekend, when Our Daily Bread is not open.

The program is dependent on the gifts of time, talent and treasures generously given by a large community of volunteers and donors. Individuals, church partners, local business and community groups support the program through volunteer hours, money, grants, goods and prayer.  These folks participate in a wide variety of activities in support of Our Daily Bread, including meal preparation, serving and clean-up, produce and commodity pick-up, agency coordination, special holiday distributions, and fund-raising.  Our Daily Bread receives no local or national funding.

Clients also have other programs available to meet their needs. A volunteer Program Director works closely with clients, referring them to appropriate agencies such as HOPE Inc., Interfaith Ministries, Family Resource Center and area Clinics.  Bus tokens and gasoline vouchers are made available for necessary transportation needs.  Hygiene products are distributed as needed and a nurse is available once a week for blood pressure checks.

The food is good, nourishing and filling.  The hearts of those who serve and those who are served at Our Daily Bread are filled too, with gratitude. There are many types of volunteer opportunities, as well as supplies and food items that Our Daily Bread always needs. Or, just come and visit.  Homelessness is isolating, and you can help by starting a game of chess or checkers, or discuss the latest book you read. Come be a part of something that makes a difference in Denton County.

For more information, contact Helen at 940 262 0871
or Billie at 940 271 4712, www.ourdailybreaddenton.org

Summer is in full swing and, if your home is anything like ours, you’re busier than ever.  The end of the school year didn’t quite slow the pace of life like you hoped.  Now, with the kids at home, there are more places to go and things to do.

But summertime can be a great time to re-acquaint yourself with you kids – between trips to the library and pool, summer camps and sleepovers.  Truth is, our children grow up so quickly that we’ll one day look back and wish we’d made more of those lazy summer days with our kids.  As my last child leaves elementary school and my oldest enters high school, these are things my wife and I have been pondering of late.

Fortunately, we’ve developed a strong family identity in our home.  I think that a family identity is a vital part of developing a child’s self identity.  Knowing the family’s character and shared beliefs, values, and even traditions gives kids a great platform from which they can discover their place in this world.  Studies show that kids who identify with their family’s values tend to get in less trouble, tend to be less promiscuous, and face less risk of drug and alcohol abuse.

But how to build a strong family identity?  Moses tells us when he says: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, NIV).”

Your presence matters.  Moses assumes that parents will “impress” values on children because they are spending time together.  Kids see your presence as a sign of care and connectedness.  Studies show that kids in families who eat dinner together perform better in school and exhibit less negative behavior.  But when life gets too busy, we’ll often dredge up the age-old excuse that, though we don’t have quantity time together, we make it quality time.  Maybe your kids are smarter than mine, but my children don’t seem to recognize the difference.

Talk about faith.  Some of us are challenged by the idea of talking about spiritual things.  But God cares about your family and discussing Him can help build a family identity.  It will also help your children develop the strong convictions they will need as they grow.  Pray together.  Go to church together.  Read the Bible together.  Even exposing your children to God’s truth in small amounts will set them down the right path for the future.

Kids need reminders.  Moses’ description of Scriptures tied to wrists and written on doorposts is simply describing reminders…reminders why we do this, reminders why we don’t do that.  Hopefully, we don’t just give rules but also some of the reasons behind the actions we desire so they can one day make their own wise choices.

Jesus said: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25, NIV).”

This summer, take the time to help build that strong foundation your kids will need for the storms in life.

This One’s for You, Bud

For a boy raised in a teetotaling home, the image of Otis, the comical drunk stumbling his way into Andy Griffith’s jail cell was my first exposure to alcohol abuse.

For men born later, that first media impression of alcohol may have come from TV commercials; remember the “Whazzzuppp” guys?  Or the Budweiser frogs? Advertising for every generation conveys the very clear message that drinking booze makes you sexually attractive to svelte young women in bikinis, and if you drink enough, they might just drop out of the sky with parachutes (Note: this rarely happens in real life).

The marketing and social pressure to use alcohol begins early.  I rode the Swinging Spanish Ship ride at Six Flags many years ago with a friend and her children. The crowd on one end began shouting, “TASTES GREAT!” as their end of the boat reached its apex, echoed by the riders on the other end screaming, “LESS FILLING!” as they reached the top.  How would sociologists explain the phenomenon of a hundred children spontaneously shrieking the words to a beer commercial?

The Center for Substance Abuse Research reports that, “Alcohol is the most widely abused psychoactive drug in the United States,” and the rates of alcohol abuse appear to be climbing.  About two thirds of problem drinkers are men, but the effects of alcohol abuse are devastating to both the alcoholic and his family.  Fortunately, help is available.

Alcoholics Anonymous, a fellowship of alcoholics with no dues or fees, publishes a test:

1.    Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but couldn’t?
2.    Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking?
3.    Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another to try and stay sober?
4.    Have you had to have a morning drink in the past year?
5.    Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble?
6.    Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?
7.    Has your drinking caused trouble at home?
8.    Do you ever try to get “extra” drinks at a party?
9.    Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want, but you don’t?
10.    Have you missed work or school because of drinking?
11.    Do you have “blackouts”?
12.    Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you didn’t drink?

According to AA, answering “yes” to four or more of these may indicate a problem.  If you think you may have a problem, please get help.

Resources:  Alcoholics Anonymous, www.aa.org
University Behavioral Health, http://ubhdenton.net

Tell a New Story

Are you trapped in the past and telling the same old negative stories over and over again?  Do you find yourself repeating negative events that happened to you years ago?  Do you wish the events would have been different and are you holding on to blame and anger?

If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. I saw a television show where women in their thirties and forties were still holding on to the fact they were teased in school.  One woman was homeschooling her children solely based on the fact that she was teased in school over 30 years ago.

It is easy to become attached to these negative stories and keep repeating them to anyone who will listen. Words are very powerful and reliving your negative stories may keep you in a victim role, disempowered, and stuck in the past, unable to move forward to a happy, healthy place. Become aware of the negative stories, how often you repeat them, and why you are telling them.  Is it for sympathy or attention?

Stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for your happiness and your life.  Forgive anyone who has ever hurt you and forgive yourself.  Forgiveness is a huge key to inner peace. Holding onto resentment and anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Change your greeting and how you respond to others. Instead of identifying with the suffering start affirming your strengths and always use a positive greeting.  Become empowered and identify with your greatness. Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we deal with it, so choose to tell a new story and get rid of that old tape recorder. Release the past with love and let it go, as it no longer serves you. Heal, move on, and choose to live in the present with peace and happiness.

Turn on any news program today, and it won’t take long to hear another heartbreaking story about cyberbullying and its tragic consequences.  With unrestrained access to texting, cell phones, and social networking sites, bullying is no longer limited to the playground or the school hallways.   While this alarming trend has increased in parents a fear of the cyber world, it is important to note that research shows that with proper information and execution, this cycle can be minimized. Equipped with information and a few simple tools, parents can prepare themselves for the role that technology plays in their child’s life, helping to curtail the growth of this detrimental epidemic and its harmful impact on their children.

Cyberbullying is defined by the Cyberbullying Research Center as “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.”  In their February 2010 survey of 4000 students, ages 12 -18, the Research Center found that 20% of students report experiencing cyberbullying on a regular basis, with rumors and disparaging comments being the most commonly identified forms.  Even more disturbing, in a study on cyberbullying and suicide, researchers found that cyberbullying victims were twice as likely to attempt suicide as those individuals experiencing other forms of bullying.

Recent news reports describe one horrific story about Alexis Pilkington, 17, a West Islip soccer star, who committed suicide in March 2010 following vicious bullying on a popular social networking site, which continued after her death, adding to the grief her family and friends were experiencing.  Formspring.me, the site where the bullying took place, advertises to be a place where youth can “ask questions, give answers, and learn more about your friends.”  The danger with this site and many others is that these question and answer sessions can be done anonymously which creates a greater outlet for bullying as kids can make any statement without the risk of being identified.  Alexis’ death is a costly example of the role that cyberbullying plays in the lives of our youth.  It also exemplifies how wide open the door is for youth to communicate with complete insensitivity and without consequence.
While this epidemic seems to be spiraling out of control, there are a number of precautions that parents can take.  It is important to educate children on using the Internet and social networking sites.  Kids need a clear understanding that nothing posted on the Internet is truly “private.”  Teens must learn to appreciate and utilize discretion in posting pictures and comments.  It is important to help kids understand that comments made through email, text, or over the internet are not the same as in person communication and may be misunderstood.  Young people also need to understand that compromising pictures taken by friends can end up on the Internet or sent via text message.  These are opportunities for parents to discuss with and teach their children about the balance between desired community and privacy and about good communication skills.

Parents should be willing to discuss dangers with their kids, helping them understand that predators are on the Internet.  Discuss how to stay protected by avoiding strangers and personal discussions and never giving out personal information.  Implement safeguards, such as parental controls and filters and parental monitoring of texts and social networking sites.  Parents should engage in this process not as a time when they have to fight with their kids, but as an opportunity to show their loved ones they are fighting for them.

Education, awareness, and safe practices, both on the part of kids and teens and their parents, can provide peace of mind and safety for the entire family. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, put it best when he said, “The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand.”  It is important for parents to have their own understanding of the Internet and social technology, so that they can guide their kids in its proper use and place in life.  Parents must recognize that social networking and technology are a vital part of an adolescent’s world and should not be completely disregarded.  A few simple steps and open communication with teens will significantly decrease the risk of the dangers associated with today’s communication.

For more information visit the Cyberbullying Research Center at http://www.cyberbullying.us/index.php

When was the last time you bit into a warm, ripe peach?  I can’t imagine you’ve never done that, but imagine picking that fresh peach right from the tree and biting into it – the juice dripping  down your chin so you have to catch it with the other hand; the ripe flavor causing your mouth to water at the very thought. These aren’t the peaches you get at the grocery store; they can only be experienced in person at a local farm.

Here in North Texas we have not only our local grocer,  but farms and day trips within driving distance that can let us experience the farm first hand. This not only supports the grower with the maximum return on their product, it incorporates family time, educational opportunities and lets your kids experience just what it takes to bring that produce to their table.

Want a day trip?  The Texas Hill County peach growers are known for great produce! Peach farming isn’t as easy as it looks. Because the hill country peaches flower early to mid-March, a frost could occur that may negatively impact a significant percentage of the peaches. That Texas Hill Country farmer is out there going to great lengths to save their crop.  One farmer, who also employs a wind turbine to promote air movement during frost periods, engages a helicopter to fly over the fields in the early hours of the morning to prevent frost from settling on the peaches. Quite an expense, but needed technology at times to save a crop. These farmers may contract with private weather services as well as monitoring moment by moment temperatures through downloadable devices kept out near the trees.

If you’re interested in visiting a local peach orchard, we’re fortunate to have the Red River Peach Orchard just 30 minutes away in Gainesville (www.redriverpeachorchard.com). Not only do they have fabulous peaches June into August, the owner, Norman Miner is available to talk about his orchard with you at great lengths. And lastly, don’t forget about Weatherford, Texas – home of the Parker County Peach Festival scheduled for July 10th (http://www.peachfestivaltx.com/).

Thinking about growing your own? The best time to purchase and plant is during the winter months when the trees are dormant. Although stores don’t usually stock them at that time, you might consider Womack Nursery in De Leon, Texas. This is a local grower who has healthy bare root fruit trees and can provide them at the time they need to be planted. A benefit to buying them directly from the grower is they have the knowledge and are willing to take the time to share it with you.  You can get on their catalog list at www.womacknursery.com.

So think again about what that fresh, dripping warm peach will taste like and support the local growers.  It’s a summer treat your family will remember forever.

The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society have released a new set of guidelines. They will help doctors and patients classify types of low back pain and plan a course of treatment.

The doctors recommend that a patient think about when and how the pain developed before visiting a physician. At the appointment, a history will be taken that focuses on precipitating circumstances and present symptoms.  There are a few symptoms that can tell you whether your backache is more than the result of too much physical work on the previous day:

•  If there is any loss of sensation or strength in the leg, immediate medical attention
is needed.
•  If there is fever, immediate treatment is required.
•  If pain lasts through the night, you should see a doctor soon.
•  Shooting pain and tingling could be caused by lumbar disc disease.
•  Back pain that intensifies and subsides repeatedly might be caused by a kidney stone.
•  Pain that shoots down one leg to behind the knee is an indication of sciatica.
•  Tender points and pain in the spine, neck, shoulders and hips could be caused
by fibromyalgia.
•  Most back pain can be treated without surgery. Physical therapy and education
on lifting and movement techniques are recommended. To prevent back injuries:
•  Lift with your legs. If you have back problems, don’t lift much at all.
•  Stretch daily to keep the back limber and to improve circulation.
•  Keep abdominal muscles strong. They support your back.