Sunday afternoon was sad. Our friend and spiritual brother was rushed to the hospital. He could not breathe well. As the story was told, he texted his wife who was upstairs. He could not call so he made his fingers do the talking.

Sunday night was shocking. He died in the hospital after 7 cardiac arrests. It was shocking because we knew that he was health conscious. About 2 decades ago, he was sold to the idea that sugar is bad. We knew he did not use sugar, or at least only minimally.

When we went to the wake we learned that he already had a heart problem and it was hereditary. The family discovered it just 5 years ago. The problem is, he didn’t want to go see the doctor. He did not want to spend medically. Rather, he tried to alter his eating habits. For the last year, though, it seemed that he got fed up with the habit and started to eat more than enough meats. When he was young, his son was telling us during the wake, he always ate something fatty. It’s what clogged the arteries. If not for his diet, he could have died long time ago.

Stress was also a contributor. Five years ago, before he had his last job, he was not stressed. He was enjoying his craft, woodworking. He’s a very fine woodworker. Stress seems to be present in most of the death causes. He started to be stressed when he accepted his last job, which includes handling people. When we talk with him, it is not evident that he is stressed at all. Maybe because he’s soft spoken. He doesn’t get mad or angry. Perhaps he just didn’t show it. Perhaps he just controlled it. He is so patient with people.

His body was sent to his province today. His cause of death is still shocking. Today, hubby sent me a link to an article which says that you have to eat lesser to live longer. He loves me so much he wanted me to live longer than he would live (read: he didn’t want to be the one to be left behind ). He is the one always reminding me to exercise.

I want to live long. I want to see my children grow and be able to be independent before they be left on their own. Lack of exercise combined with unhealthy diet can really kill. It’s either I start doing the right thing now or take some help from the best diet supplement for faster result.

The other night while at the wake, I was imagining a scenario. What if my husband suddenly fell on the floor, clasping his chest, then loses his breathing and consciousness and heartbeat? It may be the first time I will use CPR. What if nothing happens? What if it is really his time? What will be of me and my children? I hope and pray that his time is not yet near. When it happens, though, I know God has His perfect timing.

I was probably 13 or 14 then. We were in Baguio City, sometime in September or October. The whole family went horseback riding at the Wright Park where horses go around with or without a guide.

The first few minutes with the guide was ok. I thought it was actually boring because the horse was just walking as the guide held the rope. He actually asked me if I’d like to be left alone. I agreed. The guide left but the horse stood still for about 10 minutes. My time is running out and so is the money which is paid by the half hour.

I tried every whoa and hiya but it would not budge. I tried my heels against its sides with matching tsk-tsk-tsk and it moved…actually faster than I could handle. It was running (well, faster than galloping) beyond my control and the guide was far away from me. I tried every command I could imagine but it would not stop.  The next thing that I did was embrace the horse by the neck. It stopped. Great!

When I released my embrace, it went faster than galloping again. I embraced it again and it stopped again. The third time I was looking for the guide while I was embracing the horse. I learned later that my command was to make the horse run instead of making it stop.

That was quite traumatic for me. That was my last ride, actually. I have thought to overcome my fear but I never had the opportunity. Actually I admire equestriennes. Seeing them in breeches is really cool. It makes women being able to do what men can do more visible. It gives me a positive outlook that I will be able to ride a horse again. That I can.

Online trading has been available on the net for several years now. I’ve heard of some people who are quite successful but I don’t know them personally.

Sadly, when something gets successful, the malicious evildoers will harness that strength. They try to scam people into trading with them, promising higher interest. I know some who have been scammed and they told the same story. While you trade low, they will give you your income but once you trade high, bye-bye to your money.

I still want to know more about it, though. And it looks like there’s a good place to start learning before diving. As for anything new like online trading, it’s best to test the waters always.

I was probably 15 then. As a family, we went horseback riding at the Wright Park in Baguio City. It was supposed to be a leisure ride. It was a tourist attraction. Even up to now you can see horses with pink hair.

My younger siblings were with somebody else but I was alone. Besides I was a big girl already.

Those horses were not for running. At the most, just for slow galloping around the park, usually with a guide. Many of those horses don’t even move and are meant just for picture taking.

The horse I rode was fine. I was excited to ride one. I only saw them in movies. That time was reality. Reality that was more than I could bear.

My horse was walking around with the guide and it was a smooth ride until the guide left me alone with the horse for getting something somewhere. For the first few seconds it was ok until I wanted it to stop so I commanded it with a ‘whoa’ which I think I said it with a stress that made my horse run! Panic ran up my spine and I hugged the horse’s neck and it stopped! Whew! That was close! But as soon as I removed my arms around its neck, it started to run again! I hugged it again and it stopped again. For 3 times this happened until the guide came in to the rescue and stopped the horse.

That was an experience I’ll never forget. Since then I never tried to ride a horse again. But I love watching them. I love horse movies. I loved The Black Stallion.

Are there any horse riders among you? Do you own a horse? Tell me about it! How do you care for them? How do you take care of your horse supplies? What unforgettable experience can you share?

The pilot had a heart attack he got blind. He was on air. He called for help and the only solution was to have another plane fly beside him. The blind pilot must believe and trust the guide.

In life, we often go blind. We usually blend in with the world, adapting to its moral decline. Unless we cry for help, we are sure to crash.

Watch the video and let me know your side of the issue.

I received an email from my sister, which was a forward and it has something to do with blood clot/stroke indicator–how you can know so you can take immediate medical attention.

With the many hoaxes going around, I have developed the habit to check other sources and I found it to be true (not a hoax).

The email, in a nutshell, says you only have to remember the first 3 letters of ‘stroke’ which is STR.

S-smile

T-talk

R-raise both hands

Anything abnormal with smile, talk and rasing of both hands should be a reason to immediately call medical emergency since it takes only up to 3 hours for the stroke to be reversed.

It also said that a 4th indicator is the tongue. Let the person stick out his/her tongue. If it’s crooked or goes to either side, it’s also an indication of stroke.

When I did a search, I found American Stroke Association. I captured what they have to say to not duplicate their content.

TIA, or transient ischemic, is a “mini stroke” having the same sysmptoms but would last only for a few minutes but about 15% of strokes are preceded by TIA so it’s something not to be ignored.

I’m not the forwarding type of person that is why I created this blog post instead. To those who will hear, let them hear…and let all your friends and relatives know about this blog post. It might just save someone’s life.

I always have the fear of getting pricked by a needle, by any medical person. My recent encounter with the worst dentist I’ve ever been under happened just about 3 months ago…

My lower left wisdom tooth had been hurting on and off for about a year. When I eat, often some ort would get lodged inside that little hole due to a broken crown. I thought, having it removed will solve the solution of not hurting again since the tooth will be gone forever. Besides, since the tooth was lower than the next molar, it would not matter much if I say goodbye forever.

Among the many dental clinics in our area I decided to ask this particular one that was still open at 6pm. I said I’ll get back after I finish my market purchases. I did get back at 6:45. Her normal schedule is up to 7pm and she told me to text her if I can make it around 6:45, which I did.

It was just supposed to be a simple extraction that normally gets done under 15 minutes. Guess how long it took us. We ended at 8pm!

I told her I do get my jaw locked when I open up wide. She asked me to open sideways instead since it’s the wisdom tooth that needed a pullout. Ok, fine.

She injected anesthesia. When she tried to pull it was painful. Injected again. Four times. Was that acceptable? I don’t know. I’m still alive, though.

The good stuff about her are the following:

- She wore a mask (some do not) and a glove.

- Her clinic was still open when others are already closed.

- She was situated along the main road just across the grocery store I came from.

- She entertained me and gave me her business card so I can text her whether I will be back or not.

- She was amiable.

What turned me off, though, as she worked her way were the following:

- She did not care the corner of my mouth was hurting due to the friction it got with the instruments she used. I tried to tell her but she kept saying it’s almost over when it was yet 7pm. Even under the influence of anesthesia, it hurt!

- She used several instrument she never thought she would and as she needed it she asked her assistant to get it for her. The problem was, her assistant was busy fixing her things and other stuff, then she holds the instruments as if they will not be placed inside the client’s mouth. What’s worse, the dentist thought she was done with a certain instrument and placed it in her wash sink, then she asked her assistant to get it back!

We were dead tired already by 7:30pm, she was struggling with my tooth, I was struggling to be relaxed and I could not be relaxed. She used her grider to break my tooth into smaller pieces, tried to make a wedge on the side so she can get a grip when she pulled. She was a big woman and her strength could not pull my tooth. Good thing I am tall and big enough to counter her pull otherwise I would be floating on the dental chair. It was a difficult extraction, I know. It was the 2nd tooth extracted and the first one was in ’84 with the same strenuous effort and 3 people trying to keep me on the chair while the dentist pulled.

- It turned out that it was a good tooth and a filling would have been better. As a dentist she should know and suggested it! Or was she thinking it takes a longer time to do a filling than a pulling and that she expects to finish by 7pm and she just did not want to pass up the opportunity to earn before she closed her clinic?

- She did not stick to her price. She asked for double. I know it was really difficult but I asked her the price before I decided to get back. The price was a standard in our area for extraction. I tried to haggle but she would not give in. Good thing I had some money but it was our budget for the next day.

The antibiotic I took did not take effect until the 6th day! The pain ebbed little by little but only totally healed after a month! I could not eat well, could not talk wall. The corner of my mouth always opened its wound, again and again. It was the worst dental carelessness I ever had….and I told myself to never have an extraction ever again.

Recollecting that moment she was grinding my tooth to smaller pieces, she was also digging as if she was in a treasure hunt, like opening a paint lid with a screwdriver that doesn’t open easily!

Feeling the spot with my tongue now, I feel there’s something sharp under the gum. Could it be just the bone or did she miss a part?

I hope dentists would care better. Not only for their business. We, the clients, are the life blood of their business. Does the AZ dental practice management give solution to such problems too? Hopefully, they do, and hopefully, all dentists would comply.

Right now it’s 1:06am, Sunday.

Right in front of me is the handwritten notes I took during our last month’s Women’s Club meeting because I was appointed Secretary. Up to the last moment, I haven’t typed it out and in a few hours, at 9:30am, is the start of this month’s meeting.

I have some deadlines to meet before going to bed, one is this Minutes of the Meeting. Another is my speech assignment. Yes, something I really don’t find myself at ease with…speaking in a speech manner. Even in casual fellowship, I’m more of the listener than the speaker. I used to say that my pen (or keyboard) is mightier than my tongue! I communicate better by writing my thoughts.

Writing my thoughts doesn’t mean I am a good secretary. To the contrary. I think I’m the worst secretary anyone could ever have. I know I type fast. At 63wpm, that’s already above average. But being a secretary is not just about typing. Yeah, maybe I am a good or excellent typist but not a secretary. Maybe the spontaneity in me prefers less the rigidity of taking notes and making the minutes. Not to mistake that I don’t like taking notes. I do take notes especially if it’s something I should remember. Being often forgetful, there’s no other remedy to memory recall than to look back to written notes.

As the Secretary of our Women’s Club, there are expectations. Now I have to not just listen to what transpired. I have to write it down, type it later and read the minutes next meeting. That’s another talking assignment. I may only be reading it but still I don’t like the talking part. If ever you catch me talking in front of many (above 10) people, I am overcoming that fear.

I see the need, though. I may not like doing it but if no one else can do it, I’m not backing out from the challenge. I just hope I can do what is expected of me and even make it better. Speaking in public is one of my fears but I’d like to overcome it. I may have those fears but I don’t worry about them. I’m not stressed. Just don’t let me sing solo in front of many people. I can’t muster the courage yet for that.

It’s 1:47am and I’m sleepy. Let me dream instead.