IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE. ARE YOU READY FOR 2009?

Success comes to he who is willing to work hard, fight a good fight and sacrifice everything when necessary. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

As we near the end of another year we are faced with many new challenges. The economical situation at home and abroad dims the festive moment. If what the analysts are saying is true, we can look forward to a new year filled with more hardship as more people lose there jobs and many others graduate into a world that offers very little for them. Only the strong will survive. Only those who know the true meaning of sacrifice will succeed. Only the fearless will attain the satisfaction of a hard day's work for a well earned pay.

I do not mean to dampen the eve of New Year's Eve. I only want to make sure we all understand that there will be a lot of hardship but that we can win the battle in the New Year if we use stamina and sacrifice.

Good Luck to everyone and do have a Happy New Year. Go out or just stay at home and eat some grapes (12 actually to follow the Spanish tradition of one for each month of the year. You eat them just before midnight and our ancestors believed it would give you a good year.)

Have a Blessed New Year. Remember, we can make 2009 all it was meant to be if we work hard and sacrifice when necessary.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

IT'S BOXING DAY!! PRESENTS! PRESENTS! PRESENTS!

When you live in two worlds like I now do it is hard for me to say hi from Belize and not from Mexico. This past year has been one of growth, sorrow, happiness, fulfilment and progress. We look at the world today and we are fortunate to just be alive. There are so many less fortunate so while we want to complain about not being able to buy this and that, we must stop and think that there are many who have no where to sleep and no food to eat. No one to tell them "I Love You", "I care for you" and all the things we take for granted in our everyday existence.

As Christmas comes around once more we are singing and feeling the spirit of Christmas. BUT ARE WE REALLY BEING CHRISTIANS? ARE WE REALLY LOVING EACH OTHER? THE TIME HAS COME. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MERRIMENT BUT IT IS ALSO THE REASON TO DO BETTER. LET US LOOK AROUND US AND TRY TO HELP AT LEAST ONE LESS FORTUNATE HUMAN BEING. THIS WORLD IS OURS AND WHAT WE DO WITH IT WILL BE PASSED DOWN TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. REMEMBER, LOVE IS ALL IT TAKES.

LOVE, PEACE, JOY,
BRENDA

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HAPPY HANNAKAH!! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!! FROM PREHISPANICO IN COROZAL, BELIZE AN CHETUMAL MEXICO

THIS IS PREHISPANICO COCOON SPA IN COROZAL TOWN. AS WE CONTINUE TOCONSTRUCT MORE PICTURES WILL BE AVAILABLE. COME VISIT US AND LEAVE WITH AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

GREETINGS TO ALL BLOGGERS AND READERS

To all the bloggers and readers who surf the net and read my blogs I want to thank you for doing so this year and I would like at this time to wish you and your loved ones a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Have a wonderful holiday and of possible reach out to someone in need. Remember if we give love we will get it back in some form or fashion.

Let us teach our young people that giving is better than receiving.

God Bless Us Everyone!

Brenda

Note: for those of you in Belize or those of you who will be visiting Belize, I have opened a health spa in Corozal Town, Belize on the Bay. It is called Prehispanico and is a branch of Abel's Spa that he has in Chetumal. We offer massage therapy with temazcal. It is good for stress, tiredness, relaxation, and insomnia. The treatment is approximately 2 hours long depending on your condition and is for $50.00 BZ. We are building a huge Temazcal in my garden that can hold about 24 people who will sweat to herbs and oils. It is good for many illnesses. Drop in and see for your selves. Appointments are necessary so call us at 607 8315, 607 8759, 422 0259 and 422 0346. The first cell phone number and house number are mine. We have available one male and one female doing the massages at this time. Eventually this spa will have many other features. I will keep you posted. Photos will be set on next blog. Once again, Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
B

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR ME

A lot has changed since I last wrote. I became a student at the University UNID en Chetumal, Q.Roo, Mexico in the day sessions, I still am Director of CCC ACE and CJC ACE, I have opened a Health SPA in Corozal Town, Belize and my once calm world now is filled with work, friends, problems, sleepless nights, in all A NEW LIFE. While much has changed, much has remained the same and for that I am gratedul. I thank all those who give meaning to my life: my daughter, Carolyn, my granddaughter, Ciarra, Miya, my son-in-law, Triccia, my stepdaughter and Abel, the light in my world and the brain behind many of the wonderful things that I now experience.

As this year comes to an end, I give love to all my readers, friends and family b=for being a part of my life. Thank you for being there and for being energy to my sometimes tired bones. Life is a miracle of people, places and things. How we live it makes it worth living or worth dying for.

The Man who walks this world alone has nothing while the Man who struggles down the path with the help of family and friends lives a life of many splendours. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre aka Brenda Izaguirre Gill)

AFTER THE STORM- PLEASE HELP BELIZE

For the time being the rains have stopped and now we have a cold front over Belize. However, all is not over. Now is the time of recovery. The people in the areas that had the flooding ae still suffering. Many are still not in their homes and many have lost most of their personal properties.

NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE RELIEF ORGANIZERS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE FOOD, MEDICINES AND CLOTHING ( AMONG OTHER THINGS) TO THOSE WHO NOW NEED OUR HELP.

In an effort to assist our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much in the past weeks, the YO PUEDO GROUP OF COROZAL and CCC ACE and CJC ACE have initiated a drive to collect non-persishable goods and clothing. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. LET US GIVE FROM THE HEART.

TO MY READERS ABROAD, YOU TOO CAN HELP. YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE RED CROSS OF BELIZE OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT 501-607-8315 (3pm to 31am Belize time) OR AT 00521-983-131-5669 FROM 7AM TO 11AM (Mexico time).

Thank you and God Bless.

THE POWER OF A WOMAN

"Then was woman made the greatest thing in this world. She was given the power to bring into this world offsprings that would multiply and the nation would grow and the people would have leaders and friends, and colleagues and life would be worth while." (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

Perfect lines that tell us that we as WOMEN have a right to be here and that we are the reason so much happens in this world.

Ladies, look at yourselves and see the power of a woman who can move mountains, claim hearts and destroy those who try to destroy us. We are POWER. We are LIFE. We are EARTH. WE ARE!!!

You must look at yourself and see the real YOU. You must be able to say everyday, "I AM WOMAN. I AM FREE. I CAN DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE!"

Have a great day and remember:
"The power of a woman is as strong as she is." (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

COUNLDN'T THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF BELIZE BE A WOMAN?

I WAS THINKING. WHAT IF THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF BELIZE WAS A WOMAN?

LADIES OUT THERE, DON'T YOU THINK IT IS TIME FOR US TO HAVE MORE THAN AN AVERAGE SAY IN THE RUNNING OF THINGS IN BELIZE?

AR YOU READY? I KNOW I AM.

YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND REMEMBER THIS IS THE MONTH OF PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS IN BELIZE.
LET US UNITE FOR A BETTER BELIZE AND ONE WHERE FREEDOM WILL FOREVER REIGN.

MUCH LOVE,
Brenda

TU EDAD Y COMIENDO EN RESTAURANTES

YOUR AGE BY EATING OUT

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but

your waiter may know!


YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH


This is pretty neat



DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!


It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read.

Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!

This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.


1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat.

(more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758...

If you haven't, add 1757.

6.. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number


The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)


The next two numbers are



YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)



THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2008) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

WHY DRINKING IS DANGEROUS FOR WOMEN

Greece dangerous for British women
ATHENS, Greece (UPI) -- So many British women have been sexually assaulted in Greece the Foreign Office has launched a campaign to educate tourists about the danger.

So far this year, 41 women have been attacked, The Daily Mail reported. Police in Greece say the number of reported assaults on British women this year has run at about 10 per month during the peak tourist season, and they expect that by Sept. 15, the number will have surpassed the previous record of 48 set in 2005-2006.

Relative to the number of British tourists, Greece appears to be the most dangerous place in the world for women. Greek police say British men, usually drunk, are responsible for the largest number of attacks, followed by Eastern European immigrant workers and then by Greeks.

Greek police describe British women as more likely to drink heavily than other tourists and also more naive about strangers. They say many rapes may not be reported.

The Foreign Office has begun distributing beer mats, posters and leaflets in resorts where British tourists congregate, warning women of the potential dangers.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

IRAQ WOMEN GO FOR THE POLICE FORCE

Female cop class unprecedented in Iraq
KIRKUK, Iraq (UPI) -- An unprecedented number of Iraqi women have started training to become police officers at the Kirkuk Police Academy, officials say.

The 37 female recruits who began their training Saturday are the first women at the academy in a year and their numbers are unprecedented, the American Forces Press Service reported Monday.

An academy officer said female officers are badly needed because Muslim customs do not allow men to touch women. The female officers will allow searches of women at checkpoints and government buildings, he said.

In addition, the academy officer said, "women think differently than men. They will bring fresh ideas to how we conduct business."

For the recruits, becoming a police officer is both a chance to earn a good wage and to serve their country. They hold no truck with terrorists.

"Terrorists are not welcome in the province of Kirkuk," said one 29-year-old recruit who goes by the name Intesar. "They are not Iraqis; they are not Muslim. It is not our way. They are mad."

An Iraqi police recruit earns about 185,000 Iraqi dinars monthly -- about $81 in U.S. currency -- and after graduating will make 500,000 dinar -- about $360.

The female recruits must meet the same standards as men to graduate.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

SOM MEN JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WOMEN

Guy's rights' lawyer hits women's studies
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- A lawyer who describes himself as a "guy's rights" advocate has filed a lawsuit over the women's studies program at Columbia University in New York.

Roy Den Hollander, an alumnus of the Columbia Business School who practices in Manhattan, has already sued New York nightclubs, claiming that "ladies nights" are unconstitutional. Another pending suit is aimed at the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Den Hollander said that the university is using federal aid to spread a "religionist belief system called feminism," The New York Times reports. He also called women's studies "a bastion of bigotry against men."

In his practice, Den Hollander spends much of his time representing men in litigation, The Times said, and describes himself as specializing in "anti-feminist cases or guys' rights cases."

In addition to Columbia, the suit names as defendants the U.S. Department of Education and three New York state agencies, the Board of Regents, the Department of Education and the Higher Education Services Corp.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Manhattan, Den Hollander demands that the university either start a men's studies program or shut women's studies down.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

HPV VACCINE NOT SWAYING MOTHERS

Sex doesn't sway mothers on HPV vaccine
GALVESTON, Texas (UPI) -- The view that many moms don't get daughters vaccinated against human papillomavirus because they oppose sex before marriage is untrue, a U.S. study indicates.

Study lead author Susan Rosenthal of the University of Texas Medical Branch said a federal advisory committee recommends all females ages 11 to 12 routinely receive the HPV vaccine. Some critics oppose mandatory vaccinations because of concerns they would promote sexual activity.

The researchers surveyed 153 mothers and guardians of daughters ages 11 to 17 who visited a pediatric clinic in Galveston, Texas, in 2007 and 2008.

The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, said a statistical analysis found that the women's views on sexuality and intercourse before marriage had little to do with their vaccine decisions.

"The families who are struggling with what to do about this vaccine are focused on issues like safety" instead of sexual morality, Rosenthal said said in a statement. "They want us to have more experience with it and have it used by more people"

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

WOMEN GO FOR OBAMA

Pelosi predicts women will unify for Obama
DENVER (UPI) -- U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi says female Democratic leaders will be key to Barack Obama's presidential chances.

Creating unity with disgruntled supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton can be achieved, she added. Other female leaders in the party will also come out strongly for Sen. Obama, D-Ill., during this week's Democratic National Convention, Pelosi told a Saturday luncheon in Denver sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, The Hill reported.

"I believe that women will see that they have the most to gain by the election of Barack Obama and the most to lose by the election of John McCain," Pelosi said.

The differences between Obama and Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., are like "night and day" on issues such as health care, education and the war in Iraq, she said.

"I am very sure that we will leave this convention with all the enthusiasm in the world and the greatest unity," Pelosi said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

WOMEN GO FOR OBAMA

Pelosi predicts women will unify for Obama
DENVER (UPI) -- U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi says female Democratic leaders will be key to Barack Obama's presidential chances.

Creating unity with disgruntled supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton can be achieved, she added. Other female leaders in the party will also come out strongly for Sen. Obama, D-Ill., during this week's Democratic National Convention, Pelosi told a Saturday luncheon in Denver sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, The Hill reported.

"I believe that women will see that they have the most to gain by the election of Barack Obama and the most to lose by the election of John McCain," Pelosi said.

The differences between Obama and Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., are like "night and day" on issues such as health care, education and the war in Iraq, she said.

"I am very sure that we will leave this convention with all the enthusiasm in the world and the greatest unity," Pelosi said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

POETRY OF THE DAY FROM BRENDA AURORA YSAGUIRRE

BELIEVE IN "YOU"
Life is changing every day,
It is harder some will say.
It is exactly what we make of it,
We just have to keep our wit.

Life is a game and we are players all,
It may lead us if we listen to the call.
It can make us do the things we should,
And make us do the things we could.

Life is not impossible, my friend,
So don't throw in the towel, just count to ten.
There is much that you can do,
If you only have faith in YOU!

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

EL MIGRANO ES ALGO SERIO

Your Health: Migraine Sufferers Face Higher Risk of Serious Disease
Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
Migraines are more than just occasional, minor headaches. Not only do they produce significant pain and suffering in susceptible individuals, they’re also linked to a higher risk of stroke.

Studies show that among all migraine sufferers, including men and women, the risk of experiencing a stroke is more than double that of people without the condition. Recent research suggests that the risk of stroke among female migraineurs is especially high.

The latest findings from the Women’s Health Study demonstrated that compared to women without the condition, those who had migraines at least once a week were three times more likely to have a stroke. The study followed nearly 28,000 women age 45 and older for more than 12 years.

Although the exact cause of migraine headaches remains a topic of intense scientific debate, most experts agree that the condition is related to a disordered function of nerves, blood vessels and neurotransmitters in the brain. Regardless of the cause, migraines are considered to be a lifelong condition of recurring headaches that can strike as often as several times a week or as infrequently as once a year.

Migraine headaches can affect anyone, but they’re roughly three times more common in women than in men. More than two-thirds of cases occur in women between the ages of 15 and 55.

Approximately 30 percent of migraineurs experience a phenomenon called an “aura” before or during the headache. The most common form of aura is a visual illusion of bright flashes of light that appear as stars or sparks, or as complex geometric patterns that shimmer across the visual field.

The associated headaches are often so intense that they send their victims scurrying to the nearest dark, quiet place. In addition to pain, migraine sufferers typically experience overwhelming nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and noise.

In most cases, the onset of symptoms is associated with specific substances or situations called triggers. Common triggers for migraines include stress, fatigue and hunger.

Cheese, chocolate, alcohol and the food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) may also be to blame. Among women, hormonal fluctuation -- especially around the time of menstruation -- is an important trigger.

The results of a study conducted by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University’s Headache Center in Philadelphia suggest that women are twice as likely to experience migraines with aura during the first two days of their menstrual cycles compared to the remainder of the month. The researchers also noted that women have a significantly lower risk of having migraines during the time of ovulation, which typically occurs around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle.

Although migraines are relatively common, drugs designed specifically for the treatment of the condition are few in number. Many medications prescribed for the treatment of migraines, including painkillers and anti-nausea medications, are extremely sedating. For some individuals, the treatment of migraines can be just as incapacitating as the condition itself.

Fortunately, the frequency and severity of migraine headaches can be reduced by implementing a few preventive strategies. Avoiding known migraine triggers is an excellent place to start, and taking a few key nutritional supplements may help even more.

A number of studies suggest that because migraineurs have low magnesium levels, taking supplemental magnesium can be an important part of an effective migraine-prevention program. Magnesium is known to help regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the onset of migraine symptoms.

Many foods are rich in magnesium, including dark green vegetables, whole grains, beans, bananas and seafood. For individuals with a magnesium deficiency, however, eating a well-balanced diet isn’t sufficient.

Taking a nutritional supplement containing the mineral may be most beneficial. In recommended doses of 400 to 600 milligrams daily, magnesium supplements are generally safe and well tolerated by healthy individuals, with the most common side effect being diarrhea.

In addition to magnesium, vitamin B2 and an herb known as feverfew have long been used in the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches. The recommended dose of vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is typically 400 mg a day.

In clinical trials, migraine sufferers who took feverfew extract on a regular basis enjoyed a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks. When they did experience headaches, they reported less severe pain, nausea and vomiting.

Nutritional supplements won’t necessarily cure migraines, but for migraineurs in search of relief, they could make the condition far more bearable.

========

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including “Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom’s Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim.” Her website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.


Copyright 2008 Creators Syndicate Inc.

WOULD YOU ENTER THE BATHROOM WITH THIS PAINTING ON THE FLOOR?

I WOULDN'T! REALLY SCARY, ISN'T IT?

MY NINE NAMES - A FUN ACTIVITY

My Nine Names (this is fun!)
1. YOUR REAL NAME
BRENDA

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.)
Breizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal)
PurpleDog

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME:(your middle name and street you live on/or
neighborhood if it's a number)
Aurora139

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Ysabr

6. YOUR SUPERHERO/CRIMINAL NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, and favorite drink).
Greenchiva

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, 1st letter of your last name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dads name, 1st letter of a siblings first name,and last letter of your moms first name).
Rayirda

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents middle names):
Ulrica Raymond

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets).
Blackneron

Now copy, paste, and send on to all your crazy friends

GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER

What's unique about goose familes?
A rarity in birds, geese are among the very few in which the family stays together at the end of the breeding season. Parents and the young raised during the summer establish strong family bonds and do not break up for about a year. In the fall, geese migrate in flocks that contain other family units, and each family stays together on the wintering grounds.

DID YOU KNOW: RED LETTER DAYS???

When did we first see "red letter days?"
According to legend, the phrase "a red letter day" dates back to 1704, when holy days were marked in red letters in church calendars.

MINI-COWS??? WOULD YOU???

Mini-cows at home in British backyards
LONDON (UPI) -- Hundreds of families across Britain have begun raising miniature cattle in their backyards in light of rising food prices, farmers say.

Sue Farrant, whose family has purchased four Dexter miniature cattle for their home in the county of Kent, says the animals offer a way for households to save money on food in the long run, The Sunday Times of London said.

"With high food prices, they are actually quite an attractive option if you like producing your own food," Farrant said. "Both my husband and I have full-time jobs so we're keeping them on the side as an interest."

Farrant says the small cows are renowned for the quality of their meat and the bovines are essentially care-free as long as they have grass on which to graze, the Times reported.

"As long as you've got plenty of grass, they will be fine," she told the newspaper. "You don't really have to feed them."

The cattle species was initially bred in Ireland during the 1800s and has been credited with being able to supply an entire household with milk for a year.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

READERS OF THE WORK OF SIR WALTER SCOTT ARE INFORMED

Rejected Scott works to be published
EDINBURGH, Scotland (UPI) -- A Scottish university press has resurrected Sir Walter Scott's last two works, written after he had three strokes and rejected for publication by his family.

"The Siege of Malta" and the never completed "Bizarro" were written in 1831 and 1832 as Scott, racked by ill health, struggled to make money to pay his debts. His son-in-law and publisher decided after his death that they should not be made public, The Scotsman reports.

John Buchan, the Scottish writer best known for "The Thirty-Nine Steps," read them while researching a Scott biography in the 1930s and agreed they should not be published.

"It may be hoped that no literary resurrectionist will ever be guilty of the crime of giving them to the world," he said.

The University of Edinburgh Press is publishing both books in a single volume. Editors have worked from Scott's manuscripts, now in the collection of the New York Public Library, struggling to correct spelling and grammar that had deteriorated because of the strokes.

"The Siege of Malta" is a mixture of history and fiction about the defense of the island against Muslim invaders while "Bizarro" is the story of an Italian bandit.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

UGLY IS POPULAR THIS YEAR!!!

Ugly lamps star of Kentucky State Fair
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UPI) -- Lamps so ugly most people wouldn't dare dream to decorate their homes with them were the toast of the town at this year's Kentucky State Fair, organizers say.

Patty Schnatter, who served as master of ceremonies for Lynn's Paradise Cafe's Ugly Lamp Contest at the fair Saturday, said contestants from various states produced lamps of unspeakable horrors in pursuit of first place, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal reported.

"We really have a good time with it. It's a blast," Schnatter said. "You never know what will come in."

One lamp entered by Chris McQueen of Jeffersonville, Ind., featured a variety of holiday and celebratory themes and the participant said he was shocked his "hideous" entry fell short of a top spot.

"I thought for sure we had it in the bag," McQueen said. "I mean, this thing is hideous."

The Courier-Journal said the grand prize went to a lamp with an American eagle base and a shade made of old ties.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

JOKE OF THE DAY

Drive Fast
Did you hear about the 83 year old woman who talked herself out of a speeding ticket by telling the young officer that she had to get there before she forgot where she was going?

SOFT, JUICE DRINKS CAN GIVE YOU DIABETES

BOSTON (UPI) -- Daily consumption of soft drinks and fruit drinks is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in African-American women, U.S. researchers said.

Lead author Julie Palmer of the Boston University School of Public Health examined data from the Black Women's Health Study -- an ongoing prospective study of 59,000 African-American women from all parts of the United States that included information on height, weight, demographic characteristics, medical history, usual diet and other factors. Every two years, follow-up questionnaires requested updated information on lifestyle factors, occurrences of diabetes and other serious illnesses.

The researchers found 2,713 participants developed diabetes during the first 10 years of follow-up in the study.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found women who consumed two or more soft drinks a day had a 24 percent increase in incidence of diabetes relative to women who drank less than one soft drink per month. A similar association was observed for sweetened fruit drinks, with a 31 percent increase observed for two or more servings per day relative to less than one per month.

"The public should be made aware that sweetened fruit drinks are not a healthy alternative to soft drinks with regard to risk of type 2 diabetes," Palmer said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

VAGINAL MICROBICIDE GELS HELP PREVENT HIV

NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- The use of vaginal microbicide gels may help protect women against sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, U.S. researchers said.

Ronald S. Veazey of Tulane National Primate Research Center in New Orleans successfully used vaginal gels containing the fusion inhibitory peptide T-1249 to protect rhesus macaque monkeys against vaginal transmission of multiple strains of simian/human HIV, or SHIV.

The study, published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that vaginal microbicide containing fusion inhibitors remain a potential method for protecting women against infection by HIV type 1 during sexual intercourse.

"Here we have shown that the vaginal application of gel-formulated T-1249 can protect rhesus macaques from infection by three different SHIV challenge viruses," the researchers said in a statement. "The protection we observed was dose-dependent and at the higher concentration, robust, in that all the test animals resisted infection."

Fusion inhibitors such as T-1249 operate to inhibit infection by preventing glycoprotein molecules on HIV particles from binding to their receptors on the surface of the immune cell. The T-1249 peptide is a fusion inhibitor that targets one of the main cellular receptors that HIV uses to infect cells in the mucosal surface.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT

Hour of exercise needed to keep weight off
PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- Overweight or obese women may need 55 minutes of exercise a day five days weekly to sustain a weight loss of 10 percent over two years, U.S. researchers say.

John M. Jakicic of the University of Pittsburgh and colleagues enrolled 201 overweight and obese women in a weight-loss intervention from 1999-2003. All the women were told to eat 1,200-1,500 calories per day. They were then assigned to one of four groups based on physical activity amount -- burning 1,000 calories versus 2,000 calories per week and intensity -- moderate versus vigorous.

After six months, women in all four groups had lost an average of 8 percent to 10 percent of their initial body weight. However, most weren't able to sustain this weight loss.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found 25 percent of individuals who did maintain a loss of 10 percent or more over two years reported performing more physical activity -- an average of 1,835 calories per week or 275 minutes per week over the baseline level of activity -- than those who lost less weight.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

MY REFLECTIONS FOR LIVING TODAY

Today I am writing my 181st post for this blog. I do it for enjoyment and in the hope that readers will learn and have something they can reflect on at times.

I am told I have a strong voice for most of these blogs are filled with powerful words and suggestions. I am just being me and I hope that people will understand what it means to be themselves and what it means to LOVE THEMSELVES.

I find that these days very little of the negative things of this world can affect me. I find that I am happy the way I am and that material things do not complete a person. I am happy for who I am and I am proud to be whom I have become.

I hope that everyone can realize that life is a wonderful experience that we must cherish and because we are unaware of how long we will be on this earth, we MUST enjOy it to the fullest. We MUST do things that make us happy. We MUST be at peace with ourselves. IF on the path to that happiness others are affected and they don't share your belief then sadly you MUST leave them behind. If they are affected and they join you in enjoying themselves and others then BRAVO! You have done what you could. You have added another person to the world of LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS! Life is precious. Life is living daily with the realization that tomorrow may never come. Life is POWER!

Have a great day and may you enjoy it to the fullest.

I told you I was back! THERE IS POWER IN THE WOMAN!

Thank you for reading.
Brenda Aurora

INVADING ONE'S PRIVACY

To invade one's home and steal one's possession is the work of the ignorant who does not realize that asking for something is easier than stealing it. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)


When it occurs it is so sad,
It is something that makes you mad.
It can never be erased from your mind,
For on it you will always reside.

They come in when you are off guard,
And what they do is really hard.
They invade your privacy and your peace.
They let you feel fear and anger you release.

For every right that they make wrong,
For every weakness that they make strong,
I hope they pay for what they do,
And I hope that justice can come through.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

YOU CAN ALL HELP THROUGH SENDING THIS INFO AS AN EMAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW

Dear Blog Reader,
The following email message is of great importance. KINDLY READ, COPY AND PASTE TO YOUR EMAIL AND FORWARD TO AS MANY PERSONS AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN HELP THIS MOTHER TO CARE FOR HER CHILDREN.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL,
Brenda



EMAIL INFO:



Dear Reader

I am a single mother of four kids: ages five, three and a half, 17 months, and a two week old baby girl. God has blessed me with three beautiful, healthy children. Until recently, things were going great for us even though we struggled financially at times (my part-time job was not enough to support us).

Then, the tragedy struck on January 13th. My oldest, Matt, got hit by a car while playing outside. ( The driver was never found - it was a hit and run). After agonizingly long weeks of hospitalization, we did not think he would live but thank god he is alive right now ... but barely. He is still in the hospital in a comatose condition. Doctors say he will be a vegetable for the rest of his life, if he ever comes out of the coma - his brain is too damaged for him to live a normal life. My insurance coverage ran out and I can't afford the hospital bills. Right now, I owe the hospital over $500,000 dollars soo far.

Shortly after the accident happened, my 87-year-old grandmother, with whom I was really close to(she raised me as a child), suffered a stroke and could not live on her own anymore. I took her in.

All of this happened while I was pregnant with Carissa. Therefore, this severe stress that I've been through caused Carissa to be born a premie with Down's syndrome as well as chronic colitis. She is also missing fingernails on her right hand. She is in the hospital as well because she needs to be monitored 24/7. Right now I am at the lowest point of my life. I don't have a job. I'm taking care of three sick family members that are so dear to me, and it is a full time job. I can't afford to pay for my tiny apartment. My car got taken away because I couldn't make the payments, not to mention the debt with the hospital!

I know you are not obligated to do anything. You are free to delete this email without giving it a second thought, but please listen to the cry from a mother's heart! We worked out a deal with AOL where for every 12 forwards I will get 15 cents. Please don't harden your heart. If you can spare the time, then send this email to everyone on your list. This is crucial for our survival!! God bless you all!

Sincerely,

Debbie Shwartz

FACTORS IN A NEGATIVE WORLD

Hi there reader,
Today is already the fourth of August and what do you know, nothing is very much different from yesterday. We got up this morning and had breakfast, worked around the house, went to our jobs; if we work outside our homes, and we will probably do something to make someone think we are worthless. On a hold, we cannot worry about petty things. The world is huge. Internal and external factors will forever appear.
Carry yourself with pride and dignity and ignore those who would be sores. You do not need to associate yourself with negative beings or vibes.
Be positive and life will probably give you a few laughs.
Have a great day.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Many years ago a man walked down a narrow street in search of a house he could only picture in his mind from a childhood long gone.

The house had been a light blue and he had lived there with his mom and dad and elderly grandma.

Now it seem he was not going to be able to find this house he kept stored up in his mind for so long. There was no light blue house in sight. Wht should he do?

Suddenly a thought came to him to ask the young girl who was walking towards him with a smile on her face.

But before he could ask her his question, the young woman asked him one of her own.

"Kind sir, I can tell you are from these parts. Could you tell me where I can fine the Williams family?"

"I am really sorry, my dear, but I am lost myself. I am looking for the Carter family and I don't recgnize this place at all. It has been a long time since I as last here."


I am not going to continue this story. What I want to show is that sometimes we think other people can help us but most times we have got to help ourselves.
Man ia a funny character. He does not understand that there are things right in front of him that can help him or destroy him. Sometimes we do things that we shouldn't and sometimes we fail to realize that which is right in front of us is all we need to make our lives better. LIFE IS STRANGE. LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE OF IT.

All I am telling you today is to try and make the most of the life you have been given. Be happy and try to show a positive attitude in all you do and say and think. It wil make your like easier, happier and safer.

Have a great day. AUGUST IS THE MONTH OF PREPARATION FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. USE YOUR TIME WISELY.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

TRUE FRIENDS OR NOT

IF YOU ARE FACED WITH REALITY AND IT SEEMS TOO SUPERFICIAL, CHANCES ARE IT IS. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

Someone once said, "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are."

Back in the days I guess that was true but back then we had what are call "true blue friends". They stuck by us no matter what. They fought FOR US and WITH US! Today unfortunately we are unable to find such a friend. We have users and back stabbing associates. It is a sad day when this became apparent but it is also a day of strength and power for the person who knows what to do and how to overcome the harsh reality that there are no "true blue friends" anymore.

For many it is a wake up call and a painful reality that is so painful that they are unable to enjoy friendships with others in the fear that they too will turn on them. I guess the saying,: Once bitten, twice shy," is really what they go through.

I for one do not blame them at all. I have been there, and done that and felt that and I have created a name for it. I call it the TRUST NO ONE ANYMORE SYNDROME.

The saying, " IT TAKES A FRIEND TO F**K A FRIEND" is definately true.

However,the great thing about it is that it fertilizes your inner self and your self esteem is re-vitalized and once this happns NO ONE CAN HURT YOU AGIN - EVER!!!

To all the so called friends of this world I say: SHAME ON YOU! You got the trust and the love of a person who saw you as honest and caring and you used this person as a pawn, a tool of your growth and gain.

Oh, well, now it will never be the same. Now your mask is uncovered. Now the real you is obviously as clear as water and you are as murky as mud.

Hat's off to those who have shone as true blue friends and who are trusted and trustworthy. You are few. You are special. YOU ARE HONOURABLE PERSONS. YOU ARE TRUE BLUE THROUGH AND THROUGH.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND MINE

August 1. Aghhhhhh. It is finally here. In four weeks the students will be back at school and we will be a family again. YIPPPPEEEEEE!!! I miss my students and I hope they are using their time wisely.

While we go off to spend some time with friends and family in what we have left of our holiday, I want us to try to think back on all the events of the past months and look at the events we want to occur in the coming months.

It is time to set goals for the new school year and time to reflect on what occured last year.

It is time to take into account what you want of your life and what you expect of those around you.

Trust me I am heading for a completely different year and I plan to do whatever it takes to make sure my life is fulfilling and satisfies the goals I am setting for me and mine.

This is long over due. It is time that was in the coming and time some will not like because they will no longer know what to expect. Gone is the old Ms Ysaguirre. Hello, to the new me. I even have a name I am going to use as my sloogan.

LA CHICA DE LA NUEVA VIDA!

So look out world. Those who want to share and be apart of this new and more dynamic me will be screened. SORRY. I HAVE LEARNT A CRUEL LESSON AND I DON'T PLAN TO BE BURNT AGAIN.

WHEN THE TOUGH GET GOING - THE GOING GETS TOUGH!

I AM PROGRAMMED FOR THE NEW ME AND I AM READY FOR THE FIGHT.

IT IS TIME TO MOVE MOUNTAINS, MAKE WAVES AND CLAIM THE TERRITORY THAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE.

LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL THOSE I LOVE. I AM BACK!!!! BE PREPARED FOR THE REAL SUPERMAMA. POWER IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH I STAND.

THANKS, ABEL, FOR MAKING ME SEE THAT I HAD IT ALL IN ME.

GRACIAS ABEL, POR HACERME VER QUE LO TENIA EN MI
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

WHAT MATTERS MOST IS YOU!!!

As we come to the end of the month of July, I look back on all the things that have occured this month and I have to smile. There is so much that were meaningless and so much that was unexpected.

One thing I have learnt: YOU CAN'T TRUST MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. THEIR SMILES AND THEIR SUPPOSED KINDNESS COULD BE A SHAM. WATCH OUT AND KEEP YOURSELF AT BAY. THE WORLD IS A HARSH PLACE.

I want to tell people who have come to this conclusion that they are not alone. Everyday millions of people show their true colours and try to stop the happiness or progress of others. That is life. All you can do is smile and keep your head held high and do your job to the best of your ability and if you can get out, then it may be time to spread your wings and fly.

The pain and suffering you may feel if you stay in the job or situation that is taking all your happiness away is NOT WORTH IT!

There is more to life. Find peace and happiness with those you love and your world will be one you can live in and with.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

ONCE A CHEATER ALWAYS A CHEATER

This is the ONLY advice you need to follow if you suspect your man is cheating on you.
You think your man is cheating on you. The thought has at least crossed your mind. Something he may have said, or done, may have sparked a little doubt in your mind the he is being loyal.

It is far too easy in this situation to say " No, he's not like that," or " he wouldn't do that to me."

Let me tell you: He could, he can, and he will.

When you start suspecting your man is cheating on you, this is your female intuition raising a huge RED FLAG. You need to listen to what you think deep down in your gut, because this is the voice of truth that you NEED to hear and listen to.

12 tell-tale signs that he's cheating on you:
He's broke because all of his cash is going to the other woman.
He's been putting you down lately or picking fights with you (this is a tactic they use to ease their guilt).
They get defensive if you question where they've been or ask about females that he has been spending time with.

The first thing he does when he gets home is take a shower.
He has all of a sudden been meticulous with keeping his physical appearance up.
He doesn't have a lot of time for you, and he may have told you he's "working late" on many occasions.

He goes out at night, a lot. He may use the out with "buddies" excuse. When he's out, his phone is off, and goes straight to voicemail.
He's been getting a lot of calls/texts lately. He may act like he's in a rush to get off the phone.
He puts a password on his phone.
He hasn't put a password on his phone and you notice a lot of unknown numbers. (Beware, men will list their other women as businesses or names of men so you won't second-guess the calls).
Your sex life is non-existent
He asks you where you are all of the time. You think he's being concerned. The reality is... he's making sure he won't get caught in the act.

If any of the above behaviors ( or anything else you may feel is "sketchy" has been happening for an extended period of time, its likely that he is cheating on you. I don't recommend confronting him off the bat. He will lie. Men lie through their teeth because the last thing they want is to be confronted by a female.

10 things you can do to INVESTIGATE if you expect he's been cheating on you:

1. Closely monitor his phone activity and take notes. If he answers calls around you, does he act rushed to hang up with the person? Can you tell if its a female? If you have access to his phone and can go through it without him knowing, DO IT. Take note of all of the names and numbers in his phone book. Write down all incoming, outgoing, and missed calls. Make sure you notate the times and length of calls. If you're lucky enough to have the password to his voicemail. Check his messages from your phone often. If he doesn't keep his voicemail password protected, check his messages from his phone. Keep the following in mind: He might clear his call logs out ( a clear sign that theres something going on that he doesn't want you to see), He may store the other woman as a business or under a male's name, so that you won't pick up on it. Question everything. If he keeps his phone password protected, that is a clear sign he is cheating.

2. After taking extensive notes over a period of time on his call activity, do you notice any trends? A lot of late night calls? A lot of calls to the same two or three numbers? Perhaps some really LONG phone calls? Any phone numbers that raise your suspicion, call them. If you get the voicemail and its a female voice, you've found the other woman. If you get an automated voicemail, keep calling back. If you can't get access to his phone, intercept his mail and take his phone bill. No, its not a charming thing to do, but he's lying to you and all bets are off, just do it.

3. Pay close attention to his car. Are the seats moved around? If the passenger seat has been moved, especially closer to the dash, then its likely he had a female riding with him. Turn the radio on. Is it tuned to a station different than it normally is? Check the CD player for any unrecognized discs, or for any romantic or sexy music. Is your man suddenly keeping air fresheners in his car? Make sure you look in the glove box, under the seats, on the seats, all through the back seat for any sex stains, female hairs, condoms, condom wrappers, stray underwear, or any other evidence of another female.

4. Check the pockets of his clothes frequently. Look for receipts that may indicate a purchase for another woman, look for condoms or condom wrappers, look for anything that might indicate his cheating. Also check his wallet. If you can get a hold of his bank statement and credit card bill, even better. Check for restaurant charges, movie theater charges, hotel charges, shopping charges, and so on.

5. Pay attention to how his guy friends are acting around you lately. Has there been a change? Do they seem a little uncomfortable around you now? Maybe a little avoidant? Keep in mind that when men are having an affair they usually brag to their buddies. They think they're slick that you're in the dark. Listen to his conversations with his friends, does it sound like they have a new string of inside jokes? Does anything sound amiss to you? Whenever possible, talk to his friends as much as possible. If you can, try to catch your man in a lie through gaining information from his friends. Please note that you cannot let his friends know you suspect him of cheating. Guys will always cover up for other guys. However, you can for example ask your mans friend "JIm" what he did this weekend ( when your man isn't around) if he says he took a road trip to Colorado Friday- Monday, you know that your man wasn't being honest when he told you he was with "Jim" on Saturday night.

6.If he calls and asks you where you are, or ask what your schedules going to be like, LIE. If he doesn't know where you really are at any given time, he has more of a chance of getting caught in the act. If you live together, and you can find time, drop by your house on break, at varying times of the day, even if he's suppossed to be at work. You may very well drop by the house at 2pm on a Monday, and catch him in the act because he wasn't expecting you to be there. You can also try dropping by his job once in a while. Try not to make your prescence known. Oh, was he out to lunch? Does he USUALLY take his lunch with him and work through his lunch hour? You might want to take a quick drive around the area and see if you spot his car at any local hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.

7. On a night that he's going out with his "buddies" try to follow him. You have to be really discreet. If you don't think you can follow him without having him realize it, have someone you trust follow him. Did he do what he told you he was doing? If he told you he was going to be at such and such a friends house, drop by there with an excuse like " I'm locked out of my house, is my man here?" If he isn't, boom, he's lying to you.

8. Pay close attention to how he functions in his relationship with you. When you ask him what he did today, or yesterday or what have you, is he over explanatory? Does he take a long time to think up what he did? Does he look to the left ( a signal he is lying), does he avoid contact? Has he been so busy lately that he doesn't have time for you? Has he stopped buying you things, taking you out for special nights, or has he been sleeping over less? Does he seem really stressed out when you try to talk to him? Have you been fighting a lot lately? Men who cheat find themselves in fights with their significant others because they are on edge as they know they are two timing, they become more and more defensive and guilty acting.

9. Stop initiating physical contact with him. Don't be a cold fish, but let him make the moves and observe. Is he as "hot and heavy" for you as he used to be? Does he tell you he loves you anymore? Is your sex life dwindling? Does he withdraw if you initiate contact? If you ARE still having sex with your man. Use protection, you don't know who this other woman is or where she has been.

10. After you have gathered enough evidence and are pretty damn sure there is a possibility that your man is cheating... DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.


You may not have been lucky enough to catch him in the act, but if the signs are there, and your gut is correct, that is just as good. You can try to confront him, but very few men fess up. If you do confront him, do you believe his excuses? Listen to his gut.
Again, IF YOU THINK YOUR MAN IS CHEATING ON YOU HE PROBABLY IS.

Now some of you might be asking " Well I can't be 100% sure he is cheating on me, I don't feel right breaking up with him, innocent until proven guilty."

And my response is: If there are any signs that lead you to believe your man is cheating on you, you should leave him RIGHT now.

Are you going to wait until you find him and the other woman in your bed? Are you going to wait until he brings home a STD? Are you going to wait until he decides to leave you for her and you're left with no integrity?

If your man is being hot and cold, displaying sketchy behavior, is running around at all hours of the night doing god knows what, racking up numbers from women, getting his phone blown up by females...thats enough reason to leave him. I don't care if you have kids with this person, if your man is cheating YOU DO NOT GIVE HIM SECOND CHANCES What type of example would you be setting for these children if you took your man back? That its okay for men to act like this because women are so forgiving? Come on, you have more self-respect for yourself than that.

Giving your man a second chance only shows him what a sucker you are, and remember, once a cheater, ALWAYS a cheater.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HATERS IN YOUR LIFE

HATERS

By Maya Angelou

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time
trying to make you look small so they can look tall.
They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good
enough!
When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...That's
why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your
dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed... It's
dangerous to be like somebody else...
If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what
He gave them! Right? You never know what people have gone through to get
what they have...
The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't
know my story... If the grass looks greener on the other side of the
fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!
We've all got some haters among us!
People envy you because you can:
Have a relationship with God
Light up a room when you walk in
Start your own business
Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn't about the right
thing) Raise your children without both parents being in the home
Haters can't stand to see you happy, Haters will never want to see you
succeed, Haters never want you to get the victory, most of our haters
are people who are supposed to be on our side. How do you handle your
undercover haters?
You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are *(VERY IMPORTANT!!)
2. Having a purpose to your life? Purpose does not mean having a job.
You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear
sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by
what others think about you.
3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human
manipulation.
Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when its your time
to leave this earth, you 'want' to be able to say, 'I've lived my life
and fulfilled 'my' dreams,... Now I'm ready to go HOME! When God gives
you favor, you can tell your haters, 'Don't look at me...Look at Who is
in charge of me...



'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to
seek Him first to find her?' Maya Angelou

SOFT, JUICE DRINKS CAN GIVE YOU DIABETES

Soft, juice drinks daily ups diabetes risk
BOSTON (UPI) -- Daily consumption of soft drinks and fruit drinks is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in African-American women, U.S. researchers said.

Lead author Julie Palmer of the Boston University School of Public Health examined data from the Black Women's Health Study -- an ongoing prospective study of 59,000 African-American women from all parts of the United States that included information on height, weight, demographic characteristics, medical history, usual diet and other factors. Every two years, follow-up questionnaires requested updated information on lifestyle factors, occurrences of diabetes and other serious illnesses.

The researchers found 2,713 participants developed diabetes during the first 10 years of follow-up in the study.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found women who consumed two or more soft drinks a day had a 24 percent increase in incidence of diabetes relative to women who drank less than one soft drink per month. A similar association was observed for sweetened fruit drinks, with a 31 percent increase observed for two or more servings per day relative to less than one per month.

"The public should be made aware that sweetened fruit drinks are not a healthy alternative to soft drinks with regard to risk of type 2 diabetes," Palmer said.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

A HELP FOR CANCER TREATMENT FROM ED DRUGS

Erectile dysfunction drugs boost chemo
LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Medications prescribed for erectile dysfunction increased delivery of cancer-fighting drugs to treat malignant brain tumors, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute said Viagra, or sildenafil and Levitra, or vardenafil, are known as PDE5 inhibitors because they block an enzyme, phosphodiesterase5, that interrupts a series of biochemical events that cause the decreased blood flow of erectile dysfunction.

A laboratory rat study, published online ahead of print in the journal Brain Research, found that similar biochemical interactions in the small vessels of the brain play a major role in the blood-brain tumor barrier, which impedes delivery of anti-tumor drugs into brain tumors. PDE5 inhibitors were found to open the barrier and increase drug transport in this early animal study.

"This is the first study to show that oral administration of PDE5 inhibitors increases the rate of transport of compounds across the blood-brain tumor barrier and improves the effectiveness of the anti-tumor drug adriamycin in the treatment of brain tumors in a rat model," neurosurgeon Dr. Keith L. Black said in a statement.




Copyright 2008 by United Press International

A RECIPE TO DIE FOR

Herb Marinated Chicken on Spring Greens
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. lemon zest
Combination of salad greens like watercress, baby spinach, radicchio, romaine and curly endive.

Dressing Ingredients:
One half cup olive oil
One third cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped
One half tsp. dried tarragon or 1 Tbsp. fresh
One half tsp. dried thyme or 1 Tbsp. fresh

Combine Dressing Ingredients and place in a shaker container

Combine garlic, basil, oregano, 1 cup olive oil and lemon zest together and stir. Place chicken in a large baking dish and pour marinade over chicken. Place in the refrigerator for several hours. Place chicken breasts on hot grill and cook until thoroughly done. Slice chicken into bite sized pieces. Place salad greens in 8 equal servings on dinner plates and place chicken slices on each plate, top with dressing.

The Skinny: Make sure you use skinless chicken breasts.

Roasted Potatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella

8 small potatoes washed and thinly sliced
One half cup olive oil
One half cup fresh parsley, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese

Place potatoes in a large bowl. Combine olive oil, parsley, garlic and salt and pepper together and mix well. Pour over potatoes and toss. Place one half potatoes in a greased baking dish and top with one half cup of each cheese, follow with the rest of the potatoes and the rest of the cheese. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

The Skinny: Use low fat cheeses.

NO SE HABLA INGLES

No Speak English

A Russian woman married a Canadian gentleman and they lived happily ever after in Toronto . However, the poor lady was not very proficient in English, but did manage to communicate with her husband. The real problem arose whenever she had to shop for groceries.

One day, she went to the butcher and wanted to buy chicken legs. She didn't know how to put forward her request, and in desperation, clucked like a chicken and lifted up her skirt to show her thighs. Her butcher got the message, and gave her the chicken legs.

Next day she needed to get chicken breasts, again she didn't know how to say it, and so she clucked like a chicken and unbuttoned her blouse to show the butcher her breasts. The butcher understood again, and gave her some chicken breasts.

On the 3rd day, the poor lady needed to buy sausages. Unable to find a way to communicate this, she brought her husband to the store...

AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED????




What were you thinking? Hellooooooo, her husband speaks English!

HAZ PENSADO EN QUE BUENO ES LA VIDA ULTIMAMENTE?

HAVE YOU STOPPED LATELY TO THINK HOW GREAT LIFE IS?

I seem to not be having a lot of free time for myself during the week but when the weekend comes I try to make time for myself and my moving out of Corozal has helped to do that because if I stay at home work follows me in the guise of people who come to see me about school. Don't get me wrong I love my job but I need my privacy and my free time so jumping across the border has created that for me. I always wondered what good it was that my parents chose to have me in Mexico City. Today I am really glad they did. My second choice would have been Puerto Rico but that I can deal with because I have hopes of visiting that country one day. It is a dream I have had since childhood and one I hope will be realized one day.

So have you stopped to smell the roses lately?
I have. And I have looked at the sky also. And I have looked at love square in the face and I have had love look back at me. So then, you may say, her world is complete. Ahhh, it almost is. But, I have a dream. It is a dream that one day... Sounds like Martin Luther King's speech doesn't it! But it doesn't have to be. YOU can all dream and you can all have dreams come true. So I have a dream that one day my world will be complete. And guess what? I am almost there! But while I work on it and nourish it with love and attention I ask you again, have you stopped to think how great life is?

Take time for yourself soon. Don't be crushed by work and deadlines. Push on and push out. Life is all it can be but you must stop and find time for that which brings you joy.

I am back. The travel was long and hard but the brain is ready to continue the fight and the struggle continues. And maybe one day the dream will become reality.

Have a great day. And remember to STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW GREAT LIFE IS AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE ALIVE.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

BECAUSE YOU CAN

You think,
Because you can,

You work,
Because you can,

You smile,
Because you can,

You share,
Because you can,

You give love,
Because you can,

You tire,
Because you can,

But you go on,
Because you can,

So keep it real,
Because you can,

And all will be true,
Because they can,

And the world will be better,
Because it can!

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

ON THE COROZAL BAY

Hot sun glaring down,
Sea breeze blowing around,
A beach filled with sand and colour,
A tree in the park in full flower.

Speed boats zipping in the water,
Everywhere there is music and laughter,
The smell of barbecue fills the air,
As the blue sky overhead is ever so clear.

The beach side is packed with holiday makers,
As the catamaran takes to the breakers,
Then the band starts to play,
And adds to the joy of the holiday.

Orders for corn on the cob covered with cheese,
Or sliced pickled mangoes, your taste buds to tease,
Add to the ever so perfect day,
As everyone enjoys Easter on the Corozal Bay.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

ALL GOOD REASONS TO LOVE BELIZE

A FRIEND

A friend is someone special,
A friend is someone true.
A friend will always be there,
When you need someone there for you.

A friend always listens,
A friend never says "good for you."
A friend will cry when you cry,
And wipe your tears by and by.

A friend will say just the right words,
A friend will share your pain.
A friend will be more than one of the girls,
Who will listen as you tell the tale over again.

So be a friend and you will see,
What treasure there is in caring,
For if you are a friend to me,
There will be much we will be sharing.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

DON'T MESS WITH AN ATTORNEY... A JOKE FOR YOU

Sleeping Rough
A police chief, a fire chief and a city manager were traveling together by car to a municipal management conference in a distant city. Their car broke down in a rural area, and they were forced to seek shelter for the night at a nearby farmhouse.

The farmer welcomed them in but cautioned them that there were only two spare beds, and that one of them would have to sleep in the barn with the farm animals. After a short conference, the police chief agreed to take the barn.

Shortly after retiring, a knock was heard on the door of the farmhouse. The party inside answered to find the police chief standing there, complaining that he could not sleep. There were pigs in the barn, he said, and he was reminded of the days when everyone called him a pig. The fire chief then volunteered to exchange with the police chief.

A short time later, another knock was heard at the door. The fire chief complained that the cows in the barn reminded him of Mrs. O'Leary's cow that started the Chicago fire, and that every time he started to go to sleep, he started to have a fireman's worst nightmare, that of burning to death. The city attorney, in desperation for sleep, then agreed to sleep in the barn.

This seemed like a good idea until a few minutes later, when another knock was heard at the door. When the occupants answered the door, there stood the very indignant cows and pigs.

A CAKE TO DIE FOR

Pineapple-Coconut Layer Cake EW (Test Kitchen)

For everyone who loves the flavors of the Caribbean, this festive cake has it all. Two layers of coconut-flavored cake are filled with sweet pineapple curd and topped with creamy coconut frosting, chunks of fresh pineapple and toasted coconut.

Servings: 16 servings
Total Time: 2 1/2 hours
Ease of Preparation: Moderate
Health: Low Cholesterol, Low Sodium


Ingredients:

Cake
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour , preferably white whole-wheat (See Ingredient Note)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons butter , melted
3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk or milk
2 tablespoons coconut rum or dark rum
2 teaspoons coconut extract
3 large eggs , separated (reserve 2 yolks for pineapple curd)

Pineapple curd
2 large egg yolks
1 6-ounce can pineapple juice (3/4 cup)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
5 teaspoons cornstarch

Frosting & garnish
12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), at room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar , sifted
1 teaspoon coconut extract or rum
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups finely diced fresh pineapple , divided
2 tablespoons toasted coconut (see Kitchen Tip)


Steps:


1: To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray.

2: Sift cake flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt into a medium bowl. Beat 3/4 cup sugar, honey, oil and melted butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Whisk buttermilk (or milk), rum and coconut extract in a small bowl. With the mixer on low speed, alternately mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients into the sugar mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until just combined.

3: Clean and dry the beaters. Beat 3 egg whites in a medium bowl with the electric mixer on medium-high until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the batter in two additions until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading to the edges.

4: Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 26 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn out and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

5: To prepare curd: Whisk 2 egg yolks, pineapple juice, 1/4 cup sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until thick and beginning to bubble, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool completely.

6: To prepare frosting & assemble cake: Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, extract (or rum) and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

7: Place one cake layer, top-side down, on a cake stand or plate. Spread evenly with the pineapple curd, stopping just short of the edge. Scatter 1/2 cup diced pineapple over the curd. Place the remaining layer, top-side up, on top. Spread the frosting over the top and sides. Decorate the top with the remaining 1 cup pineapple and toasted coconut.



Nutrition: (Per serving)

Calories - 317
Carbohydrates - 45
Fat - 13
Saturated Fat - 5
Monounsaturated Fat - 4
Protein - 6
Cholesterol - 48
Dietary Fiber - 1
Potassium - 101
Sodium - 205

Equipment: Two 9-inch round cake pans