March? Did you happen?

Where the heck did March go? I got caught yesterday saying that February 20th was last week. If only. Looking back at my month of blogs is the only thing keeping me from dreaming of valentines...

Here are some tid-bits of how March went (for those, like I, who can't remember):

My baby sister escaped the country  and went to London. (Stories still to come, the slacking is on my end, not hers). 
The US passed some new exciting legislation here and here. Although I wouldn't mind escaping to Canada.
The World recognized days focused on Women, TB, and h20.
Read the book, This I Believe & fell head over heels in L-O-V-E. An entire post dedicated to this project is still to come, but I shared some wisdom on "being there" and "humdrum lives" in the meantime.
I ate some food and repeated.
Drum-roll please. March was super important because we all FILLED OUT OUR 2010 US CENSUS .

Au Revoir St. Patrick. Bonjour ... showers?

'hardly epic'

"In my humdrum life, the daily battle hasn't been good versus evil. It's hardly so epic. Most days, my real battle is doing good versus doing nothing."

-- Deirdre Sullivan, from This I Believe

grant me this.

No post today. I've volunteered to help write a grant  (it's been quite the learning experience). 

So what little of my brain that hasn't been consumed by a massive post-grad haze-over is being used to work on that. While you anxiously await my next blog-o-worldly-wisdom ;) here's an idea: fill out your 2010 Census. I know you have it. If you don't know why it's important - let me remind you. 

tb

Once again, it's a World Day - today's topic, TB (tuberculosis). 

Here are some interesting facts about TB in Minnesota...

Did you know: 

1. TB is actually still one of the most deadly diseases in the world today (killing nearly 2 million per year). Crazy huh? I guess most people forget about it, because with proper medical care and/or prevention it can be cured.
2. In 2008 there were 2 TB outbreaks in MN.
3. The MN Department of Health gives free TB treatment to any resident who needs it. 
4. For every person affected by TB, dozens more have the TB infection - of those, 1/10 will develop TB. 

How can all this be stopped? 1. Early diagnostics, 2. Complete Treatment (it's a long process,  we're talking - a year or more), 3. More screening/treatment for individuals who live or work in at-risk areas (new immigrants/refugees, primary care settings, etc.), 4. Awareness

If you think you might have TB or be carrying the infection: get tested! It's not too bad, I got the skin test before interning with Lutheran Services. I was a little freaked out by the skin injection (it looks like a tiny white dot on your forearm), but after 72 hours - I had no swelling or irritation, meaning 1. no TB avec moi, 2. it just hadn't been in my body long enough. Should you get a skin test + irritation, fear not, many people have false positive results, and a simple lung screening can confirm or deny the results. 

More information about World TB Day can be found at these web sites: 

CDC/DTBE, Minnesota Department of Health, Stop TB Partnership

red.

Food time.
The last night my mom and I made:

Thai Red Chicken Curry
(it's very, very easy & a little spice is good for'ya).

We got the recipe from real simple magazine, and I only made a few adaptations.
Heeeeere you gooooo:

1. Season 1.5 pounds of chicken cutlets w. salt & cook with canola oil on medium/high heat until golden; remove and slice.
2. Add 2 sliced bell peppers* (red are the best!) and 1/4 cup water to a pan; cook until tender.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of red curry paste (we used powder) and 15 ounces of coconut milk; simmer for 4 minutes.
4. Add the chicken, serve with rice, lime and basil.

*Mom and I added other veggies like onions, carrots, and broccoli (remember: depending on pan size & the amount of veggies used, you may want to add a little more water). I'm sure that potatoes, eggplant, and zucchini would be wonderful too!

Enjoy!

Dr. Give Me the News

I realize this is a high tension subject for many: healthcare.
& to be 'sensitive' I've been keeping most of my (liberal) opinions to myself, but this article just makes too much sense to not pass it on.

Health Reform Bill Summary: The Top 18 Immediate Effects

Many Thanks and credit to Steven Athay for finding and sharing this article! 

h2o

Today, is World Water Day. It seems to be good timing for such a day, ya? Snow melting has started the worry of flooding, and spring rains are soon there way. And while those issues hit close to home, most of us still have a plethora of water to drink, cook, and bathe with... in our very own homes!

But today, is a day to remember the importance of water. Everyone knows that water is needed to sustain life; yet millions around the world do not have access to it. Let alone clean water. This year's theme (decided by the United Nations) is "Clean Water for a Healthy World", urging governments to increase their dedication to clean water acts, in addition to the ongoing fight for water access. 

Let's play a game?? 

"Where in the WORLD is that WATER?" 

a. 

b. 

c.

d.

Comment and let me know how you did! (I know it wasn't too hard, & very dorky). Or send me some pictures of water you've seen around the world.

Something to do Today: conserve, conserve, conserve. Or maybe: purchase a reusable water bottle, turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth (that's 25 gallons a month!), check for leaks, cut shower time in half ...  Check out this site for 100 [easy] Ways to Conserve Water. Lets stop taking water for granted!! 

ANSWERS: 

a.) Alexandria & Cairo, Egypt 
b.) Cairns, Australia 
c.) Welch, Minnesota 
d.) Kigali, Rwanda 

Love 105, 89.3 thecurrent, & Sam Cooke live

Lately, I've been a driving maniac.
Does anyone else love the sparkle in tar?

The hours spent in my car along with their partner miles have been weighing down my itrysohard-green heart with guilt, yes. But still, there is something especially exciting about learning new roads/highways, mastering maps, and discovering new places. I could ... bask ... in the feeling I get pulling up to new destination I've been looking for. I must thank my dad for a [mostly] reliable innate sense of direction. & my mom for teaching me the 'WE' trick in reference to west/east. I would be a lost puppy without them ... and obviously, googlemaps.

I'm always rambling on about how much of this world I have yet to see, but hell, I've barely even seen my own state! Thankfully, with the return of pot-holes is the return of road-trip season. Where to, where to ...

Now feels like the appropriate time to quote On the Road, by Jack Kerouac (1955, p. 20), "He took his time coming over. 'You boys going to get somewhere, or just going?' We didn't understand his question, and it was a dammed good question."

Attending.

An FYI for those in Minnesota (or who like last minute road trips):

"Immigration and Human Trafficking" presentation being presented by Bukola Oriola, a survivor of human trafficking from Nigeria and Linda Miller, Executive Director of Civil Society.

Sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Student Center and the Center for Century College Annual Student Success Day.

Wedesnday, March 17th, 2010
11 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

West Campus, Room W3170
3300 Century Ave. N.
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

* free, open to all.

She's Backkkkkkk

Ohh, my baby's back from London.
Stories to come soon.