Respective
Aging...
Guess what
we all do the same, but differently? We all age differently.
Do you
ever notice yourself looking into a mirror not just inside your own
home? Do you notice your posture when you see yourself from a
distance? There are SO many things that I notice since having Bells
Palsy. Things I notice within myself.
In the
next 2 month’s I will have my 48th birthday. I believe
that I look good for my age, if I say so myself. I gave myself a
haircut [something I do myself that is fun], and then for the very
first time I trimmed my chest fur. Now I look 5 years younger! Why
do I look younger? Well, all the grey hair from my chest is GONE
and my salt and pepper hair on my head is shorter which now shows
more pepper than salt.
Next, I
shower my scalp and cleanse my face. I also scrub my face with Arm
& Hammer baking soda. This is AMAZING! My face feels SO SOFT and
SMOOTH, and most of all clean because it is PH balanced. After
using the baking soda for a few years now, I am almost finally ready
to go out and purchase the Clarisonic Plus Skin Care Brush. The
Clarisonic Plus retails for $225.00 and the Clarisonic Mia retails
for $150 or less, the benefits are not only cleaner facial skin, but
you also have a body brush with the Clarisonic Plus to use on
different parts of your body, such as your elbows, knees, feet,
hands and knuckles. Any dry area on your body can benefit while
using this face and body brush.
The
benefits of this amazing hand-held product are:
* Removes
makeup 6 times better than washing your face alone
* Clears
pores & reduces appearance of pore size
* Cleanses
thoroughly that skincare products absorb
better.
* Reduce
oily areas, dry patches, and blemishes
* Sensitive
enough to use for all skin types
* need to
use just 1 time a day for 1 minute
* Waterproof so that it is safe to use anywhere,
including the shower.
I am
going to start saving up for this system. When I get it, I will
write about my experience with the product. One of my most favorite
things to do is write about my experience with a product.
Getting
back to baking soda, I know that my skin looks so much better
after using the baking soda in the shower and then applying
my Facial Magic Firm and Repair Treatment Serum. I cannot live
without this product; seriously, I cannot and will not live without
putting 2 pumps worth onto my face everyday, even around my eyes.
What a difference it makes to my face! What is the difference?
Well for one thing, Cynthia’s new skincare products have Peptides.
When
we age, collagen is destroyed but not replaced. As a result young,
smooth skin becomes thin and wrinkled over time.
One
strategy to improve winkles and to make you look younger is to
replace lost collagen. When collagen breaks down, it forms specific
peptides. These peptides act as a signal to tell your skin it was
damaged and to make new collagen.
Applying
peptides directly to your skin is a way to trick your skin into
thinking that it has lost collagen recently and needs to make more.
Remember
what one of the advantages of using a Clarisonic face brush, your
skincare products absorb better, I cannot wait to see the
results after I purchase the Clarasonic Face Brush. LOOK OUT!
Please
remember we all age differently. Part of my good fortune in having
healthy skin has been what I put into my body as well as on top. In
my twenties I did party with friends, had drinks and lots of fun.
In my
thirties, the drinking became less, as I was cognizant of what I was
doing to myself. Drinking and partying less was the smartest thing
to do.
Now in my
forties I hardly ever drink alcohol. Once in a blue moon. This is
not a bad thing. It is fantastic for my skin. My face looks
great without the effects of alcohol. Over a period of time alcohol
will dry out skin from the inside out, making you look more mature
than you realize. I cleanse my skin daily and apply some of the
best skin treatment to my face. My fifties will just have to wait a
while!
However,
that is me. This is what I call Respective Aging. Thinking about
what is really best for your self, right now.
Once you
know what you truly want for your skincare, the rest will fall into
place. Of course following with my Facial Magic exercises helps my
face and skin look amazing. When doesn’t exercise help your body
and face?
The tough
part about finding what is best for you is starting to realize that
your face needs some encouragement. Start to visualize yourself
where you want to be, in a good skin care regimen with facial
exercises and sticking to it! That is the tough part, even
for me.
If you
consider a face lift, remember this, you will most likely never look
the same again and what I mean is, you will alter how you look
forever, and if you do not like it you simply cannot just take it
back for a refund, you are stuck with it, period.
Once you
get into a routine, I can almost guarantee you will rediscover the
face you once thought you had lost forever.
Thank you
for reading and have a lovely Valentine’s Day!
I am happy for the
New Year!
It is amazing how
quickly 2011 came and how quickly it left us. I for one am happy
for the New Year. Last year was a blur. So many people passed away
last year... Friends, celebrities, and family members left us.
Here are some
names of people who are watching over us now:
1.
Elliot Handler was the co-founder of
Mattel.
2.
Andy Rooney was an American radio and
television writer.
3.
Steve Jobs
was co-founder,
chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc.
4.
Dolores Hope passed away on September 19, 2011. She was an American
singer, philanthropist and wife of actor/comedian Bob Hope. She was
102.
5.
Amy Winehouse
was an English
singer-songwriter known for her powerful
deep contralto
vocals. Amy died of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011.
6.
Betty Ford was the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977
during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford.
7.
Elizabeth Taylor was one of the world's most famous film stars,
Taylor was recognized for her acting ability and for her glamorous
lifestyle, beauty and distinctive violet eyes.
I
know there are many more names I have not mentioned. On the family
side, my father passed away August 29, 2011 of Alzheimer’s.
Two months later
my partner’s mother came to stay with us for a while, her name was
Earnestine. Now that is a name you do not hear all too often
anymore. Last year Earnestine was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
She had an operation to remove the cancer. The doctor removed the
cancer and said she was cancer free.
Earnestine came
out to California on September 27th. Earnestine lived in
Cleveland, Ohio. We thought it would be nice to bring her out and
help her get well again. Earnestine and I had many talks about
where she was from to what she had been through with cancer.
Earnestine had
six children, and she buried four of them throughout her lifetime.
Life in the 50’s was much like the current movie called “The Help”,
on how African Americans were mistreated.
I loved
Earnestine as if she were my own mother. She was kind, she was very
smart, and yes, she was important to her son’s Ronald and Richard.
She was also very kind to me. We had fun together while she was
visiting. I made sure she did not want for anything. Making her as
comfortable as possible.
We
even made a trip to the casino. Earnestine enjoyed the slot
machines. We went and she had fun!
Her health was
not the greatest while she was here. Hospice was here one afternoon
to read her vitals. Earnestine asked some questions and the bad
news was that she was not getting any better. We had to arrange for
Earnestine to travel back to Ohio; she wanted to go home to be with
the Lord. That was her wish.
Earnestine left
California on the morning of October 31, 2011. Thirteen days after
she left, Earnestine passed away.
Most of us have
lost friends and family and we will keep them forever, guarded in
our hearts.
I know that 2012
will be a year of growth and wonderful things! I wish that for all
of you as well.
Thank you for
reading and have a sensational new year in 2012!
Sincerely, Steven
Tassopoulos
How to Protect Yourself
Last
year I was the unfortunate victim of Online Identity Theft. I would
not wish this happen to anyone. I still have distress with this
issue. Recently I discovered some erroneous charges to one of my
credit cards. This has been a difficult challenge. When I call my
credit card company to report this issue and hopefully receive a
credit for what I did not do on my own, I am faced with speculation
on said charges. This is both frustrating and aggravating. I
rarely lose my temper on the phone while talking to customer service
representatives, but in this case, it was imperative.
The
two articles below should help you with any questions you might have
with Online Identity Theft. It is worth your time to read.
Protect your privacy: what happens to your data?
by
Rich Mogull,
Macworld.com
When criminals obtain your e-mail address, credit
card, or Social Security Number, your information enters an
underground economy where it’s sold, bought, and (maybe) eventually
used in a crime.
As detailed throughout this series, your data can be
harvested by a variety of means—malware,
phishing,
sniffing, and other attacks. The most common method today
uses e-mail, Web, and social networking phishing to trick users into
installing malware on vulnerable computers; that malware then links
infected machines together into a bot-net. Those systems are scoured
for any potentially valuable information, then used to attack others
under the control of the botmaster. (Fortunately, such attacks are
almost entirely targeted against Windows machines; attacks on Macs
have been few and far between.)
However once it has been obtained, stolen information
is then aggregated and sold in online criminal marketplaces—called
“carders”—which function much like eBay. For example, the ShadowCrew
site that was busted in 2004 by the Secret Service had an estimated
4000 members and up to 8000 credit cards. Another, carders.cc, was
itself hacked last spring, but is still in operation.
Different kinds of data have different values: a
credit card number may be worth as little as a few cents; that same
number with your name, address, and Social Security number could be
worth $30. Such data can be used to perpetrate a full-on identity
theft, which can enable the miscreants to take out a mortgage in
your name. That can happen years after the theft, since—unlike
credit card numbers—SSNs don’t expire until you do.
If your computer is in the botnet, or your Webmail
username and password was harvested, either of them could be used in
a directed phishing attack, in which messages are sent from your
computer or account to your contacts, who are then lulled into
clicking links which further expand the network.
Money Mules
A carder who buys financial data on the underground
market can convert it to cash through a
money mule. Mules are usually
recruited through work-at-home job offers for so-called payment
transfer agents; they often don’t realize they are committing
crimes. If it’s a credit card, they use it to purchase goods or gift
cards, which are then shipped to the crime boss. For bank account
fraud, money is transferred into the mule’s account by the criminal;
it is then sent overseas using a money transfer service.
Other mules are true criminals who know exactly what
they are doing. They are recruited to use fake credit cards in real
stores to launder the cash. For example, they might purchase large
numbers of gift cards using stolen credit cards, then use those gift
cards or sell them online. Stolen card numbers are usually tested
for validity ahead of time with small, dollar-or-less donations to
charities (something to look for in your account activity).
Access to online bank accounts is one of the most
valuable items in the criminal underground. As credit card fraud
monitoring improves, criminals are turning more towards bank
accounts which lack the same automated protection systems. They will
log into your account and transfer funds directly to a mule at a
scheduled time, who immediately transfers it again (to reduce the
chances the transaction will be reversed). There is currently a rash
of such attacks on small businesses, whose bank accounts often lack
the protections of consumer accounts; they can can decimate a
company when it can’t recover the funds.
In one of the most brazen online crimes in history,
criminals hacked into the servers of RBS
WorldPay, gaining access to debit card accounts. The
attackers raised the limits on 44 debit card accounts as high as
$500,000 and then issued functional cards to 44 accomplices around
the world. Over $9.5 million was stolen in 12 hours using over 2000
ATMs. (The RBS attackers were later caught and convicted).
[Rich Mogull has worked in the security world for 17
years. He writes for
TidBits and works as a
security analyst through
Securosis.com.]
Protect
your privacy: avoid identity theft
by
Mike Rothman,
Macworld.com
When you’re buying online, it can sometimes be hard
to tell whether you’re dealing with a legitimate merchant or the
online equivalent of that guy selling counterfeit watches on 33rd
Street. Most shoppers focus on maintaining the privacy of their
credit card data, and that’s good. But that’s not the only privacy
concern you should have while shopping online.
Identity theft
The risk:
Any
time you use your credit card online, your identity is at risk.
Organized crime factions from all over the world have streamlined
the process of extracting your personal details from all sorts of
places, especially shopping sites. These attackers can harvest
thousands or even millions of credit cards in one fell swoop. That’s
a problem for two reasons.
First, and most obviously, there’s the problem of
having your credit card used to purchase all kinds of goods in
places you’ve never been. Usually your bank protects you from such
fraudulent charges. But it’s still a hassle to change your account
numbers.
But these days, the bad guys aren’t satisfied with
credit cards alone. In fact, individual card numbers aren’t worth
that much. But when those numbers are combined with other commonly
available bits of personal information—such as addresses and
birthdays—attackers can then assemble a virtual dossier of your
private information. Identity thieves can parlay that information to
secure credit in your name. That credit can be more valuable to them
than your credit card and far more difficult and expensive for you
to fix: Bank protections focus on credit cards They are much less
help when money is directly extracted from accounts, via debit cards
or electronic fund transfers.
How to protect yourself:
The
best defense against identity theft is to do business only with
reputable merchants. Apply the proverbial sniff-test when selecting
an online retailer. Does it feel and look legit? Check the merchant
at the
Better Business Bureau, or
look for their ranking on the
Internet Retailer 500 list.
Check out for feedback on opinion sites like (Epinions
and
bizrate). In other words, do
your homework before you plunk down your credit card.
Check the retailer’s privacy policy, too. It should
specify what they will and won’t do with your information. (Note
that those policies change, especially when a company changes
hands). You’d be surprised how many sell online merchants sell your
e-mail and address to third parties. Search the privacy policy for
terms like
third-party,
e-mail address,
or
personally identifiable information;
that should help you find out what a retailer plans to do with your
information.
Assuming you are working with a reputable merchant,
be sure you are actually on the correct site. A phishing attack or
network redirection attack can direct you from e-mail or another Web
address to a fake site (which may look exactly like the real thing).
One Firefox plug-in,
LocationBar2 can help: It
makes clear what Website you are using.
Also, many attackers go to great lengths to make
their domains look like something that plausible— http://amazon.com.itakeyourmoney.ru,
for example, might look like the real Amazon at first glance, if you
don’t check the end of that URL. And they’re never that obvious.
Regardless of your best efforts, your information may
still be compromised. That’s why it’s also important to monitor your
identity through services such as
Debix,
Citi IdentityMonitor, and
Experian). They will alert
you when any new credit requests appear in your file. Get into the
habit of checking your credit card and banking accounts frequently
to make sure there are no unauthorized charges.
Spying
The risk:
It may
be convenient when your favorite online merchants e-mail offers for
products you were thinking about buying. But wait—how did they know
that? Unfortunately, if you've been using Google to browse pages for
similar products, or perusing the merchant's Website, it’s not a
secret. You've been telling them what you like to buy and
when—they're just listening.
With the advent of tracking technologies and
sophisticated analytics, many Web merchants know exactly who
you are and what you are most likely to buy. They know because you
tell them through your buying and surfing patterns. This is valuable
data, and merchants can (and do) sell it to each other.
How to protect yourself:
As
mentioned above, reputable retailers spell out how they use your
information in their privacy policies. Check to see if your
favorites sell your information to other merchants. If so, then see
if you can opt-out of offers from third parties.
Consider connecting to the Internet through a VPN or
private proxy, which will obscure your IP address and therefore your
location. This is only effective when you’re browsing—once you
decide to buy, your identity will be exposed.
Finally, if you’re really paranoid, shop at a variety
of sites to limit the depth of knowledge about you that any one
retailer can acquire. This has its risks, however; buying from that
guy on 33rd Street just to avoid shopping too often at Nordstrom's
is counterproductive.
I hope these articles were informative and maybe you did learn
something.
Until next time, Steven Tassopoulos
If you read my column, you might recall how I
lost weight by counting and weighing each calorie. For my first
time, not really knowing which course to take I venture into the
word of “Diets”. The first month was fun because I did not know
what I was doing. Then it became tedious to me to count out
everything. Therefore, I stopped to see if I could manage without
weighing each calorie, ounce, and gram of food and or liquid.
Until I reached the age of 44, I never had to
count or watch my calorie intake. I ate exactly what I wanted and
stay slim with minimal exercise. Now as I venture down the birthday
expressway, I will be turning 47 on March 4.
For the last 2 years, I have been trying to
slim down. Wow! What a ride this had been. I was caught
completely off guard. Once we become accustomed to eating a certain
way it can be difficult to cut back. The result was not what I
wanted. My waist size shot up from a 33w to a 38w,
I could not fit into my clothes and my gut was
larger than I had ever imagined it would be. I felt somewhat
depressed about my appearance.
Trying not to wallow in my self-pity, I started
asking questions.
I asked my sister questions about nutrition and
I asked a neighbor how he lost his weight so quickly. My neighbor
said it was easy. He ate what he wanted most of the day and did not
eat past 6pm.
I have decided to start cutting down on my meal
sizes and try hard to drink diet beverages. My usual beverage of
choice was Coke on ice.
Now I drink Diet Dr. Pepper when I want to have
a soft drink. I am always brewing Mint Green Ice Tea.
I am starting to weigh out my food again, with
an understanding on what I am doing with the type of food I will be
consuming. When I started out on this road to rediscovery about
weight management, I had no idea how simple it really is to be
mindful of your food intake. When in doubt, just say No, and divert
your attention in another direction.
I have cut down on a lot of sugar. I need to
read Connie Bennett’s book called “SUGAR
SHOCK!” I bet we could all learn a few things. I have
met Connie a few times while she was in town to visit Cynthia.
I have also cut down on some dairy intake, such
as milk, cheese and of course my very favorite, ice cream! I love
almost anything sweet.
Lately I have become somewhat addicted to
Pumpkin Spice Lattes with whip cream. I know it is sinful, but I
was craving it.
I have been consuming more protein and far less
sugar with decent carbs, but not too many. I think my daily calorie
intake is less than 1,300 calories a day and it will stay that way
until I reach my goal weight of 187lbs. I am 6’3”, in case you were
wondering.
I started to change my eating habits on
Saturday, November 27. It does not matter when you start, just
start and the climb will be worth the effort.
I weighed 205lbs at my heaviest, which was all
in my gut, face, and neck area. From 11/27 to present day, I have
lost 16 pounds with only two more to go to reach 187lbs.
So you see it can be done, in moderation, with
determination and the will to want to look your best. So, Lose it
and start the New Year healthier.
Thank you for reading. Happy Valentines Day!
Steven Tassopoulos
Back in April of this year 2010, Cynthia asked
me to photograph some new products for her website. The new
products just happen to be the NEW line of skin care products. I
knew she was in the process of working with the chemist to design
the new line, and I was very excited that I would be the first to
photograph them for the Facial Magic website.
Everything from the packaging and labels to the
actual product itself has changed. Everything is all-new and
Cynthia thinks it is all wonderful. I will be the judge of just how
wonderful these new products are supposed to perform; after all, it
is “my” skin.
Here is a little history about myself, and how
experienced I am about evaluating just how “good” skincare is. In
the early 80”s I was living in Tucson, Arizona. I was also a
make-up artist. I applied for a job at a local department store to
work with Estee Lauder. An account manager trained me on all the
products and skincare was the number one topic.
It is VERY important to wash your face every
morning and every evening before going to bed. This will promote
healthy skin when using the correct products. This is especially
true if you wear foundation and make-up during the day and or
evening. Leaving make-up on your face as you sleep will age you.
Your skin needs to breath.
I have met many women who complain that it is
just TOO much of a task to take off their make-up and wash up before
bedtime. I always hear, “I will do it in the morning as I shower”.
Fine if you are too tired to take a few minutes to wash your face,
then you will have to suffer the ultimate consequences. Eventually
your skin will show you exactly what you are doing by NOT washing
your face before bedtime. Your skin will look tired, which will
make you look tired and perhaps advanced in years when you
are actually not. You have no idea just how bad leaving on your
make-up is for you and your skin.
Since I am a man, I do not have to worry about
taking off any make-up before I go to bed. I do wash my face every
night, then I moisturize my under eye area and my face. I am a 46
year old man that enjoys sitting in the sun from time to time, I use
fantastic skincare products every day, and the results are amazing.
How amazing? Well when you look at my skin you will have to look
close to see any lines around my eye area and the skin on my face
glows because it looks healthy and alive. My fore head has some
lines because I frown without realizing it most of the time.
Because I do Facial Magic exercises, it is much smoother and
tighter. (Except now because I have Bell’s Palsy)
Facial skincare is very important because we
cannot hide our face behind a mask or by a smart looking hairdo that
will hide only some things but not much. Everyday skincare is vital
to aging gracefully.
Recently I noticed that my pores were slightly
larger than I would like them to be. My skin produces more oil than
I like and keeping it under control can be a challenge at times.
After I completed the product photo shoot, for
Cynthia I gave the products back to her and she insisted that I use
them.jpg)
and tell her what I thought of them. I said OK, I will tell you,
and I will be honest about it.
First product I tried was the Facial Cleanser.
This product left my skin feeling clean without stripping off the
important elements and keeping my PH balance. Sometimes when using
another facial cleanser from another brand my skin feels so stripped
of everything that it actually feels too tight. Not the case with
Cynthia’s new Facial Cleanser, my face feels clean and natural,
which is how it should feel.
Second product I use after cleansing my face is
the Under Eye Treatment. Using an under eye treatment is extremely
important to me. By using this product, each morning and night the
results will be tremendous and long lasting. I never go a day
without using the eye treatment, along with my sunglasses.
Sunglasses help prevent premature aging due to the UV rays and this
Under Eye Treatment that I have been using from Facial Magic exceeds
my expectations.
Third product that I use is one of my favorite
products. The “Firm and Repair Treatment Serum”, this product is
amazing and my skin loves it. My pores look smaller and feel
smoother. Finally a product that actually works, as it should. My
skin feels so good when I use the Serum that I actually get upset
when I do not have any left and I cannot wait until I get another
bottle. Really, it is that superior to other products that claim to
do the same thing but fail. The Firm and Repair Treatment are here
to stay and my face is the new poster child for this first-class
product.
Fourth is the Daytime Skin Nutrition. This is
your daytime moisturizer for your face. I love using it; a little
goes a long way. My face feels soft and supple.
Fifth product is the Overnight Sensation. This
product is the last thing you will apply to your face before going
to bed, right after using your Under Eye Treatment. This nighttime
moisturizer goes on effortlessly and covers a large area of your
face. You will not have to use very much. I love this product
because it is not oily in any way.
All of the products I have mentioned all have
Peptides. I wrote a column about Peptides a few months ago. Skin
Care with Peptides is reported to reduce the signs of aging by
increasing collagen production, thereby making the skin thicker and
reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Many skin care products
contain several different peptides, which is probably the best route
to go if you want to add peptides to your skin care regimen.
Peptides in Skin Care are available in moisturizers, serums, and eye
creams, such as Cynthia Rowland’s Facial Magic new Skincare system.
Thank you for reading my column for October.
Have a Happy Halloween!
Steven Tassopoulos
Bell's Palsy and My Face
August 21st started out as any other
Saturday. It was a very hot day and I was going to attend a
birthday pool party later that day. My party was across the street
at a neighbor’s house. All the neighbors on our street attended,
and it was a fun party. Later on that evening a group of us decided
to go swimming and then sit in the hot tub, which wasn’t that hot,
thank goodness. As I was talking to my neighbor, I started to feel
a strange sensation on the left side of my mouth, almost as if my
lips were becoming numb. Sort of like coming back from the dentist,
but I could still feel pain if I bit my lip. I thought nothing of
it and continued having fun. I went home at 10pm and ate another
piece of birthday cake before I went to bed. I LOVE CAKE!!
The next morning I woke up and felt strange.
My face felt weird. I could not move the left side of my face! OH
MY GOSH! I jumped out of bed to look in the mirror and I saw that
my left side could not move! This is a very strange thing. What is
wrong with me? What is going on? I was in mild shock. I say mild
because I was not in any type of pain and I could still see out of
my left eye, I just could not move the left side of my face.
I called my Doctor the next morning and told
him my symptoms. He said that I have Bell’s Palsy. WHO?! WHAT?! I
jumped onto the computer to research this condition. I found LOTS
of information about Bell’s Palsy online. My experience has not
been painful, in fact the only symptom I have is my face being
paralyzed. Before I read any of the very informative facts online,
I began to implement my own. Wearing an eye patch for instance will
keep your eye closed and retain moisture. I am not able to close my
left eye unless I do so with my finger. I also wear an eye mask for
both eyes while I sleep because if you have Bell’s Palsy you must
sleep no matter if it is during the day or night. I wear the entire
eye mask to relax both of my eyes while I rest. Get as much rest as
possible. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Do not over do it, just rest as
much as possible.
I cannot not drive my car - I have to rely on
someone else to drive me. As my vision is impaired through my left
eye, I do not want to cause an accident. I am thankful that I will
be able to overcome this, as it only lasts between 3 – 4 weeks.
Eating is a strange experience, I bite my lower lip all the time,
and it is painful, so have to eat slowly and be mindful of how I
chew. I also have to drink from a straw while I hold my left lips
closed so I can draw the liquid up and into my mouth. I feel as
though I have had a stroke as I have to teach myself how to do the
things we all take for granted.
I will continue with my Facial Magic exercises
which will improve my facial responses.
Here is more information from the Mayo Clinic
staff. There is a lot of important information so please read what
it says. You might know someone who has this condition, or perhaps
yourself. This has helped me.
DEFINITION:
Bell's
palsy occurs when the nerve that controls facial muscles on one side
of your face becomes swollen or inflamed. As a result of Bell's
palsy, your face feels stiff. Half your face appears to droop, your
smile is one-sided, and your eye resists closing.
Bell's
palsy can affect anyone, but rarely affects people under the age of
15 or over the age of 60.
For
most people, Bell's palsy symptoms improve within a few weeks, with
complete recovery in three to six months. About 10 percent will
experience a recurrence of Bell's palsy, sometimes on the other side
of the face. A small number of people continue to have some Bell's
palsy signs and symptoms for life.
SYMPTOMS:
Signs
and symptoms of Bell's palsy come on suddenly, and may include:
•
Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side
of your face — occurring within hours to days — making it difficult
to smile or close your eye on the affected side
•
Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions
•
Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected
side
•
Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side
•
Headache
•
A decrease in your ability to taste
•
Changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce
In
rare cases, Bell's palsy can affect the nerves on both sides of your
face.
CAUSES:
The
most common cause of Bell's palsy appears to be the herpes simplex
virus, which also causes cold sores and genital herpes. Other
viruses that have been linked to Bell's palsy include:
•
The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster)
•
The virus that causes mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr)
•
Another virus in the same family (cytomegalovirus)
With
Bell's palsy, the nerve that controls your facial muscles, which
passes through a narrow corridor of bone on its way to your face,
becomes inflamed and swollen — usually from a viral infection.
Besides facial muscles, the nerve affects tears, saliva, taste and a
small bone in the middle of your ear.
RISK FACTORS:
Bell's palsy occurs more often in people who:
•
Are pregnant, especially during the third trimester, or who
are in the first week after giving birth
•
Have diabetes
•
Have an upper respiratory infection, such as the flu or a
cold
Also,
some people who have recurrent attacks of Bell's palsy, which is
rare, have a family history of recurrent attacks. In those cases,
there may be a genetic predisposition to Bell's palsy.
COMPLICATIONS:
Although a mild case of Bell's palsy normally disappears
within a month, recovery from a case involving total paralysis
varies. Complications may include:
•
Irreversible damage to your facial nerve
•
Misdirected regrowth of nerve fibers, resulting in
involuntary contraction of certain muscles when you're trying to
move others (synkinesis) — for example, when you smile, the eye on
the affected side may close
Partial or complete blindness of the eye that won't close, due to
excessive dryness and scratching of the cornea, the clear protective
covering of the eye.
PREPARING FOR YOUR DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT:
You'll
likely start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner.
However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you
may be referred immediately to a neurologist.
It's
good to prepare for your appointment. Here's some information to
help you get ready.
What you can do
•
Write
down any symptoms you're experiencing,
including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you
scheduled the appointment.
•
Write
down key personal information,
including any major stresses or recent life changes.
•
Make a
list of all medications,
as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
•
Take a
family member or friend along,
if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the
information during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may
remember something that you missed or forgot.
•
Write
down questions to ask
your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your
time with your doctor. List your questions from most important to
least important. For Bell's palsy, some basic questions to ask your
doctor include:
•
What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
•
What other possible causes are there for my symptoms or
condition?
•
What kinds of tests do I need?
•
Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
•
What is the best course of action?
•
What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're
suggesting?
•
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage
them together?
•
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can
take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
Don't
hesitate to ask questions that occur to you during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Be
prepared to answer questions from your doctor, such as:
•
When did you begin having symptoms?
•
Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
•
How severe are your symptoms?
•
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
•
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
If
you have facial pain:
•
Take
over-the-counter pain relievers.
Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen
(Tylenol, others) may help ease your pain.
•
Apply
moist heat.
Putting a washcloth soaked in warm water on your face several times
a day may help relieve pain.
If
you're eye won't close completely, try these tips:
•
Use your finger to close your eye repeatedly throughout the
day.
•
Use lubricant eyedrops every hour.
•
Wear eyeglasses during the day to protect your eye.
Wear
an eye patch at night.
TEST & DIAGNOSIS:
No specific laboratory test can confirm a diagnosis of Bell's palsy.
Your doctor may be able to make a preliminary diagnosis of Bell's
palsy by looking at your face and asking you to move your facial
muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth
and frowning, among other movements.
Other
conditions — such as a stroke, infections, Lyme disease and tumors —
also may cause facial muscle weakness, mimicking Bell's palsy. If
your diagnosis is still in question, your doctor may recommend other
tests, including:
•
Electromyography (EMG).
This test can confirm the presence of nerve damage and determine its
severity. An EMG measures the electrical activity of a muscle in
response to stimulation and the nature and speed of the conduction
of electrical impulses along a nerve.
Imaging scans.
An X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized
tomography (CT) may be needed on occasion to eliminate other
possible sources of pressure on the facial nerve, such as an
infection, tumor or skull fracture.
TREATMENTS & DRUGS:
No specific laboratory test can confirm a diagnosis of Bell's palsy.
Your doctor may be able to make a preliminary diagnosis of Bell's
palsy by looking at your face and asking you to move your facial
muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth
and frowning, among other movements.
Other
conditions — such as a stroke, infections, Lyme disease and tumors —
also may cause facial muscle weakness, mimicking Bell's palsy. If
your diagnosis is still in question, your doctor may recommend other
tests, including:
•
Electromyography (EMG).
This test can confirm the presence of nerve damage and determine its
severity. An EMG measures the electrical activity of a muscle in
response to stimulation and the nature and speed of the conduction
of electrical impulses along a nerve.
Imaging scans.
An X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized
tomography (CT) may be needed on occasion to eliminate other
possible sources of pressure on the facial nerve, such as an
infection, tumor or skull fracture.
LIFESTYLE & HOME REMEDIES:
•
Protecting the eye you can't close. Using
lubricating eyedrops during the day and an eye ointment at night
will help keep your eye moist. Wearing glasses or goggles during the
day and an eye patch at night can protect your eye from getting
poked or scratched.
•
Taking
over-the-counter pain relievers.
Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen
(Tylenol, others) may help ease your pain.
•
Applying moist heat.
Putting a washcloth soaked in warm water on your face several times
a day may help relieve pain.
Doing
your physical therapy exercises.
Massaging and exercising your face according to your physical
therapist's advice may help relax your facial muscles.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE:
Although there's little scientific evidence to support the use of
alternative medicine for people with Bell's palsy, some people with
the condition may benefit from the following:
•
Relaxation techniques,
such as meditation and yoga, may relieve muscle tension and chronic
pain.
•
Acupuncture,
placing thin needles into your skin to relieve pain, may stimulate
nerves and muscles, offering some relief.
•
Biofeedback training,
by teaching you to use your thoughts to control your body, may help
you gain better control over your facial muscles.
Vitamin therapy
— specifically B-12, B-6 and zinc — may help nerve growth.
Thank
you for reading my September column on Bell’s Palsy. I hope you are
informed on this condition. I also hope you will copy and paste
this information should you ever need to refer to it in the future
for a friend of family member. I have learned a lot during the 2
weeks of having Bell’s Palsy, I am halfway through, although it can
come back at any time, and if it does I will be much more prepared.
Enjoy
September!
Steven
Tassopoulos
Staying on Track
Last month I wrote about my New Years Strategic
Plan. I want to share with you how my progress is coming along. My
Salter Dietary Nutrition Scale and I have taken a different path.
This month I wanted to see if I could stay within my calorie
limits. Are you wondering why? I will tell you, I had become bored
with the entire process of measuring each and every calorie I was
about to consume. I became lazy, and I have mentioned this before
that I can become distracted or lazy. I’m human, not perfect, I am
learning how to re-introduce healthy eating into my body.
On June 1st which is only one day
from the time I am writing this column. I am going to start
counting my calories AGAIN, and I will NOT stop until I am at my
desired waist size. You see, I do not like the way I look today. I
am not completely unfortunate looking but when I look the way I do
right now, I feel down right homely. Almost depressed but not
quite, for I have nothing to be depressed about, truly. There are
far more people out in the world that are suffering more than I at
the very moment. I am blessed and I appreciate it.
So, please forgive me for not keeping on track
with the calorie counting. I do not want to quit, this it is
important to me. Last month Cynthia wrote how well I looked when we
last visited with one another. She would not tell a story just to
make you believe. She tells it like it is, which is the best way.
Next month I am going to create a video clip on
how I use my Salter Dietary Nutrition Scale and how easy it could be
for you or a friend, or your entire family. Certain schools are
teaching their students how to eat healthy. This nutrition scale
will teach you some things - you'll see!
Thank you for reading and I hope you had a safe
Memorial Day weekend.
See you next month,
Steven Tassopoulos
My Progress so far!
Hello Everyone!
Last month I wrote about my New Years Strategic
Plan. I want to share with you how my progress is coming along. My
Salter Dietary Nutrition scale has become my new best friend. It is
compact and easy to carry, it even came with its own carrying case.
I am teaching myself how to weigh and measure the food that I
consume.
In the morning I like to eat oatmeal. I do not
like the instant oatmeal: I prefer to cook it the usual way, on the
stove with non-fat milk. I normally would add brown sugar to
sweeten it up a bit, but now I just add cinnamon. I am really
trying to cut out most sugar and some dairy from my diet. It is
tough and I have to take baby steps to re-learn how to eat higher
quality food that is healthy for me. My very good friend Victoria
said I should try making oatmeal with water and add some honey. The
honey will add flavor she said. I am not a big fan of making
oatmeal with water, but I will give it a try.
My dedication is starting to pay off! I can
see a definite improvement in my overall appearance. My stomach is
deflating [which is very good] and my neighbor noticed a difference,
asking me what I am doing. I mentioned that I am counting my
calorie intake and that I am riding my bicycle at least 3-4 times
per week for at least 3.5 miles each time, and I am not talking flat
roads either. I ride my bike up and down small to medium hills,
sometimes against the wind. It is NO fun riding against the wind,
but the rewards will be great if you persevere. I always take my
ipod with me and I make sure I have great music to ride with, that
is very important for me. Music can motivate us to go that extra
distance. It definitely works for me!
Breaking a sweat does wonders for your facial
skin, not to mention your body skin. It cleanses your pores and
gives you this healthy glow. I thought I needed a facial until I
started riding my bicycle every other day and breaking a sweat on a
big level. After I shower I can see that my skin is responding to
my exercise program. Now that I am somewhat over my calorie hump, I
can see the difference not only in my body, but in myself as well.
My cravings for the food that I love to eat are becoming easier to
deal with on an everyday basis. When I crave food or a snack I will
now drink a cold glass of water, or I will eat some baby carrots, or
a couple grapes [there are many calories in grapes] or better yet a
big juicy naval orange. But don’t let the big juicy orange fool you
it still has over 100 calories, depending on the size. Most people
will debate that it is healthy sugar from fruit. Sugar is sugar,
and believe it or not, sugar from fruit is not always healthy, I
have learned. Trying to cut out sugar is NOT easy, or fun.
I have been successful at keeping my calorie
intake between 1,400 to 1600 calories per day. I am trying to lose
inches of fat, not necessarily weight, well not too much. I am 6’3”
tall, and I am 46 year of age. My current weight is 202 pounds, I
can weigh 202 pounds as long as I exercise and maintain a healthy
diet. Healthy meaning no fast food, candy, ice cream, cake, junk
food in general. Up until last year I was able to eat anything I
wanted, and if you don’t believe me ask Cynthia, she will tell you.
I guess my body is going through the change, and I can either accept
it for what it is and accept how my body will look in it’s new plus
size or I can change it. I have chosen to change it.
Once I get to the weight I want to be and
maintain that weight successfully for at least 4 months or more
depending on how fit and trim I am, only then will I be able to
re-introduce certain foods back into my healthy way of eating. I
used to drink regular Coke almost every day, I was addicted to the
flavor and the bite of the carbonation. Now I drink ice water or
green ice tea with a hint of mint. I am trying to cut down on my
milk intake as dairy may not be the best thing for my diet at this
moment, plus being lactose intolerant isn’t much fun so it won’t be
too tough to give that up.
Today is April 10, 2010 and it has been exactly
one week that I have been counting calories on everything and I do
mean everything that I have eaten. Including measuring out how much
olive oil and balsamic vinegar to put on my salad. I find it
amazing how much 2 tablespoons of olive oil is almost too much. I
never realized how much I was using until this past week. I think
most people [including myself] take for granted just how much we use
on a daily basis. Except for water I do not consume more than 8
ounces of any type of liquid, such as milk, carrot juice, orange
juice. Each time writing down the calories for each beverage I
drink.
This process has not been difficult and now
that I am doing it, it becomes easier with each passing day. There
are days when I would LOVE to eat something sinful like a 1 pound
bag of peanut M&M’s, or cake with lots of frosting. But I am have
learned in a short time to restrain myself. Because of the way I am
starting to look, which is healthy and slimmer I have much more
confidence to finish what I have started and keep it up for the rest
of my life. The first few months will not be easy because I do get
cravings.
My cat was hungry and it was time to feed him,
I opened his bag of cat food and the aroma of his food made me
hungry, Oh My Gosh! I wanted to binge SO BAD at that very moment.
I went to the fridge and took a small handful of baby carrots, but
before I ate them I weighed them to see how many calories they were,
and wrote it down in my calorie intake pad. After I ate them I felt
better. This is not difficult but at times it’s not easy either. I
love junk food, fast food, fried food at times, burgers, candy, ice
cream, regular Coke, and my favorite – glazed donuts!. But now I
realize the things I used to eat are not good for me or my body any
longer.
I have turned my 3rd bedroom into an
exercise room. I will exercise every day and eat right to keep
myself in good if not great shape. I am determined to do this for
myself.
So far I have lost 2 pounds in one week, that’s
a good start. With exercise I will start to lose inches and build
muscle, again. As Cynthia says, “your muscles have memory”. I have
started with my facial exercises and guess what, she is right, my
facial muscles have responded quickly and my face looks Great!
Skincare helps my skin look its best along with doing my facial
exercises we need proper skincare to look good so our faces will
look amazing.
By taking small baby steps I can now focus on
taking larger steps to eating healthy, and keeping on track with
exercise.
Today is Thursday, April 15, 2010 and I have to
report that I am making great strides in my progress. Yesterday I
was in a department store trying on several polo shirts. I decided
to try on an orange pair of shorts I have had my eye on. I looked
through the sizes and decided to try a 34w instead of a 36 or 38
that I have been wearing for the past year or more. The 34w shorts
fit! I was amazed and elated at the same time! I bought the shorts
and I am still keeping track of all calories I am taking in each
day. This is actually working. My stomach is much flatter than it
was 2 weeks ago!
Today is May 3rd and I have a
confession to make, I have slacked on weighing my food. I am lazy
at times, and I thought I could do it just fine on my own for a few
days. Well a few days has now turned into a week. I drove over to
see Cynthia yesterday and we had fun going to lunch at our favorite
restaurant in Belmont Shore, it was a lovely sunny day. I was bad,
I had Coke with my food and it tasted great! I love Coke a Cola. I
think my lunch yesterday broke 1000 calories.
I know I am bad, but even on the Biggest Loser
reality T.V. show they have one cheat day. You have to, to keep
yourself on track. Well this past week I have fallen off the track
wagon. But the good news is I haven’t gone back to my old habits of
eating the wrong things, except for Coke yesterday. I am keeping my
weight in check, in fact this morning my weight is 197. I have lost
5lbs since starting, not bad. Now if I actually kept on track with
weighing all my food as I did the first 2-3 weeks, I would be in
better shape. Lazy is as lazy does, I have no one to blame but
myself. I was doing so well, and then I got lazy and bored with it
and now I wish I had stuck to my plan, my New Years Strategic Plan.
All I have to do is get back on track and all will be better again.
Next month my column will be a video clip on my
progress. I will explain how I use my nutrition weight scale so you
can do the same thing. I am very excited about doing the video I am
going to shoot it here in my home so you can see exactly how I use
my scale.
Thank you for reading, and have a fun time in
May! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Don’t drink too much because alcohol has
LOTS of sugar, and sugar turns into Carbs and that’s NOT good when
you are counting calories.
Take care of yourself! Steven Tassopoulos
New Years Resolutions - The Beginning
Hello Everyone! Happy Spring!
Did you make a New Year’s resolution this
year? Some people do and some do not, and why is that? I made one
to lose some of the weight I put on from last year. Here it is
April 1st and I have not made any attempt what so ever to
resolve anything! I think I might know why. The term “New Year’s
Resolution” sounds somewhat dated, I think we should call it, “New
Year’s Strategic Plan”, this sounds more thought provoking.
When I worked at the phone company I had to
write out a strategic plan and give it to my Mgr. so they could keep
track of my progress in my assigned territory. I hated making a
strategic plan. I would always put it off until the last minute.
But it actually taught me something; it taught me to accomplish my
goals and to keep on track of what I had to do.
Setting up a strategic plan is just the start.
You actually have to keep track of your progress along the way. One
way to do this is to place sticky notes where you will definitely
see them, such as eye level on your bathroom mirror. I have done
this and I can assure you it works.
As I mentioned earlier, my strategic plan is to
lose the weight I put on last year. This is a tough one for me
since I love to eat sweet things such as candy, chocolate cake, and
Greek pastries; I love just about everything sweet. I also LOVE
Coke-a-Cola non-diet, a big glass with lots of ice; I can drink 2-3
or more a day. I have not had any soda for over 2 weeks now. To
give you an idea of how much weight I put on, I am 6’ 3” tall and
went from a true 33 waist to a 38 waist!
Last year I bought a nutrition scale to help
with my eating habits. It sat in the box until just recently. I am
now using the scale to measure out correct portions of food so I do
not over eat. I am only drinking water, carrot juice and non-fat
milk. Also, I am not using any mayonnaise, instead I will use
mustard which contains 0 calories and 0 fat. The nutrition scale is
a blessing; it keeps my calories and fat intake in check to where I
need to be in order to lose some weight. It is not as difficult as
I thought. The scale is able to measure ounces, grams, and
milligrams of portions. I am trying to keep my calorie intake to
1500 calories per day. Breakfast and lunch combined usually equal
between 500-600 calories which leaves me with roughly 900-1000
calories for dinner.
Besides eating better I also walk and ride my
bicycle at least 3 times per week. My current weight today [April 2,
2010] is 203 pounds, which for height is good, but I am used
to and prefer a slimmer body. So I will eat better and watch my
calorie intake so that I will reclaim the body I used to have. I
should arrive at my ideal weight by May or June, no later. That is
what I have written on my strategic plan!
I will keep you informed of my progress. Thank
you for reading.
Steven Tassopoulos
RiffStick
Furniture
Who is David Hrobowski (pronounced Ro bow ski)? There is one
person in all the United States named "David Hrobowski" and he is
Steven's friend. David has been known as the "Cuff Link King"
for quite some time - he has a vast collection (more than 3500
pair), priced from $25.00 to $2500 with one pair dating back to 1760.
He
trades and sells to collectors all over the world.
Now David is up to something new and just like
his name, he once again has a one-of-a-kind business venture that is
called RiffStick Furniture. Your eyes do not deceive you -
these are indeed ice cream sticks glued together to create very
artistic pieces of life-size furniture.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, David has
his first solo Exhibition Saturday evening, March 13th at
MorYork Gallery. Come see
for yourself these most amazing designs - Hopefully
Brad Pitt and
Frank Gehry will have the opportunity to see David's work before the
exhibition ends.
David Hrobowski
Photo: Steven Tassopoulos
What is LOVE?
Read what the dictionary says about Love, my
column will follow.
love
|ləv|
noun
1
an
intense feeling of deep affection : babies fill parents with
intense feelings of love | their love for their country.
•
a
deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone : it was love at
first sight | they were both in love with her | we were
slowly falling in love.
•
(
Love) a personified figure of love, often represented as Cupid.
•
a
great interest and pleasure in something : his love for
football | we share a love of music.
•
affectionate greetings conveyed to someone on one's behalf.
•
a
formula for ending an affectionate letter : take care, lots of
love, Judy.
2
a
person or thing that one loves : she was the love of his life
| their two great loves are tobacco and whiskey.
•
Brit., informal
a
friendly form of address : it's all right, love.
•
(
a love)
Brit., informal
used
to express affectionate approval for someone : don't fret,
there's a love.
3
(in
tennis, squash, and some other sports) a score of zero; nil :
love fifteen | he was down two sets to love. [ORIGIN: apparently
from the phrase play for love (i.e., the love of the game,
not for money); folk etymology has connected the word with French
l'oeuf ‘egg,’ from the resemblance in shape between an
egg and a zero.]
verb
[ trans. ]
feel
a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone) : do you love
me?
•
like
very much; find pleasure in : I'd love a cup of tea, thanks | I
just love dancing | [as adj., in combination ] ( -loving)
a fun-loving girl.
PHRASES
for
love
for
pleasure not profit : he played for the love of the game.
for
the love of God
used
to express annoyance, surprise, or urgent pleading : for the love
of God, get me out of here!
for
the love of Mike
informal
used
to accompany an exasperated request or to express dismay.
love
me, love my dog
proverb
if
you love someone, you must accept everything about them, even their
faults or weaknesses.
make
love 1
have
sexual intercourse. 2 ( make love to)
dated
pay
amorous attention to (someone).
not
for love or money
informal
not
for any inducement or in any circumstances : they'll not return
for love or money.
there's no
(or
little or not much) love lost between there is
mutual dislike between (two or more people mentioned).
Wow,
that is a lot of words for Love. Last year I fell in Love many
times. The first time I saw my new car, my new computer and my
lovely new house and now my sweet adorable kitten.
For
some people it could be a new outfit, a new vacation destination, or
simply someone they have met and have fallen head over heals. No
matter who or what you have fallen in Love with, your heart will
tell you. It is actually is a no brainer. I am sure you have heard
the term “follow your gut instinct”, or “listen to what your heart
is saying”, or something like that, it could be a feeling you get
but are afraid to listen for fear of being wrong. What if you are
wrong, ok, so what, we are only human.
I
find that when I do listen to what my gut is telling me, it is
usually nearly 100% correct. I have tested myself while driving
down the freeway wondering if I should take a certain exit to avoid
traffic ahead, because you know, this is Southern California and
getting caught in traffic is almost imminent.
For
me, Love is my sweet baby kitten that I adore, he looks up and meows
for me to pick him up, and when I do he loves to be held as I rock
him to sleep. When he wakes from his nap he gives me small kisses
on my chin by licking me or lightly biting.
How
sweet is that? His name is Chase.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Steven Tassopoulos
Social Networking
When we were children our mothers and perhaps
fathers wanted us to have friends so we would not have to play
alone. This would help develop social set skills or what is
referred today as Social Networking. In the past social networking
meant calling someone to see how they are doing, or to have coffee,
go to the movies or out to eat.
These days social networking means logging onto
Facebook, Twitter, or some other form of online social network. You
no longer have to call someone to ask how they are doing, or visa
versa. There is nothing wrong with online networking, but how does
this help our children today.
Imagine a world where we only communicate from
our cell phones, or computers. Young adults of today have grown up
differently than I have and are far more involved with technology
that I have ever dreamed possible. I LOVE gadgets, but with
technology growing and changing right before our eyes, younger
people have the advantage. What they do not have are proper social
set skills.
I am amazed at how many people under the age of
30, who do not use proper grammar. What happened to sitting down
for a few minutes to actually write someone a letter or a thank you
card?
Handwritten correspondence is a lost art these
days and has been replaced by texting on your cell phone, or
computer. How can children of today cope with interpersonal social
skills? Most of the time they are withdrawn and unapproachable by
locking themselves in their rooms chatting online with their
friends, or perhaps with people they have never met before, because
guess what, they don’t have to meet them. So why are physical
social skills important, and why are they needed?
Without them the human race might grow distant
and hostile toward one another. I find this robotic and dull as
dishwater! I can’t stand it when I meet someone and as I say hello
how are you, all they respond with is “fine” or “good”. Never
responding “good AND you? I call this LAZY, and ANNOYING.
Why, because conventional social set skills and
good manners never go out of style, ever.
Thank you for reading. I wish you a happy,
prosperous New Year in 2010 and beyond!
Steven Tassopoulos
dear friend Judy Keefer passed away 2
years ago from a long battle with cancer and Fibromyalgia. She
was kind, sweet, caring, funny, giving in so many ways to so many
people. Judy has been on my mind a lot lately. I miss
her, and I sometimes talk to her, feeling her energy as a tear moves
slowly down my face.
I came across a card she sent to me and I would
like to share it with you:
I believe in angels
that they are always hovering near,
Whispering encouragement
whenever clouds appear,
Protecting us from danger
and showing us the way,
Performing little miracles
within our lives each day…
Yes, I believe in angels,
and I’m sure you do, too,
And I’m convinced that angels
are watching over you.
To my dear friend Judy, I love you, so
much, and I miss you more with each passing day.
Gut Instinct
What does your gut instinct
tell you? Do you listen when it speaks, when it is reminding
you of the correct choice to make, taking that left hand turn
instead of going your usual route.
This morning started nicely,
and since I was up somewhat early on a Saturday, I decided to drive
to Venice [Venice Beach, CA] and visit with my lovely and dear
friend Victoria. We had a great lunch in Santa Monica at the
Third Street Promenade. Victoria and I frequent a restaurant
called, Trastevere, which is located at 1360 Third Street, Santa
Monica, CA. We sat outside which is always fun. Eye
candy EVERYWHERE! No matter what type of Eye Candy suits you
is your business, all I am saying is, you will see it and more while
you are in Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
There are many talented
Artists performing. This afternoon I witnessed a remarkable
man playing the Violin, he was quite the entertainer, with a gift.
Next time I will buy his CD. I do not even know his name.
My gut instinct said, Go Over there and Find Out who he is.
But I didn’t, and now I wished I Had.
Okay, so today I was driving
to Venice to see Ms. Victoria, and I needed to go to the Post Office
to mail out 2 small packages. I thought I could go to the Post
office after I got back to Long Beach from Venice. What was I
thinking? This is L.A. So of course I was wrong. My gut
informed to me to stop at the P.O. as I drove by, but the parking
was all wrong, so I ignored my GUT instinct. Instead, I
followed MY thought, which most usually is not always correct, but
funny how your GUT instinct is “Spot On” when you DO follow your GUT
in the first place.
All I had to do was take a
few minutes and go to the Post Office and proceed on my way.
Follow your gut instinct more often you will discover that you were
right all along. When you think of it, it does make sense to
follow your Gut Instinct, since our Gut is located on the front of
our bodies, as we walk, our Gut is leading us in the right
direction, and we didn’t even realize it, until maybe now. So follow
your gut, and lets see where we will go.
One Saturday night 18 years
ago, my gut feeling spoke to me. The feeling was very strong
and I ignored it, and now I wished I hadn’t ignored my GUT when it
was talking to me, helping me, showing me the way to something
better, something that always makes us feel better that we did in
fact listen to our GUT feeling, and when we GO with it, things
always turn out, for the better in most ways. Isn’t that
interesting? I know it sounds deep, but it happens. Does
it happen to you?
We are now into the last
days of summer, we should enjoy it while we can, and remember to
listen to your GUT instinct it just may surprise you.
Listen…can you hear it?
Thank you for reading my
column.
Steven Tassopoulos
Think about it. Why would you want to have plastic surgery?
Why go under a sharp knife to cut into your skin and muscle tissue
to alter your face to “look” 10 years younger?
You will not look like you did 10 years ago by making surgical
alterations to your face. What price beauty?
