Key West, Florida

The 5 things you don't want to miss in Key West.

There are many things to do in Key West, but there are a few that you don't want to miss. I have been to Key West many times. The first time was for a few hours while on a stop for a cruise ship. Afterwards, I was disappointment that I missed quite a few destinations, so when I traveled there for a quick weekend, I had everything planned out after months of research. There are things that are hard to miss such as Duval Street and the Hemingway House and Museum, but I recommend the following sites.

1) Watch the nightly sunset from Mallory Park. People gather as the sun begins to set into the Gulf of Mexico. There are food vendors and performers trying to capitalize on the crowds, but the view is the main attraction.

2) Get up close to hundreds of butterflies at Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. They have around 60 different species of butterflies along with finches, frogs and turtles. They also have a few flamingos that make their home at the conservatory. The center is located at 1316 Duval Street. Website is keywestbutterfly.com.

3) Walk through Key West’s 150-year-old City Cemetery. The large cemetery is full of history including a memorial to the sailors of USS Maine who were lost in Havana Harbor in 1898. The 15 acre cemetery is located at Margaret and Angela Streets. The cemetery is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

4) Have drinks or a snack at Louie's Backyard. A Louie's has terrific food and an amazing view. The restaurant is located at 700 Waddell Avenue. Website is louiesbackyard.com.

5) Southernmost Point is a cement buoy that marks the spot. It can be found at Whitehead and South Streets. There is usually a line of people trying to get a picture of this monument, so go early when the lines are short.



I hope you agree with my choices. Let me know if there are other places to add to my list.
Thanks!

A Bad Travel Day

We all have bad travel days. Nothing major happened. No one was hurt or was put in jeopardy, but things did not come together as planned.

During the last three big vacations, I have gotten sick with some kind of cold. My first day in Paris was spent in bed last summer. This trip was not any different. I had a mild sinus infection and a cough, so I wasn’t feeling my best. We needed to meet my family in Miami for my parent’s anniversary cruise. It was leaving the next morning, so we couldn’t miss it. My family drove to Miami from all over Georgia, and we were the only ones who decided to fly to south Florida.

At the airport, we didn't notice our flight was canceled due to the weather in Florida. We arrived early to have lunch. After we finished our meal, we tried to re-book our flight, but all the flights going into Fort Lauderdale and Miami were booked. They put us on a flight to Fort Myers, Florida, so we had to rent a car to make the three hour drive to Miami.

When we arrived in Fort Myers, our luggage didn't make it even after we were promised that it would be there. It was missing. The airline helped us and eventually found our luggage, but it was still in Atlanta. We had to stop in Fort Lauderdale to meet a plane coming in at 10 p.m. At the car rental building in Fort Myers, there were hundreds of people waiting to get a car, so we stood in line for an hour. The drive was long, and there wasn’t much to see in the dark.

After arriving in Fort Lauderdale, we found out that the plane bringing our luggage was delayed. By this time, it was past 9 p.m., and we were hungry again. The problem at the Fort Lauderdale Airport was that the only restaurant was in Terminal 4, and our luggage was to arrive in Terminal 1, so we walked over to the other terminal. With the plane carrying the luggage was running a half an hour late, we were happy to know that one restaurant was open. It was after 11 p.m. before we saw our luggage, and we drove to our hotel in Miami to meet my family.

We were able to return the car rental the next day before the cruise. In the end, we made the cruise along with our luggage, so we were grateful that everything worked out. I would have been happy to spend the day in bed recovering from my illness.

5 Changes to Improve Your Life

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 As I worked in the health field, I noticed many people were depressed and unhappy with the way their life was going. There are simple ways to improve a person’s outlook.

1) Smile more. 

Start your day off with the rule of having a positive attitude. It's important to believe that the day is going to be great no matter what happens. Even if you don’t feel like it, give a big smile every time you encounter a person during your day. People want to be around happy people. It’s a great way to meet new people is to have a smile on your face. Staying positive even in the dark times of our lives is the key to happiness.

2) Worry less. 

We can't control the future, so why worry about it. All we can do is hope for the best.

I once had a patient who constantly worried about his family and friends. He was so stress out that his health was not improving, so I recommended that he tell himself that everyone he knows is happy. After weeks of being sick, he dramatically improved, and he left the hospital a few days later. Stress has a major impact on our health.

In the religious world, people put their trust in God and use prayer to help deal with anxiety. It could be the reason why prayer works. By putting trust in God to deal with worry and other problems, life is free to be enjoyed. 

3) Save money. 

Putting away 5 to 10% of your paycheck will make a difference over time. It’s always wonderful to know that a small amount of mad money or rainy day money is there when you need it. Everyone should have a savings account for emergencies. Using a credit card for back-up is a dangerous situation that could cause serious debt.

4) Take care of your health. 

 You are what you eat, so try to enjoy healthy meals. Every diet and every lifestyle have an effect on your overall health. If you eat meals high in carbohydrates, you are at higher risk of developing diabetes eventually. If you eat meals high in protein, you are at risk of developing gout. The healthiest diet is eating vegetables with a few fruits. Nutritionists recommend eating more than five vegetables and fruits a day. Grilled, baked and eating raw vegetables in a salad are the healthiest ways of eating. If you are not a big vegetable eater, try finding new ways to cook them such as grilling broccoli, which gives it a nice smoked flavor.

Exercise is so important. Even if you hurt your knee or ankle, you should try to do some kind of movement to keep in shape. Building up your arms or core while your leg heals is the way to go. Gym memberships are nice, but there are many exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home. Walking is inexpensive and can be done anywhere.

5) Find a hobby that costs little money. 

There are many great things to do that are free such as chasing sunsets, star gazing and hiking. A key in being happy is finding enjoyment in the simple things. There are many hobbies that you can do in your own backyard. Gardening and baking are fun things to do that can pay off with fresh flowers and yummy desserts.

Vacation packing

When I'm really excited about a getaway, I will start packing months in advance. First, I will make a small pile of clothes that I want to save especially for the trip. As I wash clothes, I’ll see something particular that would be great to wear on a beach or ski vacation, so I put it aside. In the hierarchy of my clothes, clothes for vacation have the best status. Except for when my suitcase gets too full, then I might have to leave something behind at home or the discard bin.

I am not a big shopper, but when I do to the fashion mall, it’s for my next getaway. I am usually looking for the perfect summer dress or a cute winter coat that will spice up my vacation. The trip could be two months away, and I’m planning an impeccable outfit for the day in the mountains or the sexy bikini with all the trimmings for the beach.

On the day before we leave town, I sort through the piles of clothes. By this time, I have piles to fill three suitcases, so I need to go through everything. I keep asking myself, “Will I wear this?” I’ll put on a pair of heels to make sure that they won’t pinch my feet, so they won’t waste precious space in my suitcase. Then I’ll try on all the dresses to make sure they still fit. Hopefully, I didn’t gain any weight since the last time I wore it.

The worse part of packing is the heavy equipment. My camera and computer weigh several pounds, and I can’t put them in a backpack any more. My shoulders can’t take the weight, so my days of backpacking through Europe are over and done. Now, I use a rolling suitcase just for the important stuff. In the end, I have two rolling bags and a purse for a seven day trip. I check the clothes suitcase, and I carry on the heavy equipment to put in the overhead.

My husband has a different approach to vacation packing. On the day before we are to leave, he will do a load of laundry and then throw it into his suitcase. He makes sure he has enough undies and sock, and then he is usually done. He might pick out a dinner jacket and nice pair of pants for an elegant dinner or show. His packing usually takes an hour. There have been times when he wants me to do his packing, but I really don’t know his clothes. I would pick a pair of shorts that hadn’t fit him in two years.

Everyone has their own style of packing. Most people pack the night before they leave town. Hopefully I’m not alone. Maybe there are other planners who also start packing months in advance. Doesn’t planning lead to the best vacation yet? We will see….

 

More stories and photos: bloggergirlapril.com and thelatesttoday.blogspot.com/

Cancer: Helping people make decisions

Some medical professionals believe that many patients, when they are faced with cancer, would rather die naturally without having to deal with the pain involved with invasive procedures and chemotherapy. Another belief is that patients faced with cancer don’t want to drain their family’s resources, so they assume patients want to give up. Families sometimes expect loved ones to fight the cancer no matter what stage of cancer. The truth of the matter is that it’s up to the patient, and they should be informed of what resources are available for them.

When making a decision on what patients should do about cancer, they should know the facts of their disease that could assist them in making a decision. Every cancer situation is different, so each case should be examined separately. Some cancers are less aggressive than others, and patients should know those types of facts before deciding to give up on their treatment possibilities.

Those difficult days when doctors and physician assistants are going to have to tell a patient that they have cancer. Patients are going to contemplate whether or not they should go onto their next appointment. Things that should determine whether they should fight the cancer should be the stage of cancer, the invasiveness of treatment, and the quality of life. It should not only be based on how much money it’s going to cost since there are programs that give financial assistance to patients in need.

Recently a jovial patient came in to see the doctor; he was about 70-years-old. Previously he had a CT scan that showed he had “a spot on his lungs.” His doctor requested that he get a biopsy to find out what exactly that spot was. The smiling man stated he didn’t have the money to pay for it. The patient could barely pay for the CT scan that he had done. He was recommend to see an oncologist. A few months went by and this particular patient returned, and he stated that was noticing severe weight loss. The man still refused to have any diagnostic procedures done or see an oncologist.

Being diagnosed with cancer is a very stressful time for any patient. During a Swedish study that looked at men who were recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, these patients were shown to have 1.9 times higher risk for a cardiovascular event due to emotional stress of being told they had cancer. New cancer patients are trying to process the new information including: possible invasive treatments and potential side effects of their disease and the overall shock of being diagnosed. Many patients may not have someone to talk to, and this could cause more stress.

Many patients who have symptoms of cancers may not want to follow through with tests because they don’t want to deal with the possible outcomes if they do have it. Those, who knew their diagnosis of cancer, had greater anxiety and depression than those who may be in denial or didn’t know that cancer was the main cause of their symptoms.

A predictor in determining cancer survival has been quality of life along with emotional response and coping style. Someone who is lonely, anxious, and pessimistic is going to have a worse survival rate than someone who has a positive attitude and calm. People having no one to confide in are going to be more likely to feel sad and worried, and this fact could impact their outcome.

Good people are going to develop cancer, and they are going to have a difficult time dealing with this new change in their life. Counseling could help those dealing with depression and anxiety by providing support. Having someone to talk to during these particular times, can make a world of difference.

Need someone to talk to?

http://www.apos-society.org - American Psychosocial Oncology Society

This group helps patients obtain referrals to local counseling services. For a confidential referral, call 1-866-276-7443.  Please leave name, number, city, state, zip code and diagnosis.

______

https://www.uchealth.org/pages/services/colorado-cancer-center.aspx 
Cancer Information and Counseling Line

800-525-3777

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http://www.cancerrecovery.org  - Telephone Support Groups 

More information is located on the website under programs & resources.  They want people to sign up on their website, but it does provide a phone number to start.

Financial Help is available for those in need

American Cancer Society has many financial programs available depending on need, where you live and what type of cancer a person may have. They also have many programs listed from independent organization that may help with costs for those in need and some are focused for those with Medicaid. To find out more about these programs visit their website, www.cancer.org or call them at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Another well known resource is Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, and their website is www.cancerFAC.org. The resources are by need or by diagnosis.

National Cancer Institute is a governmental agency, but they keep note of programs that may help financially. 1-800-4-cancer (1-800-422-6237)

Other financial resource:

Patient Advocate Foundation  Phone: 800-532-524  www.patientadvocate.org

Cancer Care, Inc.  Phone: 800-813-4673  www.cancercare.org/get_help/assistance

Patient Services, Incorporated  Phone: 800-366-7741  Website: www.uneedpsi.org

Patient Access Network Foundation  Phone: 866-316-7263  www.patientaccessnetwork.org

The C.H.A.I.N. Foundation  Phone: 203-530-3439  www.thechainfund.com

Questions to ask your doctor:

1—What type of cancer do I have?

2—What tests have you used to determine the cancer?

3—Are you certain these tests are accurate and this is the correct diagnosis?

4—What was abnormal on my lab reports?

5—May I have a copy of the pathologists report?

6—Are there any addition tests needed?

7—What are the treatment options for this type of cancer?

8—What treatment do you recommend?

9—Who would you recommend for a second opinion if I later feel like I need someone to review my case?

General Terminology

Benign—means mild and unprogressive disease.
Tumor—means growth. Many tumors are not cancerous.
Cancer stages—describes the extent of the cancer. It is usually done stage O to IV. It takes account the size of the tumor. TNM staging system is another way to classify cancer. The initials represent Tumor, Node, Metastasis.
Malignant—means to become progressively worse by uncontrolled.
Metastasis—is the spread of disease from organ to another non-adjacent organ.
Remission—is the disappearances of the sign and symptoms of cancer.
Prognosis—is the outcome of the situation.
For more definitions try: http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary



This was first written for my thesis. Then it was updated for a friend, but I feel many people could use these resources. I hope it is helpful to those looking for answers.

Exploring 2016 Class A Motorhomes

During my Saturday afternoon, I stopped at RV World of Georgia, which is located in Buford, Georgia. They had easy customer access to view their immense stock of RVs, which helped the clientele pick out their dream recreational vehicle. I’ve been to other dealerships that barely let the consumers into their lots without a salesperson. I spent my day looking at Class A Motorhomes and finding several beautiful RVs that I would love to bring home. When I had a question for the sales staff, they were professional and helpful in finding the answers.

While I was a young journalist, I spent time in Red Bay, Alabama, which is the home of Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. Many owners would drive to Red Bay from all over the United States to have their RV serviced. I still remember the positive remarks made by owners about their high quality motorhome. RV World of Georgia had a fine selection of Class A with many Tiffin's Allegros to examine. I looked at two Allegro Class A Motorhomes: the first RV was a RED 38QRA, and the other was a 31SA.

Entering the Allegros RED 38QRA (above), I knew I was walking into something special. The bathroom was large and was located on the other side of the bedroom. The refrigerator was in the slide-out, which made the motorhome feel very roomy.

The Allegro 31SA (above) had nice flooring, and a roomy slide-out for a group of people to enjoy.

Another Class A that RV World of Georgia had in stock was the Fleetwood RV. I looked at was the Bounder 33C Motorhome. The RV had a very elegant style to it. Fleetwood produces Class A and Class C motorhomes, and they are headquartered in Decatur, Indiana. I’m not familiar with Fleetwood, but the quality construction was definitely there. One of Fleetwood’s goals is using the best technique and materials to produce a safe and durable motorhome.

This model, the Bounder 33C (above), had a nice kitchen with large oven. It was also very spacious and beautifully decorated.

My Saturday shopping experience was amazing, and I hope to go back and eventually purchase a beautiful motorhome. The Fleetwood RV and Tiffin Motorhomes were high quality and luxurious recreational vehicles. Thank you RV World of Georgia, Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc., and Fleetwood RV, Inc.

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Hiking: The Benefits to Consider

When I was in high school, I joined the hiking club for the reason that they were headed to Switzerland. Since I was a child, I dreamed of seeing the Alps and cute little mountain towns. Instead, my parents moved us to Georgia before I had a chance to see Europe. At that time, I never understood the desire to walk around the woods. Hiking up mountains did seem like unnecessary work for a fifteen year old. A few years later I realized how helpful it was to take a walk outside when making serious decisions. I was able to contemplate the positives and the negatives of my crucial decision. During the weeks before my walk, I seemed unable to focus on my problems, and a few hours walking on a beach changed my whole outlook.

After twenty years, I never considered hiking as enjoyable diversion. It wasn’t until I took a job working with severely unhealthy people that I needed time to clear my head and rebuild my mental energy. I started hiking on different trails around Georgia. Soon after I got into backpacking and reading about long distant hiking, but I have a bad shoulder that I wouldn’t allow me to carry more than fifteen pounds on my back. Now, I try to hike every weekend especially when the weather permits. Although I have hiked in the rain, the desert, and the snow, the best time is in the spring when the earth is coming back to life. The trees are blooming and the flowers are ready to be pollenated. I feel renewed when the forest goes from brown to green once again.

Hiking and walking are great ways to keep in shape. It's provides cardio exercise, which is great for your heart. Walking can help people to lose weight along with diet. It also tones and shapes the leg muscles. There is also a spiritual side to hiking. For some people, nature provides the feeling of being closer to God or their own personal religion. A plant growing from a tiny seed is a miracle when it happens. There’s also the mystery in following an unknown path as I unravel the adventure with each step closer to the end of the path.

During times of struggle, try going for a hike or spending time in nature. It’s a great way to help deal the harsh times or tough decisions. When life gets you down, try going for a walk around the block and find out if the helps your perspective on life. Many people hike alone, but if you want to walk with a group, there are many hiking clubs that are looking for members. Try doing a search on the internet or meetup.com. Talk to friends and family, and see if they wouldn’t mind going for a walk. There are usually many different paths in your neighborhood that would make a great place to start.

Hiking is a great way to get exercise, find answers, and become closer to your spiritual side of life. It may brighten your day if you find a waterfall or a bird singing. Try going for a walk by yourself or with someone else to see what works for you.



Photos and content are by April Kooy Riley. Please do not use without permission. For more information, please email theakwrites@gmail.com.

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