Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/140737
4A Daily News – Friday, June 28, 2013 FEATURES Aspiring author annoys Dear Annie: I've been trying to write a novel for a year. The problem is, I have no support from my family. My wife and friends always groan when I ask them to read what Annie's I've written. I'm trying to be considerate of their level by Kathy Mitchell of interest and don't and Marcy Sugar want them to be annoyed with me, but I need some feedback on my writing. That being said, would you know where I could send my pages for review? I'd like to know if my story is interesting the way I'm writing it, or if I need to develop it better. — Amateur Author in El Paso, Texas Dear Author: There are various ways to get your written material in front of an audience. You can ask writing teachers to look at it. You can search for a writers workshop or try meetup.com for a writing group that critiques members' work. You can self-publish (you are responsible for all costs), put it in a blog or on an Internet site for free (you will get myriad comments, many worthless, and you'd better have a thick skin), enter a writing contest, or submit a short version to a magazine. You also can go to the nearest library and find a listing of literary agents. An agent will help get Mailbox your book into the hands of a reputable publisher or reviewer. Getting published is not easy, but if you have talent and skill, it is possible. Dear Annie: Our daughter was asked to be the maid of honor at her friend's wedding. She was very excited about it. We planned a small shower for her closest friends and family. Now the bride and her mother have given us a list of 78 women to invite. I checked the etiquette book and found no encouragement for such a large event. The 78 women are also invited to the wedding reception. We simply cannot afford such a large shower, and the bride's parents know it. I do not understand how they could expect us to handle such a large event. Our daughter doesn't want to lose the bride's friendship. Should she bow out of the wedding? — Anxious Parent Dear Anxious: No bride should demand such extravagant favors. Your daughter should tell her that she cannot manage such a large affair and ask that the guest list be trimmed to 30 women or however many she can afford to host. Your daughter could also ask the other bridesmaids to host this shower with her, providing more resources and perhaps accommodating a larger guest list. If the other bridesmaids are not interested or if the bride insists on 78 women, your daughter should offer to bow out of the wedding party. We hope the bride will then understand how unreasonable she is being and back off. Dear Annie: Your answer to ''Parents at Wits' End,'' whose bipolar son would not take his meds, exemplifies the dilemma posed by mental illness in this country, namely that without the patient's cooperation matters may quickly grow hopeless. My wife had severe bipolar disorder. It was only luck that kept her aggressive driving from killing all of us and enabled her to keep her job. A friend urged me to leave with my children, but I knew my kids would be devastated, and I worried that my wife would kill herself. My wife saw a doctor who prescribed an antidepressant, but she did not want a mood stabilizer. The antidepressant by itself sent her spiraling, as she knew it would. The doctor's nurse later told me, ''We knew something was wrong, but she wouldn't talk about it when she came in.'' Less than a year later, my wife committed suicide, breaking all of our hearts. If a bipolar person cannot cooperate, the family can do nothing but pray. — Wiser in Tennessee Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Red Cross urges safety in coming heat SACRAMENTO — Summer is here, bringing with it dangerous excessive heat. The American Red Cross has steps people can follow to stay safe as the temperatures soar. "Excessive heat can be deadly; it has caused more deaths in recent years than all other weather events," said Kathleen Weis, Interim CEO for the Red Cross Capital Region Chapter. "We want everyone to stay safe during the hot weather and have some reminders for them to follow when the weather is hot and humid." Never leave children or pets in the car. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees. Other heat safety steps include: • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. • Avoid extreme temperature changes. • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun's rays. • Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day. • Postpone outdoor games and activities. • Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors. • Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. • Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water. • If someone doesn't have air conditioning, they should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls). Heat Exhaustion. Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes. If someone is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 91-1 or the local emergency number. Heat Stroke is life threatening Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting and high body temperature. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately if someone shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person's body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice. For more information on what to do when temperatures rise, people can visit redcross.org, download the Red Cross Heat Wave Safety Checklist, or download the free Red Cross First Aid. The app is available for iPhone and Android smart phone and tablet users in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. People can learn how to treat heat-related and other emergencies by taking First Aid and CPR/AED training online or in person. Go to redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register. Fireworks prohibited on national forests Lassen National Forest officials want to remind the public that not only are fireworks illegal on the forest, but they also pose a serious fire danger. With conditions drier than average as we approach the 4th of July holiday, it is particularly important that all forest visitors observe the fireworks prohibition. Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited on all national forest lands year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Regulations will be enforced. Violation is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. Visitors are also reminded to be extremely careful when camping, driving in the back country, and cutting fire wood. All camp fires should be extinguished and cold to the touch before abandoned. Vehicles must be operated on established roads and trails, and not over dry brush and grass that could be ignited by hot exhaust systems. Firewood cutters should operate chainsaws only in the cool morning hours and keep a shovel and fire extinguisher nearby. Chainsaws must be equipped with spark arresters. Healthy lifestyle is cornerstone for treating hypertension diet include DEAR DOCTOR K: plenty of fruits, My blood pressure medvegetables and ication has side effects whole grains; that are difficult to tolerseveral servings ate. What else can I do daily of low-fat to lower my BP? dairy products; DEAR READER: If some fish, poulyou're a regular reader try, dried beans, of this column, you've nuts and seeds; heard me say more than Dr. K and minimal once that diet and exerby Anthony L. meat, cise sometimes can Komaroff, M.D. red sweets and eliminate the need for medications for a variety of sugar-laden beverages. Also conditions. That's true — try to limit your sodium and it surely is true for high intake to less than 1.5 grams of sodium per day. You can blood pressure. However, sometimes find the sodium content of diet, exercise and stress man- prepared foods on the Nutriagement lower blood pres- tion Facts label. • Limiting alcohol can sure only part of the way. Medications may still be help. Have no more than two necessary. Every medicine drinks per day if you're ever invented can cause side male, or one drink per day if effects in some people. But you're female. That's drinkthe other side of that coin is ing in moderation. Drinking that medicines often do not in moderation may even cause side effects. And just help lower blood pressure, because one medicine caus- while drinking more can es side effects does not mean definitely raise blood pressure. that another will. • Regular exercise lowFortunately, there are many different medicines to ers high blood pressure. Aim treat high blood pressure. In for at least 30 minutes of my experience, you can usu- moderate-intensity exercise ally find a blood pressure on all or most days of the medication that is both effec- week. Examples include tive and free of side effects. walking or riding a stationBut even when that's true, ary bike. Regular exercise is it's still important to get back a potent tonic for lowering to basics: a healthy lifestyle. your blood pressure — even A healthy lifestyle is the if you don't lose weight. • Finally, relax. Ongoing cornerstone for preventing and treating hypertension. It stress raises your blood presmay allow you to lower your sure. Learn relaxation techmedication dose or stop tak- niques, such as meditation, ing medication altogether. progressive muscle relaxAt the very least, you'll feel ation, deep breathing or yoga. I have a patient who better: • First and foremost, if took up tai chi several years you smoke, quit. Your blood ago and does it daily. I can't pressure will start to prove there's a connection, decrease within hours after but I can tell you that her your last cigarette. Your doc- blood pressure has never tor can recommend been so low, and she says she feels great. resources to help you quit. • Another important step is to reach and maintain a Dr. Komaroff is a healthy body weight. Being overweight or obese itself physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. To raises your blood pressure. • Even if you don't need send questions, go to to lose weight, eating the AskDoctorK.com, or write: right foods can make a dif- Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck ference. The key features of St., Second Floor, Boston, a blood-pressure-friendly MA 02115. Target cuts ties with Paula Deen NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Deen's merchandise and media empire is fast unraveling. Retailers Target Corp. and Home Depot Inc. and diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk became the latest companies to sever ties or distance themselves from celebrity cook Paula Deen as fallout builds from revelations that the Southern celebrity chef used racial slurs in the past. Target, based in Minneapolis, said Thursday that it will phase out its Paula Deen-branded cookware and other items, which were sold on its website and in its stores. ''Once the merchandise is sold out, we will not be replenishing inventory,'' said Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman. Home Depot, which sold Paula Deen-branded cookware and kitchen products only online, said it pulled the products off its website on LOST Large Reward Family Heirloom Pancake Breakfast Saturday, June 29th 7am-10am $ 00 8 Applebee's Restaurant 220 Antelope Blvd Wednesday. Diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk said Thursday it and Deen have ''mutually agreed to suspend our patient education activities for now.'' The developments are the latest blow to Deen's business. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Wednesday that it's also cutting ties with Deen. The world's largest retailer currently carries a variety of products under her moniker, including food items, cookware and health and wellness products, at all of its 4,000 U.S. namesake stores. The retailer began selling her merchandise several years ago. Wal-Mart said it will not place any new orders beyond what's already committed and is working with suppliers to address existing inventories and agreements. Meanwhile, Paula Deen's name is being stripped from four buffet restaurants owned by Caesars Entertainment. Caesars said Wednesday that its decision to rebrand its restaurants was a mutual one with Deen. Get Moving Tehama Need low cost options for fun activities this summer? ➞ find ideas TODAY! Gold Cross approx 6" x 3" in vicinity of More 4 Less or Denny's 586-1984 View a complete list of activities in Tehama County at our website: tehamacountycaa.org USDA recommendations suggest: Adults: 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week Children: 1 hour of vigorous exercise per day