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2B – Daily News – Saturday, January 1, 2011 FEATURES Sordid surrounding sickening seniors Dear Readers: Happy New Year! We hope you are recovering nicely. Here’s a little New Year’s wish from us, author unknown: ‘‘A health to you, a wealth to you, and the best that life can give to you.’’ Dear Annie: Our about our grandson. Should we continue to keep quiet and look the other way? — Between a Rock and a Hard Place daughter-in-law, ‘‘Mary,’’ takes little pride in her appearance and is a terrible housekeeper. She works part time, so she could sure- ly take care of the house- hold chores. We have seen the clothes thrown Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar everywhere, crumbs on the floor, unwashed dishes, dust and dirt. There are several cats that jump on tables and countertops, and the litter box is rarely emptied, so the place stinks. Worse, Mary is a hoarder. Mary’s mother may not be aware of the living conditions because she stays with other relatives when she visits and never goes into Mary’s house. I think she would be appalled. Now that there is a baby, we are concerned for his well- being. Our relationship with Mary is unfortunately strained. She would not appreciate our concern and interprets any show of support as meddling. We have talked to our son, who acknowledges Mary’s shortcomings but overlooks them. He works full time and contributes as much as time will allow to the household chores. The last thing we want to do is cause trouble, but we are so worried SANTA CRUZ (MCT) — Science class aboard a catamaran cruising Califor- nia's Monterey Bay in search of sea otters and kelp forests while the captain points out jellyfish and seeks kids' help in navigat- ing the choppy waters isn't an experience soon forgot- ten. They're the kind of classes that can produce budding marine biologists and future conservationists, educators say. The latest report from Watsonville firm Applied Survey Research about the academic impact of the 13- year-old O'Neill Sea Odyssey program shows that the free, ocean-based class is especially useful to low-income students, many of whom have never seen the ocean before stepping foot on to the 65-foot boat docked at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor. "They usually come here with a lower under- standing of ocean con- cepts," Executive Director Dan Haifley said. "By the time they leave, they've pretty much caught up with their peers." The report is an annual assessment of the program — based largely on ques- tions answered by teachers who've participated — which allows the nonprofit Sea Odyssey to show potential donors that the classes can make a real dif- ference in kids' education, Haifley said. The free outdoor class, originally created by famed wetsuit maker Jack O'Neill in the 1990s, saw more than 5,000 students from all over the state last year, though the majority came from Santa Cruz, Santa Clara Dear Between: Tossed clothes, unwashed dishes and stinky litter boxes are unpleasant, but are not a rea- son to call the Board of Health. Ask your son if he can afford to hire someone to clean the house on a reg- ular basis. Maybe you could offer to contribute to the cost. Mary would probably appreci- ate having additional help, but it’s best if she believes it comes from her husband and not her mother-in- law. Dear Annie: People tend to endure emotional and physical abuse from siblings, parents, grand- parents and other family members because they have a sense of famil- ial loyalty. I have coined a term for this: genetic obligation. I used to suffer from this. I let their criticisms and abusive behav- iors dictate my life. It wasn’t until my children were directly affected that I realized: If I would not allow a friend to treat me so terribly, why would I allow someone who should have my best interests at heart to do so? I explained to the abusers that I would no longer bail them out of dangerous situations, lend them money or have contact until they had been sober for at least six months. It was not a smooth transi- tion, but 12 years later, I do not regret it. They chose to alienate themselves by not respecting my boundaries. I have learned that I alone am responsible for my happi- ness, and I choose to surround myself with positive, loving people. — No Longer Obligated Dear No Longer: Each person must decide how to deal with diffi- cult family members in the way that works out best for them. We encourage reconciliation where possible, but no one should allow themselves to be repeatedly abused simply because they are related. Dear Annie: Please continue to tell your readers about the value of finishing high school. I’m 54 years old. I was told I did not need it, would not be smarter because of it, would fail and would not get a bet- ter job. I studied anyway. I went to libraries. I asked questions. I went to night school. I worked hard. I passed the G.E.D! I am plan- ning to attend a local college. I want to teach other adults that they can, too. I feel smarter than ever, plan on getting a better job and know I can do anything. — Deb Dear Deb: Congratulations! We believe in you. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Science class on a boat makes a lasting impression on students Valley fever not tied to hearing loss DEAR DR. GOTT: My dog, a friend’s dog and three people I know have been diag- nosed with valley fever recently. We live in Arizona, a high-risk area for this disease, but it seems odd to have so many friends develop this at the same time. I assume there would be little difference in treatment between canine and human, so I am hoping you can help me with some- thing I have not been able to get an answer for. Would hearing loss (temporary or permanent) be a side effect of either the disease itself or the medication fluconazole? Thanks for any insight you will be able or willing to share. DEAR READER: Val- ley fever is caused by a fun- gus (coccidioides) that is commonly found in the soil of certain areas. When the fungus becomes disturbed — by construction, farming, etc. — it can become air- borne. Individuals (or ani- mals) who then breathe in the fungus can then develop valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis. The fact that three people you know and two pets were all diagnosed recently leads me to believe that you all live within close proximity to one another and that whatever disturbed the fun- gus is fairly close by as well. The fungus that causes valley fever thrives in the alkaline desert soil of south- ern Arizona, Nevada, north- ern Mexico and the San Joaquin Valley of Califor- nia. It is also common in areas with mild winters and arid summers, such as Texas, New Mexico and parts of Central and South America. For some patients, acute valley fever can worsen and develop into more serious forms, such as chronic or disseminated coccid- ioidomycosis. This is espe- cially true of moderate to severe cases that go untreat- ed. (Mild cases may not need treatment.) MCT photo In this March 20, 2009 file photograph, students board the 65-foot O'Neill catamaran to take part in the O'Neill Sea Odyssey marine science program in Santa Cruz. and Monterey counties. About half of the kids who participate are Latino, speak English as a second language and receive free or reduced price lunches at school, the report said. Santa Cruz City Schools Trustee Cynthia Hawthorne said the Sea Odyssey program is an asset for the region, some- thing that can "literally change students' lives for- ever" and lead to future studies or careers in marine science. "With schools so focused on math and Eng- lish and lost science resources, this is counter- acting that," Hawthorne said. "It's a great equalizer and great way to reach everybody. My own two New Years Specials Couple Special - $69 per month Christmas and Get Fit for 2011 - Sign up January 2011 for only $20.11 (due at signing) Annual Special - Pay for 9 months get 3 months FREE! Student Special - 3 months for $99 Membership gift certificates available 1 month $39 2 months $69 3 months $99 1 Month Unlimited Tanning only $25 Specials Available through January, 30, 2011. Monthly membership specials only available through EPT. Membership specials only available to new members, or members with expiring memberships as of December 2010. $ 20.11 special-standard monthly dues will be effective February 1st 2010 Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St • Red Bluff 528-8656 www.tehamafamilyfitness.com kids really loved it." According to the survey, teachers said their students had "learned a lot" in the three-hour course that includes time at sea as well as a short period inside the Odyssey's classroom locat- ed at the harbor. The Sea Odyssey's emphasis this past year has been on teaching children about the impact of plastic on the ocean. Education Coordinator Laura Barnes pulled out a glass jar containing a sam- ple of what was found inside plankton a class pulled from the ocean on a recent outing. The jar was clouded with what looked like con- fetti, tiny pieces of plastic ingested by the plankton. "When you throw away plastic, this is where it ends up — in the ocean — even if you don't live on the coast," Barnes said. "Plas- tic lasts a long time and breaks down into biologi- cal poison. In the ocean, it just sits there and decom- poses and releases chemi- cals." O'Neill Sea Odyssey begins taking applications in May from teachers inter- ested in exposing their stu- dents to the program in the following school year. Spots go fast with nearly 100 applications coming in the first day, Barnes said. The Odyssey's only criteria for classes to participate is to complete a community service project after attend- ing the program. Acute infection is often mild with few or no symp- toms. If symptoms do pre- sent (typically one to three weeks after exposure), they can include joint pain, fatigue, fever, chills, night sweats, cough, chest pain, headache and shortness of breath. Some may develop a red, spotty rash that may turn brown. It usually appears on the lower legs but can also occur on the chest, back and arms. Occa- sionally, the rash may have blisters or pimple-like lesions. People who are infected without symptoms may only discover this when a blood or skin test is positive. Some may also have small nodules of residual infection within the lungs that can appear as tumors during a chest X-ray. In those with symptoms, the disease is highly variable and can take from six Dr. Peter Gott months to one year to recover fully. Joint pain and fatigue can last even longer. Severi- ty depends on gen- eral health status before infection and the number of spores inhaled. More spores mean more severe infec- tion. Chronic infection is most common in those with weakened immune systems who don’t fully recover. This complication is a form of chronic pneumonia that often alternates between periods of recovery and worsening symptoms. These can include cough, weight loss, low-grade fever, lung nodules, chest pain and blood in the spu- tum (mucous that is coughed up and out of the lungs). Disseminated infection is the most serious form. It occurs when the fungus spreads outside the lungs to other areas of the body, such as the bones, brain, liver, heart, skin and meninges (coverings of the brain and spinal cord). Symptoms include painful, swollen joints; painful skull, spine or bone lesions; meningitis; and nodules, skin lesions and ulcers. Most cases of valley fever are treated with bed rest and fluids. Careful mon- itoring by a physician is required so that prescription medication can be given to those who fail to improve after a reasonable amount of time or whose symptoms worsen. For those who do require treatment, prescription anti- fungal medication (flucona- zole, itraconazole) is the most commonly used. For the most severe cases, the IV antifungal amphotericin may be used. These medications all carry some serious side effects that typically disap- pear after the medication is stopped. These can include allergic reaction, seizures, high cholesterol or triglyc- erides, insomnia, vertigo, low potassium, tremor, drowsiness and much more. Now, you specifically asked whether valley fever or fluconazole are linked to hearing loss. Based on the above information, I don’t believe they are; however, because I live in New England, valley fever is not an issue for us, so I am fairly unfamiliar with it. If you are concerned, speak to your physician about it. Because valley fever can become a chronic lung dis- order, I am sending you copy of my Health Report “Pulmonary Disease.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com. MILWAUKEE (AP) — The win- ning entry in a liars’ club contest may have been the best but it wasn’t original. David Milz, 49, of Bristol, was named the top liar of 2010 with this line: “I almost had a psychic girl- friend but she left me before we met.” Milz, a school superintendent, said he came up with it while joking around with colleagues over the summer. However, an online search turns up numerous instances where the line is attributed to comedian Steven Wright. “I don’t know who he is,” Milz told The Associated Press. “I came up with it independently. I’m sure it’s original to him but this was orig- inal to us.” A message left with Wright’s agency Wednesday was not immedi- ately returned. Yarn that was named 2010’s top lie wasn’t original The Burlington Liars Club, which began in 1929 as a lighthearted way to honor the creativity and humor of good exaggeration, said it received almost 500 entries this year. “We don’t have the resources to check every entry to see if someone has said it before,” club vice presi- dent Ed Impens said. “We’re not going to worry about it. I think you’re making a big deal out of noth- ing, personally.” Impens and two other judges sift- ed through the entries this week and each made a Top10 list. Milz’s entry was the only one that made all three lists, Impens said. ‘‘It had all three of the things we think are important: It’s fairly short, humor is very important, and it’s timely,’’ he said. He reaffirmed that Milz will keep the 2010 title. The runners-up include this line from Ellen Everts of New London: ‘‘My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.’’ And Daryl Lockwood of Wau- paca submitted this: ‘‘My neighbor’s scarecrow was so good that the crows brought back the corn they stole last year.’’ Neither of those lines is original either. Online searches find dozens of references to the cemetery quote and several variations of the scare- crow line. That’s no big deal, said Milz, a Liars Club member for three years. The club is about lighthearted fun and passing on good humor, not being constrained by strict regula- tions, he said. The liars’ club is based in Burlington, a town of about 15,000 about 35 miles southwest of Mil- waukee. It has almost 2,500 mem- bers around the world, president Joel Weis said.