"When Flowers Talk"

"Say it with flowers."

- Patrick F. O'Keefe

Some Common Uses of Flowers:

Whether for celebrations or just as a "well-wisher", flowers convey meanings that are somewhat simple yet just what our hearts long for. Here are some common Uses or set-ups where in words are not enough to say something that only flowers can:



Courtship. From lilies to tulips to the undying red roses, almost every woman feels as if she is in 7th heaven every time she sees these brightly colored and sweet scented pleasures. Flowers and chocolates are really hard to resist that sometimes it's hard to say "No" to any man's plead.

Gratitude. You were caught up between an appointment with someone and a family gathering. Your best friend, reliable as always, cancels her trip to the beach at the last minute to fill in just for you. Aren't we lucky to be surrounded with people like them? Sometimes it's hard to express our deepest gratitude that no matter how hard we try, it just seems like the latest Omega watch isn't just enough. Why not give the freshest flowers accompanied with a "thank you" note and a whole weekend of "BFF" moments with matching "manis and pedis" a la Paris and Nicole.

Apologies. "I was late for our appointment. My dog destroyed your beautiful chrysanthemums. I totally forgot about your birthday. I lost my temper." These and all other eyebrow raising situations would want to make us head for the roof top and scream at the top of our lungs...Enough! Asking for forgiveness isn't what scares us. It's the idea of being rejected for the excuses or should I say alibis we made just to make a clean slate. As old-fashioned as it can be, offering flowers is one way of ironing any crumpled relationship.

Condolences. It is obvious that dying is inevitable and when someone dies, it is like everyone around us could only utter "I am sorry for your loss". As easy as it may seem, we tend to be out of words especially when that person is really close to us. With whom we journeyed together and shared the dinner table during banquets. Whose cooking we sometimes criticize and enjoy as well. What better way to express our grief than with a wreath of mournful flowers.

No matter what occasion or mood there may be, flowers will always serve as a messenger of thoughts in our mouth's behalf..

Christmas is near!!

July 19, I turned on the radio and what do I hear??

Christmas chants!!! as early as this month..

I wonder why people are so struck with this yultide frenzy. I guess it's because of the gifts that they have been planning to either give or receive for the past months.

Or it could be that mood this "Christmas Holiday"sets in among humanoids making them so......charitable and cheerful.

What is the real magic behind Christmas??

I remembered the long hours of torture waiting for the clock to strike twelve. Why? Because we all get to open the gifts , silly! Even if it was us who bought and wrapped these grin makers, it was such a delight waiting for each and everyone's reactions as they open their gifts!!

Last Christmas of 2008, it was a little hard to notice economic crisis for even if times were tough, we still got to share with our secret pals quite heart warming gifts. I think that is really what the spirit of Christmas is about, sharing ( eew! cheesy!).

If some were able to join the festivities, others preferred to just pass for any parties and tighten their buckles to save up some more. This could also be good for the passionate weight reducers. They didn't have to control themselves for the situation itself is providing a way towards that never ending battle against that scheming "roasted suckling pig".

If there is one thing I've learned from this holiday, it's no matter what happens Christmas will always be Christmas. It will always make people busy preparing for gifts and parties. It will always bring families close together. It will always create that certain vibe no other holidays could ever make us feel!!

Dog health problems: Obesity

Watching television is a common activity we usually do we our dogs. Believe it or not, it seems like they also know what's happening in that tube. If we are stimulated while watching cartoons or our favorite actors, our four-legged best friends too, especially when they see canines or even felines on TV. They would wag their tails, jump up and down, bark and even howl because of excitement. Then of course, watching TV will not be complete if not accompanied with your favorite snacks like Pringles, french fries, pretzels, buffalo wings, etc.

Like us, they also gorge zealously among a plethora of food groups that have doubtful nutritional values. Since most goodies are packed with nutritional contents cleverly placed so as to project that this particular food is healthy, we tend to eat as if tomorrow would never come. Unknowingly that the number of servings matter as we scoop out a handful of these treats right into our mouths. Not only to us but we serve our dogs the same tartful treats that we eat. It is pretty obvious that vegging out with less physical exertion could lead to a serious condition known as obesity.

Obesity among dogs is as serious as obesity in humans. Many vital organs most especially the heart, liver and kidneys are compromised. Having a heavy weight impedes their daily functions. It is more cumbersome to move or even run a few distance because they also tend to develop osteoarthritis. Fat also accumulates in their muscles and joints.

How can we detect if a dog is obese? Looking at it physically, try to examine the ribs. A protruding ribcage could indicate malnutrition but if its difficult to palpate when surrounded with fat and its abdomen is round, then it is quite obvious. The frame of each dog is different from each breed so accurately weighing the dog and detecting a significant amount of weight gained comparing to its baseline is a sign.

Not all dogs suffer from obesity because of too much eating. Some of them could have thyroid problems. Having thyroid problems could either make the dog obese or make it suffer from malnutrition. There are many natural supplements in stores to speed up the dogs metabolism.

How do we treat obesity among dogs?
Feed the dog with its suitable snack. just because you enjoy watching TV together with a bag of potato chips, it doesn't mean they are good for your dogs too. Fortunately there are healthy snack substitutes especially made for these adorable canines.

Since you enjoy being together why not have a change of plan with your leisure activities. A regular morning walk together or even in the afternoon is a good replacement for an all afternoon TV viewing galore. But try not put too much effort on your dog for strenuous activities are not good for their heart. It is better to take things lightly.

Try to change its diet from regular to low-fat. But try not to prolong this low-fat diet because it is recently known to cause pancreatitis.

When they try to beg flashing their "pity me look" it may seem hard to resist but giving them small amounts of biscuits or snacks at times is much fattening than keeping their meals on time.

Medical interventions with drugs such as Slentrol or Slenderpet are available in pharmacies provided that it has been prescribed by your vet.

How long does it take to see the changes in my dog's weight problem? Keep in mind that a gain in your pet's weight probably took a long time so all the interventions that you've made may take effect in due time. Managing obesity among dogs is usually coupled with the right amount of activities and food. And if you have overcome your pet's condition it might also be the right time to check your own health status as well.

Discovery Health Channel

It was really cumbersome for me to read a book about science and health. After a few hours of reading and attempting to ingest and digest all the facts and info about the book, I would them come up to a conclusion that i didn't understand it. What a waste of money, time and effort. Books should be interestingly helpful for it can stand the test of time provided that they have been properly kept and used!Now, with the help of Discovery Health Channel, all you need to know about Science and health is just right at your finger tips. Not only that, each topic is being carefully researched and edited as comprehensible as any topic should be.

One of its shows, Mystery Diagnosis, elaborately shows an account of different actual medical cases. Someone who happens to have the same medical condition can really relate to their topics. It provides hope for these patients because later on, they would show how they were able to overcome their diseases despite their hardships plus the torturing effect of having to be apart from ones family.Not to mention the cost of health care services necessary to acquire that blissful outcome.

The Mystery Diagnosis in Discovery Health Channel is currently in its sixth season. It is said that they are looking for patients with unique medical conditions. I think that a condition that can deeply move the viewers. The more rare the medical condition and the more interesting the patient is, the better.

The show really promotes social awareness. That there are more unfortunate ones in the other parts of the world, if only we could extend a helping hand. That every single second and moment is a borrowed time and so we are in a generation wherein people are more health conscious. But the more we develop alternative drugs and the more we educate ourselves with the current health status of our country or in other parts of the globe, it seems like new types of diseases tend to erupt and newer strains of bacterias develop. Oh well, the paradox of life.

"Some Truths about Cats and Dogs"

My neighbor has often complained about how "too much nurturing" her mother is. This should sound good but not with her. With their pets! Her mother would sometimes lavishly buy canned tuna that are tightly packed and looks as if it was from the Mediterranean. Having a pet or even pets for that matter could be fun and a good form of relieving stress, yet it could be a big investment at the same time. It is quite costly once our cats and dogs encounter some health problems or acquire some dreaded diseases that are detrimental to their health.

CATS:
Cats are probably the most vain creatures in our planet obviously. But no matter how long it might take them with their self-grooming practices, they are still prone to skin conditions like ringworms. This could cost them their cuddly fur and efficient claws but trimming and clipping them could be helpful. Make sure to sterilize all the equipments used so as to avoid contamination. Oral anti fungal agents can be purchased as prescribed by your trusted veterinarians.

DOGS:
It is really delightful to spend your leisure time playing catch with your four-legged companion. It seems like anything that they put in their mouth heightens their adrenaline. May it be slippers, a twig, or your highly adored mat, name it and they'll hurriedly fly into the air to catch it. I used to enjoy those moments with my dogs but it was a big shock when they died randomly. I realized that like humans, dogs also have their food allergies.
People would die to have a bite of that scrumptious chocolate, and dogs can die because of them. Beer is one of the main ingredients of a party, but with dogs, it is a recipe for death for it affects their nervous system and heart.
My family has a lineage of obesity and diabetes mellitus. This condition is also possible among dogs so careful monitoring of their sugar level is crucial.

Be Alert:

Even elementary school children could easily detect whether their most treasured pets are sick or not. For some, try asking these question:

Is my pet's eating habit the same?
Does it sleep regularly? (Changes among these two could mean that your dog has a health problem)

Does it urinate regularly? (It maybe a sign of urinary problem)

Does it have a regular bowel movement? ( Constipation also occurs among animals. Sometimes diarrhea is caused by lactose intolerance among cats and dogs)

Does it always whine, growl or howl? ( Insomnia among cats and dogs has yet to be proven, but this could mean its leash is either too tight or your dog has upgraded its I.Q. level and its just trying to hit a few notes!)

Is the skin intact? fur clear? (Skin diseases and parasitic infection is really common among animals. Giving constant bathing and grooming is a must.)

Is it always aggressive, drooling, and has an unusual mental state? (Rabies signs are almost the same among cats and dogs. It is always helpful to vaccinate them as soon as possible.)

Being vigilant and really focusing on the health of our cats and dogs can be tiring and may I say costly especially with their medications and diet. And it is undeniable that these considered men's companion or best friends will always bring that priceless joy in every home.