Beauty, she is above
Beauty
is waking every day
to witness the splendor
that is the sky above
and the earth below.
To see the strength of the trees
gracefully blowing in the breeze
is a sonnet sung so softly
only a mother
in her wondrous nature
could plant
such a glorious seed
and I am but humbled
at her feet
~ Bryan Hayes
January 11 / 11
Living Green
Top Green Bathroom Tips for 2011
By Jathy Garcia
As we commence a new year, there’s never been a better time to start implementing simple measures to ensure we are being safe and environmentally friendly. Here are my top 10.
Hi-Tech plumbing is a local plumbing contractor in the Wellington/ Royal Palm Beach area who specializes in all facets of plumbing service utilizing the latest & up-to date technology. For more information visit our website at www.hi-techplumbing.com or call our office at 561-790-6966. And remember Don’t fret… just call Hi-Tech!
Cantankerously Yours
Humor, It Shouldn’t Get Lost
By Wendell Abern
Editor’s note: Second in a series devoted to recapturing humor that might perish forever without some gentle reminding.
Dear Comedophiles,
Please examine the above headline. Its unusual construction typifies Hebonics, or Jewish English, and illustrates the patois used in much of Jewish humor – a unique genre that I fear may soon disappear altogether,
According to Howard Schollman, linguistics professor at New York University and renowned Hebonics scholar, the sentence structure of Hebonics derives from middle and eastern European language patterns, as well as Yiddish.
In Hebonics, according to Schollman, the response to any question is usually another question – plus a complaint. Thus, “How are you?” may be answered, “How should I be, with my feet?”
Another Hebonics pattern, used in the headline to this column, moves the verb to the end of the sentence. The example Schollman gives: “He’s slow as a turtle,” in Hebonics could be, “Turtle, shmurtle! Like a fly in Vaseline he walks.”
In his very funny mini-dictionary of Yiddish words, “Yiddish for Yankees,” (with the engaging subtitle of, “Funny, You Don’t Look Gentile),” Martin Marcus uses the Hebonic form liberally in providing definitions:
“Klutz. A clumsy oaf. A guest who sits on your antique
coffee table and breaks the legs, she should break her
own legs once.”
Hebonics is funny even though it was never intended to be. It’s simply the natural way Jewish immigrants distorted English and adapted it to their own linguistic forms.
Schollman captured this unintended humor in his textbook on the subject, entitled, “Switched-on Hebonics.” A few examples:
Question: What time is it?
English answer: Sorry, I don’t know.
Hebonic answer: What am I, a clock?
Answer to a phone call from son:
English remark: It’s been a long time since you called.
Hebonic remark: You didn’t wonder if I’m dead yet?
Jewish comedians in the early part of the Twentieth Century recognized the fractured English they heard at family gatherings as funny, and turned home conversations into comedy routines. Complete with heavy accents.
If you wanted to sound as humorous as Uncle Herman or Aunt Bertha, you used their accents: “Vot, ve’re so vealthy ve’ll wacation by the Riwiera? Ve’ll go by the beach right here, the sun should only shine.”
Hebonics peppered the works of George Jessel, Milton Berle, Myron Cohen, George Burns, Jack Benny and other Jewish comedians throughout vaudeville’s heyday.
But the long story-telling jokes that were the heart of comedy routines through the Twenties began to vanish in the early Thirties, and are practically non-existent today. For example:
A young Jewish man tells his mom he has fallen in love and is going to get married. “Just for fun,” he says, “I’m going to bring over three
women and you try to guess which one I’m going to marry.” The next
day, he brings three women to the house, has them chat for a while, then lets his mother guess which one he’ll marry. Immediately, she replies, “The one on the right.” The son says, “Ma, that’s amazing! How did you know?” The mother says, “I don’t like her.”
Today’s Jewish comedians, whose venues are limited to comedy clubs and cable shows like “Comedy Central,” would tell that joke in 60 seconds.
But George Jessel or Myron Cohen would take seven minutes to tell the same joke, and their narration would somehow include asides on tight skirts, someone’s bald uncle with peptic ulcers and a bad case of Poison Ivy in someone’s nether regions.
Also, in vaudevillian routines, the comedian improvised, describing his main characters differently each time he told the same gag. Example:
First time: “Beautiful she vas, and zaftig too, vich means woluptuous, vid a bosom out to Pallum Beach.”
Second time: “Vas a beauty, okay, could stand to lose a few pounds, vouldn’t kill her.”
What a crime this engaging art form has virtually disappeared! Two big factors contributed to its demise: assimilation and broadcast technology.
Today’s Jewish population is part of the fabric of this country. We are all third and fourth generation Americans now. The huge influx of Jewish immigrants in the last part of the 19th, and early part of the 20th Centuries has slowed to a trickle.
How long since you heard anyone speak with an accent? How long since you even heard a joke told with a Jewish accent? Assimilation, unfortunately, squelched the very humor it created.
And broadcast technology dressed it up differently.
While radio, and later television, spread this ethnic form of humor from Jewish homes to the rest of the world, it also changed the form.
Once vaudeville’s comedians moved into broadcast, long story-telling jokes morphed into one-liners in order to jack up ratings.
The entire broadcast world is controlled by research companies who monitor our viewing (and previously listening) habits. In order to achieve good ratings, a sitcom must create a laugh every other line.
The sad irony of today’s comedic landscape is that the very technology that helped spread ethnic humor from Jewish homes to the rest of the world, is now absorbing it from the rest of the world and putting it back into Jewish homes.
Jewish humor today exists primarily on the Internet.
New Jewish jokes today circulate on computers, e-mailed from one Jewish family member to another, from one Jewish friend to another. I wonder how many of my non-Jewish friends received the e-mail headed,
“If Their Mothers Were Jewish.” Funny piece, capturing both the doting and demanding natures of Jewish mothers. To wit:
Christopher Columbus’ mother: “I don’t care what you discovered, you never call, you never write …”
Mona Lisa’s mother: “After all the money your father and I spent on braces, that’s the biggest smile you could give?”
Michelangelo’s mother: “Can’t you just paint on walls like other children? Do you know how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?”
* * *
As I stated earlier, Jewish humor may disappear altogether. Though
I shudder at the prospect, I am also guardedly optimistic. I pin my hopes on the technology that brought this unique form out of Jewish homes, then put it back there again. Also, I have faith it will be kept alive by others as concerned as I am.
After all, this type of humor, it shouldn’t get lost.
Cantankerously Yours,
Wendell Abern
Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.
By the Numbers
Frugally In love – Valentine’s Day Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank
By Tom Copeland
Are you ready to spend less on gifts this Valentine’s Day? You’re not alone; according to IBISWorld, a leading publisher of industry research, consumers are expected to spend nearly 5% less than they did last year. But just because other lovers will fork over about $28.6 billion dollars in the days and weeks leading up to February 14th doesn’t mean you have to.
And just because you want to spend less money this time around Cupid’s block doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality and thoughtfulness of your gifts. In fact, think of yourself as “frugally in love”, dismissing the tradition of pricy, unaffordable luxury goods in favor of gifts that are creative, fun, and most importantly, relay the message of the holiday: love. Here are some great gift ideas if you need to stick to a strict budget this year.
1. Get a spa gift card from Spafinder.com. Spafinder is a bustling marketplace that brings together thousands of participating local spas, buyers, and discounts and deals that tie it all together. You can ship, print, or email the gift cards at just about any price level, and in many cases, you can find gift cards to spas that regularly run $40, $50, or $65 specials.
2. Dine out for lunch instead of dinner. Take your darling to their favorite lunch spot or hit their favorite restaurant during an early bird special. Or, take the time and effort to cook a spectacular dinner at home. Even after hiring a babysitter for a few hours, you’ll probably still save money by eliminating steep dinner, wine, desert, and tip tab of a tradition Valentine’s dinner at a local restaurant.
3. Make a love basket. The idea here is to skip the dozen roses, candy boxes, and card trifecta (which together can pretty easily exceed a $50 alone), and instead put some thought and time into one dazzling gift basket filled and decorated with flowers, individually wrapped candy bars or packages, a handwritten love note, and a $10 gift card to a favorite coffee, tea, or donut shop, for example.
4. Latex Happy Valentine’s Day balloons can be picked up at any grocery store for a few dollars and are a sweet surprise or addition to your other gifts. There’s a bonus, too: balloons double as an effective child distraction device.
5. Affordable, quality wine can be found online and elsewhere. Renowned wine expert Gary Vaynerchuk hand picks the featured wines on the site Tastingroom.com, and for just $20 you can order a set of (6) 50ml taster bottles of wines in all varieties. Looking for some affordable bubbly? Kiplinger recommends 2006 Mont Marcal Cava Brut Reserva from Spain, priced at about $15, found in your local supermarket.
6. Cook a healthy and bountiful breakfast in bed.
7. Make a donation in your partner’s name to their favorite charity or cause. Everyone is passionate about something, so figure out what that passion is and make your donation of money, time or effort. If you’re not sure if that passion exists or not, just ask. At a Secret Santa party last year, I offered to make a $25 donation to a charity in the giftee’s name, and to my surprise, my gift was stolen twice before it settled on a happy winner who requested the donation be made to a local animal shelter.
8. Find something fun and interesting to do in our town. A great resource is PBpulse.com, a local nightlife and events guide published by the Palm Beach Post. Find something interesting that’s going on and offer to take your partner. Current and local concerts, musicals, plays, and much more can all be found there. Also check out “Press Releases” and the “Calendar” page on AroundWellington.com.
9. Spend the day together! While this may not be a plausible option for many people, spending the entire day with your loved one, doing whatever it is they want to do, is the most generous and thoughtful gift you can give this Valentine’s Day.
So don’t be bogged down by stellar prices on jewelry, handbags, suits, clothes, watches, or other traditional Valentine’s Day gifts you can’t afford this year. The message of Valentine’s Day is to show someone special that you love and care for them. You can show your affection and appreciation without spending a lot of money, so start getting creative and fall frugally in love!
Tom Copeland is the founder of Bullworthy.com, a Web development and content management firm in West Palm Beach. Find him at http://www.bullworthy.com.
Cultural Corner
Brothers to the Rescue
By Marla E. Schwartz
A genuine act of civil disobedience is practiced by so few people these days. It allows people to demonstrate nonviolent resistance against what they deem to be unfair laws by refusing to obey such laws, demands, and commands of a government. A modern day tale of such a story involving Floridians, including a gentleman from Wellington, is conveyed in the book Seagull One: The Amazing True Story of Brothers to the Rescue {University Press of Florida, $24.95} written by Lily Prezello in collaboration with José Basulto. They presented their book at the 2010 Miami Book Fair International this past November.
Brothers to the Rescue, Inc. (BTTR), also known as
Hermanos al Rescate, began in 1991 in response to the surge of Cuban rafters who were dying as they tried to escape from the island in search of freedom in America. Basulto, founder of BTTR, was born in Santiago de Cuba, is a Cuban exile and a Bay of Pigs veteran. This courageous man, along with his friend, William “Billy” Schuss, were compelled to begin this humanitarian mission when Billy saw a report on the news telling the story of how a child, the same age as his son, died in the arms of a Coast Guard agent, after trying to flee Cuba on a makeshift raft.
Prezello does a magnificent job of chronicling the journey of these two men and everyone involved with BTTR, including volunteer pilots from 17 different nationalities; who conducted 1,840 search and rescue missions saving 4,200 lives. This book is Prezello’s first of hopefully many ventures into the book publishing business. Born in Havana, Cuba and exiled with her family to Miami in 1960, she has an outstanding reputation as a freelance writer for various magazines and newspapers in Miami and as an editor for Miami-based executives.
She
was the editor of Beyond The Grotto, her alumnae newsletter from her high school Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, is an English major from Florida International University, has participated in the Eckerd College Writers Conference in Paradise for the past four years, is part of the speakers bureau for the Archdiocese of Miami, has contributed to The Catholic Voice from 1987-1997 and has attended the Writer’s Institute at Miami Dade College. She and her husband Steve, along with their two daughters and grandsons live in Miami.
Many of us remember hearing stories of the rescues conducted by BTTR back in the ’90s, and we took it for granted that it was something that would go on indefinitely, or as long as it took to save as many people as possible. But it all came to an end on February 24, 1996 when fellow pilots were betrayed as two unarmed BTTR planes were shot down in international waters, murdering pilots Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pea and Pablo Morales over the Florida Straits. Basulto was flying on the day he saw his comrades shot down and made it safely back to Florida within three minutes of also being shot down. There is an understandable air of sadness when this soft-spoken man speaks of this incident. He sought criminal and civil charges over the matter and was awarded a $1.7 million judgment in January 2005 and a few months later used this money to offer a reward on information leading to the indictment of Raúl Castro on charges relating to the shooting down of these planes. His aim from the beginning was to assist and rescue raft refugees emigrating from Cuba and to support the efforts of the Cuban people to free themselves from dictatorship through the use of active nonviolence.
The book reads as a real life murder-mystery, espionage tale as BTTR
was infiltrated by two spies, one who was a double agent working for the FBI, that led to the events of that fateful day when four innocent men, three American citizens, were brutally murdered over international waters. The book tells the tales of love stories that were forged because of this group and it explains how our government was complicit in changing the Cuban Adjustment Policy to the “Wet Feet/Dry Feet” policy, which in essence doomed people to their fate.
The book also vividly describes the gallantry of all the BTTR pilots including Wellington Resident Carlos V. Tabernilla who had forty-years of experience as a pilot, worked in the agriculture industry in the Glades for over thirty years and lived in the Wellington Aero Club. His plane was called El Viejo Pancho, named after the plane his grandfather flew as a Five-Star General and head of the Armed Forces of Cuba under President Fulgencio Batista. His father, Carlos M. Tabernilla, was also a military man serving as Chief of the Air Force with the rank of Colonel and later as Brigadier General. It was on January 1, 1959 that his family escaped Cuba. Tabernilla was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his heart, but despite his deteriorating health condition, he continued to fly his missions. Unfortunately he passed away at age sixty on October 1, 2010, the day of the book launch party.
Basulto and Prezello were able to find time during their busy book tour to answer a few questions about their book for us.
How did the two of you meet?
Lily Prezello (LP): We have mutual friends, René and Marta Guerra. I had helped René in some writing projects and he liked my work and told me ‘you need to write the story about BTTR’. I had never thought of writing a book, so Rene invited me to meet José. We started going through the BTTR documents at a warehouse and we spent six months going through the paperwork. José then started introducing me to all the people who worked with the organization. I interviewed over a hundred people.
Can you explain the title choice?
José Basulto (JB): I am Seagull One. A seagull is a very beautiful creature. It’s usually near the coast and it’s a signal to mariner’s that they’re reaching their destination. It’s a peaceful animal and it always flies looking down, searching for something and that’s what we did. We used to fly looking down, slow, like a seagull does, on a mission of peace. I felt it was appropriate to call ourselves seagulls. Seagull Charlie, Seagull Bravo, like the letters of the alphabet according to who was the pilot and I was Seagull One (his radio call sign).
Was it frustrating at first that you had such a difficult time actually seeing the rafters?
JB: We had a pretty good idea that it was going to be difficult to see them because in 1990 we started doing the experiments necessary for the operation and we knew we had visibility issues to resolve before we announced that we were going to go out and look for rafters.
When rafters you’ve saved come up to you, what specifically do they say?
JB: I’ll tell you, I was turning a corner on 8th Street, close to LeJeune, and there was this guy in a new convertible car and this fellow was by himself with several beautiful girls and he looks at me and says, ‘Basulto, thank you’!
Can you discuss what happened the day the planes were shot down?
JB: I was flying the plane that did not get shot down. I saw the smoke in the distance where the planes had fallen. It was a hit an assassination. And I am here, alive for some reason and I believe that it is to denounce both sides for what they did that day and to tell the story. If there is no truth there will not be justice because you cannot have justice without truth. Someday, somewhere, somehow someone in the U.S. government will point the finger to the ones who made it possible for the Castro government to assassinate those kids that day.
Basulto explained that he’s now retired and Lily is working on her next book, an historical-fiction novel, based on the life of a 101-year-old Cuban-American woman.
***
A native of Toledo, OH and a graduate of Kent State University, Marla E. Schwartz is a Senior Writer for Miami Living Magazine and is currently a freelance writer for AroundWellington.com and Lighthouse Point Magazine. Her photographs have appeared in numerous Ohio publications, as well as in Miami Living, The Miami Herald, The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post. She has had numerous plays published and produced around the country. Her short play, America’s Working? was produced in Los Angeles at both the First Stage and the Lone Star Ensemble theater companies, in Florida at Lynn University and then at an off-Broadway playhouse in NYC. Her piece, The Lunch Time Café, was a finalist for the Heideman Award, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Please check out the re-prints of her interviews with authors Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson and Dexter novelist Jeff Lindsay in the October 2010 issue of Duff Brenna’s ServingHouse: A Journal of Literary Arts at www.servinghousejournal.com. Please feel free to contact her at marlaschwartz@att.net.
Creature Feature 
Hey! Who Ate All My Candy???
By Stephanie Karpf, DVM
Aaaahhhh, Valentine’s Day. What do we think of when we ponder this wonderful holiday about love? That’s right…CHOCOLATE!!! Lots and lots of chocolate!
Invariably, at this time of year, I am bound to get a number of calls from distressed dog owners whose furry friends have gotten their little (or very big) snouts into a heart-shaped box full of chocolate treats. It is certainly true that chocolate is toxic to dogs. However, there are many different varieties of chocolate, and some are much more toxic than others.
The most common type of chocolate treat is milk chocolate, of course. Luckily, milk chocolate is also the variety that is the least toxic. The level of toxicity of any variety of chocolate, has to do with how much of a chemical, called methylxanthine, is present. In milk chocolate, the amount of this chemical is much smaller (64 mg/oz.), than the amount in semisweet chocolate, which would have more than twice this amount per oz. Baker’s chocolate, contains about six times the amount of this chemical per ounce.
A 22 lb. dog would need to eat between 10 and 20 oz. of milk chocolate to be poisoned from it. This is quite a feat for such a small dog. About half this quantity in dark chocolate, would be a problem. It is also important to remember, that many of the chocolates that we find in these gift boxes, are filled with a different substance like cream or nougat. So, the weight of the treat isn’t necessarily all made up of the actual chocolate. In most cases, dogs do not eat enough chocolate to cause themselves a truly dangerous problem.
That being said, a dog that ingests any chocolate, will likely end up with gastrointestinal upset. This could include symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and inappetence. If this should happen, your vet will treat this like any other case of tummy troubles with a bland diet, and sometimes with medications to help clear up nausea or diarrhea.
But, if your dog should be the one to gluttonously devour your romantic box of chocolate delicacies in quantities large enough to cause toxicity, then you could find yourself with a true medical emergency. The first signs of chocolate toxicity include vomiting and diarrhea, and this usually begins within the first 2 to 4 hours after ingestion. Other signs are fever, restlessness, hyperactivity, and increased urination. Advanced signs include muscle stiffness, excitement and seizures. Eventually, untreated chocolate toxicosis can lead to cardiac failure, weakness, coma and death.
If your dog decides to sample your sweets, then it is always best to err on the side of caution. Be sure to call your veterinarian immediately after discovering that your dog has eaten some chocolate, to find out if the amount ingested is something that should be cause for concern. It is important that you know how much your dog weighs, what type of chocolate was ingested, and approximately how much this chocolate weighed. When caught early enough, induction of vomiting to remove chocolate from the stomach, followed by administration of activated charcoal into the gastrointestinal system to remove as much chocolate as possible, can be life saving. Delaying treatment even by a few hours can have severe consequences.
So, enjoy Valentine’s day. But keep that gigantic box of sweets from your sweetie, out of Fido’s reach!
Stephanie Karpf, DVM, is co-owner of The Visiting Vet, a house call veterinary service for dogs and cats serving Palm Beach County. For an appointment, call (561) 252-8874.
As I Was Saying
The New Rules of Flying 
By Alan Williamson
“How was your flight?” is a loaded question these days. Compared to crash landing on a remote island and being harassed by hostile inhabitants, a deadly cloud of black smoke and a man with cultish delusions of Godliness named Jacob, I’d rate most of my flights as passable. But if people in high places in the airline industry are interested, I do have a few suggested changes to make the flying experience less (what’s the word?) turbulent.
New Rule # 1: Cancel “The Price is (Not) Right.” It used to be that if you booked far enough in advance you got a lower rate and if you booked closer to your flight date the rate was higher. Simple. Fair. Logical.
In today’s “The Price is (Not) Right” game, no matter when you book, getting the best price on a flight takes diligent research, impeccable timing and an acceptance of the fact that whatever price you lock in at can be undercut within the next 48 hours by a price 25 to 40 percent lower. Oh, what’s that you say? You want that new, low, low price? No problem. That will cost you a flight cancellation fee of $125 and – oops – the flight you wanted to re-book at the lower rate just went up again by another $100. (Shouldn’t have taken that bathroom break.) So champ, do you want to book it and lock it in or click on the “check flights” button and see what the next price comes in at? Now I don’t know about you, but if I ran the airline show that’s one game of chance I’d pull the plug on faster than you could say Pat Sajak.
New Rule # 2: Involve Passengers in Anti-Terrorism Efforts. Currently, before a commercial airliner takes off, flight attendants instruct all passengers in the use of emergency equipment and check to see that seatbelts are fastened and seats are in the upright positions. Let’s also have them make the following announcement:
“Before we take off, we ask that all passengers please check fellow passengers in your immediate area for any screwballs, weirdos, wackos, misfits, haunted drifters or fidgety religious fanatics.”
Hey, I’m an observant guy and I’m happy to do my part. Besides, I could use a break from thumbing through the Sky Mall catalog fantasizing about buying the Sound-Activated Video Camera Pen, the King Tutankhamen Egyptian Throne Chair, and the Upside Down Tomato Garden.
New Rule # 3: Tighten Passenger Boarding Requirements. Under normal circumstances I’m a live and let live kind of guy. But let’s face it, there’s nothing normal about hurdling through the sky crammed into a metal cylinder with 300 strangers, many of whom are rumored screwballs, weirdos, wackos, misfits, haunted drifters and fidgety religious fanatics. Airport security already screens all passengers for weapons and suspicious paraphernalia. Why not screen for obnoxious personality traits and hazardous health conditions?
Case in point # 1: There was a guy sitting behind me on a summer flight from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit who sneezed and coughed the entire two and a half hours. When he wasn’t sneezing and coughing he was snoring in a way that every time he inhaled you could hear his musical mucus rattling in his sinuses. With a rigorous health screening, this bobble head would be turned away at the gate and told to go Google “immune system” to see if he could pick one up for a future flight.
Case in point # 2: There was a women sitting near me on a recent flight who read her magazine from cover to cover. Sounds pretty harmless, right? The perfect seatmate. I left out one little detail: she read it out loud. Here’s an excerpt:
“Surrounded almost entirely by shallow, neon-bright aqua lagoons, Bora Bora is all about snorkeling.”
Okay, now multiply that by two hours and 30,000 more words. Granted, it would be difficult to root out non-stop talkers at a security screening, but anyone who begins to tell their life story to the person behind them in line while their carry-on bag is being x-rayed should be pulled aside and put in a sound-proof room to be monitored via closed-circuit TV and detained until their lips stop moving.
Look, I realize that some of these “new rules” might come across as harsh and self-serving. Honestly, that’s not where I’m coming from. I offer these suggestions purely in the interests of helping the troubled airline industry rise above their spiraling cost, safety and customer satisfaction problems.
And just to be clear, I’m not looking for any special recognition or major financial reward for my insightful feedback. Round-trip, first-class tickets for my wife and I to anywhere in the United States would be more than adequate as a token gesture of thanks. That, and if it’s not too much trouble, the King Tutankhamen Egyptian Throne Chair from the new Sky Mall catalog (page 88, right next to the underwater pogo stick).
Alan Williamson is an award-winning writer with 27 years in the field of true fiction (advertising). A practical man who knows that writing for a living is risky going, he has taken steps to pursue a second, more stable career as a leggy super model. Alan can be reached at alwilly@bellsouth.net. © 2011 Alan Williamson.
ASTROLOGY AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE
February, 2011
By Karola Crawford
Happy Birthday to Aquarius. Some may call you the Super Sign of the Zodiac as you are a fixed air sign. You are all about friendships and relationships with groups of people, and hopes, dreams, goals and objectives are foremost in your life. You are a humanitarian and will break the rules that need to be broken in order to create new advancements for the betterment of mankind. Some may call you the rebel of the signs for you cannot be held back by any force when you feel the need for action. Your ruler is Uranus, which is known for its sudden, exciting, unpredictable and restless nature. You have the ability to persist in a single minded determination and are very resourceful. Aquarius is very intellectual and you can present what you believe to be the truth to the public. You are also very independent, eccentric, friendly, impulsive, rebellious, magnetic and strong-willed. Born under this sign, you pour out to mankind the life-force and spiritual energy under the sign of brotherhood and those whom you befriend have your unswerving loyalty. Some will see that you are “ahead of your time” and you may find that others are frequently incapable of comprehending your ideas, which will probably annoy you. You enjoy meeting people and exchanging ideas.
This is a good month to put extra energy into your love life and create a unique experience for Valentine’s Day. Since you don’t follow the examples shown by others, let your creativity conjure up a once-in-a-lifetime experience that only a Kodak moment will preserve. Enjoy yourself and give your body and mind a much-needed rest by indulging in a massage and relaxing with friends. Since you take your work so seriously, nervousness and apprehension can leave you feeling worn out so take full advantage of a luxurious break.
Pisces – Life continues to be unpredictable and your sensitive nature reacts responsively to the thoughts and feelings of others. You desperately want to do the right thing….Hang in there. Sometimes you have to go on faith alone. See what you want now without any objections.
Aries – You are finding new ways to use your creative energy. Can you be the inspiration for a special Valentine’s Day that you will remember for years to come. You know that it’s not real if you don’t get to talk about it.
Taurus – Only you know that working with the practical aspects of life will give you spiritual truth. Focus your attention on those close at hand and recognize the value of sharing with others. A special someone loves your devotion.
Gemini – All that thinking requires an outlet and you have it. Remember to keep your words positive and stay in the moment. Quiet meditation will do wonders on finding ways to give your ideas wheels..
Cancer – Major changes are occurring, however, you have sensed this for a long time now. The changes made will be permanent, so gear up by letting go and stop controlling the outcome.
Leo – Your desire to be first is rewarded by your generosity and nobility of feelings. There are still issues that seem foggy, but they will soon become crystal clear. You love romance, so take advantage of a special night with that significant other.
Virgo – You have changed so many things in your life now that it doesn’t seem that anything else could be turned topsy-turvy. Create magic on Valentine’s Day by letting your sentimental creativity out.
Libra – Your desire to initiate activities will pay off. Don’t compromise any principles to gain recognition and you will see results. Organization is the key to all events and it will pay off to listen to that mentor.
Scorpio – Your incredible energy will pay off if you use the high road. You know how to make a special night, so take your honey on a special ride for Valentine’s Day. None can compete with your intensity so start planning.
Sagittarius – Action is the name of the game as your Ruler is energized by Mars. You have been holding back, waiting, but now your time has come. Things will come together and move forward, and you have your choice of where to spend your Valentine’s Day. There are no wrong choices.
Capricorn – Life may be on hold for a bit this month so keep planning, but don’t expect action until later. Remember, when one door closes, another one opens up. Valentine’s Day will hold a surprise.
Karola Crawford, MAFA, has been a certified Astrologer for 25 years. She has cast charts for clients all over the world and also practices Holistic medicine, Yoga, Shiatsu, Reiki, Auricular Acupucture and is an accomplished artist. Where does she get all of her energy? A grand trine in fire, of course. Karola can be reached at 561-234-6338 or by visiting the web site at www.shamanofvisionsforhealing.com.
Ask the Docs
Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women
By Vanessa Vizcaino, M.D.
What better way to introduce this topic than to add it to the February issue for Valentine’s Day? Sexual dysfunction or sexual problems are defined as difficulty during any stage (desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution) of the sexual act, which prevents the individual or couple from enjoying sexual activity. I know there are many questions about libido, orgasms, and sexual function in general, because both my male and female patients of all adult ages ask me on a daily basis. People are often embarrassed to ask questions regarding sex for obvious reasons. I am here to tell you all not to be embarrassed! Sexuality and sex is a major part of adult life, and even as we age, it is important to address the issues that come up.
In a JAMA article from 1999 in a survey of men and women aged 18 – 59 years, about 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men reported some sexual problem. I suspect the numbers haven’t changed much. I found a list on Discovery Health with the following little-known facts (mostly about women):
As far as men are concerned, many think the “little blue pill” can fix anything that occurs in this department. This is of course a myth, and any man that has had this problem can attest to this fact. This is mostly because sexual problems can come from physical or psychological issues, and sometimes both. Many chronic illnesses and the medications used to treat them can cause sexual dysfunction at any stage. Sometimes, despite having no physical problems, men simply have a hard time. Emotional factors affecting sex include both interpersonal problems and psychological problems within the individual. Interpersonal problems include marital or relationship problems, or lack of trust and open communication between partners. Personal psychological problems include depression, sexual fears or guilt, or past sexual trauma. These of course can affect women as well, and often contribute to more of the problem with young women than any other physical issue.
Women are often more emotional and we have a hard time separating the sexual act from the emotional component of the relationship. Let’s face it, how often has a couple been at odds over an issue or fight? And even though the man is willing and able to overlook that in order to get sex, the woman just can’t bring herself to get intimate. As with everything, there are exceptions to this, but from clinical experience I can tell you this is often a source of discord in many relationships. I like to refer my patients to counselors or therapists to work on their emotional barriers and issues in order to experience a better sex life. Simple, open, accurate, and supportive education about sex and sexual behaviors or responses may be all that is required in many cases. Some couples may benefit from joint counseling to address interpersonal issues and communication styles. Psychotherapy may be required to address anxieties, fears, inhibitions, or poor body image.
Physical issues also contribute to sexual dysfunction. Some of these include:
· Injuries to the back (typically the lumbar and sacral spine)
· An enlarged prostate gland
· Disease (diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, tumors, and, rarely, tertiary syphilis)
· Drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, narcotics, stimulants, antihypertensives (medicines that lower blood pressure), antihistamines, and some psychotherapeutic drugs (used to treat psychological problems such as depression)
· Endocrine disorders (thyroid, pituitary, or adrenal gland problems)
· Failure of various organs (such as the heart and lungs)
· Hormonal deficiencies (low testosterone, estrogen, or androgens)
· Nerve damage (as in spinal cord injuries)
· Problems with blood supply
· Some birth defects
Treatment exists for sexual dysfunction no matter the cause. Depending on the cause, some issues are easier to fix than others. For people with nerve damage and severe psychological trauma, treatments are not always effective. Listed below are some common treatments:
– Medical causes that are reversible or treatable are usually managed medically or surgically. Physical therapy and mechanical aides may prove helpful for some people experiencing sexual dysfunction due to physical illnesses or disabilities.
-Sildenafil (Viagra) or one of the other drug variations may be helpful for men who have difficulty attaining and keeping an erection. The medication increases blood flow to the penis. Men who take nitrates for coronary heart disease should not take these drugs.
-Mechanical aids and penile implants are an option for men who cannot attain an erection and find the above medications are not helpful.
-Women with vaginal dryness may be helped with lubricating gels, hormone creams, and in cases of premenopausal or menopausal women, with hormone replacement therapy. In some cases, women with androgen deficiency can be helped by taking testosterone. Kegel exercises may also increase blood flow to the vulvar/vaginal tissues, as well as strengthen the muscles involved in orgasm.
-Behavioral treatments involve many different techniques to treat problems associated with orgasm and sexual arousal disorders. Self-stimulation and the Masters and Johnson treatment strategies are among the many behavioral therapies used. ( http://masters-johnson-method.com)
I hope you all find this helpful and I encourage anyone with these issues to seek help. I believe sex is a crucial part of adult life and it is an integral part of romantic relationships. Make time for it, be open to new techniques and ideas and more importantly, ENJOY IT!
Have a wonderful, fun and exciting Valentine’s Day!
Vanessa Vizcaino, MD
If you would like further information, please call us at Family Medical and Wellness Center (561) 721-1953.
Around Wellington® is your resource for interesting stories, monthly columns on many areas of expertise, fun contests (with gift cards or tickets to events as the prizes), links to terrific local businesses, a monthly calendar and detailed community information. Learn more.
© 2019 AroundWellington.com | Website design by WebGumption.com
