Original Jack O' Lanterns = Scary as Hell

Because I simply MUST know everything, I began pondering Halloween...specifically, the jack o' lantern. I suspect most of you are aware of the following:

- Halloween, originally known as Samhain (pronounced sow-un), was a pagan holiday celebrated by the Celts across most of Western Europe and the British Isles. It was, in a nutshell, the pagan equivalent of New Year's Eve and Dio de los Meurtos all wrapped into one. When Christianity arrived, the holiday fell by the wayside and was taken over by a Christianized version (All Saints and All Souls Day(s). However it managed to survive on in a few outposts, most notably Ireland.

- Pre-potato famine, the Irish carved jack o'lanterns out of Swedish Turnips (AKA rutabagas). These little fellows were used to ward off the bad spirits that were thought to walk during this time of the year. Between you and I, carving a rutabaga sounds like a shitload of work. These relatives of the turnip are a) notoriously tough little buggers b) not hollow and c) completely devoid of yummy seeds.

- Post-famine, as droves of Irish made their way to the U.S. of A, they discovered the pumpkin which--for obvious reasons--was a hands-down favorite when it came to carving jack o'lanterns. Farewell rutabagas! Viva la pumpkin!

Which brings us to the present.

I don't know about you, but I've never actually seen a carved turnip. I admit to feeling somewhat curious. I mean clearly, pumpkins are my preferred canvas when it comes to vegetable carving (I do not recommend lettuce or cabbage). But I'm all for celebrating the past, etc.

Anyway, thanks to the internet...I found this:

And promptly scared the piss out of myself.

This is a rutabaga. It's on display in a museum somewhere in Ireland. I haven't a clue how old it is. But I will say it's incredibly disturbing to look at. It has teeth people. And it looks like a mummified head that was fished out of a bog. If this is the sort of shit the Irish were placing on windows and doorsteps to scare off evil spirits, I suspect it worked like a charm. It was probably also very useful when it came to scaring off neighbors, small children, and drunks.

Let's scroll up and take another look at our mummified friend up there. Now let's take a look at some American-style jack o' lanterns:


Slightly creepy? Sure! Nightmare inducing? Not really.

Happy Halloween folks! Avoid turnips.

My First Horror Movie

I recently sent this to an online publication that asked folks to submit their first horror movie experiences. I thought it might be fun to share with you...and perhaps you can share yours in the comment section...if you dare. Enjoy.

The first horror movie I ever saw (or at least the first I can recall ever seeing) was The Shining. This was in 1981. I was ten years old and visiting my cousins in California (I, a recent transplant to Georgia, had been shipped out to stay with family for the summer). My aunt and uncle were notoriously lax with rules when it came to their kids…so I could always look forward to a free-for-all at their house including lots of sugar and late nights with R-rated movies. I remember my aunt telling me we were going to watch a scary movie that night…one that had just come out on cable (or maybe it was on the VCR/BETA, I can’t recall if videos were that prevalent yet). I knew about The Shining because I’d recently read the spoof of it in Mad magazine (The Shiner)…so I had a general idea of what to expect. I also LOVED Jack Nicholson because he, at the time, bore a striking resemblance to my dad.

I remember changing into my pajamas, my aunt made popcorn, and my two cousins and I found a comfortable spot on the floor in front of my aunt’s giant sectional sofa. My uncle settled into in his La-Z-Boy, my aunt in hers, and the movie started.

From the beginning I was overwhelmed by the oppressiveness of the intro music…an organ, or was it a cello? playing dark, funereal notes over and over. Very ominous. As the movie progressed, I recall glancing down at my Mad magazine (the one with The Shining spoof…probably picked up in my older cousins room where he had a stack of them) during the scariest parts to distract myself without having to leave the room. I was particularly upset by the notorious “old lady in the bathtub” scene and the twins in the hall. But certainly the most horrifying part of the experience was to see just how vulnerable a family really is, how easily things can take a turn for the worse and then all bets are off. Watching the father (who, you’ll recall, looked a bit like my own) become insane and then incredibly violent towards his wife and son was terrifying. By the end of the film my palms and armpits were saturated with sweat and I was on edge…very like how, as an adult, I feel if I drink too much strong coffee in one sitting.

That night, I ended up sleeping with my aunt and uncle because of nightmares. I also wet the bed. And dreams of my father chasing me through our huge backyard in Georgia with an ax permeated the next few years of my childhood (until puberty hit and brought a host of other dreams with it).

As a parent with young kids, I look back on this experience and have to ask, “What in the hell were they thinking?! How is a horror movie appropriate for three young kids?!” (The oldest of us was 12 at the time, the youngest was eight). But, here’s the best part, The Shining is hands down one of my favorite movies of all time…and I LOVE the horror genre. These days, horror movies still keep me up at night…but thankfully I no longer wet the bed.

The Birds and The Bees: Sex Education for Preschoolers

Yes, you read that title right. Maybe you haven't started getting those questions from your kids, but I have. Just the other day M told me she had an important question. I was in the kitchen cooking which (thankfully) meant my back was to her when she let it fly: "Mommy, how did Z get in your tummy?" After a LONG pause, I turned around and used one of the greatest stalling tactics known to moms and dads around the world: "Hmmm?" She repeated the question while my brain scrambled to come up with something. Sadly, it didn't really help.

My response? Something along the lines of:
"Well sweety, she just grew in there when mommy and daddy were ready for her to grow. Just like you." And then I promptly changed the subject.

I bet you can guess what I did next...or shortly thereafter. Yes, I immediately went online and begin looking for help in the form of a book. Sadly, there just aren't many options out there when it comes to helping parents talk to young kids about sex. I guess it makes sense. Most folks don't really think about sex education for toddlers. But if you stop and think about it, the formative years are a time when we form opinions about EVERYTHING from food to male and female roles to opinions about our bodies. Given that, it seems crucial that we get our birds and bees stories down pat so we can a) respond to our kid's first questions in b) ways that don't make them or ourselves uncomfortable.

I could go on and on (and would if it weren't getting late). But instead, allow me to direct you to an excellent (and probably the ONLY) book on sex education for the under five crowd: But How'd I Get in There in the First Place? Talking to Your Young Child about Sex by Deborah M. Roffman. This book is short, easy to read, and helps parents figure out ways to approach an otherwise awkward subject with candor and ease. Unless you are the Dr. Ruth of your household, do yourself and your kids a favor and pick it up.

Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

The swine flu vaccine is slowly arriving in clinics over the next few weeks. The FluMist version has recently appeared here in California (although I caution anyone interested in getting the vaccine to avoid the nasal version and go straight for the shots. Read here for more info especially the bit about viral shedding...I ignored all the us-against-them hype of the rest of the article). Even if you're not planning to get the H1N1 vaccine...you may be considering a seasonal flu vaccine for you and/or your family.

Far be it from me to tell folks whether or not to get vaccinated. While I prescribe to quite a few alternative health practices, I am not fully on board with the anti-vaccine crowd. I see their point and have gone so far as to put my kids on a modified (aka Dr. Sears) vaccination schedule as a result. But I'm not about to forgo vaccines 100%. I prefer to walk the fine line between mainstream and alternative medicine. I think each has something of value to contribute and I want to get the best of both worlds.

Anyway, I've spent an inordinate amount of time researching the flu vaccines to ensure whatever I decide to do this year is the right thing for my family. As such, I've complied a list of things my family can do to help boost our immune systems. Anyone can do these things regardless of whether or not they decide to get the shot(s). Because, let's face it, even if you are no longer vulnerable to the seasonal flu or H1N1, there are a host of other winter illnesses lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce.

But before I go into the preventatives, allow me to share this information with you courtesy of Dr. Sears regarding the H1N1 vaccine. I found it incredibly helpful and balanced (very refreshing considering how both sides of the vaccine issue can wax a tad fanatical at times).

Now here are a few easy things you can do (aside from the obvious: wash your hands!) to keep your family's immune system in top condition this winter:

1) Invest in a few bottles of elderberry syrup. Both mainstream and integrative medical studies have found elderberry to be a wonderful anti-viral. It works to help fend off viral infections as well as keep them from running completely amuk once a person is infected. Elderberry is also fabulous for sore throats. Give kids a teaspoon a day and adults two teaspoons as a preventative. You can purchase Nature's Way sugar-free (but yummy) elderberry supplement at Whole Foods or any health food store. You can also purchase a bag of dried elderberries and make your own concoction at home. But please remember, elderberries should NEVER be eaten as they are toxic when dried or raw. Steeping them for a few hours in hot water removes all toxins, leaving behind the good stuff in liquid form. Strain out the solids, add a little honey, and voila! Instant syrup.

2) Mucco coccinum is a homeopathic anti-viral that while not terribly effective for me, really seems to do the trick for the kids. The few times I've remembered to give it to them, both M and Z managed to avoid catching whatever creeping crud infected K and I. Kids should get 1/2 pill every two weeks for maintenance and 1 pill per day if sick. Adults should get 1 pill every two weeks for maintenance and one pill a day if sick. The pills are sweet and dissolve quickly under the tongue...kids love them. For babies, grind up and place in mouth in powder form.

3) Invest in a bottle of rose hip syrup. Rose hips are INCREDIBLY high in vitamin C...even more so than oranges. 1/2 teaspoon a day for kids, 1 teaspoon a day for adults is more than enough to help strengthen the immune system. I get mine here.

4) (advanced apologies for semi-nude pic in link. WTF?!) Get your vitamin D in the best way possible: go outside and sit in the sun for at least 15 minutes per day. Yes, hanging out in the sun during peak hours isn't a great idea considering the risk of skin damage and cancer. But spending time in the sun at least twice a week, especially early morning sun (until 10:00am), gives adults and kids the vitamin D they need. This is especially necessary during the winter months to keep immune systems strong. Many people mistakenly stay indoors during the winter because they believe they are more prone to getting sick when it's cold. The truth is, you are more prone to getting sick if you spend too much time indoors...so be sure to take the family outside as frequently as you can, even when it's cold. You can also take vitamin D supplements or target foods rich in Vitamin D. If you do decide on supplements, understand that there is too much of a good thing. This article can help provide more info.

5) Last but not least, don't forget your probiotics. I know I've waxed poetic about these before. But honestly, I swear by them. My kids get sick just like anyone elses (and sometimes more than other people's kids). But so far, we've managed to stare into the face of several stomach bugs over the past few months and none of them gained a foothold in our home. I like to think this has something to do with probiotics. Also, should you have to put your kids on some form of antibiotic for ear infections, conjunctivitus, or whatever...probiotics are a must. Antibiotics kill off both good and bad bacteria. And our bodies need the good bacteria to keep our immune systems strong and fight off any potential invaders. The irony of antibiotics is we take them to get rid of a nasty infection but because we are taking them, we are making our bodies more vulnerable to other nasty infections (yeast infections anyone?). Probiotics replenish the good bacterias and ensure minimal negative impact to our immune systems.

Good luck and stay healthy!!

False Friends of the Plant World

I recently finished a book that I picked up simply because I liked the look of it. The title, Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Abe Lincoln's Mother and Other Botantical Atrocities, was too delicous to resist. And the book itself: small, green, with an embossed cover and an adorable gold ribbon bookmark looked like something one might pick up in a Victorian bookshop.

In spite of the book's cuteness....the contents were anything but. As the title boldly announces, the book covers a variety of risque and frequently deadly denizens of the plant world. I certainly expected to (and did) run into a few familiar faces: belladonna (aka deadly nightshade), castor beans (origin of the incredibly deadly poison ricin), aconite (aka wolfsbane, monkshood), mandrake. But I was discomfited by just how many houseplants and even vegetables and fruits made the list. As an example:

- Have you ever heard of pellagra? If you lived in Europe or the American South in the last two centuries, you would have seen it on a regular basis. In fact there are some theories that it contributed to the vampire mythos in that its victims developed a marked sensitivity to sunlight and often looked like animated corpses depending on the severity of the disease. Pellagra, a deadly form of malnutrition caused by a deficiency of niacin, was and is largely caused by corn. That's right, corn. The same yellow stuff most of us enjoy with gusto every late spring and summer. Corn is wonderfully nutritious aside from the fact that it jealously guards its niacin (vitamin B3). When eaten with a balanced diet of foods, this isn't a problem. But if corn makes up a significant portion of your diet, as it does in many countries, pellagra can frequently rear its ugly head. The native americans worked around this problem by planting corn with lime or other calcite-bearing minerals. The minerals worked with the corn to release the niacin and make it easily absorbed when eaten. But it wasn't until the 1930s that folks figured out the link.

- Ever seen a raw cashew? If you do, please don't eat it. Cashews are part of the same family as poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. The nut is safe to consume as long as it hasn't come in contact with the shell. Pick one up and you can expect to develop an uncomfortable rash.

- Philodendrons. Ficus. Peace Lilies. English Ivy. All incredibly common houseplants. And all toxic. Philodendrons can cause severe stomach cramping and nausea if ingested. The ficus tree can provoke severe allergies. The peace lily causes skin irritation, nausea, burning of the mouth, and difficult swallowing. And english ivy can cause severe gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.

Suffice it to say after reading this book, I began to look at my garden and houseplants in a whole new light. The following day, I took a little tour around my backyard to see what I could find. More than half of the plants were here when K and I moved in...combine that with my utter lack of plant knowledge and you can imagine how oblivious I have been to what's growing out back (and in my house). But after doing a little detective work, I was able to identify a few. Here's a list of those that made the "wicked" list:

Solanum jasminoides, AKA potato vine. This plant, sometimes also referred to as unscented jasmine, is part of the notorious solanum or nightshade family. We have a giant one growing up the entire back wall of our house. The small purple berries are toxic if eaten. What's really disturbing is that just this weekend, I picked a few berries off the plant and squeezed them just to see what the juice looked like.

Solanum macranthum, AKA potato tree. This tree, related to the vine above, sits in the easternmost corner of our house against a fence. It's lovely with crepe-like purple flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. But, like most members of the nightshade family, it's toxic and has a sap that, if touched, can cause skin irritation.

Oleander, a member of the dogbane family (btw, any plant that has the word "bane" in it, from the old english "bana" or "death, killer", is almost certainly one you don't want to have anywhere near your home). Lovely flowers, known as the "freeway plant" in California because these Mediterranean trees/shrubs line many freeways throught the Golden State. Also reputed to be one of the most toxic plants around. Oleander leaves, bark, and flowers are extremely poisonous and even very small exposure can be enough to cause death, especially in young children. Thankfully, all our oleanders reside outside our backyard. However an entire row of them line the east side of our house (along the outside of the side fence) and we have one lovely oleander tree smack in the middle of our front walkway. M knows oleanders by sight and, after repeated warnings, is well aware not to go near them.

Bougainvillea, an incredibly beautiful climbing plant, is pretty safe when compared with some of the other plants I listed above. Except for the thorns. Bougainvillea thorns have a waxy black substance on the tip which is toxic and has been known to cause anything from mild irritation to hospital visits requiring antibiotic treatment for infection. We've got bougainvillea in several spots in our backyard.

There's probably more but I'm too depressed to continue my search. Thankfully, with the winter months just around the corner, many of these plants will be at their lowest levels of toxicity (aside from my deadly friend the oleander). It's pretty clear to me now that whoever owned this house prior to K and I did NOT have small children.

Here's a great resource to help you find out the general toxicity of common indoor and outdoor plants in your home or garden. And here's a list of relatively safe plants, especially for those of us with pets and/or kids.

Have You Heard of the Switch Witch?

Either I'm the only person around who hasn't heard of the Switch Witch or this is a relatively new-ish concept. In a nutshell, some clever parents came up with a way to do away with the sugar overload that frequently comes with Halloween. I like the idea because it doesn't completely eliminate the fun of trick-or-treating or try to convince the general population to hand out fruit and toothbrushes instead of sweets (good luck with that one).

Anyway, the Switch Witch concept is kind of like the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus all rolled into one. The idea: little Jane comes home from trick-or-treating, she and mom ooh and ahh over the candy and select a few favorites from the stash, and then she leaves her bag of candy outside her bedroom door before going to bed. That night, the Switch Witch comes along, takes the candy, and leaves behind a small gift in exchange. Best part? Jane wakes up to a new toy, book, whatever and mom and dad get to secretly gorge themselves sick on Jane's Halloween candy for the next three months. How cool is that?!

Frankly, this concept couldn't have come along at a better time. M is old enough now to visit more than three houses on Halloween. This, of course, means more candy. More candy that K and I have to somehow try to ration and/or confiscate from someone who will most certainly feel that every single piece rightfully belongs to her. But the only thing M loves more than candy is the idea of waking up to a surprise gift. Hallelujah!!

The Irony of Gun Rights

No matter where you personally stand on the gun control issue (full disclosure: I am all for gun control) a recent tragedy in Pennsylvania is a stark example of everything, in my mind, that is wrong with allowing the public to have access to weapons.

A woman and mother of three who stirred up a lot of controversy earlier this year because she insisted on wearing a holstered gun in public, was fatally shot by her husband on Wednesday night. Her loaded pistol was apparently tucked in a nearby purse. After shooting his wife, the husband shot himself. Thankfully none of the children were injured but it unfortunately appears they were in the house and witnessed their mother's shootinng. I can only imagine the therapy they will need to move past this horrible event. You can read the full story here.

I have so many questions (aside from the obvious one: what was so wrong with their relationship that a husband decides to shoot and kill his wife and the mother of his children?). Why did this women insist on wearing a loaded, holstered weapen to her five-year old's soccer matches? Why did she then blame the town sherriff for the subsequent drop-off in her home daycare business after her arrest? Didn't she consider that the parents of the young children at her daycare might not be comfortable having their kids in a home that carried at least two loaded weapons? And lastly, when all is said and done, what good did her loaded gun really do her?

I've heard the oft quoted statement: guns don't kill, people do. But people with the intention to kill might not be as successful if they didn't have easy access to a loaded gun. And how sad that this gal who felt she was standing up for her personal right to bear arms is now dead as a result of said right. I am sure there exists plenty of data to support the idea that guns somehow protect people. But seems to me, there are just as many (if not more) innocent folks injured or killed in accidental or intentional gun firings than there are those who have been saved thanks to a loaded weapon.

Meanwhile, the lives of three very young children have been horribly and irrevocably changed thanks to a moment of intense emotions, poor judgement, and a loaded gun.

Environmental Toxins: Formaldehyde and Radon

As some of you may know, I recently joined a group called the Holistic Moms Network. The types of folks who belong to this group are cut from a fairly broad spectrum including the anti-vaccine crowd, the organic food crowd, the naturopath crowd, the eco-living crowd, the homeschoolers, the attachment parenting crowd, and lots of average folks like you and me who are simply looking for ways to minimize their footprint and family exposure to unecessary chemicals.

Anyway, one of the benefits of belonging to this group are the regular meetings they have with guest speakers covering a range of topics that all fall under the holistic lifestyle banner. Unfortunately I missed my first meeting due to other stuff going on at home...but I really wished I hadn't because as it turns out, it was pretty darned good. The guest speaker, a gal named Linda Kincaid, is an environmental health and safety consultant in the Silicon Valley. She spoke at length about two of the top environmental toxins currently circulating through many homes here in the valley and across the world: formaldehyde and radon.

I was going to recap from the HMN San Jose chapter blog but instead, I think I'll lead you straight to the source for the info. Please note, if you think this information does not apply to you because you're totally on the up-and-up when it comes to all things green, think again. Some of the homes with the highest level of formaldehyde toxins are those that have been built and/or retrofitted to meet green standards in energy efficiency, etc. And if you have granite countertops anywhere in your home (or are considering them) or like to buy your furniture from upscale stores like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, or Restoration Hardware, this is definitely for you. The info is not meant to be alarmist...it simply states facts along with advice on how to test for toxins and what you can do to eliminate them in your home.

Here's the link...happy reading.