Victoria’s Read

April is Cancer Awareness Month. For me, cancer awareness is every day.
The reason is simple: it robbed me of my mother three years ago. My mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 42. After a mastectomy and removal of some lymph nodes under her arm, chemotherapy and radiation, she was declared a survivor.
Twelve years later, the cancer reared its ugly head again with a vengeance: again, radiation, surgery and chemotherapy with nasty rare side effects. This time though, after a little more than a year of fighting, cancer was declared the winner. As more and more tumors manifested throughout her body, the pain intensified. Morphine in increasing quantities was needed to control the pain.
I would not wish upon anyone the experience of helplessly watching a loved one die: it’s horrible. Fortunately for us, my mom was able to be at home in the weeks before she passed away.
And when she did finally go, she was surrounded by family. I am one of the lucky ones: I was able to spend time with my mom before she died and talk to her about many things. We were able to overcome some usual mother/daughter difficulties, and we were granted the opportunity to get to know each other as women – not just as a mother or as a daughter. One of the regrets I have is that I had scheduled a family photo to be taken before my mom started her treatments and her hair fell out: the photo never happened because my mom wasn’t feeling well that day.
She told me we would have one done “after”. Sometimes “after” never comes. I encourage everyone to become aware; become aware of all the minute amounts of carcinogens that are in just about everything we eat or clean with. My mom didn’t smoke, rarely drank alcohol, and she ate fairly healthy. Why then did it happen to her? Why does it happen to any of us?
In memory of Norma Lashbrook. Miss you, love you, and wish you were here. Let’s make cancer history.
Written by Michelle Lashbrook

DUMP CAKE

INGREDIENTS:
1 can crushed pineapple
1 box white cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
1 cup melted margarine
1 cup chopped nuts or coconut

DIRECTIONS:
-Dump pineapple and juice over a greased 9×13 baking dish
-Dump cherry pie filling over pineapple.
-Dump cake mix over cherry pie filling.
-Pour melted margarine evenly over cake mix.
-Sprinkle top with nuts or coconut.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour.
Thank you, Nancy Stratton.

CHICKEN LEMON
STIR-FRY

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time:  20 minutes
Makes 6 Servings

INGREDIENTS:
1½ cups (375 ml) rice
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
½ lb (250 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
3 tbsp (45 ml) cornstarch
1 ½ cups (375 ml) 1% milk
3 tbsp (45 ml) soy sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) liquid honey
1 can (14 fl oz/398 ml) miniature corn, drained
2 tbsp (25 ml) lemon juice
1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) grated lemon rind

DIRECTIONS:
-In medium saucepan, start cooking rice. 
-While rice is cooking, heat butter and oil over medium heat in a large skillet. 
-Stir-fry onion until tender. 
-Add carrots, garlic and snow peas. 
-Stir-fry for 2 minutes. 
-Add chicken and stir-fry until chicken is browned on all sides.  -In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch into milk. 
-Gradually add milk mixture to skillet, cook and stir until sauce comes to a boil and thickens. 
-Stir in soy sauce, honey, miniature corn, lemon juice and grated rind.
-Serve with rice.

Submitted by Marjorie Kelly of The Heart & Stroke Foundation

Administrative professionals play a significant role in today’s workforce. Administrative Professionals Week is celebrated the last full week of April each year. Make health a priority and take steps to live a safer and healthier life during this special week and all year long.
Lower your risk for musculoskeletal problems.
Sprains and strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other musculoskeletal disorders account for more than half (52%) of the injuries and illnesses suffered by female workers, as compared to 45% for male workers. Arrange your work space so you can work comfortably. Take breaks to stretch your legs, arms, and neck.
Take frequent breaks.
Shift work and long work hours have been associated with health and safety risks. In jobs in which you sit at a computer or do other repetitive physical work, brief rest breaks each hour seem to be best for recovery from muscle fatigue.
Eat healthy.
Good nutrition should be part of an overall healthy lifestyle. You need to eat to fuel your body and be productive. Don’t skip meals, no matter how hectic the work shift may be. Pack some healthy snacks for mid-shift cravings, such as fruit, nuts, or low-fat yogurt.
Get physical activity.
Adults should get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most, preferably all, days of the week. Include physical activity in your work day, particularly if you sit in front of a computer most of the time. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car further from the door, or take a walk with co-workers during lunch.
Manage stress.
Job stress can lead to poor health and injury. Technical, sales, and administrative support along with managerial and professional specialty occupations constituted about 64% of anxiety, stress, and neurotic disorder cases. Keep a balance between work and personal life.
Be smoke-free.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Just 20 minutes after smoking that last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years. Quitting is one of the best things you can do for yourself and others.
Follow these steps to help you have a healthier lifestyle at work, home, and play!
www.cdc.gov

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island. When she was two, her mother died of tuberculosis. Her father, who was a merchant, remarried, and moved away. Montgomery was raised by her maternal grandparents in Cavendish. The place was isolated and her childhood was not particularly happy: she grew up in an atmosphere of strict discipline and punishment for the slightest reason.
At an early age Montgomery read widely. She started to write in school and had her first poem published in a local paper at the age of fifteen. In 1895 Montgomery qualified for a teacher’s licence at Prince Wales College, Charlottetown. During the 1890s she worked as a teacher.
In 1895-96 Montgomery studied literature at Dalhousie University, Halifax. She returned to Cavendish to take care of her grandmother and worked at a local post office.
In 1911 after her grandmother died, Montgomery married Ewan MacDonald, the Presbyterian minister and moved with him to rural Ontario.
While caring for her grandmother, she wrote the first book of the Anne series. It drew on her girlhood experiences. The idea was based on a notebook entry from 1904: “Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent them.”
Anne of Green Gables was the story of a talkative, red-haired orphan, Anne Shirley.
Montgomery’s success was shadowed by a nine-year dispute with her publisher and her husband’s bouts of melancholy. In 1925 the family moved to Norval, near Toronto and then in 1935, after her husband’s retirement, to Toronto.
ANNE OF INGLESIDE (1939), the last volume in the Anne series, reflected Montgomery’s disappointments in life. During the late 1930s Montgomery suffered a breakdown and remained despondent until her death on April 24, in 1942. At her death she left 10 volumes of personal diaries (1889-1942), whose publication began in 1985.

Sammy’s owner’s decided to take Sammy along with them on vacation since it would save them the aggravation of traveling three hours in the opposite direction to their daughters to have him baby-sat.
Sammy was a creature of habit so arrangements were made to insure a comfortable and relaxing trip for Sensitive Sammy.
Sammy likes plenty of fresh air to breath. As well, he is very picky about the temperature of his surroundings.
The big day came and Sammy’s owners thought he would enjoy sitting on the dash of the van so he could experience some new views but Sammy soon showed signs of discomfort. He seemed frightened by everything rushing by him so fast. 
Sammy’s owners decided to move him down onto the floor. Sammy soon began fussing about and his owners realized that he has overheated from having the van heater blowing on him.
To cool Sammy down, his owners put him on the back seat. A little time later when Sammy’s owners looked back to check on him, they realized that Sammy was shivering. 
Poor Sammy was freezing! He was soon warmed up sitting at his owner’s feet under the heater, once again.
But, he wasn’t happy at all! Only when they stopped at a hotel for the night did Sammy settle down. His owners prepared a quiet stop for him beside the television where he bunked down  and slept.
In the morning, Sammy woke rejuvenated. His owners had warmed up the van for him in the hopes of Sammy being more accustomed to traveling but he wasn’t.
Sammy’s owners stopped at a welcome center where they saw other pets just like their Precious Sammy. Sammy’s owners, knowing that Sammy was extremely unhappy with the whole ordeal, contemplated leaving him there but his owners hearts ached at the thought of not ever seeing Sammy again. After all, he had made it this far and they loved him so much!
So, once again after doing their best to make Sammy as comfortable as possible, the little family hit the road only to have misfortune strike. The van broke down and Sammy’s owners called for a tow truck.
Sammy’s owners put him in his traveling case and carefully placed it in a safe place at the back of the van, sure that he’d be fine there during the lift and transportation of the their broken down vehicle.
John, the tow truck driver was a very nice young man. He was a 6′8” tall good-looking firefighter who drove tow truck during his off time. As John loaded the van onto his truck. Sammy’s owners climbed into the cab of the tow truck and made the one hour drive to the nearest dealership.
Once the tow truck arrived, Sammy’s owners rushed to the van to check on their pet. What they saw was devastating! Sammy’s body was smashed up onto the side of his case and he looked as though he was dead. Sammy’s owners picked up the carrying case but Sammy didn’t make a single move. They yelled out “You killed our fish!!” John, the tow truck driver was horrified. At some time Sammy’s case had fell over, leaving him with only enough water to barely immerse his snout in!
John didn’t know what to say as Sammy’s owners ran around frantically looking for water. It was just a Betta fish, wasn’t it? NO…Sammy wasn’t just a fish. He was the cutest and smartest fish you could ever know, as told by his devoted owners.
Sammy’s owners filled his case with bottled water (Sammy’s favorite) and watched anxiously for any sign of movement. What felt like an eternity to Sammy’s owners, he finely moved. Sammy was alive!!
Needless to say, the rest of Sammy’s journey was pampered and once they arrived at their vacation destination, Sammy enjoyed himself completely.
As their vacation time grew to a close, Sammy’s owners prepared themselves for the drive home. They made a car seat out of a cardboard box for Sammy and his ride back home was much more subdued but it took Sammy a good month to get over his motion sickness. Morale of the story: Fish get car sick!     

Written by Victoria Evangeline Reed 

Dear Victoria’s Read Readers:

Heart & Stroke Big Bike is a unique opportunity for your colleagues to work together and have FUN while raising funds for a great cause; heart and stroke research and education.

What is Heart & Stroke Big Bike?
This bicycle built for 30 is more than just a bike and it’s more than just a ride because when the Heart & Stroke Big Bike rolls through your community, it brings with it the support and hope of thousands through across the country.  On event day you will ride for 15-20 minutes, so people of all fitness levels can participate! Riders are asked to raise a minimum of $50 dollars each in pledges to participate. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to individuals and teams.
As an added bonus, your company/team name will be proudly displayed on the Big Bike as it rides through your community - and the public will be compelled to watch and cheer you on. Plus, if your team raises more than 3,000 dollars, your team will be entered in a draw to win a team dinner!
The North Bay Chapter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation is holding its  annual Heart & Stroke Big Bike event on the 23rd and 24th of June 2008.
After the ride, participants are invited back to Cecil’s Eatery for post-ride festivities. Be part of the 50,000 riders who are passionate about helping the Heart and Stroke Foundation raise funds for critical research. We look forward to seeing you then.

Fully Supplied and Ready to Ride!
We will help you make this event a success by providing you with all the tools needed to get your colleagues involved. As Team Captain, you will receive a kit containing step-by-step guidelines, motivating posters and special flashing team captain sunglasses.
I will be calling you within the next two weeks to arrange a time for us to meet to discuss your potential involvement in Heart & Stroke Big Bike. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 705-476-6196.
Sincerely yours, Marjorie Kelly                                          

~Alexander Graham Bell’s wife and mother were both deaf.
~All clams start out as males; some decide to become females at some point in their lives.
~An average secretary’s left hand does 56% of the typing.
~Female kangaroos enter into heat within a few days after giving birth.
~Female hair grows more slowly than male hair.
~Female Hyenas are the most masculine females in the animal kingdom.

Barb Rainville is not your ordinary woman. At age 61, just 3 years after being widowed, she has decided to embark on a new journey in life.
Last July, she went for a drive with her daughter and found a home in Powassan for sale. The 10 room house was originally built in 1885 by Dr. James Porter, and was also used as Dr. Porter’s office. The home called to her: heading the call, the enthusiastic lady made a decision to purchase the home and turn it into a Woman’s Retreat and a Bed & Breakfast.
The 123 yr. old home needed a lot of love and attention to bring it up to the standard that Mrs. Rainville wanted to provide the atmosphere of comfort and haven for all those that will cross her doorway.
The purchase of the home has piqued the curiosity of many local residents: they can rest assured that the home is in good hands. Originally from Powassan, Mrs. Rainville feels like she has finally come home.
She enjoys taking care of people as is evident in the professional field she had chosen: nursing. Mrs. Rainville has named the home “Sparrow’s Nest” because of the sparrows etched in the glass above the door. Her goal is to offer a variety of weekend retreats for women in the area.
Sparrow’s Nest Grand Opening Weekend is the 24th of May and will feature a Scrapbooking Retreat hosted by Margo Callahan, consultant for Close To My Heart.
Sparrow’s Nest is located at 30 King Street - which is ideal for people who are coming from out of town to visit family or friends in the nursing home.
Anyone attending a retreat or staying as a guest will surely be welcomed into a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Written by Michelle Lashbrook