Snow Pains

I had only 3 days work last week because of Winter Storms. They cancelled Wednesday and Thursday School. And who wants to go out with below zero temperature plus blowing chilly snows? So as expected, I will be staying home all day but as I can see the snow accumulating in our front yard, driveway, parking spot, and most importantly the sidewalk, I decided to get the shovel and try shovelling coz' I don't want to walk in the snow tomorrow when the school resumes. As I can see some neighbors having fun doing it, there's an excitement for me, my first time to do it.

Haven’t tried it before, very confident that I will be enjoying doing it, our pathway from the door to the sidewalk streets is like 15 yards, (see right photos,our house is far from the street, this is long enough compared to the houses that I see here). And this season, the snowfall amount is unusually high compared to my first winter last year. While most can feel the burn of a hard day of shovelling and realize the stress it can put on your back, few realize the severity of this strain, including me. I’m on my halfway when I feel the strain in my back but I want to finish it quickly as possible. I alternately used both my left and right hands but still the excessive stress on my spine is really hurting me. That night, my lower back is really bad, more when I stoop or bend. I realize a combination of factor contribute to the strain put on the lower back by shovelling. The repetition of throwing heavy snow from the shovel, as well as simultaneously twisting and rotating the spine and lifting excessive weight of snow to get the job done faster, all add to strain and discomfort on the lower portion of the spine.

So, I made an adjustments to put my spine back on track, simple stretching to reduce the strain. I think I will never do shovelling again, or its just I did it the wrong way. My husband even told me that its a man’s work ( I disagree, I told him women can do it too). So, in order how to it the right way, here are some tips:

Some shovelling tips:

• If you experience pain or any kind, stop immediately.
  
• Be sure that your shovel has a curved handle, as this enables you to keep your back straighter when shovelling.
  
• Push the snow–do not lift it. Pushing puts far less strain on the spine than lifting.
  Be sure your muscles are warm before you start shovelling. Cold, tight muscles are more likely to strain than warm, relaxed muscles.
  When you grip the shovel, make sure your hands are at least 12 inches apart. By creating distance between your hands, you increase your leverage and reduce strain on your body.
  
• Your shovelling technique is important. If you must lift the snow, lift if properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist.
  
• Never throw snow over your shoulder.
  
• Remember that wet snow can be very heavy. One full shovel load can weigh as much as 25 pounds.
  
• Pace yourself by taking frequent breaksto gently stretch your back, arms, and legs.
  
• Consider buying a snow-blower. When used correctly, a snow blower will put far less strain on your back than snow shovelling. (source: Colorado Spine Institute)

Early Christmas Presents

It’s only the 23th of December, but Santa decided to bring the gifts early for the girls. He knows that they will not be with us on Christmas Day, so we have an Early Christmas Gift opening.

the girls opening their gifts, I can see the excitement in their eyes while doing this.

And finally, they got what they wanted…..a Barbie Cash Register. They love to play Cash Registers, buying and selling merchandise, acting as a workers in the store like McDonalds and Malls.

they also received a High School Musical 2 DVD from Santa. the happiness in their faces were priceless.

Seems Santa knows that they’ve been good all year, their stockings were full, gift cards, a resort tickets, candies, girlie stuffs, hannah montana and high school musical posters. After the gift opening, we went to the mall to shop. Although, its like zero visibility and very foggy, we drove all the way to Madison to drop the girls, and we had Chrismas Eve dinner at Chili’s. For us, its Christmas already.

Martin Luther King Day

I started working last year of January at Dubuque Community School, and on my 2nd week, January 21st, I took the day off because of this Holiday Celebration, so- called Martin Luther King Day. I do not know King, I only know him as a founder of one religious organization, a religious icon. Being in the University (back in the Philippines)with a lot of student activists and protesters, his name is popular, I remember most intellectual group of students that time idolize Martin Luther King.

Who is this man that even had a National Holiday declared in his honor, an honor accorded to no other American, not Lincoln not Washington, not Jefferson (Washington and Lincoln no longer have holidays — they share the generic sounding “President’s Day”).

Free gifts, free samples, paid survery scams

Who doesn’t love freebies? The best things in life is FREE! . But is there really a free nowadays? My husband always called me “gullible”. Because I am a kind of person who easily believes and trust. I was scammed by friends who loan money and never pay me back. I have a heart that easily gives when someone is in need and begging. While we are watching a commercial for a wonder bra that can enhance boobs, I told my husband is it really working? he laughs and told me, why you easily believe on those commercials, most of them are not true. So, I want to prove to him that I am not a gullible person. But my gullibilty(my invented word) again, was tested…

As I’m reading a forum discussion on my friendster groups, they mention about freebies and paid surveys. They gave some sites for samples and freebies, paid surveys. There is one who testified that she already got a check for her paid surveys. She even attached the check that she recieved. Then, I figured it out, what do I have to lose if I try it, no money involve, after all, they’re only asking for information on your thoughts and opinions. After filling out some surveys on my first day, I received a lot of spam emails and gift offers like $250 gift cards for simply answering a short survey. I tried it and after answering the first batch of questions theres more and more and more products they are offering, I realized not only this “survey’ be a waste of time, it will be a waste of money too. Because before you qualify for your free gift(the $250 gift card)you need to complete a few special offers that equates to spending time and money on services or products you don’t want. There’s a question there that goes like this ” Do you want a free cellphone?”, I checked the box for “yes”. Then, the following day, they immediately shipped my “free phone”, my husband which is in our house that time (I’m at work) refused the “free phone” stating the deliveryman that we doesn’t need it. And maybe its just a mistake. It was after a month when I received a bill from a certain mobile phone company. I never used a phone or never accepted the delivery, how the hell I have a bill? I emailed the phone company and told them to terminate my account that I never used. They emailed me back that they already terminated my account and apologized for the incoveniences. But after a month, I received a reminder about my bill. We called the phone company, lady that we talked to said that I am responsible for the said bill. We reported it to the BBB.

Here’s what I learned about paid surveys scams, the major way they make money is by selling the participant’s contact information to marketing firms. Then, the marketing firms use that data to send unsolicited mails, emails (this is why the reason I received a lot of spams in email and via mail too), and phone calls ( we received a lot of calls from marketing agencies) to the survery participants. These unwanted advertisements is a real nuisance.

I won 1 million

I received the following email. At first glance I know it is a fraud . But to tell you the truth theres this thing inside myself that whoaa maybe this is real and I really won. This money will help my family in the Philippines. I am in the denial state, that this is not a hoax, so instead of ignoring this, I use my precious time to verify this first. First, I googled the Lottery Promotion Sponsor, and I’ve got a lot of testimonials from the victims. Here’s the email that I received:

CONGRATULATION!!! YOUR E-MAIL HAS WON Standard Header Full Message
View SA LOTTERY PROMOTION Add Monday, November 26, 2007 12:44:00 PM
To:Cc:

Congratulation”you have won $1,000,000,00.One Million US dollars winning No:24/2/6/37/15/45 with a ticket number: B9665 75604546 199 in the just concluded draw held to promote South African 2010 World Cup,please call your claim Agent MR.SMITH NELSON Email: smithnelson@hotmail.co.uk Tel:+27 72 727 6662 Give your agent this info: your Name,Address,winning number,Telephone,Age, Sex,Nationality,Company,and Occupation.Yours Sincerely,Mrs rebecca zuma(Zonal cordinator

The same email was received by the victims, however, they answered them, and they soon found out that they have to pay some fee in order to get the winning millions. Then comes the second fee, third fee, and fourth fee, etc. etc. No one has ever received the millions, but many have lost lots of money, and some have even stop their studies, ruin their families, and worst got killed. This so called “Advance Fee Fraud” has become an industry in South Africa, Nigeria and the surrounding countries. Another common name is “419 fraud” after Section 419 of the Nigerian Penal code, the section that specifically prohibits this fraud.

This fraud is difficult to stop, but we can have some fun and have the criminals use their time in vain. That is called scambaiting.

Playing with Danger

Its Holiday shopping season again, and as a consumer be cautiously consider the safety of products especially toys that we will buy for the kids. Pencil Cases, Paint Brushes, Metal children’s jewelry. Snow and sand castle kits. Some store owners find themselves fielding a lot of questions about toy safety from the customers. People do ask questions like “Do you have any toys that weren’t Made in China? As I roam around 2 toy stores, I can say “very few”. Check the labels, almost everything is made in China. There are some that are made locally.

Here are the top list of worst toys to buy during Holiday season according to WATCH ( World against Toys Causing Harm); Aqua Dots, one of the most recently recalled toys of 2007, which saw 25 million toys under 70 brands recalled for safety issues, including lead paint and other toxic materials. Aqua Dots, colored beads used in kid’s craft projects were found to contain toxic chemicals that convert to a dangerous “date-rape” drug when ingested.

There have been at least two reports of children swallowing the beads and slipping into a temporary comatose state. Some familiar name on the list: Dora the Explorer lamp, Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat, Jack Spurrow’s Spinning Dagger, Spiderman 3 New Goblin Sword. There are also some lesser known toys, like Sticky Stones, magnetized iron ore stones that could be choking hazards.

Thanksgiving Day...... Americans are pretty lucky

I can’t forget the month I arrived here in the States, its November, the month for Thanksgiving. I was fascinated the way they celebrate it, its like Christmas too, a time for family get-together, lots of food in the table like cranberry jellies, sauce, and the traditional turkey roast with stuffing or dressings, mashed potato and gravy with rolls, pumpkin pie, blueberry pie, fruits and veggies.
Oh my, and a lot more, this day you must forget about calories, just eat and enjoy.

Now, my second Thanksgiving here, I understand more the true meaning of this day. Thanksgiving is one time of year Americans remember to be thankful for the staggering bounty of food they enjoy, imagine some 800 million(just guessing the figure) or more people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The United States is far and away the biggest supplier of food aid to the world.

And speaking of amazing cities, most of it are right here in the States, the biggest communities are world renowned destinations for arts and culture, architecture, cuisine, entertainment, sports and natural attractions. And right now, at this place where I am now(Dubuque), I can described it as a great place to raise a family, clean air and water, green hillsides, low crime rates, friendly people and not much traffic are those few things that must be thankful for.

I want to thank friends and families who came and celebrate the Thanksgiving with us. My stepdaughters, Shelby and Ashley, our good friend Joan and daughter Kari. YOu made our Thanksgiving complete and fun. To Maria Scarlet who greets us, Tonee of Fairfield, Gregg and Lorna, Liezl and Tom from Illinois and Sofie & Arby. Although Sofie and Arby(my filipino buddies) cooked lechon baboy instead of traditional trukey roast. They invited me over but, I did not make it because one day is not enough for us to celebrate it. Instead I asked them to save a lechon baboy for me.

Dubuque, IA.......my home now

Dubuque is an interesting city. It’s Iowa’s oldest city, will celebrate its 175th anniversary next year. And was one of the first settlements west of the Mississippi. However, it’s still very small and isolated. Friends and relatives in the Philippines were not familiar with Dubuque, so I just say 3 hours drive to Chicago (then they will responds, aahh Chicago, ok) Traditionally, the city existed on the back of the river and heavy industry. The workforce is highly unionized but terribly friendly. I’m presently working at Dubuque Community School District and I would say everyone is friendly. At first, I’m expecting a discriminatory treatment because of my color and race, yes, they will stare at me at first, if I go to the Bar, Movies, Shopping Malls, all I get is afriendly stare with nod and smiling faces saying Hi! or Hello, how are you? even they don’t know you, that’s makes me feel one of them.



Here’s a view of National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. If you want to get to know the Mississippi River creatures and Historic Artifacts. We have a very good friends from Chicago who visited us last January, Tom and Liezl Minyo, and Jon thinks this is a good place to visit. Big Aquariums, historical ships, and one thing that fascinated me most is the video about the river people who discovered, lived upon and celebrated the waterways of United States. Louis and Clark plus the charming Sacagawea. (she’s charming in the movie, Night of the Museum). Then we went to Dyersville, the Field of Dreams movie site, which stars Kevin Costner. Also, the movie Take this Job and Shove it was filmed in Dubuque.