The 'Controversial' Dr. Oz!

I rarely watched Dr. Oz until an event of epic proportions began to unveil itself, recently. A fracas had been developing, this past year, directed at the illustrious doctor, by others of his profession, over topics that seemed to paint this man as a scallywag, a doctor without integrity. TheMomsey was confused. She gets that way, sometimes.

Here was a man, made famous by Oprah, who was simply doing his job, as host of his weekly talk-show on health and medical issues. He was now being vilified for the great job he was doing of informing his predominantly female audience of the many health related issues facing them and their families. He had tread where others had not. ...He was quickly becoming an influential figure and others feared his 'golden touch'.

Dr. Oz is a doctor, cardio-thoracic surgeon, husband, father and now talk-show celebrity, whose genuine concern for others, has brought his form of open-minded health care to the world. Our bodies are no longer taboo subjects because of Dr. Oz. He has made us more aware of the experts we are when it comes to knowing our own bodies and making the right decisions that reflect that knowledge. Weight loss issues are the most often discussed topics with his predominantly female audience. He has separated 'food' into its component parts - {protein, carbohydrates - (sugars and starches) - and fats} - to help simplify our understanding of food's role in our bodies. Nothing is left to chance, however. With large scale-models/diagrams/illustrations, on room-sized screens, gracing the stage and audience participation, Dr. Oz has left nothing to chance while demystifying the body from the inside out, in his quest to enlighten, educate and perhaps entertain us, as well. He has made us all a little bit wiser.

The 'open' forum format of Dr. Oz's show, having now surpassed 1,000 episodes, was a cause for great concern. His power was becoming unwieldy. Dr. Oz was being criticized for shining a bright light on some of the 'earthly' topics of the century: GMO foods and alternative therapies. ...The famous doctor has now been forced to defend himself against a torrential backlash from some of his harshest critics - other doctors - who have questioned his ability and integrity to govern, in other aspects of his professional life. But the real controversy, it seems, rests solely with the two topics at the center of the debate: GMO Foods and alternative therapies. (He had mistakenly showcased weight loss supplements, on several episodes of his show, giving them health prominence, not intended. The great doctor was quick to apologize for his error, in judgment. How many of us apologize for our lapses in thinking? But he would not be silenced!)

Dr. Oz's position on GMO foods and alternative therapies garnered much of the attention, from others, wishing to make him an outcast. From all of the 'reality' shows I have dared to watch, Dr. Oz is a breath of fresh air. He has the facts, the staff and top-notch credentials, coupled with years of experience, to do what must be done: educate and enlighten his audience. He had tread on the sanctity of GMO foods and alternative therapies. Do not touch, he was reminded. He wanted GMO's labeled, nothing more. Others did not, preferring not to induce confusion into the grocery/produce aisle for us - the befuddled consumer - when we went food shopping. How thoughtful of them! If we were not paying close attention previously, we were now. Dr. Oz was not endorsing anything other than his audience's 'right to know'. He was informing us, as we lived our lives, with an innocence no longer possible, since the revelation came to air. The internet and Dr. Oz have helped remove the greatest societal scourge from our lives: ignorance. 

The possible benefits of alternative therapies, some of which have been around for centuries, were being given both attention and credence by the illustrious doctor. ... His audience members wanted to know. ... They were thinking people, too, not to be  easily ignored. Not all of us have a family doctor. ... Dr. Mehmet Oz has become ours! His right to inform his world-wide audience is not done without due diligence, however. His staff of professionals, in different positions of responsibility, oversee the show, seen by millions around the world.

We have a right to know what is in the food we eat. It is that simple. Food keeps us healthy and alive! Let us not forget that. Politicians, from that exalted ethereal place called government, have a duty to perform: to protect us and enact legislation to protect us, as a whole. Government is not a thing but real people, part of a grassroots organization of players, elected (hired) by us to do good things for society. Leveling the playing field while keeping us informed and 'healthy' is the point of government. Dr. Oz wanted GMO labeling - a right for all citizens - across the country. That meant government legislation. ... In the last few years, the food supply now seems to be divided into a two-tiered system: organic versus the other stuff. How and when did that happen? Food budget and transportation availability will, undoubtedly, decide who benefits from food grown one way or the other, it would seem. Good food should be a basic right for all. Decades ago, organic was a word. Now it is a way of life. Trouble was afoot, long before Dr. Oz arrived on the scene. We are now just realizing the daunting affect pesticides, herbicides, insecticides have on our health and longevity. Organics are here to stay. Questionable 'ingredients' in our food = questionable additives in our bodies, corrupting every organ and the blood delivery system carrying these additives to our human 'machines'. I have stopped using certain foods as they interfere with my 'hypo' thyroid and overall health. Information, from all sources, has made me that way!

Access to information is our democratic right. Many countries have shunned GMO's. Dr. Oz wants it labeled, nothing more. It is our right to know and our right to choose. Sounds reasonable to me. Other countries have also embraced alternative therapies, these methodologies that have survived for centuries, long before Dr. Oz arrived, on the scene, to cause 'trouble' on television. ... Years ago, when it was found that a painkiller was killing our dog, I switched to an African tea called, Rooibos, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, to save her. We had nothing to lose. The benefits of this caffeine-free tea were well known and studied. This was not our first introduction to 'alternative therapies'. In two other instances, silver hydrosol had miraculously healed facial wounds, on Mr. Wiggles, undiscovered till they were oozing fluid, sticky and inflamed.  Silver hydrosol had worked its magic. ... (Antibiotics had not been used.) ... Days later, both wounds had disappeared, healed completely without antibiotics. I was shocked.

For many of us, Dr Oz is the man we trust, who offers up everything, for us, to decipher on our own. Watching Dr. Oz is akin to going to class, in the comfort of our living room. Information serves to inform us, not harm us. In this modern high tech-wonder world, all manner of information, is now being presented, to us, as absolute truth, making experts of us all. The truth is out there, of course. But it would seem that Dr. Oz, our 'country' doctor, is simply trying to help us find it a little more easily, making us more aware and knowledgeable, in the process. Our health deserves that and much, much more.                        

The Real Momma's Boy!

Over the years I have heard the phrase, 'Momma's Boy', that mythical statement of doom and gloom that foreshadows every son's relationship with his mom. Then we have 'Daddy's Girl', the bona fide gold standard for all girls, lucky enough to have had a dad or male role model in her life, a protector who watches over her as she grows and develops. As a mother of three boys, I resent the pathological implications of the words, 'Momma's Boy'. ... Enough already!

When we have children a strong bond is forged that lasts forever. How that bond unfolds helps to shape the men or women our sons or daughters eventually become. We can empower or enslave our children. The choice is ours to make. The steps towards a future of women in our lives, begin in childhood. Our parenting style and the choices we make, for them, help point our children in the right direction. Their strength of character rests with us.

The 'boys will be boys' attitude was not tolerated, in our home. The human condition was always in play. Short cuts were not permitted. It would have been so easy to look the other way, but I lived there, too. An inhospitable home environment benefited no one, including any future 'daughters'. That was not the road to success and personal happiness. ... As a mom of boys, I made the conscious decision, early on, to raise our sons into caring, thinking, sensitive men. From the beginning, our boys were expected to finish 'school' while being contributing members of the work-force, early on. That was an expectation. Their love of animals was a recurring theme from the beginning. ... Double standards were not welcome, here. ... Our decades-long pet-ownership habit did most of the work, however, of raising our boys-to-men. Stereotyping women in a men-only household was not welcome, anytime. ... There was a standard in place at all times, after all, mom was a girl, too, I reminded them, in case they had forgotten where I had originated! 

“The son is a son until he takes a wife. A daughter is a daughter all of her life.” so the tale goes. The limerick rhymes but has no meaning or place in my world. How does that build harmony? Already we are dividing the sexes. A relationship between parent and child that manifests love, trust and respect is truly the only one to model. It is a bond that grows then keeps on giving. The sex of a child should have no bearing on whether a healthy relationship exists between parent and child. Keeping adult sons or daughters dependent upon us, is wrong, in every way and clearly shows that we have fallen short of our mandate, in our duty, as parents. In our attempts to keep our children close, do we strip them of their independence and democratic right to choose? The consequences of such a choice can be foolhardy.

When the last of our three boys arrived, (3 preemies within a 4 year span) my mom was disappointed that a daughter had not been born. I would not have a close relationship with our boys, she believed. Her thinking was terribly skewed.  Having only boys or only girls brings with it a special kind of harmony, to the home, as each child possess a greater understanding of his/her same sex sibling, in unique and special ways, at every stage of development. Boy or girl, why does it matter? Birth is a random event, anyway. Let us not be silly. Let us be ever so grateful!

Over the years, I have met many delightful young ladies, in my male-dominated household. “What is she like?”, someone would ask. “What's not to like?”, I would respond. She was not a member of a foreign species. She was a much younger version of me. I would be her temporary 'mom', doting on her, in my house of men. She was my responsibility, my guest of honor. Her parents would he comforted knowing their daughter was part of my 'protected' species and I was her game warden! Our boys knew how to treat these gems. (I wanted daughters-in-law, someday.) That would not happen if modeling behaviour from me and dad was not apparent, in our sons' early canvas of life. Girls or boys possess the ability to rise or fall on their own merits, I would remind our sons. Boys were not better. They were different. That is all! Growing up, our sons were told how special they were -  to us –  but not more important than anyone else, anywhere else. Everyone was important, too. How they treated others was what mattered most. When girls entered our home, I was watching and listening to the tones, words and actions of my male 'characters'. ... A spy could be lurking in their midst. They knew and understood. 

To really understand a momma's boy, have lunch with his mom. It will help elucidate 'his' story, past and present. Do not fear an alliance. A healthy relationship is the goal. For me, it was not just about being a mom. It was also about being a woman, too. I would hope she enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed hers. There was a link to our past: we were both female. ... Is momma dramatic, hateful, unfriendly, indifferent or 'in love' with you, your thoughts, ideas and goals? Is she focused only on 'him'? Is she interrogating you as if a potential witness or having lunch with a friend? Her intentions, made clear, will give you a sense of the man with whom you are holding court.

Controlling our children's lives is time-consuming, hard work and simply another job in an already hectic life. We are in a holding pattern, forever. What is the point? It is also a waste of our own potential, as we wait. Not being the central figure in our son's life should not be a life-changing event. We were never meant to be there, anyway. Children belong to us only temporarily. A real momma's boy is loving, driven, considerate!

It was soon after they started dating that I met and fell 'in love.' Afraid that my son's future happiness might not unfold as I wished it to, I whispered in her ear, "If he does not marry you, I will”. So the story goes. We laughed. ... I am blessed, again! I will wait with baited breathe for a future of untold wealth: one more girl to add to my treasure trove of two, already here. There is no greater gift a real momma's boy can give momma than another girl to love. It is the gift that keeps on giving!

Mr. Wiggles' Return

There walks our playful Mr. Wiggles. He has been through much this past year. A soft lump under his soft golden furry chin, beginning last Fall, disappeared, reappeared, disappeared, then grew again, to epic proportions! Now it is gone, the result of emergency surgery one morning, in March, of this year. This soft egg-shaped lump under his chin had morphed and hardened late one evening, right before our eyes. “Did that really happen?” I asked my husband. "Did it grow while we weren't looking? Was this thing finally going to show us its true intent?"... (Six square inches of 'new growth' had solidified into a massive hard-ball over a four-hour period.)  

Our sweet gentle Mr. Wiggles now had a double chin. "When did that happen?", I queried my husband  "He had only one chin this morning."  “Would it explode?" I seriously wondered. ... At 5:00 a.m. we spirited our little guy to the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital. (The emergency on-call physician examined him and reported that our sweet Mr. Wiggles had an infection, increased heart rate and fever.) ... Later that morning, emergency surgery ended the medical mystery that had plagued our little guy, his family, and many veterinarian specialists, for months. That was definitely a walk on the wild side.

It has been two years since all four pups met. Mall Cop is now 4; 'Sally', 6; 'Ella' and Mr.Wiggles, 2. With an emergency surgical event a recent memory and a skunk attack long past, we are now in awe of these mystical creatures, called dogs, whose past escapades has made TheMomsey a little wiser and more in love. ... Mall Cop and his sister, 'Ella', the mini-schnauzer, meet in doggie-day-care, when dad travels. (Mom is a French Immersion teacher.) Playtime is an established pattern, of the highest order now. Each pair has its own unique style of running and playing before meeting together for  that "what have you been up to" look. I am slowly becoming a dog psychologist. I study them very carefully. They are a majestic species to watch and study.

Winter is gone. Warm weather is such welcome respite from the harshest season of all. 'Ella' and her brother, Mall Cop, run, pounce, dance, then wrestle. He runs like the wind. Ella runs faster. I laugh at the spontaneity, the choreography of their dance. It is their time, now. 

Mr. Wiggles' exuberance keeps him in an adjacent area, as he waits for the call, for admission into the group. He has created his own personalized training session with his sister, Sally. For them, tug-of-war, carrying a large silicone basket ball between them, is an intense morning work-out. ... His former pack leader, our 'adult' son, appears and leads them all into the pen for another running marathon. I watch in wonder. How many dogs are in there, really? Our son runs with abandon, as he did as a child, long long ago, before Mall Cop was born. His youthful approach to all manner of dogs has not changed. He is one of them. Being human, in the doggie world, is a crazy, yet exhilarating place to be. But he forgets he is a married man and father.  So what, he thinks. His wonderful wife understands his special relationship with dogs, of all makes and sizes.

Mr. Wiggles, is close at hand, waiting ever so patiently. He is older and wiser, now, but still wiggling to the absurd, always carrying a gift to the door, whenever someone comes to visit. Whom will he interrogate today? ... 'Ella' and 'Sally' continue where they last left off, in a track-and-field session of their own making. It is a more intense, reliable tool for showcasing their indomitable spirit and their camaraderie, towards each other. Girls just want to have fun. Even the furry ones! Mall Cop and Mr. Wiggles just watch, wondering how it happened that these two thought they could form their own little clique and not include them? But this is a good thing. The girls want to be left alone. Maybe, someday, the boys can be included, too.

With 4 dogs, high energy is always present. Exercise is what keeps them and us energized, healthy, happy and calm. Do endorphins reside in the brain of the dog? Maybe. Mall Cop and Mr. Wiggles do not always agree. Mr. Wiggles likes to play, non-stop; Mall Cop, simply to be left alone. They argue. But the Momsey is the judge, refusing to hear closing arguments. Each is responsible for his own part in the play. Disciplinary action soon follows. Mr. Wiggles needs to know he is not in charge. Neither is Mall Cop, however. 'Big Face', otherwise known as Mr. Wiggles, follows the fun, attempting to separate Mall Cop and Ella in their special dance. He is moving to a beat of his own and seems to be lost in translation. His harness, rather than a collar, helps re-direct him, more easily. The collar is off and a wrap around scarf is on since surgery made us aware how delicate the neck area can be. Life is so much fun for Mr. Wiggles. He looks like a suitcase, easier to catch and hold, too! He carries a gift for that special someone wherever he goes. We understand.

A raw diet is now front and center for Mall Cop and Ella. They love it so! Once upon a time, eating was not fun for Mall Cop. He was trying to tell us something. He was telling us to change. The change is good. All four eat raw fruit and vegetables, daily, too, – just like bears, in the wild. It is an established, everyday habit.. Red Delicious apples, Grannie Smith, Royal Gala and others, watermelon, berries, cucumbers, cantaloupe, too, are a few of the raw choices, given regularly, on the fruit platter, along-side romaine lettuce, as well.  Really? They jostle for position. The excitement is palpable. The 'twins' on the sofa: the bigger twins, right in front of me. Such patience! So polite! The room is quiet as they wait for their turn. One by one, I dispense these bite-size delightful raw morsels. I am so in awe of them. They have much to teach us. The platter is licked clean.

Inside, a new routine has emerged. Mall Cop is now giving facial massages to all. Gentle facial strokes, from this diminutive statesman, are a poignant pause from the hustle and bustle of the day-long marathon of runs, hits and misses. All seem to be meditating now. The chewing carousel has ended. Mall Cop dispenses his gentle form of patience, wisdom and love. They gratefully accept his gift, then fall asleep. I am grateful and  so lucky. ... Love knows no bounds in the house of puppies.

"A Mind of Your Own"

As I gazed at our 5-pound preemie, upon our arrival home from hospital, the thought of the awesome power I possessed in altering the life of this newly formed human being hit me hard. How would I transform this innocent little being into a confident, successful, socially adept adult? What were those magical steps towards adulthood? There weren't any, of course. What I feared most, however, as I looked into the face of innocence was mind control, the power one human had over another 24/7 - without consent!

It was 1979- when our first-born arrived - an era where cults, those groups of individuals whose motives for admission into their special group, remained unclear, yet foreboding, for parents. They were always headline news. Their code of strict adherence to 'company doctrine' made some young adults perfect candidates for this submissive way of life. Utter subservience and control by these charming, yet seeming altruistic strangers was their goal. Would our son and any future children be perfect candidates or victims for this mind-playing game, led by these charismatic leaders? It was hard to tell at the tender age of 2 months – that first day home - what sort of person our son would grow up to be. Wondering how to protect him from this avarice control, of the criminal kind, would become a priority for me. Complete strangers could have an effect on our children and we would have no say in the matter. Neither side would be listening! Neither side would care! We would be totally powerless.

From the beginning, each of our children had decisions to make : what to wear, co-operative behaviour at home and school, food choices, bedtime hours, work ethic etc.. Encouragement of good decisions were constant reminders of the future and the consequences that would follow each of these decisions. ... Full independence, by high school, would help prepare our boys for a life - beyond - living with us! Their self-worth, sense of well being and confidence had to be fully formed by then. It was critical for establishing who they were, before leaving home.

We are our children's protectors, their nurturers, from birth, as they slowly begin to develop and evolve into creatures of formidable potential. Are we courageous enough to begin the evolutionary task of handing over the reins of power in preparation for the unknown awesome journey that lay ahead for them? Are we worried they will not listen to us? (Later, the problem could very well be some unknown 'entity' not envisioned in our wildest imagination that 'replaces' us in their lives.) ... Our children need to acquire and practice, the art of good decision-making, from the beginning.

It had been raining heavily when the absurd, in mind control, entered our lives. As I waited for our sons to depart from school, I noticed one son carrying his rubber boots. As he climbed into the car, I listened as the story unfolded. He had been ridiculed and demeaned for his choice of footwear. His right to wear them brought him face to face with the #1 nemesis of our children: the omnipotent bully, the CEO of mind control. They walk in all levels of society, of either sex, not needing a reason to ply their trade to anyone who falls victim to their model of tyranny. Today, it was our young son's turn at the wheel. And so my lecture began. "Strangers' intrusion into our lives was a fact of life," I replied to him, as his brothers - primary grade students also - listened. "Get used to it," I continued, "but learn to ignore it! I will teach you." Others who impart their personal crude rule of justice are jealous, unhappy or worse, bullied themselves in other environments. They have no self-esteem, sadly, and perhaps are powerless in other areas of their lives. It would seem fair to strip others of their sense of well-being and fair play. Bullies retaliate without thought or reason against those who are easy prey, not prone to quirks of aggressive behaviour. Imposing their will upon others gives bullies their self-worth, the power they so desperately crave. Their need to control adds yet another layer of chaos into their already chaotic lives. They are intrusive and overbearing. Bullies lurk everywhere, in all places. Mom or dad cannot always be there to help, I reminded Alex. “Tomorrow, you will re-gain control. It is your responsibility. It will be a new day." 'Alex' would ask the questions, engage with words, and role-play what he had learned, in the car, the previous day, in the hastily executed lesson, from mom. This bully's intrusion into our lives would not be tolerated. We were minding our own business. She was not! At the end of the next school day, with rain still pouring down, the 'rehearsal' of the previous day, had left its mark. Out of the school came our 'boot wearing' son! ... The words of yesterday's lesson still echoed in his head, in typical 'Momsey' fashion. Mind control was brought to a close. 'His boots were made for walking', once again. 

Tyranny had paid a short visit but was sent on its merry way. ...  As a high school senior, 'Alex' was witness to yet another example of bullying when his junior 'buddy' was seen being 'bothered' by an older boy, in the cafeteria. The objectionable nature of the meeting - during lunch – caught Alex's attention, immediately. He approached his junior buddy knowing how he felt. Let me know if he comes calling again, Alex remarked. The young boy would. Another oppressive moment had come to an end. The freshman student seemed to come alive, in the knowledge that help was close at hand, if ever needed. His confidence restored, he continued to eat his lunch. Mind control was sent away, again.

What our children wear, the music they listen to, their sometimes ridiculous hair cuts and colours, the accessories of attire, will be 'small potatoes' when mind control comes home to roost. Our mandate, as parents, is simple: to ensure our children have a voice, showing them the power they wield and the results of a life well-lived. Failure to execute this 'right to think' policy, early in their lives, will simply open the door for others to occupy our children's mind, once inhabited by their thoughts and opinions. A child with a mind of his own is a beautiful thing, after all.   

The Frenetic Housing Market!

"Register now for new releases", the sign reads. “Coming soon”, says another. ... Great anticipation and warmer weather are fueling the house buying frenzy, inspiring us to act now! 

A new housing development is being built in an area that, for years, had remained dormant for development. Now, with a new highway-404- extension completed and sewers in place, the area is abuzz with newly discovered energy, the result of this unexpected housing boom. Population growth will follow. We had moved out of the area decades ago. Soon after, house prices began their slow ascent. Real estate is now a hot topic. This is the place to be. The buying frenzy, of yore, is now again rearing its ugly face, everywhere we go. Now it is in a newer community that has waited for the highway extension to be completed. ...

Today's techno world has helped perpetuate the myth of the 'buy now or lose out' mentality for the house buying public. . We hear about it. We read about it. We see its visual roadside reminders: "Current phase is sold-out, new release coming", soon! We are made perpetually aware. ... Pent-up demand keeps us on the edge. The thrill of home ownership is an ever recurring theme and dream, in our lives, as we hope to save as much as we can for a little piece of country. ... In this northern community, anything goes, it now seems. New housing starts began at the 'low' end of $300,000, last year. The year before, it was the low $200,000's. Registering now is our only hope in staking our claim in the current hot real estate market. This ever- recurring theme makes fools out of us.The developers and agents begin their media spin. 'Hot' moves us to buy and sell our soul simply to get our foot in the door. The message is clear: we are doomed if we fail to exercise our democratic freedom, ASAP. We are reminded of the urgency of home ownership. Some of us 'buy' into that stale, overused mantra, like we are doomed to squander our lives if we do not act now. Anxiety feeds the rush to buy. We are imprisoned by its words. Then the banks step in and the financial rules of lending bring us to a halt. The interest rate rises, helping to stem the tide of our frenzied buying habit. House sales begin their slow decline. We are reminded to 'chill out'.

If we miss out on a sale, on anything, let it be. There will always be another opportunity, a better, newer product, to consider, certainly a better price than the inflated one now being advertised. Then we have the biggest equalizer of all in real estate - price correction. Prices drop because they must. The market can only exist if there are buyers willing and able to pay exorbitant house prices. (At some point, the bubble will burst. It always has.) ... Paying more than something is worth is akin to giving away hard-earned - (after-tax) - money to a stranger, with absolutely no conditions attached, whatsoever! None of that makes sense. What about our children's future? ...Then we engage in the hedonistic practice of a bidding war, in a game of auctioning off the house to the highest bidder, without conditions, a house inspection or reason! We must learn to walk away.

(What is a house? We are buying bundles of studs, sheets of drywall, flooring, windows, doors, staircases, locked into position with nails and screws. These formed 'boxes' are interconnected, with air encapsulated within these leveled posts, walls and ceilings, all meticulously crafted by teams of professionals.) ... Bidding wars help only one person. It is never the buyer! Try and sell your over-priced house later and see what happens. We must learn self control and let it go! Dream another day.

The newest housing development, further south, began advertising detached and town homes, in the low $500,000 price tag! ... Now, the sign reads $600,000! How did that happen? Had a bidding war occurred without the buyer's knowledge, under the guise of increased costs to the builder? Once upon a time, the house was a place to live, not a lottery win or a quick investment. Families would live together for many years, while saving for the down payment, buy, move into their own place then start the trend all over again with their own children. Housing was never meant to be a short-term investment. If our parents could, the house was paid off as quickly as possible. Money was respected and dining out was a special treat not a weekly routine. Though hourly wages were low or not much more, in those times, housing costs were a manageable part of the family budget. Today, who can keep up with it all?

Now we have cottage owners beginning to feel the pinch of living in their special piece of heaven. They are bemoaning the fact that new assessments on family lakefront properties have finally caught up to their dwellings current appraisal. Property taxes are out of sight, for some! ... Affordable living in cottage country is now losing its luster, becoming a burden for some owners. In some areas, living in a rural setting has slowly caught up with the costs of living in the city. Complaining about the taxes is an out of context event that does not imbue pity. Let us look at the whole picture, not just one aspect of it. The country dwelling, near water, is now worth more than ever imagined. Property taxes can become a real threat to owning a cottage today. But the solution is simple. Sell and realize the dream of a lifetime: the dollar bonanza that will result. For the rest of us, owning a home, one at a time, is all we can ever hope for.

Today's house prices are ridiculous, in many areas, and rising quickly. Saving for a down payment needs to begin when we are young. Spending 100% discretionary income when no such thing exists in the real world is to develop a very bad habit, hard to break later when we finally smarten up. Our future needs to be protected. The unending purchases of DVD's, clothing, dining out will not lead us to financial security. There is no money tree. With part-time jobs a reality for many people and teens, long term, and house prices rising faster than anyone could have ever imagined, saving for the future must start now.

Giving in to the hyped up 'hysteria' of buying a house, ready or not, only fuels the increase of the selling price. We need to do what is right. Sometimes, it is simply to walk away! ... What is wrong with that?  

The Incredible Editor of the MomseyBlog

We met on the eve of a new year. She punctuated that evening with her bubbly personality and engaging smile. She had come to us from another time, foreign to us, a period of despair. It has been five years since that moment when the 18 year old dynamo entered our lives. A singer/songwriter, with an impressive resume, 'Lucy' stole our hearts and quickly became family. The tiny girl with a great heart and mind to match is the editor of the Momsey blog, my boss and our youngest son's girlfriend. 

From the outset, she insisted on calling me Momsey. No other name would fit. I thought it odd, considering, we had just met. Day in day out, it was “What a Momsey” “You're so beautiful” “smart”. (Yes, I am, I thought. But how did she know? We had just met.) She created the moniker for the Momsey blog, beginning in March of 2012. Lucy had thought of many different titles but only one worked. She insisted on the Momsey! I would be writing about stories important to me. Would I last writing about these historic moments of my life? Time would tell. ... Lucy would bring out the best in me.  ... The computer monitor - or the written page - whichever 'it' happened to be, that day, would start my journey. ... I began with trepidation. Would others want to read my 'thoughtful' words? Lucy said yes. The Momsey knew stuff. ... She expected results. There were things that needed saying. The world needed to hear from TheMomsey. (My son formed the other half of this storied couple. As a film director, musician, writer, he designed the face of the Momsey blog and the business cards that attested to this new life.) 

My weekly meetings with Lucy began in March 2012 and evolved, ever so slowly, to lengthy 'cut and paste' emails, by the next year. She was becoming busier and family pets began to take center stage in my life. Attention to elder pet care was now a priority for me. Writing would be done in my 'off' hours. ... Cut and paste became my new thing, the quick and easy solution to our working 'together.' It took months for me to finally learn its simplistic, easy 'program', thanks to the ever-patient, all-knowing editor, Lucy. (I am from another century, I reminded myself. My learning curve was different. Lucy understood but did not care. I would learn because I was smart, she would say.) Cut and paste has become the secret to Momsey's longevity and time well spent. Now, I cut and paste, all over the place, then send these important stories to Lucy and wait for permission to post them on blogger. We are a team. Moving thoughts and ideas about is easy and fun, now, because Lucy showed me how! We brainstorm, in person, when my well runs dry or seems to. Lucy expects the best so I try not to disappoint her. (She knows where I live!)

As a ten year-old, Lucy spent two years learning the computer. Now she teaches me with much patience. She definitely knows it all and tries to share that knowledge with me, a member of the generation gap. Between her youth and my advanced state of decomposition -Ha Ha – we have become a formidable pair, Lucy, being the formidable part of this duo. She is my editor, after all. She is president of her burgeoning company, teaching all manner of in-home music lessons, to children,  and hires teachers to help her company extend its reach to more families. ... She is an exceptional driver, a human GPS.  ... Lucy gives her best, attracts the best and, hopefully, receives the best from everyone around her. She never disappoints. I better not try! She is a great teacher. I listen. It makes me a better person. Lucy refuses to accept defeat, especially from an old lady who 'could' be her grandmother. ... Her encouragement keeps me thinking of issues that are important to us both. A slump in ideas and insights are an ongoing threat. Years ago, the thought of adopting a teen girl, had entered my mind. ... Having no sisters and only sons made my pink, giggly world of cute and adorable things a lonely place, at times. But having pets in my life helped make up for the shortfall. Now I have girls who make me feel special. Lucy is one of them. She thought of me as the Momsey long before we thought of her as a daughter. We take the label seriously. But she already knows. 

Lucy resume is shockingly impressive. She maintained over 90% average in high school while balancing a high wire act of unbelievable proportions with awards in economics, music and citizenship. She participated in many charity fundraising events such as: BigBrothers/Big Sisters and SOS Children's Villages. Lucy was an opening act at one fundraising event. Burton Cummings was there, too! ... She kept busy because to do so otherwise would have destroyed her completely. We knew she cared and wanted to learn it all. Little did we know she had. Music has been her lifeline, her safe place to fall. She has been a music director at summer camps and now has her own band. Lucy plays the guitar, piano and has been president of her company since the tender age of 20. ... She cares deeply for animals and people alike. Though initially allergic to cats, Lucy is now a proud a mom to two 'rescued' sister felines. She lives a simple life with a strong focus on cooking and eating healthy, living with integrity and telling the Momsey to keep on writing or else! She wants to be a lawyer, too, or maybe a politician who really cares. Her list keeps growing. (Please stop! I think I need a drink!)

Once upon a time, Lucy was a member of the Toronto Youth Orchestra. Whew! In spite of a distressing childhood, she has risen above her past, to assume her rightful place, with joy and confidence, in the world and in our lives. She is on a mission. How she came to be the editor of the Momsey Blog, not even the Momsey knows. But boy, is the Momsey ever glad!

Vaccines: A Momsey Perspective.

The vaccine debate looms large in our lives. Once upon a time, vaccines were a very important part of my early life, then our sons'. There was no questioning their viability or the resulting inoculation schedule. Vaccines were given to protect children against the ravages of childhood diseases. No discussion! (Were these vaccines created differently, perhaps better, back then?) They were a predictable, necessary part of the health picture. Today, however, the internet has painted a different picture, showcasing vaccine's darker side, in some cases, and their purported health benefits. Now we ask ourselves, “What do we do?" "How many vaccines are necessary today?" "Where are we headed with this never-ending chemical soup?"

We have entered a period in our history where the word vaccine conjures up fear and apprehension, on a grand scale, unheard of, back 'in my day'. I hesitate. It is problematic. (A routine test to check for rubella antibodies was done before I had children - to protect the fetus. A vaccine would have been given had the results been negative.)  Where parents of previous generations followed the rules of inoculation 'law', without question, today's parents are less likely to do so, without verifiable proof. Who can blame them? We are now being inundated with all manner of vaccines, to be given for all manner of disease - real or imagined. Some of these diseases are risk factors, to some populations, less so, to others, depending upon the climate in which the organisms are likely to originate and thrive. ... Vaccines are reminders that the scourges of disease are with us everywhere we go. It is buyer beware!

We now have the annual flu vaccine, to eliminate this egregious illness that makes itself known, annually. Then, there is the springtime flu vaccine, I have heard, being touted as another 'supplement' we should also consider, earlier in the year. Would that be two shots annually, in perpetuity? Newer flu vaccines are being produced to address the current year of flu strains that have yet to hit us. Yet time and time again, I have heard on the radio, that relic of a bygone era, that the current shot being given is not necessarily 'compatible' with the newest flu strains under scrutiny. Mutations of previous strains can interfere with new flu strains rendering current vaccines totally ineffective in protecting us. Sometimes, last year's flu shot has decreased the efficacy of this year's shot. And on and on! What do we do? How do we keep up? Then we have the Gardasil and Hepatitis A, B vaccines to protect us, potentially, from 'other' formidable diseases that may result from careless behaviours. A pre-pubescent vaccine for 9 year olds? Now what? What has happened to get us here? 

“Get your flu shot here”, the sign reads as I enter the parking lot of our local grocery store. With an on-site pharmacy located inside the store, it is now easier to get the 'flu shot' rather than bothering the doctor for it. Problematic? Maybe. We are being reminded that flu shots are readily available at certain locations, as though being programmed, like those citizens, in the sci-fi thriller, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. Should all things that are good for us or not so good for us be that easily available, at all times? As I listened to the background noise of the commercial, the headline startled me, “Fast-tracking human trials to get vaccines to market,"...... Are we, perhaps, those humans to which the headline refers! Are we slowly becoming unwitting guinea pigs to a host of vaccines whose efficacies are still unproven?

Aluminum has been implicated in the degenerative brain disease known as Alzheimers, one of the worst health scourges on earth. Yet this metal is found in many vaccines, (and in some processed food, too) along with other metals. Does this have long-term neurological health implications?... Is autism one result?  Is healthy eating being dismissed as a way of strengthening our immunity? Is vitamin D a viable option for strengthening our immune system? It is one nutrient that is often overlooked in weight loss, bone strength and now building a strong immune system. Being nourished and out in the sun for 15 minutes per day - where vitamin D is created on our skin - helps fortify the body's defenses in its fight against illness. Proper hygiene helps, too. Are we circumventing the foods that impact our health in favour of vaccines? Are vaccines slowly becoming a substitute for the job our antibodies should be doing? ... Even veterinary medicine is changing. Its yearly rabies shot has now been replaced with a rabies vaccine, given once every three years. ... Yay! Inoculating our pets was always a concern to me but their diseases are real in the dog world they inhabit. I am thrilled the rabies vaccine schedule has been modified for them.

What part does the ingestion of 'questionable' foods - pre-packaged, processed, canned or frozen – contribute to our body's inability to stem the tide of illness and disease? Is our body's defense system - this co-ordinated team of microscopic soldiers called antibodies - doing its assigned job, adequately? Antibodies used to fight off the flu we used to get, once upon a time! A disease that is here, virulent and kills quickly requires a 'nothing to lose mentality', understandably. We take whatever medicine is available- orally, topically or intravenously. But how does fast-tracking human trials for vaccine development help restore and build confidence in a society already suspicious of the motives of government and companies that make these human and animal vaccines? 

Previous generations simply followed the prevailing wisdom, at the time. We were compliant citizens, back then. Now, we are becoming an insufferable group, inquiring until the truth be known. It is “Buyer beware.” The truth is out there!