THURSDAY FUNNY~

This was so funny, I almost peed my pants!  Thanks, Maria! For sharing it with me!

Enjoy!
Kathleen

WHAT ARE YOU READING??

Growing up, American History was always one of my favorite subjects.  I am in no way a book reviewer, but I do love to read.  Recently, I picked up this book by Seth Grahame-Smith and loved every page!  It is a wonderful tale of "what ifs..." spun with historical accuracy!  I highly recommend it!  I found the book trailer on youtube entertaining, as well.  Absolute Genius!

But, don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself:

And don't forget to buy your copy of Seth Grahame-Smith's book!

Enjoy your Wednesday!
Kathleen

BUILDING BREAST CANCER AWARESNESS~#3~ MAMMOGRAMS

Today, I thought I'd share the facts listed on the Breast Cancer Awareness website about mammograms. They do a great job of putting the information together in easy to understand terms.  And since this is a subject near and dear to me, it is very important to get as much information to people everywhere!  So, let's get started!

What is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray picture of the breast. A mammogram along with a breast exam by your doctor or nurse can find breast cancer at an early stage when it can best be treated. A mammogram does not cause cancer. Because the amount of radiation used is very low, the risk of any harm is extremely small.

What happens during a mammogram?

A mammogram is a simple test. When you go for a mammogram, the technician taking the picture will place your breast between two X-ray panels. The panels will push your breast between them to get a clear picture. You may feel a little bit of discomfort but each X-ray takes less than 1 minute.


Who should get one?


Women in their 40s and older should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. A woman's chance of getting breast cancer is greater as she ages.

Why should I have one?

Mammograms can save your life by finding breast cancer early. A mammogram can show cancer that is too small for you or your doctor to feel. When breast cancer is found early, you have more treatment options.


"Early detection will give you more treatment options and certainly a better chance to survive."






--Robin Chin, breast cancer survivor

How will I pay?


If you have Medicare and are aged 40 or older, Medicare pays for most of the cost of a screening mammogram every 12 months. If needed, Medicare will pay for a diagnostic mammogram at any time. There may also be low- and no-cost screening programs where you live.


Not just once, but for a lifetime. Mammograms can save lives.

How do I get a mammogram?


Ask your doctor today about a referral.

If you have Medicare, it pays for most of the cost of your mammogram once every 12 months.


Check with your insurance plan about costs and copayments.


Make an appointment with a mammography center approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your doctor or nurse can help you find one.

When you go for your mammogram, do not wear lotions, powders, perfumes, or deodorant. They can cause shadows on the X-ray picture.

Follow up with your doctor to get the results.



Acknowledgement given to the National Cancer Institute as originator of the information provided herein, with the NCI web site www.cancer.gov as the source.  It is a great site with a lot of helpful information!  THANK YOU!

And, I thought I'd leave you with a little mammogram humor! I couldn't resist! *grin*






Take Care,
Kathleen

DIABETES FACT #26~A LOOK AT FRUIT & VEGGIES!

Doesn't this look great?  I came across this snippet of an article the other day and thought you all might be interested:

Fruit Reduces Diabetes Risk


The following was taken from August - 5 - 2008 News summaries © 2008 Information, Inc:

"A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that eating more fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of diabetes. The study indicates that a higher plasma vitamin C level and, to a lesser degree, fruit and vegetable intake, were linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings were based on a 12-year population cohort study involving more than 21,000 individuals in Norfolk, England, between 40 and 75 years of age. The average age of the participants was 58."



The data indicated that the risk of developing diabetes was 62 percent lower for those in the top fifth of the population sample compared to those in the bottom fifth. A similar but weaker inverse association was discovered with the consumption of fruits and vegetables and the risk of diabetes. "Because fruit and vegetables are the main sources of vitamin C, the findings suggest that eating even a small quantity of fruit and vegetables may be beneficial and that the protection against diabetes increases progressively with the quantity of fruit and vegetables consumed," according to the study's authors.

So, no excuses!  Eat your fruits and vegetables!

Enjoy your Monday, everyone!
Kathleen

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY~9

Today, my six comes from my unpubbed book, Dating 911.  Jett has some explaining to do...

Propelled forward by her empathy, she stood before him and grasped his chin. With a gentle tug, she twisted his head first right, then left taking in the damage. Laceration just above the left eye. Eyelid several shades of purple-- puffy and swollen. With a fingertip, she gently touched the corner of his lip where the tissue was cut in the corner. He winced. “You want to talk about who rearranged your face?”



His expression turned to stone.  “Nothing more than I deserved.”

Okay, that's the tease!  Don't forget to stop by this link for more snippets from more authors participating in Six Sentence Sunday!

http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/


Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Kathleen

YUMMY FRIDAY~YOWZA~

TGIF!!! 


I hope you have the best weekend, EVER!  Don't forget to stop by here on Sunday for my Six Sentence Sunday post!

Kathleen

THURSDAY FUNNY~

These little medical videos created on youtube can be entertaining!  Hope you enjoy this one!  As a side note, it is my sister's birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Fran!

Happy Thursday!
Kathleen

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT WELCOMES DEBUT AUTHOR, DEENA REMIEL!!!

I'm so excited to announce the brand new release from my fellow Arizonian Romance Author, Deena Remiel.  Trinity is her debut book released yesterday and is the first of a new series published by Decadent Publishing.  Congrats to Deena, whom I had the pleasure to meet yesterday at a book signing at Gilbert Pizza! 

 A native of New Jersey, she is happily married with children living in Gilbert, Arizona.  By day, Deena teaches language arts to middle school students, and spends the rest of her time writing. 

After reading so many fantasy authors and how they built their own worlds, Deena wanted to do that, too, but with characters that hadn't been explored yet.  When she began writing, angels were still new, but all were fallen. Deena's angels aren't.   Lucky us! Deena foresees at least six books in this series with a spinoff somewhere along the line!


Deena was kind enough to give us a taste of Trinity!  Read her excerpt below:

A blood-curdling scream shattered the peaceful silence of the wee hours. She roused, instantly alert. Her soul, rocked by the echoing scream, seized up like a blown car engine.



“Ow! Son of a bitch!” Emma swore under her breath. She kicked aside the inconsiderate Malibu Barbie. “Hannah, I’m coming! Mama’s coming!”


Her stomach roiled at the terror and desperation in her daughter’s panic-stricken voice echoing through the hallway.


“I won’t go! I won’t go! No! I’ll never let you take me! I won’t do it! You can’t make me do it! Mama! Help me! Mama!”



Well hell, this is something new. Usually, when Hannah was having one of her nightmares, she shrieked until Emma talked her out of it and put her back to sleep. Now she’s talking in her nightmare, too? Completely at a loss, she raked her hands through her hair as she rushed to her daughter, writhing on the bed.



“Hannah, I’m here. You’re okay. Mama’s here. Wake up, honey. Sweetie? Mama’s here.”



She repeated these phrases like a mantra, trying to keep her voice as calm and soothing as possible. But who was she kidding? This newly added dimension of these nightmares was sending her over the deep end herself. She hoped her little one couldn’t sense it.



“Mama! He’s got me! Save me, Mama!” Hannah pleaded in a frenzy of emotion. It looked as though something was tugging on her arms and she was trying to pull them back. And her eyes were open.



Crap! She’s never had her eyes open before, either. What the hell was going on?


She sat next to her jerking body and waved a hand in front of her face. Hannah looked at and then past her, as though there really was someone else in the room—someone seated right next to her.


Crap, crap, crap! As she turned to look beside her, she saw a hint of a shadow, but then figured it to be her own. Get a hold of yourself.



“Honey, wake up. It’s only a dream. You’re okay. You’re safe.”



Hannah looked back again at her, and foretold in a chilling tone, “I’ll never be safe, Mama. Not anymore.”



©Deena Remiel, 2010.


Great Hook, Deena!!!  I'm sold!  Purchase your copy of Trinity now!  Available at this link:

http://www.decadentpublishing.com/shopping_cart.php?manufacturers_id=45&osCsid=6c1232251c1e45744bd0b3ee7262f414


Learn more about Deena Remiel!  Her website and blog links are listed below:
 

http://www.deenaremiel.com


http://brethrenbeginningswordpress.com


http://plotmamas.com
 
Happy Hump Day!!
Kathleen

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS~#2~HOW TO PERFORM SELF BREAST EXAMS

Listen up!  This could save your life!!  Here's a great video I found on YouTube about BSE's or Breast Self Examinations. It shows the three proper techniques of how to check your breasts for abnormalites and lumps. After the video, there's a link to the Susan G. Komen site for more information.  I listed some highlights to remember from there just in case you don't have time to go there.  This video was created in the UK and the instructor has a really cool, soothing voice.

The following information was taken from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website at the following link:

http://ww5.komen.org/Content.aspx?id=5310

Breast Self-Exam


Breast Self Awareness
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when it’s most treatable.


Susan G. Komen for the Cure® recommends that you:


1. Know your risk


Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened


Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher risk
Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40
3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:


Lump, hard knot or thickening
Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices


Maintain a healthy weight
Add exercise into your routine
Limit alcohol intake




Breast Self-Exam (BSE) Instructional Tool
Breast self-exam (BSE) is a tool that may help you learn what is normal for you. BSE involves looking at and feeling your breasts. Women who practice BSE should also be sure to get mammograms and clinical breast exams at the appropriate age. BSE should not be substituted for these screening tests.


This is a great start on building your awareness about breast cancer and how to protect yourself. I'll see what else I can find for next week's post!

In the meantime, let's lighten up a scary subject with a little humor!  Watch this!

Take Care,
Kathleen

DIABETES MONDAY~FACT 25~ DIABETES AFFECTS EVERYONE

Did you know that diabetes affects everyone? There are 20.8 million Americans who have diabetes (ADA.COM). There is a simple Risk Test you can take to calculate your risk. Here is the link: http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test/text-version.jsp
In the meantime, let's check out some of the famous faces of Diabetes:
anne_rice.jpg"> ANNE RICE

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

HALLE BERRY

GARY HALL

THOMAS EDISON

To learn how you can help raise money for diabetese research, visit http://www.brendanovak.com/ for her online auction in May!

BLOGGING HIATUS IS OVER...THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION CHARACTER INTERVIEW~

Morning to all and Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Life has been chaotic and well...LIFE! Which has interfered with daily blog posts.  Now getting back on track!  Yeah!  I love when that happens.  I posted a cover of my book, The Doctor's Deception, because I came across a recent customer review posted on Amazon.com yesterday.   Such a pleasant surprise!  


The review was done by Naughty Editions Reviews and here is the link:


http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Deception-Kathleen-Grieve/product-reviews/1601542879/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
 
Thank you SO MUCH!  I'm so glad you liked my story.  At this time, there are no plans for a sequel.


I thought it would be fun to have my character from THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION, Dr. Stone Lassiter, interviewed. The interview was conducted by romance author,  jj Keller.  I'll turn the forum over to her.







jj Keller: Thanks, Kathleen for the opportunity to have this little chat with Dr. Lassiter. There have been some things I've been dying to ask him. Oops. Maybe I shouldn't say "dying" when preparing to interview a heart surgeon. LOL. But you get the idea.


Okay. Picture this: I arrived at Dr. Lassiter's home in Deereborne County, Nebraska. The housekeeper led me to the library of his two story brick home and politely asked me to wait. The ceilings are vaulted in the already large and spacious room. My fingers lightly touched a few of the volumes on the loaded book case that lined the entire length of the wall. Sunshine streamed in from the large bay window that took up one side of the room.


Positioned by this window, are two large ornate cherry wood desks, pushed head to head. One is completely immaculate with a only a gilded silver frame of Dr. Lassiter's wife and newborn son. The other desk is cluttered. A quick glance and several titles of medical journals pop into view, a yellow high lighter, several pencils with the ends chewed, and a small box of Godiva Chocolate with several pieces missing.


Dr. Lassiter: "That desk belongs to my wife." He laughed good naturedly. "She claims to have her own filing system."


jj Keller: I faced the doctor and smiled…(he’s hot, I look at him and show my appreciation for his hotness). I should have been prepared for this moment. I had known how handsome he would be. After all, I critiqued every page of Kathleen Grieve's manuscript while she'd worked on The Doctor's Deception.


The truth? No amount of preparation would have made a difference. What had Kathleen written? Six feet of well-muscled M-A-N? She wasn't kidding! His honey blond hair was slightly tousled, curling slightly around the collar of his green surgical scrub top.


Deep brown eyes friendly, he held a hand out. I placed my fingers in his firm grip, trying to still my beating heart. If I pass out, would he revive me? Of course he would! My lips almost puckered in anticipation of a mouth-to-mouth encounter. I caught myself just in time.


"Please call me, jj, Dr. Lassiter. I want to thank you for agreeing to meet with me today. I know with the new transplant center, your time must be very valuable." My voice sounded even and I'd spoken coherently.


Thank Goodness!


Dr. Lassiter: "Call me, Stone," he said, releasing my hand all too soon. "Why don't we sit down. Would you care for something to drink?"


jj Keller: "No thank you, Stone." He directed me to the sitting area to the left of the desks. A large carmel colored leathered couch sat on a beautiful Persian rug, flanked by sleek glass end tables. A large vase of red roses dominated the matching coffee table in a crystal vase. Their fragrant scent helped to ground me.


He sat in a large overstuffed easy chair to my right as I took the space on the couch he indicated. I set my Gucci handbag on my lap and pulled out a small tape recorder. "Do you mind? It will be easier than pen and paper."


Dr. Lassiter: He shook his head. "Not at all."


jj Keller: I turned on the device and set it on the corner of the coffee table that jutted between us. "I promise not to take up too much of your time. I just have a few questions for some of the readers out there. Not the basic, how long have you been a doctor type stuff. Something a little more personal to get to know you better and build more awareness about your heart center. Kathleen assured me it would be okay."


Dr. Lassiter: "I'm not on call tonight, so I'm all yours."


jj Keller: Mine? I gulped. I wish! I cleared my throat and wiped my damp hands on my slacks. "Umm. Let's start with your story. How do you feel about having it available for everyone to read?"


Dr. Lassiter: He raised a brow. "I am completely okay with my story being out there for the public. Kathleen did a great job with getting the details correct. I know I shouldn't have lied, but my reasons were sound." He grinned. "Besides, I never would have gotten to know Faith better had I carried on as I had been. And without Faith in my life, my transplant center never would have been a reality."


jj Keller: "True. But you had something to offer Faith, too. You helped her with her test anxiety. Even with your unconventional methods, she did pass the MCAT. She's a cardiologist now, right?"


Dr. Lassiter: His eyes brightened with mischief. It seemed as if he was remembering that time. "That's right." He rubbed his chin. "She's an excellent doctor."


jj Keller: "What would you like people to know about your work?"


Dr. Lassiter: "Well, I still need to find time to make an appearance on Kathleen's blog. I promised her I'd do a little something on cardiogenic shock. But, there are a couple of things I would like for your readers to know. First, heart disease can be reversed. You may not be able to control the hereditary risk factors like your family history, age, or race. But there are risk factors you can control like not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising..."


jj Keller: As Stone talked, I was glad I'd decided to bring the tape recorder in. While he spoke passionately about a subject obviously dear to his heart (no pun intended, LOL) I listened to that sexy baritone voice. The soothing tone slid over me and my stomach quivered. His wife was a very lucky lady, indeed.


Faith Lassiter: "And don't forget to mention how many lives you've saved."


jj Keller: I glanced from Stone to see a slender woman with long blond hair pulled into a careless twist at the nape of her neck, a baby bundled in her arms. Her deep emerald eyes stared lovingly at her husband. Stone stood as she breezed the rest of the way into the room, energy and vitality emanating from her in waves.


Dr. Lassiter: "Hi, sweetheart." He carefully took the child from her and gave Faith a leisurely kiss. She settled onto the couch next to me and Stone sat back down holding his son.


Faith Lassiter: "He's way too modest, you know. Since the transplant center opened, he's performed 20 successful heart transplants. Quite a record for a new facility. The community here is completely behind him!"


Dr. Lassiter: He smiled. "jj, meet my biggest fan, my wife, Faith. Faith, jj Keller. She's the author of THE WATCHER series you loved so much."


Faith Lassiter: "Oh! It is so nice to meet you. I love Melody's Song. Congratulations. I heard it made the best seller's list."


jj Keller: "Yes. This is an exciting time. I'm so glad you liked it." I glanced at the sleeping child in Stone's arms. Pale blond hair covered the baby's head the same shade as his mother's. I wondered what color eyes he had. Green or Brown? "You're son is beautiful. How are you enjoying fatherhood, Stone?"


Dr. Lassiter: His gaze dropped to the baby cradled in his arms and his expression softened. "Better than anything I would have ever dreamed."


jj Keller: "I know there was quite a discussion over his name. What did you two decide?"


Faith and Stone looked at each other. The love for one another almost tangible as they shared an unspoken communication.


Dr. Lassiter: "His name is Stone Henry Lassiter, II."


Faith Lassiter: "Rocky."


jj Keller: They'd spoken in unison, then they laughed. I glanced from one to the other and chuckled. It seemed the discussion was still ongoing.


To find out the amazing journey of how Stone and Faith found love, read THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION now available in print and download at Amazon.com at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Deception-Kathleen-Grieve/dp/1601542879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300367429&sr=8-1
End of Interview




Hope you enjoyed the interview!  Happy Thursday, everyone!
Kathleen