Cashews...

I love cashews, but I really never knew how they grew or what they grew on. For instance, when you read the back of a container of cashews it says, "Allergy Information: Manufactured on eqipment that processes peanuts and other tree nuts." Which I think that this piece of information is a little redundant, if you ask me...HELLO, you're going to eat a nut!

So, I looked up something completely random, just because I wanted to know more information about, not because I had to or anything like that.

And this is what I learned....

Cashews grow on trees that can only live in warm and humid climate, and not just any tree, they're small evergreens.

The cashew tree is in the same family of poison ivy and poison sumac

Growing from the cashew seed, is what's called a cashew apple. (Which I have never heard of until know.)

The cashew apple's skin is so sensitive, that it makes it unsuitable for shipping. (Which may explain why I've never heard of it!)

And my favorite...

Cashews still in the shell are poisonous, not the cashew itself, but the oils in the shell are, and if you tried to shell it yourself, you'll most likely end up with the poisonous oils on the cashew seed. I don't even want to think about what would happen if you then ate the cashew.


To find out more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew

http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/cashews.html

The Washcloth

I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the week. Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30 am. I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 AM. The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare. As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort.

So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in that area to make sure I was at least presentable. I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment. I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I undressed, hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away.

I was a little surprised when the doctor said, 'My, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven't we?' I didn't respond. After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home. The rest of the day was normal. Some shopping, cleaning, cooking.

After school when my 6 year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, 'Mommy, where's my washcloth?'

I told her to get another one from the cupboard.

She replied, 'No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it.'

Never going back to that doctor. Ever!

This was e-mailed to me and thought everyone should read this and pass it on

Immunization: UPDATE

Jon is doing a lot better today. He is eating well, playing and interacting with Alex, and just being his ornery self.

But yesterday was awful! He did take several naps. When he was up, he didn't want to really play...he'd just sit there on the couch or on my lap and watched TV. He even sat there quietly on my lap while I catched up on last Sunday's episode of Desperate Housewives. And the whole day he had a fever, which I kept him pumped full of Tylenol about every 4 hours.

Today though, no fever, but I'll give him some Tylenol to help with any pain and the cutting of teeth. I know he is cutting teeth because I've changed 3 really nasty diapers today.

Welcome to Parenthood!

Immunization

Seriously do are children really need all of these shots in the 21st century.

I just got back from the shot clinic, because my youngest son, Jon, needed his 12 month immunization shots, which was a total of five. Yeah, Jon is madder than all get out...two shots in his right leg, one in the left, and one in each arm. And it doesn't help that he is cutting teeth right now..the last time I looked it was about three.

So, we're at the clinic and it's our turn, I sit in the chair with Jon on lap and the nurse tells me which ones are going where. "The two that are going in his arm are a live virus and in about 7-14 days you may notice some symptoms, like a rash on his trunk or about 10-15 poxes on his body."

What?!? I thought the whole point of getting these shots was so he didn't get the virus to begin with. (For those of you who don't have kids, when a doctor or nurse refer to a child's trunk, they mean the chest, stomach, and back.) The nurse goes on to say, "If you notice any poxes at all you need to keep your child at home until they are all cleared. Also, it is a 10 day exposure period, so you'll need to notify anyone who has been around your son for the past 10 days."

Now I'm thinking...Are you joking me! But I just told her that I understand, so we could get out of there and get home to start the healing process of recuperating from FIVE shots.

Seriously though, my son and his older brother, Alex, goes to a daycare with about 12-15 kids. Can you imagine if all those kids get chicken pox. Plus, both supervisors are pregnant and the one is due in a couple of weeks. What if her new born is exposed...OMG!...i can't even iamgine that.

So on Monday when the boys go to the daycare I will make sure to tell both supervisors that Jon got his shots, and the possible side affects that it may have on him.

Chocolate...I've met my match

I LOVE chocolate and who doesn't...seriously! About a week ago I bought some Lindt and Starbucks brand at the store. Well I like dark chocolate better than milk chocolate, and I found a Lindt 85% chocolate bar in the candy section.I was so disappointed...it tasted like crap! I spent $2.00 on a bar and now I have to throw it away. So I have learned that about as dark as I can go is 60%, which Ghilrardelli makes a good one.

And another kind of chocolate that I don't like so well is Russel Stovers: Private Reserves. I don't like chocolate with hard, chewy centers...I thought I was going to pull one of my teeth out while trying to chew the piece up...but one that I did like by Russel Stovers was American Classics™ Mississippi Mud Truffle
These were so yummy that I also ate the whole bag in one day while at work.

And then we get to Whitman's: Soho...what you see is what you get there...only six (6) pieces of chocolate for $5.00 and they tasted like crap...one actully tasted like chocolate covered salt taffy....YUCK! And don't let the box fool you into thinking that there might be more in there because there's not. Very disappointed once again.

Oh yeah, I did say that I bought some Starbucks chocolates too. These are the ones that I've tried and I like all three (3):

Starbucks Chocolate: Caffe Mocha Truffles
Starbucks Chocolate: Espresso Truffles
Starbucks Chocolate: Vanilla Bean Truffles