WOW - Fall 2011 by Globe Gazette

Hy-Vee Drugstore welcomes our new pharmacist

NATHAN EVERS Nathan has recently become a Doctor of Pharmacy and has joined our staff of knowledgeable, experienced pharmacists. Nathan is new to Hy-Vee Drugstore, but not to Mason City. He grew up here with his father, mother, brother and sister. Hy-Vee Drugstore has been your trusted pharmacy in Mason City for 35 years! We now have 4 pharmacists on hand to better serve you, all having graduated from the highly regarded pharmacy program at the University of Iowa. Our customers continue to show their confidence in our staff and the services we provide by voting us READER’S CHOICE for pharmacy several years in a row. Our Pharmacy Team consists of 4 pharmacists and also 8 registered pharmacy technicians. All our employees are dedicated to providing you the fastest, friendliest service possible. Our convenient hours and drive up lane make picking up your prescriptions a breeze. We also have free delivery in Mason City or we can mail your medications to you. Customer safety is a top priority and our staff is always working to monitor medication interactions. Prescriptions are filed under the customer’s name with the prescription number. Any time a patient fills a new prescriptions, it is always checked for drug interactions. Hy-Vee Drugstore provides a very thorough drug utilization review. Prescriptions can often be ready within minutes. If you have questions about any medications, we have a totally private consultation room available for open discussions and inquiries. You can also save money at Hy-Vee Drugstore! Our Generic Drug program offers Generic Prescriptions at $4 for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply. If you’re interested in trying to find a generic drug that will work for you, one of our pharmacists will guide you and make a recommendation. Hy-Vee Private label health care products have the same medication as the name brand but at a better value. They come with Hy-Vee’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Vaccinations are available for the seasonal flu, pneumonia and shingles. We also carry a wide variety of home health and home medical products including bathroom aids, walkers, rolators, scooters, power and lift chairs. Diabetic patients protect your feet with supportive and stylish diabetic shoes. With Medicare and private insurance you may get your shoes at no cost. Can’t come to us? We can set up an in-home professional fitting. Just call 641-424-4181 to make an appointment.

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875 4th St. SW Mason City, IA

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Mon.-Fri. 8am – 9pm Sat. 9am-6pm; Sun. 10am-6pm Pharmacy – 641-424-5522 Toll Free – 800-208-0364

contents FALL 2011 On the cover Photos by Jeff Heinz

Features In Every Issue About Us EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICE WOW magazine 300 N. Washington Ave. Box 271 Mason City, IA 50402-0271 800-421-0524 www.GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW Publisher/Editor: Howard Query 641-421-0507, howard.query@lee.net Advertising Director: Greg Wilderman 641-421-0545, greg.wilderman@lee.net Advertising Coordinators: Lynette Harrington 641-421-0586 lynette.harrington@lee.net Linda Hawk 641-421-0522 linda.hawk@lee.net Managing Editor: Karen Jacobs 641-421-0529, karen.jacobs@lee.net WOW is published four times a year by the Globe Gazette.

GLOBE

9 2

28 Medical expert answers questions women often are too embarrassed to ask. 33 Columnist Ann-Marie Berg addresses children and laziness.

25 Slim down Thinking of buying a tablet? Here’s what you need to know before you make that purchase.

2 Support system Breast cancer survivors give advice on how to help.

9 At home in Africa Nora Springs woman travels to Rwanda to help women learn to survive.

13 Groceries for free? Extreme couponing may not be in your future, but saving money on your grocery bill can be with a little practice.

GA Z E T T E

17 Oohh la la Get to know your inner sexy self and cuddle up with an erotica novel.

18 Food-label roulette For good health, learn to speak and use “labelese” like a pro.

20 Hot off the grill Skip the oven and put your pizza on the grill this fall.

30 Stay ahead of the cold The weather may still be warm, but it’s time to get your house ready for winter.

34 Appliance cheat sheet We’ve put together a guide to get you successfully through the process of buying an appliance.

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1 GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Being aware of the dangers of the “date rate drug” is vital for any woman.

support system How do you help a woman who reveals she has breast cancer? We talked to four survivors who say that whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a card or a simple phone call, saying something, doing something, is better than nothing 2

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The stats

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer — a statistic that means we all most likely know someone affected by the disease — a friend, relative, co-worker or acquaintance. And searching for what to say or how to help her — either physically or spiritually — can leave anyone tongue-tied. “It’s like life takes on a new normal,” said Shari Showalter, nurse case manager for Mercy Breast Health in Mason City. “You have to go through the process and journey with the patient and it takes time.” Showalter stresses that breast cancer is no longer thought of as a fatal disease. According to the American Cancer Society, while the chance of having invasive breast cancer currently is 1 in 8, her chance of dying from it is about 1 in 35 and that rate is going down. Right now there are more than 2 1/2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. “The experience is more like having a chronic disease than fatal disease,” she said. “We beat cancer every day.” She believes her job at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa is to empower the survivor with resources, power and hope. When possible, Showalter said they want the woman to keep working while going through treatment. She wants women to fit cancer into their lifestyle, not fit their lifestyle around cancer. So what do you say or do when you find out someone you know has breast cancer? We went straight to the source — four survivors — to get honest, straightforward advice. “One person can’t beat cancer, it takes a team and we’re all a team,” Showalter said. “Hopefully the woman will look back in five years and say, ‘It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been because I had all these people around me supporting me.’ ”

• About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. • In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed, along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About 39,840 women were expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though there has been a decrease in death rates since 1990. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advancements, earlier detection through screening and increased awareness. • For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer besides lung cancer. • Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. More than 1 in 4 cancers are breast cancer.

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Tara Mills, 38, Garner On Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, Tara Mills found a lump in her breast while doing a self-exam. Having fibrocystic breasts, the Garner woman didn’t think much of it but saw her doctor the following Tuesday anyway. By 6 p.m. the same day she’d had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. On Wednesday the mother of three — ages 17, 14 and 8 — was told the 2-centimeter lump was cancerous. Two weeks later the lump had grown to 5 centimeters — Mills had a very aggressive form of breast cancer. “The doctor told me we did not have a lot of time to waste” in choosing a course of treatment, so she opted for chemotherapy first before surgery. On Jan. 26, just three weeks after first finding the lump, Mills had her first chemotherapy treatment. A bilateral mastectomy followed on June 1 and she is now undergoing radiation, scheduled to end late August. Being a proud person she found it difficult to accept help but soon realized the help was necessary. Her co-workers — six people at Farm Bureau in Garner — as well as fellow friends in Garner pitched in. Every Wednesday after chemotherapy her coworkers brought her family a meal. Her friends did the same after her surgery. “I had a very strong support system,” Mills said. “It made a world of difference.” As did the staff at the Mercy Cancer Center. “They’ve become like my second family,” Mills said. “I’ve never once doubted anything I’ve been told by them. I know I’m in good hands in Mason City. They’re my rock. It’s not the diagnosis someone wants to hear but as long as you believe in your doctors and let them treat you, you’ll be OK.” Mills said she was blessed to not suffer too many side effects. She was able to keep working and continue living as normally as she could. “For me there was really only one way of dealing with this,” Mills said. “I didn’t let cancer control my life.”

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The stats

Trinda Dight, 43, Charles City

Throughout her treatment for breast cancer, 43-year-old Trinda Dight of Charles City never asked, “Why me.” “I never felt sorry for myself,” she said. “You don’t have to feel ‘why me’ because if you really think about it, ‘why anybody?’ ” Trinda found her lump on the outside of her right breast while in the shower last October. She didn’t think much of it, but because she was due for a yearly physical anyway she made an appointment to see her doctor. Her mammogram was inconclusive. “At the time nobody thought it would amount to much,” Dight said. “Then they biopsied it and it came back positive.” On Dec. 7 she had surgery to remove the stage-one, 1.5-centimeter tumor. And while there was no cancer in her left breast, she opted for a double mastectomy. “I didn’t want to have to go through my life worrying it would come back in the other breast,” she said. For Trinda, the emotional support from her husband, family and friends was most important. “”It’s a mental thing,” Trinda said. There were about 10 days during her chemotherapy treatment that she didn’t feel well. “It’s really hard,” she said as she choked back tears. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.” That same support system helped her find her inner strength. “The times I was down and out, having family and friends telling me ‘We’re going to get through this’ ” was invaluable.

• White women over the age of 40 have a higher rate of breast cancer than African American women over the age of 40. However, African American women under the age of 40 have a higher breast cancer rate than white women under the age of 40. African American women are also more likely to die from the disease. • As of 2010, there were more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. • A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 2030% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer. • About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations (abnormal changes passed through families). • Mutations of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are the most common inherited genetic mutations. Women with this mutation have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, often at a younger age than it typically develops. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. • The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older). Source: American Cancer Society

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Sarah Kress, 61, Mason City Sarah Kress was 43 when cancer was discovered in her left breast. “At that time a fairly large lump was found by the doctor during a breast exam,” the 61-year-old Mason City woman said. She opted for a lumpectomy. In 2007 a mammogram revealed cancer in the right breast. This time Kress opted for a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. “It was a good decision because they found cancer in the other (left) breast” again, she said. Today she considers herself cancer-free. Kress said her strong support system included co-workers at Dr. Hardinger’s office in Mason City. “The support of just knowing if I couldn’t make it to work was very comforting,” she said. “To know I didn’t have to worry about my job situation. I could take care of myself.” She recognizes it’s difficult when you find out someone you know has breast cancer. Just say “ ‘What can I do for you?’ You may get 16 different answers. It depends on what stage they’re in” for their treatment, she said. Offers to help with the daily routine — even a phone call or card — is welcomed. “It’s nice to know that people care,” she said. “You know you’ve got people there.”

Resources • The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org • The National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov • National Breast Cancer Foundation, www.nationalbreastcancer.org • Susan G. Komen for the Cure, www.komen.org • Mercy Cancer Center, 641-428-6300 or 1-800-433-3883, ext. 6300 • Shari Showalter, nurse case manager for Mercy Center for Breast Health, recommends the book ”If Your Mate Has Breast Cancer”

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Theresa Cannon, 45, Rockford On May 10, 2010, Theresa had her yearly mammogram. Two weeks later she received her letter letting her know everything was clear. “Two days later, I felt a lump,” she said. She was soon diagnosed with stage-two lobular carcinoma. “Ten percent of that kind doesn’t show up on mammograms,” she said. Because her breast felt tingly and hard, she knew something was wrong. “I figured some day I’d probably have it because my mom had been diagnosed two years before that,” she said. She just thought she’d be closer to her mom’s age, not in her 40s. Theresa underwent chemotherapy treatments over an eight-week period as well as a double mastectomy and radiation. “I’m not going through this again,” she said, as this type of breast cancer can mirror itself in the healthy breast. This summer she underwent reconstruction procedures. Theresa has two pieces of advice. For members of the support system: talk to the woman going through treatment. “Deep down you do want to talk about it,” she said. “That’s what gets you through.” Theresa said she has received many encouraging words from a vast support system. “That’s been a real life-saver. When you’re down people listen to you when you need to talk.” And for the woman going through treatment: stay positive. “If you go in with a positive attitude, everything will be good. You have to go in with the attitude that you’re going to beat it,” she said.

What NOT to say • The four women were unanimous: Don’t say nothing. All you need to say is “What can I do?” • Don’t ask uneducated questions. “I had somebody ask if I was contagious,” Kress said. • Keep a positive attitude. “Somebody said, ‘I heard you were dying,’ ” Kress said. • Don’t go overboard on the pink symbols. The idea is great and “the gesture is amazing,” Dight said. “When everybody does, you have all of these reminders.”

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

NIACC “We Want You Here!”

Going Back to College is Easy! • Scholarships are available to adults who want or need a fresh start with an education. • If you’re at least 23 years-old and haven’t taken a NIACC credit class in the past three years, you’re eligible for the scholarships.

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For more information, contact the Admission Ofﬁce at 641.422.4245 to sign up, or go to www.niacc.edu

NIACC’s fall semester begins August 29.

by MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY photos MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY, SUBMITTED BY KATHY DOUGLASS

at home in Africa Nora Springs woman finds Rwanda to be one of the most beautiful countries she’s seen as she helps women learn skills to survive.

She’s bribed her way into the Congo, convinced a hunter in the Amazon rain forest to trade her his blow gun for some American T-shirts and tennis shoes and skinny dipped on four continents (with plans to go to Australia in 2012). Kathy Douglass of Nora Springs doesn’t just travel for fun; she travels with a pur-

pose and has fun along the way. More than 10 years ago, Douglass was watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show that focused on Women for Women International and the work they were doing in Rwanda. At that moment Douglass knew she had to get involved. Women to Women International

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Douglass brought a young woman who was a survivor of the genocide to the United States for a month last year.

enrolls women in a year-long program that teaches them the skills they need not only to survive, but to thrive in their country. In Rwanda, women decide who needs the program the most. Only a certain number of women are allowed into the program each year, with a wide variety of ages of women involved. This is the country that Douglass became interested in and she signed up to sponsor a woman to enable her to join the program. Two years ago, Douglass had the opportunity to go to Rwanda and meet some of the women who had gone through the program as well as meeting her new sponsor “sister.” She visited orphanages and collective farms, all of which benefit from Women for Women International. She was shocked to see that kids were sleeping on the coils of the beds in the orphanage. Her group donated 60 mattresses to the orphanage during this visit. It also donated supplies it had brought with them. Rwanda is about one-fifth the size of Iowa and in 1994, 800,000 people were slaughtered. Since the genocide, women have been rebuilding the country. Douglass is fascinated by the country’s history and points out that some things haven’t changed. For instance, she visited a church where row upon

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

song and dance in the U.S., the Rwandans looked at them in disbelief. Other experiences weren't as heartwarming. She observed hundreds of men digging in the ground, burying fibers for telecommunications and decided to take a picture. The men actually started coming after her with their hoes, but her guide stopped them and told Douglass that this was a “teachable moment.” Another potentially scary moment for Douglass occurred when she visited the gorillas in the mist from the famed movie about Dian Fossey. Each member in her group had their own huge villa, and there was no electricity after 11p.m. "I was all alone in this giant stone room — scary!" she said. And that was before she was almost face-to-face with gorillas the next day. Looking at gorillas at such a close proximity was amazing. For safety reasons they had to keep at least 20 yards away from

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the gorillas at all times. One toddler gorilla wanted to show off, doing somersaults and trying to get closer to Douglass and her group. Another one sat pouting off to the side. Douglass's guide said, “That’s the teenager!” Danger potentially lurking around any corner, no electricity or running water in many places and toilets that were no more than a hole in the ground didn’t dampen Douglass’ love of Rwanda. “From my very first breath of African air, I immediately felt at home ... like this WAS home,” she explains. “Some people feel that way about Italy or England. I feel that way about east central and southern Africa. I spent about 14 hours both coming and going in a layover in the Narobi airport all by myself and I just loved wandering through the tiny airport watching all the people. In the little villages, on safari, in the schools and orphanages ... I am just very comfortable!”

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From my very first breath of African air I immediately felt at home ... like this WAS home. Some people feel that way about Italy or England. I feel that way about east central and southern Africa. Never having traveled out of central Africa before, Hashmat was treated to visits in Iowa, Minnesota, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and San Francisco over the course of a month in which she stayed with Douglass and other members of her group who had been to Rwanda. One thing that impressed Hashmat about the U.S. was the number of roads here. Most of the time, there is only one road that goes from town to town in Rwanda. Douglass remembers Hashmat as her guide in Rwanda, pointing out a small lake to her group and asking, "Do you have anything this big in the U.S.?" People in Rwanda just have no idea about where things are, Douglass says. Douglass said that almost everywhere they went in Rwanda, women performed a welcoming song and dance. After they were done, they expected the Americans to reciprocate. When the Americans told them that there was no special welcoming

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row of clothing was lying on the floor. “The bodies were still there,” she said. “They didn’t move anything, so now all that remains are the clothes.” Douglass, who has visited more than 40 countries, has been to Africa three times with her last visit to Rwanda in October 2010. Rwanda is the “land of a thousand hills” and Douglass touts it as the prettiest country she’s ever visited. Even though there is “absolute poverty living next to middle class,” Douglass sees the beauty in the country’s landscape as well as in the eyes of the people. Douglass brought a young woman who was a survivor of the genocide to the United States for a month last year. This young woman, Hashmat, was a young child when she was held for days in the hotel that became the basis of the movie “Hotel Rwanda.”

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groceries for free? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen them on television, extreme couponers paying less than $10 for a $600-plus grocery bill. Extreme couponing may not be in your future, but saving money on your bill can be with a little practice.

by MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

If you have ever watched TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” and wondered how you could possibly save more money on your grocery bill, here are some tips:

couponing tips • Start slow. Don’t try to tackle every store or even go in with a huge stack of coupons right away. • Stick to the sales. Learn to buy only those items each week that are on sale and match up to the coupons you have. • Stick to your list. Impulse buys quickly will undo your savings. • “Shop” from your stockpile. Use what you have on hand or what’s on sale. • Don’t expect too much, too quickly. You will save money but it takes time. Extreme Couponing is purposely filmed to be as extreme as possible. Don’t get frustrated if you aren’t saving 60 percent or more your first month. Remember, any savings are better than none.

Watch the pros The easiest way to begin your couponing journey is to watch an episode of “Extreme Couponing” or go to the website at tlc.com. So much information can be found here that will lead you to advice you never dreamed of. So many websites try to sell their advice, but Ruth Soukup, author of www.livingwellspendingless.com and others, simply wants to help people save money. “Before coupons, I used to spend about $1,200 a month on my family’s groceries, toiletries, household supplies, paper goods, and diapers,” Soukup said. “Now I spend about $200. It has changed our life.” Soukup, who lives in Florida, said that there are no double coupons where she lives, but she still manages to save between 60-90 percent on average for groceries. She also advises, “What most people don’t realize is that the change doesn’t happen overnight. Real-life extreme couponing is a process that takes time. You will start to save right away, but until you build up a stockpile and coupon supply, you won’t experience the dramatic savings seen on the television show, at least not every time you go to the store. Consistency and commitment are key.” Soukup feels so strongly about saving money that she wrote “The Beginner’s Guide to Coupons,” which is available on her website or in a free e-book.

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An eight-part guide, Soukup starts at the beginning and brings readers through a very understandable and easy-to-imitate process. In Part 1 of her guide she advises buying only what’s on sale and then figuring out what to cook from there. She also provides excellent tips on establishing and organizing your coupon sources. “You don’t have to spend endless hours clipping coupons or buy 20 carts full of stuff or turn your house into a Walmart store to save your family a ton of money,” Soukup advises. Another extreme couponer, Keri from CouponKeri.com, advises you to read and understand all of your stores’ coupon policies. This will help you avoid problems at the check-out counter. She also said it’s important to learn the coupon lingo. Examples include B1G1 (Buy one, get one free) and DCRT (dated cash register tape). “Start a price book so you will know what the lowest possible price is for what you purchase frequently,” she said. “That way every few weeks when it hits the lowest possible price, you will know to stock up at that price.” Ryan Evers, manager of perishables at Hy-Vee East in Mason City, said that coupons “are on the upward swing” and are gaining popularity again. He has seen the use of coupons fluctuate, depending on the economy. Evers also thinks that since more people are watching the Food Network, it has become more popular with people to cook at home. People are using more than just print coupons, too, Evers said. He regularly sees Internet and cell phone coupons along with the more traditional coupons that are clipped from a newspaper or flyer. What’s the best way to save on groceries at Hy-Vee? Evers suggests watching the monthly mailer, and of course keeping track of weekly sales in the newspaper GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

flyer. You can also go to Hy-Vee.com to find its weekly ads. Many stores, including Hy-Vee, also have a free mobile alert that allows you to receive texts with the weekly hot deal items and/or special promotions. Kevin Petznick, store manager of Fallgatter’s Market in Northwood, noticed that there has been more interest in coupons just in the last month. He sees an increased number of questions about coupons on the store’s website, too. Basically, if Fallgatter’s carries the product, it will accept coupons for it. Like Evers, Petznick has also seen a mixture of print coupons and Internet coupons. People seem to always be looking for extra coupons, Petznick said. The best way to save on groceries at Fallgatter’s is to buy the special advertised items, according to Petznick. It also will benefit you to shop on Thursdays through Saturdays if

you are a coupon user, because they will double coupons up to 60 cents on these days. (An exception is with tobacco and alcohol products.) So how does “extreme couponing” work in our neck of the woods? Kelly Kottke Schaufenbuel from Fredericksburg said that “Extreme Couponing” sparked an interest in her daughter and her, so they decided to try it out for themselves. They mainly acquired their coupons from the Sunday paper but she also went to some coupon websites, CouponDiva in particular. She calls herself a coupon rookie but thinks that her new couponing hobby “makes shopping more fun — like a scavenger hunt!” Is she hooked on couponing yet? “Really, the key for me besides the savings is the time spent and fun I’ve had with my daughter,” she said.

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Good Shepherd Telephone Reassurance A life-line for live-alones Good Shepherd, Inc. in Mason City provides this free service to people who are 60 years of age or older, who live in Cerro Gordo and surrounding counties. The program provides the senior with peace of mind that someone will check on them once a day by a phone call. If the senior doesn’t call or answer, they will be checked on. If you are interested or know a senior citizen who would beneﬁt from this program, call 641-424-1740 for more information.

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In addition to the coupons and store ads in your local newspaper, there are websites galore if you Google “couponing” but here are a few you need to check out: Recipe.com Go to “store specials” and check off the grocery stores in your area. This will give you a weekly update of featured promotions, complete with deadlines. CouponSherpa.com Click “Grocery coupons” to see what is on sale that day. Sometimes you may have to enroll or text a number to get coupons, but you can also specify the category of what you are looking for and print out the coupons immediately. CouponNetwork.com Sometimes you simply want to find a coupon and print it out without having to go through any other hassle. This is the site where you can find lots of printable coupons by category. Couponkeri.com This site offers great online resources where you can print coupons. CouponDivas.com Weekly match-ups of stores along with their specials are offered on this site. Livingwellspendingless.com This is a step-by-step website that shares fabulous tips on saving money with coupons. Youtube.com/user/SoukupFamily33950 Once you view one of Soukup’s instructional videos, you’ll be hooked. Look for her series and then watch and learn.

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what are you looking for? In addition to degrees of sexiness the type of sex is something to consider. National author Selena Kitt provided a list of the different types of genre of erotica: BDSM — Bondage, submission, domination. Erotic Horror — Sometimes hot, always creepy, these are the tales that give you shivers in more ways than one. Gay Male — Hot, sexy man-lovin. Historical — Historical erotica fiction. Humor — These are works that just make you laugh out loud. Multicultural/Interracial — Mixing it up is hot. Lesbian — Girls loving girls. Menage — Three or more. Mystery/Suspense — A sex-filled whodunit romp. Paranormal — All things woo-woo — vampires, shape-shifters, werewolves, ghosties! Romance — It makes your heart melt, go pitter-pat, and it might or might not end happily. Rubenesque — Big girls and guys and the folks who love them! Sci-Fi/Fantasy — Alternate worlds, strange universes, futuristic scenarios, sexy aliens, fairy tales and mythology are in this catch-all category!

oohh la la ...

by RHONDA REGAN photo JAKE RAJEWSKY

Get to know your inner sexy self and cuddle up with an erotica novel

Are you a romance lover looking for something a little more racy than your average happily-ever-after? Want an in-depth look at what’s going on between the sheets? Then cozy up with erotica, a romance subgenre that includes steamy sex scenes and sensual language. According to the Romance Writers of America website (www.rwa.org) under the “Other” category, erotica romance accounts for 2.21 percent of total romance sales in 2009. Erotica romances have always been the distant unrelated cousin of traditional romance literature, virtually ignored by the big-house publishers until recently as its many critics liken it to soft porn. Yet national erotica author Selena Kitt puts erotica in a new light. She explains that the full aspect of human sexuality shouldn’t be foreign to us. “As horror books scare, thrillers thrill and educational books inform, erotica should titillate,” she said. Erotica defined in the simplest terms is fiction with sex or sexual themes set within a romantic story. And there are varying degrees of sexual explicitness and romance within the genre. “I was once told that there should be one sex scene for every 10,000 words. So a 50,000-word novel should

have five sex scenes,” Kitt said. A listing of publishing houses on www.theeroticreader.com provides details about each line of books published including sexiness and romance themes. If you’re looking for mild sex steaminess then the Harlequin American Romance series might satisfy your appetite as it features tamer sex scenes with romantic tones. But if you’re looking for down and dirty, nitty gritty sex scenes that leave nothing to the imagination then Berkley Sensation, Kensington Brava or Ellora’s Cave Romantica will do the trick. Kitt has been writing erotica since 2006 when she entered a contest on a website. Kitt placed second and has been writing ever since. “Once I’d let my muse out, she just didn’t want to go back into the closet,” she said. Not all erotica is available in print format; a large quantity is available for free online. Kitt self-publishes her stories in print as well as electronic media via her website www.excessica.com. Some other great websites devoted to erotica: www.literoctica.com; www.theeroticreader.com; and www.selenakitt.com.

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food-label roulette For good health, learn to speak and use “labelese’ like a pro

Walking the aisles of a grocery store can be dizzying. Food labels shout out about being fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-carb, low-sodium, just to name the more popular phrases. What do these phrases mean — and do they make a difference to your health? First, food companies are trying to win you over. Products may have been fat-free all along, for example, but want to fool you into thinking they’ve changed and made their products healthier. As a dietitian, I comment on this very scenario all the time. As my husband and I walk through the grocery store, he starts to cringe when I sputter, “But Twizzlers have always been fat-free! They didn’t change anything!” or “Crackers have never had cholesterol! They’re not animal-based products! Seriously?” Dear hubby has learned to keep walking. The point: Always check the back of the package and scan the food label.

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“Low” vs.“Fat-free” Fat-free foods contain less than 0.5 grams total fat per serving. Cholesterol-free foods contain less than 5 mg cholesterol per serving. “Lowcarb” foods don’t have a legal definition. Low-sodium foods contain less than 35 mg sodium per serving.

Size matters Always start at the top of the label. Check serving size and how many servings are in a container. The information on the label is based on that specific serving size. Ice cream, chips/crackers, cookies and cereal can be tricky. If a food contains enough calories for a meal in one serving, leave it. If you need 1,800 calories in a day (average for the active adult woman), more than 500 calories in a serving is a bit hefty.

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Skip the trans fat “Total” fat includes “bad” fat and “good” fat. Keep the saturated fat to less than 2 grams per serving, and trans fat zero. If you see “partially hydrogenated” oils, there’s a small amount of trans fat.

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This mineral is getting a lot of attention lately and rightly so. We’re nearly pickling ourselves with the amount we ingest in a day. A tablespoon of soy sauce contains half a day’s worth of sodium. Keep the sodium at 250 mg or less per serving.

Find the fiber Fiber is listed underneath “total carbohydrate.” Americans are short on fiber as we need 25-35 grams per day and the average intake is 10 grams. Foods with 3 grams of fiber or more per serving make the cut. “Total carbohydrate” includes everything that is a carb in the food, whether fiber, starch, sugar (added or natural) and sweeteners. Limit added sugars to less than 5 grams per serving (natural sugars, such as those found in milk and fruit, are better). While not every food will meet all of these criteria, you can use the “strike method.” Three strikes and it’s out. If a food is high in sodium, high in saturated fat and low in fiber, there’s three strikes.

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Skip the oven next time you have a craving for pizza and instead fire up the grill. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll experience a whole new set of smoky flavors by MENDEE MORGAN photographed by SPENCER NEITZKE

hot off the grill 20

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hot off the grill 20

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

The Secret to Grilling Pizza • Because the dough firms up quickly, puffing and crisping nicely in just a few minutes per side, it will not sag through the grates. However, it is important to clean and oil both the grill grate (before lighting the fire) as well as the dough. Also, you’ll want to allow for plenty of time for the grill to preheat. • Purchased dough may also be used for grilled pizza. If you decide to go this route, simply roll and shape the dough, oil and place on the grill. • Individual or just slightly larger than individual sizes work best.

While the good ol’ weekday delivery pizza oozing with sauce or thick and doughy is enjoyable, pizza on the grill, with the crispy bite of flatbread, offers a little change up. It goes great with cocktails or wine and is fun to cook and assemble with guests — especially if your guests like to get involved and take part in the cooking. Anyone can put toppings on a pizza so the intimidation factor is low. Further keeping things simple, these pizzas can be made using many store-bought ingredients for the toppings, eliminating a lot of the work while still delivering an impressive dish. The dough should be started about three hours before you are ready to cook the pizza.

Homemade Pizza Crust Makes enough for four individual pizzas. The recipe can easily be doubled. 1 cup warm water 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 package active dry yeast (2¼ tsp.) 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup cake flour 1 tsp. kosher salt 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (optional) Mix water, yeast and sugar in bowl to proof yeast. Proofing yeast is the process that mixes water with yeast and sugar, thereby allowing the yeast to foam and “prove” it is viable. If bubbles do not form, start over with a new packet of yeast and make certain the water is not above 115 degrees. Proofing takes about 5 minutes. Add the dry ingredients to the yeast mixture. Once they are mixed in slowly knead the oil into the dough mixture, followed by the optional balsamic vinegar. The easiest way to knead is with a mixer fitted with a dough hook. You can also knead by hand. With either method, work the dough for at least 10 minutes. Once the dough ball is formed and has been kneaded for 10 minutes the surface of the dough should be smooth and no longer sticky. Set dough aside in a clean, oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Allow to rise for at least 90 minutes or until doubled in size. Once the dough has fully risen, punch it down and shape into four equal portions by rolling into balls. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise for one more hour. While the dough is rising the ingredients can be assembled. Dough cooked on the grill has such a great flavor that ready-made ingredients can be used and still produce a good quality pizza. • Once the dough has rested it can be rolled out with a rolling pin and shaped into a traditional circle or a flatbread style rectangle. The dough should be oiled on the side that will go face down on the grill.

Four Cheese Pizza Ready-made pizza sauce Mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh mozzarella and fontina cheese

Peach Pizza Chutney Brie, cut into thin slices Pear slices (can be grilled lightly before cooking pizza) Caramelized onions (see recipe)

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The Process Pizza on the grill can be cooked at either low heat (300 degrees) or high heat (400 plus degrees). At high heat a minute or two per side is all that is needed. One side of the dough is cooked, then removed from the grill. Toppings are placed on the cooked side then the pizza is placed with the uncooked side face down on the grill. The uncooked side will require between one and two minutes to cook, depending on the heat of the grill. It’s a good idea to close the lid so that the toppings will be warmed.

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BBQ Pork Pizza In place of pizza sauce use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce Shredded pork from the grocery store or from your favorite barbecue place Mozzarella, cheddar or provolone cheese — your choice Caramelized onions (see recipe) Cilantro for garnish

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Caramelized Onions This recipe will produce a pizza topping loaded with sweet and savory flavor. Any leftovers can be used on a roast beef sandwich or tossed in salads. 2½ pounds of onions (about 3-5 large onions) 3 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar Thinly slice onions. In a large skillet melt butter in pan and sauté onions until tender, at least 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and add balsamic vinegar. Cook for another 20 minutes. Onions will be browned and soft. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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PEACH AND MINT ICED TEA Prep Time: 10 minutes plus chilling time Total Time: 40 minutes Serves 4 All you need: 6 cups water 1 Âź cups (lightly packed) fresh mint leaves (from 3 bunches), divided 3 ripe peaches, pitted, divided 4 cups ice cubes, crushed All you do: 1. Pour 6 cups of water into a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of mint leaves. 2. Cover and steep for 30 minutes to allow mint to infuse water. 3. Strain mint tea into a pitcher, discarding leaves and refrigerate until cold. 4. Meanwhile, chop 2 peaches coarsely and place them in a blender. Puree until smooth, adding a couple tablespoons of mint tea to help create the puree. Strain peach puree through a fine-mesh sieve and chill puree. You should have about 1 cup of puree. It will have a peach color when first blended and will turn into a brownish tea color once chilled. 5. Thinly slice remaining peach. In 4 tall glasses, layer crushed ice, thin slices of peach and remaining 1/4 cup mint leaves, filling glasses about halfway. 6. Divide chilled mint tea among 4 glasses. Then stir in peach puree and serve immediately. MS-42786

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by MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY photographed by JAKE RAJEWSKY

slim down Thinking of buying a tablet? Here’s what you need to know before you make that purchase

Go to any “techie” magazine, book or website and you’re sure to run into a myriad of reasons why you, too, NEED to buy a tablet. The choices are out there with the iPad, iPad2, Xoom, Galaxy Tab, Playbook and TouchPad, to name some of the most popular tablets. Before you begin comparison shopping, let’s start at the beginning.

Why would you need a tablet? Armando Rodriguez of PC World offers five reasons why a tablet is a useful tool. First, they are more portable than other computers. Lightweight and relatively easy to hold, tablets are easy to reach for and faster to “boot up” than your desktop or laptop computer. If you own a smartphone, “you do have easy access and instant-on, but it’s nice to be able to view an entire Web page as opposed to the mobile site or an oddly rendered version on a smartphone’s much smaller screen,” he said. Productivity You may not be writing a report or the next Great American Novel on your tablet, but you may want to use it as a second screen at your workplace or take it to meetings with GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

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you to jot down notes or pull up important documents. Entertainment All work and no play may make you a dull person. Sure, you can watch a movie on your smartphone, but the tablet offers a much larger screen for your enjoyment. Since tablets have large touchbased controls, gaming has advanced, and who hasn’t been at least a bit addicted to Angry Birds? Adaptability Besides downloading games, you have the capability of purchasing (many times for free) additional apps to “give your device a whole new level of functionality,” according to Rodriguez. Stay on top of the news, the weather or the latest People magazine. If you’re a fan of social networking, take it to new heights with an app for Facebook or Twitter on your tab. Battery life A tablet will far exceed the battery life of a smartphone or laptop. Koury Toomey, former manager for Verizon Wireless in Mason City and currently Verizon float manager supporting southern Minnesota, believes you can save money by spending it on a tab. “People want to eliminate devices these days. Tabs have a huge convenience factor. A tab can be your video recorder, your digital camera, an MP3 player, a Kindle (or other e-

reader), a netbook/laptop, and a GPS!” Toomey describes. “Add up the money you have saved on all of those devices just by buying a tablet. The savings are huge.” With the plethora of apps out there to simplify our lives, help us save money and increase our productivity, all we have to do is use the tools we have on our tabs, Toomey said. He recommends Gas Buddy, which will give you the best gas price in town; GroupOn, which offers coupons for food, oil changes, etc. and will search for the best deals in your area. The Globe Gazette also has a “Deal of the Day,” a coupon also offered online that often offers services at half price. An iPad fan, Toomey said that his choice is “all about the LCD and the screen size.” He also loves the built-in anti-glare screen. His next choice would be the Galaxy Tab, which offers a smaller size, convenience, good price point, all the power that other tabs have plus a walking hot spot, which allows you to share internet access with five other people. “The most important thing to do is to come into the store and play with it! Put one in your hand and see how it works!” Toomey said. It’s one thing to read about tabs, but everyone has their own preference, and actually playing around with one will help you make your decision.

Q & As about Tablets Should I choose a tablet, laptop or netbook? According to Consumer Reports, “The iPad remains the tablet to beat! Close competitors are the Motorola XOOM and the Samsung Galaxy Tab.” Which tablet is best for you? Melissa J. Perenson of PC World test drove several tabs and found a lot to like in the tablet PCs and wishes she could combine their appealing elements together into one awesome operating system (OS). Overall, she believes Apple’s iOS is the top, having the “best-formed environment for productivity and entertainment.” What is an “app” and why would I want to use one? An “app” is an abbreviated version of an “application,” a software program that you use online or on mobile devices. Apps can increase your productivity, help you figure out where you are, allow you to download cool ringtones, movies or music, and so many other things. Which tablet offers the most apps? Perensen said the iPad still wins, having the most apps and the most that are optimized for the iPad. “No matter what you want to do on your iPad, you’ll likely find something that does it in the App Store,” she said.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

One woman’s love affair with her iPad One woman who carries her iPad everywhere is Suzan Larson of Mason City. Here’s what she has to say about her favorite piece of technology. Why should women own a tablet? In my case, I wanted a better device to read from. My iPad tablet is brighter and easier to read than any of the “dedicated readers” I looked at. After I bought mine, though, a whole new world opened up. I found myself checking my email much more often, browsing the Internet became so much faster and easier, and I even enjoy an occasional game app or two. Now any reading I do is minimal to all of the other uses I found for it. In the busy “mom world,” the time I save alone by not being tied to a desktop or even laptop is worth every penny I spent on my iPad. How do you use your iPad? I use my iPad for many reasons — reading, Internet, email, pictures, tunes; I keep notes on it or use it as a presentation tool in meetings. I’d like to utilize the calendar on it, but haven’t trained myself for that yet. And yes, I even play games on it! What are some of your favorite apps? One of the first apps I downloaded was the Kindle app. I like going to Amazon.com for book shopping. I have a news app, weather app, map app — all the usual utilitarian apps. My favorite game apps would be Suduko and solitaire. I’m proud to say I haven’t paid for an app yet! There is a great selection of freebies that suit me just fine. I also have a lot of my favorite website links downloaded to make browsing the internet easier. I recently purchased a printer compatible with my tablet so printing is a snap when I need to.

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what’s up, down there?

Medical expert answers questions women often are too embarrassed to ask

Dr. Charles A. Debrah, a practitioner of obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, answers some commonly asked questions from patients.

I am nearing the end of my pregnancy and more than anything else I am scared to experience the depression that can set in after giving birth. What are the warning signs? Can I do anything to prepare myself?

by CAITLIN LEITZEN photo JAKE RAJEWSKY

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Debrah: In the postpartum period, depression is characterized as intense sadness, anxiety or despair. These interfere with the mother’s ability to function with risk of harm to mother or infant. Anxiety is prominent, including worries or obsessions about the infant’s health and well-being. The mother may have ambivalent or negative feelings toward the infant. The mom may also have intrusive and unpleasant fears or thoughts about harming the infant. Symptoms of major depression may include depressed mood, tearfulness, or lack of pleasure, insomnia or lack of sleep, fatigue,

appetite disturbance, suicidal thoughts and recurrent thoughts of death. You need to address this with your providers as untreated postpartum affective illness places both the mother and infant at risk and is associated with significant long-term effects on child development and behavior. Therefore, appropriate screening, prompt recognition and treatment of depression are essential for both maternal and infant well-being and can improve outcomes. Nonpharmacologic treatment strategies are useful for women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Individual or group psychotherapy are effective. Psychoeducational or support groups may also be helpful. Women with a history of recurrent depression or a history of postpartum depression who are considered to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms or when a woman’s condition does not respond to nonpharmacologic treatment may benefit from prophylactic treatment with an antidepressant medication. If antidepressants are not used during pregnancy, they may be initiated shortly before or immediately after delivery to reduce the risk of recurrent illness.

Because neonatal circumcision poses both potential benefits and risks and because the procedure is not necessary for a child’s well-being, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Task Force on Circumcision affirms that “existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision.” Groups that oppose neonatal circumcision contend that the foreskin has specialized nerve endings that enhance sexual pleasure and important functions, including natural protection of the glans penis. However, no solid scientific evidence supports this assumption. Recent reports in the medical literature support a protective effect of circumcision (at various levels) against urinary tract infections (UTIs), some STDs (including HIV infection), cervical cancer and penile cancer. Although many families choose to have their male infants circumcised for cultural, religious or hygienic reasons, only a few accepted medical indications are recognized. From your point of view nothing needs to be done.

My new boyfriend recently revealed to me he is uncircumcised. What does this mean? Do I have to do anything different?

I recently gave birth and am having trouble with bladder control. I am in my late 20s and REFUSE to wear Depends. HELP!

Debrah: Circumcision of males involves removing the fold of skin that normally covers the glans penis (head of the penis). Many cultures have historically used circumcision for hygienic reasons, for instance, as a rite of passage to manhood, as a mark of cultural identity (similar to a tattoo) or as a ceremonial offering to the gods. Late in the 19th century, this ancient ritual evolved into routine medical practice influenced by reports that associated it with miraculous cures for hernias, paralysis, epilepsy, insanity, masturbation, headache, strabismus, rectal prolapse, hydrocephalus, clubfoot, asthma, enuresis and gout. In the United States, the frequency of circumcision varies depending on geographic location, religious affiliation and socioeconomic classification.

Debrah: Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined by the International Continence Society Standardization Committee as “a condition in which involuntary loss of urine is a social or hygienic problem and is objectively demonstrable.” Incontinence following delivery is fairly common. Fortunately, the majority of the time it resolves over time without any intervention.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

However, if it is as mentioned above becomes socially unacceptable then treatment is recommended which include pelvic muscle rehabilitation, behavioral therapies, pharmacologic therapies, anti-incontinent devices, absorbent products (which you hate) and surgical therapies. Greater success rates are achieved when different treatment modalities such as behavior modification and pharmacological therapy are combined. For a start the pelvic muscle rehabilitation will be the management of choice for your condition. This includes Kegel exercises, biofeedback, vaginal weight training and pelvic floor electrical stimulation. It increases the bladder tubes’ (urethral) resistance by strengthening the pelvic muscles. Behavioral therapies may also be tried. This include bladder retraining, timed voiding, prompted voiding, decreasing fluid intake and decreasing caffeinated beverages. Pharmacologic therapy may be considered in certain circumstances but you may want to discuss this with your provider. Pharmacologic side effects contribute to noncompliance.

My pre-teen son is showing signs of interest in … let’s say … “self love.” I am a single mother and mortified to discuss this with him. What do I do? Debrah: Self-masturbation is a form of autoeroticism. No causal relationship is known between masturbation and any form of mental or physical disorder. Jowever, compulsive masturbation is regarded as one of the symptoms of sexual addiction and needs to be evaluated by a psychologist.

stay ahead of the cold You may still be swatting mosquitoes, but it is time to think winter when it comes to getting your home ready for the cold months by KAREN JACOBS

Kris Kramer, manager of Kramer Ace Hardware, offers these tips on winter preparation for both your home and lawn:

Home

* Painting “Complete any outdoor painting project before the temperature gets below 50,” Kramer said. Once the temperature is consistently below 50, the paint won’t be able to cure properly and will crack. * Weather stripping Apply any weather stripping around doors and windows. You can use spray foam or window insulation kits. * Furnace “The recommendation is having a furnace professional come out every one to two years to check over the furnace,” Kramer said. A tune-up will assure the furnace runs as efficiently as possible. Also remember to change the filter.

Roof “Have a plan in mind for what you’ll do with heavy snow and ice,” Kramer said. Two options include de-icing cables, which attach to the edge of the shingles, are plugged in and keep snow an ice melted, and a roof rake. “Every household in our area should have a roof rake,” she said. You don’t have to clear the whole roof, just the edges. If snow is allowed to build up, as it melts and refreezes it pools in the gutters, forming ice dams. Eventually “it can back up under the shingles and cause a roof leak,” Kramer said. She recommends keeping a couple of feet of roofline next to the gutters clear of snow. Also clear out your gutters, which will help prevent ice dams, too.

Snow thrower Make sure it is ready to go before the snow starts to fly. Change the oil, air filter and spark plug. Make sure you have a good shovel and ice melt. And, most importantly, “make sure it starts,” Kramer said. Ace Hardware offers tune-ups for snow throwers, with free pickup and delivery.

Lawn Pick up leaves, either by raking or using a mower that mulches. “Don’t leave the leaves on the grass,” Kramer said. The leaves will smother the grass over the winter and you will end up with dead spots on your lawn in the spring. Leaves make excellent fertilizer for gardens and can be used as insulation around perennials, Kramer said. You also will want to apply a high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer, she said. Nitrogen helps promote root development. It should be applied at 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. If buying a commercial mix, look for a 30-0-10 mix, Kramer said.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Fall also is the best time to aerate your lawn, she said. “It’s best to use a core aeration machine” which pulls plugs of dirt out of the ground rather than a spike aeration machine, which only pokes holes in the ground. Pulling the plugs out of the ground “allows for better water and nutrient absorption in the holes,” Kramer said.“It also allows for more oxygen to get to the roots of the grass.” September is the best fall month to do it, because it allows four to six weeks for the lawn to recover and benefit from aeration. Fall also is a very good time to seed your lawn, she said. Distributing seed in August or September will allow enough time for the seed to germi-

nate and start to grow. “It allows several weeks of good growing time,” Kramer said. And don’t forget to take care of your mower in the fall. After you’ve used it for the last time you’ll need to either drain or run the last bit of fuel out or add a product called Stabil to the remaining fuel to prevent the fuel from crystalizing in the carberator and mucking it up, preventing it from starting in the spring. If you have a battery-run mower, make sure to remove the battery and store it in a warm place. And lastly, empty water from any birdbaths or rain barrels you may have. “Turn them upside down or on their side” over the winter, she said.

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cure the summer Lazies

Just when I thought my kids had survived cold and flu season, they end up coming down with yet another illness. I look at my poor children lying on the couch, unable to move even a finger without extreme fatigue, and wonder what to do. The condition seems quite contagious as several kids up the street also have it. In fact, when I think about it, most kids I know seem to have contracted a severe case of the Lazies. Your child also may have the Lazies if he finds it necessary to text you rather than talk to you because you are all the way in the next room. The good news is that a few simple remedies will lead Lounger to a miraculous recovery. It often seems it would be easier to part the Red Sea than to get kids to accomplish something more than nothing. Some are lazy because their video game is more entertaining than the vacuum. Others get overwhelmed by a homework assignment and therefore avoid doing it. And, sometimes, kids just don’t feel like putting their clothes away. To help ward off the Lazies, make a rule that leisure activities are not allowed until chores, homework and other obligations are completed. This way, Lounger can’t say he didn’t know he couldn’t play computer rather than practice piano because of the standing rule. Many parents respond to laziness with nagging. They repeatedly suggest Lounger do something, ask when a chore will be done or go with the classic, “How many times have I asked you to put this away?” But rather than nagging, try setting limits and consequences for untimely actions caused by laziness. Set deadlines for when toys should be picked up or a bathroom cleaned, and then let Lounger decide how to fit it into his schedule. If it is not done by the said time then privileges are removed, curfews tightened or favorite things taken away. If Lounger works best under pressure, then tell him all chores or responsibilities must be completed within a certain time frame. This may motivate him to accomplish or else suffer consequences. The goal is for kids to learn how to independently but effectively

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manage schedules. If Lounger gets lazy when large projects are due, help him break them down into realistic segments. This will help him feel less overwhelmed, and more motivated to tackle one step at a time. Additionally, it will help teach organizational skills. Every parent tires of picking up after children who continually generate messes. Therefore, give Lounger chores, including picking up after himself, and expect him to actually complete them. This will teach responsibility, diligence, and time management skills. Reduce

by ANN-MARIE BERG

stress by explaining the difference between your idea of a clean house compared to his, as sometimes interpretation causes confusion. Talk about chores and how the whole house will run smoother if everyone pitches in. Sometimes, kids don’t think they are lazy because they actually have good intentions of getting their homework done or room clean but just haven’t done it yet. Discuss the difference between intentions and actually doing something and how the two are not the same. Some kids need motivation to ward off the Lazies. In this case, try an allowance or privilege in exchange for productivity. If kids know their actions are tied to something they want, they are more likely to get off the couch and get going. Unfortunately, laziness tends to be a learned behavior. Don’t teach it. All kids contract the Lazies from time to time. With a little encouragement, motivation and communication, your Lounger’s lazy prognosis will look good. Ann-Marie Berg is a pediatric nurse practitioner and freelance writer who lives in Cedar Rapids. She can be reached at amhberg@mchsi.com.

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appliance cheat sheet Is your head swimming with images of ranges, refrigerators and dishwashers? The options can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together a guide to get you successfully through the experience

Measure twice, and measure again. And again. That’s what you need to do before buying any appliance, local experts say. “Measure what you currently have,” said Vicky McCloskey, coowner of McCloskey Appliance in Mason City. “Measure from start to finish,” including the space where the appliance will go, doorways and areas you may have to maneuver through. “Measure from the door to the last place,” McCloskey said. With so many options in appliances — refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, washing machines and microwaves — we’ve talked to McCloskey and Kathy Zilge, owner of Zilges Appliance Center in Mason City to put together an appliance cheat sheet to help you know what to look for before you buy.

by KAREN JACOBS

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

Ranges Free-standing ranges sit between cabinets. They are the least expensive option, but you will have a small gap between your range and your countertop. They usually have a bottom storage drawer and control knobs on the back panel. Slide-ins close the gap between the range and the countertop but will not have a control panel that extends upwards from the back of the range. Instead it will have a control panel on the front above the oven door. This style range is a good choice in a kitchen island setting where you wouldn’t a range panel that rises higher than the countertop. Expect to pay between $450 and $2,999 for a range.

5 things to look for

TIP

• Gas or electric. If you lose power to your home, you will still be able to cook with a gas range. Gas burners also allow you to provide instant heat and also to control the heat more precisely than electric. An electric oven, Zilge said, typically provides a more even heat but with electronic controls now, gas ovens have become much more even-heating. Glass tops on electric ranges are considerably easier to clean than their gas counterparts.

The standard width for a range is 32 inches but the height varies.

Other considerations • Color. Think down the line when choosing a color scheme. Five years from now that special color you chose may not be as attractive as it once was. Also, trendy colors may not be available when it’s time to replace the appliance. Biscuit and black are getting more difficult to find while white and stainless steel are classic, McCloskey said.

• A dual fuel range vs. standard. A dual fuel range has a gas cooktop with an electric oven. “That’s the best of both worlds,” McCloskey said. This type will cost between $1,800 and $2,500. • Extra features. Do you want convection capability, a warming area, a bridge element? “True convection has a fan and heat element, which distributes the heat evenly,” McCloskey said. • Range cooktop options. Coil cooktops are least expensive and easiest to replace. Smooth glass or ceramic cooktops are very stylish and have become much more affordable, but they do take special cleansers and care to maintain their good looks. • Single or double oven? If you do a lot of baking this might be a good option to consider.

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Dishwasher

Microwave

The built-in dishwasher is the only appliance in which the size is the same from manufacturer to manufacturer, McCloskey said.

Countertop models and over-the-range models are available. Make sure you have the correct type of outlet. Microwaves take a lot of power and need a separate circuit.

5 things to look for • Features. If you want a second oven but don’t have room for another range, convection is a feature to consider. Sensor cooking and broil also are features to consider. • Shortcut keys. These preprogrammed, 1-touch keys take your guesswork out of cooking.

5 things to look for • Interior tub design. Stainless steel makes it quieter because it muzzles the noise you’d get with plastic, McCloskey said. • Location of controls. Controls can be on the front or top, where they are then hidden from view when the dishwasher is closed. It is purely an aesthetic feature. • Adjustable vs. stationary shelving. Racks that adjust up and down, adjustable tines and silverware and stemware holders let you reconfigure the interior and organize the contents. Those devices increase flexibility. • Food grinder. If you’re not one for removing food scraps from your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, this feature gives you the convenience of an in-sink disposal for grinding up food scraps. • Washability. How many wash arms do you want your unit to have? Some models have only one wash arm, others have three wash arms.

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• Clean-release interior. There’s no special cleaning solution required if your microwave has this feature. A simple sponge will remove spills and splatters. Food won’t bake on and splatters won't stain the interior. • Capacity in cubic feet as well as cooking power (wattage). • Interior material design: stainless steel vs. traditional painted metal. Stainless steel conducts the heat better.

What to measure • The current appliance you will be replacing. • If you will be buying a built-in appliance, measure both the actual hole in the wall that the unit will fit in. A built-in appliance’s overall measurement will be wider than the cutout measurement because of the overlap to cover the hole. • Measure any doorways (both height and width) you will need to go through to install the appliance. • Will you have to take the appliance around an island? Measure the distance. • Measure the width between the top cabinets and the width between the bottom cabinets when choosing a refrigerator. Floors and ceilings often aren’t square so measurements can vary. • Don’t forget to factor in trim if it has been removed for a renovation project.

Washing machine

Refrigerator

All washing machines will be energy efficient soon, McCloskey said. Currently, the new high-efficiency models use 14-20 gallons of water for a typical load, while the old-style washing machines use 40-50 gallons, Zilge said. One of the latest technologies in the washer industry is a fan fresh cycle. This feature allows air to circulate inside the washer after finishing the washing cycle so if you forget you have a load in the washer your clothes won’t start to smell. “With people being so busy the fan fresh cycle is the best,” McCloskey said.

5 things to look for

• Water/ice dispenser on the door. Some refrigerators have their own filters built in now to filter water for the ice maker.

• Pedestals. Some front-load washers and dryers can be equipped with pedestals that raise the unit about a foot off the floor for easier loading and unloading and include built-in drawers Expect to pay $200-$280 more for the pedestal, Zilge said.

• Energy efficiency label. “Twenty-two cubic feet and up all are energy efficient now,” McCloskey said. • Side-by-side or freezer on bottom-mount freezer. Bottom-mount freezer is most popular now, Zilge said. • Storage. Refrigerators now can come equipped with storage areas for specific items. • Size, color and finish. “Not only cubic feet capacity, but also physical measurement of your allotted space,” Zilge said.

• Drum size/capacity. • Top load vs. front load. “Top load washers still face off-balance issues if loaded improperly, which the front load machines generally don’t have a problem with,” Zilge said. ” Front-load machines typically do a better job of cleaning because of the amount of agitation they are getting. Front-loaders are generally a little more efficient and use a little less water than top-load.” • Extra features. Models with a steam cycle claim better stain removal in the wash. If you are sensitive to detergent residue, an extra rinse cycle would be helpful. A time-delay feature lets you program the washer to start at a later time. • Energy efficiency. Top load machines use much less water.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

protect yourself As you send your child off to college, you and your child need to be aware of the dangers they may face by CAITLIN LEITZEN photo JEFF HEINZ

Buying extra long twin sheets and shower shoes are important measures to help new college students prepare for college. However, being aware of the dangers of a new social dynamic is also vital for a successful experience. What are commonly known as “the date rape drug” or “roofies” is often a compound called GHB, or Gammahydroxybutate. This drug is a colorless, odorless powders, liquid or pill that often is mixed with alcohol.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW FALL 2011

“GHB is one of many substances used for drug-facilitated sexual assault,” said Mary Ingham, executive director of Crisis Intervention Service in Mason City. Three factors that make GHB especially dangerous, Ingham said. First, it is very potent. Only a few drops or a capful, which is how it is sold, can produce destructive results and a high likelihood of overdosing. Second, when GHB is mixed with alcohol or other drugs, it can be fatal. Finally, this drug is often made by non-professionals in “street labs,” said Ingham. “There may be significant differences in the purity, concentration and potency of different batches,” she said. “The same amount taken from two separate batches may have very different effects.” The effects of the drug, also called “G” or “Liquid Ecstasy,” are “hangover-like” said Jo Hafermann, executive director of the Caring Pregnancy Center. These symptoms include memory loss, drowsiness and nausea, or even seizures and respiratory depression. Typically these symptoms come on very strong and quickly when a date rape drug is used. This drug is rapidly metabolized, therefore the effects can be felt within 10 minutes, and move through the system within 24 hours. “By the time most of these girls found out, it was too late to figure out what was in their system,” said Hafermann, who stated victims are typically between the ages of 15 and 25 and are often seen at the beginning of a new school year. ” ‘Did I drink too much?’ They blame themselves,” she said. But Ingham warns against this type of thinking. “Even if a victim of sexual assault drank alcohol or willingly took drugs, the victim is not at fault for being assaulted,” she said. “You cannot ‘ask for it’ or cause it to happen.” As the drug is metabolized quickly and often dismissed as a hangover, sexual assaults performed while the victim was under the influence of a date rape drug have a much lower tendency to be reported. “Victims of drug-facilitated rape are less likely to report than victims of forcible rape for many reasons,” said Ingham, including it being a “hard case to prove” and the inability of the victims to remember any events. “Also, our society dismisses it as drunk sex, even though it is physically (and legally) impossible to give consent when one is intoxicated or incapacitated.” Each year Ingham sees one or two cases where they suspect a drug was used to commit sexual assault. Hafermann has seen fewer cases at the Car-

ing Pregnancy Center since she began work there in 1989, because the victims would have to become pregnant and then seek counseling, but that does not mean it has never been encountered. In 2006, Hafermann helped a client who became pregnant from sexual assault after being slipped a date rape drug. “She consumed a beverage and woke up the next day with no memory of the previous evening,” she said. “She (the client) didn’t even know she had partaken in sexual intercourse until she had turned up pregnant.” Crisis Intervention Service also offers professional support and advice for victims of sexual assault. “By speaking out and educating ourselves and others, we can help to decrease the number of sexual assaults,” said Ingham.

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Protect yourself Watch your drink Whether you watch it being made, carry it with you or avoid communal punchbowls, keeping an eye on what you are ingesting is always the safest choice, said Ingham. Discard any drink that has been left behind.

Use your buddies Hafermann suggests making a pact with your friends before the night begins, to help each other be responsible and aware of each other’s limits. Also, travel in a group to maintain safety.

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Be smart A great way to avoid these dangers is, of course, not to drink, said Hafermann. But if that is not an option, do so in moderation, she said.

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If you think you’ve been assaulted • Get to a safe place. • Get help immediately. • Ask a trusted friend to stay with you and assist you in getting the services you need. • Call the police. • Get medical care immediately. Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency department as soon as possible for an examination and evidence collection. Most “rape drugs” are metabolized very quickly by the body. The sooner you receive medical care, the more likely it is that evidence can be found that will help you identify any substances used to drug you. • Ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care t take a urine sample for drug toxicology testing by your law enforcement agency’s crime lab. Drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB are more likely to be found in urine than in blood. Special tests must be conducted to detect these drugs. Most hospitals cannot conduct these tests at the levels necessary to completely assess if you were actually drugged. • If you think you may have been sexually assaulted, you should have a specialized sexual assault examination. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands or brush your teeth before you have a medical evaluation. Save the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred. Save any materials that might contain evidence of the drug(s) you may have been given, such as the glass that held your drink. • Call a rape crisis center for support and information. — Crisis Intervention Service

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