un f OVER l l a F 4 MILLION in e Readers Weekly an k o p S Nationwide!
FREE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2006
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read Published By: John Ortiz & Assoc., LLC www.spokanetidbits.com ads@spokanetidbits.com October 17, 2008
Laugh a bit with
=WZ 1O\ 6S\`gÂa 6SZ^a 7[^`]dS ;g 5Oa ;WZSOUS /IL #AN (ENRY S CONVENIENT SERVICES n INCLUDING THEIR &AMOUS 0OINT &ULL 3ERVICE /IL #HANGE AND !IR &ILTER 2EPLACEMENT n CAN IMPROVE MY MILEAGE BY UP TO SOURCE WWW FUELECONOMY GOV
&!-/53 0/).4 &5,, 3%26)#%
/), #(!.'%
A/D3 $
Issue #585
For Advertising Call 509-270-6514
COINSPlus.com Buying & Selling
A man sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. Other than the bartender, no one else was in the place. All of a sudden he heard a voice that said, “Nice suit.” He looked around and didn’t see anyone. Moments later the same voice said, “Nice tie.” The guy hesitantly thanked the bartender. “I didn’t say anything,” the bartender replied. “ It was probalby the nuts. They’re complimentary.”
Gold & Silver Coins & Collections Scrap Gold, Jewelry & Diamonds Spokanes Largest Coin & Precious Metals Dealer
HONESTY, INTEGRITY & PROFESSIONALISM
444-0044
3201 N. Division St. Mon-Fri 10 AM - 5:30 PM
4"
./24( 30/+!.% . $IVISION 7ITH THIS AD .OT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS /NE PER VEHICLE %XPIRES /CT
(509)
995-6239 Custom Made Swim Platforms
WARNING: THIS TIDBITS MAY CONTAIN NUTS
Roundy’s
11008 N. Newport Hwy Spokane, WA www.roundyskawasaki.com
by Audrey Cunningham
FULL SERVICE BOAT REPAIRS www.myswimplatform.com
20% OFF
Winterizing or Storage Rates Call for Details
Expires November 30, 2008
YES! YOU CAN STILL FILE BANKRUPTCY!
Are they healthy snacks or cholesterol-boosting no-no’s? Regardless of the medical community’s current opinion (and it seems to change daily), nuts are still a favorite of many Americans. • Georgia produces more peanuts than any other state, with Texas close behind. Peanuts are Georgia’s official state crop, and half of the peanuts grown in the Peach State are used to make peanut butter. And that’s a lot of nuts: It takes about 850 individual peanuts to make one 18 ounce jar of peanut butter. • Have you ever purchased a package of raw cashews, still in their shells? Probably not. The shell contains urushiol, which causes a skin rash similar to poison ivy when it comes in contact with human skin. It can also be toxic if ingested. Even if you do find cashews labeled as “unroasted,” they’re not just raw. They’ve been steamed in order to remove all traces of urushiol. • Walnuts grow on trees and are harvested using three distinct machines. The first shakes the walnuts to the ground. The second blows them into neat rows away from the tree trunks, and the third one “vacuums” them up. turn the page for more!
Sausage Jerkey Ham/Bacon
$30 $20 $20
Liq Warehouse
Finish Building Materials
(509) 326-0199 1727 W. Sinto Spokane, WA $500 OFF
apala h C
Banquet Room
Wallace Law Office Debt Relief Agency
Fall Meat Classes Are Here Instructor, Del Harford
The ™ k c u D y l g U uidators
(One coupon per table per visit • Not valid on Holidays or with any other offer)
garnishments, creditor calls! FREE Initial consultation with an Attorney $300 Attorney fee-Chapter 7* (chapter 13: $450)*
*does not include filing fees* All prices effective August 1, 2008
(509) 467-5128
Receive Five dollars off your bill with purchase of $2000 or More
STOP Foreclosure,
www.walegalclinic.com CALL NOW: 326-3600 Uncontested Divorces: $650 / $750 with kids
Store Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-6pm Sat10am-5pm Closed Sun & Mon
apala Catering & To h C
Lunch Menu Monday-Friday From $695 to $995
624-1490 “FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE OVE TO COOK” Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 & Sat 9:00-2:30
130 N. Stone, Spokane, WA
Go Orders Available
Homemade Tamales • Rellenos Carnitas • Fajitas
Best Margaritas in town, Lots of Flavors North South 1801 N. Hamilton St., Spokane, WA
(509) 484-4534
2620 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, WA
(509) 534-7388
Gluten Free Classes Are Here Oct. 23 - Halloween Treats Nov. 22 - Gluten Free Thanksgiving Dec. 6 - Gluten Free MAMA is Coming to Town
Page 2
Home
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA RECONDITIONED LAPTOPS
FOR SALE, 1 YEAR WARRANTY LAPTOP REPAIR AND CLEANING
&
Garden
THIS IS A HAMMER By Samantha Mazzotta
Weatherstripping 101 Q: This is my second year in an apartment with drafty windows. The landlord said it was OK for us to do whatever we like to stop the cold air from rushing in. I’m tired of putting up crinkly, ugly plastic sheets, though. Is there an alternative? -- Blair J., Malden, Mass. A: You have some additional options besides plastic sheeting. Weatherstripping can stop drafts while allowing windows to be opened or closed as usual. Three types of material are available: metal, vinyl or felt. They are attached one of two ways -- with brads (very small nails) or by adhesive attached to the back of the strip. Vinyl or felt stripping is easier to work with, while metal stripping is much more durable. Since you’re in a temporary living situation, I’d recommend you stick with vinyl weatherstripping, particularly compressible foam strips. These strips come on a roll that costs less than $10, and they have an adhesive backing so that all you have to do is peel and stick. Run a strip along the bottom of the window sash -- the part that meets the frame when you close the window. Be sure clean the adhesive area well and let dry. If the outdoor temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll want to heat the sash bottom for a couple of minutes with a hair dryer to ensure the strip will stick well. If your windows rattle and have drafts coming in all around, add tubular vinyl stripping. This is a roll of tubing, sometimes with a flat strip protruding from the side. It’s applied to the outside of the window along the edges. Hold the strip flat and taut against the bottom and sides of the sash while a partner carefully nails the tubing to the sash (use only brads to attach, and don’t nail to the sill). If you can’t access the outside of the windows because you’re in an upper-level apartment, run felt weatherstripping along the interior sides of the window sash, folding over and along the top and bottom if possible. The felt strip may have an adhesive back, but should also be attached with brads spaced about 3 inches apart. HOME TIP: Drafty windows are a major source of heat loss in homes, yet can usually be insulated in a couple hours for just a few dollars -- an investment well worth making. Send questions or home-repair tips to homeguru2000@ hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
The helpful place.
Spokane Valley 9110 E. Montgomery Ave Spokane Valley, WA (509)928-6163
Otis Orchards 4904 N. Harvard Rd Otis Orchards, WA (509)926-9414
Ardell’s Laptop and PC Repair 10816 E. Mission Ave Spokane, WA 99206 ardell@icehouse.net
509-891-5188
TIDBITS GOES NUTS (continued): • Almonds are usually considered to be nuts, but they’re more closely related to peach pits. Almonds may be bitter or sweet. Sweet almonds are the ones you’ll find in dessert recipes and in cans of mixed nuts. Bitter almonds contain prussic acid, which is used to make cyanide. But if properly processed, bitter almonds lose their toxicity and can be used in the kitchen. They’re a key ingredient in amaretto liqueur. • Many jewelers still use finely ground walnut shells to polish pearls and other gemstones. Similarly, some cosmetic companies (including Aveda) use walnut shells in their body and facial wash products as an exfoliant. • Despite their name, Brazil nuts are more likely to come from Bolivia than from Brazil. Brazil nut trees can live more than 1,000 years. Of course, they develop an extensive root system in the process. Because of this, the trees leech a lot of natural barium from the soil, making Brazil nuts (ever so slightly) radioactive. A single Brazil nut can make a Geiger counter click, but scientists have deemed them safe. Consumption of the nuts has no noticeable impact on your typical daily exposure to radiation. • Peanut brittle was invented in America during the early 19th century. And the novelty fake peanut brittle can with a spring-loaded “snake” inside? No, it wasn’t too far behind. That particular gag was invented in 1915. • The pecan is the only tree-borne variety of nut native to the United States. A single pecan tree can produce 1,000 pounds of nuts. Luckily, pecans can be frozen up to two years without losing flavor or texture. They’re handy to keep for making those sinfully delicious pecan pies, which originated in New Orleans. And for the record, the average pecan pie has 78 pecans. • Until the mid-1970s, most of the pistachios that were consumed in the U.S. were imported from the Middle East. There, the method used to harvest the nuts commonly damaged the outer shells, leaving them discolored and bruised. That’s why, for many years, in-the-shell pistachios were dyed red. Today, virtually all U.S. pistachios are grown in California. And modern harvesting equipment allows the nuts to be harvested blemish- free, so “white” pistachios are becoming more common. Still, a few consumers insist that the red ones are better. • Before they cut out free snacks altogether, many airlines switched from nuts to pretzels. That’s to accommodate travelers with peanut allergies. Some individuals have nut allergies so strong that just sitting in the same aircraft as someone scarfing nuts in the back row will affect them adversely. turn the page for more!
www.spokanetidbits.com DOG OWNERS Complete Dog Waste Removal
Cleans Yards and Pens $10.00/week/1 dog: $2.50/add’l dog SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Call DOOTY FREE Dog Waste Removal Service
509-995-5776
PAWS CORNER By Sam Mazzotta
Dog-Proof Your Home Q: I have a new puppy, and “Jake” keeps getting into everything -- garbage, pantry, laundry, you name it. He’s a big chewer, too. How do I get him to stop? -- Frank S., via e-mail A: Regular obedience training, along with increased attention, will help Jake stop exploring so much. However, healthy dogs never lose that urge to explore anything that smells so darn interesting (garbage, laundry, the pantry, you name it). So you’ve got to limit his access to those areas. Remove garbage from the living areas of the house every day -- place it in the big containers outside (or in your garage) and seal the lid against intrusion. Seal the pantry -- if it has no door latch, attach a short bungee cord from the cabinet knob to a screw-in hook you place in the frame, so you can latch and unlatch easily. Put your shoes away in a closet or close your bedroom door. It’s especially important, no matter how well your dog is trained, to not leave anything lying around that you don’t want him to get at. Food, alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, sharp objects or medication are big no-nos. Do place chew toys around the areas that Jake is allowed to inhabit. This gives him a healthy focus for his natural chewing tendencies. Now back to the increased attention. Take time every day -- an hour at least -- to train and play with Jake, outdoors or indoors. Puppies have lots of restless energy, which will fuel their curiosity, so help him work it off. In return, you’ll get a much better bond with Jake, and a welltrained dog. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail. com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
Barter Is Smarter SAVE YOUR CASH Increase your purchasing power through trade.
(509) 283-7030
Please support our valued advertisers & tell them “I saw your ad in TIDBITS®”
www.spokanetidbits.com
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
AMERICAN GUTTERSMITH
Page 3
you were in before, because even working that gig you guys were living at the poverty level. You’ve got a career crisis on your hands. It’s sweet that you’re there with your baby, but it’s seriously time for you to get a good job. Take classes and further your education, or get into another line of work. But you’ve got some serious responsibilities here, dude. Fix this thing now! - Dave
SEAMLESS RAIN GUTTERS Call for a Quote
(509) 290-2293 Jonn Smith
(milking unemployment)
(can the government work without debt?)
Bonded & Insured • Lic # AMERIG*920BD
Dear Dave, I had a motorcycle wreck seven months ago, lost my job as a result, and I’ve been drawing unemployment for the last five months. I was making $1,200 a month in retail management before this happened, but I’m getting just as much with unemployment even though I can work again. I’m married, have a small daughter and my wife doesn’t work right now. Do you think I should just milk unemployment for as long as I can so I can stay home and help with our daughter? Tim Dear Tim, No, you shouldn’t keep milking unemployment. You need to get a job right now! Man, you could make more than you were at your job or on unemployment delivering pizzas full-time. I know you probably wouldn’t have benefits running pizza, but how about the benefit of working for a living and making some money? You need to get up off your tail right now and find something to do – maybe even two or three things to do – until you find a good paying thing to do. And I don’t think I’d go back into the kind of management
Dear Dave, Is it possible for a government to run without debt? If so, do you know any examples of a state or federal government that is run debt-free? Kyle Dear Kyle, Sure, it’s possible. Our federal government was debtfree for many years, so it’s absolutely possible for a government to be debt-free and run on a balanced budget. I live in Tennessee, and we have a mandatory balanced budget law. All you have to do is balance the budget, and you can avoid debt. It doesn’t matter if you’re an individual or the government, you should live on less than you make. You shouldn’t get involved in things you can’t pay for straight up, Kyle. And that goes for the government, too! - Dave
TIDBITS GOES NUTS (continued): • In North America, hazelnuts are only grown in the Pacific Northwest: Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. They are used primarily for confections, such as pralines and chocolate truffles. Hazelnuts are known as filberts in certain parts of the world. Extract from the nut can be used as flavoring. • The term “peanut gallery” dates back to the 1880s, when vaudeville acts were common. Typical theatres were divided into three sections: orchestra (“floor seats”), balcony (“second tier”), and gallery (“nosebleed section”). The spectators in the gallery were invariably the most critical. They were also quite vocal in their disapproval of any act that they didn’t find sufficiently entertaining. Roasted peanuts were the most common snack offered at these venues, so of course, displeased folks in the gallery often pelted onstage performers with peanut shells to emphasize their level of dissatisfaction. • Other than humans (and maybe angry elephants), the only creatures capable of cracking open the tough outer shell of the Macadamia nut are Hyacinth macaw parrots. Good thing, since this nut is a staple part of their diet. Macadamia nuts are very toxic to dogs, however, so if you have both a parrot and a pooch, keep their food dishes separate. • Mr. Peanut has been the Planters mascot since 1916 (see image). For much of the 1990s, however, the venerable little peanut man appeared mostly in the background of Planter’s ads. The company thought he might be a bit “old-fashioned.” Early in the new millennium, however, the company decided to reintroduce Mr. Peanut as a hip, yet dignified, party-animal type of guy. He appeared in a series of animated commercials dancing away like a legume half his age. Sales of Planters’ products increased more than 15% the first year. • If you’re going to feed peanuts to your friendly neighborhood squirrels, please give them the roasted (not raw) variety. Raw peanuts contain a chemical that can make the little critters ill by preventing the absorption of protein into their systems. • Despite its name, there are no legumes in Chock Full O’Nuts brand coffee. The company’s founder, William Black, got his start in the business world by running a small nut stand in New York City. He later added a lunch counter, where he served sandwiches and coffee. Over time, there was such a demand for his special blend of coffee that he sold it commercially to grocery stores. He gave his brew the same name as his luncheonette: Chock Full O’Nuts.
* For more financial advice plus special offers to our readers, please visit www.davesays.org or call 1-888-22-PEACE.
Proudly Printed Weekly by
Call Chuck for information
509.327.5556 833 W. Garland Avenue Spokane, WA 99205
GPC@GarlandPrinting.com
The End
www.spokanetidbits.com
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Page 3
Page 4
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Suddenly Raising Grandchildren When grandchildren suddenly come to live at your house and become your responsibility, there’s usually no advanced notice. A sudden turn of events -- a tragedy, substance abuse, a set of military orders to a hostile area -- followed by a knock on the door, and you’re back to raising children. This time it’s your grandchildren you find yourself responsible for. There are sure to be complications: Maybe you’re in an adults-only community. Maybe you’re barely making ends meet. Maybe you’d always planned to retire and travel the world -alone. Maybe your health isn’t that great lately. Maybe you still work a fulltime job. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re not alone; more than 2 million grandparents are raising grandchildren. Fortunately, there are resources. Here are two: Go to aarp.org and look at the GrandCare Toolkit. There’s more to suddenly being respon-
~ Independent Living ~ Cottage Homes ~ Assisted Living
sible for raising grandchildren than one might imagine, until you’re thrust into the situation. The Toolkit has links to a wealth of information: where to find help, legal issues (you might need legal guardianship before you can even register your grandchild in school or authorize medical procedures), finances and public benefits, health insurance, tax considerations, childproofing a house and even a beginner’s guide to computing with grandchildren. See www.raisingyourgrandchildren.com for links to local and state resources, advice for dealing with stress, information on financial assistance you might qualify for and ways to help children who may be coming out of abuse or neglect situations. While these sites won’t do the hard part -- the actual raising of your grandchildren -- it might help to know you’re not alone and that there is help out there.
www.spokanetidbits.com Need A Lift, Give Yourself A Gift! Call Jeneen “The Errand Queen” (509) 220-3797 Licensed-Bonded-Insured Making it possible for seniors to regain their independence by providing “personal” transportation to and from appointments and much, much more... Other Services Provided: Errands / Dr. Appts. / Grocery / Rx Movies / Theater / Events / Church Pet Care / Vet. Appt. / Exercising Personal Shopping / Experienced Senior Care
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
• Wellness & Fitness Center • Gourmet Chef • Bistro • Swimming Pool & Spa
Harvest Festival October 18, 2008, 10am - 3pm
German Food and Music ~ Tours
First 5 People Who Reserve an Apartment win a Free HDTV
509-922-3100
1201 N. Evergreen Road, Spokane Valley, 99216
e v e rg re e n f o u n t a i n s . c o m
Let an Angel Help You Care for Your Loved One the final say in the selection process. (ARA) - In a perfect world, you would be able to take care of your aging parent in your home or theirs, relying only on family to help you. But the reality is that caring for an aging or ill parent is a full-time job that can take a toll on the caregiver; add to that the demands of raising a family, working, and other responsibilities, and chances are you’ll need a little assistance along the way. That’s where the angels come in. Visiting Angels is a national network of franchised non-medical senior homecare agencies providing senior homecare to help elderly and older adults continue to live in their homes. These caring, experienced home caregivers provide up to 24-hour care in the comfort of your own home. You can be confident that your caregiver is qualified and has excellent references. “Character counts,” says Richard Bitner, of Visiting Angels. “We hire only experienced caregivers who pass a rigorous screening process.” The company also emphasizes the intangible traits of the caregiver, such as a caring personality. Many of the company’s caregivers have grown tired of the money mentality taking over healthcare and appreciate the opportunity to do one-on-one personal care. The staff at Visiting Angels works with each family to develop an individualized program to manage the daily needs of the client. They then match those needs to the best possible caregiver; caregivers are then introduced to the family, who has
“We want our clients to look forward to a visit by their caregiver,” says Bitner. “That’s why the client is in complete control from start to finish.” After the caregiver has been placed in your home, the company continues its personalized contact through telephone check-in and home visits to make sure you and your caregiver are a good match. Although Visiting Angels are non-medical caregivers, they can provide a vital link in patient care. In cases where seniors are coming home from the hospital or a nursing home, the caregiver will consult with doctors, nursing home staff, social workers, physical therapists, and of course, the family, to establish each client’s personalized needs. In addition, although Visiting Angels do not dispense drugs, they can help monitor whether the patient is taking their medication. In addition to offering joyful companionship, Visiting Angels will also do light housekeeping, run errands, prepare meals or do shopping -- other ways they can provide a respite for families dealing with the care of a loved one.
9207 E. Mission Ave, Ste C Spokane Valley, WA 99206 Serving All of Spokane County
Visiting Angels has senior homecare agencies in most states, with more than 100 offices. For information on the office nearest you, visit the company’s Web site, www.visitingangels.com or call toll free 800-365-4189. Courtesy of ARA Content
Licensed, Insured, and Bonded
Please support our valued advertisers & tell them “I saw your ad in TIDBITS®”
www.spokanetidbits.com
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Page 5
Recipe of the Week
SPINACH-TORTELLINI SOUP Yield - 16 cups Ingredients: 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth 4 cups water 2 extra-large vegetable bouillon cubes 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, unthawed 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, undrained 1 garlic clove, minced 2 (9-ounce) packages refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Preparation: Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add spinach, stewed tomatoes, and garlic, and return mixture to a boil. Stir in tortellini, and cook for 5 minutes. Sprinkle each serving evenly with shredded Parmesan cheese. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Knorr Vegetable Bouillon Cubes.
Operation Gratitude Gears Up for Holidays As you read this, Operation Gratitude has kicked off its 2008 holiday season and is busily preparing care packages to send to servicemembers in hostile areas. By the time it finishes this year, more than 400,000 individual packages will have been sent. Last December, a serviceman opened his care package (the 300,000th package) and discovered that the box contained, among other things, the keys to a brand-new Jeep Liberty, which would be waiting for him upon his return from Iraq. Not only that, but the founder of OpGrat, Carolyn Blashek, went personally to Iraq to deliver that package. Gutsy lady. Something equally amazing is surely going to be in that 400,000 package. If you haven’t seen the OpGrat Web site, check it out: www.opgratitude.com. Don’t miss the photo gallery, wish list, the list of sponsors and the FAQ. So far, OpGrat has sent care packages to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Africa, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Guantanamo Bay and onto ships in international waters. No part of this effort comes cheap, and OpGrat has had to face yet another increase in postage: It costs $9.30 to send each box. While most of the items in the boxes are donated by corporate sponsors and individuals like you and me, the postage isn’t. This holiday season it’ll send 70,000 packages. That’s $650,000 in postage alone. While you’re thinking about it -- right now -- why not pull out your checkbook and cut a check to OpGrat for the cost of sending a box or two to a servicemember who’ll be away from home over the holidays? Here’s the info: Operation Gratitude 16444 Refugio Road Encino, CA 91436 (818) 909-0039 Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
www.spokanetidbits.com
Brand Coffee
$
9.99
GREAT GIFT IDEA!
(509) 448-8866 2718 E. 57th Spokane
FREE 12oz Latte w/Purchase
Lightning Comics Presents...
(208) 667-2400 411 W. Haycraft Ave, #C1 In Northern Lights Mall 2 Blocks North of I-90 1st Block North of Appleway (Hwy 95)
Superstar Artist At Cda Store! Angel Medina Artist of...Venom, Dark Origins, Spawn, Sensational Spiderman, & More!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Page 5
Page 6
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA FITNESS
& HEALTH
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.
A Headache That Can Blind DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently I began having severe headaches. I finally drove myself to the emergency room at a nearby hospital and, after numerous tests and a biopsy, the diagnosis was temporal arteritis. The doctors prescribed prednisone. Since taking it, I do not have the headaches. However, I am very weak and have no energy. The doctors tell me I must keep taking the prednisone or I could go blind. Will you comment? -- K.Q. ANSWER: Temporal arteritis is artery inflammation. Since the temporal artery -- the one at the side of the head (the temple) -- often is involved, that’s how the name came about. In addition to the headache, the scalp often is tender. Sometimes patients are anemic. Its cause is still nature’s secret. The urgency of temporal arteritis is the fact that the artery that brings blood to the eye’s retina is often inflamed too. Without prompt treatment, the retina can lose its blood supply, and the person is then blind. This happens to half of those who get no treatment or whose treatment is delayed. The diagnosis can be made by taking a small portion of the temporal artery for microscopic examination. One simple lab test, the sedimentation rate, is high in people with this condition, and it confirms the suspicion that temporal arteritis is responsible for the headache and other symptoms. Prednisone is one of the powerful cortisone drugs, the best inflammation-fighting drugs we have. It’s unusual for your symptoms of weakness and lack of energy to come from prednisone. It usually has the opposite effects. Temporal arteritis, however, can make a person listless and pooped out. Give the medi-
cine a chance to work. An illness often seen simultaneously with temporal arteritis is polymyalgia rheumatica, whose prominent features are pain and stiffness of the neck, shoulder, back, hip and thigh muscles. Luckily, prednisone controls it too, so both are treated with the same medicine. The headache booklet describes the more common kinds of headaches, but not temporal arteritis. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 901W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Two years ago, I was a passenger on a motorcycle and fell to the asphalt. I suffered a hematoma of my buttock. A few months later I was rear-ended when stopped in my auto. I was treated only with pain medicine. The hematoma is somewhat smaller, but it’s as hard as a rock. I have lower-back pain and intolerable pain when I sit. Is there any treatment? -- S.B.
www.spokanetidbits.com
Break Time
ANSWER: A hematoma is a collection of blood deep in the tissues, most of the time in a muscle. Athletes who play contact sports are always getting one. It’s like a bruise. Frequently the body absorbs the pool of blood, but sometimes it turns into bone -- ossifies. That process is myositis (muscle) ossificans. Even an ossified hematoma can regress. If it doesn’t and if it causes pain, an orthopedic surgeon can possibly remove it. Speak with one of those doctors. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2008 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved
TIDBITS® of Spokane Washington is now running CLASSIFIEDS! $9.00 for up to 20 words. Add $5 for color highlights. To place your classified call or email us at:
LAND FOR SALE!
MASSAGE
20 ACRE PARADISE! Mature trees, view, privacy. 25 min North of Spokane. $110K / Can be subdivided in 5 acre lots. Call Jerry
TAKE TIME TO RELAX Swedish massage, deep tissue, trigger point. Reesa Handley LMP 1016 N. Superior St.
FURNITURE
WANTED
DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS NOW & SAVE! Diabetic test strips Any type, any brand. Will Formal dining room set. pay up to $10.00 a box Cherry wood, seats 6, Call Terry excellent condition. $600
SERVICES
FARM & GARDEN
Tired of cleaning everything in sight? I CAN HELP! FREE Consultation YB Workin
BARREL RACING SADDLE Beautiful, high quality, lots of detail (silver, blue suede seat) Comes w/matching “Professional Choice” pad. Paid $950 retail, asking $650 OBO
MISC
AUTO
Please support our valued advertisers & tell them “I saw your ad in TIDBITS®”
www.spokanetidbits.com
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Johnn y A ppleseed was a real person. His name was John Chapman. He was born in Massachusetts Age 10 on September 26, 1774. He was a missionar y and preacher of the Swedenborgian Christian Faith and an apple tree nurser yman. He traveled the forests and prairies of what is no w Ohio and Indiana and fringes of other states, planting and caring for apple trees, teaching farmers about apples and preaching “good news right fresh from Heaven.” He is well kno wn for his courage and the thousands of apple trees he planted.
Page 7
www.kiDDSdental.org
*State of the Art Facility *Sedation & General Anesthesia Available *Slide And Play While Waiting *Video Games / Prize Machines *Watch Videos During Treatment *Parents Welcome In Treatment Area *Emergency Appointments Available *Caring, Experienced, & Patient NOW WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS (509) 926-1234 (509) 891-7070 Most Insurances Accepted-including: 12615 E. Mission, Suite 312 1327 N. Stanford Lane, Suite B *Washington DSHS Spokane Valley, WA Liberty Lake, WA *Idaho Smiles (Across From Valley Hospital)
COME AND PLAY DAY! Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Spokane Elite Gymnastics offers an exciting day of games, crafts, and gymnastics activities that are sure to entertain your child!
No previous experience is required and participants will be grouped in similar skill and age levels. Full Day - $59 or Half Day - $39. A 10% discount is given for multiple family members & MENTION THIS AD FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5.00 OFF.
509-533-9646 5615 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane
www.spokanegymnastics.com
Ages 3-14 8:30am - 4:30pm Full Day 8:30pm - 12:30pm or 12:30pm - 4:30pm
HEY KIDS AND PARENTS!
Cousins Madison 5 & Sierra 4
Email your FUN FALL pictures: fishing, hunting, pumpkin patch, ect., with mom or dad’s help to ads@spokanetidbits.com and you could be in the next KIDSBITS!
www.spokanetidbits.com
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
Page 7
Page 8
Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA
INEXPLICABLY CAPTIVATING & UNIQUE
'BS &BTU 5SFBTVSFT t #SPO[FT 8PSLT PG "SU 'BNPVT $BST .VDI .PSF
Saturday 489-8859 Please Arrive & Sunday 5225 N. Freya Before 3PM 1-4 PM ** $8.00 Entry **
Mickey Thompson Book Well Worth the Read We’re dedicating this week’s column to one of the all-time greats in auto racing, namely the late Mickey Thompson. A book on his life will soon be available at bookstores nationwide. “Mickey Thompson: The Fast Life and Tragic Death of a Racing Legend” is skillfully written by noted racing author Erik Arneson, a former motorsports reporter for USA Today and vice president of media relations at Speed TV. Thompson was, and always will be, one of my all-time heroes. He competed in every form of racing imaginable, although he’s perhaps best remembered for his 406.60 mph land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1960 in his famed Challenger I. Even today, Thompson’s line of racing and street-performance tires are popular aftermarket offerings. However, Mickey Thompson was much more. He was an innovator at everything he did, especially at Indianapolis. I held him in the same esteem as Smokey Yunick, particularly when it came to pioneering designs that appeared at the Brickyard. Sadly, it was one of Thompson’s cars that started Indy’s double fatal crash in 1964 that took the life of Thompson’s driver, road-racing legend Dave MacDonald, and the ultra popular Eddie Sachs. It was indeed a grim day in racing. Always a drag racer, Thompson fielded numerous top drag cars, including a twin-engine rail and a Pontiac Hemi dragster for legendary Jack Chrisman. Thompson’s Funny Cars soon made
Bubble Machine Car Wash
ALL LOCATIONS OPEN 24 HOURS Self Serve & Karcher Touch Free In-Bay Automatic 5625 N. Market St. 487-7746
NO Credit Requirements Call Today! NO Intrest Rate (509) 924-7334 Low Monthly Payments 808 N. Pines “You Could Be Driving Today” the scene, the top two being the dominating 1969 Ford Mustangs driven by the late Pat Foster and soon to-be Indy Car star Danny Ongais. Thompson later turned to off-road racing, where he built a huge business. In the midst of his offroad-racing series’ popularity, Thompson and his wife, Trudy, were shot to death -- execution style -- in their driveway in the pre-dawn hours of March 16, 1988. Arneson draws on some of the most extensive information available on Thompson in his book, including both the famous and infamous details of his life and death. He skillfully calls on all who could help tell the story in this, the first, true account of what really happened before and after unknown hooded gunmen rode into a gated Southern California community on bicycles and ambushed Thompson and his wife, brutally ending their lives while neighbors read the morning paper. Arneson points to the fact that the killers left behind more than $70,000 in jewelry, thus the obvious “hit” intentions. Those close to Mickey and Trudy, including the couple’s immediate family, quickly pointed to Mickey’s hotheaded former business partner Michael Goodwin as the mastermind behind the murders. Nearly 20 years later, a jury found Goodwin guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. The actual gunmen were never identified or apprehended. John Walsh and “America’s Most Wanted,” and Robert Stack of “Unsolved Mysteries” featured the murders on their TV shows, as did the CBS “48 Hours Mystery.” The scandalous details of the crime, which Arneson explains in detail, and the years of legal wrangling that followed made for hundreds of splashy headlines and television clips.
I MAKE SURE THERE ARE
It PAYS To Advertise in TIDBiTS®
30,000 papers distributed monthly in Over 200 popular businesses throughout Spokane County Afforadable advertising rates
Call today (509) 270-6514
I am fortunate to be one of those who got to read the book prior to publication. The day the book arrived, I had just returned from a business trip and it was midnight on a Friday night. I picked it up for a quick browse, and ended up putting on a pot of coffee and staying up through Saturday morning. Yes, it’s that engrossing. Write to Greg Zyla in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send an e-mail to gzyla@ptd. net. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.
Cover photo of new Mickey Thompson biography
106 S. Willow Rd Spokane Valley
NO SURPRISES
Cory L Tesarik, Agent 4408 S. Regal Street Spokane, WA 99223 (509) 448-0224 www.corytesarik.com
www.spokanetidbits.com
No one knows you like family ™
American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries Home Office - Madison, WI 53783 ©2008 003080 - 3/08
Certified Automotive Repair Service
Get An Honest And Trustworthy Check Up By Our Experienced Mechanics...TODAY!
1226 S. Pines Rd. 891-8395
2400 1st St. Cheney 235-5188
1821 W. Sunset (Self Serve Only) 455-5570
We Proudly Service All Makes & Models
Automotive • Residential • Commercial • Medical
Complete Interiors • Carpet • Headliners • Door Panels Custom Tops • Custom Consoles • Tonneau Covers Cusions • Cockpit Covers • Boat Covers • Bow Covers Furniture • Beds & Tables • Barstools • Bar Rails
Manuel & Maria Homen Owners/Operator
The Membership Trading Community
877.895.8603 www.itex.com
509-924-2175
mariamhomen@aol.com 11616 E. Montgomery Dr. #32 Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Please support our valued advertisers & tell them “I saw your ad in TIDBITS®”