Melanz Magazine

MELANZ April 15, 2005

Eastern Traditions For Life In The West

MILK. Does Your Bones Good

Dealing With Insomnia Visit Galveston’s Treasures That’s Life: Kashmir To L.A. Learning About Assets: For Kids

Monthly Magazine

www.MelanzOnline.com

MELANZ Eastern Traditions For Life In the West

From the Editor’s Desk

Publisher MELANZ Magazine Managing Editor Annie Ghazi annie@faruki.cc LivingWell Editor Sara Ghazi Family Section Shehla Merchant Nutrition Section Editor Roohe Ahmed, MPH / RD Roo490@hotmail.com Travel Section Sonia Laflamme sonia@justsaygo.com Naeem Randhawa naeem@justsaygo.com Contributors Athar Zia, Dr. Iffat Farooqui -BDS, Syed Faiz Qadri -M.D., Fahmeeda Ahmed, Syeda Akhtar Subscriptions / Advertising Inquiries

Main Office Tel: (714) 757-0786 Michigan Representative Javeria Ahmed (248) 842-1460 Houston, TX Distributor Musarrat Jehan Ahmed (281) 213-8353 Southern CA / Orange County Rep Chris Janumala (714) 717-0111 Mailing Address P.O. Box 5172 Lynnwood, WA 98046.

Email: Info@MelanzOnline.com

During infancy, a human contains over three hundred and sixty bones.

As the years pass, our bones join, in order to adapt to rapid physical growth and to increase strength. Thus, as adults we have 206 bones in our entire body. Thus, archeologists and forensic scientists can identify the age of human remains through this intricate and rhythmic change in bones.

It’s incredible, the kind of responsibilities our bones live up to… keeping our posture, enforcing strength, incorporating motion with our joints and limbs, and providing protection to our organs from external shock.

Calcium and collagen allow elasticity in our body and prevent bones from thinning, weakening and breaking.

One in two women and one in eight men will have osteoporosis by the age of 50. It’s because our body cannot refurbish calcium and vitamin D on it’s own. Dairy products and other healthy foods provide the nutrients needed to increase bone strength and prevent the aforementioned statistic. But many Americans today, are unlikely to be addressing this issue, therefore, incorporate a very minimal amount of calcium in their diets. I, for one, will forget how much I dislike milk in exchange for an osteoporosis-free life. In this day and age, we have numerous ailments and health risks widely spread throughout the country. One of the main reasons for this is the addiction to junk food and the reduced efforts to eat naturally grown, healthy foods that, in the long run, will enhance the health we have, rather than eliminating it.

Always, Annie

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Copyright © 2005 Melanz Magazine. Reproduction of any part or the entirety without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited content, articles, photographs, or illustrations. The views/opinions expressed by the writers/editors are not necessarily the views of MELANZ / and/or its partners/owners and accordingly no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof. All the stories and their characters are fictional unless mentioned otherwise. For healthcare, finance, and family counseling issues please refer to a related professional. MELANZ does not offer solutions to your specific problem and none of the articles should be taken as a solution by the readers. MELANZ is not responsible for errors or omissions. MELANZ/its partners/owners are not responsible for checking the accuracy of information provided by the advertisers.

Advertising copy, logos, and artwork are the sole responsibility of individual advertisers, not of MELANZ. Printed in USA.

A few days ago, I sat near my daughter’s bedside looking at a photo album. She was such a fragile baby, with tiny thin fingers and feet the size of my palms. As she grew, rapid wiggling and movement began and soon she had her pink darling lips wrapped around her fat, stubby toe. I was curiously amazed at her ability to stretch her body into awkward positions and roll over in a manner that twisted her back as if she was a pretzel. As an adult, I’d most likely break my back if I tried mimicking my daughter’s playful rolling. The flexibility in children is slowly lost as age increases and we no longer have the ability to manipulate our body into the most articulate positions.

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CONTENTS

features

MILK. Does Your Bones Good

10

Visit Galveston’s Treasures

Unearth pyramids, beaches, and great seafood close to Houston, TX.

Osteoporosis is a great excuse to drink milk.

Dealing With Insomnia

17

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Avoid counting sheep and treat your insomnia.

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25

departments

Learning About The Assets

Sauce It Up: Kachumber

04

Nutrition: Nutritious Recipes On The Go

06

Home Decor: Reflecting On A New Project

08

Leisure: Walking The Thin Line: Episode: 03

20

Family: Moms: Where Is The Time going?

30

32

Spring is the best time to prepare for the summer business youths dream about.

That’s Life: Kashmir To Los Angeles

28

Sacrifices our elders make to adjust to the life in the west.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

03

Sauce it up

Kachumber Ingredients

Steps To Successful Cooking

2 – 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 large cucumber, peeled and finely diced 1/4 cup chopped onions 2 hot green chili peppers, finely chopped 3 tsp granulated sugar 2/3 tsp salt 5 tbsp lemon juice 5 sprigs cilantro leaves, chopped, garnish

1.Place all ingredients,except cilantro in mixing bowl. Combine well.

2. Chill in refrigerator for 1/2 hour.

3. Spoon into serving platter. Sprinkle cilantro on top of dressing.

4. Serve with rice or bread.

Utensils

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Mixing bowl, mixing spoon, serving platter

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Serving: 4- 5 Cook Clock: 40 minutes

Nutrition

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Nutritious Recipes On The Go

By Roohe Ahmed, MPH / RD Include these calcium filled recipes in your daily diet to strengthen bones.

Fruit Salad with a TWIST 2 medium bananas, cut into slices 2 medium tangerines, peeled and cut into chunks 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained 1 cup red seedless grapes 1/2 cup vanilla non-fat yogurt Honey, to taste Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving.

ENJOY

Fruit Yogurt Cups 2 (8-oz) containers low-fat strawberry yogurt 1 (8-oz) can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup, undrained 5 strawberries, thinly sliced lengthwise 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced 10 pieces of mandarin oranges In a blender, combine yogurt and pineapple and process until smooth. Fill small cups 1/4 full of mixture. Freeze until firm.

When serving, arrange strawberries, kiwi and mandarin oranges on top of each cup. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. You can also add this concoction on top of a graham cracker crust.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

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Nutrition Lassi 1 cup plain yogurt 2/3 cup whole milk 2 ½ tbsp sugar 1 mango, optional In a blender mix yogurt, milk, and sugar.

Serve in glass. If adding mango, increase milk to 1 cup.

Adding mango to this lassi recipe will give an extra kick of Vitamin A & C.

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes 1.5 pounds all purpose potatoes 5 tablespoons margarine 2/3 cup milk 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, or cheese of your choice Salt/Pepper to taste Cut potatoes into fourths and cover with water in a large pot; bring to a boil. Simmer until tender, about 15 minutes or so. Drain potatoes and put back into pot; mash with hand masher or mixer. Mix in margarine, milk, salt and pepper.

Transfer to an oven safe dish and mix in cheese. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.

DEELicious Parfait Layer a pretty glass with low fat vanilla yogurt, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, granola, and keep repeating. Have your kids help you for a fast an easy snack! ...............................................................

Ask questions, get nutritious information, learn about healthy foods, and a lot more!

Just log onto www.MelanzOnline.com or contact us (714) 757-0786.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Roohe Ahmed is a Public Health Nutritionist and can be reached at roo490@hotmail.com.

MEET THE NUTRITIONIST

07

Home Decor

Reflecting On A new PROject

Add a personal touch to your home. Create a signature look by incorporating a little something crafted by yours truly. This month in MELANZ we have reflected upon personalizing one’s space.

We came up with a great style that can incorporate your unique ideas and design.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Mirror etching is a popular project amongst crafters today. It’s also an established business that allows a simple $40 mirror to cost over $140.

But today we’re going to save you that hundred bucks by teaching you the in’s and out’s of mirror design.

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HomeDecor Safety Tip: Wear goggles

Tools 1. Existing or new mirror (any size) 2. A roll of adhesive vinyl (plain white) 3. X-cato knife (found in any craft store) 4. No. 2 Pencil 5. Medium size bottle of Etching Cream (also found in craft stores) 6. Squeegee 7. Small brush

during the cutting and etching portion of this project. Avoid skin contact with etching since it contains Ammonium.

DirecTions

Step 1: Clean and dry mirror thoroughly. Cut

Step 2: With your pencil draw any design you like on the vinyl. You can also trace pictures or monograms onto the vinyl or use different pretraced sheets available at craft stores.

Step 3: Using the x-cato knife cut out the

Step 4: Wash away all of the etching cream with cold water and pat dry. Remove the rest of the vinyl. Your mirror will show through the beautiful signature design you created.

design that you want etched. Peel off the cut design, so the mirror shows through. Press down the rest of the vinyl. With brush, spread etching cream thickly onto visible mirror. Let cream sit for 5 minutes.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

vinyl a few inches larger than the mirror.

Remove the back of the vinyl and stick onto mirror, wrapping it over the edges of the mirror.

Push out all air pockets with a squeegee.

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Cover Story

MILK. Does Your Bones Good

MELANZ | APRIL 05

By Roohe Ahmed, MPH/RD

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Cover Story “Drink milk!! It’ll make you grow strong and tall”.

How many of us remember our parents saying this line to us to get us to drink milk? And we as children, eagerly downed the milk, expecting to be taller the next day. Of course there is always some truth to the statements moms tell us, even if it is to get us to do something, and the statement about milk, or more specifically the calcium in milk and our bones, is correct. Obviously our bones compose our skeleton, which essentially holds up our body, therefore any material/substance that positively affects our bones, will make us stronger—of course! However, despite the realization that calcium is important for our bones, many people do not get the recommended daily amount of calcium daily, and this sets us up for osteoporosis, a disease in which our bones become fragile and thin, and put us at serious risk for bone fractures. Remember that commercial with the elderly person who says, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”? That is no joke; this scenario happens to many people, except in their case it may not be that their bones break after they fall, many times their bones crumble and as a result they fall. Pretty scary thought, but yet it just may happen. You may think this is just an “old person’s” disease, but the onset can start while one is in their early teens. But don’t fret, while osteoporosis is a serious condition, it is also preventable… Here’s the low down.

Some StatS….

According to the National Institutes of Health, every year osteoporosis leads to 1.5 million fractures, or breaks, mostly in the hip, spine and wrist; the cost of treatment is estimated at over $17 billion and increasing. It threatens 34 million Americans, mostly older women, but older men get it too. Over 8 million women and 2 million men in the United States have osteoporosis. As the population ages, the numbers are expected to rise.

What about them boneS?

During our lifetime bone tissue breaks down in a process called resorption: old bone tissue is broken down by cells called osteoclasts.

Once they are done with this job, other special cells called osteoblasts move in and form new bone tissue. This process constantly goes on.

However, during our childhood and teenage years, new bone tissue is added to the skeleton faster than it is broken down. Therefore our bones at that age are much stronger and denser. This process of bone being added faster than it being removed goes on until we hit peak bone mass at about age 30. Basically you can think of our bones as a bank, with bone tissue being deposited and withdrawn during our lifetime.

After approximately age 30, there are more withdrawals than deposits. If you got enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise (all factors helping to build bones) in your youth, your bank account will be full, and while you will still be losing bone faster than gaining it, you have slowed down the process of getting osteoporosis which occurs when bone removal happens too quickly or withdrawal too slowly or both. For those whose “bank accounts” did not achieve peak bone mass during their bone building years, they are at increased risk of osteoporosis. With osteoporosis, one’s bones become soft and porous.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Bone is actually living tissue that is constantly regenerating and degenerating itself. It is made up of collagen, a protein that allows bones to be soft, and calcium phosphate, a mineral that makes one’s bones hard. Together, both substances allow the bones to be

strong yet flexible.

Ninety-nine percent of the calcium our body needs is contained within bones and teeth, the rest is in our blood.

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Cover Story Risks?

There are various factors that increase one’s risk of developing osteoporosis, and while some factors can be altered, some just cannot. It’s important to recognize what the risk factors are so that you can try to prevent it from developing or from getting worse. Major risk factors are the following (in no particular order): Being female (although men are susceptible to get osteoporosis). But why women? Women start off having a lower bone mass and tend to live longer than men. And once they hit menopause, their levels of estrogen drop, speeding up bone loss.

Older age. The older you get the more higher the risk since your bones weaken as you age. Don’t forget how the “bone bank” works.

Low intake of calcium. Low calcium intake for prolonged periods of life, or taking any sort of medication that negatively affects absorption of calcium can affect bone health.

Excess alcohol intake.

Body frame. Those who are very thin or have a small body frame are at higher risk due to having less bone mass to pull from as they age.

What do i look foR?

History of falls or bone fractures as an adult Smoking Early onset of menopause and/or late onset of first menstrual cycle. The greater a woman’s exposure to estrogen in her lifetime, the lower the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore if a woman started her periods early in life or started menopause late in life, her risk of developing osteoporosis had decreased.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk osteoporosis. Children who are active during their childhoods have high bone density, however exercise at any age, especially weight bearing exercises are very beneficial to bone health.

Ethnic background: non-Hispanic whites and those with an Asian background are at higher risk.

Family history of osteoporosis

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Diuretics, a class of drugs that prevent fluid buildup in the body, can make one’s kidneys excrete more calcium, thereby potentially making bones thinner.

Other medications such as heparin which helps to thin blood, some anti-seizure medications and antacids containing aluminum also can cause bone loss; ask your doctor and pharmacist.

Use of certain medications can increase risk for osteoporosis. Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, cortisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone, which are used to treat conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc…, damage bone. If these drugs are necessary, one’s doctor should monitor bone density. Excess thyroid hormone, in conditions such as hyperthyroidism, can also cause bone loss.

There are no early warning signs screaming at you that you are developing osteoporosis. Actually, osteoporosis is a silent disease, creeping up on people starting from childhood and depending on factors such as how much calcium you take in, physical activity, lifestyle, etc...until finally causing blatant signs/ symptoms such as fracturing the vertebrae, wrists, hips or other bones.

hoW do i knoW i have it?

Your doctor can conduct a simple test that measures bone mineral density at different parts of your body such as your spine, hip and wrist, which are areas most affected by osteoporosis. The test is called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry or DEXA, and is a simple, painless procedure kind of like taking an X-ray.

Bone density testing is recommended for: XWomen age 65 or older XPeople age 60 and at increased risk of osteoporosis XPostmenopausal women who have recently fractured a bone XYounger postmenopausal women with other risk factors for osteoporosis

Cover Story Now what? how do I preveNt thIs? First things first, stop smoking and /or drinking excessive alcohol. These are bad for you anyway.

That’s reason enough.

Get active!!

There are many benefits of becoming active, but to prevent osteoporosis also try to get in weight bearing activities. Weight bearing exercises are those that are designed to work against gravity.

These include walking, running, stair climbing, jumping rope, tennis, dancing, etc… Obviously you don’t have to go to a gym to take part in these activities; you can do them in the comfort of your home or backyard.

If you are not active, there is no better time to start then right now. You don’t have to be exercising for years to see the benefits. Not only does physical activity lower risk for osteoporosis, but there are great benefits for heart health, to help lose weight, maintain weight loss, etc… However until the age of 30, you are constantly building up your bone bank

and increasing bone density until reaching maximum density, but after that age, you should still continue to engage in physical activity to help prevent bone loss. Be sure to ask your doctor before starting any physical activity regiment, especially if you have any chronic diseases.

Calcium!!

Make sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is not only good for your bone health, but it also helps keep a strong heart beat; controls blood pressure; helps blood clot; helps send nerve messages; and makes muscles move. In addition, recent research is showing that calcium aids with weight loss (more on this is to come in recent months in the press).

Your body’s need for calcium changes over your life time with the greatest need during childhood and adolescence as your body is growing, as well as during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Postmenopausal women as well as elderly men also need to take in more calcium. As one ages one’s body becomes less efficient in absorbing calcium.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

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Cover Story The Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, recommend the following intake levels:

RECOMMENDED CALCIUM INTAKES* Age

Amount of Calcium

Infants Birth - 6 months 6 months - 1 year

210 mg 270 mg

Children/Young Adults 1 - 3 years 4 - 8 years 9 - 18 years

500 mg 800 mg 1,300 mg

Adult Women and Men 19 - 50 years 50 yeas +

1,000 mg 1,200 mg

Pregnant or Lactating 18 years or younger 19 - 50 years

1,300 mg 1,000 mg

* Source: National Academy of Sciences, 1997

To achieve the recommended levels, children from ages 4-8 need approximately 3 servings per day of calcium; teens need 4 servings a day; and adults need about 3-4 servings a day, depending on whether they are above their 50’s or not.

PROFESSIONAL MARKETING SERVICES Advertising & Graphic Design Direct Mailing & Printing POS Promotions & Product Sampling Food Marketing Marketing Plan Development Call Faruki and Company for all your marketing needs today. We serve in U.S. and Canada.*

MELANZ | APRIL 05

* Some services may not be available in all areas.

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(425) 745-3525

Cover Story Unfortunately, the general public does not get the recommended calcium levels. As kids and teenagers are drinking more and more juice and soda, these sugary beverages are replacing traditional milk in the diet. And while milk and other dairy products are not the only sources of calcium, they are great sources of calcium, for example one cup of milk contains about the same amount of calcium as 4 cups of broccoli. It doesn’t matter if the milk is regular (although pediatricians recommend that children after the age of 2 switch to low fat milk), low fat or non-fat, all have the same levels of calcium, vitamins and minerals, but just less fat. Other sources of calcium include fortified juices (such as orange juice), fortified cereals and other grain products, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, canned sardines, tofu, and other dairy such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream and soy milk.

Without Vitamin D, however, our bodies cannot absorb the calcium. We can get Vitamin D from our skin as well as from our diet. We need between 400 and 800 IU of Vitamin D daily, which we can get

For those that just cannot get enough calcium in their diet, supplements are an option, and are recommended, especially for women after menopause. Usually calcium comes in supplement form as calcium carbonate, but for those over the age of 50, the form calcium citrate may be a more absorbable and tolerable form as gastric acid production diminishes with age.

The key to preventing osteoporosis lies essentially in a healthy lifestyle: good diet and physical activity.

But then again, that’s the motto to avoid most health problems! For calcium rich recipes, check out our nutrition section. Here’s to good health!

ITS ALL ONLINE >>> www.MelanzOnline.com

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Great Recipes Nutritional Information Wonderful Travel Destinations Awesome Household Solutions Interesting Weekly News Shopping Deals Links To Cool Websites Chance To Win $50 Gift Card!

And a lot more

from fortified products (such as dairy products), egg yolks, liver, etc… However our body naturally manufactures Vitamin D from sunlight; make sure you receive at least 15 minutes of sunlight daily. For those living further north in the colder climates, with little sunlight, more effort must be made to get sunlight as well as to increase Vitamin D intake via diet.

15

LivingWell

Dealing with

Insomnia By: Syed Faiz Qadri, MD Gerhardt Wagner, Ph.D Syed Pirzada Sattar, MD

Insomnia is a symptom that is the result of a sleep disorder in which we either do not get enough sleep or we do not get refreshing sleep. About 60 million Americans each year suffer from insomnia. Insomnia can lead to serious sleep deficits and problems. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

17

LivingWell Sleep is a regular, continuing and easily reversible state that is characterized by relative serenity.

Individual sleep requirements vary: some people are long sleepers and require 9-10 hours while others are short sleepers.

While individual sleep requirements vary, it has been shown that either too little or too much sleep can have negative consequences. In 2002, a study of more than 1 million men and women showed that persons who sleep more than 8.5 hours per night or less than 3.5 hours had a mortality risk 15 % greater than those who slept an average of 7 hours per night.

Insomnia Approximately one third of our life is spent sleeping, and the other two thirds is influenced by the quality and quantity of the time spent in slumber. Occasional sleep troubles are common. Insomnia is a symptom that is the result of a sleep disorder in which we either do not get enough sleep or we do not get refreshing sleep. About 60 million Americans each year suffer from insomnia. Insomnia can lead to serious sleep deficits and problems. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women.

Types of Insomnia People with insomnia have one or more of the following: Initial Insomnia: difficulty falling asleep.

Middle Insomnia: waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep.

Terminal Insomnia: waking up too early in the morning and feeling unrested.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Causes of Insomnia

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All of the above types of insomnia can be divided into two main categories.

1- Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.

2- Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like depression, heartburn, cancer, asthma, arthritis), pain, medication they are taking, or a substance they are using (like alcohol).

Insomnia can vary in length and frequency. Insomnia can be shortterm (acute insomnia), or it can last a long time (chronic insomnia). It can also be intermittent whereby one has periods of sleep without any sleep difficulties. Acute (shortterm) insomnia can last from one to several nights. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort, and can be related to a specific event. Causes of acute insomnia can include significant life stressors (job loss or change, death of a loved one), illness, environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep, or anything that throws off a normal sleep schedule (like jet lag or switching from a day to night shift).

Chronic Insomnia Chronic (long-term) insomnia occurs when a person does not sleep for at least 3 nights a week for 1 month or longer. It can have several causes and often occurs along with other health problems.

Common causes of chronic insomnia are pain or discomfort at night, depression and chronic stress.

How do I know that I have insomnia?

If you think you have a sleep problem, talk to your primary care physician. You may need a thorough medical evaluation, which may include a physical exam, including a medical and sleep history assessment. Keep a sleep diary for a week or two, and track your sleep pattern and the level of tiredness during the day.

Your primary care physician may want to interview your bed partner about the quantity and quality of your sleep.

What is the treatment?

Treatment of insomnia is primarily based on the cause. Acute or shortterm insomnia may not require treatment. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits.

LivingWell What are good sleep habits?

KBNB HALAL 209-367-1970

1- Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.

2- DO not take naps during the day because naps may make you less sleepy at night.

3- Do not ingest caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep you from falling asleep.

Alcohol interferes with sleep quality and can cause you to stay awake, or awaken in the middle of the night.

4- Exercise regularly but try not to exercise close to bedtime as it may stimulate you and cause difficulty in falling asleep. Physicians suggest not exercising for 3 hours before bedtime.

5- A light snack before bedtime may help sleep but don’t eat a heavy meal late in the day...

6- Your sleeping place should be comfortable. Be sure that it is quiet, dark and not too warm or too cold. Try a sleeping mask if light is a problem.

7- Follow a routine to help relax and wind down before sleep, such as reading a book, listening to music, or taking a bath.

8- Avoid using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex. If you can’t fall asleep and don’t feel drowsy, get up and read or do something that is not overly stimulating until you feel sleepy.

Pharmacological Treatment If your insomnia is causing impairment in your functioning during the day, see your primary care physician. You may need sleeping pills for a limited time. The rapid onset, short-acting medications are very beneficial and do have the side effects of feeling drowsy or groggy the following day. Side effects of sleeping pills can be a problem, too. It is not recommended to use over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia.

BRINGING TO YOUR TABLE, THE BEST HALAL CHICKEN YEAR AFTER YEAR

Treatment for chronic (long-term) sleep disorders includes first treating health problems or any underlying conditions that are causing the insomnia. If insomnia continues, your primary care physician may suggest behavioral therapy or medication.

About the authors:

Ask for KBNB halal meats by name.

KBNB serves ethnic stores, restaurants, and supermarkets in California.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Syed Faiz Qadri, MD Third year Resident Creighton University and University of Nebraska Psychiatry Residency Program in Omaha, Nebraska.

Gerhardt Wagner, Ph.D. Ph.D in Comparative Pathology from UC Davis, and is a third year medical student at Creighton University School of Medicine.

Syed Pirzada Sattar, MD Assistant Professor and Director of Psychiatric Treatment at the Substance Abuse Treatment Center Creighton University and University of Nebraska Psychiatry Residency Program in Omaha, Nebraska.

DOES YOUR GROCER CARRY QUALITY ZABIHA CHICKEN FROM KBNB?

19

Leisure

Walking The Thin Line Episode: 3

MELANZ | APRIL 05

By A. Rehman

20

Leisure Ajay’s jaw fell practically a few inches from the floor, as he attempted to grasp the riveting news. His first reaction was that this was a practical joke. “I am serious, buddy,” Shiraz stated, noticing the stunned look on Ajay’s face. He stared intently at Ajay’s awe-struck expression, posing the reality of his revelation. Ajay knew this was no joking matter and prepared to hear the worse. He had never seen Shiraz quite this grim and suddenly felt a little vulnerable. There was still so much Ajay didn’t know about Shiraz and here he was putting himself out on untamed territory.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said that I might have. I am just not sure,” clarified Shiraz, he was desperate for a confidant and didn’t want to scare away the only friend he had.

“Shiraz, hello… are you alright man,” Ajay sat unaware of the surroundings, but cautiously tried to shift his friend’s attention, “Tell me what happened, exactly?”

Shiraz’s glance slid past the rest of the room and over at Ajay. He thought about whether unfolding the details was a safe move. Slowly Shiraz wrapped his quivering fingers around the putty-colored coffee mug, which had the glum appeal of Shiraz’s mood. He brought the steaming drink to his mouth and comforted himself with a long hot gulp that slid down his throat and eased the restlessness in his stomach.

Nabila Mir continued her attempt to reach Shiraz, especially after talking to Amrita Desai. But Nabila failed in her mission to hear her son’s voice. After speaking with Amrita, her anxiety peaked.

Sunrise was just a few hours away, but sleep was the least of her worries. Living apart from her son for such a long time created an awkward formality between them.

Though her heart sunk with worries, she didn’t want to wake Jamshaid an hour before his usual time. But Nabila was desperate to talk to someone in order to find out what was going on with Shiraz. She decided to make herself some tea, hoping it would soothe her aching heart and crept down the narrow stairway to the kitchen. “O Allah, what is happening in my son’s life?

Why doesn’t he tell me what’s wrong?” The kettle hissed abruptly, dismissing Nabila’s thoughts, as the water began to boil. Nabila retreated to her seat near the large kitchen window and drew her hot mug near her lips. The sound of soft footsteps alerted Nabila, so to wipe her tears away. To no surprise Jamshaid’s tired eyes squinted as he tried to make out his wife’s figure in the dark room.

“Nabila , what are you doing up so early? And who was that on the phone? Jamshaid asked as he yawned. “Why are all the lights off?”

“I didn’t want to wake you,” Nabila replied.

“But you did,” He pointed out, before she could say anything more. “So who called?”

“Jamshaid, remember when I mentioned to you earlier that Shiraz is not telling us something. But you did not listen. Amrita, his friend’s mother called.”

“Amrita, who?” >>

*

*

*

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Ajay shook his head trying to get a grip on the situation and asked, “When did this incident take place?”

“It was before I came to New York.

My cousin Nadeem is the only one who knows about it… well until today.”

“What do you mean,” Ajay responded curiously. He always heard stories like this and saw movies depicting a climax that seemed so unreal it was almost funny, but he never witnessed true life story such as Shiraz’s.

“I am going to have to go to Karachi. That phone call, up at your place… It was Nadeem’s fiancé, Seema. I think he told her.

Something about being upfront with her before the wedding. But he should have asked me first.” Shiraz shook his head in furious disagreement. He leaned forward, as his phone began buzzing at his side all over again. “God, again! I hate these cell phones,” Shiraz swiftly jerked the phone away from

his pocket and silenced the phone entirely. Head still hung below his shoulders, Shiraz shifted his eyes to a customer near the coffeehouse doorway. The young man sat lazily resting his foot on the adjacent wooden chair and leaned his head against the frosted window. His hair was in an awkward mess, making Shiraz unable to tell whether the man just woke up or was trying a new hairstyle. A few feet behind him sat two girls, who giggled quietly over what seemed to be a pile of pictures. The younger looking brunette would point to some area on the photo and crack up, creating a rippling effect on her blonde friend. A small group that sat a table-length away on the large futon chairs seemed entranced by the screens of their laptops as they chomped away on the keyboard.

The heavy burden on Shiraz’s shoulders gave-way to his already crumbling self-esteem; all he wanted now was to switch places with any one of the others sitting in that small cafe. The guilt was plastered on his face. Shiraz felt as if this naked truth was visible to everyone and became anxious.

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Leisure

MELANZ | APRIL 05

“Jamshaid. Shiraz has mentioned them many times before. How can you forget?”

“Okay… okay. Umm… yes I remember now. So what did she say?” Nabila explained to her husband about Shiraz’s sudden exit from Amrita’s home. Amrita mentioned that she sent her son to check on him.

“So you called Shiraz?”

“I did, but he did not answer.”

“It is okay Nabila, he will be fine.

Maybe there is a problem at work or school. We are ten thousand miles away and he is a grown man now. Just be patient and give me a cup of tea as well.”

“That’s exactly why I’m even more worried! What if he is in serious trouble?” Nabila set the kettle back on the stove and walked towards her husband.

“I will email him today and send a text message to his cell asking him to call you. What do you think of

22

that? Now do not leave anymore messages on his voice mail. He may need to gather his thoughts before talking to us. Trust him, okay?”

Nabila nodded in agreement. The two avoided telling each other what really ran through their minds, sipping their morning tea silently.

The worries that loomed over their heads could not be explained in any form of expression. Jamshaid stood to rest his cup in the sink, but Nabila quickly stepped up and relieved her husband from that minor duty. Less than an hour later Jamshaid drove away from his dimly lit bungalow, for work. He had some idea that Nabila wouldn’t sit idle about their son’s situation.

He was right. Nabila drew back the curtains as the gatekeeper swung the iron gates to a close. She decided to further investigate Amrita’s concerns. After grabbing the phone book from the kitchen drawer, Nabila walked over to a

large room, where elegant pieces of furniture were set in an orderly fashion.“I should call Nadeem first.

They talk a lot to each other,” she murmured. By talking to Shiraz’s friends, Nabila hoped to get an idea of what may be bothering him and give her worried mind some comfort. After shifting the long velvet drapes to let in the sunlight, Nabila settled onto a plush green chair and cradled the receiver between her shoulder and neck as she flipped through the pages and scanned for Nadeem’s number. *

*

*

Sleeping in was the most beautiful way to start a morning and Nadeem wished he could adapt this style to his entire life.

Fortunately for this particular day, he was able to find another doctor to cover for him at the hospital. The continuous wedding preparations,

Leisure parties and clatter wiped Nadeem clean of energy. He needed a realistic day off from all the stress and hype of work and home.

Nadeem planned to spend the rest of his day with his friend Farid.

Nadeem met Farid through a colleague at the hospital. Nadeem’s father wanted to build an addition to the house and Farid was a contractor. Through small talk Nadeem came to find that they went to the same primary school, hence, became friends. Farid was also outside of Nadeem’s family and work circles, so it was a relaxing friendship. Farid and Nadeem had discussed Farid’s idea to purchase an office space, thus the two planned on today to look at some available buildings. This was an even greater opportunity for Nadeem to get his mind off of the wedding hassles.

At the sound of a car horn, Nadeem rushed outside after a quick goodbye to his parents. “So where are we going first,” Nadeem asked as he sat in the car.

“We will see three places in Gulshan and three more by the university. But first, let’s get something to eat. I didn’t get a chance to eat in the morning.” The place Farid described was not more than fifteen miles away. The weather was perfect, but a bit on the chilly side. The cool breeze swooshed through Nadeem thick dark hair. It is a nice day to be out, thought Nadeem.

“Hello.” Nadeem turned around to the sound of a feminine voice. It was Seema and another young woman who seemed to be as old as Seema. Nadeem assumed it was one of Seema’s friends.

“Are you following Nadeem Bhai?”

Seema,

“Ha ha. No, no. I am here with a friend of mine, Farid,” Nadeem turned towards the front of the car as Farid walked towards the group.

“Farid this is my fiancé Seema and her friend… oh..”

“Shaheen,” the girl filled in.

“Sorry… yes Shaheen, indeed,” Nadeem apologized. After everyone was well acquainted, Seema gestured to speak with Nadeem.

“Seema you know this is not appropriate. Ammi is not fond of us talking like this. I will speak to you later maybe. Farid and I have to meet an agent soon.”

“It’s quite important Nadeem. I need to tell you something urgent, please,” Seema insisted.

“Farid, do you mind ordering a plate of nehari and naan for me? I will be there in a minute.” Nadeem and Seema then walked a few yards away. “Yes, is everything alright, Seema?”

“Actually, everything is not alright.

I am truly sorry… but I called Shiraz bhai last night about the discussion we had.”

“You what?! Why?! O God. But you promised Seema!” Nadeem became furious. Onlookers gave concerned looks to Seema, but she reassured them with a quick smile.

Shaheen wasn’t too far from where the couple stood, but couldn’t hear their discussion. She saw the expressions on both Nadeem and Seema’s faces and knew something was wrong.

“Nadeem, I did not tell anyone else.

I just wanted to support him and let him know that I believe him.”

“You shouldn’t have done that. I told you in confidence… What did he say?” This news spoiled his entire day.

“He just hung up and won’t answer the phone,” Seema seemed very ashamed of her mistake.

“Well I have to go. Thanks a lot,” said Nadeem sarcastically.

Shaheen walked up to Seema, “What happened?”

“Nothing,” said Seema under her breath and walked back to the car.

After taking a deep breath, Nadeem walked into the restaurant.

He scanned the room for his friend and noticed the elegant interior of the diner. The walls were covered with hand painted murals of ancient kings and queens. The dim lighting was interrupted by large windows the allowed the bright >>

MELANZ | APRIL 05

“How about we grab some food from this place,” Nadeem pointed to a market as they halted at an intersection.

“I was planning on something a little more appetizing, there’s a good place just two kilometer’s down. It’s called Shadman Nehari Wala. Going to be great food there!”

A few minutes later, Farid pulled into the small shopping center near the restaurant, where a row of jewelers and bazaars had their doors wide open for customers to enter from. Just a few feet of gravel away, a large, house shaped building stood, with a lit banner reading,“Shadman Nehari Wala.” A small courtyard with glass tables and flowerbeds was surrounded by white nailed fences and sat on either side of the entryway. The doors to the restaurant were also ajar indicating to incomers that they were open for business.

Nadeem turned to the passenger window when he noticed a familiar car parked outside a bakery in the shopping center. Farid signaled that he was calling the agent to confirm his appointment as Nadeem stepped out of the car.

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Leisure sunlight to stream in. The seating was designed so that guests could rest against large pillows on the floor. A large square shaped wood panel was finished off with a shiny varnish and set as the dining table.

Each table setting could accommodate over six people and almost half of the entire restaurant was filled with small families and young college students. Farid sat at the far end just close enough to keep an eye on the waiters who shifted in and out of the kitchen.

Nadeem walked a few feet in and was greeted by a young man and asked if he liked a table. Nadeem nodded towards his friend and was welcomed to the restaurant.

“Just on time, the food should be here shortly,’ Farid pointed towards the kitchen in the back. Nadeem sat down across from his friend with his face still looking tense, but Farid avoid asking any personal questions. Nadeem noticed and appreciated his friend’s courtesy.

Nadeem was hoping to get away from his daily routine, but Seema had ruined it all. His thoughts were interrupted by a large silver plate

filled with steaming hot nehari stew and freshly baked naan. Farid’s tray also had a plate of skewered vegetables and chicken which he offered to Nadeem. The men dug into their meals immediately and made no interruptions. After gulping down a tall glass of water, Nadeem regarded his meal to be delicious and Farid nodded in agreement. Good, hot food always melts away the pain, thought Nadeem, At least for a little while. *

*

*

“So are you going to tell me or what?” Ajay looked at Shiraz questionably, but Shiraz was unsure of how to answer. Things happened so fast and so long ago that Shiraz couldn’t recall everything.

Everything seemed to be a blur. A chill crept down his spine and his heart felt heavy, body weightless.

He spent so many years trying to forget about it. Now just trying to picture the events of that day, were intolerable. Shiraz drew in another gulp of his tea. It was lukewarm now, but Shiraz didn’t seem to notice. He never thought that

telling his story would be this difficult.

“Ajay… you have to promise that you will not tell this to another soul.”

Ajay stayed quiet and thought What if I have to repor t it to the authorities? What if it’s illegal to hide it? Hundreds of questions like these filled his mind. Shiraz stood up to leave.

“I swear not to tell anyone, Shiraz.”

Ajay knew this would be his only chance to find out what was bothering Shiraz. Shiraz slid back into his seat. There was a part of him that wanted to keep agony inside hidden and untouched, but a bigger part of him wanted to get it off his chest. Will Ajay be able to keep this to himself? thought Shiraz.

He glanced up at Ajay, and stared blankly at his friend for a few minutes. Shiraz stood up once more, this time with his lips in a tight, uncomfortable smile. Ajay didn’t let Shiraz out of his sight. I thought he’d tell me. What is he doing?

To be continued ...

Letters to the Editor

MELANZ | APRIL 05

We are constantly working to improve the magazine for our readers. Our aim is to provide quality and useful information for the entire family each month. If you would like to share any ideas, suggest improvements, or have questions for one of our writers, please email us at info@MelanzOnline.com or call at (714) 757-0786.

24

Leisure Travel

Galveston’s Treasures: Pyramids, Beac hes & FFrresh Seaf ood Beaches Seafood

By Sonia Laflamme Just 45 minutes south of Houston on the island of Galveston is where you discover the luxurious Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center. The beautiful décor and friendly staff have earned it the four diamond award by AAA. The 428-room hotel offers all the conveniences and features of a big city destination nestled among breathtaking gardens and majestic steel and glass pyramids. On site, you’ll find casual and elegant dining, a spa, a fully equipped gym, a host of luxury services, and a grand ballroom.

A cascading waterfall complete with koi in the lobby is the first thing visitors see. Guests will enjoy the Olympic sized indoor and outdoor swimming pools, maintained grounds with natural walk-ways and trails lined with native palm, brush and flora.

Don’t forget to check out the giant sized chess court where you can move the waist high game pieces around and take some great pictures.

The next day we took a behind the scenes tour to explore the wonders of the Moody Gardens Resort, which include the blue-glass Aquarium Pyramid®, the clear glass Rainforest Pyramid®, and the rose glass Discovery Pyramid®.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

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We started our tour at the twelve stories high 1.5 million gallon Aquarium Pyramid® that is home to over 8000 aquatic species and gives the visitor the opportunity to explore the oceans of the world.

See the penguins of the South Atlantic, the playful seals of the North Pacific, the South Pacific’s beautiful Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, as well as the Caribbean Ocean complete with sharks, giant turtles and colorful fish.

Moody Gardens has recently started an exciting new program for fans and enthusiasts. Back Stage Passes allows visitors to get up close to the aquatic stars. The Penguin and Seal Pass lets you participate in a six-hour day side-by-side with one of the aquarium’s biologists where you’ll prepare meals, help feed the penguins and assist in the creation of penguin art or other enrichment programs.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

On our tour, the guide introduced us to two very friendly penguins who trumpeted with joy while strutting around curiously moving from one visitor to the next. The children in our group got an especially big thrill from these close encounters with the animals. We paused at the Caribbean Ocean’s feeding deck and saw the sharks and many other fish up close, learning how the fish are fed and how the huge aquarium tanks get cleaned without the fish being disturbed or attacking the keepers!

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Leisure Travel

The Rainforest Pyramid® transports visitors to a different land— one filled with the melodic songs of exotic birds, lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls, and ponds thriving with colorful fish. Something guaranteed to impress children is the bat cave filled with bats from around the world, including vampire bats, and flying foxes. Other critters we came across were the curious long pointed snout coatimundi; the Asian chevrotain, the smallest of the hoofed mammals; the elusive ocelot; and many more inhabitants of the lush rain forest.

After a full day of fun, we went for a relaxing romantic dinner at Rudy T & Paco’s Restaurant in the historical Strand District, an elegant intimate family owned and operated restaurant. Paco the owner, originally from Nicaragua, creates a unique fusion of exotic and American gourmet dishes. He personally prepares all the sauces fresh from scratch every morning and oversees the day’s menu.

Instead of bringing out the traditional bread and butter, the server brought out fried plantain chips and a tangy chipotle sauce for dipping. Our feast continued with Empanadas Mixtas— golden crispy South American turnovers filled with shrimp, beef and

The next day before heading back to Dallas, we had a leisurely lunch at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant located on Seawall Boulevard. We enjoyed their marvelous shrimp bisque so much, that we took some to go. The special of the day was a generous portion of broiled red snapper topped with fresh crab claws. For dessert, we had a thick slice of their famous sinfully rich and delicious pecan pie. Galveston is known for fresh seafood and Gaido’s is a great place to enjoy it.

Galveston Island is a great family destination with something for everyone. Galveston offers 32 miles of beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, museums, art galleries and antique shops, boat rides and cruises, sightseeing trains, and many more activities.

More infor mation online at www.MelanzOnline.com Photo Credits: Photos 1 & 3: Courtesy of Moody Gardens. Photos 2, 4, 5: Sonia Laflamme

MELANZ | APRIL 05

At the Discovery Pyramid®, visit the new Jour ney through Amazing Music exhibit. Explore the science behind the music – everything from exotic instruments like the didgeridoo used by Australian Aboriginals, tribal instruments from Africa and South America, costumes and instruments used in the Chinese Lion Dance, to today’s modern instruments. “Music is such an integral part of our lives. This is a chance for the public to get a glimpse at an entirely different way of life through music,” said Johanna Goforth, Educational Curator for Moody Gardens.

At the IMAX theatre, the 3-D film Ocean Wonderland takes you on a tour of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef and introduces you to sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, sting rays, and many other residents of the deep ocean. We also had a chance to view another 3-D film, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure, where viewers scale down to insect level and witness the tumultuous everyday lives of the two tiny stars— a delicate butterfly and a stealthy predator, the praying mantis.

chicken and served with Paco’s secret recipe creamy cilantro sauce. Delicious! By this time, our taste buds were buzzing with exotic new flavors and we couldn’t wait to try the Filete de Pargo Simpatico, a fresh gulf red snapper encrusted in plantains, pan sautéed, served with a sweet and tangy raspberry chipotle sauce, and all topped with lump crabmeat. This was some of the best seafood we had ever tasted! But it wasn’t over yet. Paco insisted we try a traditional Nicaraguan dessert, tres leches or three milks. This is an amazingly light and very moist cake soaked in a mixture of evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and whole milk. Make sure you leave some room for this scrumptious dessert!

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THAT’S LIFE G Every time I looked at her, guilt washed over me!

It would be a recurrent thought that she should return to Kashmir, as soon as possible! Back home and she wouldn’t be trying too hard to find things she could do, “caring too much” for the baby, trying to reread the books in our small library or getting plain bored.

In her, post retirement life, my mom, had a lot to be busy with, a house teeming with family and friends, a garden overflowing with fruits, vegetables, flowers and of course weeds! And then there would be events, by the truckload!

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Basically all the situations that life throws up and keeps people generally busy, weddings, births, festivals, celebrating someone’s success, counseling the failed ones, funerals - an inevitable reality! Not to forget, the daily routines of running out to get milk or bread, (not like our precalculated grocery shopping’s), through which you wouldn’t forget to say hello to your neighbors or check on their sick baby, better still, to have tea with them! Well, it’s true! It happens.

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So here she was, in California within a mile or two of

By Athar Zia, MS

Disneyland.

We would occasionally take her to the “happiest place on earth” but she wouldn’t give that mantle to any part of this world except her home!

The first time she came here, my mom wasn’t clear on a lot of things! For starters, she didn’t understand the word bored when I mentioned it to her on the phone.

All her life, she had never known what boredom meant or entailed.

She was keen to come over for the birth of her first grandchild and I badly wanted her to. But at the same time my voice would betray me as I broached on the subject of boredom, loneliness, being away from family, distances and our life in general!

After all life here is pretty different! The word “pretty” before the different may not look so pretty to people who come here to visit their children!

My mother however refused to acknowledge that she could ever get bored (which was a bit too brave) or feel any other allied “emotion” that I spoke of!

My friend had once told me about her father’s first visit to Los Angeles, and he had said “I saw the city of angels, but not the angels?”

My mother’s anticipation for the baby seemed to override any apprehensions I had, but my skepticism refused to go!

She took a long time in overcoming jet lag, but she never got over the fact that it took her almost three days to reach California! I would like to think that was her first revelation or the first blow to her bravado! How in the world of rockets does anything take so much time, especially an airplane?

The second revelation shortly followed. While talking to one of our elderly lady friends, mother ended the phone call on the note of meeting her sometime later in the evening. It was kind of odd since we are not used to visiting each other at such a short notice.

Come evening and the lady didn’t come.

My mom, it turned out had assumed that she would “just” drop by! Exactly as it would happen back home!

Mom! That’s not how it is here!

She didn’t comprehend the idea of meticulously planned visits that we scheduled with friends! She called them appointments. She didn’t like the idea of nonexistence of spontaneous friendly visits. She felt our lives were too monotonous!

THAT’S LIFE But she tried hard to remain undaunted. She looked forward to seeing the town on her own, run little household errands, get things for the baby and get to know the neighbors!

It was a plan and I let her make it.

With a lot of trepidation of course!

When she came to the part of actual movement, it slowly dawned on her that this place was really “pretty” different!

California, as they say is a car centric state and she didn’t know any driving. We almost lived in the middle of nowhere, a well insulated “oasis”, in-between a huge maze of unending, busy

asphalt roads!

go into details.

She was zapped. This couldn’t be!

She didn’t want to believe it but had to, after she witnessed the scarce public transport that trickled in from time to time. She decided she could never ever be surgically correct on time to catch one of those buses. She quit the idea but not before asking me about the way poor people traveled in this country.

The day she left, I too like my friend had an anecdote, for posterity! As she hugged me tight, she prayed that I and my family may stay well in this city of Los Angeles, adding with an impish glint “where all angels are lost!”

I explained it, as superficially as possible because I realized that living in two different realms of our one world, her definition of poor was so different from mine.

And I didn’t have the energy to

However that’s not all.

“I checked my blood pressure at Savon, free of charge, it was easy!” she revealed.

She had, after all tried to have her pound of flesh! ...................................................

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(714) 757-0786 GET A FREE ONLINE AD WHEN YOU PLACE AN AD IN OUR PRINT EDITION* *with paid print advertisement only. MELANZ reserves the righ to refuse any ad.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

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29

Family

Moms: Where Is The Time Going?

By Shehla Merchant Lately America has been obsessed with simplifying life. But it seems as though, time and money are the kinds of resources that have run out for the more important things in life, such as family. Simple activities that encompass true enjoyment are undermined by social responsibility.

For many women in America juggling society, family, and a humble marriage is more than challenging. The thought of caring for “self ” hasn’t even been determined yet for these women, let alone discussed. As a mom, wife, employee, and social figure, women get lost in the chaos of multi-tasking, therefore, struggle to manage themselves. In this issue, we want to recognize moms and discuss ways to improve daily routines and personal-care.

Whether personal care be physical, mental or emotional, this “task” requires time, so learn to make room for it!

Here are a few tips that will assist in improving the quality of your life and maintaining a healthy relationship with your spouse, in order to co-exist as a healthy individual.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

First , adjust daily routines to

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enhance the energy in your life.

The ‘to-do list’ is never ending, so stop shoving massive responsibilities and tasks onto your plate. Your child doesn’t have to be a part of an after-school sport every season, so ease-up on extracurricular activities for children.

You won’t be tied up everyday of the year and gain more helpers around the house.

Plan your day. Prioritize your daily tasks and write them down. Again, minimize the amount of tasks you have to do in a day. Cook enough for two days, so you have every other day off from kitchen duties. For instance, if you plan to make “chapatis” on Sunday, then cook a little extra on Saturday. Limit your to do’s for each day, be realistic in your time allowance because some things take longer than expected and unexpected events come up all the time. If the to do’s are prioritized, for instance with an ABC rate, you can at least try to complete the A’s. You will feel a greater satisfaction if you complete a short list of things rather than completing a fourth of a long list of jobs.

Next, set aside time and activities for yourself. In the scheduling model we mentioned above string in an extra 10 minutes here and there. Give yourself breaks between errands. If you have to pick up your kids at 3 pm, allow a 10 minute break in between, this and the errand prior to, for a cup of coffee or a short leisure activity.You will refresh your mind, reenergize your body, and be more willing to take on the rest of the day.

Replenish your body with plenty of water and attain exercise. By drinking water the skin and body will stay well hydrated and beautiful. Exercise and hydration will give your body energy and provide better health. If you aren’t sure about the types of exercises to start with, visit a local movie rental or library to check out a variety of

exercise tapes. From the comfort of your home, you can experiment with and figure out comfortable exercises. There are many different types of exercises that are available for convenience. A low impact workout program may be sufficient enough for keeping fit. If Yoga and Pilates are added to the routine, then there are many more benefits.

Yoga gives the body an automatic massage by increasing blood circulation from head to toe. If you have children and exercise is out of the question, play a game of tag or hide and seek with your children. It will be a great activity with your child and a little workout too.

Assign yourself to one activity or responsibility that steers clear from home, family, and daily tasks.

Become an active member in a place of worship or attend weekly community events, or associate yourself with some activity that improves someone else’s life. By seeking this type of activity you will undoubtedly reach a level of accomplishment. It is a wonderful feeling to have when you know you made life better for someone or something else, who has no physical attachment to you. It’s also an incredible way to meet knew people, cultures, and learn different perspectives.

Family

Last, improve relationships to improve the quality of life and quality of your family. Your mate is in the same boat as you are when it concerns family responsibilities, social duties, and time constraints.

Arrange time for the two of you and incorporate work and leisure in your personal time. Agree on a home improvement project or sport that the two of you can build on together. .......................................................

First and foremost harmonize the relationship by encouraging dialog with your significant other: Even if you are tired and exhausted, take that extra step to communicate with each other. Talking on a daily basis, either by telephone or right before bed will help each partner understand the other. It is also important to let out any type of negative feelings that you may have. This will reduce the build up of long term resentments. In other words, avoid going to bed angry.

Enjoy a meal together at least once a day:

Married couples have this daunting question lingering over their heads after 5, 10, 15 years of soulful marriage. The answer… it’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. Keeping your relationship exciting and full of love requires work, consistency, and commitment. Don’t have time for it? Join the club. And now be willing to change!

”

For more professional tips on spousal communication, visit us online at www.MelanzOnline.com.

The third advice is to have a special dinner date together at least once a month: If you have kids ask a relative to watch them for an hour or two. If you don’t have relatives who live near by, but have good friends with children, see if babysitting arrangements can be made for each others’ date night. Believe it or not, even the children would like to see Mommy and Daddy enjoying

each other’s company. If dinner dates are impossible to coordinate, have a special lunch while the children are at school.

Encourage your family and spouse to incorporate these ideas as well.

This era has made life incredibly busy for each individual living in the U.S., but we are losing the little enjoyments in the process. These minor “time-offs”, “family bonding moments” are so crucial to our existence, but we are wiping them out slowly, generation after generation. Take back you first, by taking back the simple ways of life.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

If your schedules are on completely different ends of the spectrum, adjust to having meals at least 4 – 5 times a week; you will find that the more time you spend together, the easier it will be to make time for your relationship.

You can also adjust meal time, for instance, if you eat dinner earlier than your spouse, try to save your dessert or tea and have it while they are having dinner.

“

Is it possible to keep your relationship loving and fresh even though you have been married for a long time?

31

FinanceABC

Spring Cleaning Understanding Assets & Expenses

By Christian Erickson, Biz4Kids.com

Plan your summer business during the springtime! This will help you get off to a great start when school ends. A big part of planning is deciding what assets you’ll need and how much these assets will cost. Some businesses, such as lawn care and auto-detailing, have many assets because it takes tools to do those jobs.

Businesses like baby-sitting have fewer assets. The more services your business offers the more assets you will need. Let’s first discuss assets and then discuss expenses.

An asset is any item of value that you own. This can be a lawn mower, a broom, a bucket to wash cars or a few coloring books and crayons for your babysitting business.You may already own some of these items and just need to “clean” them. A parent might loan you materials to help your business get started, but soon after that, you’ll be responsible for purchasing your own.

MELANZ | APRIL 05

Be sure to keep all your assets clean and safe. Consider buying a special book-bag for your baby-sitting assets or a large plastic box for your autodetailing assets. Keeping your assets in a safe place not only keeps them secure but also keeps them in good condition.

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During the business planning process, make a list of the assets you will need to do your job. Consider all the options you have for obtaining those assets – local store, classified ads, and garage sales. Next to each item on the list, place what you think the item will cost. Your goal will be to find the best price for each item you need.

Examples Of Assets BABY SITTING

LAWN CARE

AUTO DETAILING

LEMONADE STAND

Stuffed Animals Crayons Coloring Books Cell Phone (emergency use)

Safety Glasses Work Gloves Rake Leaf Bags

Water Bucket Wash Rags Soap Tire Brush

Cooler Table / Box Cups Lemonade Ingredients

Find three different places that you know sell or rent that item. Do your market research and find out what local stores charge for those items. Do this for every item that you think you will need for the summer.

When you purchase an item it is considered an expense. To keep expenses at minimum, you will want to take care of your assets. Keep them clean and put them away when they are not in use – you don’t want to spend your profits to buy more stuff that you lose or damage carelessly. Budget for the necessary business items you will need to operate your business. Also, put away a portion of your profits in savings for unanticipated expenses.

Some items you will need to buy only once, like a rake or bucket. Other items you will need to purchase more often like leaf bags and crayons. These are Fixed Expenses and Variable Expenses. Fixed Expenses – expenses that roughly stay the same from month-to-month, such as rent on a lawn mower or monthly cell phone service (if you don’t go over on your minutes). Variable Expenses – expenses that typically change from month to month, such as cost of fuel, buying crayons and multi-purpose cleaners for cars.

Think of ways to reduce your variable expenses. Filling every leaf bag as full as possible helps you use fewer bags. Recycling craft materials you use for craft projects while baby-sitting keeps your material purchases down. Turning off the lawn mower when it is not in use saves you money on fuel.

Planning and shopping for the best priced assets will help you save money.

Taking care of your assets allows you to retain more of your earnings.

Understanding how to purchase assets and control expenses will help your business thrive. ........................................................................................................................

Biz4Kids provides Education through Entrepreneurship. The Biz4Kids Business StartUp Kits contain the materials and guidance to start and operate a youth oriented business, learn basic business concepts, and develop life skills.

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