PEARLAND
CELEBRATING & DISCOVERING LIFE’S FINEST
Local Happenings Elephant Sanctuaries The Sandwich Generation UltraMagTexas.com
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PUBLISHER Juliet Hubbell
EDITOR Tamara Abel
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nancy Moreland August 2017
ART DIRECTOR Adra Stafford
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ann Greer
CONTRIBUTORS Byron Barclay Karen Bunch Newt Harlan Stephanie Brown Howaniec Ahmad Khan Bobby McCallitt Anice Shelton Susan Scott Watts Reader correspondence, editorial submissions and advertising inquiries are welcome.
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@UltraMagTexas.com
Let Us Hear From You! editor@UltraMagTexas.com
CONTENTS CALENDAR
TRAVEL
PEOPLE
HUMOR
PETS
HEALTH
BABY BOOMER
LEGAL
4
Local Happenings
6
Wildlife Tourism
8
Cool Things to Do in August
Stephanie Howaniec Explores Thailand’s Elephant Sanctuaries
Scene in Pearland
10
Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts
11
Preparing Pets for Disasters
12
Healthy Skin is Critical for Baby
14
Warning Signs of a Mini-Stroke
20
What Are We Going to Do About Mom?
21
Out and About in the Neighborhood
Newt Harlan Remembers Growing Up in the 1950s
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
5 Simple Skincare Tips
Understanding the Serious Nature of Mini-Strokes
Hard Questions for the Sandwich Generation
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Have an event that you would like to let ULTRA readers know about? To be considered for publication, the information must be received two months prior to the issue date. Please email the 100-word write up to editor@ UltraMagTexas.com. Be sure to include the event name, date, time, venue, cost and website information. Please send high-resolution jpeg photos in a separate email.
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ULTRA Magazine is published monthly. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. The magazine is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented. Advertisers and their agencies assume all liability for advertising content. We encourage our readers to support our advertisers.
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? PLEASE CALL 800.522.4700. UltraMagTexas.com
5
H
ULTRA CALENDAR
appenings
By Tamara Abel
FREE BACK-TO-SCHOOL IMMUNIZATIONS August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Limit first 150-children each day Children’s Museum of Houston 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004 www.cmhouston.org
Committed to creating a community of healthy children, Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program will administer back-to-school vaccinations to the first 150 children to arrive every Thursday Free Family Night in August. To qualify, parents and guardians will need to provide their child’s immunization records. All required school vaccines would be provided except for TB Test or flu. No need to pre-register.
Limited to 25 students, first come first serve. For more information please call 832-393-1375. Families and Children Series presented by Shell.
CLASSIC FILM SERIES
August 19th, 8 p.m. Main Street Square 1001 McKinney Free downtownhouston.org Downtown District is rolling out the jumbo LED
PEARLAND FARMER’S MARKET
August 12th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pearland Town Square www.pearlandtowncenter.com
Shop for fresh, locally sourced items at the Pearland Farmer’s Market in its new location. Hosted monthly, the Pearland Farmer’s Market includes an assortment of vendors selling items such as fresh vegetables, handmade soaps, baked goods, honey and plants.
PICK-YOUR-OWN PRODUCE Atkinson Farms 3217 Spring Cypress Road Spring, TX 77388 832-381-8202
YOUNG WRITERS WORKSHOP August 12th, 19th and 26th 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Discovery Green 1500 McKinney Free
Kids learn to express their thoughts and develop language skills. Presented by Houston Public Library/HPL Express and Discovery Green. Houston's only free and open writing workshop for kids conducted by Writers In The Schools. 6
screen for the showing of the 1984, Ghostbusters. The classic film about three odd-ball scientists that get kicked out of their cushy positions at a university in New York City and decide to set up shop in an old firehouse and become Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, spirits and haunts. Bring the whole family to this free outdoor event and snack on your favorite food truck fare while you watch the film. Chairs will be provided.
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For a little fun, pack up the family and spend a morning handpicking blackberries at Atkinson Farms just up the road in Spring. The working farm also has a produce store on site featuring a wide variety of homegrown vegetables. Call first to see what produce is available for handpicking as it changes with the seasons.
THEATER DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE
August 27th, 12 – 5 p.m. Alley Theatre | 615 Texas Ave. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts | 800 Bagby St. Wortham Theater Center |501 Texas Ave. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts|615 Louisiana St. Revention Music Center | 520 Texas Ave. Free TheaterDistrictOpenHouse.com
WAUGH DRIVE BAT COLONY
atmosphere is family friendly and includes live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
August 4th and 18th Waugh Drive Bridge between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway www.Houstontx.gov/parks/batpage The Houston Area Bat Team offers free, educational “Bat Chats” at the Waugh Street Bridge Observation Deck the first and third Fridays of every month. The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony lives in Houston year round. Every evening at sunset, 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the bridge as a group to feed on area insects creating an impressive sight. The cloud of bats is so immense that when they emerge, the Waugh Drive Bat Colony can often be seen on weather radar. Located in Buffalo Bayou Park, the bat colony can be seen by crowds from a variety of good vantage points. The bats prefer to emerge from the east side of the bridge, often in a whirling vortex to gain height, speed, and as a group to deter predators. The bats tend to emerge after sunset but as a natural event, it isn’t always predictable. Temperatures below 50° or rain sometimes delay or prevent the emergence.
WACKY WEDNESDAY FREE MOVIES August 2nd – The Peanuts Movie August 9th – Home Pearland Premiere 6 5050 West Broadway Suite 10 281-997-2828 pccmovies.com
Keep Pearland Beautiful in conjunction with Premiere Cinema proudly announces the Summer Kids Fest on Wacky Wednesday.
FLOYD’S CAJUN SEAFOOD at 1300 Broadway is
Theater District Houston hosts its 24th annual Open House on Sunday, August 27, 2017.
a local favorite that offers a great selection of Cajun inspired dishes with a touch of Texas. A variety of genres are featured with live bands performing weekly on the patio every Friday and Saturday night.
Marking the official launch of the fall performing arts season, the event is a free, family friendly festival that takes place at venues throughout the Theater District in Houston. The event features an array of activities that highlight the best of what’s in store for the upcoming season, alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes Experiences and one-day-only ticket deals. Participating organizations include: Alley Theatre BBVA Compass Broadway at the Hobby Center Da Camera of Houston Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera
BIG HORN BBQ at 2300 Smith Ranch Road is a locally owned Pearland restaurant with a fun western vibe, smoked-toperfection meats and a variety of genres playing live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Houston Symphony Revention Music Center Society for the Performing Arts Theatre Under The Stars Uniquely Houston®
The day festival also features a variety of free performances. Highlights include a performance by the acclaimed New York Philharmonic String Quartet, presented by Da Camera; a special concert by Bria Skonberg, presented by Society for the Performing Arts; and free performances by the Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony at 4 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC IN PEARLAND
Wondering where you can go to catch some live music in Pearland? Here are 3 good options:
KING’S BIERGARTEN at 1329 Broadway offers authentic German/Austrian cuisine in a casual, inviting setting. The relaxed
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HOSTING AN EVENT
in September or October? Let our readers know about it! To be considered for publication, the information must be received two months prior to the issue date. Please email a 100-wordmaximium synopsis to editor@UltraMagTexas. com. Be sure to include the event name, date, time, venue, cost and website. Please send highresolution jpeg photos in a separate email.
7
ULTRA TRAVEL
THAILAND
Elephant Sanctuaries by Stephanie Brown Howaniec
8
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Speechless. Nine hours at the elephant sanctuary roaming through the jungle outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand left me actually speechless. It felt like everyone I know had been to Thailand except for me. If you’ve ever caught a photo of the iconic rock formations protruding from the turquoise ocean, you’ve probably promised yourself that one day you will brave the long flight and go to Thailand. The culture of impeccable customer service, beaches, cuisine, diving, and luscious jungles should put Thailand at the top of your travel list.
I booked my trip for August 2016 and spent weeks pouring over travel blogs and soliciting advice from friends who had been. Going to Chiang Mai was a priority because I wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary. Most elephant parks are in the Chiang Mai area of Northern Thailand. Many well-seasoned travelers said feeding the elephants is a top-rated highlight of their world travel. Thailand’s history is closely tied to elephants. Thai used the huge animals as labor, such as to transport timber in the dense forests and elephants were key weapons during wartimes. While the symbols of elephants are still displayed all over the country, the elephant population has declined in alarming numbers. Some estimates say there were over 300,000 elephants in early 1900s. Today with sincere conservation efforts the Thai elephant population is stable, hovering around 3,000 elephants remaining in the whole country. 1 Researching is the preamble to a successful and satisfying trip. Of course, some trips require more research than others. Although, getting lost or aimless wandering without any itinerary can be fun too. The unplanned moments can certainly feel the most genuine. 1
http://www.eleaid.com/country-profiles/elephants-thailand/. Other estimates state about 100,000 in the mid-1800s has dropped to only 2,700 in Thailand today. http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/thaielephant.html. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephants_in_Thailand
But most travelers have significant time constraints and are on a budget. Especially during high season, research becomes important because you can save time and money by booking online in advance. For example, waiting in a two-hour line in Paris could cost you seeing another major site that day. Not to mention that without appropriate planning, you may not get to do certain sights or excursions at all. The savviest travelers use knowledge to their advantage so they can maximize efficiency and budgeting. Elephant tourism in Thailand can be divided into two distinct groups – one allows tourists to ride the elephants and the other forbids any riding at all. Many believe that riding is harmful to the elephants. I cannot say if one group is right or wrong, but my research lead me to select Elephant Nature Park (ENP). This article isn’t an endorsement for this particular park, although it offered an exceptional experience. We chose the package called Pamper a Pachyderm. A van picked us up from the hotel and drove us into the jungle as we watched a video about the park and its conservation policies. At ENP, many elephants were previously circus animals or otherwise harmed and thus they need special care. When we got out of the van, the elephants were already there waiting for breakfast. There were six adults in our group paired with continued on page 18
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9
S
cene in Pearland ULTRA PEOPLE
By Nancy Moreland
DOWN SYNDROME SOCIAL CLUB Welcome new members! Houston’s Friends of Down Syndrome is inviting all teens and adults to join the organization’s T21 Social Club. Membership is free and provides participants with access to regular social events put on by the Friends of Down Syndrome. Events include dances, parties, field trips and more fun activities. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 13 with Down Syndrome.
Submit your good news and photos to Editor@UltraMagTexas.com and it may appear in the next issue of ULTRA Pearland!
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Members of the T21 Social Club at a Sock Hop Dance in June. 10
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T E R RYS L A N D S C A P E .CO M
(Way Back When) ULTRA HUMOR
Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts By Newt Harlan
half of the wheel. These were painted to match the color of the car and give the appearance that the bodyline was continuous from the front wheel to the rear bumper. (I know it sounds kind of silly now, but it was important back then.) Fancy hubcaps---the standard issues back then were small metal discs, just large enough to cover the hub of the wheel and the lug nuts. If your car was going to be anything but plain, you just had to have hubcaps that covered the whole wheel and the more ornate the better. In those days all car radios were AM and had only a single speaker installed in the dash centered under the rear view mirror. To really be “state-of-the-art” we would install speakers in the shelf below the back window behind the back seat---hence “back-seat speakers”. If you were really fancy, you installed a Front-Rear-Both switch and a separate volume control for the back speakers on your dash. I don’t think the back seat speakers improved the sound quality very much, but it enabled the back seat passengers to hear the radio when you were driving with the windows down, since air-conditioned cars were almost unheard of back then. (We had what we called 460 air conditioning, which translated to driving 60 miles per hour with all 4 windows rolled down.)
One day last week as I was driving through town, I saw a ‘55 Chevrolet hard top parked in front of the café
Somehow people got sold on the idea of buying cars with nice fabric upholstery with a group of folks gathered around admiring it. I slowed down without stopping to have a look and not on the seats and then covering it with surprisingly, the sight of the “vintage” car really got my memory wheels to turning. clear plastic seat covers to “keep it nice” for trade-in time. The same reasoning I remember when the ’55 Chevy first came out that it, and the Ford Crown Victoria were the dream cars of every teenaged and twenty-something young man that I knew--man alive, we all wanted to own one. Of went for buying carpeted floorboards and course, very few of us could do much more than just imagine and wish, but we sure did a lot of that. I could covering them with plastic floor mats. The whole idea never made too much picture myself in one of those cars---two tone paint job, fender skirts, fancy hubcaps, back-seat speakers, sense to me. In my mind, if you were clear plastic seat covers to protect the upholstery--I would’ve needed a stick to fight off the girls. Alas, my dream never came about since by the time I could afford to buy a car like that, my tastes had changed and I going to spend the money for nice fabric and carpet, then you should enjoy it and was happier with a new pickup. then if it wore out or something, install the seat covers and floor mats at trade-in Remembering these cars led to thinking about all the things that have changed on cars since those days. For time. In spite of my thoughts, this idea instance, when was the last time they made a hard-top body style? I know it’s been long enough that I can’t recall, and two tone paint jobs, you know the kind where the bottom of the car is one color and the top another. remained popular for several years during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s although it never worked worth a damn. I don’t imagine there are any of y’all under fifty who even know what fender skirts are. Fender skirts were continued on page 16 (and I guess are) metal pieces designed to clip into the wheel wells on the rear of the car to cover the top UltraMagTexas.com
11
Preparing Pets for Disasters ULTRA PETS College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
is important to be prepared for the types Iof tdisasters that can occur in Pearland, such as hurricanes or tornados. Some disasters can even be so devastating they require evacuation. In this case, Angela Clendenin, public information officer for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Emergency Team (VET), said it is best to take your furry family members with you. “After a disaster strikes, the area in and around homes can be quite dangerous for pets,” Clendenin said. For example, downed power lines can create a tremendous danger for animals, especially where a power line has fallen into a home or backyard. Additionally, fencing that has fallen or broken into pieces also can cause injury or death in pets. Though some choose not to evacuate during 12
a disaster, Clendenin said for the safety of those in your home, including pets, it is best to leave early. In fact, Clendenin recommended evacuating as soon as the first notice is issued. “When evacuation is delayed, roads can get jammed with traffic or become impassible with early flooding or debris,” Clendenin said. “For those who need assistance with evacuating animals, resources may become scarce or nonexistent as the threat from the disaster gets closer. Evacuating early ensures that pets and their owners are able to get to safety before the disaster hits.” Despite our best efforts, it can be hard to think clearly when preparing to evacuate. Gathering enough supplies for pets and family members can be stressful and take a lot of time—which is why Clendenin recommended making an emergency pet kit. UltraMagTexas.com
“One of the best ways to prepare your pet for a potential disaster is to create a ‘go kit’ of necessary documents and supplies, which people can easily grab and transport with them in the event of an evacuation,” Clendenin said. “In the case that pet and livestock owners get separated, this kit should include photos of pets and descriptions of where livestock is located, using GIS coordinates, if possible. Ensuring your pets and livestock are microchipped or visibly tagged or marked is also a way to identify animals and establish ownership.” In addition, be sure to pack a supply of food, water, medications, and comfort items for your pets. If you would like more information on what to pack in your emergency kit, Clendenin recommended visiting https://www.ready.gov/animals.
Disasters are unpredictable and can affect anyone. Though we can’t control the weather, we can control how we react to disasters via our preparedness. If disaster is ever near your area, be sure to take caution and prepare your family and pet.
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13
5
ESSENTIAL Skincare Tips
for Baby ULTRA HEALTH
When it comes to parenting, there’s no one-child-fits-all handbook. There are times when caring for a little one can be a far cry from the hugs and smiles that make it all worthwhile.
Healthy skin is critical to a baby’s long-term health and happiness, and it can impact both baby and family quality of life. Caring for a baby’s skin from birth helps avoid skin conditions such as diaper rashes, eczema and other irritations, which are often the source of many sleepless nights. With these simple tips from the baby and child skin care experts at Mustela, having a happy, healthy baby isn’t as challenging as it may seem.
1. 2. 3.
Diaper changing Aside from the obvious odor-reducing reasons, prompt diaper changes are an important part of keeping your baby healthy. A soiled diaper may be uncomfortable, but even more importantly; it’s a breeding ground for bacteria and skin irritation. Keep diaper cream onhand to treat any irritations that arise and use it on a regular basis to prevent future outbreaks.
Protecting baby’s skin Research has shown that a baby’s skin is extremely fragile during the first two years of life, which is when the skin is developing its protective barrier. Keep baby’s skin healthy by moisturizing daily with a lotion such as one from Mustela’s four baby lines, which are formulated with natural ingredients to meet the needs of normal, dry, eczema-prone and very sensitive skin types.
Cradle cap Cradle cap can cause crusty, yellow patches to form on your baby’s head that can be a bit unsettling and unsightly, but with a little extra care it can be easily eliminated. The key to keeping your baby’s scalp healthy is to prevent cradle cap from the beginning rather than just treat the symptoms. Look for a baby shampoo designed for cradle cap that allows you to massage the scalp and a soft brush to use after bath time to keep your baby’s head clean.
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4.
Bath time Bath time is a great opportunity for parents to bond with their baby, even while taking care of necessary business. For some babies, the water can be scary, so be sure to use a cheerful, reassuring tone to soothe nerves. Also ensure your baby is well supported, not only for safety, but for an added sense of security. Though you may think you need to bathe your baby daily, many pediatricians recommend bathing 2-3 times a week to keep skin from becoming dehydrated and protect natural moisture levels.
5.
Sun protection Without proper care, harmful sunrays and radiation can affect your child’s skin not only now but also in the longterm. Limiting time outside, using sun-blocking shades and applying sunscreen can all help mitigate the risks. Look for sunscreen that is formulated for babies as it can better protect from sun damage without irritating delicate skin. Consult your pediatrician before using sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. Also, remember perspiration and water can reduce sunscreen’s effectiveness and reapplying at least every two hours offers continuous protection.
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Way Back When continued from page11 After just a few months of exposure to the Texas sun and summer heat, the seat covers went from clear to dark amber and soon became brittle and cracked, and while the floor mats somewhat protected the area under them, the other, exposed areas became dirty and faded, so that part of the idea didn’t work too well either. The clear plastic wasn’t limited to cars. Furniture manufacturers at that time covered their products with a light gauge clear plastic film to protect it during shipment and storage. Many folks just left it on to protect their furniture from everyday wear and tear, especially the “good” furniture in the living room. I remember many times when visiting one girlfriend, going into the living room to get away from the watchful eyes of parents and siblings while we did whatever it was that girls and boys do at that age and having her mother say, “now you kids be careful if you sit on that good furniture that you don’t fool around and tear the plastic, I’m trying to keep that stuff nice for company.” Not too many years ago I was helping a friend move some things from the house of an aunt who had recently died and there was furniture and lampshades in the living room covered with the original plastic film, still being kept nice for company after almost 50 years. The Salvation Army didn’t seem to care one-way or the other. How many of y’all remember black and white television? That’s what we had when I was growing up. I think my family got our first TV around 1952, but I’m not exactly sure. I do remember that at first there were only locally produced programs available. Some people placed a colored plastic sheet over their black and white TV screen. The sheet was blue at the top, red, orange and yellow in the middle and green at the bottom. This was supposed to give the illusion of a color picture, but it didn’t do much for me. Children were always cautioned not to sit too close to the screen because it would make you go blind and there was no telling what all that radiation might do to you. Of course my sisters and I and all our friends always sat as close as we could manage so as not to miss anything, usually 16
about three feet away until our parents hollered at us to move back, and as far as I know there are none of us blind or affected in other ways from this habit. This didn’t stop me from telling my kids or them from telling my grandkids; “back up from that TV before it makes you go blind.” Another idea at that time was if you watched TV in a dark room it was bad for your eyes. Most folks chose to put a lamp on top of their TV set to remedy this problem. Probably the most popular (and ugly and tacky as a velvet Elvis painting) were ceramic lamps molded in the shape of a big cat stalking prey. They all looked the same, except some were painted as black panthers, some as tigers and others as leopards. Thank God my family never chose to have one in our house---I really hated them. Besides all that extra light interfered with the business at hand when I was watching TV with my girlfriend. Around 1954 Houston finally got hooked up with network TV. In those days it was by telephone cable rather than satellite. Anyway, it
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opened a whole new menu of viewing for us and soon we were all hurrying home after football practice to watch “Mickey Mouse Club”, not for the Disney characters, but for Annette, Darlene and some of those other well built young things parading around in short skirts and mouse ears. We also had to watch American Bandstand so we could pick up on the latest dances, but my sisters were much better at this than I was. They’d learn the steps and then patiently guide my clumsy, two-left-footed butt through them. I guess they did a pretty good job because I could usually find a girl or two to dance with at the sock hops. Then came color TV. It was a big novelty for several years and folks who had color TVs used to have viewing parties on weekends to watch programs in color. Can you imagine a houseful of people trying to watch one 19” TV set? The two appliance stores in town at that time were located on opposite ends of Main St. and on opposite sides of the street. Both stores took advantage of the novelty of color TV and put sets in the show windows at the front of
their stores with an outside speaker so that folks passing by could see and enjoy the wonderful new technology. This soon became a big attraction on weekend nights when folks would bring lawn chairs, cold drinks and snacks and set up right on the sidewalk for a night of watching color TV. The stores always were open and had an employee on duty to change channels and to help if someone decided to buy something. This practice lasted for several months, but was finally discontinued when a big-assed brawl broke out over which program the sidewalk audience was going watch and in the ensuing melee, somebody was thrown through the showroom window breaking the TV set into pieces.
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Earlier I described the 460 air conditioning which we had in our cars back in those days, well the home air conditioning was about the same caliber--most of us didn’t have any. Our houses were mostly cooled with fans--there were ceiling fans, oscillating fans, window fans and if you were fortunate, an attic fan, which would “cool” the whole house. These systems worked better than they sound to us today, because back then houses were built for ventilation cooling and we were accustomed to life without air conditioning. Of course, we never got used to those hot, muggy nights with the temperature of even the night air registering about 85 degrees, and the mildew growing on your shoes and clothes because of the constant humidity, and the attic fan pulling the wall paper off the walls because you didn’t have enough windows open. Truthfully, I’m really not interested in experiencing those days again-- I much prefer the air-conditioned comfort of today and my shiny new pick up truck has great air-conditioning too!
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Thailand Elephant Sanctuaries continued from page 9 four elephants total. Each elephant had their own handler and the handlers told us their names and a bit of the elephants’ stories. With scars on their ears or feet, you could see the horrible brutality these elephants had endured. The handlers showed us how to feed them. We were all pretty nervous at first; the elephants are so massive and having a trunk snatch a watermelon from your hand is a new and strange experience. The average Taiwanese elephant eats about ten percent of their body weight per day. That is approximately 800 pounds of food daily!2 Let me tell you, the responsibility of assisting with feeding 800 pounds of food is a serious one that I underestimated! After breakfast, we walked through the jungle leading these massive animals by offering cucumbers or bananas every few steps. The humans enjoyed lunch on a little porch overlooking the park amidst the jungle while the handlers fed the elephants again. After our hike back, we bathed the elephants. Bath time was a physically exhausting task to heave water over their tall backs but it was also so much fun. 2
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/02/video-how-much-food-does-a-thaielephant-eat-in-a-day/
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Again, we fed them and walked through the jungle with these gentle giants. I was constantly amazed at the strength of their trunks when one smacked me demanding more food. The afternoon concluded with white water rafting down the river in the jungle. After drying off, we headed into the park to meet the rest of the herd. I was exhausted by the end of the day but I felt we had maximized our limited time. This particular park was considerably more expensive than other comparable parks and day packages. Having done it, I can genuinely express that it was worth every single penny. Our friends had set our expectations very high; my research had built anticipation and enthusiasm for months while we waited for the day we were finally in Chiang Mai. I feel blessed to share with you an experience that outshined those expectations and stands out amongst all my other travel experiences by leaps and bounds. I still remember the elephants’ names and follow their updates by subscribing to the park’s newsletters. You can also read about the herd on the park’s website. I hope you are one day able to spend quality time with these incredible animals in such a gorgeous place. If you’re working on an upcoming trip, rest assured that your research would pay off. What you don’t
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have time to figure out ahead of time will work itself out and you’ll still have an incredible trip when you plan as you go. Not going to Thailand anytime soon? Consider contributing to a wildlife foundation that helps save and care after these precious endangered animals. The Houston Zoo expanded its elephant habitat and construction just finished in May 2017. The Houston Zoo works to help wild Asian elephants with events ongoing this summer and ways you can save wildlife. Meet Houston’s own herd of Asian elephants here: https://www.houstonzoo.org/exhibits/elephants/ How You Can Help: http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/how-you-can-help/ Consider buying coffee to support the elephants at: https://enpcoffee.com Learn more and donate: http://www.savetheelephants.org Read a novel or non-fiction book and take yourself back to science class: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8450.Elephant_Books Photography by Brian Howaniec
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Understanding the Serious Nature of
Mini-Strokes
The American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Medtronic, teaches the acronym F.A.S.T. to help people remember the most common stroke warning signs and what to do in a stroke emergency:
F – Face drooping A – Arm weakness S – Speech difficulty T – Time to call 911
ULTRA BABY BOOMERS
Knowing the warning signs of a mini-stroke could help save a life. A survey conducted by the American Heart Association/American
While the symptoms are the same, the difference between a TIA and a
Stroke Association shows one-third of United States adults have had
stroke is that the blockage is temporary, lasting between a few minutes
symptoms consistent with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known
and 24 hours. People who suffer a TIA, sometimes called a warning
as a mini-stroke, but only 3 percent called 911 for help.
stroke, are more likely to have a stroke within 90 days, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
“Ignoring any stroke signs could be a deadly mistake,” said Mitch Elkind, M.D., chair of the American Stroke Association Advisory Committee.
Elkind said anyone who experiences a stroke warning sign that appears
“Only a formal medical diagnosis with brain imaging can determine
suddenly, whether it goes away or not, should call 911 immediately.
whether you’re having a TIA or a stroke.”
This could improve the chances of an accurate diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
The survey showed 35 percent of respondents experienced at least one sign of a TIA or mini-stroke, such as sudden trouble speaking or a
Stroke symptoms come on suddenly with no known cause and may
severe headache with no known cause. According to the online survey,
include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; weakness of the
those who suffered symptoms were more likely to wait it out, rest or take
face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; trouble seeing in one
medicine rather than call 911.
or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or a severe headache.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability in the United States and among the top five causes of death. However, with
To learn more about stroke warning signs and treatment, visit
proper, timely medical attention, stroke is largely treatable. The faster you
StrokeAssociation.org. (Family Features)
are treated, the more likely you are to have a positive outcome. 20
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Adults with kids in college and aging parents are sometimes referred
to as the “sandwich generation,” struggling to deal with their “almost
adult” children while balancing the interests of their aging parents. Late night phone calls can be Junior who lost his phone in an Uber in New Orleans to the lost television remote control that Mom “hasn’t seen in weeks.” An aging parent suffering from dementia can compound the problems and the urgency with which the advice of an elder lawyer can pay great dividends, however there are some real ethical concerns for the child (you), the parent (Mom) and the lawyer (me). One of the most common scenarios for an aging parent is competency, particularly because by the time you notice Mom is slipping, the situation can be more dire than you know. A power of attorney signed by Mom in favor of their child can be helpful, however that power of
What are We Going to Do About Mom? Hard Questions for the Sandwich Generation
attorney creates a special relationship in the law, called a “fiduciary relationship,” requiring the child to use “the highest degree of good faith and fair dealing.” As an example, it is quite common to minimize a parent’s assets to qualify the parent for Medicaid, sometimes referred to as a “Miller Trust.” This can be done with planning, allowing the parent to qualify 60 months later for government assistance. The problem comes however in competency of the parent, and whether
ULTRA LEGAL
the parent truly understands the extent of their estate and what the transfer of these assets, (usually to their children, i.e. YOU) means.
Courtesy of Byron K. Barclay
More importantly, if you are helping your parent transfer their assets to you, are you serving your parent’s interests, or your own? This question does not even BEGIN to contemplate the ethical issues for the lawyer, in deciding who the lawyer represents: the parent, who likely is paying
BYRON K. BARCLAY
the lawyer, or the child, who likely is making the decisions about
BKBarclay@lawyer.com www.BarclayLawFirm.com 713.224.2334
undertaking this transfer of assets. This ethical issue has given rise, at least in Texas, in an effort to provide a new legal relationship which the elderly can use to designate
BIOGRAPHY & DISCLAIMER
a third party to aid them in making decisions, without petitioning
Byron K. Barclay is a Houston, Texas attorney and Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. In addition, Mr. Barclay handles estate planning matters and is regularly appointed to serve various courts in Harris County as an Attorney Ad Litem for the estates of persons who have died without a will. Mr. Barclay also handles commercial litigation, divorces, family law and child custody issues.
the Court for a guardianship, which involves a Court determination
The foregoing article is offered only as a public service to this community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site and column should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author. Nothing in this column or on any website where it may be published is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and nothing posted by Mr. Barclay constitutes legal advice. Should you have questions, you may forward them via email to Mr. Barclay at BKBarclay@lawyer.com. Questions may be edited for length or clarity. Mr. Barclay will choose questions submitted for brief answers and possible publication. Mr. Barclay reserves the right to choose which questions to answer, and submission of a question does not guarantee that he will provide an answer.
of incompetency on the part of the parent and the appointment of a full time guardian for the incapacitated adult (Mom). This new legal relationship would be established by a “supported decision-making agreement,” wherein an elderly person can designate a third party to “assist them in understanding and making decisions about their life, and communicating these decisions to family members and third parties, such as caregivers, healthcare providers and estate lawyers.” The supported decision making agreement became law in June 2015, allowing elderly Texans to use a trusted individual, a network of individuals or an entity to aid him or her in making personal, financial and legal decisions that must be followed by third parties. Information about this new legal arrangement can be found online at https://www. disabilityrightstx.org/files/The_Right_to_Make_Choices_-_DRTx_ FINAL_WEB.pdf. An experienced attorney can guide you and your older parents in setting up this kind of an arrangement.
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Repicci, JA, et al., “Minimally invasive surgical technique for unicondylar knee arthroplasty,” J South Orthopedic Association, 1999 Spring; 8(1): 20 -7. Brown, NM, et al., “Total Knee Arthroplasty Has Higher Postoperative Morbidity Than Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Analysis,” The Journal of Arthroplasty, 2012. Hall et al., “Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (Alias Uni-Knee): An Overview With Nursing Implications,” Orthopaedic Nursing, 2004; 23(3): 163 -171.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure including Navio-enabled partial knee replacement. Navio is not for everyone. Children, pregnant women, patients who have mental or neuromuscular disorders that do not allow control of the knee joint, and morbidly obese patients should not undergo a Navio procedure. Consult your physician for details and to help determine if Navio surgery is right for you.
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