TempletonNewsletternov2010

Volume 10, Issue 129

November 2010

“Dedicated to Excellence”

Templeton Newsletter Mailing Address: 204– 2929 Nootka Street, Vancouver BC V5M 4K4 Canada Published every month, if possible.

Contributions are always welcome.

The articles should be in, not later than day 25th of every month.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Stroke Recoverer’s Review newsletter: articles, submissions and spotlights are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Templeton Stroke Recovery or the editor of Stroke Recoverer’s Review. Reserves the right at any time to make changes as it deems necessary.

It is the purpose of this periodical to share a variety of viewpoints mostly from stroke survivors.

Contributors: Ollie Stogrin Loy Lai Werner Stephan Karel Ley Deb Chow Carol Roycroft Jose Suganob Production of SRR: Jose Suganob Email: suganobj@gmail.com Printing Person: Kiyoko Akeroyd Gail Oliver—Achievement Award

Inside this issue: Recipe Encouragements

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Creekside Community Center

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Last Month’s Happening

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Easter Camp 2011 BLAST… Scooter for sale

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Christmas Gifts J-Notes

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Maurice Myhre—Caregiver Award

Photos courtesy by Karel Ley

Audrey Van Holsen -Volunteer Award-

Elizabeth Graves -Volunteer Award-

George Lahouney -Volunteer Award-

Volume 10, Issue 129

Stroke Recoverer’s Review

November 2010 Page 2

RECIPE: Asian Noodle Hot Pot Ingredients: 5-1/4 cups .. Reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth 3 slices ........ Fresh ginger, 1/4 inch & peeled 2 cloves ....... Garlic, crushed & peeled 1/4 tsp ........ Red pepper, crushed 2 tsp ............ Canola oil 4 ounces (125 grams) Fresh shiitake mushrooms, stem removed, wiped clean, sliced 3 cups.......... Napa cabbage or green cabbage, sliced 1/2 medium 8 ounces (225 grams) Regular tofu (firm), drained, patted dry, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 cup ........... Carrots, shredded 2 tsp ............ Soy sauce, reducedsodium 2 tsp ............ Rice vinegar 1 tsp ............ Sesame oil, toasted 4 ounces (125 grams) Whole wheat linguine or spaghetti 1/4 cup ....... Scallions, chopped Directions: 1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil.

2.Bring the broth to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add ginger,

“There’s life after stroke” garlic, & red pepper. Partially cover & simmer over mediumlow for 15 minutes to intensify flavor. Strain the broth through a sieve into another large saucepan & discard the solids.

3.Heat the oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms & cook, stirring often until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cabbage & cook, stirring often until almost tender, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add to the infused broth in the saucepan. Simmer, partially covered over medium-low heat until cabbage is tender about 5 minutes. Add tofu & carrots & heat through. Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar & sesame oil.

4.Meanwhile, cook the linguine (or spaghetti) in the boiling water until ‗al dente‘ (just tender) 6 to 9 minutes or according to package directions. Drain the linguine & divide among 4 large soup bowls.

Ladle the soup over the noodles & garnish each serving with scallions. One serving is 1-1/2 cups.

ENCOURAGEMENT by Loy Lai You miss 100% of the shots you don‘t take—Wayne Gretzky What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail.

Some men see things as they are and say ‗why?‘ Others dream things that never were and say ‗why not.‘

CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER… (formerly Southeast False Creek Recreation Center)

A legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Creekside Community Recreation Center provides a gathering place for community to enjoy recreational activities in a spectacular setting.

Creekside, Vancouver‘s 24th community center features a fitness center, gymnasium, dance studio, several multi-purpose spaces and is also home to Canadian Sport Center Pacific‘s Vancouver location. An on-site childcare facility, restaurant and non-motorized boating are coming soon.

The north side of the facility provides sweeping views of False Creek and the North Shore mountains and the Village‘s pedestrian plaza is accessible from the west side. The seawall skirts the north side of the building and provides easy access for cyclists and pedestrians.

Don‘t be discouraged. It‘s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.

SRABC held the AGM 2010 & LifeAfter-Awards on Nov. 20, 2010 at the Creekside Community Center.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who get burned.

--Buddha —Submitted by Loy Lai Templeton Stroke Recovery

Life-After-Stroke Awardees 2010

www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

Achievement—Gail Oliver Caregiver—Maurice Myhre Volunteers— Elizabeth Graves, George Lahourney, Audrey Van Holsen Page 2

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Stroke Recoverer’s Review

November 2010 Page 3

LAST MONTH’S HAPPENING...

News? Jose‘ has asked me to write this month‘s latest happenings, hummmm, that‘s a good one. As I haven‘t been at Templeton since the last newsletter. To continue my happenings from last month, things haven‘t improved much for me. I got the flu! Lost my voice just barely whispered, for almost a week. So, now I will do away ―November‖ next year that leaves me a 10 month year, all should be well with that, ahhhh.

No, seriously, it is the flu season and everyone is coughing and sneezing. I didn‘t want to spread the germs around Templeton.

Once again, it‘s almost that time of year. Xmas!!! Have a hard time with xmas as it‘s all so commercial.

I like the good ‗old-fashioned xmas,‘ friends and family getting together. That‘s really what its all about. Isn‘t it? Problem is the youngsters haven‘t heard of this.

Now, if you don‘t have latest gadgets like Ipad or the ‗wow cell phone‘ or be ‗plugged in‘ as one walk., you‘re being deprived, underprivileged and living in a 3rd world! Sound familiar?

No, we are having the ‗old fashioned Christmas‘ dinner again!

Friends, food and fun at the Lion‘s Den. We hope that the weather man will be nice to all of us. That will be wonderful!

Once again, our Joe Funaro is asking all our group to the Kiwannis‘ dinner which is just so great. It‘s always such a happy time, we all have such a great time.

“There’s life after stroke” Thank you, Joe, for asking us to come and enjoy such a nice night.

It‘s that time of year that we should thank our members for all the work they do, to keep our group going all year long. ‗Doc‘ George for doing the ‗blood pressure‘ check every meeting and stacking the chairs and tables after the meetings. Orlando helping cleanup. Debbie for setting-up tables and chairs every Wednesdays. Key for all her good work with calling all our members and dealing with HandyDart (which at times is no easy task), Jeanie helping with dishes and being all around helper, Lilia, a good helper with Olga, doing kitchen duty. Bill, for being the echo for Athena‘s bingo calls.

Ahhh!

Also, Constantino who gets the table set for coffee and tea also put outs all the goodies and then, of course, Jose, if it wasn‘t for him, we wouldn‘t have this newsletter and all the wonderful birthday cards and all the posters that he does and all the people who submit articles each month, from different stroke groups, that‘s great!

We must not forget Reesa, who for a number of years, has been such a great help for our members with speech problems. We appreciate all your help, Reesa.

There‘s our John, who we don‘t see very often but he has put in hours being studied for research with anything that has to do with stroke.

That‘s very important! We need people that volunteer for these www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

studies. Also, thanks to Valerie, our coordinator who is so dependable.

She can always be counted on when help is needed.

Many of our members that can help, do so, which helps the members than can‘t. But, hopefully they will improve to where they can also help in time to come. That is the purpose of ‗stroke recovery,‘ stroke survivors helping one another.

Also, I‘m happy that Templeton has become known to the community; where we are recommended by places like ‗Holy Family Rehab‘ to send stroke survivors to join our members on their road to recovery.

Thanks to everyone for being a part the Templeton Stroke Recovery!

I wish to say ‗thank you‘ for the phone calls I received while I have been recuperating. Thanks for caring.

Happy Holidays!

Till next month, for more news…

Household Tips: 1. When you bring bananas home, take them apart, they won‘t ripen as quickly.

2. Garlic– To have a strong taste of garlic, add to end of recipe. For less taste at it the beginning.

3. Wrap cheese after its been opened with foil, it will last longer.

—Ollie Stogrin, Templeton Stroke Recovery Page 3

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Stroke Recoverer’s Review

November 2010 Page 4

ELECTRIC SCOOTER FOR SALE...

Delta Branch has a three-wheelerscooter for sale.

It has a turning radius of 31 inches.

One of members has been using it and put two new batteries this year. He is unable to operate it safely anymore.

It was about $3,500 new (Merits S132, purchased Nov. 2004) and is in new condition complete with instruction manual. Asking $500 for it with the proceeds going to Easter Camp BLAST funding.

It will benefit a lot a people. Delta Branch donation to Easter Camp BLAST 2011.

—Karel Ley, 604-943-3206 Email: karel.let@gmail.com Delta Stroke Recovery Branch DON’T BUY MEDICINE AT DOLLAR STORES Medications; vitamins and mineral supplements; natural and homeopathic health products. The item does not have an eight-digit DIN (Drug Identification No.), NPN (Natural Product No.), or DIN-HM (Homeopathic Medicine No.) on the product label & packaging.

Potential Hazards: Products with the wrong ingredients or dangerous additives.

Products past their expiry dates.

Products may contain no active ingredients; active ingredients may not be listed or are listed incorrectly.

EASTER CAMP 2011 (BLAST)

FUNNY STORY FOR GRANDPAS I was out walking with my grandson. He picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in his mouth. I took the item away from him and I asked him not to do that.

“Building Life-After-Stroke Together” (April 22 to 25, 2011). We are asking people to SIGN UP now.

We need 30 names by JAN. 20th, 2011 to keep the ball rolling.

14 people signed up the first 2 days, it‘s looking good. The price has not been set yet, but it will be no more than $250.

SIGN UP now so we can keep you informed.

We are limited to 80 people , so we urge you to get your name ASAP. There is no deadline set. It will be on a first come basis according to the sign up sheet. So, if you are undecided, we encourage you to get on the list so we can you if it start to fill up. To reserve your place, please send us a $20 deposit. Our camp coordinator is Margaret Hansen.

You sign up by: Internet, go to Turtletalk.ca and Sign up for BLAST or by postal mail. And, you can also call Karel at 604-943-3206, daytime. OR Deb, 604-253-2390, 11am-11pm. —Deb Chow, Templeton Stroke Recovery

―Why,‖ my grandson asked. ―Because it‘s been on the ground; you don‘t know where it‘s been, it‘s dirty, and probably has germs,‖ I replied.

At this point, my grandson looked at me with total admiration and asked, ―Grandpa, how do you all this stuff?? You are so smart.‖ I was thinking quickly and said to him, ―All Grandpas know stuff. It‘s on the Grandpa Test. You have to know it, or they don‘t let you be a grandpa.‖ We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but he was evidently pondering this new information. ―Oh...I get it!‖ He beamed, ―So, if you don‘t pass the test you have to be the Grandma.‖ ―Exactly,‖ I replied with a big smile on my face. —jokeonly When you’re finished laughing, send this to another Grandpa and Grandma!

—Submitted Carol Roycroft Burnaby Stroke Recovery “There’s life after stroke” HOUSEWORK SHORTcut

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses & some don’t up at all.” www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

Use a fabric softener sheet to dust TV or computer screen. It‘ll remove dust easily and keep it off for a while.

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Stroke Recoverer’s Review

Volume 10, Issue 129

November 2010 Page 5

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

by W. Stephan, NSSRC—West Vancouver Group

It is generally agreed that the exact date of the birth of Jesus is not known and that the 25th of December was chosen in Roman times because it coincided with the popular Roman festival for the Winter Solstice.

Gift giving, other than the exchange of greeting card, and also the Christmas tree are a modern (16th century) invention. There are other dates, such as the 6th of December, the 6th and 7th of January, the Advent and others. They are connected loosely to Christmas, mostly by local traditions or by ancient pagan customs from the days of the Winter Solstice celebration.

But, let‘s stick to give giving. It has become a huge commercial factor and has become a major reason to be observed by non-Christians and of the rejection by many Christians as a commercial ‗free-for-all.‘ Some families have imposed a limit on the costs of the gifts and some don‘t allow gifts at all (I like that idea).

So me families only allow gifts to children.

There is a way to avoid the Christmas bustle: cruising, holidays or just ‗getting lost‘ to visit equally cynical relatives, if you have any. There are cruise lines which specialize in Christmas ‗get-a-way.‘ They are MEDITERREAN DIET Alzheimer‘s or related dementia can be reduced by eating the Mediterranean diet —study links the diet with stable blood-sugar levels, improved cholesterol and better blood-vessel health—reduce

becoming more popular. It makes sense to spend the money on holidays instead on gifts. And, most of the things one gets, one does not want anyway.

Now, that we are becoming older, we can always claim that we forgot.

But, that is dangerous, too: we might not get any presents either.

After all, a forgetful person might not remember who gave this gift and reply in kind and that is not desirable.

Have you heard of re-gifting?

I think that it is either a sign of desperation (you have forgotten to buy a gift in reply) or you want to pass on a gift you don‘t want. Either way, it is not viewed as a good thing.

Think positively! Think of all the sales after Christmas when items one wants become finally affordable. Think of all the cookies and chocolate one can eat without feeling guilty (it might spoil otherwise or, as an alternative, it might offend the giver if the gift is not appreciated). Think of the economics: Have we received more than we spent to buy gifts? Should this be signed: ‘Scrooge.‘ —by Werner Stephan, NSSRC, NSSRC - West Vancouver Group “There’s life after stroke” mild cognitive impairment. So, what is in this diet? A splash of olive oil, the occasional glass of wine & a variety of colorful ingredients... www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

J-NOTES...Jose Suganob I wish to thank all the people who sent articles, pictures, news to our newsletter and also, our readers.

At first, I did this for my speech improvement and, of course, to help other stroke survivors mend their speech, too. If, sometimes, we are not grammatically correct, forgive us, we‘re all amateurs, it‘s only by practice that we will become better, I hope. So, send more articles, photos, news, etc.

I went to SRABC AGM 2010 and Life-After-Stroke Awards with Kiyoko and Helen by HandyDart.

All the streets in Vancouver Olympic Village are new so, when the HandyDart driver consulted his map (printed before the Winter Olympics) he could not find it. ‗I know, I know,‘ I said. ‗Just drive to Vancouver Olympic Village!‘ Looking for no. 1 Athletes Way, is easy, it‘s on shores of False Creek.

The Creekside Community Recreation Center building is accessible and in picturesque waterfront location. That‘s what I did, took photos of North Shores mountains and the re-roofing of BC Place where is still going strong.

ARTHRITICS: Ease the stress on joints by using your hip instead of your hand to close doors and drawers. Rather than tug at handles and cupboard pulls with your fingers. Loop a belt through them. By sliding your forearm through this sling, you‘ll open them without pain or strain.

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