*** By the way, I gave the blog a make-over and I’m sorry if its a bit too GIRLY lol! ***

One of you goes shopping for diamond engagement rings, and decides to pop the question. Traditionally, the men are the ones who [are expected to] pop the question – to go down on one knee, or whatever other form of proposal they wish. However, what if the woman is the one who proposes? What if I take the first step, and ask my boyfriend to marry me?

Interesting, huh? I personally see nothing wrong with that. We live in an ever-changing world, where there is no longer such a thing as “what a man is supposed to do” and “what a woman is supposed to do”. So tell me, what do you think? Can a woman propose to a man?

One other disappointment is that I was unable to recover my themes (many of which I paid for) and plugins. At least the plugins could be downloaded again. I found this theme (THiCK by Woothemes) on my external drive, so I guess I’m stuck using it for now. It was actually purchased for me as a Christmas gift (lol) but I never got around to using it. My other themes are on my old laptop, which I cannot find. It’s somewhere around the house, so my task is to find it during this week so that I could either revert to my old theme, or use an entirely different one. THiCK is nice, but I don’t want people thinking that I’m trying to be like them. You guys know what I mean …. Anyway, hopefully I locate my old laptop some time during this coming week.

What’s the moral of this sad story of mine? ALWAYS back up your blog regularly, ESPECIALLY when you’re about to do some work on it!

My blog looks so weird … *sigh* … anyway this will have to do for now. I’m off Laborie to chill @ Jazz, so I’m out. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend, and enjoy your week as well!!

What is swine flu?

HIN1 Influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with H1N1 flu in the U.S.?

In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with H1N1 influenza A viruses were first reported in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of H1N1 flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. Updated case counts of confirmed H1N1 flu infections in the United States is available on the CDC website. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this H1N1 flu virus contagious?

CDC has determined that this H1N1 influenza A virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu in people?

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does H1N1 flu spread?

Spread of this H1N1 influenza A virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza.
Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Can I get H1N1 influenza from eating or preparing pork?

No. H1N1 influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get H1N1 influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces
that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat H1N1 flu?

Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these H1N1 influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For
treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread H1N1 flu to others?

People with H1N1 influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might
potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, oorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against H1N1 flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. We recommend that when you wash your hands with soap and warm water that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable
hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesnt need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs
on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where H1N1 influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing

* Bluish skin color

* Not drinking enough fluids

* Not waking up or not interacting

* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

* Sudden dizziness

* Confusion

* Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is H1N1 flu infection?

Like seasonal flu, H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of H1N1 flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, H1N1 flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with H1N1 flu and died 8 days later. A H1N1 flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

So, there you have it. The Swine Flu should indeed be taken seriously, and I hope that you guys have become a little more educated about it.

Source: Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

You see, the blog entries are cached, and can be found easily by searching for specific key words. Even though you delete the blog, the entries will still come up in LJSeek’s search results. LOL. I finally solved this problem by deleting every single blog entry on my LiveJournal account, and then deleting that blog. Although that process worked for me (and it took a few months for the entries to disappear), I cannot guarantee that it will work for everyone else.

That is why it is important for you to BE VERY CAREFUL as to what you write on the internet, as it can come back to haunt and EMBARASS you several months or YEARS down the line. Remember, JUST BECAUSE YOU DELETED IT, DOESN’T MEAN THAT ITS GONE!!!

Thankfully, my entries were removed and now I am much more cautious about what I write on the internet. I hope you, my readers, take my advice and  don’t call me a jackass like the impersonator did in the above mentioned post. Think about it…

P.S.: This post was inspired by the latest blog entry on the following blog, which I somehow came across today:

*Blog: http://theoneyouenvy.wordpress.com/

I hope the blog author does not mind my using her blog as part of my reference!

Where in the World is Matt Lauer? is a segment on NBC’s Today show, which features co-host Matt Lauer traveling the world to various locations within one week. During ten years of globe-trotting for TODAY’s Where in the World is Matt Lauer series, the fearless show host has eaten crickets in Laos, danced the tango in Buenos Aires and been thrown overboard by Sir Richard Branson.

This year, voting has already began in order to choose which destinations Matt will visit next. I think this is a great time to vote for our island, and to try to put it on the map. Presently, Dominica is leading the polls with only 5%, and I am shocked at this! Dominica’s population is about half of Saint Lucia’s population, and I think that with a little bit of time and effort, we could surpass them in the polls. Right now, Saint Lucia has less than 1% of the votes, and I think we could do so much better. Of course, this requires the participation of all Saint Lucians. All we have to do is vote and spread the word, and encourage all our family and friends to do the same. It takes less than a minute, and  we have nothing else to lose.

So, please help to put our country on the map by voting. Blog about it, instant-message your friends about it, email them about it, text them about it, post it on your facebook status and on your twitter profile … whatever! But, just do it! Thanks guys!

Voting Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23960057

I just wanted to pop in and say HELLO to my blog readers. I just want to let you know that I really appreciate you, especially those who leave comments. I have been so busy and tired lately, that I don’t have time to come online, and therefore my blog has been lacking quality entries lately. Anyway, many people have been asking me about ways to make money online; so I am going to devote the next few entries to this topic. Hopefully it will be of help to you!!

Well, enjoy your weekend, and make sure you look out for these posts!

A new year is here and there are some of us out there who still believe in making a “New Year’s Resolution”, but let me beg you to just take the time to reflect on all the things that we have learned for 2008. We make these resolutions and they go forgotten by the third week into the year. I know so many people who make resolutions for the new year, but then they never follow through. Some of the most common ones are:

• Spend more time with family and friends.
• Stop going out so often, and try to save some money.
• Exercise more often.
• Cut down on (or quit) their alcohol consumption/smoking.
• etc.

Personally, I think that new year resolutions are crap, because why should you wait until the new year in order to better yourself and your life? Why procrastinate? Why not do it now? If I have any resolution for the new year, then it will simply be to stay alive and hope to see another year. All my other plans, goals and aspirations are not going to be on hold until January 1st, but rather, I get to work on them as soon as I can.

Anyway, that is just my opinion. I suppose that there are other people out there who make these resolutions and actually STICK to them. If you are one of those people, then I truly admire you. So, what do you do? Are you the type of person who makes resolutions for the new year? Do you stick to them, or do you forget about them by the beginning of February? OR are you like me and don’t really indulge in the whole resolutions thing? Don’t worry … its okay to disagree with me

I got a job! LOL. Its only temporary and lasts until the end of this year, but hey … at least i get a couple thousand bucks for the holidays, right? It all happened so quickly: I had the interview on Tuesday, and I started working on Wednesday … plus its all the way on the north of the island, which is like an hour or so away. So, I have to wake up early each morning, and then I get home late at night. I barely have time to shower and eat before I fall asleep … so this is why I have been neglecting my beloved blog … and yours too!

So, I promise to make a better post this weekend, as well as read and comment on your blogs. Until then … take care!!

♥ xoxo