"From Hawaii to the Naked City ..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau'

                  

Many know Chester  (Unc) as the guy who makes us laugh over the years with his
numerous hilarious  guest-blog's. Unc not only loves to give politicians a hard
time, but  something most of you may not know, Chester is a naturist, a person who enjoys doing
normal everyday things in au natural i way, in his birthday suit. Back in 1996 Unc wrote a beautiful essay
about his trip to France and the naturist lifestyle. This blog is a little long, but truly worth the read.
How appropriate to have a veteran guest-blog on Independence day about freedom, real freedom of
running around naked and free.  
I guess it's true what they say,  "They don't wear pants
on the other side of France!"
Happy Independence day!
""Unc is a retired cinematographer living
on the Hawai'ian island of Oahu.  Enjoy!

  

           Enjoying  Heaven While on Earth
                               "From Paradise to Paradise"  

From Hawaii to the Naked City of Cap d'Agde,France
                   Cap d'Agde pronounce Cap Dark
                               By Chester Lau-----aka----l'oncle Amusant

         
           In beautiful Hawaii, land of  perpetual sunshine, warm breezes ,  big surfs

and sandy beaches, a paradise in the middle of the Pacific ocean ,a perfect

Setting for nudism...but unless you are rich & famous , have a back yard

patio or own a private ranch...nude recreation out doors is impossible

in urban Honolulu !!!The only thing lacking is land where the nudists can

roam free from the stresses of everyday life ...this is like big kids in a

candy store but can't get any piece of the candy, a paradise wasted, Hawaii,

Are you listening? Back in the early '70' s there was an good attempt to

Establish a Nudist park on the North shores of Oahu, the capital island of

Hawaii, I had a little brush with social nudism at the time & it was

Paradise for a dozen or two lucky weekend nudists  for a  while until the property

owners terminated the land  lease along with social nudism in Hawaii,there

may be some small home nudism practiced, but not much  was organized due to

shortage of affordable land, so we say ALOHA(good bye) to outdoor nudism in

Hawaii. Unfortunately,To enjoy a clothes free life in the sun, Hawaii

residents  need to escape to other lands to enjoy this nature's elixir of life.                                        
                                                                     
Flipping thru the pages of  Nude & Natural magazine... I came upon dozens

of ads advertising nudist parks & resorts included a few bed & breakfast

clothes optional clubs now advertised on the outside islands,but which is the

one ? why do people need to go outside of Hawaii to enjoy this freedom and

nature's elixir  of life ? for a closet nudists who lived in urban

Honolulu,there is no outlet for outdoor nude sun bathing except out of this

island paradise,what a shame !!!but nothing attracted me more than the Cap

d'Agde ad by  Paul & Claudine or From Paradis to Paradise Travel  in

Kissimmee,Florida, most welcome are the words 40,000 nudists a day at Cap

d'Agde and SINGLES WELCOMED ! For obvious reasons,singles have always been

frowned on by nudist resorts ,law abiding singles may harbor the nudist

philosophy for years,but there is no outward signs of welcome & especially in

Hawaii,one doesn't go directly to a woman and ask if she would like to

go to a nudist resort .
                                                               

I have no intention of traveling half way around the world just to sunbathe

on the Mediterranean  sea...Hawaii has just as much sunshine & fresh  air as any

place,besides it 's cheaper, much cheaper to stay at home,but the thought of

the French cuisine,the  Eiffel tower,the Moulin Rouge ,Les Can Can girls etc

intrigue me to  explore  why 30 or 40,000 international naturists can get

along  happily ever after peacefully  sunbathing naked at Cap d'Agde to enjoy a man

made paradise while on earth.If this phenomenon is only at Cap d'Agde ,just

imagine how many  other nudist resorts & closet nudists are there in the world  , all these

people can't be wrong.

So just for fun, I picked up the phone & dialed the 800 numbers connected

to Paradise to Paradise Travel requesting information for Cap d'Agde , so when

Claudine answered the phone,I was floored by her lovely French accent,there

is something in French I love, it's  their cuisine,their carefree life

style,the statue of Liberty,the help we received in the American revolution

of 1776 .
     

Claudine was gracious,charming,informative & very business like. The

advertising said that you could walk naked amongst 30,000 to 40,000 nudists

a day...shop for groceries or dine at the restaurants unclothed,isn't this

the garden of Eden ?

But with a skeptical eye, I  try to pick out ten reasons why I should NOT

go to Cap d'Agde.

While trying to make up my mind about Cap d'Agde .I reread many nudist

publications &  wonder  what kind of people are those International nudists

at Cap d'Agde ? what motivates them to bring their families there year after

year ? What motivates them to be nudists in the first place ?

To find out for myself about true nudism , I need to personally check it

out,this is easily said & done in printed publications,but how is it in the

real world ? Curiosity about the international nudism phenomenon , I forsaked

my 10 skepticisms about why I should not go to Cap d'Agde to check out social

nudism at it's best.

So I picked up the phone & called Claudine to book my adventure

to Paradise...Cap d'Agde on the French Riviera ,to personally experience the

freedom and thrill of walking naked amongst thousands of international

nudists.

Now the questions come to mind, How am I going to looked upon by other

nudists ? a broken down senior citizen with skin & bones & the loss of half a head of

hair,should I back out now ?  is everyone there a movie star ? body perfect ?

how about disabled wheel chaired nudists,are they accepted? how are the

accommodations? do they have modern plumbings, is the food fit to eat ? what

can we do to keep busy ? a million & one questions to follow ,a million

emails & phone calls to Paul & Claudine eased my mind,info from all sources related

not all nudists are body perfect,they came in all ages,shapes & sizes,new

born as well as senior citizens,no one pays any attention to how  you look,just

how you behave.So with this in mind ,The travel arrangement was made.Paul and

Claudine will pick me up at the Newark airport for our initial meeting &

connecting flight to France,and in consideration for the long journey that I

must make from Honolulu to the east coast ,Paul suggested  that I come a few

days early & rest in their Sky Farm nudist resort in NJ.This way we can

depart  together from Newark to Paris,France . Barcelona Spain & bus our way to Cap

d'Agde..this is exactly what the doctor ordered !!!  As I loath to hang around

airport hotels waiting to make airline connecting flights .
                             

After a 9 hour flight from Honolulu to Newark,while heading out of the

airport,I am wondering if I can recognize  the Paul ,I had told

Claudine that I will be wearing a white hat for ID, hoping no one else will be wear a

white hat for that day,but waiting on the exit corridor were two unmistaken

smiles...Paul & Claudine I presume ? A happy union like long lost  relatives.

A 30 minute drive out of Newark airport, nestled near the heart of Newark &

among  the tall trees is beautiful Sky Farm Naturist resort,one of the oldest nudist

club in the U.S.,aside from the very primitive nudist park in Hawaii that I

encountered  in the early 70s,this is the first honest to goodness nudist club I

ever experienced as a born again nudist,I was impressed. Among the  tall trees

were private cottages with individual designs...the wooded area reminded me

of  the days of the pioneers ,no parking meters or traffic lights but with hot

showers,a modern heated pool & sauna. and a large grassed area  with louge

chairs for sun bathing. After a good night's rest,I tried getting as much

sunshine as possible & meet some of the nicest people around the pool before

our departure for the airport,for a visiting stranger,I was treated like family

by the wonderful people I met at Sky Farm ,I'm still not sure if this is a

dream,but dream on & enjoy the marvelous people & the pool  until our

departure  for Newark International,where we met our tour group,others went ahead to

enjoy Paris & other parts of Europe ,we will meet them at the Cap.

A seven hours flight from Newark to Paris 's Charles De Gaull airport,and a

connecting two hour flight to Barcelona,Spain . The limousine ride from

Barcelona to the Cap was beautiful, super highways,old castles & farmlands

like picture post cards ,smooth sailing until  we hit a  bumper to bumper traffic

jam about an hour before the Cap on a Saturday afternoon... Wow ! looks like

the whole world is descending on the Cap  ! this must be an ultra popular

place I thought, all  those people , Why are they  flocking into this place ?  After

about an hour or so of traffic ,We finally arrived at the textile side of the

city of  d’Agde,a beautiful old city of  Greek origin,  situated on the banks

of river Herault and at the foot of Mont St.Loup on the Mediterranean sea  with

2,500 year history of nudism . The city of Agde vies with Marseille for the

title of the oldest town in France.We breezed through & enjoyed this ancient

city while looking for the office to port Nature, the center to Naturism  at

the Cap , we entered  this office from the textile side,registered & received

our keys to our apartments and enter the compound through an controlled gate

and... voilà !!! here we are...hundreds of people on the streets going about

their businesses au naturel...what a glorious sight,men,women,children &

senior citizens...PARADISE FOUND!!!

The day was young ,sunny and hot,we were all anxious to get out of

our sticky textiles .Getting into my apartment 217  on the 2nd floor,I

was delighted with a spacious clean apartment with flush toilet,hot water ,a

modern electrical kitchen with full cooking utensils,for  a family of four,

it  can be quite economical to experience paradise for a reasonable price .From

the balcony ,I could see the Mediterranean sea , nude sunbathers filled the

beach,a man made swimming pool & the shopping center ,all within a minutes

walk ,where one can purchase all the necessities of life plus restaurants where one can

dine  or  shop for groceries in the nude ,needless to say that I am  off with

all textiles in a flash & headed for the beach .It was about 4 pm,the sun was

shinning bright,the water inviting .I am anxious to check out this famous

nude beach full of sunbathers the French called the PLAGE .On the edge of the

beach .There are signs indicating  :
                                         
                             INTERDIT AUX CHIENS
                                  (No Dogs)
                           PLAGE  QUARTIER NATURISTE
                            (Naturist Quarter Beach)
                              NUDITE OBLIGATOIRE
                             ( nudity mandatory)

Contrary to the US where bathing suits are mandatory on beaches.

                                                 (End part I)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                  (Part II)

I start to explore the beach from one end to the other , This is what I

came to investigate,here I am, fearless ,comfortable & naked amongst

thousands of naked strangers I felt completely comfortable for a born again nudist,

body beautiful or imperfection ,who cares ? none of this entered my mind or other

people's mind ,I am clothed only with my own skin & bones & half a head of

hair...No buts about it, I am  an instant convert to nudism forever!!! While

enjoying my first encounter with European nudism ,the weather was perfect

,the water inviting, I must test this water ,this is what I came half  way around

the world to check out .Waters around the world are the same, even though I am

not  a water person , I dip my little pinky into the sea, found it warm &

pleasant  & you can see about 2 or 3 feet of  the sandy bottom ,people a 100 yards out to

sea are still only knee deep in water, wind surfers, jet skiers, kayakers &

all  kinds of water sports around us frolicking in the  sun ,surfing in the wind &

sailing on the sea, aah...paradise !!!

I tried shake & baked as long as I could until sunset at about 8:30 pm.,then

headed for the shopping center  in my birthday suit for groceries & my love

for the famous fresh French bread .no surprises ,other shoppers are naked ,senior

citizens ,families with children...this is what I came to investigate and it

is  all  TRUE . I am really in paradise !!!

Early the next morning, I was most curious about the jam-packed camp

sites adjacent to our apartment building loaded with trailers ,tents & mobile

homes from all over Europe as indicated by the little national flags on the

premises...From Germany, Switzerland, Holland & Scandinavia .people are

up, relaxing, having breakfast & preparing for a day in the sun ,a happy

International group they are .

For our tour group, make your own lunch or dine at the Le Galion beach snack

bar. For the remainder of the day ,the sunshine was good to about 8 to 8:30

pm,diehard sunbathers stay put until last rays of sunshine, then headed

home to prepare dinner or visit restaurants.
                                                                       

Days are cool in the morning at d'Adge about 60 % F. People put their

textile on for the parade to the bakeries for fresh French breads,  nudists are

no fools, when the weather is cold ,they put on textiles ,but when the sun

appears to be warm about 10 am or noon ,the beaches are instantly packed

with nude sunbathers. Families with babes in arms ,children & adolescents, most

impressive, are the multitude of senior citizens equally divided among

adults & the little ones , no one cares, gawks or criticize your body, so just be

natural, be comfortable and enjoy yourselves...bring a large towel & ice cold

bottled drinking water , snacks, CD player or radio with ear phones ,swim or

play your favorite games, enjoy the sunshine & fresh air & meet the

international nudists with smile & sign languages. I was more interested in

watching the parade of heads, senior citizens, grandparents...captains

of industries, doctors, lawyers, clergies or your friendly

grocery store clerks. some of them came on great expenses just to be free

from the everyday  stresses of businesses or work. People tended to mind their own

businesses...but a hearty "Bonjour" lighten up all stranger's  faces &

receiving a hearty "Bonjour "in return...an universal language we all

understand.
                                                         
                             
In conclusion ,why nudism ? It is the inherent craving of all freedom loving

people to be free to participate in freedom alone or with like minded

people to do something different & exciting in life ! some people sky dive ,some people

climb mount Everest , As a born again nudist, I  investigated &  walked naked

amongst thousands  at Cap d 'Agde ,I came ,I saw & I surrendered...unbelievable,

but it is all true .  A fulfillment of a life long dream that others can only

dream  of...I propose that no one should leave this earth without a pilgrimage

to Cap d'Agde in southern France !!!  I had traveled worldwide from China to

Singapore, from Europe to Scandinavia , but nothing can compare to Cap d 'Agde

in  France with its unique, carefree and mature philosophy on nudism...a marvelous

experience that we can learn from the Europeans.   It can only exist &

prosper with the matured French attitude about the nude human bodies ,for people who

have been bad all their lives  like me, Cap d'Agde can be the nearest  to

paradise one can encounter while on earth ,my only regret is NOT having done

this sooner . La Fayette ,we are here! I thank you for our fourth of July in

1776 and now I thank you for Cap D'Agde in 1996 , Merci Beaucoup .

To experience everything that I described about Cap d'Agde, Google "Cap D'Agde"

 for travel information, they are many travel companies who can help you .

  travel to  Cap d'Agde and all of France.  Or visit their web site at www.cap-d-agde.com
                             
                                                               END
                                       Revision@10-15-00/10-20-00-6-30-2013

( Article MAY end here,but if space available,take your pick on the stuff
below)

                       Some travel tips to Cap d 'Agde ,France

                                        money exchange...

At Newark air port. we exchanged US$ 200 for incidental expenses ,unless
you are a big spender , I found this amount quite sufficient   for a weeks
tour, but for big spenders,sky is the limit,I suggest Travelers Checks in
$20 denominations & some US $s in $ 1, 5 & 10s,cash big bills when you
first arrived,do not accumulate too much foreign money near the end of your
trip ,exchange small money as you needed them so you won't be stuck with a
large amount of foreign currency when  returning home ,although you can
exchange them for your home currency at a lost .The bank at the shopping
center are opened from 9 am to 2 pm & from  4 pm to  9pm, 7 days a week
from early July to end of August. no need to panic about money exchange
when needed .                            

                Have fun,meet new people .try new things..foods etc.

Try something different while you are in a foreign land , sample local
foods & delicacies...like seafood from the Mediterranean sea ,fresh boiled
shrimps,lobsters & sea snails that tasted like escargots...imported honey
dew  mellons from Spain that are super sweet & juicy...ahhh ... the great
French bread  they called baguette or petit pain..meet friendly people from
all over the world,make new friends,try learn their languages,sign
languages can be fun,a friendly smile or "Bonjour" can go a long way..
   
                                                         
                                           Wardrobe

I packed only two sets of casual wears, T-shirts & pants (long or short) &
rubber beach thongs for this half way around the world travel to Cap d'Agde
, Two large beach towels & wash cloths, toilet articles to include a tooth
brush, battery operated shaving equipments etc.a jacket in case
of cool weather. travel as simply as possible . any other needs can be
purchased at the Cap.
Once at the Cap,no textile  or laundry necessary,soiled linens are
exchanged weekly.
                                                                       
                                         Miscelleneous

Bring Bath soap & dish washing detergents with sponges ,radio or CD
player,writing materials or you can purchased them at the Cap.
Bring personal medicines etc. maybe a camera,but you have very little use
for it.  don't expect room services  , elevators  or air conditionings in
Europe, a little exercise will do you good .

Travel info to Cap d'Agde ,see web page :  http://www.cap-d-agde.com 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Google d'Agde for current infos ------------- Claudine & Paul may have retired --------------------------

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook....

"FOLLOW YOUR BLISS..." 'Bettejo Dux" (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.
She will be 83 years young next month and still active in life and community.
www.bettejodux.com

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

Joseph Campbell said that and it’s good advice.

It’s wonderful if you could have followed your bliss all your life, but you can start anytime. You’re never too old.

I think it’s another positive part of the aging process, out with the old, in with the new. If you’ve always wanted to write. Write. If you’ve always wanted to paint. Paint. Learning to do something new is healthy for mind and body and spirit, if you’re into that.

Confession: I always hated to cook. Used to warn my friends, “If I ever invite you to dinner and you know I’m cooking, head immediately for Nome.”

All ‘ugly Americans’ have a cook in the kitchen. For all my years as an expat I stayed as far away from a stove and oven as possibly. I remember one occasion when I discovered-suddenly, in the middle of the night when welcome guests hinted for a snack- that I didn’t know how to turn the lights on in the kitchen.

Today, at a ripe old, I’m learning to be a creative cook. 2013 style. Microwaves are fun. But the greatest latest cooking device in the place where I keep the refrigerator is the Vitamix. I’m not selling them, I don’t hold any stock, and I don’t expect anything for the mention, but that is the greatest culinary discovery since deviled eggs. The greatest cooking device since the campfire coffee pot.

Soups- soups, soups, beautiful soups -are an art form I’m learning to master and there’s one thing I know-other than I’m not Julia Child- everything I put in that little wonder is as nutritious as the stuff I toss in. No nourishment gets lost in the shuffle. Whatever you put in comes out in the wash.

I haven’t learned the fancy lingo but- boy oh boy- do I love the whirr of this hard-working cooker. I love to toss in unexpected flavors, a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of dry white wine, an experimental herb. Color. It’s a work of art. Tomatoes are red. Potatoes are white- with a brownish tinge if you toss in some mushrooms. The aroma when you take off the lid- don’t forget to turn it off first- lets a hot healthy smell fly up your nose.

I’ve got to stop, my taste buds are screaming, “Feed me. Feed me.”

I don’t know how I lived to be 82 without it.

Quick share. Make chicken broth or vegetable broth. Or buy it in a jar an add water. Bake a potato in the micro. Saute onions, artichoke hearts in oil, garlic, green peppers, carrots, bite size bits of chicken -whatever-in the microwave.

Toss it all in Vita dear-don’t forget the magic stuff, Brewer’s Yeast and Wheat germ-flip three switches-whirr, whizz, sing. Open. Pour. Enjoy.

Delicious for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A treat for a welcome guest who’s yearning for a snack.

I even ordered an 11 inch  chef’s cap.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Genetic modification saved the papaya..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

I would like the opportunity to respond to Douglas Henry citing me wrong in his recent letter in the Garden Island News “GMO lovers want labels.”
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sunday-june/article_b28f2c10-dbb7-11e2-a496-001a4bcf887a.html

If Douglas Henry and others had read my recent letter to the editor they would have seen I agree that GMOs should be labeled just as kosher and organic foods are labeled. Please re-read my letter you’re commenting on (GMOs = Great Meal Offering, 06-10-13).
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-june/article_66ae5600-d184-11e2-8614-001a4bcf887a.html

Mr. Henry and others missed my point. My point was that GMOs really aren’t the anti-Christ. The papaya industry was rescued in 1998 with the birth of the rainbow papaya during the ringspot  virus invasion. Commercialized in 1998, the Rainbow papaya produced immediate results, single-handedly rescuing one of Hawaii’s major industries.

Genetic modification has made it possible for barren couples to conceive with the process of in vitro fertilization.

It’s not the GMOs that are bad. It’s the toxic chemical fertilizers being sprayed. If only an organic natural fertilizer could be used in lieu of spraying with chemicals, I believe we’d have a win-win situation.

Ironically the people most objecting to and protesting GMO's are the transplanted Yuppies and hippies whose ancestors came to Hawai'i on cruise ships, not the locals themselves. 

The same crowd that protested a much needed ferry system , the same crowd that protests any new road or business,these same people many of whom smoke pot, smoke GM0 enhanced marijuana without even knowing it, these are the contrarians, transplants, all while the majority stay silent, and that really is sad.

GMOs. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

Aloha, check out my opinion article in today's (06-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News.
"Genetic modification saved the papaya."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-june/article_3dac75e4-dfbb-11e2-bc51-001a4bcf887a.html

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook....

"Paula Deen is not a Serial Killer.." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Racial slurs are an everyday thing on Kaua'i, one must have thick skin to withstand
all the racial inequality in the "Aloha State."

Hawaii News Now reports about a new anti-haole t-shirt selling at a skateboard shop in Honolulu, and they think Paula Deen is a racist!?
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22708781/skateboard-shop-tee-shirt-causes-stir

Paula Deen is being treated as a serial killer for saying the "N" word 30 years
ago, all while many in Hawai'i degrade white people with the "H" word in the open, oy vey.

Paula Deen is not a Serial Killer

Celebrity  Chef Paula Deen has been accused of using the "N" word and making racial slurs about plantation life in the south. Deen says she may have used the 'N" word 30 years ago during an attack but claims she is not a racist

Why all the controversy, after-all it's not like she is a serial killer? Rappers use the "N" word all the time, yet  one white  person who admits to using the "N" word 30 years ago is currently being burnt to the stake.

 The Food network fired  her, and several companies have suspended ties in marketing relationships due to her  use of the "N" word. The media is chastising her and treating her like a serial killer,  all while the man  responsible for the Boston marathon bombings is being treated more humane than Deen.

It's a fact that racism  is still alive and well, especially in the Aloha state of Hawai'i where I have resided the past 13 years.
 It's a place where whites are hated and the 'H' word (Haole) is equivalent to the 'N' word. I understand racism and feel bad for Ms. Deen.

People in Hawai'i freely use racial slurs as a way of life, many say it's a cultural thing and no harm intended, while others still feel offended.

Maybe Paual Deen should move to Hawai'i and see what  it feels like when the shoe is on the other foot and she is the minority being slammed?
I think this would be an adequate punishment, no need to crucify her any longer in the media, just have her move to the Aloha state of racism where Caucasian people learn to grow thick skin or move back to where they came from.

 Ironically during this whole media which hunt the  sales of the celebrity chef’s upcoming cookbook have skyrocketed.
Deen’s latest book, “Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up,” has jumped all the way to No. 1 on Amazon’s best-seller’s list and No. 7 on the Barnes & Noble Top 100 in advance of its scheduled release. 

Let those without sin be the first to cast their stone, it's time to let bygones be bygones...God bless you Paula Deen.

Hana Hou,(Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"New Advances in Macular Degeneration..." "Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the

 ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years...

Today she talks  about  her specialty, eye care, I know, I care... Enjoy! ;D)

New Advances in Macular Degeneration Treatment

AMD or Macular Degeneration is an insidious eye disease that mainly affects the senior population although there are early signs of the disease if you are pre disposed to it.  

Macular Degeneration  can be hereditary in some cases or just the unfortunate condition that many people can get if they live long enough  as  many develop.   It may start out with findings in the retina called Drusen or ageing spots thatare found in the retina during a dilated eye exam.  That may be the start of the eye disease or they may just stay as ageing spots for the long run but must be watched carefully.  

Living a healthy lifestyle of limited sun and UV exposure and eating a healthy diet of green  leafy vegetables are ways to help insure that AMD may not affect you.  Also taking anti oxidant vitamins such as I caps or ocuvite that are rich inzinc and leutin  are also helpful  but we cannot always beat our heredity.If you are unfortunate to get AMD, there are two types;  wet and dry.  Macular Degeneration affects the center of ones’ vision  called the Macula which is responsible for the fine reading and fine tasks one needs to perform.  The peripheral vision stays in tact so you will always have your “walking around”vision and never go completely blind.  

The center of the macula called the fovea is the most delicate part of the retina and sometimes treatment  in  itself can cause vision loss.   The Dry type can only be treated with antioxidant vitamins but the wet type which has  the leaking and swelling areas in the retina can now be treated with injections into the eye. This is an in office procedure done in a very sterile environment that takes a minimal amount of time and is made to be painless with topical numbing solutions.

Several years ago an injection called Lucentis and Avastin came on the market and were used to try and hault the progression of the disease and treat the areas that were swollen in the macula.  Injection therapy requires many injections spread apart over time  and are not a short term commitment.

Today we are lucky enough to have two new injectables  to treat the condition called Eyelea and Jetrea.

They are the latest medicines on the market for treatment for AMD; some insurance companies are covering these treatments and are worth pursuing if you have the Wet Type.

For anyone with AMD,  depending on the severity of the disease, there are many lifestyle changes. Driving becomes more difficult if impossible and reading a great challenge.  There are devices on the
market that can help with managing your lifestyle along with services from the Low Vision clinics that are very often covered by insurance.  Our local low vision clinic in Buffalo even makes house calls if needed.
Living with AMD can be very challenging; there are new advances being worked on every day.  Just remember that you will never go completely blind with AMD .  The best way to combat acquiring the disease is having regular eye exams and leading a healthy lifestyle.  If caught early, you have the best chance for treatment.


P.S. Check out Flight Cars Facebook page, This is a great story as seen on ABC's 20/20.These 3 teenagers start a business in San Francisco where you park your car for free and they rent it for you, and upon your return you do not pay for parking and have a clean car and a small percent of the rental fee if your car  happens to be rented, genius!
Would you let your teenager, bound for a top college, give it all up to start a business?

https://www.facebook.com/FlightCar?directed_target_id=0

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

" How I Learned to Handle Anxiety..." 'Harmony Bentosino'

 Welcome back Dakinetalk's good friend 'Harmony'  for another adventure or should i say crisis in her life..' Harmony is currently working on her Masters degree in counseling. She is  studying drug abuse counseling. Harmony  resides in Kapolei, Hawaii on the island of Oahu...
Harmony is a true free spirit as seen here swimming with dolphins on the island of Oahu...Harmony blogs about her recent fate...

How I Learned to Handle Anxiety
                                                             
Have you ever had a panic attack that you believe to be a cardiac arrest because your heart is pounding hard enough to jump out of your chest?  You also find yourself shaking and panting.  Luckily, I have never had that experience, but I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder which means I get anxious about anything that has any degree of uncertainty.  Although anxiety feels awful, I used to think that it didn’t show and would never stop me from doing anything.  But as some of my friends know, I was recently fired from the practicum where I was working, and part of the reason was due to anxiety.  

Some background info for those of you who don’t know me that well:  I’ve been attending Chaminade University getting my masters degree in counseling.  Last fall I began my practicum.  I was working with sex offenders, but ironically, none of my anxiety was related to the clients.  Some of them were making tremendous strides learning how to feel empathy for their victims. No, all of my anxiety was due to the staff- particularly the director who was not the same director who had originally hired me.  Whenever this director had a complaint, she would tell my supervisor who would inform me.  One day she told him she didn’t like that I was wearing striped socks and brightly colored sweatshirts.  I went shopping and bought a new wardrobe in dull colors. Next, she complained that I was asking too many questions in staff meetings.  So, the next staff meeting, I shut up and didn’t say a word.

Finally, she demanded I sign a piece of paper saying that if I didn’t shape up, I could be terminated!  At this point, I knew my placement at this agency was in jeopardy, but I naively believed I could overcome all the obstacles until something happened that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  I discovered to my horror, I had missed a training given by this director simply because I got the time mixed up.  I discovered this about an hour after the training was over.  I knew it was curtains.  There was a meeting with the director, my supervisor, and my teacher from Chaminade.  I was fired, and there was nothing I could say or do to change that outcome.  And as I said, part of the reason was because of my anxiety.  Although, I wondered was I really fired because I was anxious?  Or maybe I was anxious because I knew I was going to be fired.  It’s like asking which came first- the chicken or the egg?  But regardless of which came first, I knew I had to deal with my anxiety particularly because Chaminade told me I could come back next fall and repeat the practicum under the condition that I sought professional help for my anxiety.

I had been seeing the same therapist for many years, but I only saw him once a year, and then, we would just talk about fun stuff.  Now, we began to meet more often and do serious work.  He taught me a technique for anxiety that is the best I have ever seen, and believe me I have tried them all.  I had taken a course in health and stress management and learned all these techniques for anxiety.  Although they seemed to help, none of them ended the problem.  

This technique is based on an acronym for the word AWARE.   The A stands for Acceptance.  This is the most important step, and it was the step I had been unable to take because I thought there was something wrong with me if I was anxious.  But if you are anxious over the fact that you are anxious, then you are twice as anxious as you need to be.  It’s the equivalent to becoming so frustrated you have a headache that you begin banging your head against the wall.  It is obviously not going to help and will probably make things worse.

There are a couple of reasons why it is a smart idea to accept your anxiety.  Although, it’s not pleasant, feeling anxious does not hurt your health.  Even if you’re having a heart pounding, panic attack, it does not jeopardize your health, and it does not mean you’re going crazy.  The other reason it is smart to accept your anxiety is because it will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do!

The W stands for Watch and Wait.  This is so you don’t take any rash actions you might regret.  It’s like counting to ten before you blow up at somebody.

The A is for the Actions you take, but this is a very important distinction.  These are not actions you are taking to end the anxiety (because it will end on its own), but rather actions to make yourself feel better while it is happening.  It is the distinction I failed to make when I tried all those techniques I didn’t think were working.  Actually, they were working.  I just didn’t know how to work them.

There are many actions you can take to make yourself feel better when you’re feeling anxious.  You’ve heard of breathing techniques.  You can also use your cognitive skills to convince yourself there is no reason to be anxious in the first place.   But you need to understand that knowing there is no reason to be anxious may or may not end your anxiety at that moment, but at the very least, it will help you to feel better while it is happening, (and then it will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do about it.)

The R is for Repeat.  You repeat the first three steps over and over until your anxiety ends.
The E is for End.  Your anxiety ends.  Hooray!

To summarize these steps, remember it is never your job to end the anxiety.  Rather it is merely your job to make yourself feel better while it is happening, and then, the anxiety will end on its own regardless of what you do or don’t do.

If you would like more information on this technique, I refer you to the website  www.anxietycoach.com/overcoming-panic-attacks.html 

As for myself, I know I will be starting my practicum again in the fall.  I would be lying if I didn’t admit I’m a bit anxious about that.  But that’s OK because now I know how to handle my anxiety.  I am also elated to tell you I will be at a different agency with a different director!    

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

P.S. Aloha, check out my opinion article in today's (06-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News.

"Genetic modification saved the papaya."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-june/article_3dac75e4-dfbb-11e2-bc51-001a4bcf887a.html

Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Obama Da Dog  still uses  an outdated photo from 4 years ago, those
bloggers and columnists sure are  vain.

My next bike, I plan on flying over the island of Kaua'i on my new bicycle along with Obama da dog!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TtylFugOT_4

Why do Columnists and Politicians use outdated photos


Why is it that so many periodicals including Midweek Hawai'i run outdated photos with most of their columnists?
http://www.midweek.com/valedictorian-is-harvard-bound/

 Dan Boylan, Larry Price, Jade Moon and Mufi Hanneman are some examples of photo's accompanying their columns that must  be at least 10, 15 and even 20 years old.( If you do not live in Hawai'i Just substitute your own local columnists names..)

Is it because these publications cannot afford to hire a professional photographer and get a good current head-shot, or is it  these columnists are in denial of time and aging?

Politicians are also guilty of using photos to promote themselves that are years old. I once met a politician only after seeing her campaign posters and was blown away because I thought I was talking to her mother.

There's nothing wrong with an aging columnist or politician, in fact I trust older people more, with age comes wisdom,understanding and knowledge.

The only columnist in Midweek with a current photo seems to be Publisher Ron Nagasawa, his column is my favorite, it's the funniest, has the most wit and wisdom and that only comes with age.

I will now write Ann Landers to see what she thinks about the usage of outdated photos. (Note Ann Landers is dead and still publishing a syndicated column.)

Shortened version for all periodicals

Why is it that so many periodicals run outdated photos with most of their columnists?

 Many photo's accompanying  columnists must  be at least 10, 15 and even 20 years old.
Is it because these publications cannot afford to hire a photographer,or is it  these columnists are in denial of time and aging?

Politicians are also guilty of using photos to promote themselves that are years old. I once met a politician only after seeing her campaign posters,I thought I was talking to her mother.

There's nothing wrong with an aging columnist or politician, in fact I trust older people more, with age comes wisdom, understanding and knowledge.


I will now write Ann Landers to see what she thinks about the usage of outdated photos. (Note Ann Landers is dead and still publishing a syndicated column.)

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...