Flu or No Flu?

I keep hearing from all sorts of friends and relatives in the States (mostly via Facebook), about everyone getting the flu this year...(not necessarily H1N1 but the regular flu). So I am wondering...

1. Is it just a case of people talking about their ailments more this year?

2. Are more people actually getting the regular flu this year than any other year I can remember?

3. Or is the fact the media has talked so much about H1N1 and the regular flu this year just made everyone think about it so much that they are basically "willing" themselves to have it?

I am beginning to wonder if it is just not a just collective lowering of the immune system due to media hype, that is causing everyone to get sick. I swear I have not heard about this many people getting the regular flu in the past as I have this year. I know that the mist "shot" this year is a live virus so perhaps more people are getting it from that, although those that are talking about being sick have not mentioned that they got the "shot" this year either.

I have not had the flu this year and I hope to not get it. Of course now that I have talked about it on here, not only will I get it, you will get it too for reading about it because I am just propagating the media machine...haha.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Urinal Balls

Typhoon Lupit

Not tracking towards us at all but is supposed to reach Super Typhoon (Cat 5 Hurricane) strength in the next few days and will (if it follows its current tracking) be the third direct hit to the island of Luzon in the Philippines in the last 2 months...that place just can't take another hit and this one looks strong so far.

News reports already have people evacuating out its path.

I love the image of it though...so defined and organized and still not even up to full strength...

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Epiphany

Little Miss Erika

I had the priviledge of watching this angel the other day for my friend. She is a happy, easy baby and it was a treat to have her to myself for a few hours. She definitely likes to be talked to and have all eyes on her (but what girl doesn't...). She has so many expressions, it is impossible to only take one picture of her. Funny thing is, that she would smile for me, face to face but as soon as I would put the camera up, the smile would go away (she couldn't see my face anymore). So I got more shots of her looking a bit perplexed, than ones of her smiling.

Mom and Dad will have to beat the boys off with a stick when she gets older...I don't envy them the teenage years with this little one...she is a big flirt already.

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One Year Ago on In My Words...Rocktoberfest This one is perfect since Rocktoberfest is this coming weekend.

Amazing Colors

I had to pull over and take this picture today. A storm was bearing down on us but the sun was shining brightly and the water had such beautiful colors in it. So many times, I see something beautiful and don't take the time to stop and record it. This time, I found a spot and took advantage of it. The light was just too cool to pass up.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Fish S3x

My Memory Board

Here is a pic of the memory board that the Sakura class (4 year olds) made for me after I subbed for them for two weeks. I love how they drew my picture on it with my curly hair and sunglasses on my head. (I blurred out my name in two spots). I was so touched by it and I am so excited to have it to keep. What an amazing experience.

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Fantastic Foliage

Weather On My Side of the World

Just love this picture from the JMA site....both storms in one shot. Parma is hanging out and probably flooding parts of the Philippines before it looks like it is going give Taiwan a drive by, and Melor has moved through the Guam/Yap area (haven't heard how much damaged might have been caused there), and is going to turn up this way towards mainland Japan. We aren't supposed to get anything but some peripheral weather from either of them but they are sure beautiful to look at on this satellite image.

I have heard on the news that Taiwan has evacuated some of the hill villages in anticipation, since the last storm that went through that region flooded everything and killed people. From what I have heard Manila (which flooded just last week from another storm) is being spared from Parma for the most part, but if Parma hangs out for the three days that it is forcasted for, they could still end up with more rain than they need during this recovery period.

We are cloudy and rainy today and I am sure it will last until Melor gets past us and up towards mainland. It is nice because it means that I don't have to water, but it also means that all the other yardwork I need to do is kind of on hold....

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Epiphany

Teaching Preschoolers

For the last two weeks, I have had the priviledge to fill in for my friend at her job teaching preschoolers English on Fridays. It is only one day for less than an hour but it is the best way to start the day, seriously.

There are two classes, one of three year olds and one of four year olds. We teach each class for about 20 minutes. The curriculm involves lots of singing, standing up, dancing, and pointing out letters and numbers on flash cards.

I was a bit nervous the first day on my own (I went the week before with my friend to just see what she did and be introduced to the kids). It is funny how little kids can do that to you but I think I was more afraid that they wouldn't like me.

No problem there...soon enough, you realize that no one else speaks English so if you make up stuff or goof up, no one knows and no one cares. As long as the kids repeat what you say and are smiling at you, you are doing good.

So I boned up on my Old MacDonald and Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes and went for it. It was so much fun.

When we leave the second class, the kids get up and want to high five you and tell you goodbye over and over again. Then when you get out to the yard, if there are kids out there with their teacher, they will stop paying attention to the teacher and shout goodbye to you over and over while waving until you are in your car and driving away.

This last Friday was my friend's first day back but I guess the school thought I might be there so they made this cute little memory board for me with pictures of me teaching the class and the kids drew pictures of me on it as well. It was so cute and now I have this awesome experience to take back with me when I leave here someday.

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Bug Issues

Car For One

Look at this cute little car I was behind the other day...it had three wheels...like an enclosed moped basically.

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Travel Karma

Melor Too?

Okay, now it looks like Parma might not come too close to us (assuming it doesn't turn north at the last minute), but we have Melor churning out there as well...both could be within weather distance of us in the next few days...even if neither gets close enough to hit us. I am excited to see what the satellite imagery looks like when they are both in the same screen...

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One Year Ago on In My Words...Outdoor Kitty Today is the 1st anniversary of moving the litter box outdoors...yeah!!!