Today our daughter who’s in grade eight is supposed to be taking needle 1 of 3 of Gardasil.  If you’re not familiar with this injection;

Gardasil is designed to prevent infection with HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of HPV-related cervical cancer cases. In addition, some types of HPV, particularly type 16, have been found to be associated with oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma, a form of throat cancer. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital wart cases. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes virtually all cases of cervical cancer, the 7th most common cause of death from cancer among women worldwide.

Until there is more information about the longevity of the  drug and  information about the possible dangers from longterm side effects, we’ve decided to prevent our daughter from getting the needle today. It’s not as if we’re saying we’ll never give permission for her or her younger sister to get the needle, we’re just waiting a bit to see if more information will be released so we can then make a better decision.

What are your thoughts on this drug? Would you allow your 13yr daughter to get it, since it’s so new to the market?

I copied this from maremagnum, who copied it from someone, who copied it from someone else… pretty long chain of coping. We’ll call this generation 10!

1. How do you like your eggs? Easy over.

2. How do you take your coffee/tea? Coffee (cream / sugar) Tea (milk / sugar)

3. Favorite breakfast food! Leftover dinner.

4. Peanut butter - smooth or crunchy? Can’t stand the stuff.

5. What kind of dressing on your salad? None! I want to taste the greens please.

6. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi.

7. You’re feeling lazy, what do you make? Nuke, stuff from the freezer.

8. You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? No pizza or pasta for me thanks.

9. You feel like cooking. What do you make? I love to cook, so there’s too much to list (must be spicy though).10. Do any foods bring back good memories? Yes… hotdogs from street vendors - reminds me when me and my wife used to go Toronto to shop and hang around. Great Times.

11. Do any foods bring back bad memories? Rare roast beef - Tucker’s Marketplace family Christmas dinner. Made me sick for days.

12. Do any foods remind you of someone? Spice - Cumin, reminds me of my mom’s aunt.

13. Is there a food you refuse to eat? Raw meat and fish.

12. What was your favorite food as a child? Stew chicken Trinbago style.

13. Is there a food that you hated as a child but now like? Bitter melon and ocra.

14. Is there a food that you liked as a child but now hate? Bananas

15. Favorite fruit and vegetable. Red grapes. Vegatables.. I love them ALL.

16. Favorite junk food. No real fav, probably a BIG Mac.

17. Favorite between meal snack. I don’t really snack.

18. Do you have any weird food habits? I love prunes and will eat just about anything.

19. You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? DIET? You have to be joking right!

20 . You’re off your diet. Now what would you like? Would never torment myself like that

21. How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Nuclear!

22. Can I get you a drink? Scotch on ice.

23. Red wine or white? None.. gives me headaces

24. Favorite dessert? Rum and raisin ice cream and/or cheese cake.

25. The perfect nightcap? Kinda personal

I was never lucky enough to have the opportunity to vote in my native country, since I was too young at the time. But ever since I became a Canadian citizen I’ve never let an election go by without me voting. I’d like to remind everyone in Ontario to go out today and take advantage of your right to vote. Forget  what the polls are saying about which party is a clear-cut choice to win. Your vote will make a difference.

Overheard Caron bitching about the smoke alarm this morning. Her usual gripe every time it goes off. I think we have overly sensitive smoke detectors  installed in our home and every time there’s the slightest sign of smoke or  even the smell of something burning they trigger off. This morning I think it was some crumbs in the toaster oven.

Annoying alarm or not, I’m VERY HAPPY every time it goes off, it assures me that it’s fully functional and that we can rely on it’s warning in the event it’s a real fire hazard.

TEST your smoke alarms at least once a month following the manufacturer’s instructions. it takes only a moment to test a smoke alarm that could save your life.

BATTERIES. Replace batteries according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, at least once a year. Pick a day (maybe it’s the day you switch your clocks to, or from daylight-savings time) to replace, or recharge your alarm batteries each year.

I guess this is what a hang-over feels like? Lesson: Next time book direct flights and flights arriving closer to home. No more transfers and driving long distances to save $$. I’m only saying so now, but when you can save over $300 per person on flights it makes you reconsider

Back to reality after a solid week + in Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten soaking in the sun, drinking premium beer and enjoying the island charm, it’s back to work. Every time we visit the Caribbean the same question keeps playing in the back of my head when we return..”what are you doing here?” Maybe soon we’ll finally make the move and live on one of the amazing islands we’ve been fortunate to visit. (just have to convince the kids)
Speaking about fortunate…

Since we’ve been away we didn’t have time to make plans for Thanksgiving dinner this year, so we’ll be a bit late celebrating. Hopefully I can catch-up on missed work and have a grand dinner this coming weekend (even though I hate turkey).

All the best this thanksgiving.