Dyslexia and "Dogs"

In our "Book Nook" segment today, I spoke with Nelson Lauver, a syndicated broadcaster, writer, speaker, humorist, award-winning narrator and advocate. His memoir: "MOST UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED: THE TRIALS, TRAVELS AND ULTIMATE TRIUMPHS OF A 'THROWAY' KID" is a facinating read. Nelson was a bright, young boy with undiagnoased dyslexia and he blends humor, story telling, irony and raw emotion as he shares his account of his learning disability and how he overcame it. His book will touch the lives of parents, grandparents, educators at all levels, and individuals who may have a learning disability or have had difficulties in shcool-and it will also resonate with anyone who works with or cares for children. Because he was undiagnosed, he learned to be the "bad kid" and acted out in class in the hopes that the teacher would pass him into the next grade in order to get him out of their classroom. By the time he graduated (104th out of 104 students), he could only read and function at a second grade level. In spite of the emotional and physical abuse, he perserved and today is a highly regarded speaker. His book a very powerful and inspite of all the tragic abuse, it resonates with the power of hope and how it can make all the difference. You might be able to catch his four-minute slice of the American experience "The American Storyteller Radio Journal"-featured on many radio stations across the country. Or check out his website at http://www.americanstoryteller.com/.

It is also Hot Dog Day! And the weather is warming up. A good day for a ballpark hotdog (although the Brewers don't play until tomorrow-and they're at Cinncinnati, so I guess it will have to be a DQ hotdog! We posted this question on facebook: What condiments do like on your hot dog? Ketchup and Onions are MY choice!

Hot Dogs and Headaches

Today is National Hot Dog Day.
Did you know that someone has come up with
"HOT DOG ETIQUETTE"?
Here are the "do's and dont's" when eating hot dogs:

• Don't put toppings between the hot dog and the bun. You need to always "dress the dog".
• Don't use a cloth napkin to wipe your mouth-paper is always preferable
• Don't take more than five bites to finish. For a foot-long wiener, seven bites are acceptable
• Don't leave bits of bun on your plate. EAT IT ALL!
• Don't use ketchup on your hot dog after the age of 18. Mustard, relish, onions, cheese and chili are all acceptable-no matter what your age.
  
• Do eat hot dogs with your hands. Untensils should not touch the dog or the bun!
• Do use paper plates. Every day dishes are acceptable; china is a no-no
• Do apply condiments in the following order: mustard and chili should be applied first, (wet ingredients) - followed by the "chunky" ingredients such as relish, onion and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, and topped off with spices like celery salt or pepper.

And of course, DON'T ever think there is a wrong time to serve hot dogs!

The other day we talked about headaches. If you suffer from migraines, you probably know how to avoid "trigger" foods such as aged cheese, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits and processed foods. Skipping meals can also cause a headache. There are foods that can help ease migraine pain. The next time you feel one coming on, load up on foods high in magnesium and calcium such as spinach, kale or broccoli. Some people also find relief from ginger. Try ginger ale made with real ginger, or drink cups of ginger tea. Other foods that might be beneficial include garlic, oatmeal, fish, grapes and cayenne pepper. Give it a try!

"LITTLE BITS" shared by listeners today: For relief from poison ivy: Wash infected areas with Felds Naphtha soap to cleanse and disinfect then wipe with Real Lemon Juice (bottled kind)

For relief from itchy bug bites: Dissolve 2 antacid tablets in a glass of water, then dab the solution on the itchy spot to soothe the skin.

For healthier rosebushes: Plant a banana peel at the base of your rosebush, an inch down in the soil. The potassium feeds the plant and helps fend off diseases.

Coring strawberries: Pluck the leaves and stem from berry. Using a plastic drinking straw, tunnel through the berry from top to bottom to remove the core. Works great!

Hot Dogs and Head Colds!

First Day of Summer arrived today and it looks like we are going to have summer like weather for most of the week. And just as summer arrives, so does my "summer cold". Stuffy nose, watery eyes, scratchy throat and deep cough. Not the kind of symptoms to have if I'm "on the air". I did manage to get through the show today and hopefully will feel better tomorrow.

We also talked about the different ways to dress up a hot dog. Do you like yours with all the "fixins" or just a good old PLAIN dog? You can easily "fancy up" the hot dogs at your next BBQ.

Rueben Dog: 2 Tbsp. sauerkraut + 2 Tbsp. grated Swiss cheese +

1 Tbsp.Thousand Island Dressing

Salty Dog: 2 tsp. yellow mustard + 3-4 bread & butter pickles +

1 slice cooked bacon, crumbled

Tropical Dog: 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh pineapple + 1 Tbsp. chopped sweet red

cherry pepper + 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves

You might know of someone who is a very hard worker and deserves recognition.

Sears and "Dickies" are sponsoring the 2010 American Worker of America contest. You only need to answer 2 easy questions on their website and you could win the one of 6 regional prizes of $5,000 each and one grand prize of $100,000. We spoke with Michael McGee of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. At 23, he purchased a 41 acre horse training farm. Today, two years later, he is an agricultural teacher and advisor for the Future Farmers of America at his high school. He credits his early achievements in life to being a normal guy with a dream and good, old-fashioned hard work. So check out the website: http://www.workeroftheyear.com/