The Ranks of the UnInsured Are Going Up

According to the Daily News, the ranks of the uninsured are going up. Read the article here: http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_11240815?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com

If you are uninsured or under-insured let AmeriPlan help you save as much as 80% on your health care. There's lots more info at http://www.BenefitsByRosie.com

Health Care Costs will be going up

According to a survey of insurers by Aon Consulting Worldwide reported on August 11, 2008 health care costs are expected to rise more than 10 percent into next year. Yes, that's right - just as insurance companies pay out less and less, prices are going up and up. But you can save up to 80% on your health care costs as a member of AmeriPlan. Sign up online at http://www.BenefitsByRosie.com

Something's Fishy In Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California, July 28, 2006 -- This weekend my family explored the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, which is run by Heal the Bay at the Santa Monica Pier. Filled with oversized tanks, tiny tanks, an open-topped shark tank and even touch tanks, the aquarium gave us an up-close, hands-on lesson in undersea life in Santa Monica Bay. There were coloring pages and crafts set out for us to explore, face painting and a Kids Corner with puppets, a puppet theater and lots and lots of books about the creatures around us. Many informative, friendly people with nametags were stationed by the exhibits and were eager to tell us all sorts of interesting facts about the ocean and the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Shark feeding times are posted on the chalkboard out front. There was also a conservation area where my oldest child, Beloved Offspring #1, read about how long things take to break down and what our human pollution does to the waters of our planet. Educational movies were showing in the Santa Monica Bay Room, and the co-ed family friendly restrooms were equipped with water-saving dual flush toilets.

One chilling fact we learned was that the beach water at Santa Monica almost always earns an "F" rating, while other beaches along the Los Angeles coastline earn much better scores. We wished we had heard this BEFORE letting our Beloved Offspring frolic in the waves for a few hours earlier in the day.

The aquarium offers a fun and informative destination for school field trips and groups, as well as birthday party packages. There is also an Aquadoption Program where you can adopt a sea creature and get all sorts of great perks. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 for anyone over age 12, and 42 for kids. Admission is free with the Go L.A.! card. The aquarium's hours vary by season so call 310-393-6149 or check the website, www.healthebay.org/smpa.

DESPERATE HOUSEMOMS

Most moms have trouble managing their time. When Beloved Offspring #2 and #3 were infants (they came as a set) I brought them to the YMCA Child Watch. I wasn’t virtuously working off that baby weight, some days that was the only time I could manage to take a shower. I was very proud of my resourcefulness – my precious babies were being watched and I was finally (if briefly) clean of spit-up and had a few moments to myself. Another mommy friend (also a mommy to twins and a singleton) told me that during a recent bout of a bad virus that swept through her entire family the only way she could get any rest and recover was to drag herself to the ER!

Surely The End Is Near...

While going about my housework and dinner prep I found myself bopping along to an old, familiar tune. My kids were dutifully watching PBS, and there was a commercial on for a show. The costumed characters, Barney, Baby Bop and others I am proud to say I don't recognize, were happily dancing and singing. Then the 80s part of my brain kicked in (it's a little slow these days) and sent me the missing information; Song Title: I Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode!!!!!! I suggest we all get our affairs in order!