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Tina's Tips

Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go. I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them, finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest things can help so much.

From Kuch:
Hi, I have fond several uses for the rubber shelf and drawer liner if you have grip problems with you hands a little piece of it work wonders to grip onto bottle caps. I put it around say a jar of jam and hold it between my legs sitting down and use a jar opener, have not found a jar I can not open that way, also put a good size piece of it on the floor foot size and slide your socks on. I don't have strength in my hands this really works. My daughter uses it under her dining room chair cushions to keep them from sliding, I'm sure there are many uses for it. I keep a small piece on my kitchen sink for when I need to grip anything. Hope this will help someone. I know I don't have to watch the jars of stuff I buy anymore.

And from Ron:
Variation of the rice sock: Every kitchen has one or more of those oven mitts floating around. Drop a boiling bag of rice in and seal with velcro or snap. It is small and molds to odd shapes and feels really good.
The complete instructions for rice socks are at: /living/ricesock.html 

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What's New?

This week's Featured Discussion is Men's Health. Check it out at /feature/men

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Arthritis Insight Chat /community/chat/

Monday's Men's Health Chat with Walt Hanks went very well. We had not planned on posting the transcript, figuring there would be some sensitive issues discussed and the men involved would want them left private. However, all the men that participated wanted the transcript posted, they hope it encourages other men to open up and talk about their problems. The transcript is posted at /community/chat/july31200.html . But be warned, some of the conversation is in regard to sexual issues.

On Monday August 7th it will be the girl's turn! Dr. Susan Hoch will be in to discuss Women's Health. NO GUYS ALLOWED! 

The complete chat schedule can be found at /community/chat/schedule.html 
With the addition of JRA World to Arthritis Insight, we've added two new chats. Tuesdays at 10pm Eastern JRAWHostJeff will host Young Adults with Arthritis support chat. And every Thursday at 10pm Eastern we'll have Growing Up With Arthritis, for kids, teens, and adults who are growing up or have grown up with arthritis hosted by JRAWHostAaron.

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Cooking With Char!

Hello! Hello! Another week of summer has come and gone. And before we know it, it will be time for back to school. There are 6 teachers in my family and they all have to go back to school on the 15th to begin preparation for their students. Gosh this summer has gone quickly!!

Before we get started, let me remind you that I asked for recipes using the fresh produce available this time of year, especially zucchini. Come on folks. I have not yet received one zucchini recipe!! So let's get crackin'! Send me those zucchini recipes

Here is a really simple one to get you started.

Peel tomatoes by dipping for a few seconds in boiling water, then dropping immediately in cold water. Then the skins will just come right off.

In a pan-put peeled tomatoes (larger tomatoes will need to be cut into chunks)
zucchini cut into slices
and garlic to taste
Salt and pepper to taste (but be careful tomatoes have a lot of natural sodium. Taste before you salt)

That is all there is to it. Couldn't be easier. Amounts are not important. Use what ever you have. For a variation add some green pepper to the pot.

Now here is a Summer Salad recipe from a reader. Thank you Dorothy. 
Summer Salad
Serves 8 or more
Early morning or day before serving, cook 12 ounces small shell pasta, drain and toss in a bowl with a cup of your favorite "creamy" salad dressing.
(Garlic flavor not the best with this)
Hard boil 5-6 eggs, peel and place on top pf pasta, cover bowl and place in 'fridge to marinate several hours or over night.
Night before, put 2 large cans salmon or 4 small cans water packed tuna into fridge to chill.
Then add to marinated pasta: 2 cups cherry tomatoes sliced in halves: 2 cups coarsely chopped celery; 1 large or 2 small cans of black olives, drained; & coarsely chopped boiled eggs.
Add 1 cup salad dressing like Miracle Whip, to the pasta mixture and toss gently. Use more than 1 cup if more moisture is desired. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Drain salmon or tuna, gently break into chunks and add to salad. As gently as you can, toss the fish with the pasta mix.
Serve cold on top of lettuce with lemon slices.
Keeps several days in fridge. Use covered bowl.
Add more or less of your favorite ingredients. This is a flexible salad.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to send them to me at Char@arthritisinsight.com . And don't forget to send me your favorite recipe!!

From Donna:
October Happening In Ohio
When...October 12-15 
Place...Wooster, Ohio
Looks like we have quite a crowd going already! Over 30 people so far! If you can make it, you won't regret the experience of meeting and making new friends with other people with arthritis.
All the information is now on a website thanks to Kimmy! http://fadedjeans.com/ohio 

Happy Birthday!
Wishing Happy Birthday this week to Alice, Cathy-Cow, Katrina Wall, and Carolanne.

New Arthritis Insight Newsletter Feature

We had a great suggestion this week and we'd like to give it a try. We'll call it "Featured Columnist". We'd like folks to submit articles to us. It can be on anything to do with life with arthritis. From serious and technical to light and funny, we want 'em. Each week we'll have a different Featured Columnist. A great way to hear some other points of view, we think it'll be interesting and fun. (we reserve the right to refuse any article that we feel does not suit our members interest) Looking forward to hearing from you!

Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers:

KAS Enterprises (http://www.kasenterprises.com/theraband.html?ai) has graciously offered to help us out in our quest for fitness. They have put together a special package of Thera-Bands? and accessories. All for $19.99 with free shipping and a free instruction manual. If you mention Arthritis Insight you'll get double Frequent Buyer Bonus Points so you can earn free products!

Sore No More gel (http://www.sorenomore.com/) will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com .

Therabath Paraffin Therapy Bath is offering $30 off of their regular price of the Therabath unit. Visit http://www.wrmed.com/special_offer.htm for more info.

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Contribute
Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.

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A Closing Thought

What Arthritis Cannot Do

Arthritis is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit
~Author Unknown