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OCTOBER 2019
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‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’
The BestWay to Celebrate Halloween
houses in the country, and they really know how to put on a show. You have to walk through these horrific scenes with people hiding every 5 feet ready to jump out. Even though you know it’s all fake, there’s still an adrenaline rush when some guy in a mask starts chasing you with a chainsaw. But that’s part of the fun. After screaming and running, you can’t help but laugh at yourself a bit. My parents have said they wouldn’t
ast year was Audrey’s first Halloween, and we dressed her in a little monkey costume. She was very cute, but she didn’t have the chance to show off because we didn’t take her out. Her bedtime was well before trick-or-treating started. This year, we might take her out for a little while. Back when I was a kid, I dressed up as a GI Joe almost every Halloween, though I do remember having a pretty cool He-Man costume one year. That was actually a costume I revisited as an adult. The first year after Renee and I got together, we were He-Man and She-Ra for Halloween. It was like reliving the Halloween of my youth — but 10 times better because I had an amazing girlfriend who agreed to dress up with me. That was the same Halloween I went to my first haunted maze. I never visited haunted houses or anything like that when I was a kid, but Renee has always loved them. For our first Halloween together, Renee took me out in the country to a haunted field called Scare for the Cure. It was a scary maze, and all the money they collected went to cancer research. I admit I was a little nervous about the whole thing. We were in the middle of nowhere, 30 miles outside of Austin, in front of this big field where you could hear people screaming their heads off. I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but once we got in there, it was pretty fun. There were actors hiding in the dark, waiting to jump out and scare us as we passed by. It was pretty fun to jump, scream, and then laugh together. They don’t do Scare for the Cure anymore, but in recent years, we’ve been going to House of Torment in Austin. This is one of the top 10 haunted “For our first Halloween together, Renee took me out in the country to a haunted field called Scare for the Cure.”
go into the House of Torment for $1 million, but I look forward to going with Renee every year. Unfortunately, after going for so long, I think we’ve built up a scare immunity. Even the House of Torment doesn’t frighten us like it once did, but it’s still fun to go with Renee. When the haunted houses don’t bring the scares, we turn to horror movies. Renee’s not a big fan of gore, and I don’t like jump scares — both of which most modern horror movies rely on — so we stick to the classics. Anything from the ‘70s or ‘80s, like the original “Halloween,” is a welcome viewing experience.
Audrey’s scary Halloween years are still a ways off. It will be a while before she joins us on the annual trip to the House of Torment. For now, Renee and I will stick to trick-or-treating with her and watching scary movies after Audrey goes to bed.
–Dr. Seth Evans
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Most owners will tell you their cats act like ancient deities. Majestic, scrupulous, and utterly unpredictable, these fascinating creatures have long captured our imaginations. Even before cat videos took the internet by storm, humans have been idolizing felines, placing them alongside some of their most important mythological figures. Bastet — Egypt Of course, a list of mythical cats has to start with Egypt. While many people know the pharaohs and their followers thought cats were sacred, you may be surprised by how deep the connection goes. The earliest depiction of Bastet, the feline deity of protection, is a lion-headed woman in battle. But, over the course of 2,000 years, Bastet evolved to resemble the domesticated, pointy-eared cats we know and love today. 招き猫 (Maneki-Neko) — Japan Legend has it that in the 17th century, a monk living in a small temple in Edo (now Tokyo) was struggling to survive, but he still split his meals with his cat, Tama. One day, Lord Nakaota li got caught in a rainstorm while hunting and took shelter under a tree near the temple. Nakaota spotted Tama near the temple, and the cat raised its leg, beckoning the noble to come toward him. Curious, Nakaota complied, stepping out from beneath the tree just before a bolt of lightning struck it down. The lord’s life was saved, and to this day, the Maneki-Neko (the beckoning cat) is a symbol of wealth and good fortune. Freya’s Skogkatts —Norway In Norse folklore, the goddess Freya had a unique means of travel: a chariot pulled by two cats. These were skogkatts, or Norwegian Forest cats, that were only a little larger than your average house cat. Still, these small felines towed Freya around battlefields as she gathered warriors to send to Valhalla. On top of being the goddess of war, love affairs, and magic, Freya may well have been Midgard’s first cat lady.
HOW TO STEER CLEAR OF LOOKS THAT MIGHT OFFEND HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO THINK TWICE ABOUT If you’ve ever taken your kids trick-or-treating for Halloween, then there’s a good chance you’ve seen a costume that made you feel a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps it was something too sexual or gory for your 4-year-old’s eyes or a satirization of a political figure you admire. Odds are you didn’t say anything, but such encounters can be unsettling, even for the most laid-back among us. This Halloween, help others avoid that discomfort by thinking twice about the costumes you and your family choose. When dressing for Halloween, remember that it’s important to consider your audience. A skimpy Jessica Rabbit or Poison Ivy costume might be fun for an adults-only party, but it’s inappropriate for a family gathering. Similarly, you might not want to go the political route for an office party, where putting your opinions front and center could cause friction with your coworkers or boss. Instead, opt for a fictional character or a classic Halloween monster. No one is going to argue with you about your support or disdain for werewolves. While some costumes have their time and place, others are off-putting in any setting, and it’s never too early to explain that to your kids. Consider the case of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who came under fire earlier this year for a 1981 yearbook photo that appeared under his name and showed two costumed figures, one wearing a KKK uniform and the other in blackface. Northam’s role in the photo was never clarified, but it caused permanent damage to his reputation and friendships. Make sure your family avoids similar strife this Halloween by steering clear of costumes associated with racist, sexist, or politically divisive groups. Teach your kids that it’s best to rule out costumes imitating another race or culture, particularly if they promote stereotypes, to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings — famous sports teams facing criticism for their Native American mascots are canaries in the coal mine on that point. Finally, encourage your kids to avoid hamming up symptoms of mental illness or addiction in their costumes. Dressing like a “mental patient” can hit too close to home for real-life sufferers, some of whom you likely know and love.
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A VACCINE TO PREVENT CANCER The Rise of HPV-
Associated Throat Cancer
and HPV-caused cancers. Parents can help protect their children from HPV and HPV-caused cancers by getting them vaccinated as soon as possible. If the HPV vaccine wasn’t available when you were a teenager, there’s good news: The FDA has approved the use of the vaccine to adults up to the age of 45. Adults should talk to their doctor about the possibility of new HPV infections and the benefits of getting vaccinated. The HPV vaccine can’t help you if you’ve already been diagnosed with HPV-associated cancer, which is why you should look into getting the vaccine sooner rather than later. If you’ve been diagnosed with this problem, you can take comfort in the fact that patients with HPV- associated throat cancers tend to respond better to treatment and have higher rates of remission than patients who are diagnosed with throat cancer caused by smoking or drinking. Keep in mind that while the vaccine can help prevent HPV-associated cancers, HPV is not the only cause of cancer. Early diagnosis is key to increased rates of cancer survival, so be sure to maintain regular wellness exams to catch any problems as soon as they appear.
In the past, misinformation about smoking and tobacco use led to high rates of cancer. Throat cancer was especially common. Thankfully, today we see more people quitting smoking and fewer people picking up the habit in the first place. However, throat cancer hasn't been eliminated. Today, human papillomavirus (HPV) is quickly becoming a more common cause of throat cancer than smoking. There are 200 different types of HPV, and it has become the most common sexually transmitted disease. While most types of HPV are harmless and go away on their own, cases of high-risk HPV can lead to cancer, including throat cancer or cervical cancer. Not every case of HPV will become cancer, but as rates of HPV increase, so do rates of HPV-associated cancers. The good news is that we have a vaccine to help prevent these kinds of cancers. Most people who have sex will get HPV, which is why it’s recommended for people to receive the HPV vaccine well before they become sexually active. This vaccine can be administered to children starting at the age of 9. Over a decade of research has proven that the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective method for preventing HPV
HAVE A LAUGH
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit Inspired by Food Network
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy.
Ingredients
• 1 package melting chocolate • Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 What Goes Bump in the Night?
Page 2 Amazing Cat Tales
Page 2 Halloween Costumes to Think Twice About
Page 3 What Parents Need to Know About HPV
Page 3 Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
Page 4 Word From the Westies
TRICK OR TREAT! Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Halloween is full of goodies that people and pups alike can enjoy! This month, Izzy and I have found a couple recipes for Halloween treats that are so good it’s scary!
Howl-oweenWith Izzy and Emma
Directions 1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Whisk all ingredients together in a medium bowl, adding water as needed to make dough workable. 3. Roll dough out to be 1/2-inch thick, then use pumpkin cookie cutter to cut into shapes. 4. Transfer cookies to greased baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Let cool completely before serving to your favorite pooch! For Kids: Oreo Spider Bites It’s impossible to be scared of these tasty spiders inspired by HungryHappenings.com. Ingredients • 1 package Oreo cookies • 1 cup plain cream cheese, softened
Directions 1. Pulse Oreos in food processor until you have fine crumbs. Scoop out 2/3 cup crumbs and set aside. Add cream cheese to remaining crumbs and pulse until well- blended. 2. Shape mixture into 28 tablespoon-sized balls, then roll each ball in Oreo crumbs. 3. Use scissors to cut licorice into 2-inch pieces, making enough for each “spider” to have 8 legs. Insert 8 legs into each Oreo ball, then carefully attach 2 candy eyes using candy melts. Store in fridge until it’s time to serve.
For Canines: Peanut Butter Pumpkin Jack-o'-Lantern Cookies These treats from AllRecipes.com feature our favorite fall flavors: peanut butter and pumpkin! Ingredients • 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) • 2 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
We hope your Halloween is all treats and only a couple tricks.
• Black shoestring licorice • 52 1/2-inch candy eyes
Izzy & Emma
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