Sacramento Life Force In Home Health Care » Local

Zombies In Sacramento

cbengiovanni — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:37:04 +0000

There are Zombies coming to Sacramento! “Run For Your Lives” is a 5k run/obstacle course that will be in the Sacramento region on May 11th, 2013 and while I won’t be participating, I am a little tickled that such things exist.

Anyone can run. But everything changes when you’re running for your life. Test your speed, strength and endurance through miles of man-made and natural obstacles—all while being chased by hungry, merciless zombies. This obstacle course race is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. And hopefully, it won’t be your last. Waiting at the end of this zombie infected 5k—aside from a possible brain craving—is an apocalypse party to die for. Celebrate your survival or imminent zombie transformation at this one-of-a-kind festival complete with food, live bands, a DJ, and of course beer. – RunForYourLives.com Website

Until next time…
Chris

Remembering Meshu (2006-2011) Our Agency Cat……….

cbengiovanni — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:33:03 +0000

Meshu (2006-2011) Our Agency Cat

The entire staff and administration of Sacramento Life Force Home Health Care, would like to take some time out to honor and remember Meshu our official agency cat and mascot. Meshu passed away in the arms of Roland our Executive Director on Tuesday, November 1st 2011 at 12:15pm.

Meshu was one of four kittens born to a feral mother. The mother cat was caught, fixed and released, and the four cats were taken in by our agency and bottle fed.

Meshu was an incredible Siamese cat. She was so strong, beautiful, smart, loyal and loving. She loved people and other cats and even dogs too!!! She had a real zest for life, making the most of every day, and being so loving as she went through her day. We could all learn a thing or two from Meshu that we can all apply to our daily lives.

This past June Meshu stared to loose weight and have some personality changes. We started having her checked out at our vet. After checking her for everything under the sun….they realized she had Lymphoma Cancer. Meshu started cancer treatment right away and things were looking up the first month. Then all of a sudden the treatment stared to fail and her liver started to fail as well. At that point the doctor said treatment was ended.

So on the Friday of Labor Day weekend we decided to hospice Meshu and not put her to sleep. We stared to use alternative treatments, they were helping her and giving her quality of life. We knew we were just buying her some time to be with her family, friends and her other cat and dog buddies. Then this past weekend (Saturday, October 30th) she started to go down-hill. Right up to the end she tried to keep going, even sitting up with both of her legs crossed still trying to look regal as always.

Meshu taught us all to make the most of life and above all to show love every day.

Meshu you little ball of fur and love….you were our little angel and you always will be.

Meshu we love you.

Until next time…

Chris

Fun, Sun and Lungs!

cbengiovanni — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:09:21 +0000

I thought everyone would find “Fun, Sun and Lungs!” informative. This article was sent to Sacramento Life Force by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to post on our blog. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (say that 3 times fast lol) is reaching out to Sacramento area residents, to make an awareness on air quality and health, and what we can all do regarding air quality. The AQMD also works to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the Metro Sacramento region.

Fun, Sun and Lungs!

Ways to Reduce Health Impacts on Spare The Air Days

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and air quality is good. Unfortunately, some days may have very unhealthy ozone levels causing a Spare The Air day, which can result in unwanted symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and aggravated respiratory illnesses.

What is a Spare The Air day?

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the air districts of the Sacramento region want all local residents to know when it is a Spare The Air day so they can protect themselves from the unhealthy ground-level ozone that may cause harm. A Spare The Air day is called when ground-level ozone is expected to reach the unhealthy range during hot summer weather. Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react with the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Our region’s biggest contributors of those smog causing ingredients are the cars and trucks driving around.

Health effects on Spare The Air days

Everyone is affected by poor air quality. Those who work outside, or participate in strenuous activities like sports, are more susceptible. Sensitive groups, including elderly, pregnant women, individuals with heart or lung disease and children under the age of 15 should take extra precautions on Spare The Air days to avoid unwanted health problems associated with poor air quality, such as:

Aggravated respiratory illnesses, including asthma, emphysema and bronchitis
Aggravated lung disease causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis
Aggravated heart disease causing arrhythmias and heart attacks
Wheezing, coughing, and chest pain
Shortness of breath
Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
Reduced resistance to infection
Unusual fatigue
Difficulty breathing or decreased lung function, even in healthy individuals

Staying healthy on Spare The Air days

But don’t worry, there are many things you can do to avoid the unhealthy effects of poor air quality. The following tips can help you and your family from feeling the adverse health effects of air pollution, while decreasing air pollution in our communities.

Any outdoor activity such as sports, gardening or running errands should be done in the morning or early evening when air quality is at its best.

Avoid pesticides when taking care of your lawn. Try granular or water-based solutions. Just like gas releases chemicals into the environment, so do pesticides. If you use a water-based solution, you omit the chance of a chemical reaction to occur, thus creating a healthier environment for you to garden in. Also try to use water-based paints, coatings and adhesives when maintaining your home.
Busy week and errands are piling up? Map out where you will be going; this makes your trip as efficient as possible. If possible, use public transit. Cars are a major source of air pollution in the Sacramento region. If you leave your car at home one day a week, you prevent 55 pounds of pollution each year from being emitted into the air.
Use an electric starter or chimney briquette starter instead of charcoal lighter fluid. Better yet, replace your charcoal grill with a propane gas grill. You can often tell which neighbor is barbecuing for that fun, summer holiday by the billowing smoke or smell of charcoal in the air. Unfortunately, that smoke contains particulate matter, which can be directly linked to associated health problems. To avoid such particles from affecting your heart and lungs, encourage your family to make the switch to a propane gas grill.
On your way home and low on gas? Instead of waiting until the morning, fill up your gas tank once the sun goes down. That helps decrease the amount of emissions released while refueling, which ultimately reduces ground-level ozone.
Sign up for the Sacramento region’s Air Alert email system. Air Alert lets you know what the air quality will be each day plus a forecast of the week to come. It’s as simple as going to http://www.sparetheair.com/airalert.cfm and signing up! It will help you plan your day, protect yourself and those you love from negative health impacts associated with air pollution, and help the environment, too.

Over the years, your hard work to reduce the number of Spare The Air days in the region has paid off. So, keep up the great work! To stay up to date on the Spare The Air campaign and fun activities, follow us on Twitter @AQMD or become Scooter’s Facebook friend at SpareTheAir Scooter. For more information, to receive free educational materials or to sign up for Air Alert, please visit http://www.SpareTheAir.com

Air Quality Index

Well gang now you know.

Until next time…
Chris

Our Furry Friends

cbengiovanni — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:10:37 +0000

Photo by passionatephoto.com

Sacramento Life Force Home Health Care has several community charities that we help support. One of those charities is the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

The ASPCA was the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. The ASPCA mission, as stated by their founder, Henry Bergh, in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

During these tough economic times all around the Greater Metro
Sacramento Region and all across the USA pets are being abandoned. The ASPCA is on the front lines helping abandoned and unwanted cats, dogs and other animals all over the USA, and in Metro Sacramento.

How can we help?

Well, one thing we can do is volunteer at a local animal shelter, those of us who are able can adopt a cat or dog (or another one) from a local shelter. People should try not to buy a pet from a store, when there are so many unwanted pets at shelters “on death row” that will be put to sleep. Every day here in Metro Sacramento and all across the USA tens of thousands of cats and dogs are euthanized. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Also, we can make a one time donation to the ASPCA, or make an $18.00 monthly pledge at: http://www.aspca.org/donate/

Below is a list of local Metro Sacramento, CA animal shelters and groups helping animals in the metro area, where you can volunteer, adopt a pet or make a tax deductible donation:

Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
http://www.sspca.org/

Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation
http://www.msa2.saccounty.net/acr/Pages/default.aspx

City of Sacramento – General Services – Animal Care
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/generalservices/animal-care/

Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary
http://www.happytails.org/

Friends of Sacramento City Shelter Animals, Inc.
http://www.saccityshelter.com/

Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC)
http://www.sacanimal.org/

SacPaws
http://www.sacpaws.com/

Non of us alone can make it all better for our furry friends. But if we all do a little something, whatever that may be, all together it will make a huge difference and make the world a little bit of a better place.

‘Tis the Season…

Chris

Blast from the Past – Montgomery Ward

cbengiovanni — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:23:36 +0000

The photos below, taken in 1956, show the large, newly remodeled Montgomery Ward store at the corner of 9th and K streets in Sacramento, California, just prior to its “grand reopening”. Originally opened in 1935 and designed to Ward’s Georgian architectural standard of the day, the Sacramento location was one of the company’s first units to be revamped after the tumultuous leadership change of 1955.

Montogomery Ward - Sacramento, CA - 1947

Main Floor of Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA - 1956

Linens of Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA - 1956

Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA 1956 - Bikes

Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA 1956 - Ladies Dept.

Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA 1956 - TV Dept.

Jewelry of Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA - 1956

Montgomery Ward - Sacramento, CA - 1956

The photos appear here by the kind courtesy of the California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California.