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Fear is present almost everywhere. It is natural feeling of
mankind. Every person in this world has fear inside, whether it
is in immense quantity or little, but it is there and nobody can
deny it. Fear can be of anything such as fear of beloved’s death
or even self, fear of loneliness, fear of natural disasters etc.

Women are more emotional and softhearted in comparison of men,
that’s the reason that they may have more than one fear. Lets
find out what kind of fears usually women have, and how they can
avoid such frightening states of mind.

* Fear of poor image: Julia has fear of poor image. She usually
feared of what people would think of her. Even in her office she
feels the same, so her colleagues take advantage of her for
their work. She couldn’t able to even deny of working over time.
She thinks that if she denies them, they would have bad feeling
for her.

Alike Julia there are many women in our society are bearing
injustice and tribulations, because they doesn’t speak out a
single word against it. Maybe this help in making excellent
image but the fact is they are putting in tons of tension and
stress in their minds.

Solution: First you find out, in taking care of your beloved,
family members, colleagues and other people that you are not
putting scissors on your own desires and wishes. If this is
happening, then be sure to live little for yourself, for example
if you want to go cinema with your friends in the evening, at
the same time you also have to cook for your family. Start
preparing for the dinner right from the afternoon. This will
make you confirm for your evening show with your friends.

* Fear of loneliness: Now-a-days, number of single women is
rapidly increasing. Most of these women are unmarried, widowed,
divorcees or those who live far from their homes for
employments. Whatever the reason is, in such cases these women
suffers from cavernous loneliness. Everybody wants to run away
from being alone. Emotional warmth is primary need of every
single individual. If someone has to pass from long loneliness
period, she may fall in steep valley of depression.

Solution: The best way-out of thorny loneliness is the good
friend circle. If you are alone then make some good friends or
try to refresh old friendships and sustain it healthily. Go to
social fair and common meetings; make out habit like gardening,
cooking, reading etc. This will help you to get out of aloneness.

* Fear of getting unsuccessful in relationships: Maria’s parents
were divorced after a long case in court. This created fear in
Maria’s mind, that she would never be able to make successful
relations. After, of being aged for marriage she was afraid of
being married. She thought that she would never make out a
successful married life.

Solution: Try to make dialogue with family members, discuss your
fear with them. If any relation breaks don’t blame yourself.
Relations are like delicate piece of chinaware it may break. It
doesn’t mean that all relation will break down in same manner.
Remember after every night there is sunshine.

* Fear of Taking Wrong Decision: Sherin loved to paint since
from her childhood. When she completed her schooling, she
decided to go for diploma in fine arts. However, everybody in
her family insist her that there is no value of such course, so
she must complete graduation. She got puzzled what to do? She
was feared of taking wrong decision.

Most women are feared whether they would be able to take right
decision or not. Whether it is about studies, carrier, selecting
partner or marriage. This is only due lack of self-confidence.
Normally surrounding people compress the inherent qualities by
directing what to wear and what not, how to talk - where to talk
and many such things. Due to this women are unable to boost
confidence in them.

Solution: Make out your decision on your own. If you wish to get
some suggestion take it from intellectual individual but always
keep your decision as last and final. After making any decision
think on both positive as well as negative aspects of it. From
which side you are satisfied do those things. If still confused,
take suggestion from your family member or friend.

* Fear of Child’s future: Every parent is concerned about their
children’s future, especially mothers. What will be their
career, what they will do in future? Mothers are particularly
worried about daughters that whether they will adjust with
different family, environment and surroundings, after marriage.
For this reason mother often scold her children, and this
results friction in their relations.

Solution: Try to cut generation gap between you and your
children. Regularly discuss about their career prospects.
Support them in taking major decisions like selecting jobs and
marriage. But, do not pressurize them to comply your decisions.
Guide them, but don’t interfere in their personal life. This
way, they will feel free to discuss anything with you.

* Fear of Economic Drop: Mostly the housewives are fear of
loosing economic status in their society, if their husband earn
little income or spends money lavishly. They think if worst
financial circumstances would arise than what she will do?

Solution: Make budget for your household expenses. Try to save
money and find out small investment schemes available that are
enormously available in the market. Make habit in your children
to save money also. You can also run small-scale business from
your own house.

* Fear of sexual abuse: Nowadays criminal activities such as
rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping and killing are rapidly
increasing. Even it happens at public places like cinema halls,
shopping malls etc. In this scenario it is obvious that women
would scared of becoming victim of such incidence. Solution:
Avoid going to lonely places after dark. Learn some defensive
arts such as Kung fu or Karate. Be brave, you should fight back
if it happens to you. This is the only way-out from this fear.

* Fear of getting old: Today, glamour rules everywhere and outer
appearance is significantly considered. So, many women think
that their growing age will reduce interests of their husband in
them or people will not take notice of them. This normally
happens to the women who have crossed 40s. Solution: Every age
has its charm, enjoy each and every moment of your life. Regular
exercise, yoga, meditation and proper diet will certainly help
you out. You can also visit beauty parlor, but not often. Keep
in mind true beauty always lies inside you and everyone will
become older, today or tomorrow. Remember those words? “Old is
Gold”, where ‘Gold’ depicts the maturity of a person.

* Fear of natural calamity: American people have recently
witnessed natural disaster almost face to face, experienced it’s
worst consequences. But, it has to be accepted that nobody can
stop it. So, the fear of such calamities should be eradicated.

Solution: Nobody have control over death, but certainly on life.
Live - enjoy each and every moment of your life. Who knows, what
is to be happened next. So don’t be afraid of next, after-all
life is to live with bravery and joyful heart.

Its good to be feared as it makes you more precautious. But
don’t let your fear rule your desires. Remember, women are
god-made wonder. You are the only one on this earth who can
create miracle by giving birth. You are the one who runs the
world. I have experienced the power of changing the worst things
into best, as my mother, wife and daughter are women. They have
immense inherent capability to make all things good.

For any further communication please feel free to contact me at
reach2paras@gmail.com.

Having a hair cut can change your look completely. It can be
better or worse. Sometimes you will feel better when having a
new cut or color. Here is the story of hair.

The mysteries of maintaining beautiful hair should have been
uncovered by now, but for many women finding a simple way to
keep their hair looking wonderful is as elusive as it was to
women centuries before. The desire for beautiful hair is not
new. Ancient Egyptians shaved their heads and wore elaborate,
heavy, braided wigs to achieve perfection. European history also
abounds with torturous hair styles including the ornate,
powdered styles wrapped around frames and horsehair which
attracted vermin. All in the name of beauty.

Today, fashion still influences a woman’s hairstyle but that
doesn’t mean you have to subject your hair to needless damage.
Take advantage of the tips below on caring properly for your
hair.

Even though your hair is not a living part of your body, itstill
needs proper care for optimum health and beauty. One of the key
elements to having shiny, healthy hair is to allow the natural
oils in the scalp to lubricate it. The hair closest to the scalp
benefits from natural sebum oils the most while longer hair can
become dry and brittle from a lack of these oils.

No matter what exotic ingredients it’s made up of , shampoo
performs a simple job of removing excess oils, pollution and
styling product build up from the hair. All of your hair needs
gentle cleansing but it is the top two or three inches that is
most weighed down with natural oils and dulling hair products.
Concentrating the washing in that area will reduce the amount of
oils removed from longer areas of hair which can be over dried
from the stripping of oils and extended contact with shampoo.

Conditioning on the other hand should be used sparingly, if at
all, on the top inches of the hair while concentrated on the
ends. Conditioning is an important step to replace needed oils
and provide protection from styling agents such as blow dryers
and irons.

Your hair will look its most beautiful when you choose a style
that requires the least amount of heat and product damage.
Protecting your hair with conditioners is key, but choosing a
style that suits the texture of your hair will eliminate the
need for more torturous styling tools.

Frizzy and dry hair can benefit from the application of silicone
based products. Bear in mind that a little goes a long way and
concentrate the product on the ends of your hair.

When blow drying keep the blow dryer at least six inches from
your hair to prevent excessive damage from the heat. Blow drying
in the direction of the shaft (down the length of hair) will
create a smoother appearance.

Anytime you use chemicals in your hair you should make sure your
hair is in a healthy condition before applying the treatment.
Overuse of these treatments can damage hair beyond repair and
affect the results of the products.

Your hair will look shinier and feel thicker when you remove
dried and split ends. Trimming the hair every 6 to 8 weeks will
keep it looking its best.

Taking simple steps to maintain healthy hair will put you on
track to more ‘good hair days’ than you ever thought possible!

Some men may not know or do not have the slightest idea if
a woman is ready to be kissed. These men may be sitting
beside their dates talking too much they suddenly realize
how the lips of their dates are so kissable.

Their imagination will then take control, but this would
also mean disaster if done wrong. This may often leave
these men without a second chance for another date with the
woman.

If a guy finds himself talking to a girl and wondering if
she’s ready to be kissed, he may softly touch her hair and
give a compliment about it.

If the girl shows a favorable reaction, this may be a sign
of getting closer to a kiss. Get closer and try reaching
for her hair again.

Touch the hair tips and simply gaze on her lips and eyes.
The fact that she does not mind about you getting closer to
her is a sign that she is comfortable. This is a sign for a
guy to go and kiss the girl.

Some guys try to go out on an adventurous date in order to
make the kissing move more suave and natural. One
particular example is a guy who usually takes a girl to a
small boat ride on a river.

Upon sailing along the river, he happens to direct the boat
to a place covered with trees and fireflies - truly a
romantic place to kiss.

A guy can also take her date to some ancient ruins in a
local spot and manage to spend time walking until dark.
These ruins usually light up at night.

The guy can take his date to the top of the ruins where
they can see the city all beautifully lit up. This is when
the guy should make a move and kiss his date.

Find more tips at LayAid.com

[Keywords: sex, relationships, love, man, woman ]

When you go to a fertility doctor or clinic, they will more than likely begin by doing some basic diagnostic blood work and testing. One of the first tests typically performed is a Hysterosalpingogram or HSG. While you have to wait for results from other tests, the HSG is one the few fertility testing procedures that provides you with instant results. The Hysterosalpingogram is used to determine if there are any blockages in either of your fallopian tubes and it will also show if there are any uterus abnormalities or fibroids.

The HSG is usually done at a local hospital’s surgical/surgery center, although many fertility clinics have the necessary equipment to perform the test right in the clinic as it is a fairly common fertility test. The HSG is a quick procedure that typically takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. During the procedure, you will like on your back on a table with your legs raised. The doctor will inject contrast die through your cervix into your uterus while simultaneously taking an x-ray of the area. The contrast die will spread through your uterus and tubes and will show if there are any abnormalities or blockages in the tubes. In many cases, you will be able to watch the die spreading on a TV in the room. I was able to watch the procedure and the doctor explained what was happening and what he saw as the die spread.

Your doctor or clinic will probably advice you that during the HSG you “might” feel a “slight discomfort”. I have found through talking with other women in my fertility support group, that the discomfort or pain associated with the procedure is different for every woman. A few women stated that the procedure did not bother them at all and one friend said she came up off the table when they inserted the die. I fell somewhere in between the two extremes. Because my tubes were blocked, the doctors said that added to the pain I felt and that women without any blockages typically feel less discomfort with the HSG. Most doctors will prescribe something like a prescription strength Tylenol for you to take before the procedure. I had a second HSG after I had surgery to unblock one tube and remove the other. My doctor let me take pain medication left over from my surgery before the second HSG. One of the girls in my support group was very scared to have the HSG done because of the uncertainty of the pain. She knew she would not be able to relax during the procedure, which is important, so her doctor prescribed one valium for her before the procedure.

You might experience slight uterine cramping for a few hours after the procedure and this is normal. You should also wear a panty liner for a few days as some of the die might come back out of your cervix.

The results of the HSG are very important in helping to determine your next steps or procedures in the fertility process. A normal HSG that shows no blockages or abnormalities rules out blocked tubes as a possible cause for your fertility problems and your doctor will begin further testing. If the HSG shows a blockage in one or both of your fallopian tubes, your doctor will discuss your alternatives with you. This boils down to two choices: you attempt to unblock the tubes through laparoscopic surgery which will increase your probability of pregnancy or your can choose to not have the surgery, keeping the blockages in place and decreasing the probability of pregnancy. Whether or not to have the surgery is obviously a personal decision and you need to take the time to decide what is right for you.

A blocked tube carries some risks and complications. First of all, when one or both of your tubes are blocked, you are at an increased risk for having an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is a very serious condition, especially if the tube ruptures. The second complication involved in a blocked tube is that most doctors will not do an IUI or IVF procedure when a tube is blocked as it will decrease your chances of a successful procedure and can actually work against it. For instance, when you do an IUI with a blocked tube and the sperm is injected directly into the uterus, the chances of the sperm and egg meeting are slim to none since the tube is blocked and the egg and sperm can’t get through it to meet. If you do an IVF with a blocked fallopian tube, the blocked tube can cause fluid to back up into the uterus which impedes the embryo from implanting in the uterus.

If you decide to have surgery to unblock the tubes, your doctor will likely schedule a second HSG once you have healed from the surgery. They do this to make sure that the tube is open and that the die passes through the way it should. This second HSG will help determine what your next step will be.

Having gone through the HSG, I want to pass two things that I learned on to you. First of all, take someone with you when you have the procedure done. When I went the first time, I insisted on going by myself because I felt like everything was going to be ok. My husband would have gladly gone, but I guess I was being stubborn. Anyway, when things weren’t ok, I really wished that I had had him come with me. Second of all, if your doctor offers you any pain medication before the procedure, take it. You never know what your pain or discomfort experience is going to be like with the HSG, so it is best to be prepared for anything.

For many, Hysterosalpingogram is the most important procedure that they have done during the fertility process. For me, it was the most important procedure done during our fertility journey as it gave us instant results and instant answers as to what was going on to prevent us from getting pregnant. Although, slightly uncomfortable, it is over quickly and you are able to walk away from the HSG knowing what your next step will be.

For more information about the fertility process Click On Our Fertility Help Site or go to our home page http://www.familyhopes.com.

Having an abdominal hysterectomy and the recovery time after hysterectomy are significant events in any woman’s life. Since an abdominal hysterectomy is an in-patient surgical procedure, you should plan on being away from home and work during the surgery and perhaps during the beginning recovery time after hysterectomy. The length of the hospital stay depends on what type of hysterectomy you have, how your surgery goes and what your doctor recommends.

While the hysterectomy recovery time may take a few weeks, here are things you can do to help speed up your hysterectomy recovery:

1. Take all the pain relievers your doctor has prescribed. You will want to be as comfortable as possible during your recovery time after hysterectomy.

2. Keep sanitary pads handy since you may have some discharge and bloody drainage for several days after your abdominal hysterectomy.

3. Use a heating pad over your abdomen and another under it, if necessary. Be careful and do not sleep with a heating pad in direct contact with the skin because doing so can burn you.

4. Avoid all lifting after the abdominal hysterectomy surgery and during the post hysterectomy period. Just ask others to do all the lifting for you.

5. Avoid dairy foods during the post hysterectomy time since dairy products will tend to cause constipation. Pain medications taken during the recovery time after hysterectomy also tend to make you constipated.

6. Avoid alcoholic beverages totally during the recovery time after hysterectomy, especially while taking medications.

7. Drink 8-10 glasses of filtered water each day to adequately flush your system of toxins which would otherwise accumulate and cause discomfort or illness. Drinking pure clear water daily is a healthy habit to continue even once you are fully recovered.

8. Eat as healthy as you can since your body needs nutrients to help with healing. Be sure and include cold-water fish, turkey, chicken, organic bread, soups, salads, fruits and broths.

9. Take the best vitamin/mineral/nutritional supplement you can find. It’s not just about the vitamins and minerals. Providing your body with important nutritional supplements is a good idea before and after your abdominal hysterectomy to help fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have.

10. Use your recovery time after hysterectomy to really take care of yourself. Listen to your favorite music, watch your favorite television programs and read your favorite books. Relax and give your body a chance to adjust and recover from the surgery.

After an abdominal hysterectomy, women will likely experience a deficiency of the critical hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. If only the uterus is removed in a partial hysterectomy, progesterone levels will fall dramatically in one to two months and estrogen levels will decrease in one or two years. Progesterone deficiency is related to numerous side effects including increased risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Testosterone deficiency in women causes low sex drive, low energy levels, thyroid deficiency and depression. Estrogen deficiency can result in vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats.

Women considering abdominal hysterectomy or having had the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have numerous side effects.

There is a hormone health test provided by a leading women’s health clinic that you can take online. The test takes just a few minutes and is free. Learn as much as you can about hormone imbalance, the recovery time after hysterectomy and physician-recommended natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about hysterectomy recovery and alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural health articles and information.

Many people think of lingerie as standard items that remain the
same year after year. While lingerie is more intimate and
private, like every other fashion item, it changes periodically
as trends become more popular.

So what’s hot in lingerie for 2006 … boy shorts!. Yesterday’s
thong is never going to disappear completely from lingerie and
department store shelves. It is the hands down best way to
eliminate visible panty lines when you wear tight pants or
skirts, but thong sales are definitely on the decline. The sales
of boy shorts however, are definitely on fire. If you don’t know
what boy shorts are, think of tight short shorts or hot pants.
While there are some boy shorts that are a little loose fitting
generally speaking they are very figure hugging. This snug fit
gives shape to your rear and enhances your figure, making you
appear curvier and sexier. Some boy shorts will completely cover
your rear, but usually they leave part of it exposed (think of
them as length shorts). For those girls with perfect figures
or who like things a little racier, there are styles that
provide even less coverage, that resembles a wide band across
the upper portion of your rear.

Now that we have the basic idea covered, lets talk about styles.
Boy shorts come in wide range of styles, colors and fabrics. The
most basic styles will come in cotton or polyester blends. If
you are going to be wearing boy shorts all day, try choosing
something made of microfiber, while slightly more expensive it’s
more comfortable, durable and long lasting. For a more elegant
look try boy shorts made of silk or satin. These styles often
have a lace, decorative or scalloped edging. However the most
popular boy shorts are made of lace. Lace boy shorts are
definitely the most sexy and alluring choice available. For
people who are a little modest, or who find lace slightly itchy,
look for double layer lace boy shorts. They have a lace layer on
the outside and a second layer of a different material on the
inside against your skin.

© Lingerie.6ln.com, All Rights Reserved.

Many men suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) — the inability to achieve and sustain an erection long enough to have enjoyable and fulfilling sex. For a variety of reasons ED is most common in men over 45. The sex drive is often lowered even further in older men who are taking medications of various kinds.

Most of us assume the sex drive gradually diminishes as we get older, so we are prepared to accept ED as a natural condition. But the fact is, the inability for many men to sustain an erection may be more the result of treatable physical conditions rather than an actual loss of sex drive.

Until the early 1980s most people — including most trained urologists — assumed that ED was basically a mental or psychological problem. But in 1983 at a presentation to the American Urological Association, Dr. Giles Brindley demonstrated that a penis could be made erect by injecting it with the drug phentolamine. In a public demonstration, he used his own penis to make the point.

Brindley had discovered that the penis could be made erect by relaxing the normally consricted blood vessels leading into it. Once the blood vessels are relaxed, they let in more blood and the penis inflates something like a balloon to form an erection.

So gradually it came to be accepted that ED is the result of physical changes in the adult male — not primarily mental or psychological conditions.

Viagra - Controlling the Penile Valve

Phentolamine — the drug used by Dr. Brindley to give himself a public erection — started to be used with some success in the 80’s and 90’s, but there are two problems with phentolamine. First, it is not selective enough to target only the penis, so its effects on other parts of the body are unpredictable. And second, the erections it creates are not brought on by sexual stimulation. You can get an erection any old time with phentolamine, and you will continue to have one until the effect of the drug wears off.

Viagra was the first drug that overcame these two problems. (It was introduced in 1998 by the Pfizer company. The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate.) Viagra does not work by relaxing the blood vessels of the penis. Instead it enhances the natural processes that take place when a man is sexually stimulated. It does this by controlling what we might call the “Softeners” — the chemicals in the body designed to make the penis go soft after an erection.

It works something like this. When a man is sexually stimulated his brain sends signals that trigger the production of chemicals that relax the blood vessels in the penis. Think of these as “Hardeners”. As the blood vessels are relaxed by the production of Hardeners, blood flow increases and the penis goes erect.

But nature has also designed a way for the erection to gradually subside. At the same time as Hardeners are being produced to relax the blood vessels, the body is also producing Softeners to break down and neutralize the Hardeners. These are an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase (PDE5).

As long as the sexually stimulated male is producing more Hardeners than Softeners, the penis will remain erect. But as soon as the production of Hardeners starts to go down, the Softeners will get the upper hand, and the erection will start to fizzle.

It is now generally assumed that ED is caused by an imbalance of Hardeners and Softeners. The body is either not producing enough Hardeners, or too many Softeners. Either way, the result is the inability to sustain an erection.

What Viagra does is block the production of Softeners. This allows the Hardeners to build up in the blood vessels of the penis and create hard, sustained erections.

The beauty of the process is that nothing happens without sexual stimulation. Viagra does not take the place of stimulation. Instead, it simply lets the natural chemicals created by sexual stimulation do their work. After sex, when the brain is no longer creating Hardeners, the erection subsides naturally. And when the effects of Viagra wear off — normally after 4 or 5 hours — the normal processes are restored to the way they were before taking the drug.

Of course, as with any drug, there are potential side effects. Viagra should not be taken if you are taking any nitrate-based drug, including nitroglycerin or if you are on any blood pressure or heart medication, as combining Viagra with these drugs can cause a severe drop in blood pressure. Also, if you have any liver or kidney problems it is not recommended that you take Viagra.

For more information on Viagra and other name brand prescription drugs, visit Online FDA-Approved Prescriptions - Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Pain Remedies, Quit Smoking, Weight Loss & More… Next day delivery available.

Rick Hendershot is a writer and online publisher. For online promotion ideas, see Power Listings.

Here are some sites and resources for celebrating the important
history and contributions of Blacks.

1. Check out some videos on Black history, such as “The Black
West” or “Abubakari: The Explorer King of Mali”. These are
recipients of the Gold Apple from the National Educational Media
Association, Telly Award.
http://www.blackhistory.com/cgi-bin/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1&sid=3
pe3@C01DJcq0@p-30103109 227.e3

Including comprehensive support materials, 16 reproducible
cross- curriculum activities and activity guides.

2. Get some celebrate diversity life savers and other
multicultural celebration aids such as education posters,
tshirts and videos: http:
//www.guidancechannel.com/marketplace/default.asp?fn=pID&catID=7&
pID=400

3. Multigenerational celebrating with songs, books.
http://www.euronet.nl/users/jubo/february.html

4. Take the Black past quiz:
http://www.familyeducation.com/quiz/0,1399,1-4888,00.html?relinks

5.The African-American Mosaic, A Library of Congress Resource
Guide for the study of Black history & culture, including
ex-slave narratives:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html

Read about inventions made by Blacks:
http://www.everythingpreschool.com hemes/blackhistory/list.htm

Did you know Alfred Benjamin invented stainless steel pads; John
A. Burr invesnted the lawn mower; George Carruthers invented the
image converter radiation detector; L.F. Brown invented the
horse bridle bit; and Sarah Boone invented the ironing board?

7. Go to the Harlem Renaissance Page:
http://www.jeannepasero.com/harlem.html

8. African Americans in the Visual Arts:
http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/ library/aavaahp.htm

9. Archives of African American Music and Culture selected list
of Internet resources for African American Music:
http://www.indiana.edu /~aaamc/websites.html

10. A wonderful link with profiles of prominent Blacks:
http://www.who2.com/blackhistory.html

Read about Marian Anderson, contralto; Jackie Robinson, baseball
pioneer; Wilma Rudolph, Olympia sprinter; Sidney Poitier,
Oscar-award winning actor; Maya Angelou, poet; George Washington
Carver, inventor, and other important Black figures in our
history.

The Origins of Australian Sheepskin

Sheepskin, or wool, has clothed people for millennia, keeping
them warm in wintery climates and comfortable in warmer
environments. Also known as sherling or fleece, sheepskin
continues to be a timeless choice. It is an extremely versatile
fabric, and is used to make many kinds of clothing, from coats
and hats to socks and gloves. Footwear has been one of the most
popular uses for sheepskin; boots, slippers, and clogs made of
sheepskin are valued for their comfort and style.

The initial European colonists settled hundreds of years ago in
Australia with their sheep. The Australian rural landscape is
uniquely suited to sheep, as the weather remains relatively mild
and the landscape encompasses massive expanses of natural
grassland. Similar to most any primitive lifestyle, it was
important for the earliest settlers to put all possessions to
complete use, as resources were often scarce. Not only were
sheep used as a lucrative crop, for trading purposes, and as a
source of food, but they were used for clothing as well. Over
the years, the sheep became the primary crop and chief export
for the entire country. With its dominance of the sheep industry
for such an extended time, it is no wonder Australia was said to
‘ride on the sheep’s back’. The country’s largest and most
significant form of land use is for wool production, with
roughly 70,000 wool-growing properties spreading from north of
Queensland to the mid-north of Western Australia, including
Tasmania and the Islands of the Bass Strait.

Australian Merino

The numbers of sheep are overwhelming. Individual flocks range
from as little of a few hundred to as many as 100,000 or more!

Three-quarters of all Australian sheep run in flocks of 3,000 or
more. Australia produces 30 percent of all wool used worldwide,
from over 100 million sheep. Other significant sheep flocks are
found in the he USSR (117 million), China (111 million), New
Zealand (50 million) and India (40 million).

More than 80 percent of all Australian sheep are a breed called
the “Australian Merino”. The outstanding feature of this sheep
is its large size, and is known primarily for its heavy fleeces
of fine quality wool. It is a distinct breed that has adapted to
the specific conditions of the Australian countryside. Geelong,
on the south east coast of Australia, is considered the wool
capital of the world. In fact, Emu Australia, a premier
manufacturer of sheepskin products, controls all processes from
sourcing and tanning to manufacturing in the Geelong location.

“sheepskin = sherling = fleece = wool”

Over time, sheepskin boot production became as much a part of
the Australian history as the cowboy boot is to America’s
Western heritage. Sheepskin hides were put to use to create all
forms of clothing, including footwear. The Aussie ranchers made
their boots from the skins of the Merino sheep, after
discovering the unsurpassed quality of Merino sheep wool.

>From the 1820s on, it is this highly valued wool that was
Australia’s primary export product. The Merino sheepskin is
perhaps nature’s most perfect material for footwear: durable,
yet extremely soft and lightweight, it creates a boot that has a
rich suede texture on the outside and the smooth, gentle fleece
lining on the inside. This is one reason why ug boots are so
cozy.

What Makes Sheepskin Special

Still strong enough for outdoor wear, it is the Merino sheepskin
that is responsible for the boots’ snug, comfy, foot-molding
property that feels like gigantic socks when slipped around your
feet. The exceptional fleece lining is a product that can be
worn all times of the year, in extreme cold or in the heat of
summer. In cold conditions, the fleece supplies the feet with an
insulating layer of warmth by trapping in body heat. In the
heat, the natural fibers of the fleece actually keep your feet
cool by pulling perspiration away from your skin; thus keeping
air circulating in the boots keeping your feet dry.

Since sheepskin is naturally thermostatic, you can wear them in
conditions from-30 F to as high as your thermometer will go!
Also, sheepskin contains lanolin and will moisturize your feet
when worn barefoot. In Australia and the US, the typical way to
wear sheepskin footwear is without socks.

Sheepskin Today

In 2002, fashion industries around the world determined it was
an appropriate time to really popularize sheepskin products.
How? By producing and promoting countless styles of clothes made
out of sheepskin. What started out as purely beach-scene style
made its way to ski areas and ultimately wound up finding
popularity in the mainstream fashion industry.

That’s a pretty optimistic statement, isn’t it? But yes, in my opinion, this cream does work and no I’m not an agent or in any way tied to the manufacturer financially, but as a fitness and health consultant I am always looking for any “edge” to help my clients, and this product fits that criteria.

Now I had thought about writing a bit about fashion and how it’s really all about “the ladies”, and rightly so (’cos who really cares about what guys are wearing anyway) but then you already know that. And then I thought about saying something about how fashion is really about appropriateness; how it’s best to dress in a style appropriate to your personal individuality; and don’t forget that you are going to project so much more élan when you are wearing something that you feel comfortable wearing, not something you have been pressured into by some fad or trend.

I think it was Orson Welles who said, when asked about fashion, “Fashion is whatever I happen to be wearing at the time”. And he had a point. If HE was wearing it, then it was fashionable!

So it’s really about confidence and self-possession, to the extent that you could be wearing jeans and a Tee-shirt amongst a gathering of “suits” but you could still exude that fashion-runway arrogance by assuming that they, unfortunately for them poor souls, are all dressed inappropriately, whereas you with great panache have got it right on the money.

But you want to know about the wrinkle cream, right? Of course, and being a bit more serious here, I can say that I honestly believe this cream can have a beneficial effect, whether great or small, and I genuinely believe it works in reducing lines around the eyes, the mouth and those tracks across the forehead. You can use it pretty much over the whole face and neck and you should get just a bit more “bloom on the rose” all round.

So as I said, I’m not an agent or in any way associated with the manufacturer, nor do I receive any commissions or such, I just wanted to give you “my take” on a product I think can be a boost to your beauty arsenal. There are so many cosmetic creams in tiny jars that purport to erase wrinkles and fine lines, but I feel, of them all, this is your best bet for some actual noticeable results.

At this point I had thought of putting in the usual, “to get the name, click on my website www.gordonblack.com and send me an e-mail”, but whenever I read that stuff my eyes go skywards and I think, “oh yeah, there’s a catch here somewhere”. So there is no such hook to get you to look at my weight management/fitness site, although I’d appreciate you visiting it; I’m giving you the name right here: made by Klein-Becker USA, it is StriVectin-SD (Striadril) and it is described as an Intensive Repair for Existing Stretch Marks. It comes in a big 6 oz. tube and lasts for ages and you can read all about it on www.strivectin.com or www.kleinbecker.com.

About The Author

Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late ’60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled. Gordon is currently working on a book based on his own weight management and fitness system - publisher’s enquiries welcome.

gordon@gordonblack.com