Washington State: It's not just apples anymore

When I was little, Washington state was known for the apples that were grown there. It was the biggest commodity they had to offer. Growing up in Benton County, the second largest production area for wine, I have seen and experienced the growth of this industry. Now being the second largest wine producing state in the nation, Washington has made it's mark on the national and international scenes. 

Offering a premium taste at affordable prices, these wines have ranked consistently high on the international scene. Rivaling those offered from France, Italy and Spain, they have become some of the must haves on the wine enthusiast's list. With a wide variety of both red and white wines, they have something from everyone. 

The vineyards found here vary in size and production levels. On the east side of the state, that is more desert than lush green country, wine production and grape harvesting have become one of the biggest economy boosters that the state has. Stabilizing employment and jobs available, this industry has become a viable source of income for everyone. 

These wineries also offer tours and bring in about 1.4 million tourists a year according to the Washington Wine Commission. This adds extra dollars to even the smallest town coffers. Places like Patterson Washington, who's population is only 222, has one of the biggest producers of wine in the state, Columbia Crest. Hidden in the Horse Heaven hills, surrounded by desert like country, the first view of the lush green of the vineyard is a sight that will not soon be forgotten. 

Along with the vineyards, many wineries offer tasting rooms that allow to sample some the finest wines that Washington has to offer. With wineries easily accessible, and close, you can visit a wide variety in a day or weekend. Many also offer cafes to dine in and entertainment areas to enjoy concerts that occur year round and by staying at a local bed and breakfast, that romantic getaway can be quite affordable. 

Washington has more to offer than just Microsoft, Boeing and apples. They now have premier wines that are offered here and abroad. So the next time you are buying that bottle of wine, think about a Washington state wine. You will not be disappointed. 

Part one of my journey through grief

It started when I woke up to find my significant other and fiance dead in our bed. Very dead, as in Rigor Mortis had set in. Calling 911, then turning him over, I saw a sight that I will never forget. He had bled out through his mouth, nose, eyes and ears. He was stiff, his lip permanently in a scowl, his arm stuck above his head. His face swollen and bruised. It is a picture that I do not wish on even my worst enemy. 

Opening the door for the emergency crews, I couldn't think of anything except...He's dead. How come I didn't know he was dying laying there next to me? How could this be happening? My brain went in so many directions at once, I didn't even hear the police when they arrived. Not the sirens, not the car doors, but they were suddenly at the door. 

Removing me from the room, they did a cursory look when the ambulance arrived. The EMT went into the room to check him. I was sitting on the curb outside the door, when he came back out, shook his head and drew a line across his neck...all in full view of me. 

I did not realize until the police told me that it was Saturday, not Friday, the day I thought it was. I remember talking to him after I came home from Bingo Thursday. We watched Robot Chicken at midnight, then I went to sleep. He seemed his normal self. I woke up around 2or 3 in morning (don't know which day now) and going to the bathroom. It sounded like Rick was snoring as he did. Laying with his head on his arms, he always slept with his face into the pillow to give relief to his neck. I woke up again about 7 am because I was cold. Rick always kept the temperature in the room between 50-65 degrees. I covered us both with a blanket, turned down the A/C, and went back to sleep. Waking up at noon, I reach over to wake him up. He was stiff. 

I don't remember much of that day. I know the detectives asked me some questions. The police are involved in any sudden, traumatic or unattended death. I couldn't tell you what they asked me. I remember calling his mom, I remember calling one couple who were our friends. I couldn't tell you much about the rest of the day, or the days prior. Everything was jumbled in my head. 

I was so in shock, so hysterical, that the police insisted on making me go to the hospital to be checked out. I remember crying, shaking, getting a shot and a pill, a prescription. I don't remember how I got back to our room, but I did. I remember talking to my therapist who came and got me and took me to Sonic's to get a drink. I remember calling his doctor to let him know that my love was dead. 

See, I waited until later to call his doctor. Rick had been seen at his doctor just three days prior, and the doctor accused him of abusing his medications then gave him the following: 120 Hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10/325mg, 120 Xanax, 1mg, 120 Neurontin 600 mg, and 90 Elavil..I don't know the milligrams on that one. Rick was a prescription drug addict. He took pain pills and anti-anxieties to get high. Other wise, he was healthy. 

He had some seizures in the past, but those were because he combined his medications with other substances like alcohol and marijuana. He never had a seizure when he did one or the other, but when he did them together, yes he had seizures. His heart was healthy, and generally, he was in good physical shape. So, to me, the only logical thing was an overdose. 

I stayed in the room that night. There was nothing indicating that I couldn't. Not from the police, not from the management. There was no written thing that said do not enter. I needed to stay there. I was still trying to wrap my mind around what had happened and what I had seen. 

We were living in New Mexico, 1400 miles away from our families in Washington state. The next day, I decided to get a refund on the room (we had paid for the month), and go to where I knew his body would be going. I grabbed most of our stuff, loaded the jeep and headed home with less than $200 in my pocket. Filling our Jeep with gas, I hit the road. It was lonely, I couldn't listen to music and I cried most of the time anyway. 

I stopped a couple of places to beg for money to get gas to make it all the way home. Went to an ER because I was having chest pains. Surprise, Surprise, I was suffering from anxiety. So back on the road I went. ON the way to Roswell, I had driven over the Wasatch mountains in Utah. I hate cars and heights, and I especially hate them at night. But back over them I went. Suddenly, my headlights went out. All the sudden all I could think was, crap. I hit the high beams, the head lights came on...for about 1 minute, then they too went out. Crap, hit the low beams, they came one. 1 minute later they went out again. I did this for about 10 or so minutes. I finally said Rick, If you are trying to tell me something then spit it out. Suddenly the headlights came on, and there was a sign for a rest area, 1 mile down the road. So I pulled in about 4 or so in the morning. I had been driving about 12 hours, not including the gas stops, the pee breaks or the ER visit. 

I started out the next morning. Realizing I did not have enough cash to make it home, I begged again. I looked for some community resources in Salt Lake, but I kept getting lost. Finally, going to the Walmart parking lot, I made a sign and begged. A kind woman filled my tank, and gave me enough cash ($100) to make it home. 

The whole time I had been traveling, when I topped for gas, I let his family know where I was and how long until I would get back there. Playing nicey nice, the kept making me feel that they were expecting me to help with planning his funeral. I had been with him the last year, with little contact with his family. Yes he called his mom that last month to help pay rent, but I was with him the whole time. 

Finally making it close to where my sister lives, I called Rick's sister and let her know I was stopping there for the night. She asked me "you have a sister there? Well I have an appointment in Richland that I forgot about, so I will just meet you there." Being tired, grief struck, in shock, I didn't any attention to the fact that she was going to travel 100 miles down to where I was staying, even though she had told me she was helping her mom, who was understandably taking it hard.She also said we will meet to discuss his obituary. Little did I know their true intentions. 

I talked to the detective in charge of Rick's death the next morning. She asked me why I left New Mexico. I explained that I wanted to be where Rick's body was, that I needed to be with people who could support me emotionally and have a place to live. She said she understood. 

I had a warrant for my arrest because I had missed a fine payment. I had been planning on coming back to Washington that very week that he died. But now he was dead, and I was back. I was trying to get through his funeral before turning myself in. That is not how it worked out. 

I had brought a bag in to my sister's house in the morning. I did this to get some of my bathroom stuff. I then went and was looking through the things I had brought back. I realized I was supposed to meet his sister, so I called and made arrangements. I did not drive the Jeep, but walked to the meeting place. I met with his sister, one of his brothers and his sister in law. 

They began by telling me that they needed the title to the jeep so that they could get a loan to get Rick's body back home. Knowing that you have to prepay transportation costs, I agreed, but didn't have the title on me (or so they thought). WE made some talk of his death and I told them how sorry I was, that I was so shocked.The next thing I know, I have two police officers asking me my name, then arresting me on my warrant. They only people who knew where I was at that moment was his family. I didn't realize it at the time but they had to have called the police and had me arrested. His sister was sitting their going what is going on, like she was shocked to see them. I was too shocked from being arrested, still in shock from the sight I had seen 3 days prior, and lost in grief to realize this. It didn't even dawn on me that the name on the screen in the police car was his sister's. We never did talk about the obituary. 

I gave them permission to get the jeep, told the officers it was okay. Then I went to jail. I was released the next day after seeing the judge. I got back to find they had taken everything. My tooth brush, my clothes, Rick's things, everything that was in the jeep or in the driveway, where I had left it to go meet them. My whole life with Rick, save for the one bag I had brought inside, was gone All the the memorabilia, our music, our games, our movies, gone in a flash. 

When I got out the next day, and I discovered everything gone, I tried to call his sister, but just kept getting her voice mail. I still did not put two and two together. I left her messages. She finally called me back and asked me what happened and I explained to her bout the warrant. I let her know that I would be able to go to the funeral...she said okay. She asked me about how he was wearing his hair, and I told her like a Ranger (US Army). She said great she picked a good picture of him for the obituary. 

I saw the obituary the next day. Yes, they picked a great picture. But as I am reading this, I discover there is no mention of me or our life together other than he was in New Mexico following his dream. Nothing. Our time together was erased from everyone's eye but mine. Hurt, I try to call her. Again just voice mail. She finally did call back, because they knew I had two disposable camera's that hadn't been developed. She demanded them back, I told her no, I was going to develop them because there were a few pictures they didn't need to see (one's that Rick took while I was sleeping, or doing my facial routine). She asked me if there was any other pictures I said no. 

I had to call my prepaid card issuer because my card had been in Rick's wallet, and it had been taken by the police the day I found him. I had unemployment being deposited on it. When I went to log into my account, found it had been closed. I had direct deposit of mine and Rick's disability checks on it. I had the card first and added Rick later. His family had closed the account. I had to open a new one, and lost the money that was on the card (only $17.00, but still not the point). 

Later that night, I was logging into an email account that Rick and I shared. I discovered a picture there that showed him playing guitar. I called his sister and gave her the information to be able to retrieve it. Good thing I downloaded it to my computer, because I went to log in and his family had blocked me from that too. I was starting to realize that they were not grieving with me, but were in fact trying to cut me out of everything. I still did not have my clothes, and had to borrow some from my sister. They kept saying they would get them too me. It took a week to get them back, and that is all I got back. None of personal care things, none of our movies, our video games, just my clothes and personal pictures of my family. 

After that, his sister refused to take my calls. She blocked me. His brother Dave, called me to deliver my clothes, and wanted to meet and talk about Roswell. I met with him, still not telling them the condition I found his body. I still refused to give them that nightmarish sight and hurt them further. Rick and I had a cat name Ares that we left with our friends in Roswell for a while. His family informed me it was their cat now and they would go and get him. Dave asked me questions about our time, and said they would visit Roswell, and see the place we went. 

I asked the funeral director to let me know when the funeral was. They never did. I was forbidden to go by the family. I found out about it after the fact. That was the ultimate hurt. I didn't get to say goodbye or be with others who loved Rick too. I was alone in my grief. Barely eating, not sleeping, I was bereft. Thoughts of wanting to join him were never far from my mind. I was not functioning at all. I kept myself busy by doing everything..yard work, house work, laundry, everything that I could to keep from thinking about it. I gave myself blisters on both hands, and feet. Anything to keep from feeling the enormous pain in my heart, the hole that was there from Rick's death. 

RX Epidemic Memorial

  Prescription drug addiction is the fastest rising cause for drug treatment.  It is estimated that currently 7 million Americans suffer from this addiction.  The overdose and death rate is now higher than heroin and cocaine Combined.  A many as 5,400 people every day begin to abuse prescription medications. This is the fastest rising epidemic facing American's today.  It is estimated that as much as $72 billion is being spent on prescription drug abuse issues every year. Millions suffer in silence, while others feel they have little recourse in their state.  One person is bringing this to the attention of everyone.
   April Schalow is on her 261st day of recovery, as of September 10.2012.  To mark the fact that there are so many people afflicted with this addiction, She and husband Kyle have set out to make a monument to those who are in recovery, those who are still actively using in their addiction and to those who have lost a loved one to this senseless, and easily preventable addiction.
    What is unique about her idea is that she is going to use old prescription bottles.  These bottles will be donated from all walks of life in several countries.  Those who donate the bottles are asked to place a note or eulogy in at least one bottle.  These will be read at a ceremony she plans for mid October.  She is hoping to raise the awareness of this silent and deadly epidemic.
    April encourages everyone to get involved. She says their are several ways to support this endeavor:   first by attending the memorial and donating your empty recycled prescription medication bottle(s). If you’d like to include a short eulogy in remembrance of a loved one or friend you are welcome to. You are also welcome to read the eulogy yourself and place it within the monument that we’ll be creating with the empty prescription bottles. In the event you won’t be able to make the memorial and still would like to participate, we encourage you to collect and forward any and all prescription medication bottles to us, so that we can use them in the construction of the monument. You may also include a eulogy in the event you are unable to make it, simply forward those as well. We are also seeking help spreading the word for this historic memorial; anyway that you can help would be appreciated.
      The inaugural  2012  RX EPIDEMIC MEMORIAL ceremony will be held Sunday, October 14th at 10am. The memorial will be held on the WPOS fm facility located at 7112 Angola Rd. Holland, Ohio 43528.   She asks everyone to join her in person if they can, but in spirit if they can't.
     For more information on this please contact:


Kyle and April Schalow
725 Culley rd.
Holland, Ohio
43528
419-206-4816

Kyle:  Kbs32@hotmail.com
April:  Ams000381@hotmail.com


On facebook:
RX EPIDEMIC MEMORIAL
Or
Shh it’s a secret but everyone knows

Or watch the Oprah Lifeclass show on OWN September 23,2012.  You will need to check your local listings to find the time.

Suicide Awareness

Every day,  94 people complete a suicide.  This is equivalent to 1 very 15 minutes.  It averages to about 34,000 per year.  For every completed suicide, there are 25 more attempts that fail.  These are national statistics we can not ignore.

   Having been on both sides of the coin, I know a lot about this from both the person who is contemplating suicide and someone who has survived a suicide.

   A suicidal person believes that they are not needed, they are not wanted, or even that they will be missed. They may feel alone, even when in a crowded room.  The suicidal person can see no other way out of their pain than to die.  This is sad, because every human being on this planet has value.  The problem is, sometimes the suicidal person does not see that value.  They have tunnel vision, where all they see is the pain they are feeling.

  By getting these people help, we reinforce their value as members of society.  When these people are given treatment, they most often are glad they are still alive.  But having been suicidal once makes it much more likely they will feel so again.  Pills alone don't work.  It requires therapy, feeling valued, and most of all, feeling loved.  Without these things, a person may continue in a downward spiral that could end up with another attempt or worse a completed suicide.

   Suicidal people do not realize the impact their death has on those around them.  But, every one who has survived a completed suicide, the effects are enormous.  The person who finds the person after suicide is completed will be traumatized severely.  That person will never forget the sight of what they found, regardless of the method.

   Those who loved the suicidal person will also be greatly affected.  They will having lingering questions about what they could have done to prevent this.  Often times, survivors have a sense of guilt that they didn't prevent this from happening.  That fight that they had with the person who complete suicide before this will feel like they caused this.  It may, in turn, cause that person to become suicidal and to also make an attempt.

   People who have survived a suicide are 10 times as likely to attempt suicide than others.  A parent who has lost a child to suicide will feel they failed the child.  A spouse will feel like they did something to cause the person to complete suicide.  The child who's parent completes suicide will scar that child, no matter the age, for the rest of their lives.  In each of these cases, the parent, the spouse, the child may feel like joining their loved one and knows the only way to do this is by completing suicide.  They are hurting and questioning themselves so much that they start that downward spiral that their lost loved one did.

   We need to watch for warning signs in others around us.

• Giving away personal items
• Talking about death or suicide
• Death preoccupies their thoughts
• Some one who has lost a loved on to suicide

  By paying attention to these warning signs, we can get that person help before they attempt suicide. If they are crying out for help, and no one sees it, or people think it's not their place to say intervene, then who's is it?  If not you, then who will?

 If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, there are numbers that you can call from anywhere in the United States, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-999-9999.

As with any other type of emergency, call the local emergency number (such as 911) right away if someone you know has attempted suicide. Do not leave the person alone, even after you have called for help.

Prescription Drug Abuse, Addiction, Overdose And Death

Every day as many as 5,400 people begin to abuse a prescription medication.  That equals to about 12 million per year.  It is estimated that 2.7% of the nation's population are addicted to these medications.  That is 7 million people.  Every year, millions more are added to this growing epidemic.  In 2008, the statistics for overdose death were 20,044.  Although unavailable, at this time, it is estimated that the number will increase drastically.  It was found that opioid painkillers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxycontin, accounted for 73.8% of these deaths.

This is primarily due to the rising sales of these potent painkillers.  Nationwide, pharmacies received and ultimately dispensed the equivalent of 69 tons of pure oxycodone and 42 tons of pure hydrocodone in 2010, latest year for which statistics are available. That's enough to give 40 5-mg Percocets and 24 5-mg Vicodins to every person in the United States.  

It is estimated that nearly half of all emergency room visits were prescription drug overdoses.  The cost in healthcare is about $72 billion for the non medical use of prescription opioids.  This is a dramatic increase.As of August 31, 2010, among the seven types of laws examined, one state had none of these types of laws, three states had one, fifteen had two, nineteen had three, seven had four, five states had five, and one had six, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).    This involved seven different types of laws:  Laws requiring physical examination before prescribing, Laws regarding tamper-resistant prescription forms, laws regulating pain clinics, laws setting prescription drug limits, laws prohibiting "doctor shopping".fraud, Laws requiring patient identification before dispensing, Laws providing immunity from prosecution/mitigation at sentencing for individuals seeking assistance during an overdose.

State	# of Laws		State	# of Laws		State	# of Laws
Alabama	3		Kentucky	4		North Dakota	1
Alaska	2		Louisiana	5		Ohio	3
Arizona	2		Maine	4		Oklahoma	4
Arkansas	2		Maryland	3		Oregon	3
California	3		Massachusetts	3		Pennsylvania	2
Colorado	3		Michigan	2		Rhode Island	2
Connecticut	4		Minnesota	3		South Carolina	4
Delaware	4		Mississippi	3		South Dakota	2
Distict of Columbia	3		Missouri	2		Tennessee	3
Florida	6		Montana	0		Texas	5
Georgia	1		Nebraska	1		Utah	2
Hawaii	3		Nevada	5		Vermont	4
Idaho	3		New Hampshire	3		Virginia	2
Illinois	3		New Jersey	2		Washington	2
Indiana	3		New Mexico	3		West Virginia	5
Iowa	3		New York	5		Wisconsin	2
Kansas	2		North Carolina	3		Wyoming	2

Currently, the Drug Enforcement Agency oversees prescribers and pharmacies.  Each state is in charge of monitoring the amount a patient receives.  There is currently no national oversight of individual patients who receive addicting prescription medication.  

This is unacceptable.  We need to have better controls over the states in regards to these prescriptions.  A national oversight committee is need to monitor each states Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), which will help identify not only the prescriber and pharmacy, but also the patients who may be receiving addictive medication from several doctors and pharmacies.  Offering to mitigate criminal proceedings in the case of someone who is seeking treatment or wishes to enter a drug offender program will help also. 

Finding alternatives to addictive pain medications is imperative.  This epidemic will only rise until we find another way to combat pain.  By doing this, we will reduce the number of pills that will be available on the streets, thereby reducing the number of people who may become addicted.  This will also limit the possibility of overdose and death.  

To find out more information  please visit these sites:

.http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/Poisoning/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Poisoning/activities.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/poisionings

I hate a petition.  Please read and sign it at:  http://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-set-up-a-prescription-drug-tracking-for-both-patients-and-doctors#