High School Graduation Parties

Invitation Example

May is high school graduation season.

Around a month ago, people started receiving their invitations to the graduation parties of high school seniors they know. While there might be a "friend only" party later, this invitation is the "everyone I know" party (family, friends, friends of family, etc etc).

If you have a child who is a high school senior, you could end up attending (or your child attending) a lot of these parties as, in my experience, it's not common for them to be combined.  You might have one or two seniors celebrating at the one party, but most likely each person would have their own party.  Because there's not an infinite number of dates available, you may have more than one party on the same day, one a long time before graduation or a long time after graduation. 

The invitations (like the example above) are often made up with professional senior photos that seniors have done. The ones that I've seen are glamour shots, scenic, styled around hobbies or a combination of them. Aside from the invitations, the photos can also be wallet sized pics that friends hand out to each other to remember each other by. They will also use one of these photos to put in the Yearbook. I think it's a great idea to have these sorts of photos taken and hopefully because it's the norm it wouldn't be stupidly expensive either. I had a quick look and one I looked at charged $200 for the basic package and $300 for the deluxe plus $180 for the CD of images with exclusive rights. Another charged $180 for the shoot and had a $275.00 minimum for the images. From just those two examples you'd expect to pay about $400 - $500. Seems a little too rich for my blood but the pictures are a one time thing.... worth it? I'll let you decide :)

The parties themselves, that I've been to, involve cake (of course!) and/or cupcakes, chips, dip and other finger food as well as hamburgers (sloppy joes normally - have I explained what that is yet?) or brats (bratwurst) and things like that. Over the years parent's have keep everything you've ever done from when you were little until you were graduating. Projects, awards, ribbons, class photos...

As for what you do at these events... In my experience they're during the day (5pm - 8pm being the last one I went to) and you walk in, sign a guest book, hug the graduate and hand them a card with money in it. Some people then walk around and chat to people, sit and eat, look at the displays (of photos and awards etc) and that's it. It's also considered a bit of a congratulations for the parents as well.

I asked around and other common things are kegs and bonfires (depending where you live of course). These things sound more like what I'm used to in Australia but large parties for everyone, no cake and no money/presents involved (and of course most of us we were of legal age to drink!).

I have to admit that when I first found out that you're supposed to give money as a present it was weird to me. Mostly because it makes it seem like graduation is such a surprise or such a rarity that money (i.e. a bribe) needs to be involved in order for it to happen. In my opinion graduating IS the reward but I'm all for something that gives people an incentive to graduate. It's a huge deal in someones life and definitely something I believe everyone should have the opportunity to do.

Congrats to all the Grads!

Sleep Apnea & My CPAP Machine

In October 2013 I had a sleep study done here in the US. Why? Because I snore. There, I said it. I admit it. When I'm sick, it's bad, when I'm really tired, it's bad. Sometimes I don't snore, usually I do. It's gotten worse over the last few months so I decided (as my husband's tired eyes silently pleaded) to do a sleep study to see about getting help.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Before you ask (or think it) yes I tried nasal strips and a mouth guard (not together) and neither affect my snoring in any way. I found out from my sleep doctor that this is a good indicator that my snoring is an indicator of sleep apnea, as were my other symptoms of daytime tiredness, and regularly (several times) waking up during the night.  The reason the strips and sprays don't work is because it's not my nose that makes me snore, it's because I have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). During the night, as I fall asleep, my airway collapses and partially closes causing it to vibrate (called hypopneas) which results in snoring. Sometimes it will close all the way and I will stop breathing all-together (called apneas). My brain then wakes me up (sometimes I'm aware of it, sometimes I'm not) to start me breathing again. During the 6.8 hours of my sleep study my oxygen saturation dropped from 99% to 88%, and this was simply from it collapsing, apparently it never closed fully.

Side-effects of sleep apnea can be pretty bad, including death. This is because when you stop breathing you are putting a strain on your heart, and it can result in strokes as well. The lack of oxygen kills brain cells, messes with your metabolism and hormone levels and can result in daytime tiredness, weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

It's incredibly important to get tested if you have any of the symptoms.

The Sleep Studies

Not me but this is what it looked like

A sleep study I'm sure probably varies from place to place but in my case I had to go to the hospital where the sleep clinic was at 7pm and fill in forms and get "hooked up". The hooking up consisted of nasal prong, sensors (and icky conductor gel) in my hair line, forehead, neck, arms and legs, as well as bands around my chest and ribs and an oxygen clip on my finger. Once all connected I had to lay down while they spoke to me through the intercom to make sure all the connections were working. Things like, "open your eyes", "close your eyes", "blink 3 times", "hold your breath", "flex your foot", "hum"... It was incredibly uncomfortable with all those wires and felt like I got no sleep at all. I did, as it turned out, sleep long enough for them to determine I had sleep apnea and I had to go back another time to sleep again, this time I got to try out CPAP masks.

The second sleep study I arrived at 7pm again and a girl went through the different types of masks (and there's a lot!). I tried a nasal mask (hated it), and settled on a full-face mask (I'm a mouth breather so this works well for me). I then got to sleep and while I slept they adjusted the flow of air through the mask until I stopped snoring.

Once I was done with that I had an appointment with the DME (durible medical equipment) provider to give me my machine and show me how to use it (clean it etc as well). Fun fact: DME isn't counted in your bag count when traveling so if I went back to Australia I could take a handbag, laptop AND my CPAP as carry-on.

The CPAP Machine

ResMed S9 Autoset

So, after being diagnosed, on November 11, 2013 I got my very first CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), a RedMed S9 Autoset with H5i heated humidifier an an oh-so-sexy full face mask (a ResMed Quattro FX for her). A CPAP machine is continuous air pushed from the machine, through the hose and into a mask (I have a full face mask but there are other kinds). This air is set to a level that is enough to keep your airway constantly open which should result in a better nights sleep (no more waking up to breath) and also a better nights sleep for your sleeping partners because the snoring stops!  Some people really struggle with their machines, especially in the beginning, while they get used to having a mask on their face.

Quattro FX for Her

I've had my CPAP machine now for just over 5 months. In the beginning I really struggled (though I still slept pretty well really) with changing my sleeping position and being more aware of now rolling onto my side and burying my head in my pillow. When I do that it nudges the mask and air escapes, making this annoying hissing sound and blowing into my eyes.

I found the change in sleeping position hard on my back but I've adjusted now and am still able to sleep on my side as well as my back. It's pretty funny really that I sleep on my back, often considered the worst snoring position, because I'd spent so many years avoiding doing so to lessen the snoring.

Some people report feeling congested or dry mouthed in the morning, even with the humidifier, but while I've noticed a difference, it's not to an uncomfortable level.

Cost wise, we got the machine through insurance and had to pay co-insurance (our deductible was paid thanks to the sleep studies). I will address how health insurance works (in general) in another post.

Anyway, there you go. My first big experience with the US health system.

Thanks for reading!

**Edit - I forgot to add, my husband sleeps much more soundly now I have the CPAP machine :) I still snore on a bad night but he said it's not very constant and is also muffled by the mask so it doesn't bother him! The exhaust sometimes blows on the back of his neck though, or he hears the hissing when the mask shifts and leaks and it will bother him but the benefits far outweigh the occasional issues!

Cinco de Mayo - Mexican Celebration

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Monday, May 5, 2014 was Cinco de Mayo which quite literally means "fifth of May" in Spanish.

Here in the US, Cinco de Mayo is celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, but you don't get the day off work!

I admit I was confused my first year here... it's not like America celebrates Australia Day or any other countries "special days", so why are we celebrating a Mexican holiday?

My source of confusion it turns out was due to misinformation. I had been told that it was "Mexico Independence Day" but it's not (that's in September). Instead, it commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, where the Mexican Army won the battle despite being smaller and ill-equipped.

Spanish dancers

Cinco de Mayo originated during the first years of the Civil War in Mexican-American communities living in the American West (California specifically) to celebrate freedom and democracy.

In many cities in the United States, there are parades and festivities featuring mariachi music, dancing, and Mexican food (mmm nachos!).

The celebration is actually a bigger deal in the United States than in Mexico and has become a drinking celebration here in the U.S, apparently nicknamed Cinco de Drinko and even Gringo de Mayo (though to be honest I haven't heard either of those nicknames, I hear a lot of people talking about getting drunk on tequila and margaritas). In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is observed with political speeches and battle reenactments.


I don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo myself but I did have enchiladas for lunch :)

Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
- http://wqad.com/2014/05/05/understanding-cinco-de-mayo/

Easter 2014

I blogged about Easter last year (post here: Easter - Holidays, Candy & Toys) but as time goes on and I learn more, I want to blog again, so here goes.

As with last year, we didn't have Friday or Monday off but we did get to finish at noon instead of working all day. As discussed in my previous blog, toys and candy, rather than chocolate, are the typical gift received by kids here. This time though I was able to take photos (at my local Wal-Mart) of some Easter Baskets available for purchase:

Wal-Mart $5 baskets

Wal-Mart $15 baskets

Wal-Mart $20 basket

Easter Candy

The baskets aren't very expensive, as you can see by the price signs, but I'm not 100% sure I'd buy one of those instead of making my own up. They do seem good for if you have lots of kids to buy for though... just grab and go.

It seems to me though, from seeing what other people have posted or blogged about, that many prefer to buy an empty basket and buy their own fillers. Fillers can be anything from clothes, to crayons, DVD's and almost always some candy.

Candy, as explained in my other blog, is usually just regular candy that's available (M&M's etc) but it's packet would have been changed to include Easter themed things (like rabbits or eggs or chickens etc) or spring colours. Peeps (the yellow things at the top of the photo to the left) are synonymous with Easter. You might be able to find them all year but I can't say I've looked!

This year, for myself, I had a Godiva egg and some Russell Stover rabbits for Easter (4 in total but I had eaten one before the below photos were taken :P). The rabbits were less than an inch or so thick and one was filled with caramel, one had little "crispies" in it, one was "cookies and cream", and the other was just solid chocolate. All yummy  :)

Godiva egg

Russell Stover rabbits

Russell Stover rabbits

I was actually pretty pleased to find the above kinds of chocolate. The Godiva egg was the first hollow egg I'd seen (had to be bought just for that!) and both are kinds of chocolate that I like. This isnt going to be the end of my Easter gorge though, mum is sending me some hollow bunnies and other lollies with a friend that's visiting in a couple of months so I'm really excited about that as well!

Easter Lily

I also saw a Lily for sale at my local grocery store labelled as an "Easter Lily". As you can see from the photo it looks like a regular Lily but with a little rabbit stuck in it. It was a decent size and from memory was being sold for $20.00. I didn't buy one (by the time I saw it it was Monday so there was little point) but I have been thinking about getting one as a house plant... we'll see!

The other thing I noticed more this year (most likely I wasn't paying attention before) were Easter Egg hunts! Lots of different organisations have their own hunts with different prizes or charities involved. I saw another one in the news where it was for adults only and the winner won a car!

This year, on Easter Sunday, my husband and I had lunch with his Aunt, Uncle and his cousins and that was good too. We had ham, mashed potato, buttered corn and bread rolls. Some of the others had stuffing and brussel sprouts but not me! For dessert we had a choice of cheesecake, apple pie and fudge (the latter of which I made - that should be in another blog!). It was good to catch up.

Anyway, there you go. Easter 2014 done and dusted!

Dawn of a New Theme...

Swifts Creek
(pretty, but nowhere near me)

It's been a while (well okay several months) since I last posted and I'm sorry about that but I've been finding it a little hard to find topics to talk about.  That's not to say I don't have some to post, I do, just in draft form, the problem is some of them require a fair bit of research and preparation so I thought I might try posting about life here in a more personal way. 

I will still continue along the same vein as previous posts (the difference between the US and here) but in a more personal "how this affects me" way. As time passes on life here, it's hard to remember what is and isn't in Australia, and because it could be there now and I'd have no idea!

I truly hope you enjoy this change and I hope this will mean I will be able to post more often (or at least have something to ramble on about more often!).