Articles written by Vonda Sines - Page 4

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About me - Vonda Sines

I'm a writer and editor by profession. I've done both for more than 30 years. There's simply nothing else I would rather do. I also have a passion for animals and animal rescue.

My specialties include writing about animals, health and medical issues, and

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Religion & Spirituality > Christian Holidays & Celebrations Can Christians ever manage to reclaim Christmas as a holy day?: 6 of 35
Christians can reclaim December 25 as a holy day if and when they stop just talking about doing so and take some specific steps toward celebrating it as such. Those of us who call ourselves Christians are quick to bemoan the convenience stores and even retailers open on Christmas Day. The trouble is, all we tend to do is tal... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Working Parents Should mothers bring their children to work?: 4 of 23
Whether it's a mother or a father faced with bringing a child to work, the practice is fair to neither the employer nor the child. Here's a case in point. A former intern working at the Federal office where I was employed showed up on a Monday morning with her eight-year-old in tow. The girl, she explained, had come down wit... More..
Health & Fitness > Sexual Health Should public organizations and schools distribute condoms?: 6 of 34
"You won't believe what Joey brought home today," my friend Cheryl laughed nervously. "Straight A's?" I shot back a little too quickly to be nice. Joey, 16, was not known for his academic prowess or interest. Nor was he the neatest or most organized kid on the block. According to his mom, his three top interests included com... More..
Pets & Animals > Pet Ownership Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat?: 37 of 207
Sandy, Alex, TJ, Dalhart, Cocoa, Rascal, Lacey, Archie, Tyson. The complete list of dogs my family has adopted or sponsored over the years is even longer. Most of them, unbeknownst to us until well after adoption, had special and costly medical needs. Lacey, our adopted black American Cocker, passed away December 23, 2000. S... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) Your most meaningful family traditions: 64 of 348
It began with a giggly pre-teen waving frantically out the back window of a Grand Prix. The car had paused at a Chesapeake Bay Bridge toll booth in Annapolis. The year: 1987. After my eight-year-old and I exchanged puzzled looks, I pulled up and handed the attendant a five-dollar bill. "You're paid," she said. "The folks ahe... More..
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness Maintaining a healthy heart: 2 of 10
Nearly 80 million Americans have cardiovascular disease (CVD). About 72 million at least 20 years old suffer from high blood pressure. And more than 100 million have high cholesterol, according to Catherine Winters in "Heart-Healthy Habits" in the Winter 2007 issue of Remedy magazine. Whether you made New Year's resolutions ... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Easy tips for spending $100 less next week: 1 of 5
Look at the entries in your checkbook for the past month, and it's obvious that prices have reached the stratosphere. The budget amount for our electric bill went up 17 percent in July. August brought a 24 percent hike in the budget billing for our home's gas supply. Is it still possible to actually cut your budget when pric... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Day trips to enjoy the fall foliage: 8 of 39
It happened three years in a row. We made plans to drive west to see the gorgeous autumn foliage along Virginia's Skyline Drive. We missed it every time. We were too late the first two years. The third year, rain pulled off all the leaves while we were on the road. If you're a lover of the beautiful red and golden leaves tha... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christianity (Other) Commentary: Why churches are packed on Easter and not on regular Sundays: 6 of 28
Many regular churchgoers dread Easter even though Christians commemorate it as a holy day and a magnificent celebration. The reason they sigh is the thought of the crowded church they know they will face each year on this special day. In a large church, it usually means three to a hymnal and being uncomfortably scrunched to ... More..
Education > Education (Other) Should children have cell phones at school?: 13 of 60
The answer to this question really depends on the circumstances at the school. A case can be made for sending a child to school with a cell phone if it's the only logical way for a student to make an emergency call. An example would be attending a large school where it takes a solid gold hall pass to be allowed to go to the ... More..