Books in Progress
Germ Circus: Our Nation's Obessions with Microbes, Bacteria and Invisible Bugs
Did you know:
- 25,127 microbes live on every square inch of your phone.
- Resting a purse or briefcase on the kitchen counter could make you sick.
- 95 percent of bacteria are harmless or even helpful. Without Chlorella (algae that float in the ocean), all breathing beings would have run out of oxygen eons ago.
- According to the Center for Disease Control, 2.4 million Americans—nearly one percent of the population—get bacterial diarrhea annually.
- The total mass of microbes on earth exceeds that of all the plants and animals combined.
- Scientists use bacteria to take photographs.
- An average of 1 in 6 people wash their hands after using the restroom. And it takes just seconds for hands to become contaminated by touching.
The idea of a humor book starring bacteria gelled from my recent experiences cooking for New Orleans disaster relief workers. As a volunteer cook, I cringed when my young assistant tasted the stew then casually plopped the ladle back into the pot. Minutes later, I winced as the Director waltzed into the kitchen—actually a tent—and hoisted his filth-encrusted briefcase onto my bleached-clean serving table. But I snapped when a grimy relief worker, back from dragging sewage-soaked carpets to the dump, marched straight up to the serving trays clutching mud-drenched clothes. As she asked for directions to the laundry, her scummy sock skimmed a drumstick. Picturing platoons of bacteria parachuting onto my chicken, I blurted, “All of you, leave the food preparation area. Now!”
More than ever before, germs are on our minds, in the news and on our hands. From hand sanitizers to portable subway pole straps, we spend over $540 million dollars annually on cleaning products. Yet, only one in 10,000 bacteria strains cause disease.
Bursting with data, wit, and nuggets of truth Germ Circus introduces the reader to kitchen sponge cleaning secrets, chewing gum with cavity fighting powers and scientists who “teach” bacteria to race while carrying “cargo.” The result is a funny, fact-filled look at bacteria.
How I Became My Daughter’s Pancreas:
A Girl with Diabetes, Her Family and the Technology that Changed Their
Lives
Jennifer, was a college professor humming along in her career until Claire, her five-year-old daughter, developed diabetes. Jennifer used to sit in her plush office chair and advise graduate students. Now she sits on her cold kitchen floor in saggy jeans and advises Claire how to catch the missing hamster with a trap made out of an empty tomato can.
But letting go of her career and giving Claire four shots a day didn’t give Jennifer and her husband the control they wanted over diabetes. So they switched Claire from shots to an insulin pump—a pager size device that injects insulin into the body.
The pump is supposed to help the family in their battle against diabetes. Instead, it only adds to the stress. Like at the amusement park. The pump plugs up, Claire’s sugar sky rocket, the testing meter dies, and Claire and her sister bicker over who gets to hold the special amusement park cup. What’s a mother to do? Many times Jennifer wants to give up.
But by year’s end, Jennifer realizes she can program the pump like an expert, head off crises before they emerge, and still keep the family in clean underwear.
Best of all, Claire’s sugar numbers are near normal.
Follow Jennifer as she develops a new life without the career, juggles laundry, a hamster and the pump, all the while engaged in hand to hand combat against diabetes.
Copyright © 2002-2007 Jennifer Angelo.
All rights reserved.