July/August, 2010 – Happy Summer!

A Letter from the Editor

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July 1, 2010

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Letter from the Editor

July/August, 2010

Dear Around Wellington Readers,

Happy Summer to you all! And Happy 4^th of July!

If you’ve been dying to just relax with a good book, maybe you’ll find a little quiet time by the pool or the beach this summer finally. Writer Marla Schwartz gives us an extensive article with excellent summer reading suggestions. She highlights Florida authors, as well as other authors who set their scene in Florida or touch upon Florida within their stories. Personally I just finished reading “Big Russ and Me” by the late, great Tim Russert, which I loved as a great Father’s Day themed book. As usual I was in a quandary about “what to read next.” So I simply printed out Marla’s article “Summertime, a Great Time for Books” and I’ll take it with me on my next trip to the library.

If you haven’t heard, there’s a new Amphitheatre in Wellington, right by the Wellington Community Center, and the grand opening day is Saturday, July 3^rd. Admission is free! The renovated Wellington Aquatic Complex also has free admission on July 3^rd from 10am to 5pm. Meanwhile, many festivities are planned for the Amphitheatre grand opening day from 3pm to 10pm, including bounce houses, hula hooping contests, musical guests and a laser light show. More . . .

I’m happy to say that after a little hiatus, the well-loved doctors Lesley Glover and Vanessa Vizcaino are back with “Ask the Docs,” now joined by Heather Loguidice, ARNP. They will be taking turns writing the “Ask the Docs” column on helpful health topics, and this month Heather writes about the importance of Vitamin D. For more information about their medical practice, visit their website for Family Medical and Wellness Center.

This month in “Cantankerously Yours,” Wendell Abern reflects on his theory about men and women…and their shopping habits. In “Men I’ve Met in Women’s Shoe Departments,” Wendell reveals his strategy for surviving all of the past shoe (and other) shopping trips that he endured. Funny stuff!

Our fun contests continue! We continue to offer two contests each month!! So between July 1^st – 10^th, you have the opportunity to win tickets for two to the Improv at CityPlace! We will have two lucky winners, chosen at random from the correct entries. Just visit our “Contest” page between July 1^st – 10^th for instructions. These are extra special gift certificates because they are good for ANY SHOW (special events at any price) for one year! Another contest will follow in mid-July.

If you have not become a Facebook fan of AroundWellington.com yet, here’s a new reason to do it. When we have good fortune of extra tickets or prizes (as I did last month), they will be offered to our Facebook fans. Just recently AroundWellington.com FB fan Dava Hamerling received two tickets to see the Lisa Loeb children’s musical “Camp Kappawanna,” just for being the quickest to respond. Congrats, Dava!

This month we have the delicious pleasure of sharing a taste of “Havana” with you, as Havana Restaurant in West Palm Beach is our “AW Spotlight” business. If you haven’t visited Havana yet, don’t wait any longer! They have a 24/7 Walk-Up Window and are located at the corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and Dixie Highway. Just watch out for that Mojo garlic sauce…it’s addictive. Here’s their menu: http://www.havanacubanfood.com/menu.html

Speaking of yummy, we have a few nice summer grilling recipes for you. Check out these recipes for Grilled Salmon, Grilled Veggies with Couscous and a nice Red, White and Blue dessert!

Have you ever been at a complete loss for words when it comes to “what to say” in comforting someone, especially during this time of economic hardship? Lisa Dawn Wax illustrates how sometimes a complete loss for words is just what is needed – in the act of compassion. If you’re not the best listener, you will find insights and “nuggets of truth” that are quite helpful in “Lighten Up with Lisa.”

I’m (almost) at a loss for words on the subject of the BP oil spill. It’s devastating that it has still not been stopped and continues to gush. It’s mind-boggling that BP had no emergency plan in place and has no decent plan to deal with the destruction being caused to the environment, wildlife, fisherman and everyone impacted. If you’re moved by the videos of dying wildlife, you can donate to the National Wildlife Federation. Every effort, large or small, helps. A local Wellington artist has created a beautiful tile/mural devoted to all of the wildlife suffering in the Gulf. Check out “Homeless of the Gulf” by Kathy Carroll. Perhaps a children’s book needs to be written on the subject too. My 3-year-old son keeps asking me, “What about the oil spill? Are the birds going to be OK? Are the fish going to be OK?” He is so sweet and so concerned, as he’s picked up snippets from the news and taken them to heart. I really don’t know how to answer him.

As we did last year, we have a combined July/August issue. However, some of our columnists elected to write their story for August 1^st instead of July 1^st. So we will get caught up with “Astrology at Work in Your Life,” “By the Numbers” and “Health & Fitness” in August.

THANKS to everyone’s contributions, writers and photographers! Please explore to see our latest stories and photos.

Around Wellington in Pictures

As I Was Saying

Ask the Docs

AW Spotlight

AW Stories of the Month

Birthdays

Cantankerously Yours

Contest

Cultural Corner

Lighten Up with Lisa

Ultimate Productivity

Videos

I’m thankful to our readers for your ongoing feedback (and participation in our contests) and to our advertisers! Welcome to our new advertiser PURE, Palm Beach, a full-service cleaning company that does chemical-free vapor steam cleanings. One of the owners worked previously for NASA and developed this technology to bring you a higher level of clean and a safer level of clean!

Hope you’re having a happy summer so far!

Cheers,

Krista Martinelli

Editor

AroundWellington.com

July, 2010 – Summer Recipes

AW Stories of the Month

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July 1, 2010

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Grilled Salmon

Prep: 10 min./ Cook: 15 min.

Ingredients

2 pounds salmon fillets
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
4 green onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Place salmon in shallow dish. Combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Set aside 1/4 cup for basting; pour the rest over the salmon. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drain, discarding marinade. Grill salmon over medium coals, skin side down, for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Baste occasionally with reserved marinade. Serves 4.

Grilled Vegetables with Couscous

Prep Time: 20 Min./ Cook Time: 15 Min.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red bell pepper
1 zucchini
1 small eggplant
1 large sweet onion
3/4 cup frozen broad beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup couscous
1 cup vegetable stock

Directions

1. Remove the seeds from the pepper, and chop into strips about 1 to 2 inches long. Cut the eggplant crossways into rounds about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick, and cut each one into 6 to 8 even chunks. Peel the onion, and chop into 8 portions. Trim the zucchini, and cut into thick slices.

2. Heat grill pan over a high heat with a generous splash of olive oil. When it is very hot, add all the vegetables to the pan. Press down occasionally to get grill lines across them. Turn occasionally to prevent burning. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are evenly browned and cooked through.

3. Stir broad beans into the vegetables. Add chopped tomatoes, and vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes while the couscous is prepared.

4. Place couscous into a medium bowl. Add boiling vegetable stock, and stir with a fork. Keep lifting the couscous occasionally to prevent it sticking. It only takes 2 to 3 minutes to become soft. Place couscous in a large bowl or serving platter, and serve the vegetables on top. Serves 4.

Red, White & Blue Refresher

Ingredients

1 quart pineapple or lemon sherbet
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup white grape juice or white wine

Directions

· Divide the sherbet between four dessert cups or bowls. Top with the berries and grape juice.

Thanks to www.allrecipes.com for these yummy summer recipes.

July, 2010 – Men I’ve Met in Women’s Shoe Departments

Cantankerously Yours

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July 1, 2010

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Cantankerously Yours

Men I’ve met in Women’s Shoe Departments

By Wendell Abern

Dear Fellow Schleppers,

I don’t care if this sounds mysoginistic, pig-headed or arrogant: women do not know how to shop.

Men shop in a straight line. If we need a shirt, we go to a store, march over to the men’s department, look through shirts, find one or two in the colors we want, pay and leave.

Women shop by zigzagging. If a woman needs a blouse, she serpentines an obstacle course that requires at least 30 minutes in fashion jewelry, 20 minutes in perfumes and an undisclosed amount of time in small kitchen appliances.

Long ago, I solved the problem of how to go shopping with my wife. I take along something to read. First place we go to is the women’s shoe department, where I select a chair. Then we split up. I spend about eight minutes shopping, and come back to the chair, where I read until she finishes zigzagging.

On my first venture, I discover there are other men who have already discovered this idea. I sit down in the agreed-upon chair, open the sports page (which I had deliberately left unread until then), and notice the guy sitting across from me. Seventyish. Huge shock of white hair. Rheumy eyes. Thick paperback book. Without even asking, he knows why I’m there.

“What’s your wife gettin’?” he asks.

“A dress.”

“Two hours,” he says. “With a dress, you gotta bring more ‘n the sports page to read.”

“Nah. I know my wife. Half-hour at the most.”

“You got grandchildren?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“To get to dresses, your wife’s gotta go through children’s clothes. That’s 45 minutes, minimum. Tack on another fifteen for toys and games, then an hour for the dress. Total, two hours. If you’re lucky.”

He was wrong. It took her three hours.

The next time, my wife needs a new summer outfit, so I bring the entire newspaper. I just start to read when a fiftysomething guy sets down a thermos and a laptop on the chair between us.

“You here for the sale?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“Us too. We come every month for their biggest sale of the year.”

“You bring your laptop every month?.”

“Nah. Just for the killers. Today is a killer.”

“What’s a killer?”

“A killer is when she needs a gift for someone, doesn’t know what to get, and comes to the store looking for ideas. Killer. Good for at least four hours.”

“I’ll remember that.”

About five minutes later a slender, attractive woman comes over

and deposits two bags on the chair next to him, and leaves.

Laptop consults his watch. “Forty-five minutes, first drop-off. It’s

gonna be a six-hour day.”

Fortunately, my wife finds her summer outfit in less than two hours. My new friend asks me if we’ll be there for next month’s biggest sale of the year, and I tell him I hope not.

However, we do go to another store a week later. My wife needs a gift for someone, but isn’t sure what to get. A bona fide killer. Armed with the information from Laptop, I pack a thermos and an overnight bag. My wife does not consider this funny. I settle on a paperback thriller.

We arrive at the store, I select a chair in the shoe department and we split up. I go buy two pairs of shorts and two shirts and am back in my chair in twelve minutes.

I open my thriller and start to read when I spy a young man saying good-bye to his young wife with a kiss. She leaves and he settles into a chair and opens up the sports page he has brought with him and nods at me.

“She’s shopping, you’re waiting, right?” I ask

“You got it.”

“What’s she getting?”

“A dress.”

With confidence, I announce, “Two hours. With a dress, you gotta bring more ‘n the sports page.”

“Nah,” he says. “I know my wife. Half-hour at the most.”

“You got children?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Just curious,” I say, sparing him the news about children’s clothes

and toys and games and go back to my thriller.

His wife shows up two hours later. The young man looks at me,

shakes his head in awe, winks and leaves.

Two hours later, when my wife finally shows up, I think to myself,

If I had started doing this forty years ago, I could have read 50 other

books by this time.

Cantankerously Yours,

Wendell Abern

Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.

July, 2010 – Nautical Sights and Culinary Delights

Travel with Terri

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July 1, 2010

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Travel with Terri

Nautical Sights and Culinary Delights

By Terri Farris

Photos by Gregory Holder

The bay is dotted with sailboats and ferries, lighthouses stand proudly on the shore, an abundance of lobster, shrimp and clam chowder populate the menus of local restaurants and historical buildings are given new life – this is Portland, Maine.

Maine is a geographically diverse state with mountains, lakes, rocky beaches and stunning coastal views. Portland is situated on a peninsula that juts into the Casco Bay and getting out into the bay is an excellent way to begin any Maine experience. Options for exploration by water include ferries, tour boats, sailboats and kayaks.

Casco Bay is filled with islands. In 1700, Colonel Wolfgang William Romer, an English military engineer, reportedly said “there are as many islands as there are days in the year”, resulting in the popular myth that there are 365 islands. Due to this myth, the islands are often referred to as the Calendar Islands.

The Casco Bay Line ferries transports visitors and residents to the islands. For your adventure, you can opt to visit a specific island or go along with the postman on the daily Mail Run Boats which deliver mail to the residents on all of the islands. www.cascobaylines.com

Offering the “Lighthouse Lovers Cruise”, dinner cruises and a combination Land & Sea tour, the Portland Discovery Company is an excellent option for exploring. The 90 minute trolley tour is narrated by locals with insightful information and anecdotes to inform

Portland Head Light - one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!

and entertain. The water tour cruises past several lighthouses including the Spring Point Ledge Light – a caisson lighthouse constructed in 1897- and the oldest lighthouse in Maine, the Portland Head Light. Built in 1791 and authorized by President George Washington, this beautiful lighthouse is said to be the most photographed in the country. www.portlanddiscovery.com

For a truly unique experience in Casco Bay, climb aboard a vintage wooden sailboat for a two hour wind jammer cruise with the Portland Schooner Company. Pack a picnic lunch and a favorite bottle of wine and take happy hour to the sea! Experience the thrill of sailing while taking in the sights of the lighthouses, rocky beaches, old military forts and sea life. Energetic guests are invited to help with the hoisting of the sails while the more leisurely can sit back and enjoy the ride. These magnificent boats were built in Maine in the early 1900’s and have been beautifully restored. www.portlandschooner.com

Portland’s water adventures are only part of the story. On land there are numerous boutique shops for exploration in the historic Old Port district. Most are owned by local merchants and are filled with unique gifts, clothing and specialty items. One of the more unusual shops, Fetch, is the place to go for discerning dogs and cats! Fetch opened on “April Stools Day” in 2000 with the mission of providing a high quality of life for the dogs and cats (and their people) in the Portland area. Dogs and cats are encouraged to come into the shop to check out all of the unique toys and accessories. You are welcome to join your pet – as long as you remain on a leash. In fact, Portland is an extremely pet friendly community with most restaurants and several hotels accommodating the furriest member of the family. www.fetchportland.wordpress.com

Everyone associates Maine with lobster, but did you know it is also the number one producer of blueberries? Maine’s Pantry, located along the waterfront is a family owned business dedicated to bringing the bounty of Maine specialty foods to its customers. Traditional blueberry muffin mix, syrups, jams and pancake mixes fill the shelves alongside the more unusual Blueberry Coffee, Blueberry Crème Soda, Blueberry Hot Sauce and Blueberry Salsa. www.mainespantry.com

For foodies, Portland is paradise beyond the bounty of blueberries.

Sample the lobster rolls, crab cakes, clams and shrimp in a casual atmosphere at Portland Lobster Company located on the harbor in the Old Port district. Enjoy live music while dining outside on the deck watching the harbor activity. www.portlandlobstercompany.com

If you are a fan of clam chowder, don’t miss Gilbert’s Chowder House. Loved by locals and tourists, this is quite possibly the best clam chowder anywhere. www.gilbertschowderhouse.com

Chef Harding Lee Smith has three restaurants in Portland, The Corner Room – a casual Italian-inspired restaurant, The Front Room – serving new American comfort food made from the finest local ingredients, and The Grill Room – serving the best in wood grilled meats, fish and chicken and wood fired pizzas. The lobster mashed potatoes are unbelievably delicious! www.thefrontroomrestaurant.com

Nautical sights and culinary delights are just part of the experience; history buffs will also love Portland’s offerings. Step back in time with a visit to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and museum. Climb aboard the antique cars pulled by steam or diesel powered locomotives for a scenic ride along Portland’s waterfront. Visit the museum and learn how these unique two-foot gauge steam trains connected rural Maine with the rest of the world from 1879 until just before World War II. www.mngrr.org

Portland’s historic Old Port is one of the most successful revitalized warehouse districts in the country. The centerpiece of the Old Port District is the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa. Built in 1895, this neo-classic structure was originally The State of Maine Armory. It served as a naval recreation center during World War II and later as the city’s public bath house. Today this beautiful structure serves as the home of the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa. Guests stay in old world luxury with superior service. Add a little romance to your

Portland Regency Hotel & Spa - located in the Historic Old Port District in the former Armory

vacation with a couples’ massage at the hotel spa. Enjoy an elegant dinner at Twenty Milk Street followed by a nightcap at the Armory Lounge. Whatever your preference, the hotel, spa and restaurant staff are committed to making your visit memorable. www.theregency.com

In the Greater Portland area, the quintessential Maine experience awaits. What are you waiting for? www.visitportland.com

Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. You can contact Terri at tfarris60@hotmail.com.

July, 2010 – Up, Up and Away

Mommy Moments

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July 1, 2010

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Mommy Moments

Up, Up and Away—Air Travel with kids

By Melanie Lewis

The Lightning McQueen coloring book was tucked away in the carry-on bag along with some hard candy (to help pop the ears adjusting to the change in altitude), crackers and empty water bottles (because full ones at the airport cost a lot more). We were headed on a flight with 2 small kids ages 4 and 6. The last time we’d flown the kids were infants – 9 months old. I could soothe popping ears by nursing in flight. The kids were highly charged by the sight of opening and closing the window shade at one year old, something more was needed to hold their attention and assuage their excitement this time. The prepared parent is a requirement in the new order of flying post-9/11.

Before you step foot in the airport for your trip, take a test run. Not even a bad idea for a rainy day activity. They will be familiarizing themselves to the sights and sounds of plane travel. Many airports have kids play areas, but most are tucked away beyond security. They will at least be able to ride the escalators and elevators, watch planes land and take-off and ask questions when you’re more poised to answer them, not racing to make a connection.

Another preparedness item is research. Plenty of books have been written on the subject of air travel with kids and will be far greater detail than allotted here. Another thing that surprised me was the monorail shuttle at Orlando International airport. Next trip, I’ll check online for airport diagrams of terminals and special features for time delays like waiting to board a shuttle. For kids this can be a special treat, rather than a travel hiccup as we see it. We also made a trip to the library to get books about kids traveling, for kids traveling. They were entertaining and illustrated the highlights of travel in a kid-friendly way.

Your first stop after check-in is security. Let the kids know ahead of time what to expect. Even after the thorough explanation at age-appropriate level, they still did not want to remove their shoes. In retrospect, this might have been the time to have them wear their sandals instead of lace-up shoes.

Our inexpensive, non-stop flight was in the form of Jet-Blue. Good choice, since you can leave some of those snacks behind—they’ve got a plentiful and hearty selection of munchies. The flight crew was very accommodating with our arrival stroller and car seat for gate check. We could also check one bag each at no extra charge. Check with the airline regarding the cost of luggage when booking a flight, so you can factor it in the cost of the ticket. It may seem like a bargain online until taxes or baggage is added.

After most of the planned activities had been used up, we had to get inventive. The kids were pounding the guy in the seat in front of us with their feet. It was time for a stroll to visit the lavatory. While at the rear of the plane we talked to the flight crew about how they liked to fly and their favorite destinations. The next thing we knew, the captain had turned on the fasten seat-belt sign and instructed everyone to take their seat to prepare for landing. We headed back to our seats, 14A and 14B (good practice with letters and numbers) and landed with lifesaver lollipops slurping away. The trip was enjoyable for everyone, except for a few moments for the guy in seat 13A. I chalk it up to the flight readiness we did. The experience seemed to be an exciting opportunity for learning. The kids drew pictures and wrote a story about it for school. We all can’t wait for our next adventure. Bon Voyage.

Melanie Lewis is the mother of 2 boys ages 4 and 7. She is married and works part-time for Weight Watchers and as a Sipada representative. She enjoys reading, gardening and playing with her Blue-mitted Ragdoll, Percy and Golden Retriever, Rosie.

July, 2010 – Understanding the Human Heart

Lighten Up with Lisa

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July 1, 2010

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July, 2010 – Understanding the Human Heart

Lighten Up with Lisa

Learning one of life’s most important lessons comes from learning to understand the human heart.

By Lisa Dawn Wax

Dear Lightworker Lisa,

It seems like almost everyone I talk to lately has some tragic life story to tell. Some are facing losing their homes to foreclosure, or forced to do a short sale, or they are unemployed and without health insurance or they are just so depressed because of one reason or another. I want to be a good friend, but these days I feel I’m at a complete loss for words. What can I say to these people I care about?

Signed,

Caring but Clueless

Dear Clueless,

I’m sure this is a question that is occasionally asked by even the most experienced counselors, advisors, therapists and clergy. We are facing very challenging times; and although the struggles may feel insurmountable for many, I believe most people are finding their way to emulate that stray blade of grass that manages to push upward and break through the concrete sidewalk. That being said, everyone deals with stress or crisis differently so it is hard to give a cookie cutter response of what to say to the distressed people you care about. It is common and normal when people hear stories of tragedy and sadness, especially form friends or family, to want to say “something” in order to try to solve the problem and offer comfort. However, rather than ask the question of “what to say” consider asking the question, “when to say something or when NOT to say anything.” The last thing most people want when they are seeking empathy and understanding is to end up with advice, judgment or constructive criticism. Simply put- a hug can be worth a thousand words and is quite possibly one of the most genuine and heart felt expressions of Compassion.

Compassion is a beautiful and very necessary human virtue that can have a tremendous impact on both the giver and receiver. It validates the emotions of the person in pain and reassures them that someone cares. I firmly believe it is one of the most important lessons we can teach our children. There is never an inappropriate time for compassion because compassion is ALWAYS appropriate. Every major religion regards compassion as one of the greatest and most revered virtues. For example, it is a central focal point of Buddhism. The spiritual teacher and enlightened one, Buddha, once told a student, “compassion shelters and embraces the distressed…the cultivation of compassion is not part of our practice…it is all of our practice.” The Buddhist leader, Dali Lama, once said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” In both Judaism and Christianity God is invoked as the “Father of Compassion”. Rabbis speak of the “13 attributes of compassion” and Jesus preached to act compassionately towards others by righteously proclaiming, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

In his book, When Bad Things Happen To Good People, Harold Kushner recounts the biblical story of Job, who although he suffered greatly refused to renounce God even though it would have alleviated his suffering. When Job’s friends came to “comfort” him they did everything wrong and in turn made him feel worse by implying that he must have done something to deserve such a fate of punishment. They criticized his grief, they minimized his pain, and they asked him to disguise or reject his feelings. What Job needed most from his friends was acts of Compassion. He needed physical comforting, people sharing their strength with him, holding him rather than scolding him. He needed permission to be angry, to cry and to scream. He needed someone to tell him he was still a Good Person! However, two things that the friends did correctly were: 1. they came and 2. They listened.

So the next time someone is sharing a personal sadness and you feel at a complete loss for words, consider it a sign that words are not required in the matter. Consider being there to wipe away tears, pick up pieces of broken glass, or just be a sounding board. If you must say something, try asking the person what it is they need or want from you to help them to feel better. Be compassionate and comforting by reiterating your desire to help alleviate their pain. Hug them, cry with them, yell with them or laugh with them to help them find their inner peace, for a state of peace can yield new perspective, new strength and new inspiration to pursue a new life of joy.

Lightworker Lisa

Until next time, may your days be brighter and your lives be lighter.

Let me ignite the light in your life!

If you would like to submit a question for publication, you can email me directly at lisa@lightworkerlisa.com.

A Lightworker is someone with an innate ability to know and heal. Lightworkers believe it is their divine mission or higher purpose to write, teach or counsel others that spiritual methods can heal any situation. Lightworkers are souls who volunteered, before birth, to help people learn about love and heal from the effects of fear. Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa is a born Lightworker, certified Angel Healing Practitioner and Reiki Master Practitioner; all of which basically confirm her intuitive abilities to help, heal and teach. Using reiki (energy healing), divine messages and intuitive readings, she has helped many people to identify the source of their pain, clarify current life situations, and successfully redirect their focus into positive channels. If you are in need of affordable healing and life coaching with immediate results, call her at 561-594-3948 or visit her website www.lightworkerlisa.com.

July, 2010 – Grunt! Clang! Thud!

As I Was Saying

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July 1, 2010

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As I Was Saying

Grunt! Clang! Thud!

By Alan Williamson

“I’m hitting the 21 Circle Gym,” I announce to my wife, a bottle of water in one hand, a towel in the other.

“Have a good workout,” Sherry says cheerfully, graciously ignoring the fact that we live on a street named 21 Circle and that the “gym” is really a spare room in our house. After hearing this tired little joke on and off for the past eight years, she deserves an award for still playing along. Or a free gym membership.

When I first thought of joining a gym – a real gym – I made a list of pros and cons.

Pros

Wide variety of equipment.

Training support and guidance.

Social stimulation.

Daily incentive to follow through on financial investment.

Cons

Wide variety of equipment.

Training support and guidance.

Social stimulation.

Daily incentive to follow through on financial investment.

At the risk of sounding schizophrenic, the more I looked at each of my “pros” for joining a gym, the more they looked like “cons.”

Wide variety of equipment. Show me a gym full of gleaming, cutting-edge equipment and I’ll show you a gym full of people constantly using that gleaming, cutting-edge equipment. What good is a lat pulldown machine or a pec deck if every time you go to use them someone else is grunting away on them? My dumbbells at home may not be as sleek and sophisticated as a multi-station weight stack unit with high, mid and low cable pulleys for the ultimate upper body workout, but when I’m ready to grab a pair of my dumbbells I don’t have to wait for Hans or Franz to finish clanging them together over their undulating torsos like over-sized symbols in a steroid-powered marching band.

Training support and guidance. Here’s the closely-guarded secret that personal trainers don’t want you to know about working out: it’s pretty basic stuff. Read a couple of issues of Men’s Health and instant expert status is within your iron-fisted grasp. Handy tip: If you’re lifting weights, make them heavy enough to challenge your muscles, but not so heavy that you get pinned under them for hours at a time and have to wait for help to arrive.

Social stimulation. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been very good at doing two things at once. Even when I try to read and watch TV, I wind up stuck on the same page of my book for half an hour trying to simultaneously figure out if the TV program I was half-watching ended and was replaced by another program or if a whole new set of characters – including some from my book – were introduced halfway through. My point is, if I’m working out, I need to be 100% focused on working out, and if I’m debating with my friend Andy about who’s the best Saturday Night Live guest host of all time – Alec Baldwin or Steve Martin – I need to be 100% focused on that. (Alec Baldwin, by the way. I’m just saying.)

Incentive to follow through on financial investment. I’ve heard all the stories about gym memberships that go unused after the first three months with hundreds or thousands of nonrefundable dollars down the drain. No doubt many of those well-intentioned no-shows thought that spending some serious money on a membership would fortify their commitment to stick to a regular fitness regimen. Guess again buns-of-steel boy. Invest all you want, but when making that drive to the gym becomes just one more tedious chore in your jam-packed life, you’re better off with a short, 12-foot commute to the chin-up bar in the doorway of your spare bedroom. And don’t forget to drop and give your imaginary personal trainer 40 pushups before you hit the showers.

“Did you have a good workout?” my wife asks after the last grunt, clang and thud gives way to a sweaty, self-satisfied silence.

“I always have a great workout at the 21 Circle Gym,” I assert, inexplicably lapsing into an Austrian accent. “The only thing that would make it even better is a nice post-workout veggie and cheese omelet and a fresh fruit, whey protein smoothie.”

“Sounds like you should talk to the 21 Circle chef,” Sherry says noncommittally, heading in an opposite direction.

Hmmmm . . . that girl’s got spunk I think, still maintaining an Austrian accent in my mind’s ear as I check my chiseled physique in the mirror. Maybe when I’m done with this last set of dumbbell hammer curls, I’ll see about nailing her a free gym membership.

Alan Williamson is an award-winning writer with 27 years in the field of true fiction (advertising). A practical man who knows that writing for a living is risky going, he has taken steps to pursue a second, more stable career as a leggy super model. Alan can be reached at alwilly@bellsouth.net. © 2010 Alan Williamson.

July, 2010 – The Space Room

The Space Room

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July 1, 2010

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The Space Room

Night Sky Events for July/August 2010

by Anna Sanclement

Moon Phases for July 2010

The Last Quarter Moon will occur on Sunday the 4^th this month, with the New Moon following on Sunday the 11^th. The First Quarter Moon happens on Sunday the 18^thand the Full Moon comes on Sunday the 25^th.

Moon Phases for August 2010

Last Quarter Moon is coming on Tuesday the 3rd this month, while the New Moon is occurring on Monday the 9^th. Then, the First Quarter Moon follows on Monday the 16^thand the Full Moon will happen on Tuesday the 24^th.

Planet Lineup for July/August 2010

In mid July and August you will find Saturn, Mars and Venus close to each other on the western sky about one hour after sunset. In late July, Mars and Saturn will pass within just a few degrees of one another.

Jupiter comes up at midnight in July and as August gets closer it will start rising earlier at around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. When the gas giant is up high in the night sky, it is an excellent time to look at it through a telescope since less of the Earth’s atmosphere interferes with a clear view.

In August Jupiter will start to reach its highest point earlier, so it should be easier to view it for those earlier birds.

Around July 15^th Mercury will peek out from the low western horizon about an hour after the sun goes down, joining the other three planets on that part of the sky at that time. The hot planet should be visible to the naked eye against the twilight, if you can’t spot it, then a pair of binoculars should help you find it.

By August, however, Mercury will be too dim to see at all without binoculars or a telescope.

Stars and Constellations to view on July/August 2010

The Aquarius constellation makes its way up from the eastern horizon at the end of July and rises earlier as we get into August. Constellation Andromeda also rises from the low northeastern horizon at around 10:00 p.m. in July and earlier on at about 8:00 p.m. in mid August.

You can also observe the Andromeda Galaxy, which lies on the southernmost end of the constellation. It is best viewed with a telescope, but can also be spotted easily with binoculars and as a fuzzy patch to the naked eye from a very dark location (without light pollution).

The Corona Borealis constellation is high in the sky during the summer months and at a good place for viewing. Find it between Hercules and Bootes (both of which we mentioned in last months’ column). The constellation looks like a crown floating in space; somewhat like a wide letter ‘U’.

The Big Dipper continues to be seen through July and August towards the low west-northwest, and it dips down to the horizon at around 10:00 p.m. in July and 8:00 p.m. in August.

Late July’s Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower

On July 28^th the Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower will peak, but a nearly Full Moon will be nearby and drown out most of the meteors. But, the brightest meteors may still be seen, especially from a dark location.

To find the Delta Aquarid, look for the Aquarius constellation, which at the time of the shower’s peak at 4:00 a.m. will be to the south, a bit below to where the Moon and Jupiter will be.

The Perseids Meteor Shower in August

On August 12^th and 13^th the Perseids Meteor Shower will be better than July’s shower. There will be an almost New Moon, so skies should be dark enough to see a good amount of meteors.

The shower will start at around 9:30 p.m. but will get more spectacular as the night progresses into early morning. To find the Radiant, look towards the northeastern horizon to find the Perseus constellation, which lies to the east of Andromeda.

For our S. Florida area, look for it at around 11:00 p.m., which is when Perseus rises from the eastern horizon.

Look on up and smile!

Read more of Anna’s articles at:

The Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/x-30007-Space-News-Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/x-6503-Ft-Lauderdale-Science-News-Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/x-39025-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner

Suite101:

http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/annasanclement

And check out the children’s book she co-published with mom:

http://www.ingridsanclement.com/

July, 2010 – When Pets Need Geriatric Care

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July 1, 2010

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Pet Talk

When Pets Need Geriatric Care

by Frances Goodman

Pets become seniors when certain changes begin taking place in the body related to the aging process.

Those changes indicate a need for more preventive care and monitoring, i.e., geriatric care.

But how can we tell when our pets reach “seniorhood?”

Although seven is generally the age at which cats and dogs reach that stage, thanks to the American Animal Hospital Association, we have some more specific guidelines, based on size and species.

Senior Status

According to the AAHA, here are the guidelines for when geriatric care should begin. Pets become seniors as follows:

For cats, 8–10 years old.
Small dogs less than 20 pounds at 9 to 13 years old.
Medium dogs from 21 to 50 pounds at 9 to 11.5 years old.
Large dogs from 51 to 90 pounds at 7.5 to 10.5 years old.
Giant dogs weighing more than 90 pounds at 6 to 9 years old.

Signs of aging can be very subtle in pets, but according to the AAHA, 30 percent of senior pets have a hidden disease, 80 percent have dental disease and 62 percent of dogs age 10 years and older have symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.

Geriatric exams usually include a standard physical check, along with a blood chemistry profile; complete blood count; urinalysis, possibly endocrine (glandular) tests, and X-rays.

The AAHA recommends such exams be done twice a year for senior pets, instead of the recommended once a year exam for others.

Symptoms

Some symptoms creep up so slowly owners may not notice them. Something as seemingly insignificant as a change in the way a pet chews or sits can signal a problem.

Other signs might include: Does the pet take longer to get up? Are they drinking more water? Are they sleeping more?

The AAHA recommends keeping a record of physical or behavior changes as they occur and sharing them with the veterinarian. Things such as changes in coat and skin; gait; posture; oral health such as bad breath or difficulty in eating hard foods; weight; sleeping patterns; and hearing or sight.

Signs that a pet needs to be seen by a vet immediately include increased water consumption, inability to urinate or excessive or inappropriate urination, staring, and disorientation, to name a few.

Because we know our pet’s daily patterns and behavior best, observation is essential.

Preventive Care

How can we help pets have their best health in all stages of life? Here are a few ways:

Feed high quality food with no corn, soybean, sugar, artificial color, chemical preservatives, or meat by-products;
Brush their teeth with special pet toothpaste from the pet supply store;
Be sure to provide them with regular and sufficient exercise;
Do not let them become obese.

As pets age, obesity and oral disease are among the greatest causes of medical problems and discomfort. And both are among the few medical problems that can actually be prevented with the proper care and supervision.

~

Pet Quote for the Month: “Dogs are like kids, cats are like roommates.”–Cat Common Sense.

Frances Goodman is a professional dog obedience trainer and pet care writer. Got a question? Email her at fhpettalk@hotmail.com. See her ad this page.

July, 2010 – Barefoot Days

Poem of the Month

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July 1, 2010

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Barefoot Days

by Rachel Field

In the morning, very early,
That’s the time I love to go
Barefoot where the fern grows curly
And the grass is cool between each toe,
On a summer morning – O!
On a summer morning!

That is when the birds go by
Up the sunny slopes of air,
And each rose has a butterfly
Or a golden bee to wear;
And I am glad in every toe –
Such a summer morning – O!
Such a summer morning!

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The Space Room

Night Sky Events for July/August 2010

Moon Phases for July 2010

Moon Phases for August 2010

Planet Lineup for July/August 2010

Stars and Constellations to view on July/August 2010

Late July’s Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower

The Perseids Meteor Shower in August

Barefoot Days

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