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!

July, 2010 – Four Websites to Slow Unwanted Mail

Living Green

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July 1, 2010

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Living Green

Four Websites to Slow Unwanted Mail

By Christine Smith

Did you know that 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used each year to produce junk mail? Chances are that you’re receiving quite a bit of junk mail yourself. So, why not take some time today to reduce the junk mail arriving in your mailbox daily.

Here are four websites to help you slow the flow of unwanted mail.

1) www.catalogchoice.com

Catalog Choice contacts catalog providers for the recipient and asks that the recipient be removed from a specific mailing list. Simply identify the catalogs that you want to continue receiving and those that you would like to stop receiving. It’s that easy!

2) www.dmachoice.org

DMA choice is a website that uses an online tool developed by the Direct Marketing Association. This online tool allows you to choose which businesses you want to contact you. In addition, the tool provides access to some of the largest direct marketers in the country and is user friendly.

3) www.optouprescreen.com

This online service allows you to opt out of receiving credit card offers for either a period of two years or permanently. Don’t be alarmed when this service asks for your social security number, full name, address, and telephone number. This information is secure and is necessary for them to opt you out. Whether you want to opt out permanently or for just two years, this same service makes it simple for you to opt back in at anytime you with. If you rather not provide this information online you may also call 1.888.5.OPTOUT (567-8688).

4) www.yellowpagesoptout.com

Yellow Pages Opt Out is a service that allows you to enter your zip code to find the phone book publishers in your area that are participating in the opt out requests. After locating the phone book publishers in your area, you will need to notify each publisher individually to notify them that you would like delivery stopped.

These are just a few websites that assist with managing your unwanted junk mail. There are also other non-profit organizations that will opt out of junk mail for you for a nominal fee. Check out www.myjunktree.com for more information. Still not convinced that you should spend some time managing your junk mail? According to www.myjunktree.com reducing your junk mail for 5 years, you’ll conserve 1.7 trees and 700 gallons of water, and prevent 460 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere — and you’ll gain about 350 hours of free time! That’s just one person, imagine the impact if we all did this. What are you waiting for? Do this today for a greener environment tomorrow!

Christine Smith is a Principal, as well as the Director of Marketing for Fine Lions, Inc. Fine Lions specializes in a proprietary Eco-friendly wood graining process that is applied to non wood products to give them the appearance of natural wood. This earth conscious application may be done on exterior and interior doors, garage doors, kitchen and bath cabinets, as well as other surfaces. To learn more, visit http://www.finelions.com.

July, 2010 – Organize Your Electronic Files, Part 2

Ultimate Productivity

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July 1, 2010

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July, 2010 – Organize Your Electronic Files, Part 2

Ultimate Productivity

Organize Your Electronic Files and Cut Down on Digital Clutter (Part II)

By Claudine Motto

If you followed the steps from last month’s article, you now have a streamlined filing system and a nice, clutter-free desktop. This month’s article is all about keeping it that way.

Step 6: Fence in your stragglers. One of the reasons clutter accumulates is that files don’t have a place to go to – so you put them on the desktop, and before you know it, your desktop is buried.

More often than not, the “stragglers” are files that are temporary, or that are waiting on some kind of action from you. Setting up these 4 types of folders on your desktop will help you house most of these:

1. Current or Active (to house all the projects you’re working on that you need to have handy. You set this folder up in Step 1 – rename it to whatever works for you – I use Temp Project Documents. )

2. To Watch, To Read (for stuff you collect that you want to read, watch, or listen to)

3. PC Issues (for documenting and taking snapshots of technical issues that you notice with your PC. You’ll be glad you have this set up when you need to call tech support.)

4. Plus shortcuts to the 3-5 folders that you access most often. Place them as a “group” (near each other) so they’re easy to find. Or, install Stardock’s Fences, a great (and free) little program, which enables you to draw “fences” around your desktop icons. Use whatever logic makes sense to you for grouping – below is a partial snapshot of my desktop.

ultimateproductivity-screenshot

Step 7: Name your files for finding them later. The names of your files should reveal their content without you having to open them. Ask yourself what will help you identify the file when you need to find it months from now. Some examples:

-Pictures: name_location_date (James_Hawaii_2009)

-Receipts: YYYYMMDD_vendor name (20090310_Staples)

-Contracts or other documents: client name_project_version # (Smith_13RandallSt_v2)

You can use different naming conventions for different file types, as in the example above – but once you decide on the format, name all the same file types the same way (i.e., all your pictures will be named name_location_date.) You can create a notepad document on your desktop to remind you of the naming conventions you’ve chosen.

If you’re going to use dates in your file names, use double-digit days, double-digit months and the full year so that files sort properly. If having your files sort by year will be helpful, put the year up front.

Rename files as you go, and name new files to your new standard convention as soon as you create them.

Step 8: Maintain. Pay special attention to the Active folder, since files will accumulate quickly. Get in the habit of cleaning out files as you’re done with them – delete if you don’t need them, or move them to their permanent location if you do.

Keep your programs shortcuts lean and mean, too – delete any that you don’t access all that often.

Step 9: Don’t resist change! You may find that after a while, some categories will no longer work, some folders have accumulated too many files (and need to be subcategorized), or that you need to sort documents in a different way (which might mean a whole new naming convention.) Don’t resist making those changes! Work and life responsibilities are always evolving, and your digital filing system should evolve along with it. Make the changes you need to make so that the system is effective, efficient, and useful for how you’re working right NOW.

Keeping your desktop and electronic files systemized, organized and clutter-free doesn’t just make your computer look neat… knowing that your files have a place to go to, and that you can find what you need lightning fast helps you enjoy working from it. Getting organized feels good!

Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto helps home office geniuses, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals get organized and in control of their workload so they can reach their goals with less struggle and less stress. She offers one-on-one coaching and group training programs – please visit http://www.vistalnorte.com or call 561-641-9500 for more information, to sign up for her monthly newsletter, or to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.

July, 2010 – AW in Pictures

Around Wellington in Pictures

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June 29, 2010

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Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site!

Lois Frankel gives her insights at the Palms West Chamber's Women in Business luncheon on June 24th. See "Press Releases" for a summary of this event.

Scene from the 1st Health & Wellness Festival, which took place on June 19th in Wellington. See Photo Galleries for more photos.

Homeless of the Gulf poster by Kathy Carroll of KL Tile Murals. See our "Press Releases" or www.KLTileMurals.com for more information. All proceeds go to wildlife rescue organizations.

Wellington teen Allison Parssi, pictured here with her mother Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, now has work at the Boca Raton Museum of Art and in galleries in Geneva, Switzerland. See details under "Press Releases."

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