December, 2009 – Five Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season

Living Green

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December 1, 2009

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Living Green

Five Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season

By Christine Smith

The holidays are an excellent time to reduce our impact on the environment, start new family traditions, and at the same time save money.

Here are five tips to help you capture the spirit of the holidays by making your celebrations Eco-friendly. An Eco-friendly holiday season will enrich your family’s holiday traditions because you’ll be giving back to the earth and instilling the values of sustainable living to your families.

1) Holiday Cards

Do you know that 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each season? This is enough cards to fill a football field 10 stories high and requires the destruction of 300,000 trees. Consider sending your holiday cards through email. Not traditional enough for you? Then send cards printed on recycled paper, or consider making them. Be creative: you can use heavy paper that you have saved for recycling and glue children’s artwork or old calendar pictures to it.

2) Gift Wrapping

According to the Recyclers Handbook, the U.S. creates over 4 million tons of annual trash from gift wrap alone. If we all wrapped three of our gifts that we are giving this holiday season in re-used paper or fabric gift bags, it would save enough paper to fill 45,000 hockey rinks. This year, for your gift wrapping, try using Eco-friendly wrapping paper, brown bags from the grocery store with pretty ribbon, re-use gift wrapping, or other alternatives to conventional gift wrapping.

3) Lighting

Electricity drains natural resources. To minimize the effect use LED (light emitting diodes) lights. LED is 90% more efficient than traditional lighting, lowers the risk of fire, and last longer. Also consider reducing the size of your outdoor lighting display. A smaller presentation of lights is still attractive and shows the community that you are doing your part to living a green holiday season!

4) Decorating

Use simple supplies and your imagination to make great Eco-friendly Holiday decorations. Don’t know where to start? Colored construction paper can be cut or folded into simple holiday decorations or ornaments. When you’re done, the paper can be recycled. Also, try baker’s clay (made from common kitchen ingredients), and shape and mold it into holiday figures. Color with non-toxic paints or food coloring. Seasonal fruit can be used as decorations, is biodegradable, or can be eaten afterward. Other items that can be used are pine cones, horse chestnuts, and leaves. These all make great decorations and add a natural touch.

5) Green Gifts

The idea here is to think outside the box. Give an experience rather than a material item, such as a concert, sport’s lesson, dinner, a show, etc. When giving a gift-wrapped item consider giving green-friendly items: a reusable lunch bag, canvas grocery bag, reusable travel coffee mug, reusable razors, rechargeable batteries, or a tin full of goodies. These examples should be enough to get your thought process flowing. The idea is to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, not only through the holiday season, but year around!

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.

December, 2009 – Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans

Health & Fitness

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December 1, 2009

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December, 2009 – Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans

Health & Fitness

The Around Wellington Guide to Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans

By Cheryl Alker

It happens every year about this time, the days get shorter, the air gets nippier (O.K. it drops from 90 to 79), the shops get busier – and our jeans get tighter.

We maintain our workouts and all our healthy eating habits for ten months and then BAM! After October 31^st it’s a free-for-all. It starts with the Halloween candy to the pumpkin pie and cream, the eggnog and all those endless rounds of buffets and the alcohol that often goes hand in hand with such holiday gatherings. No wonder come New Years, we will all be heading desperately back to the gyms and slimming clubs only to start the whole cycle again ready for the next holiday Season.

Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans

Well, how about this year you don’t just enjoy the season. Wouldn’t you like to be able to wear the same size clothes comfortably on January 1^st that you were wearing before that first Halloween party that kicked off the eight weeks of festivities?

All it takes is a little planning, a little willpower and the Around Wellington “Guide to Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans.”

EAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Sounds crazy I know, but an empty stomach is an invitation to binge. If you have taken the edge off your hunger, you will be less likely to indulge in the bread basket, dip or tortilla chips before the entrée has even arrived.

DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES – Champagne, wine, cocktails, spiked eggnog are incredibly high in calories and light on nutrients. So you get all of the bad stuff and none of the good. The more you drink, the more you eat; it’s a vicious circle. So make every other drink a cool glass of calorie-free water or drink spritzers half wine, half soda water.

FILL UP ON HEALTHY FARE FIRST – If you are off to a party and you know there is going to be a buffet, attack the fresh fruits and vegetable platters first. Fruit and vegetables are abundant in fiber, which will make you feel full faster.

ENJOY SMALLER PORTIONS – When you are faced with all the good (meaning bad) things, it is so difficult not to be tempted. So instead of missing out on all those wonderful things you dream of having all year, have them, but only have a very small portion of each. This way you won’t feel deprived, and your waistline will thank you for it.

BEWARE GRAVY, DIPS AND SAUCES – Oh, they look so harmless, but one tablespoon of gravy made from turkey drippings can contain up to seventy calories. That can also be said for those creamy dips, salad dressings and cheesy sauces. One dip and your healthy carrot stick turns into a calorific nightmare. Try and stick to salsas made with fresh herbs and tomatoes to dip your chip.

DON’T SET YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE – With all the extra demands you’ll be facing, keeping to your normal workout schedule will be difficult. It’s easy to get frustrated when your expectations are not in line with reality. When it just isn’t possible to fit in your regular routines it can lead to the tendency to not bother at all. Therefore, make a schedule that you can achieve, this way, you won’t beat yourself up when parties and shopping have to take priority. Make your workouts time-efficient with super sets, circuit training and integrated total body exercises. A maintenance program will keep you in good shape until you have more time on your hands.

Ok, you are now ready to party. So instead of leaving your skinniest jeans in the closet this holiday season, why don’t the two of you go out and enjoy the festivities together?

Happy Holidays!

Cheryl Alker specializes in flexibility training, facial exercises and postural alignment. Her 26-year career began as a group fitness and personal trainer. She has lectured and directed fitness training programs in both Europe and the USA and was an advisor for a British governmental health promotion program. Alker and her company Stretch Results International continues to work with a select clientele from a base in Palm Beach County, certifying health professionals in her results-based stretching program, educating consumers through public speaking and offering consultation to clients who wish to lose their muscular pain and gain flexibility to achieve full and active lifestyles. Her program has been accredited with The National Association of Sports Medicine, The American Council of Exercise, The National Strength and Conditioning Association and The Florida Physical Therapy Association. For more information about professional continuing education and consultation options, please call Cheryl at (561) 889 3738 or visit www.stretchresults.com.

December, 2009 – Beyond the Magic Kingdom . . .

Mommy Moments

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December 1, 2009

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December, 2009 – Beyond the Magic Kingdom . . .

Mommy Moments

Beyond the Magic Kingdom . . . For Young Children

By Krista Martinelli

So what if your children have already been to Magic Kingdom and you’re ready to try some of the other Disney attractions? When I mentioned to some other parents that we were thinking of going to Disney, but not Magic Kingdom this time, they looked concerned. Skeptical. Loyalty to Magic Kingdom runs deep, especially here in Florida. But never fear – Disney does an excellent job of providing fun for young children at their other parks too.

In mid-October, we ventured to Epcot Center with our four-year-old girl and two-year-old boy and a few friends. We visited during the Food & Wine Festival, so we were possibly mixing with a more “grown-up” crowd than usual. A few rides were safe bets and a lot of fun for young children, as well as for squeamish people of any age. We enjoyed the “Living with the Land” boat ride, where you get to see different environments and the latest technology in agriculture. It’s fun to ride through greenhouses and see big pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes and other veggies growing.

I was also impressed with the updated “Spaceship Earth” ride, which

explores the world of communication. If you might remember, this is the ride inside the big ball that is central to Epcot. Well, they’ve updated it to include the latest advancements in computers. You answer a few questions about your “ideal future” and end up getting your photo taken. Disney then emails you a cute postcard from your trip, as well as a Jetsons-style video about your future. Both are fun, electronic keepsakes of your trip to Epcot and it’s all free.

A few other good ones are “Journey into Imagination with Figment” starring John Cleese, “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” and the “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros” in Epcot’s Mexico. All very entertaining for toddlers and older children too. I did notice that almost all of these boat rides begin in a dark tunnel and then lighten up quickly afterward. I think this is the same strategy as a school teacher, who turns off the lights for a few seconds to get everyone’s attention.

Getting passports signed and masks decorated — A Kidcot Funstop at Epcot

Epcot was a terrific experience, and then I had the good fortune of returning to Orlando with my son a couple of weeks later, visiting Animal Kingdom and downtown Disney. Before I go any further, I should tell you that Disney has a pamphlet, “For Kids 5 and Under! Maps & Highlights.” You can get it when you purchase your tickets at the entrance of any of the Disney Parks. Of course, I’m the type of vacationer who doesn’t tend to look at the pamphlets or maps until after the fact. So I’m finding some more gems within the Disney parks now, after my two visits. Oops!

As I entered Animal Kingdom, I felt fairly certain that my two-year-old son would be pleased, especially with “Dinoland U.S.A.” So that’s

where we headed first. It’s set up like a big carnival with games as well as rides. He loved the TriceraTop Spin ride, which is similar to the Dumbo ride at Disney. He also enjoyed “The Boneyard,” a play maze with lots of slides and opportunities for digging for bones in the sand. The backdrop is fossil remains of T. Rex, Triceratops and wooly mammoths. Kids seem to get lost in there, having a lot of fun and forgetting that there are entire other lands to explore inside of Animal Kingdom.

We caught a couple of great shows while in Animal Kingdom too. First we went to “Finding Nemo – the Musical.” This was a powerful theatrical performance, in which actors used hand-puppets. It took just a couple minutes to adapt to it, as you could see the actor handling the puppets. Soon enough you get wrapped up in the quest to “Find Nemo” and the excellent singing talent that Disney has found for this show.

Another fun show is the “Festival of the Lion King.” This show gets the audience involved from the beginning, dividing up the circle in the round into four groups: elephant, giraffe, warthog and lion. There’s a phenomenal part of the show where acrobats dressed as monkeys perform in the center, swinging from high bars and from each other’s grasp. This is a very loud, boisterous celebration of songs from the Lion King and, ironically, my son found this a good place to fall asleep and take his afternoon nap. I noticed that with all of the activity and walking that Disney requires, kids will nap whenever their bodies are ready to – no matter what’s going on around them.

Just for young children, there’s a spot called Camp Minnie-Mickey. It’s basically a place in the woods to get in line and get photos with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. We stumbled upon an outdoor singer, who was quite skillful at asking a few questions of parents and putting together a cute, humorous folk song devoted to your children.

The amazing "Tree of Life" at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is also, of course, a fun place to see wild animals, sometimes by foot and sometimes by safari ride. For example, in Animal Kingdom’s Asia, you can walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek, seeing giant fruit bats, birds, tapirs, Komodo dragons and tigers. In Africa, you can go on the Kilimanjaro Safari, riding through a savannah and seeing giraffes, gazelles, elephants, rhinos and lions.

My son and I had a nice “lazy day” at Downtown Disney the next day. There were three major attractions in his eyes: the Lego Land store, the T-Rex restaurant and the $2 little train ride. If I had been visiting with my daughter, I think we would have veered off into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside the World of Disney store, (which would have been a much more expensive escapade by the way). I overheard parents who were dropping between $100 – $200 easily for the princess make-over, involving the hair, make-up, dress, jewelry and other accessories. Good thing I had my prince with me this time, instead of my princess!

I can’t say enough good things about the Lego store and play area. It’s very simple actually, but my son would have stayed there all day

Captivated by Lego cars at the Lego store, Downtown Disney

if I had allowed him to. There’s an outdoor area with little “sinks” filled with Lego pieces. Kids are encouraged to build race cars out of Legos; there are race tracks to see who has the fastest design. There’s also a little playground slide, which my son enjoyed too.

We went inside the store and filled up a tall cup with random Lego pieces (for $14.99). As a gal who never really played much with Legos, I failed to get all the right pieces to construct a car, even though I thought I was getting the right stuff. We didn’t discover that we were missing the axels and a few other pieces for making cars until we got back home. You should have seen the disappointed looks on my husband’s and my son’s faces. Just when despair was setting in, I noticed that I could go on the Lego website and write about my experience at the Lego store. I took the opportunity to take their survey, secretly hoping they would have excellent customer service and maybe even call me to follow up. My wish came true…they did have excellent customer service! A nice staff person called me the next day to thank me for my positive survey remarks and asked if there was anything that could have been better. He immediately offered to send me a cup of extra parts for making race cars. We received our extra parts within three days and were made whole again!

Here’s an extra tip! A couple of friends were kind enough to lend us Disney resort cups before we left on our trip and stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs. As it turned out, the cups are $13 to purchase initially. But then all of your soft drink (and perhaps all non-alcoholic drink) re-fills are free…for life, as far as I can tell. One of the cups was a few years old. I was very happy and surprised to find this out. It seemed very out-of-character for Disney to not make an extra buck on something when they could have, but I’m not going to question the fabulous person who slipped up and decided that all drinks would be free! Woo hoo!!

In summary, you will definitely have fun if you visit other Disney places besides Magic Kingdom, even if your children are five and under.

Krista Martinelli is the editor of www.aroundwellington.com. She’s the mother of a four year old girl and a two year old boy. She plays with the kids by day and works by night. Sleeping is a rarity!

December, 2009 – Tis the Season . . .

Lighten Up with Lisa

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December 1, 2009

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Lighten Up with Lisa

Tis the season for Magic, Miracles and Marshmallows!

Fa la la la la – la la la la.

By Lisa Dawn Wax

People often ask me where I get my inspirations to write my articles. Honestly, some come a lot easier than others. This month I knew I wanted to talk about celebrating this special time of year, but wasn’t exactly sure which direction to go. Then I decided to jump on board and go in the direction of The Polar Express!

So, as Tom Hanks says as the train conductor, “All aboard. Well, ya coming?”

THE MAGIC

The Polar Express is a wonderful holiday movie with a theme that can be celebrated throughout the year. It is the story of a young boy who is struggling to believe in holiday magic and the spirit of Christmas. For me, one of the most meaningful lines of dialogue is when Santa Claus declares, “The magic of Christmas lies in your heart.” I’d like to zoom in on that concept and further dissect the line to say, “magic lies in your heart.” The trick is to awaken the magic in your heart and then conspire with your mind to create the magic of your life. The best way to experience the magic of Christmas and the holiday season is to see through the eyes of the children. Consider how a child thinks, with their minds uncluttered of worry and responsibilities, they simply enjoy life with awe of every moment. Each moment is a new opportunity to create something wonderful. Each moment is a new opportunity to discover something to enjoy. This is magic that lies in our hearts. During the holidays we are reminded of our childhood hearts and the magic they hold. Be a little childish this time of year. Let yourself go and discover the magic.

THE MIRACLES

The Hanukkah miracle – Jews celebrate Hanukkah, also known as The Festival of Lights, because years ago when there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, the oil miraculously lasted for 8 days and nights, which was just long enough to press new oil so the eternal flame on the menorah could continue to burn uninterrupted. Hanukkah is an 8-day celebration of this miracle.

The Christmas miracle – Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ whose messages of brotherhood, forgiveness and compassion unified millions of people and reawakened faith in the faithless. The Christmas story is full of miracles, including the angel that visited Mary and Joseph, the star that guided the Wise Men to their new king in Bethlehem and ultimately the birth of a Messiah. Christmas is a celebration of these many miracles.

Miracle on 34^th Street – Another story of holiday miracles is told in this movie favorite, which teaches the main characters, a mother and daughter, faith to believe via the magic of Santa Claus. “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to,” says our hero John Payne as Fred to his dear friend, Maureen O’Hara as Doris, who originally tells her daughter, nine-year-old Natalie Wood as Susie, that the man who claims to be Santa Claus is really only “a nice old man with whiskers.” However, towards the end of the film Doris later recalls and shares Fred’s words of faith with Susie, who because she has struggled throughout the movie with her mom’s mixed messages of fantasy/reality and belief/non-belief, mutters mockingly and unconvincingly, “I believe. I believe. Even though it’s silly, I believe.” In the end Susie and Doris happily find their faith to celebrate and believe that Mr. Kris Kringle truly is Santa Claus as they transcend into happy believers of miracles and magic. So, go ahead, be a little silly, have faith and believe.

Believe it or not, with a little faith you can even create your own miracles.

I encourage you to practice repeating these positive affirmations either aloud, to yourself, or in a journal. You just may be surprised at the outcome.

Believing is seeing.

Believe you can and you’re half way there.

THE MARSHMALLOWS

Another favorite this time of year is hot chocolate and no hot chocolate is complete without, of course, the marshmallows. Marshmallows can help bring us back to our childlike selves. Whether they’re floating in your hot chocolate, being roasted over an open fire or smiling happily in the shape of a snowman peep, marshmallows are fun to eat. They can help us to feel a little silly so we can find the faith to believe and enjoy the magic. Whether you share them with your kids, or enjoy them with a moment of solitude, eat some marshmallows and smile.

I’m going to close with a poignant song quote from The Polar Express theme song, “Believe,” sung by Josh Groban. It’s one of my personal favorites, so I’ve included a link to the Youtube performance for all to enjoy.

There’s no time to waste
There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe. If you just believe. If you just believe.

Josh Groban “Believe”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur9dHCZKQQU

So, to all my faithful readers I wish you a truly blessed holiday season. May you discover the magic in your hearts so you may create the miracles and enjoy the marshmallows.

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

Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa, has been certified in Massage Therapy, Fitness Training and Reiki Healing for over 15 years. In addition to being a born Lightworker she is a certified Angel Healing Practitioner; both 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’d like to share comments about this article or if you are in need of affordable healing and/or life coaching via divine inspiration with immediate results, please call her at 561-594-3948 or visit her new website www.lightworkerlisa.com.

December, 2009 – Pets and the Holidays

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December 1, 2009

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PET TALK

Pets and the Holidays

By Frances Goodman

A cute, cuddly puppy or kitten is on many Christmas lists this year. But are the holidays a good time to fulfill such a wish?

Really not, say many animal welfare experts.

With the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s difficult to set aside the time a new pet needs during this important adjustment and bonding stage.

This especially applies to puppies, as well as kitties, birds and pocket pets.

Plus, the selection should not be made under the time pressure of “finding one before Christmas.”

New Puppies

For those who are thinking of a puppy, Lisa Peterson of the American Kennel Club has the following wise advice:

(However, if you’re considering a pet of another species, please apply where it fits.)

“The first few months of a puppy’s life are extremely important—he will require your full, undivided attention and will need training, exercise, socialization, trips to the vet and lots of love and care,” Peterson advises.

If a puppy will be right for the family, she recommends surprising your kids by gift-wrapping pet supplies such as a leash, food bowl, training book or a pet-related toy to symbolize the new family member you will add after the holiday, when routines are back to normal.

Meantime, be sure to teach the children about responsible pet ownership as they prepare for the real thing. And discuss with them what pet tasks they will own.

Although nothing tugs harder at the heartstrings, every adorable pet represents years of responsibility.

Depending on the breed, both cats and dogs may have a life span of up to 20 years.

Pet-Harmony

For a successful relationship, matching the right pet to the family’s lifestyle is key. Be sure to research the pet and breed that best suit your family.

With dogs, especially, their energy level and temperament must be compatible with the family’s activity level and the ability to provide for the dog’s needs.

A walk around the block or playing in the back yard will not fill the exercise requirements for a large high-energy dog. (Think a one-mile run per day minimum for adult breeds such as Labs or golden retrievers!)

But a one-block walk will be fine for some, especially toy breeds.

Meanwhile, don’t rule out the possibility of finding the perfect new family member at a local shelter, or through a breed rescue group. Purebreed rescue groups exist for almost every breed of dog as an outreach of their breed clubs.

To research dog breeds and their rescue groups, visit www.akc.org.

Two More Things

Here are two more bits of good advice to parents planning to acquire a pet for their child:

1.) Even with assigned pet care tasks, parental involvement and oversight should always be factored in. For the sake of the pet, children should not be expected to take total responsibility for the animal’s welfare.

2.) Be sure to equate the expected life span of the pet with the age of the child who will be the recipient.

Why? Because pre-adolescent children can be expected to lose interest in pets as they enter the teen years and social life becomes all-important. Teens also graduate from high school and leave home for college.

Which means a new pet, in reality, will ultimately end up as mom and dad’s pet.

For the pet’s sake, that should be acceptable to mom and dad from the outset.

P. S. On the subject of pets as gifts!

PLEASE let me share this advice that has also proven to be important time and again: Even though we think a friend or relative may be lonely, it’s best not to surprise them (or anyone) with a pet as an unexpected gift.

Pets require time, work and expense, and these responsibilities should never be placed on anyone without their willingness and eager anticipation.

Thanks for caring! See you in January, 2010!

Around the Holidays, Around Wellington Magazine

Holiday Safety Tips for Pets

Here are some important safety tips for keeping pets healthy and happy at this time of year:

· Food gifts under the Christmas tree put pets at risk. Do keep them put away and safely contained. Paws and teeth can easily open a box of candy or other food gift on the night before Christmas, or any other night!

· Christmas tree glitter, especially icicles and tinsel, are highly attractive to cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and pet birds who may eat them, resulting in life-threatening intestinal blockages. They resemble grass and greenery, but pets don’t know they’re indigestible and dangerous.

· Careful! Don’t let pets drink the fluid in the Christmas tree container. The bacteria build-up and/or toxicity can cause illness.

· Macadamia nuts are now on the known list of toxins for dogs, as they can cause temporary paralysis of the back legs.

· Also keep in mind that chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or alcohol consumption can cause serious problems and even death for pets. Be sure to put food away and “pet proof” your garbage.

· Lilies of all kinds, including a seasonal favorite the Amaryllis, are toxic to cats if they nibble them. Be sure to monitor all bouquets, if you have pets who purr.

Safe and happy holidays to all!

Frances Goodman is a professional dog trainer and pet care writer who lives in Royal Palm Beach. Got a question? Email her at [email protected]. Or click on her ad to visit her website, www.mypetnews.com.

December, 2009 – The Summer Day

Poem of the Month

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December 1, 2009

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The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean–
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

~ Mary Oliver ~

(New and Selected Poems, Volume I)

Editor’s Note: You might ask, “What is this poem about a summer day doing in the middle of our December issue online?” However, since this is the Poetry page, you might just ask it again . . . instead of getting an answer. And the answer might come to you, as you read it again! 🙂

December, 2009 – December 21, 2012…The End of the World?

The Space Room

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December 1, 2009

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December, 2009 – December 21, 2012…The End of the World?

The Space Room

Everything Sci-Fi & a Little Astronomy

December 21, 2012

The End of the World, or Just a lot of Myth?

by Anna Sanclement

Most sci-fi fans have probably already seen the blockbuster movie regarding the mysterious date of December 21^st, 2012. The movie has brought a lot of attention to the fated long-known date, but there’s apparently much more to it than just the movie.

The Mayan Calendar

The Ancient Mayans had what is known as the Long Count Calendar and it ends on December 21, 2012. The numbers are written differently but when the equivalent dates are deciphered the last day on the calendar comes out to be 12-21-12.

Some people think this date means the end of the world; others say that it will be a time for spiritual renewal. The Mayans didn’t leave much information on what they though would happen on this day. So others have speculated for years and there are many theories making the rounds, especially doomsday ones. Here is a look at some of them:

Planet X

This scenario suggests that a celestial body that was first discovered by astronomers in the 1980’s will interact with Earth in 2012 and cause potential catastrophic destruction.

The planet body will start heading on a collision course towards Earth, but it is not sure exactly what trajectory the planet will take. It could go anywhere from passing near the Sun, to hitting Earth head on. If it hits head on, then the planet will be destroyed, close trajectories could cause meteor showers capable of inciting large tsunamis.

Solar Activity

Increased solar activity as the year 2012 approaches could also elevate a corresponding rise in solar radiation. The Earth’s core has slowed its spinning since 2002 for unclear reasons; this can affect the magnetic field.

When combined with a heightened solar period this could seriously damage Earth’s magnetic field and disrupt the ecosystems. The heat could also provoke volcanoes and earthquakes.

Crustal Displacement

Due to the Galactic Alignment coming in 2012, where the Sun will be at the center of the Milky Way, cataclysmic forces will start a displacement of the Earth’s crust. The Sun will have an increased gravitational pull on the Earth because of its new position in the galaxy.

Solar activity will also increase due to this phenomenon, and will heat up the semi-liquid layers beneath the surface of the Earth. This will allow the crust to shift easier and massive violent earthquakes will occur.

Magnetic Pole Shift

This theory suggests that a pole reversal is imminent, as this phenomenon has actually happened before, about 730,000 years ago. It is believed that pole reversals happen every 400,000 years, so apparently we are quite overdue for one.

There are some signs that this reversal could have already started as the magnetic field has been declining by 10 percent in the last 150 years. The magnetic pole is moving around at a rapid pace as well.

A reversal in poles could prove quite catastrophic if it was to happen quickly, although by the evidence shown, it seems that they happen very gradually. However, it is possible that a pole shift could leave a diminished magnetic field and expose Earth to cosmic radiation.

These are the most common scenarios making the rounds about the impending 2012 date. Certainly there are many others, some of which are really out there.

Looking at this with common sense and logic, it pretty much comes down to a lot of science fiction. Which for this column it is really great, but for reality . . . Not so much. NASA has clearly denounced most of these theories to be anywhere from improbable to simply impossible.

But for what it’s worth, they make for a great movie with some absolutely awesome effects, which is just enough for any sci-fi geek out there!

If you want to psych yourself out with some more cataclysmic possibilities check out these websites:

http://survive2012.com/ • http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm •

http://www.adishakti.org/mayan_end_times_prophecy_12-21-2012.htm

For the 2012 movie’s website visit here: http://www.whowillsurvive2012.com/

Sky events to watch for this month, December 2009:

The Full Moon will be on the 2^nd, we will see it in Last Quarter on the 8th and then the New Moon will happen on the 16^th.

The constellation Perseus shines towards the high eastern sky at about 10:00 p.m. midmonth. Above it and a little to the right of it you will find the Triangulum constellation, which forms – you guessed it – a triangle! These two make great sights in December.

Then, between Perseus and Cassiopeia (which lies to the upper left of Perseus), you can find the Double Cluster, which we have already mentioned in previous months. This is a pair of star clusters that can be easily viewed with binoculars.

Rising earlier this month is beautiful Orion, the Hunter. Find this awesome constellation by looking to the east-southeast at around 9:00 p.m. EST. You will easily spot it by seeing the three stars that form a straight line, making up the Hunter’s belt. Right under the belt lies the Orion nebula, which can be seen with the naked eye from a dark location and easily defined with binoculars. The bluish haze becomes quite apparent with an average telescope; and with a large one the colors of the nebula will be much more evident. A beautiful sight, indeed.

Jupiter is now starting to sink towards the western horizon in the evening, slowly making its exit from the night-time sky. Mars is rising at about midnight now and is visible during the late night onto morning. Saturn is still a morning planet. If you are an early bird, you can observe its rings start to gradually open up as the planet tilts in its axis. Look for it at around 5:00 a.m. EST.

Mid December brings a bright and fast meteor shower known as the Geminid. The shower will start around December 12^th and go until December 14^th at about 10:00 p.m. EST. Look towards the area in the sky where the stars Castor and Pollux lie, which is overhead on the eastern sky, a little to the upper left from Orion.

Watch for the shortest day of the year coming up on December 21^st, which is known as the winter solstice.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Look on up and smile!

For more sky events log on to: www.astronomy.com and http://space.about.com/od/computerresources/tp/2009MaySkyGuide.htm

You can read other articles and tips by Anna on these websites:

http://baby.lifetips.com/

http://www.helium.com/users/484623

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

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/354312/anna_sanclement.html

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

http://anna-sanclement.net

Anna Sanclement writes from home and has recently started to write articles for various Internet sites. She has also finished a novel and has written many stories and a movie script, just for fun.

December, 2009 – Happy Holidays!

A Letter from the Editor

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December 1, 2009

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December, 2009

Dear Around Wellington Readers,

Happy Holidays!

Although this is our December issue, I’m in “Thanksgiving mode” as I write this on the evening before Thanksgiving. Here are a few things I’m grateful for on this strange and beautiful day, when it’s been pouring outside, finally beginning to (and I don’t want to jinx anything by saying this) get colder!

I’m grateful for family. If you have young children, you’re quickly aware that no one’s going to step in and help you more than members of your own family. No one is going to be more delighted to see your children more than your family. Whether you all get along well or not around the holiday table, just remember that these people love you and you love them.

I’m grateful for friends, old and new. I’m grateful for my friend who encouraged me to join in with our kids and do a log-roll down a grassy hill the other day. “Are you kidding?” I checked first, just to be cautious. She knew I was having a bad day and saw how much fun our children were having as they did it. She did her own log roll first, just to demonstrate. “Sometimes it really fixes everything. Just try it,” she said. And so a difficult day of kids arguing, not napping and preventing me from working was rolled away and flattened in a matter of five seconds, as I remembered how fun it is to do a log roll. Over and over again.

Speaking of enjoying the outdoors, I’m grateful for that child-like type of play that I get to “drink in” sometimes. Today when the rain was coming down at its strongest, looking like a tropical storm, my daughter wanted to go outside and play with her next-door friend. “Are you crazy?” I asked. The next-door Mom and I agreed that we hadn’t seen rain like this in a few months, so why not let these girls have some fun? So they got their raincoats and rain boots on. And they went puddle-jumping. Splashing was great, but they came up with something even better. They took off their boots and filled them with puddle water, pouring the water over each other’s heads and giggling to no end. What a beautiful mess!

We have a fun issue for you this month in celebration of the holidays! I will attempt – already too late it seems – to be brief in giving you a taste of the assortment of articles for our December issue. In “As I Was Saying,” tough guy Alan Williamson gives us some straight talk about what it’s like to climb modest-sized mountains in “Mountain Men.” Check out Karola Crawford’s “Astrology at Work in Your Life” to predict your near future, especially if you happen to be a Capricorn! Don’t forget to check out our cute AW Birthday kids this month … and to send in your birthday photos if you have any January birthdays coming up. For a handle on what’s going on in our local community, visit our Calendar page or, for more detailed information, visit our Press Releases page.

Our really great Contest continues! Enter to win between December 1^st and 10^th, and you could be the lucky recipient of a one-hour massage at Massage Envy Royal Palm Beach, valued at $75! Visit the Contest link for guidelines. Then please come back again to AroundWellington.com for another great contest between Dec. 15^th – 20^th. Enter to win a gift certificate from the beautiful children’s store Hillary’s Heart! THANKS to our wonderful advertisers for supplying the prizes for our contests!

In Cultural Corner, Glenn Swift gives us a quick history of the Temptations and gets us ready for their upcoming appearance on December 30th in Fort Pierce the Sunrise Theatre. Thanks to Health & Fitness writer Cheryl Alker, we can attack the holidays with a strategy, and ideally without gaining weight! Check out her “Around Wellington Guide to Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans.” In her “Tis the Season for Magic, Miracles and Marshmallows,” Lisa Dawn Wax gets us into the holiday spirit with this month’s Lighten Up with Lisa.

Enjoying the "snow" at the Wellington Mall in the Polar Express snow globe

For those planning on traveling this holiday season, especially to the N.Y.C. or D.C. areas, Terri Farris gives us a taste of some wonderful “Holiday Sights and Sounds” in Travel with Terri.

If you have an interest in writing or theater, you will love this month’s interview with playwright Theresa Rebeck, thanks to Marla Schwartz.

I’m grateful for being introduced to this poem (by Mary Oliver) that I’ve only heard one line from…until now. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” OK, so it happens to be called “The Summer Day,” but I am taken with its “seize the day” message that comes through loud and clear, any time of year. Can you tell?

And this is all just the beginning, not even covering the articles included in our December online issue. Please make yourself at home and poke around our menus on the home page for more timely articles.

If you would like to, please send your best wishes to Wendell Abern this month, writer of Cantankerously Yours. His wife Carol, who he had been married to for 53 years, passed away last month. He is taking the only break I’ve ever seen him take in his writing life this month, but never fear – I have seen a glimpse of what he has written for January and he will be back in rare form.

I’m grateful for you, dear Readers and for you, dear Advertisers! Thanks for your interaction with and support of Around Wellington! Our wonderful Writers and Photographers are the keys in making this “music” that we call the best in community news!

Happy Holidays to you and your families! I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a very Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Krista Martinelli

Editor

AroundWellington.com

December, 2009 – Winter in Florida

Future is Bright

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December 1, 2009

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evan-baumel TEEN TALK

by Evan Baumel

Winter in Florida

Do you want to go on a sleigh ride? How about wrapping your blanket around yourself near the fireplace? Or maybe you want to have a snowball fight in your backyard. Oh, wait! You can’t…you live in South Florida. Evan Baumel is a senior at Wellington High School. He’s involved in Debate, National Honor Society, Key Club, politics and writes for the school newspaper.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Forty-eight out of fifty states will experience (or have experienced) prolonged periods of winter-like weather. In those states, shoveling the snow off the driveway will be a common routine. Christmas songs will be played for the 100,000,000^th time. Only two states will be denied the scenic winter wonderland: Hawaii and Florida.

While Hawaii is self explanatory (hint: it’s a tropical island), Florida is the only mainland state without a real winter season. This bestows the Sunshine State both advantages and disadvantages. Here in So Flo we seem to have only two types of climate: hot (summer) and not-so-hot (winter). While people in other states are starting to wear two, three, or even four layers of clothing, we’re wearing a sweater and jeans. I thought of an analogy to describe this absurdity, “winter in Florida is like summer in Antarctica.”

Snow itself is somewhat of a marvel for me. I have only seen it once in my life, and that occurred ten years ago. I remember arriving in Lee, Massachusetts and marveling at the mountainous snow-covered landscape. When I stepped outside, I was covered in thick clothing, so I do not recall feeling the freeze. During that trip, I threw my first snowball and learned to ski down a small hill. But, after a week, I was very happy to come home to warm, sunny Florida.

The climate down here makes it a premiere tourist destination. “Snowbirds” rent apartments and condos during the winter season to avoid the frigid weather in states like New York, Massachusetts and Maine. In addition, the Village of Wellington benefits from its warm location and hosts the Winter Equestrian Festival, boosting our local economy and putting Wellington “on the map.”

Let’s look at the bright side. For teens, wintry weather is a chance to wear the long sleeve shirts stored in the back of the closet. We’re also blessed with the fact that we don’t have to shovel the snow in front of the house. Also, winter time is an opportunity to see relatives who come down to thaw out. Personally, I enjoy the opportunity to relax during the December school break.

If any of you are planning to go to college out of state, consider the weather. Give some thought as to whether or not you’ll be able to adjust. Both of my siblings adapted pretty quickly to colleges up north and found they actually enjoyed the change of seasons, at least most of the time.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season. Try to take advantage of the upcoming equestrian events and all that Wellington has to offer. I’ll see you in the year 2010.

December, 2009 – Astrology at Work

Astrology at Work

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December 1, 2009

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ASTROLOGY AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE

December

By Karola Crawford

Are you Capricorns trying to sneak off without being seen? Come into the spotlight and celebrate your Birthday by receiving lots of well deserved recognition for organizing such a successful task. You are the 10^th sign of the Zodiac, and your ruler is serious Saturn. Being an earth sign suits you well, as you like to give the hands-on approach to most of your ambitious and action initiating endeavors. Your ruler and your sign is in charge of the bones of the body, as well as the skin. You are extremely responsible, practical, efficient and patient, unless your Rising Sign dictates otherwise. Taken to extremes, you can worry, be suspicious, retaliate, be stubborn, critical and intolerant. Your best place in life is in a career or situation where you are organizing with integrity and perseverance, as you love to attain a goal. Capricorn is usually quiet on the exterior and therefore it can appear as though you are a loner. This is similar to the mountain goat that stands quietly upon its lofty perch, keeping a keen eye upon the world below. The goat appears to be totally unaware of the winds that are ever howling around him; however, he is not really unaware as much as he is impervious to them. Like the goat, Capricorn has built a wall of reserve around her innermost being; however, the strong buffeting winds are able to penetrate and then worries and pessimism can flood a Capricorn’s being.

For all your quiet exterior, you do enjoy the limelight and many times are thus attracted to politics and acting careers. The strong desire that you have to succeed at whatever you do enables you to be hard working and patient in the pursuit of your goals. If necessary, you will endure considerable hardship in obtaining these goals, and thus, your spare time is spent on practical projects. You never make decisions rapidly, as you like to weigh all the pros and cons of a situation, and consequently, you rarely make a mistake. You are dependable to a fault, especially in a crisis situation, and you always give sound advice when asked

As a rule, you are not aggressive, however, you will express hostility as a defense when attached. Due to your deep sensitivity you can be deeply hurt from these attacks and will remember them for a long time. Your wounds take time to heal and because of this, sometimes you seek to pay back hurts. Though you have a strong need for people, you have a tendency to isolate yourself from people due to your reserve and fear of being hurt; consequently, you have only a few intimate and loyal friends.

Due to Pluto’s rotation through your sign, you are undergoing extreme and deep change that will continue for many years. There are many issues that started in the far past, even far enough back when you were still a child developing into a mature human being, that continue to come to the forefront and demand to be dealt with. Issues in your current life stem from the past and will continue to show up until they are totally transformed into something brand new. Celebrate this birthday in a brand new way and throw old routine to the wind. A new person is being reborn and the old will not serve you any more.

Aquarius – A new sense of optimism is flooding your being and allowing you to express yourself in such a positive way. Show the world what you are truly made of and flash your unique personality so others can drop their rigid routines.

Pisces – You are being called to take a much higher road, even though your plans may not have included this sudden change. Allow yourself plenty of quiet time to reflect, but also act with force.

Aries – Your outgoing nature is being sedated by Saturn, who is bestowing responsibility and hardship upon you. Look at it like a tree growing new roots – you are setting up a new foundation in order to be yourself again.

Taurus – You have the opportunity to be more adventurous these days and travel may be a good plan for you at this time. This is not what your natural self would usually do, but if you are ever to get your feet moving, this is a good time to do it.

Gemini – A bit more toward serious thought and planning is on the agenda for you fun loving Geminis. Use this time to get a new start on business or home routines as you now have the ability to stick to the task.

Cancer – Some of you are already feeling the change that is coming your way as you are attempting to balance home with career and responsibility. It is now time to move some of your energy out of the home into a well laid out plan.

Leo – You have plenty of energy to do everything that is on your to do list and more. Take advantage of this time by getting ready for winter and preparing both the inside and outside of your home, after which you can get some well deserved rest.

Virgo – Good ideas are coming to you, however, you need to decide which of those are truly beneficial and which are just too bizarre. Develop good habits by keeping a log or writing down information so that you can make productive sense of it all.

Libra – Life has become more serious for you social party animals, and it may be time to spend some quiet time alone meditating. You may see this as a let down in life, however, most good ideas come from some responsible quiet time.

Scorpio – Your ruler is more reserved these days and cracking out the details of revamping government and structure is right up your alley. Use this powerful energy to make positive change in a very needy world.

Sagittarius – Beauty and love are yours this month, so surround yourself with beautiful flowers and create, create, create. You see the world through a refined vision and artwork will definitely benefit.

Karola Crawford, MAFA, has been a certified Astrologer for 22 years. She has cast charts for clients all over the world and also practices Holistic medicine, Yoga, Shiatsu, Reiki, Auricular Acupucture and is an accomplished artist. Where does she get all of her energy? A grand trine in fire, of course. Karola can be reached at 561-615-1591 or by visiting the web site at www.karolacrawford.com.

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December, 2009 – Five Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season

December, 2009 – Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans

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December, 2009 – Happy Holidays!

December, 2009 – Winter in Florida

by Evan Baumel

Winter in Florida

December, 2009 – Astrology at Work

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Total Shredding, LLC

Alan Fabricant of alfab financial

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Palm Beach Dermatology (561) 440-7546

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