Have you ever walked into the kitchen to find the trash spread all over the floor?
And there in the middle of the mess is your wonderful dog — or sweet cat — looking quite pleased about it.
Raiding the trash is more than a minor frustration for us. It can be extremely dangerous to pets.
Toxic hazards in the trash may include medications, harmful foods like onions and coffee grounds, poisonous plant cuttings, and chemicals such as household cleaners, insecticides, or batteries.
Puppies and kittens have no discretion about what they put in their mouth, and are especially at risk.
Hazards
Here is a breakdown from the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on what can happen if pets get into the trash:
1. Physical obstruction hazards — Items such as meat and poultry bones, plastic, metal, or paper can cause choking or trauma to the gastrointestinal tract. They can lead to a life-threatening blockage that could require emergency surgery.
2. Bacteria — Spoiled food can harbor millions of bacteria, which in some cases could lead to food poisoning or a condition known as bacterial enteritis. This is where the animal’s intestinal tract becomes irritated and inflamed, resulting in painful bloating of the abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Toxic Molds — Certain decaying foods such as cheese, nuts, grains and pasta are ripe environments for a variety of molds. Some of these can produce toxins that affect the nervous system, causing muscle tremors and seizures that can quickly become life-threatening.
4. Poisonous household items — The list of potential poisons to animals could go on forever, according to the ASPCA.
Even non-toxic items, like used paper towels or tissue (which many dogs find irresistible), can cause upset stomach.
Prevention
Prevention is the key.
Where trash is concerned, this can be as easy as using sturdy cans, with lids, that are not easily tipped.
Attractive stainless steel cans with heavy wooden tops are available at upscale prices. Plastic cans with step-pedals are available at a more economical cost.
If possible, keep containers in out-of-reach areas, such as a secure cabinet under the sink or inside the closed pantry, in all rooms as well as the kitchen.
To further protect pets, the ASPCA recommends:
● Always take high-risk items directly to a secure garbage can outside;
● Properly dispose of batteries and other potentially poisonous materials.
Thanks for caring. See you next time.
♥
Training tip for the month: Catching your dog in the act of doing something good, and giving praise, is just as important as catching him/her in the act of doing something wrong, and giving a correction.
Got a question? Frances Goodman is a professional dog obedience trainer and pet care writer who resides in Royal Palm Beach. Email her at [email protected].
VillageWalk could be referred to as Little Venice due to the 22 pedestrian walk bridges that arch over the finger lakes of this gated community, consisting of 954 homes. Tucked away is the gated entrance on Lyons Road, which can be accessed from Forest Hill Boulevard or Stribling Way from State Road 7. Visitors indicate that it is similar to a resort as it has so many amenities. And guess what? The Home Owners Association is responsible for lawn maintenance on every property as well as the common areas. They maintain it beautifully and since all lawns are mowed on schedule, the community always looks manicured. There is an on-site management staff.
VillageWalk Clocktower
Sidewalks surround the interior perimeter of the lake as well as the perimeter road covering the entire area around the community. Walking is a rewarding experience…there are many different varieties of birds and fowl that enjoy our surrounding lakes. You can almost always find several on your walk throughout this paradise. A natural preserve is on the southwest side of the community; home to nature of several kinds. Most of the homes in VillageWalk are on water.
The Town Center is at the center of the Village. There is a beautiful free-form swimming pool, a lap pool, both heated, tennis pavilion and lighted tennis courts, lakeside gazebo, gas pumps, café and marketplace, mail room, hair salon, nail salon, Wachovia Bank with ATM machine, real estate office, card room, activities area, library and catering kitchen. The banquet rooms are available for special events for a fee.
If you enjoy resort-style living and a Mediterranean-style village with all its amenities, visit us soon! Century21 Horizon Properties has an on-site real estate office located at the Town Center. We would be delighted to show you available homes for sale in our community. You can select a 2 bedroom villa all the way up to a two-story five-bedroom home. Call one of our Century21 agents at 561-966-9212 to make an appointment.
A VillageWalk View
VillageWalk is a great place to call home! Wake up to the birds singing, view the beauty of the lakes, see an anhinga and catch the glimpse of a turtle during a morning walk, say hi to a friendly jogger on his morning run…if you exercise, the fitness center allows full view of the lake while you do your workout. The wonderful people, the beautiful homes with the amenities and the awesome beauty of VillageWalk make it a desirable place to live.
VillageWalk bridge
Carolyn Bolash is a Century 21 sales associate and has enjoyed VillageWalk living for six years. She says it is a pleasure to sell homes you are so familiar with and delights in sharing this community’s story with others.
Recently I had the opportunity to experience travel between New York and Chicago without arriving at an airport two hours before my scheduled departure, without long security lines and without being confined to a seat wearing my seatbelt for hours.How did I manage this?I took the train!For this month’s article, I want to share that experience with you!
As a surprise to my significant other for his birthday, I booked a trip for us via Amtrak from Penn Station in New York to Union Station in Chicago.A lifelong train enthusiast, he had yet to travel overnight aboard a train!Options for travel include coach seating, first class seating or sleeper cars.I chose a sleeper car for our journey and booked a “roomette” .While this provided the basics…seats that convert to a lower berth or bunk bed and an upper berth that converts to a top bunk, the larger bedrooms or bedroom suites provide more space and a full bath.Meals in the dining car are complimentary for first class passengers and all passengers with sleeping accommodations.Meals can also be purchased by coach passengers for a reasonable price.
Amtrak in Florida
We began our trip at Penn Station in Manhattan.Passengers are asked to arrive thirty minutes prior to their scheduled departure time.Yes, I said thirty minutes…not two hours!As passengers traveling with sleeper accommodations, we were entitled to club privileges at the Acela Club at Penn Station where we were able to relax comfortably in the private lounge and wait for the attendant to call us for boarding.
When boarding time came, it was efficient and stress free!We were directed to our car and introduced to our porter, Maria, who would serve as our attendant for our journey.Maria helped us settle into our room and noted our preferences for dining times for the evening meal, turndown service for our room and breakfast the following morning.She also answered any questions we had about the route and stops along the way.Serving only one sleeper car each, the attendants are able to provide personal attention and service to the passengers.
We departed Penn Station and began our journey through upper Manhattan and into Westchester County.Our route followed the Hudson River and we enjoyed beautiful views as we traveled north toward Albany.Along the way we passed several of the lighthouses on the Hudson River and traveled through the stations of the Hudson River towns.
When dinner time arrived, we moved to the dining car and chose from delicious entrees such as herb roasted chicken with vegetables, salmon and beef roast with garlic mashed potatoes.There were also dessert selections available.The service was personable and attentive and we were even treated to an extra glass of wine by our server.
After reaching Albany, our travels headed west toward Buffalo, New York.We enjoyed watching the scenery from our room before nightfall.When it was too dark to enjoy the view any longer, we visited the lounge or club car where beverages and snacks were available.Families traveling with children were playing games, one couple watched a movie on their computer and others enjoyed talking and having a glass of wine. When we returned to our room, Maria had prepared our bunk beds and we settled in to allow the train to rock us to sleep!
We awoke the next morning to a sunrise over a bridge and realized we were in Toledo, Ohio.It was a beautiful morning and after a brief stop in Toledo to board additional passengers, we moved to the dining car again for our breakfast.We watched the farmland rolling by, saw Amish families working their farms and enjoyed passing through the small communities along the way in Ohio and Indiana.I enjoyed seeing the view from the “other side” of the crossing gates!
Chicago train
As we neared the Chicago area we caught our first glimpse of the sparking blue waters of Lake Michigan!Although I had traveled to Chicago many times by plane, arriving by train provided a unique perspective on the city as we passed through the various neighborhoods along the way to Chicago’s historic Union Station.
Train travel offers many advantages.Trains are faster than most short distance flights when you consider the time you spend getting to and from the airport and waiting in security clearance lines.Train stations are generally centrally located in cities and towns providing visitors with a central location to begin their exploration of a new city.Being able to walk around, move to the dining car, stretch your legs and actually stretch out in a bed to sleep are incredible benefits!Also, did you know that train travel releases 10 times fewer greenhouse gases per average passenger journey than flying?Yes, train travel is green!
Amtrak routinely offers discounts and “hot deals” such as their summer special this year “Kids ride for only $19 on the Auto Train”.The auto train provides non-stop service between Sanford, Florida and Lorton, Virginia (near Washington DC).Families can enjoy a train ride and still have their cars available for use when they reach their vacation destination.
The route I chose for our trip from New York to Chicago is just one of many scenic routes available throughout the USA.For more information on Amtrak routes and specials, visit their website at www.amtrak.com.
After this experience, I too am a train enthusiast and am looking forward to experiencing more routes across the United States where I can take in the views and enjoy the ride!Sure, an airplane can get you to your destination, but when traveling by train it’s not just the destination that matters…it’s the journey!All aboard!!
Terri Farris is a freelance writer who enjoys traveling. You can see more of her writing on her blog at www.terrifarris.blog-spot.com or contact her at [email protected].
Interestingly enough, the Moon rules Cancer and the Sun rules Leo, both signs which are next to each other in the order of Birthdays.First of all Happy Birthday to Cancer!Your caring sign is celebrated in all cultures as the mothering instinct in all of us.Some may accuse you of being too emotional, but what a drab life it would be if emotions were placed on the back burner and intellect alone ruled.The Cancer spontaneity is what life is all about with the caring and love that is symbolized by a mother.This is the part of us that reaches out to help others and makes a home out of a building, laughs and cries with empathy and celebrates a birthday with renewed love and life.This part of us is able to dry the tears of a child and offer understanding and a sense of belonging to a co-worker.
The moon rules the feelings that drive us to live our life, the desire to protect others as well as ourselves.This month is full of change for you cancers, so go with the flow.
Accept help from your family and friends and don’t try to do everything on your own.You will probably discover something positive that you would have missed otherwise.
There are those that claim that a lack of sun in their life causes them to become depressed and sullen.Indeed, the sign of Leo is ruled by the sun, and this is the month to wish a Happy Birthday to all the sunny personalities that are born under this positive and upbeat sign.Leos are the most quiet of the fire signs, however, don’t underestimate their strength and character just because they are not as verbal as the other two.Leos have a quiet strength that some call willful and tenacious, and their presence is noticed just because that is exactly what they want.They desire to be first and just like the lion, will rule and dominate the herd.They are extremely friendly and just, and when they travel, well, they want luxury.A Leo friend is steadfast and reliable, but don’t make them second best.
The sun is the inner aspect of the personality, the burning desire to present to the world our basic nature and goodness of mankind.This is a desire to protect others and be recognized as a living force that is powerful and capable of making a difference.
This month it seems as though some big plans in your life have been placed on hold.This trend continues until October, at which time sudden forces will move your life forward again.Allow yourself the pleasure of not having to make major decisions right now and enjoy the small things.Happy Birthday!
Virgo – With Saturn in your sign, responsibility is still way up on the list of things that is weighing down on you.At the same time, it is important to be responsible since there is a boomerang effect that can happen otherwise.While driving, stick to the speed limit.
Libra – Things are looking up and opportunities prevail.You have the chance to expand something unusual, so take advantage of this positive placement.
Scorpio – Get a second opinion before moving forth even though you feel that you already have your own answer.Be open minded before jumping to conclusions.
Sagittarius – Sudden opportunities keep coming up so keep your eyes wide open and act.Don’t take these sudden windfalls for granted.
Capricorn – A feeling of being born “anew” can feel like a dream come true or a dread for the changes that are occurring.Regardless of how you wish to see it, it is happening.
Aquarius – A spiritual awakening is allowing you to look at life in a new way.Check with a friend to see their viewpoint of the changes occurring around you.
Pisces – It is time to re-evaluate major decisions and put them on hold for now.They will come up in the near future for you to act upon them.
Aries – Being born a leader has its pitfalls if you act too quickly.Others look to you for guidance so don’t lead them astray.
Taurus – A short vacation will definitely spruce things up and you are encouraged to take the offer presented to you.
Gemini – It is time to look at the details now that you have seen the big picture.Your decisions are good at this time, so scrutinize, then act.
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.
Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site!
Mama Pelican with Babies on Rookery in New Smyrna, Photo by Lois Spatz.
Daytona Beach Sunrise. Photo by Lois Spatz.
Layonel Lopez, Paul A. Nunnally, Derrick D. Berry, Israel Pabon, Bishop Oshea Granger, taking part in the Blue Dove Awards ceremony, presented by Hospice of Palm Beach County.
Skyler, safer today thanks to Project Lifesaver! See our AW Stories of the Month, as well as the Calendar page for a special Project Lifesaver event. Photo by Kristine Silva.
The night before graduation didn’t quite go as planned. I was supposed to dye my hair in the morning, a dark chocolate color, so that it would look nice for rehearsal that evening. I was then supposed to attend rehearsal downtown and afterwards meet my aunt’s for dinner, where I would give them their tickets and relax before the big day. The day I’ve been waiting for 12 years.
Well, I got to rehearsal a tad late due to my internal compass malfunctions, smelling of hair chemicals that weren’t fully washed out. The whole rehearsal was basically to inform students of what they couldn’t do…which is a lot. No talking, no sudden movements, no blow horns, no touching, no throwing of the caps like in the movies, no stepping out of line or waving for any reason, and god forbid someone falls. They warn that if one were to in fact stumble and fall at any point, the board would review the tapes to be positive it was a mistake. If the crash appears to be for humorous purposes, it will result in the revoking of the diploma.
They make the wise decision of waiting to distribute the actual tickets until the end of the get together, so that no one can bail half way through the scare tactics. They finally gave us seven tickets each and told us to be on time. Unfortunately my mind wasn’t all there, causing me to leave behind all seven of my tickets in the bathroom of the convention center.
Fast forward through a great meal in City Place to my aunt’s place and then walking to my car to give them their tickets. That’s when I conveniently had the epiphany about the tickets and seeing that it was already ten o’clock, my only option was to call as many of my friends as possible to score extra tickets.
The rest of that night consisted of driving from house to house in a thunderstorm, trying to make up for my little brain hiccup. Not the best night. But I made it home by one a.m. with enough tickets.
And of course it rained on the day of graduation. I wasn’t about to let everything be ruined, so I stubbornly sat in my car until the coast was clear. I looked like a blue potato in my gown, finding it hard to keep the unflattering cap on top of my perfectly straightened hair. And the heels didn’t help with my fear of falling off the stage in front of hundreds, and then it being mistaken as a joke . . . ultimately leading to my failing of high school.
But I was finally graduating.
The boy in front of me had been a good friend of mine since elementary school, and the boy behind me I had never even seen before. I broke a few rules; I talked and waved to friends, it was impossible not to. This would probably be the last time we’d all be together.
I wasn’t too nervous or excited until I actually got to the stage and realized it was kind of a big deal. Really though, my only worry was that no one would clap when my name was called. Fortunately my dad had bribed everyone within a ten-foot radius of him to cheer for a Heidi Thorpe.
Within what felt like seconds, the ceremony was over and then the whole day was over. I graduated.
Heidi Thorpe will be attending UCF, beginning in the fall of this year. THANKS to Heidi for being our Teen Talk columnist this past year and welcome to our next Teen Talk columnist, Evan Baumel!
What would you say if I told you that by walking just 30 minutes a day, four times a week, you could enjoy increased energy, a trimmer body, a greater sense of calm and well-being, and a deeper, more restful night’s sleep.
Not good enough?
What if I told you that a brisk 30-minute walk, just four times a week, could also lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, raise your IQ, allow you to speak a second language fluently within one week, and land a seven-figure recording contract with a major label even if you’ve had no previous singing experience.
Still not convinced?
What if I told you that if you start walking now – this week – and continue walking just 30 minutes a day, four times a week, that in three months you will have reduced your risk of heart disease by 34 percent, added 2.4 years to your life, mastered the fine art of search engine optimization, and developed the inexplicable ability to communicate with domestic animals in a way that fosters caring, empowering, mutually-rewarding relationships.
While I can’t guarantee that all of these benefits will come your way (individual results may vary), I’m here to add my voice to the long chorus line of medical and fitness advisors who say, and I quote, “If you want to look better, feel better and live better, put down that pizza-encrusted, digitally-enabled, virtual reality video gamepad and go for a walk!”
But where, when, with who and at what pace, you ask.
These are mostly matters of personal preference. For me, for instance, the answers would be “in Birch State Park,” “at 7 a.m.,” “with my Indian sidekick Buddy Blackfoot,” and “enough to make me breathe harder.” For someone else, the answers could be completely different, perhaps more along the lines of “Heatherwood Drive,” “after dinner,” “with my dog Rooney,” and “like a small town mayor marching in the Memorial Day parade.”
Whatever specific details suit your tastes and circumstances, the good news is, once you start, walking is an activity that comes pretty naturally and requires very little instruction. This is why Walking Magazine, which ceased publication in 2001, couldn’t go the distance in spite of informative and motivational articles such as:
“Tying your Laces: The Trick to Injury-Free Walking”
“Trees, Shrubs and Flowers: What to Look at While You Walk”
“Pick a Spot to Turn Around: The Secret to Planning a Long Walk”
“Strut, Stroll, Saunter or Mince: Develop Your Walking Style
and Never Look Back”
Even though the instinctive nature of walking makes “coaching” the activity virtually unnecessary, I have identified three rules of walking for health and fitness that I strongly recommend. They are:
1.Never walk on the side of a busy road heading in the same direction as traffic. As a matter of self-preservation, you’re safer walking against the flow of traffic so you can see and react to drivers who may in fact be engaged in other activities inside their cars. These activities may include putting on a fresh change of clothes, watching a recent episode of Celebrity Apprentice on their cell phone, or making arrangements to take a donkey tour of the Grand Canyon (right after they head-butt you into a roadside ditch with the front bumper of their SUV).
2.If your walk takes you into wooded areas or any other uneven terrain, take extra care to notice things in your path that might cause you to trip and fall. These obstructions may include such stumbling blocks as rocks, ruts, tree roots, discarded trash, or, on rare occasions, the slumbering, foul-smelling carcass of rocker/outdoorsman Ted Nugent.
3.Never, I repeat, never get talked into walking the Ross PrairieState Forest in Dunnello, Florida with my wife’s cousin Nancy’s husband Georg. Now don’t get me wrong. Georg is a great, down-to-earth guy, with no obnoxious habits. The problem is, Georg isn’t human. He’s a relentless walking machine built by the Germans to cover vast distances on foot in all kinds of terrain without a break. After walking for five miles through a heavily-wooded state forest, Georg will look back over his shoulder at you and say, “Let’s go once more around.” Since your answer will most likely be a winded, unintelligible whimper that sounds like “yeesh,” Georg will take that as a “yes” and off you’ll go back into the wild green yonder.
But these are trivial concerns. Walking is, on most days, a refreshingly safe, uncomplicated endeavor. So follow my simple rules, don’t overthink it, and enjoy the smooth and gentle route to robust health and fitness.
Oh, before you lace up, I do have just one little disclaimer. While moderately swinging your arms while you walk can provide additional upper body toning benefits, the exaggerated, cartoonish style of arm swinging employed by some overzealous racewalkers is discouraged. For one thing, the extra toning and calorie-burning benefits of such a technique are minor and, more importantly, the odds of you earning a reputation as a “walking whack-job” increase astronomically.
Okay, now you know everything I know, so let’s give this a try.
Ready, set, walk! One foot in front of the other, that’s it, that’s it, watch the arms, watch the arms, no crazy stuff, there you go, breathe deeply, that’s it, watch the crack in the sidewalk, nice move, you’re doing great. We’re just taking a walk here, nothing fancy, easy come, easy go. Whadaya say champ, once more around?
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 [email protected].
Jermaine Jackson Performs “Smile” at Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service
Tribute to Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror” Video
Gotta make a change
For once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turned up the collar on
A favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs
A summer’s disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other
On the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change, yey
Na na na, na na na, na na na na oh ho
I’ve been a victim of
A selfish kinda love
It’s time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really pretending that they’re not alone
A willow deeply scarred
Somebody’s broken heart
And a washed out dream
(Washed out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya’ see
‘Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah)
I’m asking him to change his ways, yeah
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
‘Cause when you close your heart
(You can’t close your, your mind)
Then you close your mind
(That man, that man, that man)
(That man, that man, that man)
(With the man in the mirror, oh yeah)
(That man you know, that man you know)
(That man you know, that man you know)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make that change
(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Ooh
Oh yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Oh no
Oh no, I’m gonna make a change
It’s gonna feel real good
Sure mon
(Change)
Just lift yourself
You know, you got to stop it yourself
(Yeah)
Oh
Make that change
(I gotta make that change today, oh)
(Man in the mirror)
You got to, you got to not let yourself, brother oh
Yeah
You know that
(Make that change)
(I gotta make that make me then make)
You got, you got to move
Sure mon, sure mon
You got to
(Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Make that change
Stand up and lift yourself, now
(Man in the mirror)
Make that change
(Gonna make that change, sure mon)
(Man in the mirror)
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know
(Change)
Make that change
Compilation/Research by Jathy Garcia of Hi-Tech Plumbing
Green Bathrooms: By the Numbers
26 percent: Household water use that comes from flushing the toilet.
21 percent: Household water use that comes from the shower.
1.5 percent: Household water use that comes from using the bath.
80 gallons:Amount of water the average American uses a day.
2.5 gallons: Amount of water used per day by the rest of the world.
260 gallons: Amount of water used by the average household in the developed world.
67 percent: Water heating costs for households for showers alone.
22 gallons: Amount of water flushed down the toilet daily in the U.S.
$5: Cost of a low flow shower head that will cut your consumption by 45 gallons per day.
15,000: Amount of water you can save per year by taking a navy shower.
60 gallons: Average amount of water used in taking a shower.
3 gallons: Amount of water used when taking a Navy shower.
Top Green Bathroom Tips
Don’t Let So Much Water Down the Drain
There are a trifecta of water-saving opportunities in the bathroom. By installing a low-flow showerhead, a low-flow faucet aerator, and a dual-flush toilet, you’ll save thousands of gallons of water each year. The first two are easy DIY jobs—learn how to install a low-flow faucet here—and a toilet can be done with a little homework. To really go for the gusto, and go for a water-free toilet, check in to composting toilets (get the details in the Getting Techie section).
Flush the Toilet with Care
When it comes to using the toilets themselves, be sure you’re reaching for toilet paper created from recycled sources—remember, rolling over is better than rolling under—and avoid using products made from virgin boreal forest trees. The Natural Resources Defense Council has a solid list of recycled paper sources, so you aren’t literally flushing virgin trees down the toilet. And when it comes time to flush, close the lid before hitting the button to prevent the spread of bacteria around your bathroom. Ready for the next step? Install a dual-flush toilet or dual-flush retrofit on your current toilet.
Ditch Those Disposables
Toilet paper is about the only “disposable” product allowed in your green bathroom, so when it comes time to clean up, avoid the temptation to reach for disposable products. That means paper towels and other disposable wipes should be replaced by reusable rags or microfiber towels for mirrors, sinks, and the like; when it comes time to scrub the toilet, don’t even think about those silly disposable one-and-done toilet brushes. In the same vein, more and more cleaners are being sold in refillable containers, so you don’t have to buy so much packaging and can reuse the perfectly-good spray bottle, instead of buying a new one each time you run dry on glass cleaner.
Think About What Goes in Your Sink
Once you have your low-flow faucet aerator installed, your behavior can also help keep water flow down. Be sure to turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth—some dentists even recommend a dry toothbrush—and you’ll save six gallons of water each day (assuming you’re diligent about brushing twice a day). Boys: if you shave with a wet razor, put a stopper in the sink and don’t leave the water running. Half a sink-full of water will do the job.
Clear the Air with Green Cleaners
Bathrooms are notoriously small and often poorly ventilated, so, of all the rooms in the house, this is the one that should be cleaned with green, non-toxic cleaners. Common household ingredients, like baking soda and vinegar, and a little elbow grease will do the job for most everything in the bathroom (more on that in a sec). If DIY isn’t your style, there are a bevy of green cleaners available on the market today; check out our guide for How to Go Green: Cleaners for all the details.
Take Green Cleaning into Your Own Hands
Doing it yourself is a great way to insure that you’re going as green as possible, since you know exactly what went in to the products you’re using. A few reliable favorites: Spray surfaces that need cleaning—sinks, tubs, and toilets, for example—with diluted vinegar or lemon juice, let it sit for 30 minutes or so, give it a scrub, and your mineral stains will all but disappear. Getting lime scale or mold on your showerhead? Soak it in white vinegar (hotter is better) for an hour before rinsing it clean. And to create a great tub scrub, mix baking soda, castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) and a few drops of your favorite essential oil—careful, a little bit goes a long way here. Follow this recipe for a non-toxic bathtub cleaner and you’ll never have to buy caustic bathtub cleaners again.
Keep Your Skin Free and Clear with Green Personal Care Products
Anything that’s a struggle to say three times fast doesn’t belong in your bathroom, and that certainly goes for personal care products like soaps, lotions, and cosmetics. For example “anti-bacterial” soaps often include endocrine disruptors, which, in addition to breeding “supergerms” resistant to these cleaners, may be doing your body serious harm and are wreaking havoc on fish and other organisms after they escape into the water stream after you flush. That’s just one example; remember the rule goes like this: If you can’t say it, don’t use it to “clean” yourself.
Go Green with Towels and Linens
When it comes time to dry off, towels made from materials like organic cotton and bamboo are the way to go. Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-intensive, pesticide-laden crops on the planet—to the tune of 2 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers and 84 million pounds of pesticides each year—causing a whole laundry list of environmental health problems for those who apply the pesticides and harvest the crop—not to mention the damage done to soil, irrigation, and groundwater systems. Bamboo, in addition to being a fast-growing sustainable alternative to cotton, is also reputed to have antibacterial qualities when spun into linens.
Shower Yourself with a Safe Curtain
If your shower has a curtain, be sure to avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic—it’s pretty nasty stuff. The production of PVC often results in creating dioxins, a group of highly toxic compounds, and, once in your home, PVC releases chemical gases and odors. Once you’re done with it, it can’t be recycled and is known to leach chemicals that can eventually make their way back into our water system. So, be on the lookout for PVC-free plastic—even places like IKEA carry them now—or go for a more permanent solution, like hemp, which is naturally resistant to mold, as long as you keep your bathroom well-ventilated. Read these tips for protecting your natural curtain, including using treatment sprays to slow down mildew, over at TreeHugger.
Maintain Your New Green Ways
Once you go green, you’ll want to keep it that way, so remember to do regular light maintenance—unclogging drains, fixing leaky faucets, etc.—with green in mind. Check out our advice for green, non-caustic drain cleaners and leaky faucets, and be mindful of mold; click over to the Getting Techie section for more on combating the dangers of mold.
Kill That Clog the Green Way
Unclogging the Green Way
Pouring tons of liquid chemicals down the drain or toilet to knock out a clog is just not cool. The toxic fumes pollute your home, seep into the water stream, chip away at the integrity of your pipes, and to top of it all, are super expensive (not to mention the potential call to the plumber should the voluminous glug glug glug of chemical drain openers simply not work).
An ugly clog, with its backup of swampy goop, can also be embarrassing. Plan ahead with one or more of these green solutions and keep the pain out of your drain:
Kleer Drain Instant Drain Opener is a green-centric upgrade to the eco-friendly plunger. With its food-grade carbon dioxide propellant, a burst of air clears your pipes without the use of harsh or harmful chemicals.
Earth Friendly Products’ Earth Enzymes use natural enzymatic action to clear and maintain free flowing drains as well as clear clogged septic tanks and cesspools. Every product of the family-owned Earth Friendly line is Greenstar Certified.
Self-described “plumbing doctors,” Roebic Laboratories‘ K-67 Drain and Trap Cleaner is biodegradable, gentle on pipes and consists of bacteria and enzymes that will naturally dilute nasty clogs.
DIY: Pour a handful of baking soda mixed with a half cup of vinegar down the drain, and follow it quickly with boiling water.
Maintenance! Any good plumber will tell you that a regular regimen, including flushing drains with boiling water weekly, can help you keep them clear. Drain screens that stop clog-causing bad guys (hair, lint, etc.) from getting into your pipes are also imperative. With these green solutions, clogs don’t stand a chance.
We will continue with more “Living Green” tips in September’s edition of Around Wellington Magazine from Jathynia Garcia of Hi-Tech Plumbing.
Judy Collins can’t remember life without music. Nor would she ever want to.
“I was raised in a home where music was our bread and butter as well as our pleasure. There was never any doubt as to what I wanted to do. I started singing at two and a half and have been singing ever since,” said Collins.
Collins’ father, despite being blind, was a Seattle disc jockey for over 30 years and opened many a door for his daughter.
“He was a remarkable man,” said Collins. “He loved music as much as anyone and because of him I had the opportunity to meet a number of great musicians growing up.”
Collins’ musical proclivities were obvious to her father who arranged for her to study
Judy Collins
classical piano with world-renowned pianist, Antonia Brico. The master’s influence was profound and Collins made her public debut at age 13.
“I performed Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos,” recalled Collins.
Three years after her debut as a piano prodigy, she was playing guitar. Her music became popular at the University of Connecticut where her husband taught as Collins performed at parties and for the campus radio station along with David Grisman and Tom Azarian. Collins then made her way to New York’s Greenwich Village, where she busked (performed in public places for tips) and played in local clubs.
During the early 1960s, “The Village” was at the heart of an American folk music revival.
“It was the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan who would have the greatest effect upon me.”
Indeed, Collins’ career now took an entirely new direction. In 1961, she signed on with Elektra Records (a label with which she would be associated for 35 years) and released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22.
“Through Woody, Pete and Bob I developed my love of lyrics that has lasted to this day.”
Collins went on to record her own versions of important songs from the period, such as Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn.” And just as Joan Baez brought Bob Dylan into the public eye, Collins was instrumental in bringing a number of lesser-known musicians to a wider audience, especially Canadian Poet, Leonard Cohen, who remains a very close friend to this day. Collins also recorded songs by Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and Richard Farina long before they garnered national acclaim.
While Collins’s first few albums comprised straightforward guitar-based folk songs, her career took yet another turn in 1966 with the release of In My Life, which included work from a number of diverse sources (the Beatles, Cohen, Jaques Brel and Kurt Weill). Mark Abramson produced and Joshua Rifkin arranged the album, adding lush orchestration to many of the numbers. The album was regarded as a major departure for a folk artist and set the course for Collins’ subsequent work over the next decade.
With her 1967 album, Wildflowers, also produced by Abramson and arranged by Rifkin, Collins began to record her own compositions, the first of which was entitled “Since You Asked.” The album also provided Collins with a major hit and a Grammy Award for “Both Sides Now,” which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Collins’ 1968 album, Who Knows Where the Times Goes, was produced by David Anderle and featured back-up guitar by Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash), with whom she was romantically involved at the time.
“Yes, I was the Judy in ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,’” laughed Collins.
Time Goes had a mellow country sound and included Ian Tyson’s “Someday Soon” and the title track written by the UK singer-songwriter Sandy Denny. The album also featured Collins’s composition “My Father” and one of the first covers of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on the Wire.”
By the 1970s, Collins had a solid reputation as an art song singer and folksinger and had begun to stand out for her own compositions. She was also known for her broad range of material: her songs from this period include the traditional Christian hymn “Amazing Grace,” the Stephen Sondheim Broadway ballad “Send in the Clowns” (both of which were top 20 hits as singles), a recording of Joan Baez’s “A Song for David,” and her own compositions, such as “Born to the Breed.”
In the 1970’s, Collins guest starred on The Muppet Show, where she sang “I Know An Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly.” Collins also appeared several times on Sesame Street, where she performed her song, “Fishermen’s Song” with a chorus of Anything Muppet fishermen, sang a trio with Biff and Sully using the word “yes,” and even “starred” in a modern musical fairy tale skit, “The Sad Princess.”
In 1979, Collins posed nude on the album cover of Hard Times for Lovers. She sang the theme song of the Rankin-Bass TV movie titled The Wind in the Willows.
In more recent years Collins has taken to writing, producing a memoir, Trust Your Heart,” in 1987, as well as a novel, Shameless. A more recent memoir, Sanity and Grace, tells the story of her son Clark and his death from suicide in January, 1992.
Though her record sales are not what they once were, she still records and tours in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
“I’ve been touring nearly all my life,” Collins said. “To be able to do it at my age I have to live like an athlete. A strict diet and a routine exercise program are both par for the course. Of course, I’m also very lucky in that I have a great voice teacher and one I can depend upon.”
Collins also acknowledged good fortune as playing a role.
“I had surgery in 1977 on my vocal chords. It was the same kind of surgery that Julie Andrews had. Sadly for her, it did not work. I was blessed with a great surgeon and a brand new procedure at the time. I enjoyed a complete recovery.”
Collins performed at President Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993, singing “Amazing Grace” and “Chelsea Morning.” (The Clintons have said that their daughter Chelsea was named after Collins’ recording of the song.)
In 2008, she oversaw an album featuring artists ranging from Dolly Parton and Joan Baez to Rufus Wainwright and Chrissie Hynde covering her compositions; she also released a collection of covers of Beatles songs. In May of that year she received an honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute.
Like many other folk singers of her generation, Collins was drawn to social activism. She is a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines. Following the 1992 death of her son, Clark Taylor, at age 33, after a long bout with depression and substance abuse, she has also become a strong advocate of suicide prevention.
In 2003, Collins authored Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength. Four years later, Collins penned The Seven Ts, which lays out the lessons she learned in the aftermath of her son’s suicide. In this solid, heartfelt guide to grief and tragedy, Collins draws from her own experience to provide a set of tools to help “dig your way out of tragedy and loss.” The book was conceptualized as a way to better navigate Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s stages of grief. Collins’ seven T’s aren’t chronological steps, but “a kind of mantra” in seven parts that’s durable enough to assist readers for a lifetime. Through the T’s, Collins deals honestly with the demons of loss-guilt, isolation, hopelessness, depression and violence, while detailing many practical, proactive ways to cope, carry on and continue healing.
As for the Seven T’s…
“Truth (tell it), trust (allow it), therapy (get it), treasure (your loved and lost), treat (your body and mind), thrive (without drugs or alcohol) and transcend.”
Whether it’s writing a book or a song, Collins’ profound wisdom and introspection are relatable to us all. A profoundly spiritual person, Collins has little use for dogmatic thinking.
“Religion is for people afraid of going to Hell; spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.”
***
Glenn R. Swift is a freelance writer and editor living in Jensen Beach. Winner of the Florida Magazine Association’s 1999 Bronze Award for Writing Excellence, Swift is one of the most acclaimed entertainment writers in South Florida. He is the Editor and Co-Founder of , the definitive Arts & Entertainment website for Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast: www.OnStagePalmBeach.com
Visit these sites for cultural events Around Wellington and beyond:
both heated, tennis pavilion and lighted tennis courts, lakeside gazebo, gas pumps, café and marketplace, mail room, hair salon, nail salon, Wachovia Bank with ATM machine, real estate office, card room, activities area, library and catering kitchen. The banquet rooms are available for special events for a fee.
