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May, 2009 – Astrology at Work in your Life

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May, 2009 – Astrology at Work in your Life
ASTROLOGY AT WORKKarola Crawford
by Karola Crawford

 

May 2009

Happy Birthday to Aries! Your ruler is Mars, the planet of uncontainable energy that must find an outlet.  You are the initiator of action and self-expression and show initiative, courage and impulsiveness.  In the Natal chart, wherever Mars is located is where the action to that particular area of life is waiting to happen.  A Natal chart is composed of 12 houses, each indicating a different area of life.  The first house is dedicated to Aries and Mars, and indicates the drive to get things accomplished, and the starting of many new projects.  This is not by itself any indication of whether these projects are ever completed.  A different area of the chart would show that for the individual person, however, a great deal of spark and enthusiasm is indicated by the area that Mars rules.  Mars also makes people independent and headstrong and can lead to success if some scrutiny is utilized and thinking takes place before action is launched. 

 

   Aries – You have the planet Venus on your side this month and this greatly increases your charm and social abilities.  The home front will be active for you and you may find yourself engaged there more than even you can anticipate.  Celebrate life for all its worth.

 

   Taurus – You may have more projects going after the beginning of the month and the full moon on the 20th may highlight some new creative pursuit.  You are good at finishing what you started.

 

   Gemini – The beginning of the month may find you busy starting new projects and using that beautiful voice of yours to charm your circle of friends.  The second half of the month is better for revisiting the old and true.

 

   Cancer – You have a sudden burst of energy lately and are starting new endeavors.  Make the most of it and don’t put things off this month.  Gifts are not to be taken for granted so charge forward.

 

   Leo – Your quiet but fiery nature likes predictability and you have had your share of unpredictable events lately.  This month won’t be any different, so go with the flow even though it goes against your nature.  You may find something brand new to love.

 

   Virgo – If you find yourself rethinking the structures in your life, wait until next month to act.  Use this time to research possible changes only. 

 

   Libra – All those sensitive and confusing issues that you have been thinking about will be resolved after the first week of this month, and action will then be your key word.

 

   Scorpio – The full moon on the 20th will highly accentuate an important part of your life.  Keep emotions on an even keel and exercise to stay focused calmly.

 

   Sagittarius – You are quite organized lately and this trend will continue for this month as well.  Use the time wisely to consolidate investments and put wheels under your dreams.

 

   Capricorn – With Pluto in your sign, major changes will be coming down the road.  Your stable nature may be a bit more gregarious this month, and it is quite all right to throw some caution to the wind. 

 

   Aquarius – Some areas of life that you have taken for granted have slowly eroded away, but since no voids take place in nature, they are being replaced with new activities.  Enjoy the excitement of discovery.

 

   Pisces – Sudden changes may not be what you were anticipating, but your world is exciting these days and even you couldn’t have dreamt up all this action.  Relax and go with it, but use some discretion and boundaries.

 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.

May, 2009 – History, Hiking and Southern Cooking…Georgia

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May, 2009 – History, Hiking and Southern Cooking…Georgia

TRAVEL BY TERRITerri Farris

History, Hiking and Southern Cooking
 

by Terri Farris

Photos by Carolyn Marshall

 

Nestled in the northwest corner of Georgia an affordable family vacation awaits!  My personal history began here in the town of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.  This month I would like to share with you the history and beauty of this unique area of the Southeast.

Chickamauga National Military Park is located approximately 100 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia and just 10 miles south of Chickamauga Battlefield Park Chattanooga, Tennessee.  The park is the Nation’s oldest military park and was the site of the bloodiest two day battle in the Civil War.  Chickamauga is a Cherokee word meaning “River of Blood”.  On September 19th and 20th in 1863 more than 35,000 men were killed, wounded or missing out of 120,000 soldiers.  Today a seven mile loop tour features markers and monuments place by states after the war as well as cannons and log cabins.  There is also a longer twelve mile tour available.   Tour stops include the site of my personal favorite, the Wilder Brigade Monument Tower. 

 

During the Tullahoma Campaign, Colonel John T. Wilder’s men moved into battle with such rapidity they soon became known as the “Lightning Brigade”.  Major General George H. Thomas formally commended Colonel Wilder for his performance at the Battle of Chickamauga.  As the movement to create a memorial to the men who fought and died at Chickamauga grew, the idea of a monument to the men of the Lightning Brigade grew. In 1892 plans were finalized and approved to build the circular tower that allows a bird’s-eye view of area of the Confederate breakthrough at the Brotherton Cabin. Paid for by privately raised funds, much of which came from Wilder’s men, the monument was almost 60 feet tall when a bank failure during the Panic of 1893 put an end to the work.  In 1897 work began again and the outside phase of building is listed as complete in 1899. Work continued on the building until 1904, when the staircase inside the tower was completed.  The top of the tower was damaged by a direct lightning hit during a violent thunderstorm in 1915. The top quarter of the structure was repaired and on June 8, 1963, the Wilder Monument was rededicated by a group of Civil War Centennial Commissioners from Indiana.  Today the tower stands 85 feet tall.  A spiral staircase insides leads to the top of the tower where visitors can view almost the entire Chickamauga battlefield.  While young ones may not be enthralled by the history of the monument, they will certainly enjoy the climb to the top of the tower on the circular staircase inside.  This I know from personal experience! (www.nps.gov/chch/)

Park Place Restaurant
Park Place Restaurant

After climbing all the stairs to the top of the tower and exploring the park, treat your family to delicious Southern cooking at Park Place Restaurant.  Located just ¼ mile north of the entrance to the Chickamauga Battlefield, Park Place Restaurant has been serving locals and visitors a huge variety of freshly prepared entrees since 1992.  Choose from entrees such fried catfish, chicken-fried beef steak and fried green tomatoes as well as home-styled prepared vegetables.   The price is right and the food is delicious!  (2891 Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA, 706-861-5368).

 

If you happen to overindulge on the delicious Southern cooking, head

Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park

 to Cloudland Canyon State Park and hike off the calories!  Located in Rising Fawn, Georgia near the Georgia-Alabama state line just 30 miles southwest of the Chickamauga Battlefield Park, Cloudland Canyon State Park features hiking, swimming and camping.  This 3,485 acre park on the western edge of Lookout Mountain offers rugged geology and beautiful vistas as it straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek.  Over 200 million years ago a great ocean covered the area.  Lookout Mountain was created by seismic activity.  When it was first formed the entire mountain was still underwater.  As the water subsided, the rim of the canyon became a beach on the ocean.  As the ocean dried, the creek took over and continued to erode the rock.

 

Today, the park has a variety of hiking trails.  A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail ¼ mile in length goes along the rim overlooking the canyon.   The park also features three more extensive hiking trails and a backpacking trail.  The Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section at the main overlook and progresses into the canyon.  Most of this trail consists of gravel and over 400 stair-steps.  There are two waterfalls, the upper and lower falls, cascading off of the canyon walls at 60 and 90 feet.  They are among the most beautiful waterfalls in Georgia!  In contrast, the 4.8 mile long West Rim Loop Trail is a scenic hike offering panoramic views of the canyon.  There is also a 2.0 mile Backcountry Loop Trail providing access to the park’s eleven secluded primitive hike-in camping sites.

 

The park features a variety of camping and lodging options.  There are 16 rental cottages perfect for families and couples ranging in price from $120 to $140 per night.  Two of the cottages are pet friendly.   The park also offers 73 tent, trailer and RV sites and 30 walk-in campsites.  (http://gastateparks.org/info/cloudland/)

 

Share my history with a trip to this beautiful corner of Georgia…your family will experience history, hiking and the taste of good ‘ole Southern cooking!

 

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].

May, 2009 – Go Tankless

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May, 2009 – Go Tankless

LIVING GREENJathy Garcia of Hi-Tech Plumbing

by Jathynia Garcia

 

Go Tankless!

 

So you’re in the middle of a nice relaxing HOT shower, after a long day of work and all of a sudden a gush of cold water comes, causing you to scream and yell, “honey is the water heater working?” Well that ends here and now. With the tankless on demand water heater systems, you have endless hot water, yes you heard right, never-ending, nonstop, infinite HOT water at your disposal when you need it most.

So what is the difference between a regular water heater & the new tankless  on-demand water heaters everyone’s talking about?  It’s simple. The bulky, round, cylinder tank sitting in your closet or garage is the keeper of the hot water. But the water it dispenses sits in that tank in a “standby” state until called upon. Then after you consume the said amount of gallons indicated on your heater, the tank has to fill up & heat all that water over again. With tankless on demand systems, there is no sitting or stand by time. As soon as it’s called upon, the water instantly gets heated thru the electrical elements and sent through your water lines at the desired temperature, giving you unlimited amounts of hot water throughout the entire home for as long as you need it.

With its sleek, compact, space saving design, it can be conveniently hung on a wall, in an out of the way place, freeing up floor space for much more effective uses, like that storage space you’ve always wanted. So forget about those dreaded leaky water heater tanks that costs you thousands in water damage after flooding your home. Forget about running out of hot water when two showers run simultaneously, that just won’t happen any more. Just set the digital temperature knob, and there’s nothing more to it. NO LEAKS, No gushing water pouring down to the neighbor below, or ruining those hard wood floors. Accidents are almost non-existent with tankless heaters. All you get is endless hot water.

Now what about the cost on this new technology? The cost of installing the system runs approximately from $700 to $2000, including the labor by a licensed technician, product & materials. A minimum 150-amp breaker box is also necessary, and if you do not have that, it can easily be installed by a licensed electrician, at an additional nominal cost. Energy savings run about 15-20 percent, on the low side, over a standard electric water heater, which is significant in today’s energy-using homes. Add in the lower cost of water consumption since waste won’t be as frequent and that’s money in your pocket. Also, thanks to the  Economic Stimulus package voted on by Congress on Feb 17, 2009, you can get a 30 percent tax credit of up to $1,500 on these improvements – which is three times more than the tax credit for 2008. But most importantly when you consider the future perspective on our planet home, it’s safe to say that switching from a conventional water wasting, electrical consuming heater to a tankless on-demand system is  much about passing a better world onto your children and grandchildren as it is about you saving a buck or two, and that’s a tough thing to put a price tag on.

 

 

If you do think green is the right choice for your upcoming plumbing project, we invite you to call us at Hi-Tech Plumbing about adopting a green remodeling philosophy. Hi-Tech plumbing is a local plumbing contractor in your local Wellington area who specializes in green building and remodeling, so you can be sure that your new plumbing is as green as it comes. For more information visit our website at www.hi-techplumbing.com or call our office at 561-790-6966.

May, 2009 – Olympia

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May, 2009 – Olympia

NEIGHBORHOOD SCOOP

by Linda BassittLinda Bassitt

 

Olympia

 

If driving on 441/State Road 7 or on Forest Hill Blvd, one cannot fail to notice the monumental, regal like entrances to this community.  Once inside, Fatio Blvd winds around the entire community in a circle, branching off into the separate subdivisions: Widener, Treanor, Hamblin, Shaughnessy, Scribner, Bryden, Easton, Cooper, Dansforth, Woodworth, Thompson, Waburton, Postley, and now Phipps.  Each one seems to have its own personality.  At times, people mention that Olympia it too big; but since we have our separate subdivisions, the development doesn’t seem all that large.Inside Olympia 

 

Olympia is the ultimate in suburbia living.  The homes look like little boxes, all lined up next to each other…beautiful mcmansions among a sea of perfectly cut hedges and colorful flowers.  The landscaping is immaculately maintained, and the Club house, Villa Olympia, resembles that of a resort.  There’s a laguna style pool, a kid’s water works center, play ground with rock climbling, fitness center overlooking the pool area, a business center, a great room with big screen plasma, tennis courts, volleyball, indoor and outdoor basketball, and a front desk to ensure everything is running smoothly. 

 

Everything you could possibly need is five minutes away- from the Wellington Green Mall, now a new Whole Foods, and every service imaginable.  Every morning, there are people jogging, riding bike, and walking with strollers.  The elementary, middle, and high schools are right adjacent to the community; and everyday before and after schools there are kids, young and old, making their way around Fatio Blvd. 

 

Lots of clubs to join in Olympia and activities to do, from karate classes, personal training, swimming lessons for the little ones with Aqua Pam, the over 30 basketball league, tennis classes, and an activities committee to think of even more things to do.

 

It’s a very friendly community, one where it is more common to see kids playing outside in their front yards than in their back yards.  It’s a community trend, where you can even see neighbors playing golf, as if their front yards were putting greens.  Some cul-de-sacs put mini kid cones out when kids are playing and BBQs and neighborhood get-togethers in others.  Everyone seems to know each other, and all the kids know each other school.  There’s a lot of communal spirit. Olympia

 

Overall, it’s a great place to live.  Yes, with the foreclosure situation many homes are abandoned or on short sale.  The separate subdivisions are trying to work with their HOA’s to try to maintain those homes and the overall community appearance.  The developer, Minto, is still building new homes, and has the strong hold on the general Olympia management and HOA.  Even those from out of state and new to the Wellington area can’t fail to notice Olympia and its good looks, location, and amenities.

 

In the end, Olympia is still one of the nicest looking communities, appearance wise, in Wellington, and it has maintained its popularity with current and new residents.  Home prices are now more attainable, starting in the low $200,000’s versus the $400,000+ prices in the boom era. 

 

If you are looking for a place where your kids will have lots of friends, a community with stellar a club house and appearance, or simply a neighborhood where you can walk your dog and get to know all your neighbors in the process, Olympia is your place to be.

 

Linda Bassitt P.A. is a longtime Olympia resident.  She is also a Realtor® with a BA in Marketing from FAU, and believes that marketing is the key to success for any business.  Visit http://www.lindabassitt.com/ for more.

 

May, 2009 – 33rd Annual Carbonell Award Winners Announced

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May, 2009 – 33rd Annual Carbonell Award Winners Announced

CULTURAL CORNERglenn-swift-pic2

by Glenn Swift

33rd Annual Carbonell Award Winners Announced

The 33rd annual Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s oldest and most prestigious arts honors, were bestowed in a ceremony on Monday, April 6 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in a benefit performance that raised funds for scholarships to benefit South Florida leading arts students.  The event included a special tribute honoring Carbonell Awards co-founder and executive director Jack Zink, who covered the arts for all of the region’s major newspapers for nearly 40 years before his death last summer.

Palm Beach Dramaworks, which led the pack with 15 nominations despite its modest size, came away with two Carbonells (Best Actress in a Play and Best Costume Design), while the Maltz Jupiter Theatre garnered one of its own for Best Choreography in a Musical.

COMBINED (plays & musicals)

Best New Work (award to author): William Mastrosimone, Dirty Business, Florida Stage

Best Ensemble Production: (award to producing organization): Two Sisters and a Piano, The Promethean Theatre

PLAYS

Best Production of a Play (award to producing organization): The Seafarer, Mosaic Theatre Company

Best Director/Play: Richard Jay Simon, The Seafarer, Mosaic Theatre Company

Best Actor/Play: Gregg Weiner, The Seafarer, Mosaic Theatre Company

Best Actress/Play: Elizabeth Dimon, Souvenir, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Best Supporting Actor/Play: Dennis Creaghan, The Seafarer, Mosaic Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actress/Play: Kim Morgan Dean, A Body of Water, Mosaic Theatre Company

MUSICALS

Best Production of a Musical: Adding Machine, GableStage

Best Director/Musical: Joseph Adler, Adding Machine, GableStage

Best Actor/Musical:  Oscar Cheda, Adding Machine, GableStage

Best Actress/Musical: Maribeth Graham, Adding Machine, GableStage

Best Supporting Actor/Musical: Jim Ballard, Adding Machine, GableStage

Best Supporting Actress/Musical: Stacy Schwartz, Adding Machine, GableStage

Musical Direction/Musical: Eric Alsford, Adding Machine, GableStage

Choreography/Musical: Ron De Jesus, The Full Monty, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

DESIGN (plays & musicals)

Best Scenic Design: Sean McClelland, The Seafarer, Mosaic Theatre Company

Best Lighting Design: Sevim Abaza, 4.48 Psychosis, The Naked Stage

Best Costume Design: Erin Amico, Souvenir, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Best Sound Design: Marty Mets, 4.48 Psychosis, The Naked Stage

Stock/Road Show Awards (Touring, Independent Productions, Plays and Musicals Combined)

Best Production: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Broadway Across America at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

Best Actor: Jim Brochu, Zero Hour, Broward Stage Door Theatre

Best Actress: Judy Kaye, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Broadway Across America at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

Best Supporting Actor: Julian Gamble, Twelve Angry Men, Broadway Across America at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Best Supporting Actress: Nancy Opel, The Drowsy Chaperone, Broadway Across America at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Previously Announced

The George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts: David Arisco

The annual award for significant contributions to the artistic and cultural development of the region has been bestowed upon David Arisco, artistic director of the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theater. Arisco’s diverse career spans more than 30 years as director, actor, musical director, stage manager, symphonic conductor and instrumentalist. He has been a part of Actors’ Playhouse for 21 years, where he has directed more than 100 shows, including seven that received Carbonell Awards for both Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.

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 www.OnStagePalmBeach.com, the definitive Arts & Entertainment website for Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast.


Visit these sites for cultural events Around Wellington and beyond:

 

http://www.armoryart.org/

 

http://www.bocaratontheatreguild.org/

 

http://www.floridastage.org/

 

www.jupitertheatre.org

 

http://www.kravis.org/

 

www.lakeworthplayhouse.org

 

http://www.onstagepalmbeach.com/

 

On Stage Palm Beach

May, 2009 – The State of Real Estate

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May, 2009 – The State of Real Estate

THE GANT RANTKaren Gant

by Karen Gant

 

The State of Real Estate

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all… Emily Dickinson

It has been 1170 days, 19 hours and 34 minutes since the Real Estate World lost its footing and began its slow and fiery descent into the bowels of the earth.  But who’s counting?

While the soothsayers and prognosticators predict a turn around the end of the year, the American public braces itself for ten or more months of declining prices and empty homes.  You may think this is bad news, but arguably, it is the best news we have heard in a long time.  It is finally, agonizingly, inching towards an end.  As it reaches bottom, it will inevitably change direction and head back up.

It’s no secret that only some will ride out the devastation of this economic debacle.  Those who do not have a strong financial foundation will experience short sale, foreclosure and eventually, irrevocable loss.  However, where there is loss, there is recovery and where there is optimism, there is hope.

Real Estate has been in the eye of the storm and struck with lightning force.  In Palm Beach County we have experienced a loss of equity in our homes of approximately 30%, particularly in new home communities and about 20% in older, more established communities.  Statistically, Real Estate prices have dropped 21% in the past few years nationwide.

There are many programs today that will help homeowners that are “underwater” to resuscitate their finances with lower interest rates on their existing mortgages.  The Home Affordable Refinance Program will enable qualified homeowners to refinance to lower mortgage rates or change adjustable rate mortgages to lower interest fixed rate loans.  This will help many people who have had difficulty making their payments or who are already behind.  These benefits will preclude investor owned or vacant properties.

For those who are buying, there will probably never be a better time again.  Low interest rates and declining property values have created a fertile market for aggressive buyers and investors.  This is a great opportunity to buy the home you’ve always dreamed about but could not previously afford.

Realtors say they are busy with buyers, banks appear to be more open to negotiating settlements and the consumer has modified his spending habits to reflect the stringent economy.  With this new paradigm, we will move into the next year with a more controlled and realistic approach to spending and investment.  More homebuyers will be acquiring a residence for the purpose of living in it.

Mortgage brokers and lenders will be servicing and approving loans for buyers who meet a higher standard of qualification, with irrefutable proof of income and purchasing ability. 

Gone are the angst ridden days of no docs loans, 100% financing and worthless mortgages.  A new order of sobriety has overcome the Real Estate market and it may be the best thing that has happened in a half century.  Even now, the American dream of home ownership is still very much alive.

In our peaceful and quiet community of Wellington and the surrounding area, we reflect the changes that will open doors for some and close them to others.  And we wait for the big comeback .

Karen Gant is a Realtor residing in Wellington with husband Richard and superdog, Gatsby the Great. They live in harmony in one of Wellington’s beautiful communities and like many homeowners today, wait for better times ahead.  Ms. Gant can be reached at: [email protected].

May, 2009 – Mother’s Day Word Scramble

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May, 2009 – Mother’s Day Word Scramble

Kids’ Cornerps_lookingback-forpage4

HEY KIDS! Hey…great young writers! Do you have a story that you would like to submit for aroundwellington.com? Send your 1-2 page story to us, along with your 1. Name, 2. Email address, 3. Age and 4. Phone number.

This month we are celebrating a theme of “Mother’s Day.” In honor of this, we have provided the following word scramble for you. Thanks to www.scholastic.com/kids for the tools needed to create the word scramble!

Mother’s Day Word Scramble

HEY PARENTS! Are your young children (approx. 2 to 5 years old) ready for some online games that are challenging and educational? Here are some of our favorite links.

www.sesamestreet.orgFeel free to suggest more of your favorite links! [email protected], subject heading: “Kids’ Corner.” THANKS!

www.noggin.com

tv.disney.go.com

 

 

The Everlasting Memory

by Kevin Matheus

After running recklessly across the room, a friend of mine stopped and called out. “Hey Kevin! Let’s see how high you can run up that wall!”

Being in third grade, I was used to being constantly challenged by friends. I’m a very competitive person and I wasn’t going to back down from this on. Currently, I was at the aftercare program at the YMCA. It was just another ordinary day at the “Y”. Little kids running around like ants, counselors playing dodge ball with the kids, and everyone was having a blast. My friends and I took turns to see who could leap higher and reach the topmost part of the wall. At that moment, I thought, I’m going to be the kid who reaches higher than anybody else. Little did I know that in a matter of seconds, I would strongly regret what I did for the rest of my life. Not only would I reach higher than everyone else, but also deeper.

So, it was my turn. I told everyone to step aside as I showed them I was better than all of them. I dashed towards the wall. With all that speed, I soared up the wall, not even knowing that I completely smashed the other kids’ scores. Once again, I thought to myself, did I beat them? When I landed back on the floor I found out. The kids were astonished.

One commented with admiration, “Wow! You definitely got higher than us.” Feeling proud of myself, I decided to go take a seat and let some other kid try and beat me.

But as I strolled to sit down, I felt something trickle down the side of my finger. Immediately, I glanced at my hand. And there, peeled like an orange, was the top of my left hand. I could not believe what I was looking at. The huge deep cut, exposed all muscles and nerves inside my hand. Blood was everywhere. It was on my shoes, shirt, and even the shelf. The strangest part of it all was that I didn’t even feel the smallest pinch of pain. I didn’t quite understand that until later on. I stared at it with confusion for about three seconds. Being so young, so many frustrated thoughts rushed through my head. What just happened? My mom’s going to kill me! How am I going to explain this? Do I need stitches? This is horrible. And then, without further thinking, I raced like a bullet to Ms. Julie’s office for aid. Ms. Julie was the Assistant Director of aftercare. When I entered her office, I showed her the deep wound.

A shocked yet disappointed expression appeared on her face. Then she asked me. “What did you do?!”

“We were playing a game in AP2 (the room my group was in). And we were seeing who could run up the wall the highest. When I ran up the wall, I landed and saw this enormous gash on my hand! I’m not even really sure how I got it though.”

So, Ms. Julie told me to keep wet paper towel on it for now. Next, she left to go find someone to temporarily treat it until my mom came. And so then Ms. Janice, the Director of Aftercare, called my mom and let her know I needed to depart to the Emergency Room right away.

I sat there, terrified and confused, in Ms. Julie’s office and still puzzled thinking how I got cut up so badly. But how? There’s nothing sharp on that wall. There was just a shelf extending out from the wall but how could that cut me up so badly? When Ms. Julie came back, she told me to come show her where I had gotten cut. I showed her exactly where it had happened. Blotches of my blood were scattered on the side shelf. And there on the side of the ledge, was a hook. I had never seen that hook there before. That’s a perfect example of how ignorant I was. Basically, I slashed myself on the hook, with the force of my own body, on the way down from the jump. When Ms. Julie and I walked back to her office, Ms. Ingrid, the Director of the Aquatic Center, was there ready to treat my wound while I waited for my mom to come and take me to the ER. She proceeded by removing the hook from the wall.

In the mean time, I just sat there; a wet paper towel with Vaseline enclosed my injury. She told me to at least keep it moist until I arrived to the hospital. By keeping the open gash nice and damp it would prevent the skin around the cut from dieing and making it harder for the doctor to stitch it up.

My mom arrived to “Y” quickly. She was extremely worried. She had to leave work early to take care of my cut. From the second left from the YMCA, to the moment I stepped onto the hospital floor, she awarded me with a nice long lecture. “Kevin! I am very disappointed…you could’ve been paralyzed for life!”

To this day, I still think about how stupid I was. Even though I was only in third grade, I still should’ve been aware of what I was doing and where I was doing it. I was just so focused on showing off to the other kids that I put my own safety aside. I learned a lesson here though. Everyday I take a look at my scar, where 22 stitches once held my hand together. And I’m actually thankful that nothing worse happened to me. Accidents like these make me realize how delicate the human body really is. Life isn’t about doing whatever it takes to get attention from people; it’s about enjoying it, staying away from any danger, and being a better person than you were the day before.

Kevin Matheus is an 8th grader and attends Don Estridge High Tech Middle school. He is earning extra credit for getting his story published online!

 

May, 2009 – Good Sci-Fi Movies Opening in May

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May, 2009 – Good Sci-Fi Movies Opening in May

THE SPACE ROOMAnna Sanclement with husband John and baby Emma

Everything Sci-Fi & a Little Astronomy

 

by Anna Sanclement

 

Good Sci-Fi Movies Opening in May

 

 

There are some seemingly good science fiction movies opening up this May. The trailers for these look very promising and the early reviews, where available, sound quite positive. Following is a little preview of what is to come to the sci-fi big screen this month.

 

Star Trek

Opens May 8th. This movie is one of the most anticipated for this year and if it is as good as critics are saying in their reviews then we are in for a great treat. This tome of the Star Trek franchise takes the story back to the very beginning when James Kirk was born. It goes into the early stories of all the characters and how they all end up as crew of the Enterprise.

 

The special effects really look amazing and it will be quite something to see the USS Enterprise as it was first being built. Action and adventure look to be plentiful in this film, and I think it will not disappoint original Trekkies, sci-fi buffs as well as any other movie fans.

 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Opens May 1st. With the lack of early reviews, probably due to the Internet leak of the film, it’s hard to predict how good the movie will be. However, the trailers look good with great effects and plenty of action. The story goes back to the origins of Logan, whose past is a sadly romantic and violent one, which gets more ominous when he is made into the character we’ve come to know as Wolverine.

 

Lots of action packed fight scenes with other new X-Men as well as some familiar appearances from the X-Men universe. This movie should appease fans of the X-Men movies, at least for telling more of the story of one of the beloved characters of the series.

 

Terminator Salvation

Opens May 22nd.  Yet another franchise installment, the new Terminator is also a very anticipated movie this year. The series are never visually disappointing and this one seems to follow suit with great effects and non-stop action. Terminator Salvation is set in 2018 where John Connor’s is to be the leader against Skynet and its perpetual Terminators. This fated future that Connor has known all his life, however, has been altered by the mysterious stranger, Marcus Wright. Connor has to decide whether Wright was sent from the future or rescued from the past.

 

The trailers for Salvation look great and it looks like it will be robots galore, which should delight all true sci-fi geeks.

 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

All right, this one doesn’t open until June 24th, but it is another greatly anticipated sci-fi film and I had to include it in the list. The first one was great, in my opinion; it was fun and funny, not to mention full of action and ongoing adventure. The second one shows promise of being another installment full of entertainment.  From seeing the trailers it looks like we’re in for a whole lot of robot fighting greatness and adrenaline igniting action.

 

The same main characters return in this installment along with the Autobots®, as well as bigger and badder Decepticons®; this movie will definitely be entertaining.

 

So save the dates, bank your allowance, get babysitters, whatever you have to do, but make sure you see all these great sci-fi adventures, or at the very least go see just one or two! They are sure to be well worth it.

 

Sky events to watch for this month, May 2009:

 

Full Moon on the 9th and New Moon on the 24th. Mercury continues to be visible in the beginning of May, but getting harder to spot. Saturn is still quite visible throughout the night. Jupiter can be seen for a little while in the early mornings along with Venus and Mars and on the 21st they will be together with a crescent moon forming a triangle. Venus will also be at Greatest Brilliance on the 2nd. The Big Dipper is visible towards the northeastern sky on the early night. On the 25th the Soyuz TMA-15 will launch to the International Space Station. And don’t forget, the 2nd is Astronomy Day and the 7th is Space Day. 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

 

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.

May, 2009 – Naming Names

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May, 2009 – Naming Names

AS I WAS SAYINGAlan Williamson

by Alan Williamson

 

Naming Names

 

  

Did you ever wonder what your life would be like if you had a different name? Yes, I’m talking to you Rufus, and you, too, Cornelius. I’m talking to Minnie. I’m talking to Moses. I’m talking to Piper and Diezel and Duncan and Rocco and Gwyneth.

I’m even talking to John and Judy and Bob and Linda and Nancy and Ken and Kate. And wipe that smug smile off your face Mia – just because your name is short doesn’t mean you’re better than Victoria or Brianna. Okay, if I’m being honest, Brianna is just Brian with a “na” tacked onto the end, but the results are always mixed when you try and turn a male name into a female name. Just ask Alana, Roberta, Edwina and Henrietta. (Be careful approaching Henrietta though. She’s still very sensitive about her name and may even insist that you’ve made a mistake and that she’s Gabrielle, you bonehead.)

Whether it’s common or kooky or somewhere in between, your name is bound to affect people’s initial perceptions of you. According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Managerial Psychology, people with common names like Mark, Susan or Steve were more likely to be called in for job interviews than people with unusual names. Life just isn’t fair sometimes, and even though Gunslinger, Moonblood and Boo may be capable, qualified professionals, they’re often viewed as high-risk hires by skittish job screeners.

While some like to think of the name game as a predestined cosmic custom-fitting, the name you wind up with often has a lot to do with when you came into the world. If you’re a mature woman of say 80 years of age, odds are high that you or a friend of yours is named Helen, Ruth, Agnes or Betty – four of the hot, trendy female monikers of 1929. If, on the other hand, you were born sometime in the last decade, it’s far more likely that you’ll answer to a name like Alexis, Jasmine, Shannon or Miley.

Sometimes, against all odds, an old-fashioned name makes a comeback and becomes trendy again. This seems to happen more often with women’s names, as evidenced by the re-emergence of Emma, Abigail, Lily and Isabelle. Men’s names, once they’ve run their course, hardly ever enjoy a resurgence, which explains why there is currently a worldwide shortage of guys named Edgar, Elmer, Floyd and Ralph.

Proving that there’s an exception to every rule, once in a blue moon a time-worn men’s name will rise from the ashes and gain fresh prominence in the present day. This is known as the Ben Franklin/Ben Affleck Principle, though nameologists are at a loss to explain its seemingly random occurrence.

In my family, for some reason, there were and are a lot of guys named Al and Bob. These are good sturdy names to be sure, the kind you’d expect to see stitched on the jumpsuit of a mechanic, plumber, fighter pilot or rodeo cowboy. Since my family has never produce any mechanics, plumbers, fighter pilots or rodeo cowboys, the repetition of these names through the generations seems like an unnecessary tradition. Perhaps we would have been better served with an occasional Seth or Travis thrown into the mix, if only to avert the endless sub-categorizing of all the Al’s and Bob’s into Big Al, Young Al, Little Al, Uncle Al, Bob, Bobby, Uncle Bob and the Bob otherwise known as Robert.

I’m pretty okay with my name for the most part, though sometimes when I’m signing for a package Alan Williamson seems to take just a little too long to write and I wish I could scribble Alvis and be done with it. If I could start life over under another name and see if it made any difference in my personal journey and opportunities, I would pull out all the stops and get my money’s worth. I’d pick something scary cool – smooth yet with a hint of danger lurking just beneath the surface.

Hi, I’m Spencer Madrid. Can I freshen up your drink . . . in Aruba?

Hi, I’m Kyle Sebastion. I surf, and I don’t mean the Internet.

Hi, I’m Connor Bradley, architect. Let’s build something together.

Hi, I’m Kip Caramia, plastic surgeon. Let me take your bags.

Hi, I’m Clint Eastwood. Do you feel lucky, punk?

The more I think about it, I’ve decided I’m better off sticking with the name I’ve got. Alan Williamson may not be “scary cool” like Clint Eastwood or Spencer Madrid or Mitt Romney, but I’m used to walking around with it, and I’ve got to say, it feels pretty comfy after all these years. Besides, it sure beats the other name my parents were considering after watching one too many low-budget sci-fi flicks:

Al-Bob, The Amazing, Colossal Half-Al, Half-Bob Hybrid.

 

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].

May, 2009 – Losing the Last 10

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May, 2009 – Losing the Last 10

Health & Fitness

by Veronica Moisterveronicaafterpic

 

Keeping Goals and Cultivating Joy

 

 

  

Dear Veronica,

I really want to lose my last ten pounds. I seem to lose 5, then gain it back. I think I need some help creating and keeping my weight loss AND my life goals.

 

Tytti mother of two, Wellington

 

Well Tytti, when you make goals based on your truths and values, you will be more inclined to keep them.  I am going to give you some practical advice, as well as some initial steps to take when creating these goals for yourself.

  • Connect with your reasons for making changes.

The process of making improvements in your habits is not an easy one, and your attempts will be half-hearted if you’re not clear about why you want to make the change.  What benefits will you experience as a result of reaching your goals? 

  • Do it for yourself.

Attempts to change your habits for other people; even people you love and respect will almost always fail.  You must be connected to the personal reasons you want to commit to a new way of living, and take action for yourself. 

  • Set two kinds of goals; process goals and outcome goals.

There are two kinds of goals; those which dictate the kind of actions you take, called process goals, and those that dictate the results you wish to create, called outcome goals.  

It is easy to become frustrated when you solely focus on outcome goals, because it may take you some time to create the results you’re shooting for.  When you focus on process goals, you give yourself an opportunity to succeed every day.  

  An example of an outcome goal would be–to lose twenty pounds. Your supporting process goals could then be–to train every day, to eat a healthy diet, and to drink adequate water.  While it may take you several months to lose twenty pounds, you can successfully adhere to your process goals every day.  These small wins will keep you motivated, and help you stay on track.

  • Go for your personal best.

Decide that you’re going to reach your personal best.  Even after you reach your health and fitness goals, it’s unlikely you’re going to look like a swimsuit model (male or female).  These ideals are simply not realistic.  Stop comparing yourself to others!  Go for your personal best, and you will find that you become much more satisfied with your results.
 

  • You won’t ever find the time; you must make it.

At the end of your life, you will still have a to-do list.  A well-lived life is one in which you get to experience all of the things that are important to you.  Establish a list of personal and professional priorities.  To do so, ask yourself two questions.

  •  
    • What is important to me in my life?  (I.E. family, health, and friendships.)
    • What areas of my life need my time and energy right now? (i.e. managing your home and finances, or caring for a sick parent).

Once you’ve identified your priorities, manage your schedule according to what matters to you.  Make the time to care for you mental, physical and emotional wellness and you will be much more capable of taking care of everything and everyone else in your life.
 

  • Identify your triggers; and plan to remove or avoid them.

What stops you from making it to the gym?  What causes you to eat poorly?  Identify the stressors and triggers in your life, and remove or avoid them; at least for the initial 90 days of your life change process.

  • Set a bigger goal.

Life is about so much more than the number on your scale or the size of your clothing.  Take some time to connect with what you value, and begin to integrate those things into your life.

 

If you’ve been dreaming about starting a new project…start.  If you’ve been thinking about taking up a new hobby, go for it!  As your focus expands, your exercise and nutrition goals will become part of a bigger picture, rather than the whole picture. This will allow you to stop obsessing over your body, and begin investing your energy in your life.
 

  • Cultivate joy.

Life is supposed to be joyous.  You are meant to be happy. Find exercise activities that you enjoy, and eat foods that taste good to you. You don’t have to abuse yourself to live healthfully. On the contrary, when you make physical activity and good nutrition a part of your life, you will feel pampered – not punished.
 

I hope those strategies help you to make creative life and fitness goals for yourself. Don’t forget that there can be fun in the journey and not just the end result.

Veronica Moister started Metamorphosis Weight Loss for Women twelve years ago, combining Weight Training, Nutrition/Detox and Life Coaching. In 2001, she appeared on “Oprah.” She’s the author of the book “Fit, Firm & Fuel.” She’s a wife and mother of three small children. Please email your questions to: [email protected], subject “Health & Fitness.”

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