Just a few highlights of happenings Around Wellington. For many more photos, visit the link “Photo Galleries” on this site! For recent videos, click on our “Videos” link.
May, 2011 – AW in Pictures
May, 2011 – Lemon Ice King in King of Queens Intro
Ice King at end of King of Queens Intro
Check out our related “AW Spotlight” story about the mouth-watering Ice King of Wellington. This is just to show you the NYC location of the original Lemon Ice King (where the Ice King of Wellington gets their ice) – at the very end of this King of Queens introduction.
May, 2011 – Have a Lovely Mother’s Day!
May, 2011
Dear Readers,
Hope you’re having an enjoyable May and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Moms around Wellington!
As a mother of two and a business owner, I experience that nagging feeling of always neglecting someone or something. It can feel like you’re neglecting your children when you focus on your business and vice versa. Thank goodness for Dr. Laura Zipris and her “Ask Dr. Z” column. She reminds us that it’s important to play “Candy Land” first with our children – and everything else will fall into place. I’m happy to say that I played Candy Land a few times in the last week with my young kids!
If you’re a fan of Italian ice, you must read our “AW Spotlight” article this month about the Ice King of Wellington. This lovely place sells both authentic, New York ice and ice cream too. Better yet, print out a coupon and stop by for a taste of it yourself.
Welcome back to Karola Crawford, our “Astrology at Work” columnist, who’s been away for a while. See what’s in store for you this month by checking out her May article.
In “As I Was Saying,” Alan Williamson takes a closer look at easy-listening music I “Easy Breezy Radio.” He makes me laugh out loud each month (and so many of you have admitted that it happens to you too). This month he does it again!
Speaking of funny, don’t miss Wendell Abern’s “Cantankerously Yours” this month. He’s in fine form as he hands out his “Chudspah awards” – (yes, “chudspah” as in “having a lot of nerve.”)
While on the subject of chudspah, our “By the Numbers” writer Tom Copeland goes a little beyond just numbers this month and questions “The Donald’s” motives for possibly running for President. Although we try to stay neutral here Around Wellington, I think Copeland raises some good questions…(unlike the ridiculous question that Trump wasted all of our time on last month…about the “long-form birth certificate”). Is it really this difficult to accept that a non-white President was elected?
Summer is almost upon us, so are bathing suits! If you would like to tone up your arms, “Health & Fitness” expert Cheryl Alker gives us four excellent exercises to do, even without the use of a gym. Thank you, Cheryl! And congratulations to Cheryl on the recent release of her DVD for back pain sufferers!
“Want it hot within seconds?” That’s Jathy Garcia’s attention-grabbing opening this month in her “Living Green” article about efficient hot water recirculation systems. Love it! OK, maybe it’s not what you were originally thinking but it’s a good upgrade to consider.
Local poet David Plumb gives us a terrific poem “Today.” It was refreshing to see him at last month’s poetry reading by Mary Oliver at Lynn University. You must check out his brief biography too, just to get a feel for his humor and recent writings.
Welcome to photographer Carol Porter this month! She’s been taking some wonderful photos at recent events. Check out our “Photo Galleries” page for her “Stiletto Awards” photos and her “PNC Women in Power” luncheon photos.
“Spend Less Time on Email, Accomplish More” says writer Claudine Motto in “Ultimate Productivity.” She is full of good time-saving and business efficiency advice! I’m glad to have her back again this month.
I had the pleasure of interviewing local doctor and app author Eric Baumel for our “AW Stories of the Month.” He created an iPhone app for his daily work as a radiologist at Independent Imaging. He did an excellent job in designing the app, apparently, because it has spread throughout the world in just a few short months. And there is already a demand for the next version! Congrats!!
Don’t forget to keep entering our nice-n-easy Contests! We will have at least two contests this month – possibly more. The winner of our first contest will receive a one-hour massage at Massage Envy in Royal Palm Beach. We will post the winner on our website on May 11th. THANKS to all of you who have been participating!!
My sincere thanks to our AroundWellington® contributors everything they do! I have only covered about half of the material that we have (so far) for May. So see below or just visit www.AroundWellington.com to explore.
Thanks to our readers and our advertisers! Please feel free to contact me if you ever have questions or suggestions: aroundwellington@earthlink.net.
Cheers,
Krista Martinelli
Editor
May, 2011 – Kids Eat Free
KIDS EAT FREE AROUND WELLINGTON
Compiled by Shawn Thompson
This is your one-stop source for your favorite restaurants around town where your kids can eat free! All restaurants listed offer one free child meal (10 and under – some are 12 and under) per adult entrée purchased unless specified (drink offers vary). Since most places change their kids eat free promotions from time to time, please call ahead to make sure the offer is still good.
Hey Kids! This month – check out our “AW Stories of the Month” for a few nice Mother’s Day brunch recipes that you can try!
If you have a favorite restaurant that offers a freebie meal not listed, please feel free to share!
________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY
Smokey Bones 10260 Forest Hill Blvd. 383-8240
From 5-7 p.m. – drink included
Brass Ring Pub 10998 Okeechobee Blvd., RPB 296-4563
After 5 p.m. – drink included
Hurricane Grill & Wings 11071 Southern Blvd, RPB 753-4868
After 5 p.m. – drink included
Perkins 7859 Lake Worth Rd. 964-3933
After 4 p.m. – drink + cookie included
_______________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY
Applebee’s 10600 W. Forest Hill Blvd. 790-2994
All day – drink included (and free bounce house)
Centanni Italian 10107 Southern Blvd., RPB, 792-7677
Dinner only – drink not included
Roadhouse Grill 3887 Jog Rd., Lake Worth, 967-0532
Dinner only and drink + ice-cream included – 7 p.m. bike drawing
Denny’s 300 Civic Way, RPB 793-0772
From 4-10 p.m. – no drink included (2 kids per one adult meal)
Tequila Cancun 2202 Jog Rd., Greenacres 641-5100
After 5 p.m. – no drink included
Bru’s Room 11111 Southern Blvd., RPB 790-2771
From 5-9 p.m. – drink included
________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY
Nature’s Table 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A7, Wellington Marketplace 383-8343
After 4 p.m. – adult must buy a sandwich + a drink
Moe’s Southwest Grill 2605 St. Rd. 7 (Bay 410) 792-5712
After 3 p.m. – drink, cookie + chips included
Duffy’s 11935 Southern Blvd., RPB, 792-4045
Dinner only – drink included
Tequila Cancun 2202 Jog Rd., Greenacres 641-5100
After 5 p.m. – no drink included
Sal’s 11995 Southern Blvd. #2, RPB 784-0778
After 4 p.m. – drink included
________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY
See Everyday section
_______________________________________________________________________
FRIDAY
See Everyday section
________________________________________________________________________
SATURDAY
Steak ’n Shake 133 S. State Rd. 7, RPB, 333-6474
All day – drink included
________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY
Steak ’n Shake 133 S. State Rd. 7, RPB, 333-6474
All day – drink included
The Gypsy’s Horse 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. 333-3700
All day – drink included
________________________________________________________________________
EVERYDAY/ALMOST EVERYDAY
Butterfields Southern Café 1145 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., RPB 792-8723
4-8 p.m. every day except Wednesdays – no drink included
Golden Corral 10100 Fox Trail Roads, RPB 793-0201
Under 3 only – drink included
_____________________________________________________________
ALMOST FREE
Sandbar & Grill NW corner of RPB Blvd. and Okeechobee Blvd. 795-8500
.99 every day after 4 p.m. – no drink included
McDonald’s 1470 Greenview Shores Blvd, Wellington 790-7071
.99 4-piece chicken nuggets everyday
Shawn Thompson has two children, Aaron age 9 and Audrey age 4. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools, attending their activities and taking evening walks with her family and their dog BB. Shawn also helps her husband Tony with his business Relylocal.com. Please e-mail her any free deals you find and would like to have included to chefshawnt@comcast.net.
May, 2011 – Arms
Health & Fitness
Shaping Up: Arms
By Cheryl Alker
While most people do not consider the arms as the “sexiest” part of the body, people certainly notice them when they are out of shape. How many times have you been unable to wear a certain cut of a sleeve because of the tone in your upper arm? There also has to be nothing worse than the feeling of waving goodbye to someone, and long after your hand has stopped the back of your arm is still waving goodbye – yuck!
There are a number of ways you can firm up your upper arms without the use of expensive gym equipment or even stepping out of your home.
The best arm workout is one that targets the main muscles of the arm i.e. the bicep and tricep but also includes the shoulders and forearm to provide overall balance and tone.
Sadly it is not possible to lose fat only from your arms; this means that if you want to tone your arms you need to start a weight loss program that will help you lose weight off of your whole body. It is only when your body has a low body fat percentage that your muscles will start to shine through as defined and firm. So, weight loss is just as important as muscle gain when it comes to arm toning.
The amount of repetitions per exercise will depend on each target muscles individual strength and endurance. The key to success is to ask the muscles to work until overload i.e. fatigue and that will be different for each and every one of you, therefore, you may have to substitute the water bottle in the bicep and tricep exercises with something much heavier. So listen to your body, it will tell you when enough is enough.
Ensure that your last repetition is as good as the first. You should be in control of every movement and SLOW DOWN! – Speed and momentum cause injuries. Correct technique is the key to your success not how fast or how many you do.
Before taking part in the following exercises ensure you have been cleared by your physician or other health care provider.
¾ PUSH-UP
· Start on your hands and knees.
· Place your hands slightly outside your shoulders with your fingers facing forwards.
· Move the upper body forward until you feel that the weight if off your knee cap and more onto the front of the thigh.
· Cross you legs at the ankles.
· Lower your body weight towards the floor.
· Pause and push yourself back up.
Key Tips:
· Ensure you lower your pelvis to the floor as well as the upper body – do not leave your bottom high in the air!
· Core stability is vital in this position to protect your lower back, therefore, draw your navel into the spine and suck your waistline in.
· As you push up, straighten the arms but do not lock the elbows.
· Keep your body weight over the arms and not towards the knees.
FULL PUSH UP
This position is more advanced than the ¾ push up.
· Start on your hands and knees.
· Place your hands slightly outside your shoulders with your fingers facing forwards.
· Extend the legs fully and balance the body between your toes and hands.
· Lower your body to the floor.
· Pause and push up.
Key Tips:
· Ensure you lower your whole body to the floor as one unit -do not leave your bottom high in the air!
· Core stability is vital in this position to protect your lower back, therefore, draw your navel into the spine and suck your waistline in.
· As you push up, straighten the arms but do not lock the elbows.
· Keep your body weight over the arms.
· The photo shows the legs crossed at the ankle to distribute the weight a little more evenly take the legs just outside hip distance apart – this is a little easier.
TRICEP KICKBACK
· Start with your legs approximately hip distance apart.
· Hold a weight of your choice in each hand.
· Turn your palms to face each other.
· Soften your knees.
· Bend your upper body from the hip and flatten your back.
· Draw your elbows up, bending them at the elbow.
· Extend your arm at the elbow, lengthening the arm.
· Bend back to start position.
Key Tips:
· Engage your core muscles by drawing the navel to the spine and sucking the waistline in.
· Keep your back flat and neck lengthened.
· Draw your shoulders down away from your ears.
· Keep the upper arm still, only extend the arm at the elbow.
BICEP CURL
· Start with your legs approximately hip distance apart and arms by your side.
· Hold a weight of your choice in each hand.
· Turn your palms to face each other.
· Bend the arm at the elbow bringing your hands to your shoulders.
· Lower to start position.
Key Tips:
· Draw your shoulders away from your ears.
· Keep your elbows tucked into your waist.
· Only bend the arm at the elbow, keeping your shoulders still.
· Try not to grip the weight as this can cause pain in the elbow.
SHOULDERS
· Start with your legs hip distance apart.
· Hold a weight of your choice in each hand.
· Raise the arms out in front of you to shoulder height and lower.
· Raise both arms to shoulder height out to the side and lower.
· Bend your knees.
· Flatten your back and lean forward.
· Raise both arms to shoulder height out to the side and lower.
Key Tips:
· Engage your core by drawing the navel into the spine and suck your waistline in.
· Only lift the arms to shoulder height.
· Keep your elbows soft.
Cheryl Alker specializes in flexibility training, facial exercises and postural alignment. Her 28 year career started as a group fitness and personal trainer, she has lectured and directed fitness training programs in both Europe and the USA and was an advisor for a Governmental health promotion program. Alker and her company Stretch Results International continues to work with a select clientele from a base in Palm Beach County, Florida, certifying health professionals in her results based stretching program, educating consumers through public speaking and offering consultation to clients who wish to lose their muscular pain and gain flexibility to achieve full and active lifestyles. Alker has just released a DVD for back pain sufferers.For more information about professional continuing education and consultation options, e:books or DVD’s please call Cheryl on 561 889 3738 or visit www.stretchresults.com.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Around Wellington, the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
May, 2011 – An Interview with App Author Dr. Eric Baumel
AW Stories of the Month
There’s An App for That!
An Interview with Dr. Eric Baumel, Radiologist and App Author
By Krista Martinelli
Have you ever wondered how an app gets created? For a work-related app, it usually starts with someone wishing that they had something important at their fingertips. In the case of Wellington radiologist, Eric Baumel, the motivation came in his daily work, as he needed quick access to some charts, graphs and calculations. “There are certain things that we have to look up all of the time – answers that are not quite on the tip of my tongue,” explains Baumel. What’s most unusual is that in his case, he was able to take his knowledge as a doctor, combine it with his interest in software development and create an app himself.
It’s called “Radiology Toolbox” and it’s an app that’s taking off quickly. The app went live on January 23, 2011 and can be downloaded for free. So far there have been 15,000 downloads in over 60 countries. Baumel has received emails from people in the Ukraine, France, Saudia Arabia and other countries with people thanking him for creating it.
If you want to download the app, you’ll see the “suggestion box.” On each tab, there’s a place at the bottom for “Suggestions.” It was a great element to include, as it’s the best way to receive quick feedback from actual users. Some of the suggestions so far are upgrades that were already planned for the next version; others are good new ideas. Instead of spending lots of money on market research groups, Baumel can be directly responsive to users.
Although the app was primarily designed for radiologists, he’s getting positive response from primary care physicians and nurse practitioners. It’s like your “ectopic brain,” says Baumel. In medical school, “ectopic” is a familiar word, meaning “appearing outside of its expected place.”
Some of the benefits of Radiology Toolbox, especially in the next version soon to be released, are the ways that it helps doctors in knowing how to handle different ovarian cysts, thyroid nodules and when to recommend surgery.
While Dr. Eric Baumel has been a radiologist for 25 years since his residency in 1986, he’s also kept his hand in computer programming all along. He took just one computer class. “I really found that I enjoyed programming,” says Baumel. He did some medical programming while at the Miami VA Hospital as a volunteer in the nuclear medicine department. After moving to Wellington, he taught himself C and C++. He founded Softcode Systems in 1995. And more recently, he taught himself Objective C for Apple Computers.
How has the Radiology Toolbox app affected Dr. Baumel’s everyday work? “I definitely use the app every day,” he says. One of the very helpful features is the GFR (Glomular Filtration Rate) calculator, which allows him to look at a patient’s kidney status and make sure it’s OK before doing an injection. Also, Baumel explains that the process of inputting all of the information while creating this tool has made him a better radiologist. He committed a lot of useful facts to memory in the process. He enjoys receiving feedback on the app from people across the globe, as well as from some of the techs in his office who use it.
While the app is free right now, he is developing a pro version that will be a paid version. By the way, only an average of 3% of users will upgrade to the paid version of gaming apps. For professional uses, especially the medical fields, Baumel notes that the upgrade rate is higher (generally 10 – 20%).
It takes a lot of persistence to develop an app and then market it. The whole development process was a challenge, according to Baumel, since he had to begin by learning the language. There are always little obstacles that come up in programming that can throw you off for hours or even days, until solved. One time it was just a missing set of parentheses that was throwing off the whole program. Once the app was almost ready, he had to learn to upload it to the Apple store, which presented a whole new set of challenges. The easiest part was the medicine, says Baumel, “Because I already knew what I wanted to put in there.” As a result, the Radiology Toolbox is a great reference tool.
Dr. Baumel practices at Independent Imaging, which is located at Palomino Park on 441, between Lake Worth Road and Forest Hill Boulevard. Independent Imaging, with current CEO Dr. Daniel Ghiragossian and partners have also opened an office in Belle Glade. It was originally founded as Palms West MRI and then was expanded and renamed Independent Imaging in 2001.
While working as a radiologist is his day job, Dr. Baumel is quite the Renaissance man. He’s also into photography, video editing, gourmet cooking and, of course, software development. As a family tradition, he makes bouillabaisse every New Year’s Eve, followed by crème brûlée.
Eric is married to Lori Baumel, who is a talented composer, multimedia producer and jewelry designer. They have three kids, who all seem to have carried on the creative genes in the family – Samuel, Rachel and Evan. Samuel lives in Brooklyn and co-owns a production company, working on independent feature films, including documentaries. Rachel attends Simmons College in Boston with a major in Arts Administration. Evan attends the School of Public Affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. with a concentration in economic policy. He participates in the Kennedy Political Union and has had the chance to interview many famous political figures, including – most recently – Colin Powell. At AroundWellington.com, we were so happy to have both Rachel and Evan as “Teen Talk” writers. As our readers know from past issues, they are both talented writers.
The Baumel family has lived in Wellington since 1991. Dr. Baumel says, “We’re very proud of our community.” They enjoy the unique aspects of Wellington and appreciate being able to live and work here.
For more information on the app, visit www.RadiologyToolbox.com or just download it for free if you have an iPhone.
May, 2011 – Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes
Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes
Links:
http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/mothers-day-brunch/Detail.aspx
This is a Mother’s Day Brunch menu, which gives you options. Choose from an Orange-Pecan French Toast recipe or a Quiche Lorraine and take it from there. Love it!
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/german-pancake-10000001177727/index.html
This is an easy recipe for a German pancake from RealSimple.com. If you’ve never made one of these, they are so amazing. They puff up in the oven and become a work of art, so beautiful and so yummy!
http://www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/mothers-day-brunch-00400000002191/
This menu comes from CookingLight.com and it’s a nice break from all of the rich (and fattening) brunch standards. Try a spinach, tomato, and Swiss cheese strata, or burritos with scrambled tofu. For fruit, try Sliced Mangoes with Crystallized Ginger. Quench her thirst with a refreshing Raspberry-Orange Sunrise.
May, 2011 – Ice King of Wellington, A Cool Treat
AW Spotlight
The Ice King of Wellington – A Cool Taste of N.Y.C. and a Blast from the Past
By Krista Martinelli
I remember the first time I tasted the lemon ice at the Ice King in Wellington. “Watch out for the lemon seeds,” said owner Michael Liberta. This is how fresh and lovely this frozen ice is – you might even bump into a lemon seed or two. Love it! So do many others as it continues to catch on.
In fact, Liberta has opened the only other Ice king location in Florida, so we’re lucky to have it right here in the Courtyard Shops at Wellington (next to Tijuana Flats). Some of the best selling points? There are 36 flavors, the recipes have been around for 64 years and it’s a dairy-free, healthy product!
“There’s nobody down here that has Italian Ice like this,” says Liberta. “The consistency of the product, the real fruit, the real pieces inside each serving…it’s unique.”
The top four flavors are pistachio (which they served recently at Flavors 2011), lemon, cherry and rainbow. Most popular among the children is the pink cotton candy ice, which really tastes just like cotton candy. All of the ice is made in New York City and shipped down here. According to Liberta, it just wouldn’t be the same otherwise – a crucial ingredient in Italian Ice is the water, so the New York water needs to be in it.
The Ice King of Wellington opened in August of last year. They quickly attracted “regulars” who come every day or every other day for their favorite flavors of ice. The Ice King gives back to the community and stays involved in many ways. They’ve participated in “Spirit Nights” at Wellington Elementary, Panther Run, Binks Forest, Wellington High School and other schools. As far as fundraisers, they participated in the St. Baldrick’s event this year and worked with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Wellington Chamber. The Ice King brings their ice to every movie night at the Wellington Amphitheatre these days (see schedule). Throughout the summer, they will be at the Amphitheatre every Friday night.
The Ice King has done a great job of getting around Wellington in their first year. They sold their Italian ice at polo every Sunday, during the polo season. They also participated in the Winter Equestrian Festival. So even if you haven’t visited their storefront in the Courtyard Shops at Wellington, you may have tasted their ice at one of these local events.
Mike Liberta seems to have a special place in his heart for charity events that help children in need. If it’s a fundraiser for a children’s organization, the Ice King is usually there. He’s lived in Wellington with his wife and two boys (10 and 5) for twelve years now. “We’re happy with Wellington because it’s such a good family area and the schools are good.” He partners in the business with his aunt, who has been working at the store in the afternoons while Mike goes out to various Wellington events.
The Ice King of Wellington is open Monday thru Thursday from 12:00 noon – 9:30pm, Friday from noon – 10:30pm, Saturday from 11am – 10:30pm and Sunday from 12:00 noon – 8:30pm. Look out for extended summer hours.
The Ice King of Wellington
The Courtyard Shops At Wellington
13860-40 Wellington Trace
Wellington, FL 33414
561-792-2900
(For Coupons, visit AroundWellington.com, then “AW Coupons”).
May, 2011 – My Inaugural Chudspah Awards
Cantankerously Yours 
My Inaugural Chudspah Awards
By Wendell Abern
Dear Flabbergastees,
As I have mentioned a few times in the past, chudspah is a marvelous Yiddish word that means a lot of nerve. Or gall. The Talmudic definition: a young man who murders his mother and father, then throws himself at the mercy of the court on the grounds he’s an orphan.
In doling out these much-deserved awards, I must confess that some of them – especially those that involved me personally – have left me so dumbfounded I feel like I belong in Wonderland with Alice.
1 – The sweet little old lady at Publix.
She was at least 90 years old. Perhaps 95. I was in front of her at the super market check-out counter, with a basket holding only four items. I was just putting them on the conveyor belt when she deftly wheeled her cart around me and started emptying her purchases, placing them on the belt in front of my groceries.
“Hey!” I shouted. “What am I, the invisible alien?”
No response.
Flabbergasted, I addressed the old woman, and as loud as I could, said, “Pardon me, madam, but do you think your age entitles you to be rude, inconsiderate and boorish?”
She turned to me, smiled sweetly and said, “Yes.” Unruffled, she asked the cashier, “And how much will that be, sweetie?”
I wish I knew her name. I’d create a special chudspah plaque in her honor.
2 – Charlie Sheen.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Easy target. However, forget about Mr. Sheen’s sophomoric whining and delusional caterwauling for a moment and think about his chudspah: He called Chuck Lorre stupid!
Chuck Lorre created the show, “Two and-a-Half Men,” which propelled Charlie Sheen from star to superstar. When last I looked, “Two and-a-Half Men” was the second-highest rated comedy on TV. Right after “Big Bang Theory.” Which Chuck Lorre also created!
Yet Charlie Sheen calls him stupid. Now that’s chudspah. One can only assume that if Sheen ever plays the role of Macbeth, he’ll refer to Shakespeare as an idiot.
3 – Ross Ohlendorf, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates.
Last year, Mr. Ohlendorf won one game and lost eleven. For which he was paid $439,000. His ERA, or earned run average, was a bit over four. (Earned run average indicates the number of earned runs a pitcher will give up in nine innings. An ERA of three or less is considered terrific; four is at best adequate.)
One win. One. The kind of year that usually results in a pitcher being sent to the minor leagues. The kind of year analogous to a salesman losing all but one of his accounts. The kind of year for which you and I would have been fired.
Ross Ohlendorf asked for a raise!
Wait! It gets better!
The Pirates offered him a raise! But “only” to 1.4 million dollars.
Wait! It just keeps getting better, folks!
Ohlendorf turned it down!
It wasn’t enough!
Setting the chudspah bar as high as the murderer who cried “orphan,” Ohlendorf was asking for 2.025 million dollars! (He must have assumed
he’d win five games this year.)
They went to arbitration. When a professional baseball player and his management go to arbitration, one or the other wins; there is no compromise.
And the three-judge panel ruled in Ohlendorf’s favor!
(Down here in Wonderland, Alice and I are preparing an addition to the Talmud, which we call The Ohlendorf Amendment.)
4 – K-V Pharmaceutical Company.
After obtaining approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a pregnancy drug, this St. Louis company raised its price for a single dose from $20 to $l,500. That is not a typo, folks. One thousand, five hundred dollars per dose. Chudspah, unbound.
(Alice, help! Where are you? Bring me some tea or something!)
5 – American Express.
This vaunted, omnipotent corporation rejected my application for a credit card when I opened a Costco account. According to them, my “consumer credit bureau score from Experian was too low.”
I looked up my Experian score, which was 742 and rated as “very low risk” … and that my credit to debt ratio was 98%.
I wrote AMEX a letter, explaining that Experian had written, “Factors in your credit line indicate you have excellent credit.”
I resisted asking what their employees had been smoking when they interpreted my scores, and asked them to explain my rejection.
Instead, five days later, I received another letter from AMEX, telling me I had qualified for an American Express Senior Gold Card.
I called, and talked to Robert.
“Is this card in response to the letter I wrote?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t know. That’s a different department.”
Robert then explained that AMEX has 23 different credit cards, and after listening patiently for a minute, I told him to sign me up for the Senior Gold Card. He did, telling me their response would be in my e-mail soon.
One hour later, they rejected me again.
I called and talked to Evelyn.
“You were rejected,” she explained, “because you had applied for the Costco Card.”
“Oh.” I stifled a laugh. “If your company didn’t want me to apply for a Gold Card, why would they send me an application for one?”
“Sir, that’s a different department. I wouldn’t know.”
I took a deep breath. “Evelyn, you and I are going to bring back vaudeville.”
“What?”
“Who’s on first?”
Silence.
“I get it. You want to be Costello. Okay, I’ll be Abbott.”
Long pause.
“We’ll open in Schenectady, at the old Palace.“
Evelyn hung up on me.
I have since obtained my complete, three-part credit rating from “freecreditrating.com.” After the phrase, “Your credit rating,” they wrote “Great.” Experian now had me at 762; Equifax at 775, and Trans Union at 805. Under their numerical graph, they had written, “You are highly likely to qualify for a loan with an attractive interest rate.”
Instantly, I wrote a letter to Mr. Ken Chenault, the CEO of American Express, asking for an explanation of my rejections and included a copy of my previous letter to them and a copy of my credit report, labeling them Exhibits A and B.
I also mentioned that he is being considered for chudspah executive of the year.
I will keep you posted.
Cantankerously Yours,
Wendell Abern
Wendell Abern can be reached at .
May, 2011 – Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!
Lighten Up with Lisa
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!
By Lisa Dawn Wax
Once again we are in the midst of springtime when the sun is shining, temperatures are warming, plants are blooming, and spring holidays are being celebrated. Easter and Passover have just passed us by and we now get to look forward to Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day means big, yummy brunches where we eat too much or breakfast in bed made with a child’s loving touch. It’s a day when we receive precious gifts made by our children that perhaps we keep a little longer than need be and then give our own gift to the mom who has nurtured us since we were wee. Here are some lessons motherhood has taught me.
Having my son, Dante, has given me new and greater insights and perspectives of what it means to be a mom. It also has allowed me to learn about the joys and struggles mothers face and thus better understand my relationship with my own mother. For example, my mom will say things like, “You know how much you love Dante? That’s how much I love you.” As an adult it is almost incomprehensible that I can be as loveable as my adorable 6 year old. Then I realize that I wasn’t born this age and I was adorable once too. I think God made babies so cute because of the endless patience that is required with motherhood. My mom will look at me even today and say that I have the same face as when I was young. Aha, thank God for mothers!
It was also interesting for me to learn that as children we hate to disappoint our parents; and as parents we hate to disappoint our children. Personally, I spent most of my life trying to please mom and dad, but it wasn’t until Dante was born that I felt the real pressure to be the best I could be; more specifically the best mom I could be. Most mothers want to give their children the best of everything and afford them every possible opportunity for maximum health, happiness and success. Prior to motherhood I worked in the corporate world and handled stress and multitasking with ease. Then one day when Dante was an infant I nearly had a breakdown (well not really) over having to choose between mashed carrots or peas. Nothing compares to making decisions for our children and the consequences that follow. We are molding people; a task that carries enormous responsibility. Again, thank God for mothers!
Perhaps one of the most important lessons motherhood has taught me is to reserve judgment. We all have our opinions about “proper” child rearing. What I’ve learned is that (most) mothers all do the best they can given the cards they are dealt. Some have it easier and some have it tougher. Some face the usual daily challenges and others face extraordinary circumstances. Some must endure unbearable traumas and others get off with a few bumps and bruises. In any of these situations mothers have the toughest job around. Motherhood brings new meaning to “multitasking” and obliterates “coffee breaks”. Before becoming a mom I used to point fingers and chastise this mother or that mother for not doing what I thought was “the right thing.” I’ve even faulted my own mother for a thing or two. Now that I realize how hard it is to be a mother even if I may disagree with some choices that other moms may make, I would never pass judgment on those choices. I realize I don’t walk in their shoes and motherhood has some big shoes to fill. So one last time, thank God for mothers!
To all the moms I know and especially to my own mother, Rachel, God bless you for all you’ve done and continue to do.
Until next time, may your days be brighter and your lives be lighter.
Lightworker Lisa
Let me ignite the light in your life!
A Lightworker is someone with an innate ability to know and heal and whose divine mission is to write, teach or counsel others about spiritual teachings. Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa, is a born Lightworker, certified Angel Healing Practitioner and Reiki Master Practitioner; all of which basically confirm her intuitive abilities to help, heal and teach. If you are in need of affordable healing and life coaching with immediate results, call her at 561-594-3948 or visit her website www.lightworkerlisa.com. You can also listen to her new weekly radio show “The Youtopia Hour” on W4CY.com Mondays at 2PM ET.