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October, 2010 – The List for Perfectionists

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Ultimate ProductivityClaudine Motto

 

The list every perfectionist needs to make

 

By Claudine Motto


If you’re a perfectionist, the only time you probably laugh at being one is when you’re talking to another perfectionist, because they just “get it.”  But you know perfectionism isn’t really all that funny – it can paralyze you and keep you from getting things done, from taking action, from sticking your neck out and taking a risk perfectionism keeps you safe, but keeps you from growing. 

 

And when you’re a home-based business owner, if you’re not growing on some level, you’re falling behind you need to write that article, to call that sales lead, to give that presentation, to raise your prices.  But when your perfectionism kicks in, the amount of time and analyzing and thinking you pour into doing these things doubles, and can be exhausting – and more often than not, that extra level of polish, of detail, of perfect just goes unnoticed and isn’t worth the effort.

 

I know, because I’ve been there, and so have many of my clients.

 

What you want to do is make a list of all the times you didn’t let perfectionism get the best of you – think back to that time you put out that article without being 100% satisfied with every detail of it; the time you gave that presentation with a simple handout; the time you quoted your higher prices or called that sales lead even though you didn’t feel fully prepared; the time you didn’t rewrite that e-mail to your client 50 times looking for just the perfect wording; the time you put up that page on your website announcing your new product even though you wanted to keep tweaking it.


Then name the list something that speaks to you, something that reminds you that this list is about appreciating the imperfect.  And then step back, read it, and relish all the time and exhaustion you saved yourself every time you did each of those things less than perfectly. And how you got through it, and how you’re still here.  And how you learned a lot more from taking action than overpolishing and overpreparing and overthinking.

 

So if you’ve never made one of these lists, go ahead and make one – and put it away somewhere safe so you can take it out the next time you’re overdoing anything – and go do it imperfectly instead.

 

2010 Claudine Motto, All Rights Reserved. 

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

 

 

 

November, 2010 – Arthritis Foundation’s 2010 Walk on Nov. 13th

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Nov. 13, 2010  –

The Arthritis Foundation’s 2010 Arthritis Walk
John Prince Park, Lake Worth
 
Honorary Event Co-Chairs, MaryJo McPhail, MBA PT of JFK Medical Center, and Kelly Hafferly, of JFK Medical Center;
           
Honorary Chairs, Dr. Michael Schweitz, rheumatologist, and Dr. Greg Martin, orthopedic surgeon
 
8AM Registration; 9AM Walk Begins
Bring your dogs (because pets get arthritis, too!) and join the Arthritis Foundation in their annual “Walk for Those Who Can’t & ‘ARRF-ritis Walk” on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth.
 
For more information, visit our web site at www.2010awlakeworth.kintera.org or contact Susie Rhodes, (561) 833-1133; srhodes@arthritis.org

October, 2010 – AW in Pictures

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.

(Clockwise from top right) - Sanda Gane of Sanda Gane European Day Spa at the Wellington Women's Club Open House. Holly and Deborah Morgan of Palm Beach Harvest and a friend at their fundraiser car wash. Ronald McDonald performs a magic show at the Lantana Public Library. Peace poster award winner Tamara Frazier at the Wellington Peace Ceremony.
(Clockwise from top right) - Sanda Gane of Sanda Gane European Day Spa at the Wellington Women's Club Open House. Holly and Deborah Morgan of Palm Beach Harvest and a friend at their fundraiser car wash. Ronald McDonald performs a magic show at the Lantana Public Library. Peace poster award winner Tamara Frazier at the Wellington Peace Ceremony.

 

October, 2010 – Traveling the World Via Aunt Shirley

Traveling the World through the Eyes of My Aunt Shirley

 

By Krista Martinelli

 

So you’ve heard the phrase, “Welcome to my world?” This map is the world of my Aunt Shirley. She keeps this map inside a closet, keeping

The thumbtacks represent the places Shirley Woods has visited.
The thumbtacks represent the places Shirley Woods has visited.

track of all of the places around the world where she has visited. As you can see, there’s a thumbtack just about everywhere. She is, without a doubt, the most well-traveled, adventurous person I’ve ever met. Seriously – from the North Pole to the South Pole to the Galapagos Islands to Hong Kong and almost everywhere else in between, she has been there. (See the list of places visited at the end of this article).

 

Shirley Woods, former school administrator in Fort Lauderdale, got a taste of traveling in 1971 with her friend Betsy, when they took an extensive tour of Africa, including the breath-taking Victoria Falls. However, her consistent traveling really started in 1990, after she was retired and stepped out of the school system. Then it was off to Australia and New Zealand, just the start of an ongoing series of international trips, usually between four – six per year.

 

My daughter and my Aunt Shirley, holding a Tibetan prayer wheel and bell in Shirley's home
My daughter and my Aunt Shirley, holding a Tibetan prayer wheel and bell in Shirley's home

We love visiting Aunt Shirley’s house and seeing her souvenirs from her world travels. She collects crystals, and my kids love seeing the many crystals displayed in her home. Interesting books are everywhere you look. And you will see lots of musical instruments, souvenirs and artifacts.  It’s one of the most fascinating places in the world to my children.

 

 

I asked about her favorite place, and she narrowed it down to two trips. The first was her trip to China and Tibet. “Tibet,” she explains, “is a country that speaks to my soul.” When she visited in 1995, China was in the process of taking over Tibet, and the Dalai Lama had been expelled from the country. Tibet holds many ancient traditions and its own ancient wisdom of medicine. Yet China is making every effort to expunge anything and everything Tibetan.

 

The experience of visiting Lhasa was almost surreal, she says, as its located 12,000 feet above sea level and takes some acclimation. With the help of a Tibetan guide, she visited Lhasa, experiencing life “above timberline.” Traveling in the countryside outside of Lhasa, she came across something so startling; it made her stop in her tracks. A rustic home with a Swastika painted on one side and a Star of David on the other side of the front door. Her guide explained that these pre-historic symbols originally were used to invite good spirits into the home and expel bad spirits from the home. So the dwellers in the home, oblivious to the history of Nazi Germany, were simply warding off bad spirits and welcoming the good ones in their older-than-Christianity and Judaic ways.

 

The other most amazing place she’s visited is Antarctica. She took a small passenger ship, the Marco Polo, and explored some small islands along with setting foot on the continent of Antarctica, that very few people ever get the chance to visit. “It’s a purity beyond all purities on Earth,” she says. “Antarctica is a place where you see no footprints of civilization anywhere.” As she explains, there are no electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs). “You immediately feel a lightness of your being. There’s nothing pushing at you.” The wildlife does not seem to be afraid of people. For example, the penguins do not run away. They have had very little exposure to people and have no fear. Spectacular in its primordial beauty, Antarctica is a place to behold. 

 

As far as difficult trips, there’s been only one trip where Shirley ran into political uprising and was unable to fly home on time. However, things were not so bad when stuck in Kathmandu in Nepal. She just spent three extra days in the Yak & Yeti Hotel. “We felt safe because the hotel was right next to the king’s palace,” she recalls.

 

When asked if there’s any place that she still would like to visit, Shirley mentions Bali. “It’s the last stop in the book/movie Eat, Pray, Love,” she says. It’s a place she’s been curious about for a long time.  So it’s already on the travel schedule. She’s aiming for Bali next June with her long-time traveling companion Jackie, as well as with a retired Wellington High School teacher Barbara Dale McCall.

Fjords near Greenland, a photo from Shirley's most recent trip
Fjords near Greenland, a photo from Shirley's most recent trip

 

 

According to Shirley, the overseas image of Americans has improved over the years. The book “The Ugly American” depicted our unwelcome and sometimes unattractive image as a nation about forty years ago.  “Personally, I’ve always been treated warmly while traveling,” she says, although she did find one exception to this rule – in France. She remembers a French shop owner who refused to serve her “because she was an American.”  However, her husband stepped in, graciously apologizing for his wife, and helped us.  As Shirley is quick to point out, that was just one person among many kind individuals in France that she met. For the most part, people in other countries tend to treat Americans warmly.

 

Shirley is adventurous when it comes to her travels, but not so daring when it comes to the exotic foods. While their food, in general, is amazing, Thailand also offered possibly the most exotic and frightening variety of things to eat. Some of the delicacies in local marketplaces were silkworms and “crispy beetles.” While Shirley’s friend Jackie was willing to give these things a try, Shirley played it safe.

 

I asked what the makings are of a good traveling companion, since

Shirley and her traveling companion Jackie
Shirley and her traveling companion Jackie

 Shirley has taken countless trips with her friend Jackie.  Because of the intensity that traveling brings out, it’s certainly difficult to find the right person to travel with. “Jackie is always in a good mood,” says Shirley. “She is very helpful and always joy-filled.”

 

Among many types of trips, Shirley has been very happy with a company called Grand Circle trips. She’s taken 14 of these guided trips, and they include a home-hosted meal with a local family. “They are precious, gracious, hard-working people,” says Shirley, speaking of the families who host these special meals. She loved the tea ceremony in Japan, as well as the meals with families in Russia, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and other countries.

 

Why does she travel so much? “Traveling opens hearts and minds beyond the cocoons that we are used to living in.” By venturing to new places, you will find “deep, enriching experiences,” says Shirley.

 

So until my kids are a little older and I’ve saved up a little more money for trips, I will be traveling vicariously – through my Aunt Shirley.  And I’m really excited about the next big trip – Bali!

 

Shirley Woods’ World Travels

 

Around the U.S. including

Alaska 

Hawaii

          Oahu

          Kauai

          Maui

         

Canada

          Ottawa

          Toronto

          St. John’s, Newfoundland

          Calgary

          Victoria

          Lake Louise

 

Antarctica

          Paradise Harbor on the Continent

          Deception Island

          Port Lockroy

          Half Moon Island

 

England/Wales

          London

          Dover

          Glastonbury

          Stonehenge

          Land’s End

          St. Davids

          Exeter Castle

          Tintern Abbey

 

Scotland

          Edinburgh

 

Kenya

          Nairobi

          (environs)

 

Tanzania 

          Serengeti Plane

          Lake Manyara

 

Greece

          Athens

          Delphi

          Temple of Athena

          Rhodes

          Santorini

          Mykonos

          Meteora

 

Ukraine

          Yalta

          Odessa

 

Bulgaria

          Varna

 

Turkey

          Ephesus

          Istanbul:  Saint Sophia, Topkapi, Blue Mosque

          Antalya

          Izmir

          Gallipoli

          Troy

Cappadocia             

 

Italy

          Vatican… St. Peters

          Sistine Chapel

          Assissi

          Venice

          Florence

          Verona

          Milan

          Sicily:  Around the whole island

 

Malta  Around the whole island nation

          Gozo

 

Egypt

          Cairo

          Luxor

          Aswan

          Pyramids

                   Down the Nile

 

 

India

          Delhi/New Delhi

          Jaipur

          Agra

                   Taj Mahal

 

Nepal

          Kathmandu

                   Temples, Stupas, and Palaces

 

 

 

SE Asia

          Viet Nam

                   Nha Trang

                   Saigon

          Phillipines

                   Manilla

          Malaysia

                   Kuala Lampur

          Thailand

                   Bangkok

                   Chiang Rai

                   Chiang Mai

          Laos

          Cambodia

                   Angkor Wat

          Myanmar (Burma)

          Singapore

         

China

          Yangtze River

          Beijing

          Shanghai

          Canton

          Hong Kong

          Tibet

 

Central & South America

          Costa Rica

          Aruba

          San Blas

          Panama Canal

          Cartagena, Columbia

          Manta,  Ecuador

          Lima, Peru

          Macchu Pichu

          Lake Titicaca

          Santiago, Chile

          Around Cape Horn  

          Falkland Islands

          Ushuaia, Argentina

          Buenos Aires, Argentina

          Amazon River

          Manaus and Jungle surrounding

          Trinidad

          Devil’s Island

          Martinique

          Barbados

          San Juan, Puerto Rico

          St. Thomas

          Tortola

 

 

Mexico

          Monterey

          Puerto Vallarta

          Oaxaca

          Acapulco

          Chichen Itza

          Copper Canyon

 

Uruguay

          Montevideo

 

Brazil

          Iguazu Falls

          Punte Del Este

          Rio de Janeiro

 

 

Norway

          Kirkenes above the Arctic Circle

          Along the west coast

          Alesund

          Bergen

          Oslo

 

Denmark

          Greenland

 

Sweden

 

Finland

          Helsinki

 

Iceland         

          Reykjavik and surroundings

          Isafjord

          Akureyri

 

Europe

          Along the Danube from Passau to Budapest

          Frankfurt

          Munich

          Passau

 

Hungary

          Budapest

 

Austria

          Vienna

 

 

Czech Republic

          Bratislava

          Melk

 

Spain

          Madrid

          Toledo

          Granada

          Alhambra

          Seville

          Costa del Sol

          Salamanca

          Avila

          Malaga

 

Gibraltar

 

Morocco

Tangiers

         

Portugal

          Lisbon

          Fatima

          Santarem

          Canary Islands

          Las Palmas

 

Belgium

          Antwerp

          Brussels

          Ghent

 

Holland

          Amsterdam

 

Ireland

          Dublin

                   St. Patrick’s Cathedral

                   Trinity College

          Killarney

          Ring of Kerry

          Galway

          Rock of Cashel

          Blarney Castle

          Clare Coast

          Tipperary

 

Japan

          Tokyo

          Hakone

          Kanazawa

          Kyoto

 

Switzerland

          Zurich

          Grindelwald

 

France

          Strasbourg

          Alsace-Lorraine

          Nice

          Antibes

          Vence

          Cannes

          Monaco

          Monte Carlo

          Aix-en-Provence

          Arles

          Avignon

          Vivres

          Tournon

          Vienne

          Lyon

          Dijon

          Paris

          St. Pierre Island off Canadian Coast

          Mont St. Michel

Rhone and Saone Rivers

 

Germany

          Frankfurt  

          Berlin  

          Dresden

          Rothenburg

          Rhineland

          Along the Rhine, Mosel, and Main Rivers

 

Luxembourg

         

Poland

          Warsaw

          Poznan

          Auschwitz

          Krakow

Russia

          Moscow

                   Kremlin

          Along the Volga, Svir, and Neva Rivers

          Uglich

          Yaroslavl

          Petrozavodsk

          Kizhi Island

          Mandrogi

          St. Petersburg

                   Hermitage

                   Peter and Paul Fortress

          Catherine’s Palace

 

Slovakia

Slovenia

Croatia

Bosnia

Montenegro

Serbia

Romania

          Transylvania

 

Mexico

          Cabo San Lucas

          Acapulco

          Puerto Vallarta

          Manzanilla

 

Venezuela

          Las Piedras

 

Jamaica

 

Panama

          San Blas

 

Curacao

 

Dominican Republic

 

Israel

          Tel Aviv

          Jerusalem

          Mount of Olives

          Sea of Galilee

          Bethlehem

          River Jordan

          Garden Tomb

          Environs

 

Galapagos Islands

 

Australia

          Cairns

          Sydney

          Melbourne

          Phillips Island

 

 

 

New Zealand

          North Island

          South Island

          Roturua

          Aukland

          Christ Church

 

Fiji

 

Tahiti

October, 2010 – From 100 Columns: My Crankiest Moments

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Wendell AbernCantankerously Yours

 

From 100 columns:  My Crankiest Moments

 

By Wendell Abern

 

Dear Readers,

          My column has been appearing in sundry South Florida publications since April, 2001.  Nine and one-half years.  Due to vacations, a few repeats, publication requirements, etc., this publication marks my 100th column.

          To celebrate, I decided my centennial column should be a compilation of some of my most cantankerous moments.  And so, I combed through my files, and in an act of blatant, unbridled egotism, I present here some choice curmudgeonly moments, with brief summaries. 

          1 – From, “People Magazine Keeps Its Streak Alive,” May 2005.

 

Annually, I write an angry open letter to the editors of People, protesting my exclusion from their list of the world’s most beautiful people, and citing my many qualifications, such as …

Complexion.  I call your attention to actress Katharine McPhee’s comments:  “I admire people with beautiful skin, so I really like getting compliments on my own skin.”

          Assuming Ms. McPhee’s definition of “beautiful skin” is the same as mine, she would turn chartreuse with envy if she saw my back.  I have so many growths, bumps and funny black marks that last Tuesday my neighbor’s Dalmatian tried to mate with me.

 

          2 – From, “Create Your Own Phone Menus, July 2006.”

 

          Fed up with recorded phone menus, I proposed retaliation, making Caller ID the only requisite:

 

Create your own phone menu!  Simply type up what you want to say and then read from it when your victim phones.  Custom-tailor as many menus as you want!  And waste your callers’ time by making them phone you twice.

         

I created my first phone menu after calling my former neurologist — fondly referred to here as Dr. Peabrain.  First, I spent four minutes On Hold; then I was transferred to a menu with eight options; then to a sub-menu with six options; then to the voice mail of Nasal Nodes Nora, the doctor’s nurse, and finally, to a recorded message saying, “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and dial your operator.”  Followed by a dial tone.

 

          I called back, left a message on Nora’s voice mail, typed up a menu, and eagerly awaited the return call.

 

The phone rang.  My Caller ID panel indicated Dr. Peabrain’s office.  I picked up the phone and said, “Izzy and Mo’s Delicatessen.” 

 

A female voice said, “Who ?” 

 

I said, “Dis is Mo, you vanta nice corned beef on rye, ve got a special, $4.95 vidda pickle and a lotka, couldn’t beat it.”  She hung up.  Outstanding.  She called back immediately. 

         

This time I read from my prepared menu:  “Caller ID indicates this is Dr. Peabrain’s office.  If this is Cindy in Medical Records, the Cleveland Clinic is still waiting for you to send them Mr. Wilson’s hemorrhoid tissue.  If this is Sue at the front desk, please go into the reception room immediately and collect a urine sample from everyone.  If this is Nora, everyone is laughing at what you wore to work today.”

         

She hung up.  The coward.

 

          3 – From “Agents,” Feb. 2008.

 

          This column, in stage play-type format,  protested the proliferation of agents, who make their living by exploiting the talents of just about anyone.  After accusing the agent world of a lack of imagination, I proposed they start representing astronauts, baby-sitters, and psychiatrists …

Page 3

 

SCENE:  Psychiatrist’s Office

         

          AGENT (PERCHED OVER SMALL CALCULATOR)  Okay, now how much are you getting right now for, say, your everyday, run-of-the-mill neurotic?

 

          PSYCHIATRIST:  Well, I charge most of my patients $150 an hour.  But some can’t afford —

 

          AGENT:  Won’t work, doc.  Gotta be $200 an hour, minimum.  Otherwise, we don’t make enough money.

 

          PSYCHIATRIST:  We?

 

          AGENT:  Now for your basic manic-depressives, we’ll charge $400 ‘cause you’re seein’ both a manic and a depressive, right?

 

          PSYCHIATRIST:  I don’t think —

 

          AGENT:  Maybe we’ll give ‘em a special discount, $350 for the two of them, howzat?  Now (STARTS POUNDING ON CALCULATOR), for multiple personalities, we give ‘em a big break.  Only $100 an hour per head, up to ten different personalities.

 

          PSYCHIATRIST:  Per head?  They’re not cattle.

 

AGENT:  (UNPERTURBED, POUNDING AWAY ON CALCULATOR)  Eleven to  25 people, you come down to $75 an hour per head.  More ‘n 25 personalities, they get a big break, only $50 an hour each.  You’re practically givin’ it away.

 

          PSYCHIATRIST:  Um … can I get back to you on this?

 

          AGENT:  (PICKING UP CALCULATOR AND SLIPPING IT INTO BRIEFCASE)  Sure, doc, sure.  You got my card, call me.  (GETS UP TO LEAVE)  Office, fax, cell, whatever.  Sooner you call, sooner we start pullin’ in the big bucks.  (EXITS)

 

4 – From “Holiday Greetings, 2002.”

 

          Each year, I make a list of people I feel are especially deserving of carefully chosen holiday gifts.  Here are a few from one of my earliest such annual columns.  (NOTE:   I would list the same gifts today.)

 

 

To Major League Baseball, Basketball and Football  Players: 

 

A special pennant to fly atop your custom-designed, 97-foot luxury yachts that sleep fourteen.  The pennant will be inscribed, “I don’t play for money.  I play to win.”

 

          To Militant Zealots:  

 

Lifetime membership in I.B.T. Inc. (International Bible Thumpers, Inc.), which encourages its members to use quotes from The Bible in order to validate personal prejudices.  

                  

          To young drivers with specially-equipped car radio speakers:

 

A citation from the Federal Aviation Agency, stating, “Due to recently- enacted noise abatement laws, your car has been denied permission to land at any airfield in South Florida.”

         

          5 – From, “Private Conversations, Public Places,” September, 2006.

          I didn’t think it possible for me to discover any new cantankerous buttons to be pushed – until someone invented the cellphone.

Large waiting room.  Free coffee.  TV set tuned to an innocuous soap opera.  Six or seven people waiting quietly.  Except for the young woman talking into her cell, completely oblivious to the rest of us, and complaining in a husky, musky voice about her three-year old.  I sat with pen poised over my crossword puzzle, waiting, hoping – and suddenly Her Obnoxiousness uttered The Magic Words:  “Here, let me give you my cellphone number.”

          Quickly, I jotted the number down, ambled out of the waiting room, stepped outside and yanked out my cellphone.  I dialed her number.

          “Hello,” the husky voice said.

          “Yeah, we’d like two orders of egg roll and a large moo-goo gai pan,” I said.

          “Who is this?”

          “And don’t forget the fortune cookies.  Last time you left out the fortune cookies.”

          She hung up.  But I still call her every now and then.  Last week, I found her line open and asked if she was paying too much for automobile insurance.  She hung up before I could make my pitch.

 

          Choosing these specific columns proved more difficult than I thought.

Unfortunately, I had to exclude my many tributes to Florida drivers, the medical profession, shoppers who send cashiers for cigarettes, and some of my other favorite targets.  Ah well, there is plenty of time to nail them in the months to come.

        

       Cantankerously Yours,

            Wendell Abern

 

Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net. 

 

 

October, 2010 – Boo Hoo/ Yahoo!

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Mommy MomentsMelanie Lewis

 

Boo Hoo / Yahoo!  Plus a Bonus Low Fat Lasagna Recipe

 

By Melanie Lewis

 

Boo Hoo–YaHooo!

 

The start of school brings with it mixed emotions.  I’m happy to have time to myself to complete tasks without the overhead of children-in-tow.  I’m simultaneously bewildered by the quiet and space.  For the first time, both of my kids went off to school at the same time.  My first thoughts were of all the things I could finally get done: bathroom renovations; de-cluttering, cleaning, getting a Facebook page.  Guess what happened?  Instead, I walked the dog through the drive-through to pick up a cup of coffee and sat down on the curb and just spaced-out.  I soaked in the sun and just sat with the dog and coffee.  I’m re-learning how to do things in this different format.  I’m sure the projects will all get done.  But the thing I figured out was that I really need to enjoy the moment and to soak up the presence the kids have all the more.  With chores out of the way during the week, I’m finding we’re soaking up the fun even more on the weekend.

Now we can take more time to do things right – like make a nice, low-fat lasagna recipe that everyone enjoys and cuts out a few calories too.

 

Easy low-fat lasagna

Ingredients:

One 15 oz can Heinz family favorites for lasagna

6 uncooked whole wheat lasagna noodles

One 16 oz container fat-free ricotta cheese

2 c chopped uncooked vegetables (mushrooms, broccoli, pepper, spinach)

4 oz shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a greased 11×7 glass baking dish, pour 1/3 of the sauce.

Place 3 noodles across.

Layer 3/4 of the ricotta cheese.

Add all chopped vegetables.

Sprinkle 1/2 of mozzarella cheese over vegetables.

Pour 1/3 of the sauce over cheese.

Place 3 noodles across.

Spread remaining ricotta cheese and then remaining sauce.

Bake covered,1 hour.

Sprinkle remaining cheese and bake 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.

 

Cool 5 minutes and enjoy!

27.5 Weight Watchers points in total, as prepared.  Makes 4 Jumbo-sized servings.

 

Melanie Lewis is the mother of 2 boys ages 4 and 7.  She is married and works part-time for Weight Watchers and as a Sipada representative. She enjoys reading, gardening and playing with her Blue-mitted Ragdoll, Percy and Golden Retriever, Rosie.

October, 2010 – October is the Month to Consider a Greyhound

Frances GoodmanPet Talk

 

October  is the Month to   

Consider a  Greyhound

 

By Frances Goodman

 

 

For those who have been thinking of adopting a retired greyhound, this may be the time.

October is “Adopt a Greyhound Month” at the local chapter of Greyhound Pets of America — meaning adoption fees will be waived for qualified applicants who want to make a retired racer a permanent part of their family.

According to Barbara Masi of GPA, screening will be thorough, as it should be, to make sure the former racers will be going to caring adopters who can provide for them properly.

Basically, they need the same loving care as most any dog.

To help you decide if a greyhound is right for you, visit the chapter’s website (listed below) to learn about greyhounds and check out a list of frequently asked questions.

Meantime, here are excerpts from a few of their FAQs:

Q: Are greyhounds good watchdogs?

A: No. Greyhounds in a home typically are very quiet. They may let you know you have “company” by standing in front of the area closest to the “guest” and wagging their tail and, on occasion, let out a single “woof.” But they would not be considered watchdogs.

Q. Would I have to take my greyhound to a groomer?

A: Not unless you want to. A weekly rubdown with a rubber grooming mitt works very well. You can trim their nails yourself or use a (pet grooming device) to file or grind the nails. Greyhounds are basically clean dogs and the less often you bathe them the more oils will stay in their coat and keep them silky and shiny. An annual or semi-annual bath is sufficient unless the dog gets into mud or dirt.

Q: Does a greyhound have to run daily to stay fit?

A: No. Retired racing greyhounds do not need any more exercise than any other large dog. That means a good walk every day. Greyhounds are sprinters and are not geared toward walking or running long distances. They will need to work up to any distance over time, just as a person would do.

Greyhounds are not off-leash dogs. When outside, they always need to be on leash or in a safe, completely fenced area. If you can find a safe place for a greyhound to run (when it is not too hot and humid) you will both enjoy the activity. It is a sight to see.

Q: Are greyhounds hyper?

A: Mostly the opposite. When you come home, you will get a big greeting but shortly thereafter the greyhound will want to “rest.” They really are couch potatoes. Greyhounds love to play with their stuffed toys, and are wonderful companions. But compared to, for example, a Jack Russell terrier, they are not hyper dogs once they have adjusted to their home life.

Q: What kinds of activities can I do with my greyhound?

Greyhounds are wonderful walking partners, after they build some endurance. We recommend to all adopters that they participate in an obedience class with their greyhound. Some also excel at agility. Many greyhounds excel in their “jobs” as therapy dogs. A visiting greyhound is a common sight in nursing homes, children’s organizations and other therapeutic situations. This is a win-win activity for all involved.

To learn more, visit greyhoundpetsfl.org or call 561-478-3006.

Of course, what the website can’t provide is the personal experience of meeting one of these dignified but friendly retired racers, who are so deserving of happy homes now that their racing careers are ended.

 

 

Frances Goodman is a professional dog trainer and pet care writer who lives in Royal Palm Beach. Got a question? Email her at fhpettalk@hotmail.com. See her ad this page.

December, 2010 – Hospice’s 2nd Annual Celebrity Pro-Am

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Contact: Jennifer Martinez, Communications Manager
Hospice of Palm Beach County
(561) 273-2194 or jmartinez@hpbc.com
 

Hospice of Palm Beach County Sets Date for 2nd Annual Celebrity Pro-Am!

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL. – Golf, sunshine, and celebrities are on tap for the 2nd Annual Hospice of Palm Beach County Celebrity Pro-Am. Taking place at the Breakers Rees Jones Course at Breakers West on December 4, 2010, golfers will be in heaven on the par 72 course that provides every level of golfer with options that include challenging water carries, varied pin positions and large landing areas from all tees.

Not into golf? Get in on the action and support Hospice of Palm Beach County at the Veuve Clicquot Cocktail Reception at The Breakers Palm Beach on Friday, December 3, 2010. This chic affair will have you dancing to the hottest tunes, bidding on luxury items in the silent auction and celebrity sightseeing from the Veuve Clicquot lounges.
 
Chair of this event is Shamin Abas. Tournament Director is Vicki Rautbord. Tickets for the cocktail reception are $250. Tickets for the day of golf, which include two tickets to the cocktail reception, are $1,000. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs and services of Hospice of Palm Beach County, the choice provider of hospice care in Palm Beach County.

For more information about this event, or to learn about available sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lauryn Barry at (561) 494-6884, email lbarry@hpbcf.org or Vicki Rautbord at (561) 642-6888, email vrautbord@hpbcf.org

About Hospice of Palm Beach County:  
Hospice of Palm Beach County, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization is dedicated to meeting every need of patients and families faced with advanced illness. The organization offers a comprehensive range of programs and services – from nationally recognized hospice care to music therapy, massage and loss-specific healing services. Full bereavement support is offered to hospice families and to anyone in the community in need.
 
Care is provided wherever the patient is – the home, skilled nursing or assisted living facility, hospital or hospice inpatient unit, including the C.W. Gerstenberg Hospice Center in West Palm Beach, the Jay Robert Lauer Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at JFK Medical Center, the Bethesda Memorial Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Bethesda Memorial Hospital, and the Hospice and Palliative Care Units at Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. Hospice of Palm Beach County’s focus is on quality of life. The organization is sensitive to and respectful of religious, cultural and personal beliefs. For information about Hospice of Palm Beach County, please call (888) 848-5200 or visit www.hpbc.com.


Licensed since 1981
Accredited by The Joint Commission 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization
Accredited as a Jewish Hospice by the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis, Inc.
Serving all of Palm Beach County – Boca Raton to Tequesta, the Glades to the Beach.  

 


 



October, 2010 – Five Tips for an Eco-Friendly Halloween

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Living GreenChristine Smith

Five Tips for an Eco-Friendly Halloween

By Christine Smith

Halloween, October 31st, is right around the corner and is another perfect time to create new green-friendly family customs and rituals.

But, before the tips, what exactly is Halloween?  According to Wikipedia, Halloween has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.  The more I researched, the more I decided to let you explore on your own.  Who knew Halloween had so much history?  For those of you who are history buffs, check out http://www.history.com/topics/halloween. 

Here are five ways that you and your family can participate in an eco-friendly Halloween.

1) Buy local pumpkins.

Buying your pumpkins within your community will support your local pumpkin patch or farmers market. The result is that your Jack O’ Lantern travels less distance, uses less gas, and in turn produces less carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, buying locally eliminates the middleman, increasing profits for local farmers. When at the farmers market or pumpkin patch don’t forget to pick up some squash, gourds, corn stalks, and hay for green friendly decorations.

 2) Have a costume exchange party.

This is new to me – but it sounds like fun!  Simply, gather all your costumes around your house and invite friends, family members, and neighbors to do the same.  For invitation, send an e-mail.  Designate a room in your home where you will place all the costumes.  As guests arrive, have them place their costumes in the “costume dress-up room”.  Once everyone has arrived have the children dress up in the costumes and pick their favorite for a “dress-up show”.  Serve drinks and food to complete your party.  Also, be sure to check out your community centers, local non-profits, and schools as some host costume exchange parties.   For more on costume exchanges, check out http://parent-child-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/have_a_halloween_costume_exchange.

3) Burn soy candles in your Jack O’ Lanterns.

Wax candles are made from petroleum.  When burned they omit the equivalent of diesel exhaust.  Natural soy or beeswax candles are healthier and don’t pollute the air.  

4) Walk with your trick or treaters.

This seems pretty basic, but you would be amazed at how many parents drive their kids from neighborhood to neighborhood.  If you have to drive, carpool to reduce traffic and air pollution.

5) Use a canvas bag.

Don’t buy another plastic pumpkin bucket for trick or treating.  Save money and the environment by using any tote, pillow case, or basket that you have around the house.   Have some fun and decorate it to give it a bit of Halloween spirit.  Christine Smith is founder of  www.smurkmedia.com, as well as the Director of Marketing for Fine Lions, Inc. Smurk Media is a digital media communications firm servicing clients nationwide with a variety of services from its headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Established in 2010, the firm specializes in email marketing by creating consistent branding and messaging.  Fine Lions specializes in a proprietary Eco-friendly wood graining process that is applied to non wood products to give them the appearance of natural wood. This earth conscious application may be done on exterior and interior doors, garage doors, kitchen and bath cabinets, as well as other surfaces.  To learn more visit www.finelions.com.

October, 2010 – Morning Guy

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As I Was Saying

 

Morning Guy Alan Williamson

 

By Alan Williamson

 

       Saturday, 6:30 a.m., and I look over at the alarm clock thinking “Why do I need you when I have this built-in alarm clock in my head?” The bedside appliance, somehow able to read minds and grasp the concept of a rhetorical question, doesn’t answer. But there’s an unspoken understanding that I’ve put it on notice.

          The alarm clock – and anyone else who knows me well – is familiar with my pre-set pattern of waking up every morning around 6:30 regardless of what time I’ve gotten to bed the night before.

          In bed by 10:30? Up at 6:30.

          In bed by midnight? Up at 6:30.

          Out partying till 2? (Okay, you’ve got me confused with someone else, but still, hypothetically speaking, up at 6:30.)

          The thing about being “morning guy” is that you have to go about your business quietly so you don’t disturb others who, like my wife Sherry, have made an ill-considered lifestyle choice to forfeit the pleasures of getting up at 6:30. This, as my fellow dawn patrollers will attest, isn’t nearly as easy to pull off as it sounds.

          The first obstacle comes when you realize you forgot to put some clothes out the night before. This leaves you two choices, both extremely

risky.

 1) You can proceed with your morning clad only in the “Marmaduke: The Movie” t-shirt you went to bed in the night before, or . . .

2) You can try and gingerly open a dresser drawer to extract a pair of shorts and a polo shirt.

While number 2 may sound like the better option, I speak from painful, morning guy experience when I tell you that no matter how delicately you slide open the drawer, there will come a point where, against all logic and fairness, it will make a silence-shattering sound that I can best describe like this:

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA . . .

          If you did have the foresight to lay clothes out the night before, the next challenge is tiptoeing to the bedroom door and softly closing it behind you to create an impenetrable sound barrier between your morning activities and the fragile slumber of the still-sleeping. Good luck with that.

While my tiptoeing technique is whisper-quiet, my aging runner’s knees crackle with every lumbering step, creating the audio equivalent of someone popping a sheet of bubble wrap or setting off some cheap fireworks to entertain themselves on the long 10-foot journey from the bed to the door. When I do reach the door, no matter how gently and thoughtfully I pull it closed, there will come a point where, against all logic and fairness, it will make a frightening, nerve-jangling sound that I can only describe like this:

  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA . . .

          Once safely out of the bedroom, the world of possibilities opens wide to the life-loving morning guy. Master of his fate and captain of his ship, he turns the canvas of a brand new day into his own personal work of art unencumbered by the critical eyes of others.

Want to finish off those last few chicken wings from the night before? First come, first serve.

Tempted to pair that first cup of coffee with some leftover chocolate mousse from the French bakery? You know what you like.

Feel like reading the paper all the way through from front to back? Feed your head, free press fanatic.

“Morning, whacha been up to?” my well-rested wife asks cheerfully as she emerges from the bedroom a couple of hours later to find me sprawled half-asleep across the sofa on the patio, clutching the sports section. 

“You should have seen it,” I gushed with true-blue morning guy passion. “I was out at the beach watching the sun come up. It rose slowly, timidly at first, then, as if sensing my anticipation, turned on the charm full-tilt, flooding the horizon with brilliant red, orange and purple streaks. It was like a beautiful, awe-inspiring dream.”

“Maybe it was like a dream because you fell asleep reading the paper out here on the patio,” Sherry speculated.

“Maybe,” I acknowledged begrudgingly. “But the early bird gets dibs on the first story of the day and that’s mine.”

“Is that chocolate mousse on your chin?” Sherry asks suspiciously.

“Well don’t just stand there,” I snort engagingly. “Grab a cup of coffee and let me fill you in on my trip to France!” 

It’s time the world finally awakened to one ageless, irrefutable fact: We morning guys lead full, rich, adventure-packed lives and we do it all quietly and gracefully each day before most people get up.

And by the way, the sunrise this morning was incredible. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

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Alan Williamson is an award-winning writer with 27 years in the field of true fiction (advertising). A practical man who knows that writing for a living is risky going, he has taken steps to pursue a second, more stable career as a leggy super model. Alan can be reached at alwilly@bellsouth.net© 2010 Alan Williamson.