You're hanging around the kitchen, chatting up the cook. Next thing you know, you've eaten the whole dish of spinach dip. Or, a long-standing family feud breaks out. Your response? Drink more! Then some more! For sure, holidays can be stressful and even more high-caloric than our other 11 months of the year. But you can say no. J.J.
Sometimes you look at a person when they reveal their profession and you say, "Of course." This was the case in looking at Laird Hamilton, surfer extraordinaire. It's the sun-tanned face from his outdoor profession. It's not that I'm a surfer--AT ALL--but this was an interesting read. I like what he says about life being harder than death. Not that I'm an advocate for death.
After a blood clot infiltrated his gray matter, the Prairie Home Companion host started thinking seriously about sex (and other important stuff). As always, Garrison Keillor delivers. By Garrison Keillor, Nov. 15, 2010 People keep asking about my stroke. I am okay, really--not staggering around with one arm hanging limp, or glassy-eyed or slurring my speech, flecks of spittle on my lips.
Am re-reading this tremendous book. Lucy Grealy was nine when she found out she had a rare form of cancer. Hospitalized multiple times over her life, Lucy died in 2002 at age 39. Safe to say her life wasn't an easy one. Imagine you're a child one day and the next you're trying not to cry when you go in for chemo. Here's an interview she did with Charlie Rose in 1994.
A little post-Thanksgiving Cajun dish, which we thoroughly enjoyed. This came from Southern Living . As I was reading nearly every magazine in the doc's office recently, I came across this recipe and ripped the page out and put it in my purse. Passive-aggressive behavior for having to wait so long? Maybe. But it was sure tasty!
From Barron Lerner, M.D. : I recently had the opportunity to spend a week as the doctor at the Imus Ranch for Kids With Cancer in Ribera, N. M., founded by radio personality Don Imus and his wife, Deirdre Imus. Camps for children with cancer have been around since the mid-1970s.
Informative piece from Duke University magazine. It's about yet another report about the necessity of mammograms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently released results of its study on mammograms. It says women should have them routinely after age 50, but that individual choice and circumstances may change that.
That's from the famous Robert Frost poem, of course. But in the context from Sunday, I discovered a new path on my bike ride. Next to Oxbow Meadows , where builders are constructing a new center, there's a new paved path. Others had told me about it, so yesterday I finally explored. It meanders maybe a mile down toward a lake.
Check this out. Everything from the brain to the speed of sneezes (100 mph) to the largest internal organ (the small intestine.) Did you also know that the smarter you are, the more you dream? And that the brain, which feels no pain, is made largely of water? You could print this out and share with fam at Thanksgiving, impressing all.
Concerns about energy drinks have been gathering pace, with some groups, particularly in the U.S. and the UK, now calling for them to be more tightly regulated and for greater public awareness of what they contain, their potential side-effects and risk of addiction.
So our boss Valerie Canepa dropped some news on us today (we who relish in knowing news first): She's leaving to pursue a career in social work. She'll go to grad school next fall. Here's the story. And we are proud of home-grown exec Rodney Mahone, who will take her spot as publisher. He's been our ad director the past four years. I hope you like him as much as we do.
A new book, "The White House Doctor," is a memoir of treating the country's patient-in chief. Here's the story. For nine years, Dr. Connie Mariano led the White House medical team for three presidents: Clinton and both Bushes. The medical staff is also responsible for the vice president and his family. Talk about concierge medicine. (Dr.
We love this show. Guy Fieri is such a fun host--always making wise-cracks and crazy facial expressions. Granted, most of the places he visits aren't renowned for their heart-smart menus, but it's interesting to see the many dives this country has to offer. Here's one featured up the road from us. I've often thought of places in our town that might draw him here.
Turns out, women (including myself) worry more about breast health than the more statistically-ominous condition: heart disease. Women are more likely to develop the latter than the former. That said, here's a great Mayo Clinic piece on health issues women need to pay attention to.
Now this is weird. Granted, maybe I shouldn't pass judgment until I try it; but I prefer my bacon fried up in a pan. You have to hand it to Jones Soda , though: Very creative and edgy. I've tried the vanilla and the bubblegum (preferring the vanilla). How 'bout you? What are you Jonesin' for?
I love that phrase. People often say they're in between jobs. Or marriages. Or residences. All of life is transition, it seems. Or waiting. The illusion is that things are fixed. Even if someone stays in the same house most of his life, or keeps the same job, transitions swirl around him.
Best $20 I ever spent. Yesterday I rode from about 11-1. I knew the high would be about 60. Though not one to get chilled very easily, I do suffer from cold feet (while cycling, that is) and cold hands and ears. My feet, particularly, can go numb in cooler temps. So I went to see my buds at Ride On Bikes and they sold me these awesome toe warmers.
So I got these new boots week before last, before vacation; and they are top-notch. (They should be; they cost enough.) But they're worth it. You wear smart-wool socks with them and you can go, go, go. Or at least until your legs get too tired. Check out Merrell for your other active-lifestyle needs. They do better with a smart-wool sock (not as thick as pure wool but not as thin as cotton);
Politics very much in the air this week. The sun came up again Wednesday following yet another election. (And we await some runoffs.) Maybe it's because I'd be too thin-skinned for it, but politics bores me. This party is up this time; it'll be the next one next time. Or the next time. And so on. This person will be caught in scandal, and therefore give the edge to his or her opponent.
According to a recent study of more than 5,000 Americans, regular exercise can add as much as four years to your life. What's more, scientists have identified ways to tailor your training to improve common conditions that can wreck your quality of life right now. We pored over reams of research to find the best rides for your health. As a bonus, they'll make you a better rider, too.
"I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger." The Book of Common Prayer Back from vacation and I can't think of anything to blog about except our friend Charlie. On my way back into town last Friday, I stopped by the Columbus Hospice House where Charlie had been shipped.
The popular author Christopher Hitchens writes in Vanity Fair about his journey with cancer. Probably like you, I have too many friends who have it. Some have recently died from it. Oddly, as Hitchens notes, we tend to save our battle imagery for cancer, rather than heart disease or diabetes. I wonder. On a side note, Christopher Hitchens and his brother Peter come down on opposing sides of faith.
The grand opening of Outside World is Thursday-Saturday. Location: 1025 Broadway. I went in today and it's pretty cool. Guy behind the counter said this is the second store to open after the one in Dawsonville, Ga. They seem to have a good variety of clothes (outerwear, primarily) and shoes; camping gear; kayaks; and some trail books. Ribbon cutting is Friday. Welcome to the neighborhood.
Never thought I'd link to something from Cosmopolitan , but here you go. Have you ever toned down an opinion for your guy because you didn't want to seem bossy? Don't do it again. Here's why many men actually like a woman with a point of view and some ambition. Meryl Streep revealed something about men recently that really grabbed our attention.
Take the weekly health quiz from the New York Times. Here's one of the more intriguing questions. Speaking of infants, we have an infant cat in the house, a kitten named Smoky. We're fostering him because my parents, for whom this pet was adopted, aren't ready to take him yet. He has really turned our other cat, Bisquick, on his head. For about four years, this has been Bisquick's territory.
If you have a moment, say prayers for our friend Mike V. over at Columbus and the Valley magazine. He writes here on his blog about a recurrence of cancer. He is one tough dude--but still, most of us know what bad medical news looks like. Or at least uncertain news. He's such a great writer, but I'm sad for the occasion that led to this post. Hang in there, Mikey. We've got your back.
Prof. Hike from Backpacker Magazine writes here about the precautions one should take BEFORE heading out. Mostly this is common sense. But then again, sometimes we (myself included) head out without it. For one, prepare for blisters. You're gonna get 'em. Two, prepare for rain, and mud (use gators). In real life, Prof.
Found this cool outdoors blog by one Michael Lanza. One of his latest posts is about "nursing" long-time ailments/injuries/aches through middle age. Good quote: "Staying active in middle age isn’t just hard. It’s sometimes insulting." To that end, I went to Group Centergy today at my gym. Basically it's a combo of yoga and Pilates.
Your bulging quads and razor-cut calves are the envy of your pack, and you start every ride strong. As the ride progresses, though, your hips seesaw in the saddle, your lower back aches, and you slow in corners. The problem? Your core cries uncle long before your legs wear out.
So I have these friends in various cities who are training for marathons or half-marathons or triathlons, etc. One of the friends just posted on Facebook about a 10-minute ice bath after a 24-mile run. Here's what I found. It makes complete sense to do it, as it decreases inflammation and soreness, but I would REALLY have to get psyched up for it.
From the Well blog on the New York Times: Several years ago, I learned that a physician in a town not too far from where I was practicing had committed suicide. Neither I nor my hospital colleagues knew him, but according to the story we heard, he was the father of young children, was respected by doctors and patients alike and had struggled privately with mental illness since medical school.
Here's a new one for ya: Texting while cycling. On Sunday, a guy was in my bike lane coming toward me. He was clearly trying to text someone on his phone. The same thing happened Tuesday. Not sure if it was the same guy or not. BUT: Come on, people! Both times, I had to yell for the person to look up then swerved. My husband said later he hoped he hit a tree.
Losing a double-digit chunk of weight in one month was a piece of cake for Mark Haub. On August 25, the Kansas State University professor of nutrition began a 10-year-old's dream diet of Twinkies, Ho Hos, and brownies for each meal. Thirty days later and 15 pounds lighter, Haub not only feels great, but his bad cholesterol is down, his good cholesterol is up, and his blood pressure is fine.
So 20 years have flown by and I'm going to my 20th college reunion this weekend. Twenty? Really? Am looking forward to seeing people I haven't seen since the 10th. Sadly, some of our crowd can't make it but maybe we'll catch them at the 30th. (A shoutout especially to Kelly and Jeff.) Things we didn't have 20 years ago: Blogging, the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, iPods, iPads, iPhones, etc. etc.
Newport, Wales--It's an unfortunate concept but, sadly, a truth, too, that in golf, nice guys aren't always as successful as their talent suggests. Adam Scott is a nice guy, as are Freddie Couples and Sean O'Hair. But are they too nice to step on people's throats Sunday afternoons? Phil Mickelson ruffles the feathers of his peers, as could Vijay Singh.
Click here , for a scene from one of my all-time favorite flicks, "Steel Magnolias."
This is a great link on the Duke University Web site. Very helpful. So many times, you go to research calories or meal portions or what-have-you and you land on a site with products for sale. It can be discouraging. Thanks, Duke U , for compiling this list.
It’s been a busy week for vegetables. The baby-carrot industry tried to reposition its product as junk food, starting a $25 million advertising campaign whose defining characteristics include heavy metal music, a phone app and a young man in a grocery cart dodging baby-carrot bullets fired by a woman in tight jeans.
Bought some of these socks today. They rock. Wicking, as you probably know, keeps moisture away from your skin. I always wear shirts that wick--usually some combo of polyester and rayon--and your shirt can be soaking wet but it doesn't cling to you. Hope everyone's having a super weekend. Supposed to be 80 degrees here tomorrow. We'll take it.
This is so sad. Natasha Pettigrew, a Green Party candidate, was cycling early Sunday and was struck and killed by an SUV. She died Monday evening. As much as I'd say "be careful out there" (to cyclists and drivers), accidents can still happen. We have a good friend who was hit here a few years ago. He, too, was on an early-morning ride and a driver didn't see him. I seem to recall it was foggy.
Got this package in the mail today. It was three bottles of EAS Peak , each with 10 grams of protein. The press release boasts of 3 P's: Push, Performance and Protect. There's no caffeine. It does contain the following scientific words: Beta-alanine: an amino acid used to produce carnosine in the muscles. (Which is said to delay fatigue); isomaltulose: a slowly digesting carb;
Did y'all hear about this? Frenchman Philippe Croizon, who lost both arms and legs in an electrical accident in 1994, successfully swam across the English Channel yesterday in just under 14 hours, using a snorkel affixed to his face as well as some specially designed prosthetic flippers.
"One short weekend, so much to do -- an invitation to go swimming at night by moonlight, the Iran protest march downtown with our mouths taped shut, a dance at the Eagles Club with a hot horn band playing '70s funk that propels people onto the dance floor as if shot from guns -- but here I am stuck with houseguests who are unable to sit in a room without me for more than 15 minutes.
Some of the most common questions patients ask their doctors focus on the link between diet and health, according to the Well blog on NewYorkTimes.com . But as Dr. Pauline Chen explains this week in her Doctor and Patient column, many of the nation’s medical schools are failing to provide new doctors with adequate nutrition education.
All hail the slow cooker. This marvel of modern cookery is an asset to busy home cooks everywhere. The set-it-and-forget-it technique means dinner will be ready at the end of the day with a minimum of prep in the morning. Are you a smarty when it comes to slow cooking? Prove your know-how with this challenging quiz. Good luck!
In case you are curious about the MCAT--the medical school admissions test-- here's how the different sections break down, scoring-wise. I have a friend who just took it and she feels pretty solid about it. All the best to her. She has to wait about three more weeks for results. Imagine THAT agony. The sections are: Physical Sciences; Verbal Reasoning; Biological Sciences; and Writing.
Medical groups that perform heart bypass surgery are now being rated alongside cars and toaster ovens in Consumer Reports. In most parts of the country, data-based ratings of doctors are not available to patients. Only a few states, including New York, provide them. The magazine published ratings of 221 surgical groups from 42 states online on Sept. 7 and will print them in its October issue.
What a match! I'm definitely a Roger Federer fan and would have wanted him in the final against Nadal. But Novak Djokovic prevailed and overall, toward the end, looked fresher. Here's my question, though: How do you go five sets, at more than four hours, and still look like you've just walked out of your living room? (I'm a major sweater.) Another question: Whom to root for Sunday?
What is guilt? Guilt is: * Feeling of responsibility for negative circumstances that have befallen yourself or others. * Feeling of regret for your real or imagined misdeeds, both past and present. * Sense of remorse for thoughts, feelings or attitudes that were or are negative, uncomplimentary or non-accepting concerning yourself or others.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has said that recovering from years of drug abuse is her "greatest accomplishment" in life. (Well, that and motherhood.) In an interview on NBC's Today, the actress admitted that ending her addiction is what allowed her to lead a successful life. "My recovery is the single greatest accomplishment of my life.
"Therefore, if you know one Dominican patient, you know exactly one Dominican patient, and not all Dominicans." Here , a few first-year medical students at Harvard weigh in on the future of their future profession. And I like what the one guy said above, which should be a lesson to us all--whether in medicine or the arts.
Fascinating shift from a formula enacted 100 years ago: Medical schools, such as NYU, are putting medical students in contact with real-life patients on the first day. Read the New York Times story here. Of course it's not clinical training, yet--mostly testimonials from patients in the classroom. But it seems necessary.
That seems kind of weird. But this columnist offers a "return of serve" to the tradition at Wimbledon. And the concept of poet-in-residence wouldn't have to be limited to tennis tournaments. What about restaurants? Waffle House?
The housing market in the United States may still be in the tank, but that hasn't stopped Tiger Woods from taking out a hefty sum for his newest residence. Just days after he finalized his divorce with ex-wife Elin Nordegren, Woods took out a $54.5 million mortgage for the mega-mansion he's building on Florida's exclusive Jupiter Island, according to TMZ.com.
Here's a cool slide show of Mountain Crossings on Ga. Highway 19/129. Regular readers to this blog will know I'm a fan and supporter of the A.T. If you're ever traveling between Blairsville from Dahlonega, you'll likely pass by this store. To hikers it's an oasis, the first such outfitters after leaving Springer.
The New York City Marathon , the premier event of New York runners, is one of the world's great road races. Drawing more than 85,000 applicants the race attracts world-class professional athletes, driven to cross the finish line in Central Park. Running is a great cardio workout for your body, but pounding the pavement over the course of a long run can be extremely harsh on feet.
I'll never head out while it's raining, but there's not much you can do if you get caught in it as happened today. Started out humid (not unusual) and cloudy. Though the forecast called for 40 percent through the afternoon, I decided to chance it. At my usual halfway point (about 12 miles), I took a water and phone break. There were some ominous clouds off to the east, but I was going more north.
Saw this today with my mom ( go here to video ) and was quite pleased that it mirrored the book very well. The acting was outstanding. I was already a Julia Roberts fan, but liked them all, especially the medicine man in Bali, and the guy from Texas at the ashram. Enjoy. And remember to eat, pray AND love.
Here's a cute idea for brunch. You never know what might come with your eggs in one of many of New York's brunch restaurants. BUT. Sometimes I just want to eat eggs and bacon and talk to the person, or persons, I came with. Which brings me to another topic: Loud restaurants. We seem to have our share here, even among the high-end places. Lots of brick and hardwood. Drives me nuts.
Climber and photographer James Q. Martin chronicles a series of climbs in this glorious Climbing Magazine piece. Imagine the rewards en route and also in completion. Imagine the muscles that have to work in near-perfect concert. Legs and arms are obvious, but also abs. The sport--the art--of rock climbing has long fascinated me, in part because I'm afraid heights and it would test me.
Their divorce made official two days ago, Elin Woods of Elin Woods-Tiger Woods fame was on the Today Show this morning sharing her side. It was well-timed in advance of a People story about her. Then Tiger Woods was asked about it at The Barclays in New Jersey, where he's trying to jumpstart his career. Again. Steve Elling of CBS has this commentary.
Check out these examples of using recycled parts to turn into homes. We can file this under environmental health. With the economy still depressed, it might make sense to find, oh, a spare airplane to convert. Then there's this house in Atlanta, which is on the market. No comment necessary.
Think you know how to fight fair? Take this quiz from Psychology Today.
Here's another reason your man may stray: If you make more money than he does. Read it all here . No danger in this house (of my salary catching up or surpassing anytime soon). It's also possible that if a guy were that insecure about his salary vs. yours, he wouldn't be with you in the first place. Once was friends with a guy who said he couldn't marry a woman who made more than he did.
Some of these are pretty obvious . Tobacco (all kinds). But pregnancy and puberty? Interesting. I come from a family of dentists so I'm fairly aware of good dental care. My dad's dad had his own practice, and two of his three sons eventually joined it.
Long in the market for a new pair of cycling shoes, I just bought some from this company. In a word, awesome. Wore them for the first time on a ride last night with a friend. Like the new bike, they're a vast improvement from what I did have. My old shoes were about eight years old. They had shrunk considerably through the years, but I didn't realize how much until I had the new ones.
This is such an interesting piece about the Andrew Carnegie family. One of America's most famous families, the Carnegies have homes on the coast of Georgia (Cumberland Island, which is largely protected), and two off Maine. They OWN these islands. As idyllic as this may sound, their lives have not been completely charming.
At the outset, I have to say: I despise our celebrity culture; I read People magazine only when it's the only one available in the doctor's office; and I don't watch much TV. That said, here's a recent profile of Guy Fieri , superstar.
Columbus has been graced with this store. Our primary grocery chain is Publix. We also have Winn Dixie and Piggly Wiggly. The Fresh Market opened last week, and Michael and some friends from work reported that it was crowded from the get-go, as it was today when I finally went. When I lived in another city, there was a Fresh Market but I don't remember it being this big--or this well-stocked.
This is from Men's Health magazine. The comments below the story are pretty hilarious, such as: Come up with something for men over 40! I do like how they offer tips to move you toward those benchmarks. Better to reach for the stars and fall short than never try at all. IMO.
Dr. Oz isn't hoarding (that I know of) but his Web site has this feature on hoarding and how mental imbalance or illness can be behind it. It's a matter of degree, of course. Our house is cluttered in places; but we don't have to walk around mountains of material to get out the door. I have no problem throwing out most things.
Tim Chitwood and his wife got two new pups last Saturday, Beau and Becky, and they visited the office today. They're Golden Retrievers. Such calm puppies! They're eight weeks old. I can remember when Molly, my parents' old Golden, was that age and she was EVERYWHERE. We're thankful Beau and Becky didn't pee on the newsroom carpet but it's in pretty bad shape so I guess it wouldn't matter.
A helpful piece about factoring in rest days after exercise begins: "Most athletes know that getting enough rest after exercise is essential to high-level performance, but many still over train and feel guilty when they take a day off. The body repairs and strengthens itself in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes.
"If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour." Here's the rest from the CDC. It's been in the 90s here, with heat index into the 100s. So here's what I did--yes, I'm crazy; let's establish that up front--I went riding from about 3-4:30 p.m. Heat of the day, blah blah blah. I'm accustomed to exercising and I'm in and out of the office all day.
The Jr. Varsity on Lindbergh Drive in Atlanta is closing. Here's why. I've been only a couple of times, but it has great emotional significance to me because Michael grew up going there. It was closer to his house than the downtown one. It opened when he was 10. A shame it had to come to this. A new site is going up in Dawsonville, off Ga. 400.
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned; it has been two days since my last blog post. ... Having gone on an hour walk this evening, I was interested to find this piece on the warnings of heat cramps/exhaustion/collapse. (Yes, I'm feeling fine.) In the extreme weather we're having, with advisory warnings every day, you have to be cautious.
This is a powerful essay about one man's addiction to steroids. The essay is excerpted from Paul Solotaroff's book. Solotaroff started out innocently enough: In the '70s, while in college, a friend introduced him to shots that would help him bulk up. Sure enough they did. But then, to bulk up the shy part of himself, Solotaroff added other illegal substances like cocaine.
On the Today show, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar of Big Family fame said that Baby 19 is doing well; and that they'd have a 20th if it were meant to be. Josie, born prematurely in December, seems to be catching up with other infants her age. And the Duggars would be open to child No. 20 if it, well, "came to pass" (as they say). Read the full story here . Here's the Duggar Web site.
This is such a remarkable, yet sad, tale. Members of the last generation descended from one John Tuttle of New Hampshire are putting the family farm up for sale. The farm is reportedly the oldest continuously operated family farm in America. It's run for 378 years. But they couldn't keep it going in the way it needed.
"Not all who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkein We returned yesterday from vacation. Our usual place for getting away is western North Carolina. On Sunday, we met some friends in Brevard and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway . We took a little hike to a rocky overlook and ate some delicious pie from the Pisgah Inn Restaurant.
I have to admit that headline caught my eye. I read it aloud to Michael and he said: "Turn out the lights?" Here's the full story. After sticking with this routine for awhile, I imagine you'll look better with or without clothes on. Be sure to alternate the strength training with cardio.
Floyd Landis says he is. And Greg LeMond. This piece from Thursday's Time.com tells of one Jeff Novitzky, an investigator for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who's pursuing answers. I don't know what to believe about Lance. Mainly I go on the evidence: that he's never failed a drug test.
Not to put too fine a point on it. We got a two-page letter the other day from our cable company, saying that we (or someone accessing our wireless) were in violation of copyright laws. When I Googled the company, it was for some kind of gaming system. We don't play computer games. Yesterday I called the company and they told me what to do. They figured someone hacked into our wireless network.
This is my new favorite song. What does it have to do with health and fitness? Not much, unless you need something to soothe your mind. Which I do. Enjoy. Click here to listen .
This Arizona woman shares her success with the Weigh Down Workshop . She has quite a story. After putting on weight from other diets, she went searching. She found a way to THINK about food, and mastering it, rather than the other way around. I like how she says food isn't good or bad; and that she pays attention to what she might need to eat, instead of want or seek out for emotional reasons.
Never heard of the leader going into today? I hadn't either. Louis Oosthuizen, from South Africa, is -11 going into today's round. Meanwhile, Tiger's changing back to his old putter . And the great Tom Watson says goodbye to the Old Course. Unless you're lucky enough to be there, happy watching.
Great column by SI's Frank Deford. I'd like to think the LeBron James soap opera wouldn't have played as well (on TV, at least) outside of summer. I could be wrong. Same goes, for sure, about the hot-dog eating contest. Egads! What's the summer coming to? (Hopefully an end, in that case). The Wimbledon set to end all sets was epic;
Here's a cool explanatory slideshow about do's and don'ts while exercising. Most of these have to do with lifting weights and weight machines. It's amazing what all you see in a gym (many of the don'ts). And yes, I've done a few of the don'ts myself. I'd suggest working out with a trainer, if only for a brief period, so s/he can instruct you in proper form. Otherwise, you could get injured.
Peanut butter cream pie We had this last night when my parents came over for pre-Father's Day feast. (The rest of the meal was healthier.) Ingredients 4 oz. package of cream cheese, room temperature 1 c. confectioners sugar one-third c. peanut butter one-fourth c. milk 16 oz. Cool Whip Graham cracker crust pie shell (ready made) one-fourth c.
Check out my friend Pat's recent blog post on his completing BRAG (Bike Ride Across Georgia). Not only is Pat an avid cyclist for exercise's sake; but he's a devoted rider for economic and ecological reasons. He rides every day to his job as a professor at Columbus State University. Major hat tip to Pat.
It's June so lots of kids are in camps of one kind or another. A shoutout to these two: Camp Merrie-Woode and Camp Illahee in the mountains of North Carolina where I worked in the summer of '97 and '89 respectively. Both outstanding experiences. Both are girls camps. Though never a camper myself, I immensely enjoyed being a counselor. It's a fulfilling, though tiring, way to spend a summer.
It's not the fault of World Cup soccer that this happened , of course, but it's a sad byproduct. People go wild over this sport. Viciously wild.
The other day I was in a local coffee shop and spotted this magazine article on a table. Fascinating read. The comments below the story are fascinating, as well--some current and former employees who say Drexler either walks on water or is the devil incarnate. In so many words. Public figures, and people in the public eye (Drexler's in the latter category) tend to draw these extreme reactions.
“"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?" "What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?" "I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”
It's not fresh news, but I like this shot. (Associated Press) Nadal won the French on June 6. Read AP story here. In other news: Because we have not given away enough money lately, we gave some more this morning to a local company that blows in insulation. I know it will make a huge difference in our power bills (since what little insulation we had didn't do much good);
More on the subject of food: This cole slaw will put a little pizazz on your picnic table: SOUR CREAM COLE SLAW 8 c. shredded cabbage or Napa lettuce (I use those easy 8-oz. bags) 3 TBSP chopped onion one-fourth c. sugar one-half tsp. dry mustard one-eighth tsp. pepper 2 TBSP. chopped parsley one-half tsp. salt one-half tsp. celery seed one-fourth c. vinegar one-fourth c. oil one-half c.
Click here to find recipes from some of America's favorite eateries. The one I've got my eye on is Key lime pie, probably because the heat index here was 101 today. Stay cool, friends. (Unless you are reading this at the North Pole, in which case I despise you.)
Today I'm posting a story we ran today in the paper and online. Sometimes you just gotta double-dip, ya know? Dana Gentry of Phenix City is being hailed as a hero, even though he refuses that title. He's in a hero in my book, and certainly to the two people from Georgia he rescued. Hope his weekend is a little more relaxing than last.
This is sad. But, why is it necessary to start this story by calling him a "hefty professional golfer"? If it were relevant to the story--say, if he were suing the maker of Oreos--I would understand. Nonetheless, it seems that John Daly's ongoing troubles are spilling out unnecessarily into the legal community, and taking other people with them. P.S.
'Ya think? I was searching on the NPR site for another story I'd heard today, one that I wanted to share with you; then I came across this ditty. Internet, hope you're having a good week.
