Tuesday, June 26, 2007
MORE IMPORTANT TOLEDO OH reference and stats...
FROM: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
City (pop., 2000: 313,619), northwestern Ohio, U.S. It is the principal Great Lakes port, located at the southwestern end of Lake Erie. The area was opened to white settlement after the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers. Formed by the consolidation of two villages in 1833, it figured in the so-called Toledo War of 1835 – 36, a bloodless dispute between Michigan Territory and Ohio over the location of their common boundary. Industrial development was spurred in the 1830s and '40s by the arrival of canals and railroads. Glassmaking, now a major industry, was introduced in the late 1880s. A major commercial, industrial, and transportation centre, it handles considerable foreign commerce, and its port is one of the world's largest shippers of bituminous coal. Its educational institutions include the University of Toledo (1872).
FROM: US History Encyclopedia
Toledo, the fourth largest city in Ohio in the early twenty-first century, began in 1680 as a French trading post. Ceded to the British in 1763, it became part of the U.S. Northwest Territory in 1787. Canals and railroads helped establish Toledo as a major inland port and center of industry. During the Progressive Era, Toledo won national recognition for urban reform. Historically, Toledo has been a major producer of glass and automotive products, but these industries declined, and from 1970 to 2000 employment in the Toledo metropolitan area decreased markedly. During this same period, population declined from 383,062 to 313,619, although city leaders question the accuracy of the 2000 federal census. Toledo has experienced other problems. A 1967 race riot caused extensive property damage, injuries, and arrests. Public schools were closed for several weeks in 1976 and 1978 because of teacher strikes. In July 1979 a bitter dispute between the city government and police and firemen led to a two-day general strike and costly arson fires. In the 1980s and 1990s, Toledo sought to emphasize its strong medical, cultural, and higher educational institutions. New downtown buildings and the Portside festival marketplace along the Maumee River were indicative of business leaders' commitment to the city.
FROM Columbia Encyclopedia
Toledo (təlē'dō) , city (1990 pop. 332,943), seat of Lucas co., NW Ohio, on the Maumee River at its junction with Lake Erie; inc. 1837. With a natural harbor and its railroads and highways, Toledo is a port of entry and one of the chief shipping centers on the Great Lakes. Oil, coal, farm products, and motor vehicle parts are exported; iron ore is the principal import. Toledo is also an industrial and commercial center, with oil refineries, a glassmaking industry, shipyards, and plants that manufacture vehicles, powertrain assemblies, machinery, and chemicals. The health-care industry is also significant.
Gen. Anthony Wayne built Fort Industry there in 1794 after the battle of Fallen Timbers. The city was settled (1817) as Port Lawrence on that site and in 1833 was consolidated with nearby Vistula as Toledo. In 1835–36 occurred the “Toledo War,” an Ohio-Michigan boundary dispute, which was settled by Congress in favor of Ohio when Michigan became a state.
Toledo grew and prospered with the opening of the canals in the 1840s, the arrival of numerous railroad lines, the development of the Ohio coal fields, the tapping of gas and oil deposits in the late 19th cent., and the establishment of the Libbey glassworks in 1888. When Samuel M. Jones became mayor in 1897, an era of municipal reform was initiated. Jones died in 1904 and was succeeded by Brand Whitlock. The Toledo plan of labor conciliation (1946) has been adopted by other cities.
The city is the seat of the Univ. of Toledo. Points of interest include the Toledo Museum of Art with its Glass Pavilion, a large zoo, and the Anthony Wayne suspension bridge (1931). The site of the battle of Fallen Timbers, a national historic landmark, is in a nearby state park.
FROM Wikipedia
Toledo is on the western end of Lake Erie. It is the county seat6 of Lucas County, and the principal city in the Toledo Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 313,619. As of July 1, 2005, however, the U.S. Census Bureau listed the city with a reduced population of 301,285, allowing Toledo to maintain its place as the fourth-largest city in the state. Toledo is known as the Glass City because of its long history of innovation in all aspects of the glass industry: windows, bottles, windshields, construction materials, and glass art, of which the Toledo Museum of Art has a large collection. The Jeep vehicle has been manufactured in Toledo since 1941. Automotive glass supplier Libbey Owens Ford has long been a staple of Toledo's economy.
Geography
Toledo is located at 41°39′56″N, 83°34′31″W (41.665682, -83.575337).1 The city sits astride the Maumee River at the southern end of Maumee Bay, which is the westernmost inlet of Lake Erie. Toledo is north of what was formerly the Great Black Swamp, giving rise to another nickname, Frog Town. An important ecological site, a sandy oak savanna called the Oak Openings region, lies just west.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 217.8 km² (84.1 mi²). 208.8 km² (80.6 mi²) of it is land and 8.9 km² (3.5 mi²) of it (4.10%) is water.
Climate
Main article: Climate of Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, like many other cities in the Great Lakes region, experiences a continental climate, characterized by four distinct seasons, with significant variations in temperature and precipitation between them. The city's location just off the western end of Lake Erie moderates its climate somewhat, so that it is less extreme than if the city were further from the lake. The city also shares many climatic characteristics with the Ohio Valley, such as slightly warmer winters and increased precipitation that is more evenly spread throughout the year.[citation needed]
The warmest month of the year is July, when high temperatures average 87°F (30°C), and overnight low temperatures average 68°F (20°C). January is the coldest month, when high temperatures average 33°F (1°C), and low temperatures average 22°F (-5°C). The wettest month of the year is June, when 3.84 inches (97.5 mm) of precipitation falls. The driest month is January, when 2.00 inches (50.8 mm) of precipitation falls. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Toledo was 105°F (41°C) on July 31, 1999. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -16°F (-27°C), on January 21, 1985.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 313,619 people, 128,925 households, and 77,355 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,502.0/km² (3,890.2/mi²). There were 139,871 housing units at an average density of 669.9/km² (1,734.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.23% White, 23.55% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.47% of the population.
In 2000 there were 128,925 households in Toledo, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males. There was a total of 139,871 housing units in the city, of which 10,946 (7.8%) were vacant.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,546, and the median income for a family was $41,175. Males had a median income of $35,407 versus $25,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,388. About 14.2% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Neighborhoods
Toledo consists of the following neighborhoods,
Beverly
Birmingham
DeVeaux
Downtown
East Toledo
Five Points
Franklin Park
Glendale-Heatherdowns
LaGrange
Northriver
North Towne
Olde Towne
Old Orchard
Old West End
ONYX
Ottawa
Point Place
Reynolds Corners
Roosevelt
Scott Park
South Side
Southwyck
Warren Sherman
Westgate
Whitmer-Trilby
Suburbs
The Toledo Metropolitan Area consists of the following suburbs
Bedford, Michigan
Bowling Green
Holland
Maumee
Northwood
Oregon
Ottawa Hills
Perrysburg
Point Place
Rossford
Sylvania
Waterville
Whitehouse
Economy
Historically, Toledo is best known for industrial manufacturing, although these industries have declined considerably in past decades. The Big Three automakers all have factories in metropolitan Toledo. The city is home to two Fortune 500 companies: Dana Corporation and Owens Corning. Another Fortune 500 company, formerly located at One SeaGate, is Owens-Illinois. O-I has recently relocated to suburban Perrysburg. HCR Manor Care is an up and coming Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Toledo. Though the largest employer in Toledo was Jeep for much of the 20th century, this honor has recently gone to the University of Toledo. Manufacturing as a whole now employs fewer Toledoans than does the healthcare industry, now the city's biggest employer. In 2001, a taxpayer lawsuit was filed against Toledo that challenged the constitutionality of tax incentives it extended to DaimlerChrysler for the expansion of its Jeep plant. The case was won by the city on a technical issue after it reached the U.S. Supreme Court in DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. Cuno, 547 U.S. ___ (2006).
Toledo is the primary market city for northwest Ohio, a region of nine counties with a population in excess of 1 million. As such there is a high concentration of retail establishments and medical facilities in Toledo. The city's location near the intersection of I-80/I-90 and I-75 (i.e. "The Crossroads of America") has made it a popular hub location for transportation companies such as UPS and BAX Global. Toledo is also the nation's third busiest rail hub, 15th-busiest air cargo hub, and one of the busiest ports on the Great Lakes.
To promote economic development, the City of Toledo has announced that it will cover the 81 square miles of the city of Toledo with Wi-Fi internet access for government, business, and personal use. This will create the nation's sixth largest Wi-Fi network, and will be funded with private dollars.[2]
Education
Colleges and universities
These higher education institutions operate campuses within the city of Toledo:
University of Toledo, including the former Medical University of Ohio, which merged in 2006.
Owens College
Davis College
Mercy College of Northwest Ohio
Stautzenberger College
Toledo Academy of Beauty
Schools
Toledo Public Schools operates public schools within much of the city limits, along with the Washington Local School District in northern Toledo. Additionally, several private and parochial high schools are present within Toledo including Maumee Valley Country Day School, Central Catholic High School, St. Francis de Sales High School, which was recently named as one of the top 20 Catholic high schools in the nation for academics by Catholic High School Honor Roll for the second time [3][4] , St. John's Jesuit High School, Notre Dame Academy, and St. Ursula Academy. The sixth Catholic high school in the area, Cardinal Stritch High School, is located in nearby Oregon.
Media
Main article: List of Toledo, Ohio media outlets
The following are media outlets located in the city of Toledo. Also serving the city are a number of other radio and television stations, and newspapers located outside the city limits, including many such media outlets in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Some of these newspapers and broadcasting stations are listed below, with the city of publication or license noted when occurring outside of Toledo.
Newspapers
The Blade, a daily newspaper, is the primary newspaper in Toledo and was founded in 1835. It considers itself to be one of the best local newspapers in the United States. Page one of each issue asserts "One of America's Great Newspapers." The city's arts and entertainment weekly is the Toledo City Paper. In March 2005, the weekly newspaper Toledo Free Press began publication, and it has a focus on news and sports. Other weeklies include the "West Toledo Herald," "El Tiempo", La Prensa, Sojourner's Truth, and the Toledo Journal, as well as type A magazine, a quarterly publication focused on Toledo's anarchist community. Toledo Tales provides satire and parody of life in the Glass City.
Magazines
Clamor was a bi-monthly magazine published in Toledo, Ohio. The focus of the magazine is alternative culture (covering art, commentary, cultural criticism, photography, interviews, politics, and music), often from a politically left-wing perspective.
The Old West End Magazine is published monthly and highlites "The Best in Urban Historic Living". Monthly issues are also published on the Old West End Association web site. http://www.toledooldwestend.com/main.aspx
Television stations
05 WT05 - CW (cable only/non-broadcast in NW Ohio on various cable systems, usually cable channel 5)
11 WTOL - CBS
13 WTVG - ABC
22 W22CO - TBN (formerly channel 68)
24 WNWO-TV - NBC
27 WBGU-TV - PBS (in Bowling Green, Ohio)
30 WGTE-TV - PBS
34 WBTL-LP - HSN, Infomercials (formerly broadcast channel 5)
36 WUPW - Fox
38 W38DH - America's Store (formerly channel 64)
40 WLMB - Christian, FN , Worship
48 WMNT-CA - MNTV and America One
BCSN Buckeye Cable Sports Network (cable only)
Radio stations
AM
730 WJYM - christian (licensed to Bowling Green, Ohio)
1230 WCWA (Fox Sports 1230) - sports
1370 WSPD - news/talk
1470 WLQR (The Ticket) - sports "Formerly AM1470 - WOHO"
1520 WDMN - christian
1560 WTOD (SuperTalk 1560) - talk
FM
88.1 WBGU - Return to Radio Freedom (Bowling Green State University)
88.3 WXUT - Alternative (University of Toledo, part-time)
88.3 WXTS - Jazz (Scott High School, part-time)
88.7 CIMX (89X) New Rock Alternative (Licensed to Windsor, Ontario)
89.3 WYSZ (Yes FM) - Christian Rock (licensed to Maumee, Ohio and marketed online to Detroit)
90.3 WOTL - christian
91.3 WGTE-FM - Classical
92.5 WVKS (KISS FM) - Top 40 Toledo's #1 Hit Music Channel
93.5 WRQN - Oldies (licensed to Bowling Green, Ohio)
94.5 WXKR (94 Five-XKR) - Classic Rock (licensed to Port Clinton, Ohio)
95.3 WQTE - Country (Adrian, Michigan)
95.7 WIMX (Mix 95.7) - Urban Adult Contemporary (licensed to Gibsonburg, Ohio)
96.9 WXQQ - Satellite Contemporary Christian (licensed to Wauseon, Ohio)
97.3 WJZE (Hot 97.3) - Rhythmic Top 40/Mainstream Urban
98.3 WTWR-FM (Tower 98) - Top 40 Toledo's Hit Music Station
99.9 WKKO (K100) - Country
100.7 W264AK - Christian
101.5 WRVF (The River) - Adult Contemporary
102.3 WPOS - Christian (licensed to Holland, Ohio)
102.9 WWWW - Country (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
103.7 WCKY - Country (Findlay, Ohio)
104.7 WIOT - Rock
105.5 WWWM (Star 105) - Hot Adult Contemporary (licensed to Sylvania, Ohio)
106.5 WRWK (The Zone) - Alternative Rock
107.3 WJUC (The Juice) - Urban Contemporary (licensed to Swanton, Ohio)
107.9 WMLZ-LP (Z108) - Classic Rock (Bedford Public Schools/licensed to Temperance, MI)
External links
The Official City of Toledo
Toledo.com
Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor
Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau
Toledo Blade (newspaper)
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Toledo Public Schools
Toledo Museum of Art
Toledo Anarchist Movement
The Toledo Zoo
COSI Toledo
Toledo Explorer
The Toledo Mud Hens Baseball Club
Clamor Magazine article on the North Toledo riot on October 15, 2005
Toledo Talk
Swamp Bubbles
The Two Toledos Documentary
Toledo Sister Cities International, Serving Northwestern Ohio
Old West End (historic district)
TONS MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.answers.com/topic/toledo-ohio?cat=travel
INCLUDING NOTABLE RESIDENTS, MAJOR ROUTES, & ATTRACTIONS
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A post from July the 13th 2007...and more about FRIDAY THE 13th!
Friday, July 13, 2007
A "Hecky's" Pond Mystery for FRIDAY THE 13th in East Toledo
Does anyone else out there have GOOD luck on Friday the 13th, or when a black cat crosses your path? I usually do! Today is FULL for me, with an all day bus ride across town and a store "walk", so I hope it goes well...
I'm hoping to make it over to Hecklinger's "Hecky's" Pond, here in East Toledo, off of Consaul St./Ravine Parkway on the way to "Hunky"town, to witness the draining of the water, after 30 odd years of it being off limits to fishing due to pollution, and ice skating due to thin ice. They started emptying it yesterday, and so far they have found 2 cars, & 2 safes (one unopened).
Of course, never being one to ignore a good mystery, most, including myself, are hoping that the empty pond leads to a dead body or tow; a mystery solved or a new search for a killer to be begun.(sp)
God Bless all of you, and if you have any good Friday the 13th true stories, please send them in as a comment, would you?
By the way, the Pond will be cleaned, restocked with fish and refilled once they are finished cleaning it. I'll let you know if anything interesting turns up.
TTR
PS. Here's some history behind Friday the 13th:
There have been a number of events known as "Black Fridays" in history. Usually, these events are devastating. Some historians propose that the origin of the "Black Friday" was the simultaneous arrest of hundreds of Knights Templars on October 13, 1307 (Friday), to be later tortured into "admitting" heresy.Today, the concept of Friday the 13th has been extended through the 'black Friday' concept to incorporate anything really bad that happens on a Friday. In history there have been a number of events that happened on a Friday and are known as Black Friday:Black Friday (1869), a financial crisis in the United States Black Friday (1889), the day of the Johnstown Flood. Black Friday (1910), WSPU took militant action when the Conciliation Bill failed. Black Friday (1919), a riot in Glasgow stemming from industrial unrest Black Friday (1921), day on which British dockers' and railwaymen's union leaders announced their decision not to call for strike action against wage reductions for miners Black Friday (1929), a stock market crash in the United States Black Friday (1939), a day of devastating fires in Australia Black Friday (1945), largest air battle over Norway, over Sunnfjord Hollywood Black Friday (1945), the day the six-month-old Confederation of Studio Unions (CSU) strike boiled over into a bloody riot at the Warner Bros. studios leading to the eventual breakup of the CSU. Black Friday (1978), a massacre of protesters in Iran Black Friday (1982), known in Britain after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, sparking the Falklands War Black Friday (1987), the day an hour-long F4 category tornado ran through the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Black Friday (2004), a crackdown on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé Other uses of the term include:Black Friday, a name used for any Friday which falls on the 13th of a month Black Friday, the Friday preceding Easter, also known as Good Friday or God Friday. Black Friday (shopping), the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the first shopping day of the Christmas season and one of the busiest shopping days of the year "Black Friday" is the name given to the last Friday before Christmas in the United Kingdom. It is a day when widespread anti-social behaviour due to public alcohol consumption is expected to occur, and police are given additional powers to combat it Black Friday (1940 film), a science-fiction/horror film starring Boris Karloff, Stanley Ridges and Bela Lugosi Black Friday (2005 film), a Hindi film on the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, directed by Anurag Kashyap "Black Friday", a title of a song by Grinspoon "Black Friday", a title of a song by Steely Dan "Black Friday", a title of a song by Megadeth "Black Friday Rule", a title of a song by Flogging Molly "Black Friday", the nickname for game 3 of the 1977 NLCS baseball championships. Philadelphia Phillies fans gave the nickname because the Phillies blew an early lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a controversial call was made during the game "Black Friday", a title of a poem written by Dennis Rader, the BTK killer
Source(s):Excerpts from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/friday_the_...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/black_frida...
Search Hecklinger's Pond at http://www.toledoblade.com
or read a FLICKR entry w/photo map by Patrick T Power at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/17607628@N00/8816521
NOTE:
HECKLINGER'S POND was named after the family who owned it.
They owned a floral company here in Toledo for many years.
[info provided in part from Patrick T. Power. Thank you.]
Swimming was forbidden at the pond, due to a number of drownings there while I was a child, during the period between 1960 and 1970, if I recall correctly.
I remember wanting to go there to ice skate as a small child (my father took me to nearby Oregon's Pearson Park to ice skate instead.
They rented out the skates back then, and had a lovely shack
with a fireplace next to the one area of the pond to warm up.
I can picture myself falling and being cold, as if it were yesterday!
A "Hecky's" Pond Mystery for FRIDAY THE 13th in East Toledo
Does anyone else out there have GOOD luck on Friday the 13th, or when a black cat crosses your path? I usually do! Today is FULL for me, with an all day bus ride across town and a store "walk", so I hope it goes well...
I'm hoping to make it over to Hecklinger's "Hecky's" Pond, here in East Toledo, off of Consaul St./Ravine Parkway on the way to "Hunky"town, to witness the draining of the water, after 30 odd years of it being off limits to fishing due to pollution, and ice skating due to thin ice. They started emptying it yesterday, and so far they have found 2 cars, & 2 safes (one unopened).
Of course, never being one to ignore a good mystery, most, including myself, are hoping that the empty pond leads to a dead body or tow; a mystery solved or a new search for a killer to be begun.(sp)
God Bless all of you, and if you have any good Friday the 13th true stories, please send them in as a comment, would you?
By the way, the Pond will be cleaned, restocked with fish and refilled once they are finished cleaning it. I'll let you know if anything interesting turns up.
TTR
PS. Here's some history behind Friday the 13th:
There have been a number of events known as "Black Fridays" in history. Usually, these events are devastating. Some historians propose that the origin of the "Black Friday" was the simultaneous arrest of hundreds of Knights Templars on October 13, 1307 (Friday), to be later tortured into "admitting" heresy.Today, the concept of Friday the 13th has been extended through the 'black Friday' concept to incorporate anything really bad that happens on a Friday. In history there have been a number of events that happened on a Friday and are known as Black Friday:Black Friday (1869), a financial crisis in the United States Black Friday (1889), the day of the Johnstown Flood. Black Friday (1910), WSPU took militant action when the Conciliation Bill failed. Black Friday (1919), a riot in Glasgow stemming from industrial unrest Black Friday (1921), day on which British dockers' and railwaymen's union leaders announced their decision not to call for strike action against wage reductions for miners Black Friday (1929), a stock market crash in the United States Black Friday (1939), a day of devastating fires in Australia Black Friday (1945), largest air battle over Norway, over Sunnfjord Hollywood Black Friday (1945), the day the six-month-old Confederation of Studio Unions (CSU) strike boiled over into a bloody riot at the Warner Bros. studios leading to the eventual breakup of the CSU. Black Friday (1978), a massacre of protesters in Iran Black Friday (1982), known in Britain after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, sparking the Falklands War Black Friday (1987), the day an hour-long F4 category tornado ran through the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Black Friday (2004), a crackdown on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé Other uses of the term include:Black Friday, a name used for any Friday which falls on the 13th of a month Black Friday, the Friday preceding Easter, also known as Good Friday or God Friday. Black Friday (shopping), the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the first shopping day of the Christmas season and one of the busiest shopping days of the year "Black Friday" is the name given to the last Friday before Christmas in the United Kingdom. It is a day when widespread anti-social behaviour due to public alcohol consumption is expected to occur, and police are given additional powers to combat it Black Friday (1940 film), a science-fiction/horror film starring Boris Karloff, Stanley Ridges and Bela Lugosi Black Friday (2005 film), a Hindi film on the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, directed by Anurag Kashyap "Black Friday", a title of a song by Grinspoon "Black Friday", a title of a song by Steely Dan "Black Friday", a title of a song by Megadeth "Black Friday Rule", a title of a song by Flogging Molly "Black Friday", the nickname for game 3 of the 1977 NLCS baseball championships. Philadelphia Phillies fans gave the nickname because the Phillies blew an early lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a controversial call was made during the game "Black Friday", a title of a poem written by Dennis Rader, the BTK killer
Source(s):Excerpts from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/friday_the_...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/black_frida...
Search Hecklinger's Pond at http://www.toledoblade.com
or read a FLICKR entry w/photo map by Patrick T Power at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/17607628@N00/8816521
NOTE:
HECKLINGER'S POND was named after the family who owned it.
They owned a floral company here in Toledo for many years.
[info provided in part from Patrick T. Power. Thank you.]
Swimming was forbidden at the pond, due to a number of drownings there while I was a child, during the period between 1960 and 1970, if I recall correctly.
I remember wanting to go there to ice skate as a small child (my father took me to nearby Oregon's Pearson Park to ice skate instead.
They rented out the skates back then, and had a lovely shack
with a fireplace next to the one area of the pond to warm up.
I can picture myself falling and being cold, as if it were yesterday!
A RANT AND RAVE WORTH SAVING from July 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
IN RESPONTS TO RANTS for the TOLEDO CITY PAPER, July 26, 2006!!
Dear "TOLEDO CITY PAPER": I am addressing the invitation to "RANT" as offered in your July 26, 2006 issue,(OMG - I JUST NOTICED THIS ARTICLE IS A YEAR OLD, AND I ALREADY SENT IN MY REBUTTAL! WHAT A MAROON!!), as well as online, at: http://www.toledocitypaper.com/view_article.php?id=789&highlight=RANT.
Thank you for this opportunity to get up on my soapbox and shout: I am so tired of folks here in TTown complaining about what is lacking in our fair city! I am shocked at how attitudes have shifted over the past 10 years, and how so many more more of our residents have become "reactive" and negative, instead of "proactive" and POSITIVE!!
Just for a moment, those of you who can't think of anything great to say about TOLEDO, please try to imagine yourself living out in Lindsey, (pop. 504), Van Buren, (pop. 313), or Metamora, (pop. 563), to name a few. Imagine trying to think of something to do inexpensively on a weekend night. There are many folks in those Ohio small towns who would LOVE to have all the resources that we have, within a half-an-hour's drive. With a day of pleasant weather and the ability to be adventurous, there's no excuse for ANYONE in TOLEDO to be complaining about a lack of things to do, places to go and things to see! Whether or not you have a pocketful of money, here is a list of ideas (inspired by Sarah Pierce, who writes for hitchedmag.com), of mostly FREE things, or things that cost no more than $20 to do here! Upon leaving TOLEDO, you may have to travel more than 2 hours to find many of these same amenities. AREN'T WE LUCKY?!
* Did you know that the TOLEDO ZOO is free on Mondays to Lucas County residents if you arrive before 11 am? You could pack a lunch and some bottled water, and make a day of it. If you search around, you will find coupons where children can get in free with a paid adult, if you wish to visit on other days besides Mondays.(2700 Broadway, 419-385-5721). How about "them apples"?
* You knew this was coming...When is the last time you went to the TOLEDO ART MUSEUM? It's FREE and if you even remotely like art, you could spend hours there. You can even stroll the museum outdoor surroundings and enjoy the sculptures while taking in some fresh air. It's always air conditioned in the Summer months.(2445 Monroe St. at Scottwood, 419-255-8000 / 1-800-644-6862, www.toledomuseum.org). You also have the opportunity to explore TOLEDO'S local galleries and artists. Some smaller shops don't mind at all if you drop in and take a look around...outside of TOLEDO, shops maybe, ART MUSEUM, I doubt it..
* Many of those small cities have festivals and fairs, but not as large a scale as our annual LUCAS COUNTY FAIR. It is held just outside the Toledo city limits, in Maumee, and offers FREE admission on certain days, every year. Last year, you could donate a canned good to get in free. This year, the FREE dates are/were: July 24th, 25th, and 26th, from 11 am to 2 pm. only. If these dates have passed, remember it for next year. It really is fun to watch the sheep and pig judging, the wood carvers and the magic shows. I can honestly say we have gone there with $5.00, and have eaten 4 of the most delicious corn dogs on the planet, split a can of soda, AND had a wonderful time, without even riding one ride..(Lucas County Recreation Center 2901 Key Street, Maumee, 419-213-2230,http://www.lucascountyfair.com/)
* You could enjoy a romantic or educational hike anywhere, I suppose. Have you ever walked along all the trails in our lovely TOLEDO METROPARKS? (419-407-9700) If not, you're in for a real treat. We have all this beauty around us and all we seem to do is complain...Why not let loose your inner child, and play tag, red rover, roll down a hill or bird watch at any local grassy knoll.
* You can fish at many of the parks as well, but be sure to invest in a fishing permit first. You can purchase one online by going to: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/fishregs/. Can you catch PERCH anywhere else besides LAKE ERIE? You could bring a backpack and surprise your partner with juice, fruit, crackers and cheese. How many tiny cities have carry-outs all over town; ours only doubles the prices, out- lying areas TRIPLE the prices!
* The TOLEDO BOTANICAL GARDEN can be an all-day visit for those of you who already know about "stopping to smell the roses" and is is located at:
5403 Elmer Drive in TOLEDO (419-936-2986, http://www.toledogarden.org/)There is an awesome boardwalk to view deer and LAKE ERIE at MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK too! (91750 State Park Road, Oregon, OH, 1-866-644-6727 for camping, 1-800-282-7275 for the lodge, http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/parks/maumeebay.htm).
For more fun, if you happen to own one, bring your digital camera and have a blast pretending you're a professional photographer. If you enter an especially good photo, you might even win a prize: a possible free bonus! Many small city businesses or web sites do have the budgets to offer these incentives.
* How many outer-lying cities offer FREE or low-cost public swimming? Bake in the sun at one of our TOLEDO CITY POOLS, LAKE ERIE, or MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK beach. TOLEDO authorities have gone to great lengths to make sure the waters are tested and clean in designated areas. Some of the high taxes you complain about help to fund these tasks. Bring some water toys, a Frisbee, a floaty, and/or a good book and have more fun than the kids.
* Beat the heat with an ice cream, or iced coffee. If you have a car, you can pop through a drive through, and head over to the nearest scenic walking area, like EAST TOLEDO'S INTERNATIONAL PARK, NEAR THE WILLIS P. BOYER ship (26 Main Street,East Toledo, 419 936-3070 ), or take a walk downtown and go people watching. It really is safe; trust me! Folks from tiny little cities would give their right arm to have a drive-through restaurant at their disposal!
* You could visit a "cheapie" movie theater. They almost always have excellent movies playing out at the theaters next to SPRING MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER, that show second-run features. Pick a rainy day and have a movie marathon. A couple of bucks is a small price to pay to beat the heat. What tiny town would give to have a place like that to go?
* If gas were just a bit less expensive, I would suggest taking a scenic drive. Along the way you could pull over to have coffee and dessert at a nice café. Instead, you have the opportunity to drive to a parking area near the scenic area, park the car, and get out and walk or ride a bike or scooter (roller skates? skateboard??). Yes, you COULD do that near a smaller city, but you would not have so many areas to choose from within the city limits of a small town.
* Where else could you take a DOWNTOWN TOLEDO walking tour? The Downtown TOLEDO walking tours for 2007, started for the season on July 5, 2007, and continue Thursdays and continue through Sept. 13, 2007 from noon to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Volunteer guides trained in Toledo history and architecture will lead each tour FOR FREE! (http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/ART03/70628018)
OR,
* A personal favorite TOLEDO walking tour of my own:
Start at the ERIE STREET MARKET (237 S. Erie Street, 419 936-3743), spend the day there, split the day between the TOLEDO FARMERS' MARKET, just outdoors at 535 Market St.(419 255-6765) OR continue down ONTARIO STREET. You will be surprised to find inexpensive food eateries if you keep your eyes open, some that offer free samples, as well as window shopping (for gift ideas and/or clearance sales this time of year).
Continue another block toward the heart of downtown and you will discover inspiration at ARCHITECTURAL ARTIFACTS at 20 S. Ontario Street. (for hours call: 419-243-6916).
Just a short way up the block you will find a place to buy $2.00 New York style pizza and an ice cream parlor with rod iron tables and chairs outdoors: SCOOTERS: 140 N. Ontario St., and DOUG'S ICE CREAM HOUSE AND EMPORIUM, next to the Greyhound bus station, not far off the path.
Are you goofy like me? "Cop a seat" at the bus station and welcome people home!) Goofy is always free...(unless you're at Walt Disney World.)
CLASSIC ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES is just up the road and if you continue, you will arrive at a dead end at the historical TOLEDO COURTHOUSE building to tour, or to take photos of. Go early, and you will hear the sound of the bells playing hymns at ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, across from the courthouse, at 8:30 am.!
There are MANY TOLEDO WALKING TOURS, historical and architectural, in and around TOLEDO, so if you have any questions please feel free to write, or consult one of our local historians, like LARRY MICHAELS, the Pastor of historical MARTIN LUTHER CHURCH on Nevada Street in East Toledo. If he doesn't know it, he can refer you to someone who can. (Books about historical TOLEDO by Larry R. Michaels are available on-line from Barnes and Noble, or email: michaelsoh@aol.com ) For more historical information about TOLEDO, go to:http://www.toledosattic.org/...and by the way, how may cities have all these web sites and historical venues? Many have one or two, we have LOTS!
* 'What these small towns wouldn't give to have a public transportation system!!? We are fortunate enough to have TARTA: Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. Where else can you ride from one side of town to the other for a dollar ($1.10 one-way with a transfer to change buses). With this service we get: $1.00 rides to Mud hens games, (www.tarta.com/hens.htm), and FREE transportation on ozone action days! (419-243-RIDE 7433..Routes & Maps: www.tarta.com/routes.htm, Call-A-Ride: www.tarta.com/callaride.htm)
* In any city you can be a kid again, but TOLEDO has bowling alleys in every area of town (check for buy-one, get-one-free coupons), some nice miniature golf locations, where you can golf, or ride go-carts (if you have more than $10.00). Where else within a 60 mile radius will you find a "PUTT-PUTT GOLF", WITH a cave and a waterfall?
* TOLEDO offers some really safe, manicured places to (legally) pitch a tent. Maumee Bay State Park campground, just north of the city area, only charges $26.00 for a fully electrical site. (Yes, it's a LITTLE over $20. but think of all the FREE things you get to do while you're there! All you will have to purchase besides the site if you already have a tent (or can borrow one) is food and firewood (and even that can be free from a neighbor or friend). Go camping and roast hot dogs as you gaze at the stars. Invite your friends out and save them some money too! You are allowed up to 6 or 7 people and 2-3 tents on one site! (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/camps/campingfees.htm)
* Many Toledoans complain that there are bars on every corner. Those of you who LIKE it that way can relax and shake off the negativity, by searching for the best and "most economical" happy hour in town. Look through our FREE publications that are packed with activity ideas, like our own TOLEDO CITY PAPER, or search online for local restaurants and bars with happy hours. Most places offer half-price food and drink specials, allowing you to get two drinks and share an appetizer for less than $20.
* Stop in any hotel lobby in TOLEDO pick up a free visitors guide or a handful of FREE brochures, for more date ideas. Call or look up on the computer: the GREATER TOLEDO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 419-321-6404/800-243-4667, 401 Jefferson Ave.,
www.toledocvb.com. You could also open a map, pick a spot, grab about $10 bucks to take with you, get out of the house, and stop RANTING!
Life will always have bills, shortages, and disappointments. But if you start the day with a smile, and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, you'll learn that you will be happier, those around you will be happier, and you'll all be THANKFUL TO LIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
If you STILL REALLY WANT TO RANT, why not visit http://www.toledotalk.com/, register, and fire away. A happy TOLEDOAN is a POSITIVE TOLEDOAN.
IN RESPONTS TO RANTS for the TOLEDO CITY PAPER, July 26, 2006!!
Dear "TOLEDO CITY PAPER": I am addressing the invitation to "RANT" as offered in your July 26, 2006 issue,(OMG - I JUST NOTICED THIS ARTICLE IS A YEAR OLD, AND I ALREADY SENT IN MY REBUTTAL! WHAT A MAROON!!), as well as online, at: http://www.toledocitypaper.com/view_article.php?id=789&highlight=RANT.
Thank you for this opportunity to get up on my soapbox and shout: I am so tired of folks here in TTown complaining about what is lacking in our fair city! I am shocked at how attitudes have shifted over the past 10 years, and how so many more more of our residents have become "reactive" and negative, instead of "proactive" and POSITIVE!!
Just for a moment, those of you who can't think of anything great to say about TOLEDO, please try to imagine yourself living out in Lindsey, (pop. 504), Van Buren, (pop. 313), or Metamora, (pop. 563), to name a few. Imagine trying to think of something to do inexpensively on a weekend night. There are many folks in those Ohio small towns who would LOVE to have all the resources that we have, within a half-an-hour's drive. With a day of pleasant weather and the ability to be adventurous, there's no excuse for ANYONE in TOLEDO to be complaining about a lack of things to do, places to go and things to see! Whether or not you have a pocketful of money, here is a list of ideas (inspired by Sarah Pierce, who writes for hitchedmag.com), of mostly FREE things, or things that cost no more than $20 to do here! Upon leaving TOLEDO, you may have to travel more than 2 hours to find many of these same amenities. AREN'T WE LUCKY?!
* Did you know that the TOLEDO ZOO is free on Mondays to Lucas County residents if you arrive before 11 am? You could pack a lunch and some bottled water, and make a day of it. If you search around, you will find coupons where children can get in free with a paid adult, if you wish to visit on other days besides Mondays.(2700 Broadway, 419-385-5721). How about "them apples"?
* You knew this was coming...When is the last time you went to the TOLEDO ART MUSEUM? It's FREE and if you even remotely like art, you could spend hours there. You can even stroll the museum outdoor surroundings and enjoy the sculptures while taking in some fresh air. It's always air conditioned in the Summer months.(2445 Monroe St. at Scottwood, 419-255-8000 / 1-800-644-6862, www.toledomuseum.org). You also have the opportunity to explore TOLEDO'S local galleries and artists. Some smaller shops don't mind at all if you drop in and take a look around...outside of TOLEDO, shops maybe, ART MUSEUM, I doubt it..
* Many of those small cities have festivals and fairs, but not as large a scale as our annual LUCAS COUNTY FAIR. It is held just outside the Toledo city limits, in Maumee, and offers FREE admission on certain days, every year. Last year, you could donate a canned good to get in free. This year, the FREE dates are/were: July 24th, 25th, and 26th, from 11 am to 2 pm. only. If these dates have passed, remember it for next year. It really is fun to watch the sheep and pig judging, the wood carvers and the magic shows. I can honestly say we have gone there with $5.00, and have eaten 4 of the most delicious corn dogs on the planet, split a can of soda, AND had a wonderful time, without even riding one ride..(Lucas County Recreation Center 2901 Key Street, Maumee, 419-213-2230,http://www.lucascountyfair.com/)
* You could enjoy a romantic or educational hike anywhere, I suppose. Have you ever walked along all the trails in our lovely TOLEDO METROPARKS? (419-407-9700) If not, you're in for a real treat. We have all this beauty around us and all we seem to do is complain...Why not let loose your inner child, and play tag, red rover, roll down a hill or bird watch at any local grassy knoll.
* You can fish at many of the parks as well, but be sure to invest in a fishing permit first. You can purchase one online by going to: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/fishregs/. Can you catch PERCH anywhere else besides LAKE ERIE? You could bring a backpack and surprise your partner with juice, fruit, crackers and cheese. How many tiny cities have carry-outs all over town; ours only doubles the prices, out- lying areas TRIPLE the prices!
* The TOLEDO BOTANICAL GARDEN can be an all-day visit for those of you who already know about "stopping to smell the roses" and is is located at:
5403 Elmer Drive in TOLEDO (419-936-2986, http://www.toledogarden.org/)There is an awesome boardwalk to view deer and LAKE ERIE at MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK too! (91750 State Park Road, Oregon, OH, 1-866-644-6727 for camping, 1-800-282-7275 for the lodge, http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/parks/maumeebay.htm).
For more fun, if you happen to own one, bring your digital camera and have a blast pretending you're a professional photographer. If you enter an especially good photo, you might even win a prize: a possible free bonus! Many small city businesses or web sites do have the budgets to offer these incentives.
* How many outer-lying cities offer FREE or low-cost public swimming? Bake in the sun at one of our TOLEDO CITY POOLS, LAKE ERIE, or MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK beach. TOLEDO authorities have gone to great lengths to make sure the waters are tested and clean in designated areas. Some of the high taxes you complain about help to fund these tasks. Bring some water toys, a Frisbee, a floaty, and/or a good book and have more fun than the kids.
* Beat the heat with an ice cream, or iced coffee. If you have a car, you can pop through a drive through, and head over to the nearest scenic walking area, like EAST TOLEDO'S INTERNATIONAL PARK, NEAR THE WILLIS P. BOYER ship (26 Main Street,East Toledo, 419 936-3070 ), or take a walk downtown and go people watching. It really is safe; trust me! Folks from tiny little cities would give their right arm to have a drive-through restaurant at their disposal!
* You could visit a "cheapie" movie theater. They almost always have excellent movies playing out at the theaters next to SPRING MEADOWS SHOPPING CENTER, that show second-run features. Pick a rainy day and have a movie marathon. A couple of bucks is a small price to pay to beat the heat. What tiny town would give to have a place like that to go?
* If gas were just a bit less expensive, I would suggest taking a scenic drive. Along the way you could pull over to have coffee and dessert at a nice café. Instead, you have the opportunity to drive to a parking area near the scenic area, park the car, and get out and walk or ride a bike or scooter (roller skates? skateboard??). Yes, you COULD do that near a smaller city, but you would not have so many areas to choose from within the city limits of a small town.
* Where else could you take a DOWNTOWN TOLEDO walking tour? The Downtown TOLEDO walking tours for 2007, started for the season on July 5, 2007, and continue Thursdays and continue through Sept. 13, 2007 from noon to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Volunteer guides trained in Toledo history and architecture will lead each tour FOR FREE! (http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/ART03/70628018)
OR,
* A personal favorite TOLEDO walking tour of my own:
Start at the ERIE STREET MARKET (237 S. Erie Street, 419 936-3743), spend the day there, split the day between the TOLEDO FARMERS' MARKET, just outdoors at 535 Market St.(419 255-6765) OR continue down ONTARIO STREET. You will be surprised to find inexpensive food eateries if you keep your eyes open, some that offer free samples, as well as window shopping (for gift ideas and/or clearance sales this time of year).
Continue another block toward the heart of downtown and you will discover inspiration at ARCHITECTURAL ARTIFACTS at 20 S. Ontario Street. (for hours call: 419-243-6916).
Just a short way up the block you will find a place to buy $2.00 New York style pizza and an ice cream parlor with rod iron tables and chairs outdoors: SCOOTERS: 140 N. Ontario St., and DOUG'S ICE CREAM HOUSE AND EMPORIUM, next to the Greyhound bus station, not far off the path.
Are you goofy like me? "Cop a seat" at the bus station and welcome people home!) Goofy is always free...(unless you're at Walt Disney World.)
CLASSIC ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES is just up the road and if you continue, you will arrive at a dead end at the historical TOLEDO COURTHOUSE building to tour, or to take photos of. Go early, and you will hear the sound of the bells playing hymns at ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, across from the courthouse, at 8:30 am.!
There are MANY TOLEDO WALKING TOURS, historical and architectural, in and around TOLEDO, so if you have any questions please feel free to write, or consult one of our local historians, like LARRY MICHAELS, the Pastor of historical MARTIN LUTHER CHURCH on Nevada Street in East Toledo. If he doesn't know it, he can refer you to someone who can. (Books about historical TOLEDO by Larry R. Michaels are available on-line from Barnes and Noble, or email: michaelsoh@aol.com ) For more historical information about TOLEDO, go to:http://www.toledosattic.org/...and by the way, how may cities have all these web sites and historical venues? Many have one or two, we have LOTS!
* 'What these small towns wouldn't give to have a public transportation system!!? We are fortunate enough to have TARTA: Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. Where else can you ride from one side of town to the other for a dollar ($1.10 one-way with a transfer to change buses). With this service we get: $1.00 rides to Mud hens games, (www.tarta.com/hens.htm), and FREE transportation on ozone action days! (419-243-RIDE 7433..Routes & Maps: www.tarta.com/routes.htm, Call-A-Ride: www.tarta.com/callaride.htm)
* In any city you can be a kid again, but TOLEDO has bowling alleys in every area of town (check for buy-one, get-one-free coupons), some nice miniature golf locations, where you can golf, or ride go-carts (if you have more than $10.00). Where else within a 60 mile radius will you find a "PUTT-PUTT GOLF", WITH a cave and a waterfall?
* TOLEDO offers some really safe, manicured places to (legally) pitch a tent. Maumee Bay State Park campground, just north of the city area, only charges $26.00 for a fully electrical site. (Yes, it's a LITTLE over $20. but think of all the FREE things you get to do while you're there! All you will have to purchase besides the site if you already have a tent (or can borrow one) is food and firewood (and even that can be free from a neighbor or friend). Go camping and roast hot dogs as you gaze at the stars. Invite your friends out and save them some money too! You are allowed up to 6 or 7 people and 2-3 tents on one site! (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/camps/campingfees.htm)
* Many Toledoans complain that there are bars on every corner. Those of you who LIKE it that way can relax and shake off the negativity, by searching for the best and "most economical" happy hour in town. Look through our FREE publications that are packed with activity ideas, like our own TOLEDO CITY PAPER, or search online for local restaurants and bars with happy hours. Most places offer half-price food and drink specials, allowing you to get two drinks and share an appetizer for less than $20.
* Stop in any hotel lobby in TOLEDO pick up a free visitors guide or a handful of FREE brochures, for more date ideas. Call or look up on the computer: the GREATER TOLEDO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 419-321-6404/800-243-4667, 401 Jefferson Ave.,
www.toledocvb.com. You could also open a map, pick a spot, grab about $10 bucks to take with you, get out of the house, and stop RANTING!
Life will always have bills, shortages, and disappointments. But if you start the day with a smile, and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, you'll learn that you will be happier, those around you will be happier, and you'll all be THANKFUL TO LIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
If you STILL REALLY WANT TO RANT, why not visit http://www.toledotalk.com/, register, and fire away. A happy TOLEDOAN is a POSITIVE TOLEDOAN.
CEDAR POINT - post from 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
COOL THING ABOUT LIVING IN TOLEDO: Cedar Point!
Today is the first time in as long as I can remember that I HAVEN'T gone to Cedar Point at least once in the Summer. It has been common place that I take my daughter to Cedar Point (in Sandusky Ohio, about an hour and 15 minutes away, as the crow flies) every year on or for her birthday at the end of June. She went with her boyfriend and his sister and her fiance' today.It wasn't for any special occasion; her boyfriend's parents had free tickets and gave them to the kids. Even if I would have had a ticket, I have no idea who I would have asked to go with me, and you REALLY SHOULD go in groups of two, so no one is waiting around to ride a ride. That happened to me last year AND the year before! We had invited Richard, my daughter's best friend (that recently moved to Knoxville, TN, and whom I REALLY miss having around ) to go with us. They wanted to run from ride to ride, and ride coasters that I can't ride (the wooden ones and ones that jerk my neck) so I just wandered around by myself, window shopping, eating, and got so bored that I actually went out to he car and TOOK A NAP! AT CEDAR POINT!! I vowed this past year that I would not go again without a friend of my own. And lately, for me,m they are few and far between. Although, I must note that my old grade school friend, Judy Gawronski has been getting in touch with me, which is awesome, and my friend from the corner., Jeremy, (WHOM AS OF SUMMER 2011 I NO LONGER SPEAK TO BC OF THE LIES HE PASSED ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT ME!) has been in touch and we actually went out last night down to the docks. We had 3 Long Island ice teas , took the water taxi across the River over to the Rally By the River, downtown, had a bloomin' onion, ride the taxi back, and danced our butts off till the bar almost closed. I had a GREAT WONDERFUL FUN AND LONG NEEDED GOOD TIME. But back to the Cedar point story.Many friends that I COULD have asked to go, IF I would have had a free ticket and a ride (I have no car at the present), either work a lot, or have children that they may have wanted to take..NO THANK YOU. NO KIDS. NOT WHEN I GO TO CEDAR POINT..Well, unless I am getting paid to babysit them. Then that's different.. As far as the kids that went today, as it turned out - they unknowingly chosen the most awesome day they could have gone so far this month. We have had temperatures in the 90's for well over a week, and more to come next week, but TODAY: 80 and cloudy. GREAT for CEDAR POINT. No HOT sun to burn you like a lobster, and no threat of rain either to speak of, just a only slightly humid summer day with clouds. AWESOME. One of my favorite things to do when someone I know goes to Cedar Point is to find them on one of the web cams...I love to look for them periodically throughout the day on one of the 4-5 web cams that are USUALLY working, and didn't have bugs stuck to it.. Today only one seems to be up, and that is the Sky Ride web cam. I have attempted to include it in with my post, in case someone you know is at the "ROLLER COASTER CAPITAL" Today!!
LINK TO WEB CAM PAGE FOR MAIN CAUSEWAY AT CEDAR POINT: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/webcams/webcam.cfm?chip=1
COOL THING ABOUT LIVING IN TOLEDO: Cedar Point!
Today is the first time in as long as I can remember that I HAVEN'T gone to Cedar Point at least once in the Summer. It has been common place that I take my daughter to Cedar Point (in Sandusky Ohio, about an hour and 15 minutes away, as the crow flies) every year on or for her birthday at the end of June. She went with her boyfriend and his sister and her fiance' today.It wasn't for any special occasion; her boyfriend's parents had free tickets and gave them to the kids. Even if I would have had a ticket, I have no idea who I would have asked to go with me, and you REALLY SHOULD go in groups of two, so no one is waiting around to ride a ride. That happened to me last year AND the year before! We had invited Richard, my daughter's best friend (that recently moved to Knoxville, TN, and whom I REALLY miss having around ) to go with us. They wanted to run from ride to ride, and ride coasters that I can't ride (the wooden ones and ones that jerk my neck) so I just wandered around by myself, window shopping, eating, and got so bored that I actually went out to he car and TOOK A NAP! AT CEDAR POINT!! I vowed this past year that I would not go again without a friend of my own. And lately, for me,m they are few and far between. Although, I must note that my old grade school friend, Judy Gawronski has been getting in touch with me, which is awesome, and my friend from the corner., Jeremy, (WHOM AS OF SUMMER 2011 I NO LONGER SPEAK TO BC OF THE LIES HE PASSED ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT ME!) has been in touch and we actually went out last night down to the docks. We had 3 Long Island ice teas , took the water taxi across the River over to the Rally By the River, downtown, had a bloomin' onion, ride the taxi back, and danced our butts off till the bar almost closed. I had a GREAT WONDERFUL FUN AND LONG NEEDED GOOD TIME. But back to the Cedar point story.Many friends that I COULD have asked to go, IF I would have had a free ticket and a ride (I have no car at the present), either work a lot, or have children that they may have wanted to take..NO THANK YOU. NO KIDS. NOT WHEN I GO TO CEDAR POINT..Well, unless I am getting paid to babysit them. Then that's different.. As far as the kids that went today, as it turned out - they unknowingly chosen the most awesome day they could have gone so far this month. We have had temperatures in the 90's for well over a week, and more to come next week, but TODAY: 80 and cloudy. GREAT for CEDAR POINT. No HOT sun to burn you like a lobster, and no threat of rain either to speak of, just a only slightly humid summer day with clouds. AWESOME. One of my favorite things to do when someone I know goes to Cedar Point is to find them on one of the web cams...I love to look for them periodically throughout the day on one of the 4-5 web cams that are USUALLY working, and didn't have bugs stuck to it.. Today only one seems to be up, and that is the Sky Ride web cam. I have attempted to include it in with my post, in case someone you know is at the "ROLLER COASTER CAPITAL" Today!!
LINK TO WEB CAM PAGE FOR MAIN CAUSEWAY AT CEDAR POINT: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/webcams/webcam.cfm?chip=1
END OF SUMMER EVENTS 2011
37th Annual Greek-American Festival
Dates: September 9, 2007 - September 11, 2011, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Location: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Join Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral as we celebrate our 37th Annual Greek-American Festival! The Greek-American Festival is the perfect place to spend time with the family or enjoy a night in downtown Toledo. Come celebrate with delicious Greek food and more!
Black Swamp Arts Festival
Dates: September 9, 2007 - September 11, 2007, Sunday Friday Saturday
Location: Downtown Bowling Green
The mission of the Black Swamp Arts Festival (BSAF) is to connect art and the community by presenting an annual arts festival and by promoting the arts in the Bowling Green community.
(NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE!) Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce 50th Arts Festival
Dates: September 11, 2007, Sunday
Location: Lourdes College
The Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 50th annual Arts Festival on September 9, 2007 at its new location at Lourdes College, 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, Ohio. The festival, one of the largest one-day events in the country..
(NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE EITHER!) Clyde Country Fair
Dates: September 16, 2007 - September 18, 2011, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Location: Downtown Clyde
The Clyde Country Fair is celebrating its 21st year. The fair is held in beautiful downtown Clyde and is the home of Ohio’s largest running street go-kart race. Come and join us for free nightly entertainment, together with rides, crafts, and...(more)
Harrison Rally Day
Dates: September 17, 2011, Saturday
Location: Downtown Perrysburg
Enjoy fun for the whole family in downtown historic Perrysburg. Music, Art, food, fun!!! Music Children's Art Youth Band Parade Prize Winning Fine Arts ARtists Reception
AND THE PIECE DE'RESISTANCE: THE ANNUAL GRAND RAPIDS Applebutter Fest
Dates: October 9, 2011, Sunday
Location: Downtown Grand Rapids
Always held the second Sunday of October, this festival features Heritage Craftsmen, juried crafts, entertainment,great food, vintage farm equipment, re-enactment groups and pioneer demonstrations, the traditional apple butter stir,and shops brimming with goodies.
FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND! Labor Day 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
LABOR DAY:An OPPORTUNITY to show your PRIDE & PATRIOTISM
I ran across a wonderful website today, that offers to send a FREE AMERICAN FLAG, as well as the opportunity to write a thank you note and send a card to a disabled veteran. I wish I would have seen this site sooner! I plan to send as many cards as I can to thank the men and women for the sacrifice they may have made or are still making to allow me, and my family and friends to live free and safe.
Here is the link, if you'd like to send a THANK YOU NOTE TO A VETERAN, yourself:
http://www.pva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ECRD_homepage
Here are some of the links that you can choose from on the right side of the page:
Be a Hero for a Hero
eBay Giving Works
Honorary & Memorial Gifts
Send an eCard
Free Address Labels
While you're there, you might want to take the opportunity to nominate TOLEDO as the "most patriotic" city. You can do so by going to the same site: http://www.pva.org
and look for the link to go where you wish to go.
The winning city/town will be notified and announced September 2007 and publicized on www.pva.org.
BY THE WAY: LABOR DAY FIREWORKS HERE IN TOLEDO ARE GOING TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, and can be viewed from downtown Toledo and International Park, on the East Side, as usual. I CAN'T WAIT....hope I find someone to go with! Maybe I'll take my "mate" tried and true, who loves me more than anyone, my dog, Punkin.
For more info about Labor Day weekend, go to http://www.citifest.org
Here's what it tells about labor Day celebrations in Toledo at Toledo.com:
RiverFest & Pandemonium VIII Fireworks
CitiFest 20th Anniversary Bash
@ Promenade Park
Sunday, September 2nd, 2007
5:00 pm – National Recording Artist TBD
8:00 pm – UPDATE!! EDDIE MONEY admission $5.00
9:30 pm – FIREWORKS LIVE!
(NOTE - 2011 - CITIFEST IS NO MORE!)
Celebrate CitiFest’s 20TH birthday during the annual RiverFest celebration. CitiFest closes the summer season with a bang as RiverFest and Pandemonium VIII Fireworks present the summer’s grand finale. The Labor Day tradition continues to rock the riverfront with electrifying music and explosive illuminations in the sky. Pandemonium VIII Fireworks, one of the largest and loudest Labor Day fireworks shows in Northwest Ohio, will take to the skies shortly after the sun goes down. The fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast live on a local radio station. With the best in national entertainment, food vendors, and fireworks, RiverFest is a high-charged ending to the summer for the entire family, benefiting the Toledo Zoo.
Enjoy what's left of Summer!
XOXO TTownRobin
LABOR DAY:An OPPORTUNITY to show your PRIDE & PATRIOTISM
I ran across a wonderful website today, that offers to send a FREE AMERICAN FLAG, as well as the opportunity to write a thank you note and send a card to a disabled veteran. I wish I would have seen this site sooner! I plan to send as many cards as I can to thank the men and women for the sacrifice they may have made or are still making to allow me, and my family and friends to live free and safe.
Here is the link, if you'd like to send a THANK YOU NOTE TO A VETERAN, yourself:
http://www.pva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ECRD_homepage
Here are some of the links that you can choose from on the right side of the page:
Be a Hero for a Hero
eBay Giving Works
Honorary & Memorial Gifts
Send an eCard
Free Address Labels
While you're there, you might want to take the opportunity to nominate TOLEDO as the "most patriotic" city. You can do so by going to the same site: http://www.pva.org
and look for the link to go where you wish to go.
The winning city/town will be notified and announced September 2007 and publicized on www.pva.org.
BY THE WAY: LABOR DAY FIREWORKS HERE IN TOLEDO ARE GOING TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, and can be viewed from downtown Toledo and International Park, on the East Side, as usual. I CAN'T WAIT....hope I find someone to go with! Maybe I'll take my "mate" tried and true, who loves me more than anyone, my dog, Punkin.
For more info about Labor Day weekend, go to http://www.citifest.org
Here's what it tells about labor Day celebrations in Toledo at Toledo.com:
RiverFest & Pandemonium VIII Fireworks
CitiFest 20th Anniversary Bash
@ Promenade Park
Sunday, September 2nd, 2007
5:00 pm – National Recording Artist TBD
8:00 pm – UPDATE!! EDDIE MONEY admission $5.00
9:30 pm – FIREWORKS LIVE!
(NOTE - 2011 - CITIFEST IS NO MORE!)
Celebrate CitiFest’s 20TH birthday during the annual RiverFest celebration. CitiFest closes the summer season with a bang as RiverFest and Pandemonium VIII Fireworks present the summer’s grand finale. The Labor Day tradition continues to rock the riverfront with electrifying music and explosive illuminations in the sky. Pandemonium VIII Fireworks, one of the largest and loudest Labor Day fireworks shows in Northwest Ohio, will take to the skies shortly after the sun goes down. The fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast live on a local radio station. With the best in national entertainment, food vendors, and fireworks, RiverFest is a high-charged ending to the summer for the entire family, benefiting the Toledo Zoo.
Enjoy what's left of Summer!
XOXO TTownRobin
Originally written Oct 2007 and the TAXES ON CIGARETTES ARE STILL GOING UP!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
FOR THE 1ST TIME EVER THAT MARCY KAPTUR LET ME DOWN
"Please see below, how your legislator voted
on the Federal Excise Tax Increase"
Legislator Name Vote Position
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (DEM) Y Yes
copied from:
http://www.stopthefetincrease.com/legis_scorecard.aspx?LegisID=KaptXMar06171946
CONGRESSWOMAN MARCY KAPTUR HAS BEEN THE ONE TO WRITE TO WHEN EVERY CONTACT HERE IN TOLEDO HAS FAILED ME, AND SHE HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH FOR ME AND FOR US TOLEDOANS. SHE HAS BEEN A CRUSADER FOR US FOR MANY YEARS...BUT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT BECAUSE OF HER VOTE, WE SMOKERS WILL BE PAYING ANOTHER $6.10 FOR A CARTON OF CIGARETTES STARTING NOVEMBER 1st, 2007.
WHY DO SMOKERS HAVE TO CARRY THE TAX FOR EVERYTHING NEW?
IF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN GOES THROUGH ONCE CONGRESS HAS RE-VAMPED IT TO BE STATED PROPERLY, THAT NEW TAX WILL ALL BE OUT OF OUR POCKETBOOKS TOO!
I AGREE, I NEED TO QUIT SMOKING. I AM HAVING A HELL OF A TIME DOING IT. I HAVE TRIED THE NEW STOP-SMOKING MEDICINE: CHANTIX, WHICH CAUSED ME TO EXPERIENCE HORRIBLE NIGHTLY BAD DREAMS, WEEK LONG HEADACHES AND A LACK OF RESTED SLEEP, PLUS CONSTANT BITING THE INSIDES OF MY CHEEKS...BUT EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, I AM SIMPLY NOT READY TO GAIN 100 POUNDS.THE LAST TIME I STOPPED SMOKING, I GAINED 10 POUNDS IN 13 DAYS! I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON MEETING THE MAN OF MY DREAMS YET AND AS LITTLE AS I GET OUT, IT'S NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW EITHER, WITH WINTER COMING.
SMOKING IS MY ONLY VICE. I DON'T DRINK TO SPEAK OF, I DON'T DO STREET DRUGS, I DON'T EVEN GO AND SEE MOVIES OR GO SHOPPING! I CAN'T AFFORD IT!! MY ENTERTAINMENT IS SMOKING AND MY COMPUTER AND GARDENING. THAT'S IT! SAD BUT TRUE. AND UNTIL I CAN GET MY MIND AROUND QUITTING, IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE STUCK AT HOME EVEN MORE, PAYING $37.10 a CARTON FOR THE CHEAPEST CIGERETTES I CAN STAND RATHER THAN $31.00 (the least expensive at my local carry out within walking distance BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A CAR!!)
PLEASE HELP LET OUR LEGISLATURE KNOW THAT WE DO NOT WANT THIS TAX!!
VISIT stoptheFETincrease.com
or call: 1-866-527-4494
THIS YEAR I already missed the Pemberville Summer Fair - I DON"T WANT TO MISS THE FALL FESTIVAL TOO!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ON: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Reminder:
The Pemberville Fall Festival is THIS WEEKEND!
Here's the date, details, and web site:
Pemberville’s Autumn Fest on the River
(Address? not found yet, the main drag I suppose) & Phone:
Downtown Pemberville
Pemberville, OH 43450
419-287-3274
Hours:
9am- 5pm
Description:
Pemberville has become famous for hosting this special historical day! This festival will feature historical reenactments, living historians, specialty foods, and demonstrating artisans. The Opera House will be featuring special, surprise performances starting at 11am and running at the top of each hour with the last show starting at 3pm. Sponsored by the Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society.
Tickets:
Free.
Reservations:
Reservations not required.
Dates:
10/27/2007
~~~~~~~~~~~
http://consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=49701
~~~~~~~~~~~
Pemberville Autumn Fest Craft Show
Address & Phone:
Pemberville’s American Legion Hall/ Pemberville School
405 E. Front St.
Pemberville, OH 43450
419-287-4000
Hours:
9am-5pm
Description:
Sponsored by the American Legion Post 183 Marching Units. This craft show will feature over 60 craftsmen!
Tickets:
Free.
Reservations:
Reservations not required.
Dates:
10/27/2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Reminder:
The Pemberville Fall Festival is THIS WEEKEND!
Here's the date, details, and web site:
Pemberville’s Autumn Fest on the River
(Address? not found yet, the main drag I suppose) & Phone:
Downtown Pemberville
Pemberville, OH 43450
419-287-3274
Hours:
9am- 5pm
Description:
Pemberville has become famous for hosting this special historical day! This festival will feature historical reenactments, living historians, specialty foods, and demonstrating artisans. The Opera House will be featuring special, surprise performances starting at 11am and running at the top of each hour with the last show starting at 3pm. Sponsored by the Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society.
Tickets:
Free.
Reservations:
Reservations not required.
Dates:
10/27/2007
~~~~~~~~~~~
http://consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=49701
~~~~~~~~~~~
Pemberville Autumn Fest Craft Show
Address & Phone:
Pemberville’s American Legion Hall/ Pemberville School
405 E. Front St.
Pemberville, OH 43450
419-287-4000
Hours:
9am-5pm
Description:
Sponsored by the American Legion Post 183 Marching Units. This craft show will feature over 60 craftsmen!
Tickets:
Free.
Reservations:
Reservations not required.
Dates:
10/27/2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM NOV 5 2007 - WHAT I LEARNED FROM DR. OZ (and still use today! 9-1-11!!)
Monday, November 5, 2007
Things I learned from OPRAH and DR. OZ today!
3 DRINKS
that will make you feel like a NEW PERSON
HI!
This post is not only about the 3 drinks, but also about Oprah Winfrey's friend, Doctor oz's Anti-again plan. I am reprinting most of this as a reminder to myself, to really think about how much better I could feel if I would just spend a little more on groceries for a month or two (yeah, right, LOL - I get groceries from the church half the time because we're so poor!)
1) THE GREEN DRINK THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL YOUNGER AND LIVE LONGER
"The Green Drink" aka, according to Oprah: "FRESH" in a glass!
Serves 1-2
Ingredients:
2 big handfuls of Spinach
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1 rib of celery
1 thumb of ginger, skin peeled
1 lemon
1 medium cucumber
2 apples
ice cubes (optional)
In a juicer, place all ingredients except optional ice cubes in a juicer until juiced. Serve in your favorite wine goblet or other favorite glass of choice. If desired, add ice cubes for a refreshing cold beverage.
As always, you can adjust these ingredients to your own liking. Perhaps you really really like cucumber. Great! Add 2 cucumbers instead!
For a starter green juice, I recommend additional apples until you get used to the taste. There is no requirement to start out with swamp water that tastes like swamp water. Start with something fruity. Then over time if you want you can add more greens and less apples. That is why green smoothies are so popular - they are usually 60% or more of fruit, and 40% or less of greens.
The green color is a good indication that you have enough greens in the juice. As long as it is green, you know that you are getting the alkaline benefits of greens.
2) Dr. Oz's second drink might not be as pleasant, but it's still important:
a shot of cod liver oil.
"First of all, cod liver oil has the right kind of vitamin D in it—vitamin D3. That's why people who live in the north lands who don't get any sun at all can still survive. It's got the healthy fats that you want in it," Dr. Oz says.
3) Xango Mangosteen Juice and the Magosteen Fruit:
"Why Drink Mangosteen Juice?
There are two very good reasons for having a daily hit of mangosteen juice. First there is the flavour, and then there are the health benefits. Many people like to kick start their day with a glass of fruit juice and, sure, most juices are very good for you, but none have the combination of taste and goodness provided by the fruit of the exotic mangosteen tree.
Take orange juice, for example: great flavor and lots of vitamin C, which is, of course, a well known antioxidant. Mangosteen, however, has been shown to contain over 40 different antioxidants. In fact, laboratory tests have shown that juice from the whole mangosteen fruit is 20 to 30 times more effective at neutralizing dangerous free radicals than juice from most other antioxidant-rich sources.
Mangosteen fruit have been used for centuries in Asia, both as a delicious foodstuff and as a one-stop pharmaceutical gift shop. In more recent times, health researchers from around the world have conducted studies to establish whether the fruit may have a role to play in treating a whole raft of conditions, from cancer to mental illness. Although there is still much work to be done, the results thus far have been able to verify what has been accepted folklore for generations of Southeast Asians—mangosteen is one of Mother Nature’s great gifts to mankind.
So, if you are going to have a morning fruit drink, why not drink mangosteen juice?
Mangosteen Fruit
Rarely has a fruit that has been so unknown to the common man of the western world been so studied, examined, researched, and scrutinized by science than the remarkable Mangosteen. Study after study, research paper after research paper all extol the extraordinary benefits of the Mangosteen and its rich supply of antioxidant xanthones.
"The body's immune and other systems produce homemade antioxidants and some vitamins, such as E and C. But there exist other antioxidants even more potent than vitamins, and these powerful protective substances are only found in certain plants," writes Fred Templeman, M.D. "One such class of substances called Xanthones has recently been identified by scientists in a rain forest plant ... the Mangosteen."
Dr. Templeman continues, "Our secondary research has unearthed over forty scientific papers in which biochemically active components of the Mangosteen have been rigorously examined in the laboratory. . . It is already evident that the multiple health benefits of the fruit are supported by scientific investigation."
For centuries, the people of Southeast Asia have known all about those "multiple health benefits." Now science supports what they've known all along. The ancient wisdom of Southeast Asia. The certainty of modern science.
The Power of Our Whole Fruit Puree
It is not simply the juice of the Mangosteen. Instead, it is a whole fruit puree, utilizing the pericarp as well as the pulp of this extraordinary tropical fruit. As a whole fruit puree it delivers all the benefits of Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin, the xanthones that have proven to be so rich in life-enhancing qualities.
"Studies are showing that xanthones have positive effects on nearly all the body's systems," says researcher Fred Templeman, M.D. "From increased energy to protection from free radical damage, xanthones delivers a wide range of benefits."
A Taste Sensation
And the best part it is absolutely delicious! We're all familiar with tonics and potions derived from natural plants and herbs. Most have genuine beneficial properties, but the taste leaves so much to be desired. The naturally sweet and tangy flavor of the Mangosteen is a taste sensation you have to experience to believe. It has no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no added sweeteners. We don't need them!
In magosteen juice you get all of the miraculous benefits of xanthones: powerful antioxidants protection against free radical damage, support for cholesterol concerns, a natural energy enhancer, and more. And you get all this in a drink that you'll look forward to tasting!
The Mangosteen fruit is composed of the following:
Pericarp (rind or skin)- it is smooth, 4-8mm thick with a dark purple color
Pulp (fruit) - consists of 4-8 snowy white colored segments. It is soft & juicy with an exquisite unforgettable taste.
Seeds - one mangosteen fruit usually contains 2-3 well-developed seeds ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 cm in length.
Inside the Mangosteen
Size: Roughly the size of a tangerine
Color: Smooth, dark purple pericarp (rind)
Color Inside: "Snow white" colored fruit
Taste: Unbearably exquisite, impossible to forget
Did you know?
The pericarp, or rind of the mangosteen contains more xanthones than any other source on earth! These are the same powerful xanthones that make the Mangosteen the super star of health and nutritional supplements."
ALTHOUGH MANGOSTEEN JUICE WAS RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ, THE INFORMATION ABOVE WAS NOT FROM HIM OR FROM THE OPRAH SHOW, IT WAS FOUND AT:
http://trythisjob.com/Whatismangosteenjuice.html
THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR 1 CASE OF "Xango" MANGOSTEEN JUICE ON EBAY, IS ABOUT 50.00 PLUS SHIPPING.
WHAT IS WRITTEN BELOW ABOUT A GUEST ON OPRAH IS EXACTLY HOW I LIVE!! BOY, I NEED TO START LIVING SOME OF THIS ADVICE..
MORE FROM TODAY'S OPRAH SHOW:
"Brenda, a 48-year-old single mother, is the first to admit that she had an unhealthy lifestyle. "I ate a lot of sugar. A lot of junk food. I do not exercise," she says.
Brenda says she received a major wake-up call when she started having heart palpitations while driving in the car with her daughter. "At the time in which this was going on, I thought I was going to die," she says.
After running a biophysical on Brenda, Dr. Oz found that on top of being anemic and vitamin D deficient, Brenda had a thyroid problem. "Your thyroid levels were the worst they had ever seen," he says. "You weren't making any at all. That actually was leading to your muscle literally breaking down." Dr. Oz says this may have caused Brenda's heart palpitations. "Over and over again, especially in women, we see the thyroid gland not functioning correctly. And when it happens in the severe nature, you actually fall apart—and your heart muscle, which is one of the muscles, can also stop."
Since Brenda has been following the You: Staying Young plan, she says she is feeling much better. "I'm better able to handle stress, I work out regularly and I'm not as tired," she says.
Dr. Oz stresses the importance of taking care of thyroid problems by having your thyroid levels checked. "It's one of the key blood tests you have to get on yourself," he says."
I AM GOING TO ASK MY DOCTOR FOR A THYROID TEST NEXT TIME I SEE HIM!
AND THIS IS ME TOO:
"Maureen says she had a serious problem with her energy level. "I had brain fog to the point where I could not concentrate or focus on the tasks and duties. Just simple things at home—helping my daughter with her homework—and definitely the career and the job."
Dr. Oz discovered that Maureen was anemic. "You've got to check your blood count," he says. "That's one of the tests you've got to get, no matter how you get it done."
By following Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen's anti-aging plan for eight weeks, Maureen receives the good news that she has brought up her low levels of iron. "Now I have more energy and I'm able to handle the day-to-day things," she says."
A REMINDER FOR ME TO TELL MY FRIEND BRENDA ABOUT/an 8 week anti-aging diet!
"Lisa also went on Dr. Oz's anti-aging plan for eight weeks to help treat her fibromyalgia, which is a chronic syndrome that can cause symptoms like pain and fatigue. "Seven years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I have been on a gamut of medication," she says. "It would work for a few days, maybe a few weeks, and I would be in constant pain—my neck, my back, my arms, my legs."
Since then, Lisa has been following Dr. Oz's advice and working with a doctor who specializes in fibromyalgia. "About a week after I was on the supplements and walking, I could feel my body is warming," Lisa says. "I have energy. In fact, I have so much energy I have to kind of put a little reserve on because I'm back to being better than what I was before."
"I hope a lot of the audience members' eyes [are open] now to a problem that afflicts 8 million Americans," Dr. Oz says. "You don't have to live with that agony."
MORE WAYS TO HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME!"The smallest particles are the ones that do the most damage.."
Regularly open up windows to air out your home of all the fumes and particles trapped inside.
Making your house healthier starts right at your front door. Take off your shoes when you enter to avoid tracking in pesticides and lawn chemicals.
When you microwave food, don't leave it in plastic containers or with plastic covering. That plastic could leak into the food. Instead, use glass or other microwave-safe containers.
Instead of using toxic chemicals to clean your sink and bathtub, Dr. Oz recommends using baking soda. And you can use white vinegar to clean your windows. Or look for brands like Shaklee's Get Clean line. Oprah says she loves their Basic H2 spot remover.
To avoid the chemicals used in dry cleaning, take your clothes out of the bags while you're outside and throw the bags away. Then, let your clothes air out for at least a day before wearing them.
Use a dehumidifier to cut down on potentially toxic mold in places like garages.
If you must store old cans of paint and varnish, only do it in well-ventilated places that are far from your living area.
Include plants like spider plants, golden pothos and philodendrons in your home. They are experts at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.
ANOTHER BREAKFAST DRINK:
The Quick Magical Breakfast Blaster
2 servings, 136 calories per serving
1 scoop (1/3 cup) Soy protein (like Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein)
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 large ripe banana (or other fruits of your choice)
1/2 tablespoon apple juice concentrate or honey
1 teaspoon Psyillium seed husks
Peel banana; break into chunks. Put all ingredients in a blender. Add 12 ounces of water and ice, as well as powdered vitamins. Cover, blend until fairly smooth.
THE ONLY FOUR EXERCISES YOU NEED TO KNOW ACCORDING TO DR. OZ:
"You don't need balls, mats and elastic bands to get a great workout. Dr. Oz says there are only four exercises that you'll ever need to know—and none require fancy machinery!
First, Dr. Oz suggests that people walk for at least 30 minutes each and every day. "Walking is the foundation for all other exercises because it increases your stamina and prepares your body for strength training," he says. You should strive to walk 10,000 steps a day.
The second step is to build muscle by lifting weights for 30 minutes a week. You can lift a dumbbell, a gallon of milk or your toddler…just start lifting!
Now that you're on the right track, Dr. Oz says you have to work up a sweat for about an hour a week. "The number one predictor of how long you're going to live is how well you can exercise your heart," he says. "If you can push yourself to sweat for an hour a week, that's great. You can break it down into three little segments of 20 minutes each."
Finally, you have to stretch so that you don't get hurt. Dr. Oz likes to do yoga, but he says you can get the same benefits from stretches you learned in high school gym class.
There's one secret fat-burner that you can do anywhere—fidgeting!"
THE 14 DAY PLAN RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_main.jhtml
Why 14 days? Because that's how long it takes for many healthy behaviors to become healthy habits.
The 14-Day Plan: Week 1
1 of 9
DAY 1: TAKING STOCK
1. Get out and go shopping! Buy these items, which should run you less than $125.
A tape measure
A heart-rate monitor (We use Polar products—they have chest straps and monitor watches)
A pedometer
A good pair of walking or running shoes
A hand-grip tester
A blood pressure cuff (Many have memory and download options…or you can use the one at the drugstore)
A notebook or access to computer website to record your results
2. Determine your real age at RealAge.com—that is, the actual age of your body (and mind) based on your health and habits, not your calendar age based on when mama thrust you into the world covered in goop.
3. Measure your blood pressure. Most drug stores have a device that can be placed on your arm if you haven't bought the home device yet.
4. Measure your heart rate in the evening, as well as the highest heart rate you achieve during your most intense exercise.
5. Measure your waist size. Circle the tape measure around your waist at the belly button, while you're taking a deep breath and sucking in. You would anyway, but it is the right way of measuring it as it gets the muscle we do not want to measure out of the way. Also measure your weight. The ideal is for your waist to be half your height.
6. Leave a space to record the average number of steps you take this week.
7. Make a doctor's appointment so you can get the medical tests you need.
8. Answer these questions.
Are you living life from (A) fear or from (B) passion?
Are you playing life (A) to avoid losing or (B) to win?
Are your goals based on (A) preserving the status quo or (B) achieving growth?
If you answered (A) to any of them, it's an indication that you're not moving forward in life. Remember, the only times that your vital signs are completely stable are when you're dead. Like sharks, we need to keep moving in order to live fully.
9. Ask yourself these questions to really determine whether you're really happy.
Are you happy most of the time?
Are you as happy now as you were 5 years ago?
Are you still expecting much from life?
Do your days seem to be passing quickly?
Are you often sad less than 10 percent of the time?
We obviously want you to have positive answers for these questions. If you're not there, our program, as well as professional help, can help you get there.
10. Ask three strangers how old you are. Asking friends and family doesn't count, since they either know or have a vested interest in not hurting your feelings. This will help give you some kind of baseline as to how others perceive you—based on appearance and demeanor—and can be a strong indicator of how healthy you actually are. In addition, you can ask a friend you trust to be honest with you about how you are aging compared to others.
11. Ask your friends what your three biggest strengths are. Identify how you best use them.
12. In your notebook, draw a little box with an amoeba that fills up 70 percent of the box, but also goes outside of the box. The box is your job, and the amoeba is you. The empty spots in the box are where we often focus all of our effort, but perhaps you should focus on the part of the amoeba that lies outside of the box, as this represents your strengths.
13. Ask yourself this simple question: How have you aged over the last five years? Use a picture to compare how you looked between then and now. Your initial thought:
My oh my, I look like I did in high school, dahling.
I'm steady Eddie—about the same.
I'm about what you'd expect—little fatter, little wrinklier, and little more worn down.
I look like tree bark.
14. Ask yourself this: What activities did you do five years ago that you can't do today?
15. Ask yourself these big-picture stress questions, which can help you identify things to work on while using our program:
Is your perceived level of stress more than you enjoy? Remember that actual stress is a more predictable driver of aging than our perception of stress, so push yourself to be honest with yourself.
Do you control most of the stress in your life or are you a rat in someone else's experiment?
GO HERE TO READ ABOUT THE VIATMINS YOU NEED TO FEEL GOOD AND AGE WELL:
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/slide/20071105/oz_20071105_350_108.jhtml
DAY 2: RE-TOOL YOUR HOME AND MIND
Shop for vitamins and calcium supplements. Buy calcium tablets that have at least 500 milligrams of calcium, 200 international units of vitamin D and 150 milligrams of magnesium. Get your vitamin shopping list.
Shop for non-toxic cleaners.
Purchase and install water filters for your home.
Do the Chi-gong Workout to build your coordination and mind-body connection.
If you have any addictions, start a cessation program to quit. Smoking the issue? Try the program here: http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/extend/extend_smoking.jhtml
FOR THE REST OF THE SUGGESTIONS FOR PART TWO, START AT THIS PAGE:
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_105.jhtml
DAY 3: START THE THREE-DAY BODY-BASIC DIET
"Start a calorie-restricted diet, and continue for three days. The goal of this body-basic diet: Recalibrate your settings to eating better foods—and more sensible amount of them.
Here's how it works: Eat about three-quarters of the amount of food you usually eat every day using only healthy foods now. You can do it by eyeballing, or literally filling your plate as usual and taking one-quarter of the meal away and storing it for tomorrow. If you find this too difficult, reducing your calorie intake by even 15 percent will work. And if that is too challenging, then just eat healthy foods in the usual amount for you.
Why? We're trying to get you to feel what calorie restriction, the only proven senility eraser, feels like. It will be a little uncomfortable, but you'll only do it for three days. Drink as much water with lime or lemon juice or fresh brewed green tea as you want, which will help clear toxins and prevent dehydration. Please take your vitamin supplements while on the program since we don't want to starve you if you're already nutritionally depleted from a life of kielbasa with mayonnaise.
When you add back a little more food on Day 6, chances are that even in three days, you'll have trained yourself and your stomach to need less food than you're accustomed to eating."
FIND THE REST OF PART THREE HERE: http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_105.jhtml
ON THIS PAGE YOU WILL FIND THE LINKS TO 2 WORKOUTS RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ, INCLUDING AN EXCUSE-BUSTERS WORKOUT (that's what I need):
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/extend/extend_workouts.jhtml
Long post but IMPORTANT! Have a great day!
Things I learned from OPRAH and DR. OZ today!
3 DRINKS
that will make you feel like a NEW PERSON
HI!
This post is not only about the 3 drinks, but also about Oprah Winfrey's friend, Doctor oz's Anti-again plan. I am reprinting most of this as a reminder to myself, to really think about how much better I could feel if I would just spend a little more on groceries for a month or two (yeah, right, LOL - I get groceries from the church half the time because we're so poor!)
1) THE GREEN DRINK THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL YOUNGER AND LIVE LONGER
"The Green Drink" aka, according to Oprah: "FRESH" in a glass!
Serves 1-2
Ingredients:
2 big handfuls of Spinach
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1 rib of celery
1 thumb of ginger, skin peeled
1 lemon
1 medium cucumber
2 apples
ice cubes (optional)
In a juicer, place all ingredients except optional ice cubes in a juicer until juiced. Serve in your favorite wine goblet or other favorite glass of choice. If desired, add ice cubes for a refreshing cold beverage.
As always, you can adjust these ingredients to your own liking. Perhaps you really really like cucumber. Great! Add 2 cucumbers instead!
For a starter green juice, I recommend additional apples until you get used to the taste. There is no requirement to start out with swamp water that tastes like swamp water. Start with something fruity. Then over time if you want you can add more greens and less apples. That is why green smoothies are so popular - they are usually 60% or more of fruit, and 40% or less of greens.
The green color is a good indication that you have enough greens in the juice. As long as it is green, you know that you are getting the alkaline benefits of greens.
2) Dr. Oz's second drink might not be as pleasant, but it's still important:
a shot of cod liver oil.
"First of all, cod liver oil has the right kind of vitamin D in it—vitamin D3. That's why people who live in the north lands who don't get any sun at all can still survive. It's got the healthy fats that you want in it," Dr. Oz says.
3) Xango Mangosteen Juice and the Magosteen Fruit:
"Why Drink Mangosteen Juice?
There are two very good reasons for having a daily hit of mangosteen juice. First there is the flavour, and then there are the health benefits. Many people like to kick start their day with a glass of fruit juice and, sure, most juices are very good for you, but none have the combination of taste and goodness provided by the fruit of the exotic mangosteen tree.
Take orange juice, for example: great flavor and lots of vitamin C, which is, of course, a well known antioxidant. Mangosteen, however, has been shown to contain over 40 different antioxidants. In fact, laboratory tests have shown that juice from the whole mangosteen fruit is 20 to 30 times more effective at neutralizing dangerous free radicals than juice from most other antioxidant-rich sources.
Mangosteen fruit have been used for centuries in Asia, both as a delicious foodstuff and as a one-stop pharmaceutical gift shop. In more recent times, health researchers from around the world have conducted studies to establish whether the fruit may have a role to play in treating a whole raft of conditions, from cancer to mental illness. Although there is still much work to be done, the results thus far have been able to verify what has been accepted folklore for generations of Southeast Asians—mangosteen is one of Mother Nature’s great gifts to mankind.
So, if you are going to have a morning fruit drink, why not drink mangosteen juice?
Mangosteen Fruit
Rarely has a fruit that has been so unknown to the common man of the western world been so studied, examined, researched, and scrutinized by science than the remarkable Mangosteen. Study after study, research paper after research paper all extol the extraordinary benefits of the Mangosteen and its rich supply of antioxidant xanthones.
"The body's immune and other systems produce homemade antioxidants and some vitamins, such as E and C. But there exist other antioxidants even more potent than vitamins, and these powerful protective substances are only found in certain plants," writes Fred Templeman, M.D. "One such class of substances called Xanthones has recently been identified by scientists in a rain forest plant ... the Mangosteen."
Dr. Templeman continues, "Our secondary research has unearthed over forty scientific papers in which biochemically active components of the Mangosteen have been rigorously examined in the laboratory. . . It is already evident that the multiple health benefits of the fruit are supported by scientific investigation."
For centuries, the people of Southeast Asia have known all about those "multiple health benefits." Now science supports what they've known all along. The ancient wisdom of Southeast Asia. The certainty of modern science.
The Power of Our Whole Fruit Puree
It is not simply the juice of the Mangosteen. Instead, it is a whole fruit puree, utilizing the pericarp as well as the pulp of this extraordinary tropical fruit. As a whole fruit puree it delivers all the benefits of Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin, the xanthones that have proven to be so rich in life-enhancing qualities.
"Studies are showing that xanthones have positive effects on nearly all the body's systems," says researcher Fred Templeman, M.D. "From increased energy to protection from free radical damage, xanthones delivers a wide range of benefits."
A Taste Sensation
And the best part it is absolutely delicious! We're all familiar with tonics and potions derived from natural plants and herbs. Most have genuine beneficial properties, but the taste leaves so much to be desired. The naturally sweet and tangy flavor of the Mangosteen is a taste sensation you have to experience to believe. It has no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no added sweeteners. We don't need them!
In magosteen juice you get all of the miraculous benefits of xanthones: powerful antioxidants protection against free radical damage, support for cholesterol concerns, a natural energy enhancer, and more. And you get all this in a drink that you'll look forward to tasting!
The Mangosteen fruit is composed of the following:
Pericarp (rind or skin)- it is smooth, 4-8mm thick with a dark purple color
Pulp (fruit) - consists of 4-8 snowy white colored segments. It is soft & juicy with an exquisite unforgettable taste.
Seeds - one mangosteen fruit usually contains 2-3 well-developed seeds ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 cm in length.
Inside the Mangosteen
Size: Roughly the size of a tangerine
Color: Smooth, dark purple pericarp (rind)
Color Inside: "Snow white" colored fruit
Taste: Unbearably exquisite, impossible to forget
Did you know?
The pericarp, or rind of the mangosteen contains more xanthones than any other source on earth! These are the same powerful xanthones that make the Mangosteen the super star of health and nutritional supplements."
ALTHOUGH MANGOSTEEN JUICE WAS RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ, THE INFORMATION ABOVE WAS NOT FROM HIM OR FROM THE OPRAH SHOW, IT WAS FOUND AT:
http://trythisjob.com/Whatismangosteenjuice.html
THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR 1 CASE OF "Xango" MANGOSTEEN JUICE ON EBAY, IS ABOUT 50.00 PLUS SHIPPING.
WHAT IS WRITTEN BELOW ABOUT A GUEST ON OPRAH IS EXACTLY HOW I LIVE!! BOY, I NEED TO START LIVING SOME OF THIS ADVICE..
MORE FROM TODAY'S OPRAH SHOW:
"Brenda, a 48-year-old single mother, is the first to admit that she had an unhealthy lifestyle. "I ate a lot of sugar. A lot of junk food. I do not exercise," she says.
Brenda says she received a major wake-up call when she started having heart palpitations while driving in the car with her daughter. "At the time in which this was going on, I thought I was going to die," she says.
After running a biophysical on Brenda, Dr. Oz found that on top of being anemic and vitamin D deficient, Brenda had a thyroid problem. "Your thyroid levels were the worst they had ever seen," he says. "You weren't making any at all. That actually was leading to your muscle literally breaking down." Dr. Oz says this may have caused Brenda's heart palpitations. "Over and over again, especially in women, we see the thyroid gland not functioning correctly. And when it happens in the severe nature, you actually fall apart—and your heart muscle, which is one of the muscles, can also stop."
Since Brenda has been following the You: Staying Young plan, she says she is feeling much better. "I'm better able to handle stress, I work out regularly and I'm not as tired," she says.
Dr. Oz stresses the importance of taking care of thyroid problems by having your thyroid levels checked. "It's one of the key blood tests you have to get on yourself," he says."
I AM GOING TO ASK MY DOCTOR FOR A THYROID TEST NEXT TIME I SEE HIM!
AND THIS IS ME TOO:
"Maureen says she had a serious problem with her energy level. "I had brain fog to the point where I could not concentrate or focus on the tasks and duties. Just simple things at home—helping my daughter with her homework—and definitely the career and the job."
Dr. Oz discovered that Maureen was anemic. "You've got to check your blood count," he says. "That's one of the tests you've got to get, no matter how you get it done."
By following Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen's anti-aging plan for eight weeks, Maureen receives the good news that she has brought up her low levels of iron. "Now I have more energy and I'm able to handle the day-to-day things," she says."
A REMINDER FOR ME TO TELL MY FRIEND BRENDA ABOUT/an 8 week anti-aging diet!
"Lisa also went on Dr. Oz's anti-aging plan for eight weeks to help treat her fibromyalgia, which is a chronic syndrome that can cause symptoms like pain and fatigue. "Seven years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I have been on a gamut of medication," she says. "It would work for a few days, maybe a few weeks, and I would be in constant pain—my neck, my back, my arms, my legs."
Since then, Lisa has been following Dr. Oz's advice and working with a doctor who specializes in fibromyalgia. "About a week after I was on the supplements and walking, I could feel my body is warming," Lisa says. "I have energy. In fact, I have so much energy I have to kind of put a little reserve on because I'm back to being better than what I was before."
"I hope a lot of the audience members' eyes [are open] now to a problem that afflicts 8 million Americans," Dr. Oz says. "You don't have to live with that agony."
MORE WAYS TO HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME!"The smallest particles are the ones that do the most damage.."
Regularly open up windows to air out your home of all the fumes and particles trapped inside.
Making your house healthier starts right at your front door. Take off your shoes when you enter to avoid tracking in pesticides and lawn chemicals.
When you microwave food, don't leave it in plastic containers or with plastic covering. That plastic could leak into the food. Instead, use glass or other microwave-safe containers.
Instead of using toxic chemicals to clean your sink and bathtub, Dr. Oz recommends using baking soda. And you can use white vinegar to clean your windows. Or look for brands like Shaklee's Get Clean line. Oprah says she loves their Basic H2 spot remover.
To avoid the chemicals used in dry cleaning, take your clothes out of the bags while you're outside and throw the bags away. Then, let your clothes air out for at least a day before wearing them.
Use a dehumidifier to cut down on potentially toxic mold in places like garages.
If you must store old cans of paint and varnish, only do it in well-ventilated places that are far from your living area.
Include plants like spider plants, golden pothos and philodendrons in your home. They are experts at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.
ANOTHER BREAKFAST DRINK:
The Quick Magical Breakfast Blaster
2 servings, 136 calories per serving
1 scoop (1/3 cup) Soy protein (like Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein)
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 large ripe banana (or other fruits of your choice)
1/2 tablespoon apple juice concentrate or honey
1 teaspoon Psyillium seed husks
Peel banana; break into chunks. Put all ingredients in a blender. Add 12 ounces of water and ice, as well as powdered vitamins. Cover, blend until fairly smooth.
THE ONLY FOUR EXERCISES YOU NEED TO KNOW ACCORDING TO DR. OZ:
"You don't need balls, mats and elastic bands to get a great workout. Dr. Oz says there are only four exercises that you'll ever need to know—and none require fancy machinery!
First, Dr. Oz suggests that people walk for at least 30 minutes each and every day. "Walking is the foundation for all other exercises because it increases your stamina and prepares your body for strength training," he says. You should strive to walk 10,000 steps a day.
The second step is to build muscle by lifting weights for 30 minutes a week. You can lift a dumbbell, a gallon of milk or your toddler…just start lifting!
Now that you're on the right track, Dr. Oz says you have to work up a sweat for about an hour a week. "The number one predictor of how long you're going to live is how well you can exercise your heart," he says. "If you can push yourself to sweat for an hour a week, that's great. You can break it down into three little segments of 20 minutes each."
Finally, you have to stretch so that you don't get hurt. Dr. Oz likes to do yoga, but he says you can get the same benefits from stretches you learned in high school gym class.
There's one secret fat-burner that you can do anywhere—fidgeting!"
THE 14 DAY PLAN RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_main.jhtml
Why 14 days? Because that's how long it takes for many healthy behaviors to become healthy habits.
The 14-Day Plan: Week 1
1 of 9
DAY 1: TAKING STOCK
1. Get out and go shopping! Buy these items, which should run you less than $125.
A tape measure
A heart-rate monitor (We use Polar products—they have chest straps and monitor watches)
A pedometer
A good pair of walking or running shoes
A hand-grip tester
A blood pressure cuff (Many have memory and download options…or you can use the one at the drugstore)
A notebook or access to computer website to record your results
2. Determine your real age at RealAge.com—that is, the actual age of your body (and mind) based on your health and habits, not your calendar age based on when mama thrust you into the world covered in goop.
3. Measure your blood pressure. Most drug stores have a device that can be placed on your arm if you haven't bought the home device yet.
4. Measure your heart rate in the evening, as well as the highest heart rate you achieve during your most intense exercise.
5. Measure your waist size. Circle the tape measure around your waist at the belly button, while you're taking a deep breath and sucking in. You would anyway, but it is the right way of measuring it as it gets the muscle we do not want to measure out of the way. Also measure your weight. The ideal is for your waist to be half your height.
6. Leave a space to record the average number of steps you take this week.
7. Make a doctor's appointment so you can get the medical tests you need.
8. Answer these questions.
Are you living life from (A) fear or from (B) passion?
Are you playing life (A) to avoid losing or (B) to win?
Are your goals based on (A) preserving the status quo or (B) achieving growth?
If you answered (A) to any of them, it's an indication that you're not moving forward in life. Remember, the only times that your vital signs are completely stable are when you're dead. Like sharks, we need to keep moving in order to live fully.
9. Ask yourself these questions to really determine whether you're really happy.
Are you happy most of the time?
Are you as happy now as you were 5 years ago?
Are you still expecting much from life?
Do your days seem to be passing quickly?
Are you often sad less than 10 percent of the time?
We obviously want you to have positive answers for these questions. If you're not there, our program, as well as professional help, can help you get there.
10. Ask three strangers how old you are. Asking friends and family doesn't count, since they either know or have a vested interest in not hurting your feelings. This will help give you some kind of baseline as to how others perceive you—based on appearance and demeanor—and can be a strong indicator of how healthy you actually are. In addition, you can ask a friend you trust to be honest with you about how you are aging compared to others.
11. Ask your friends what your three biggest strengths are. Identify how you best use them.
12. In your notebook, draw a little box with an amoeba that fills up 70 percent of the box, but also goes outside of the box. The box is your job, and the amoeba is you. The empty spots in the box are where we often focus all of our effort, but perhaps you should focus on the part of the amoeba that lies outside of the box, as this represents your strengths.
13. Ask yourself this simple question: How have you aged over the last five years? Use a picture to compare how you looked between then and now. Your initial thought:
My oh my, I look like I did in high school, dahling.
I'm steady Eddie—about the same.
I'm about what you'd expect—little fatter, little wrinklier, and little more worn down.
I look like tree bark.
14. Ask yourself this: What activities did you do five years ago that you can't do today?
15. Ask yourself these big-picture stress questions, which can help you identify things to work on while using our program:
Is your perceived level of stress more than you enjoy? Remember that actual stress is a more predictable driver of aging than our perception of stress, so push yourself to be honest with yourself.
Do you control most of the stress in your life or are you a rat in someone else's experiment?
GO HERE TO READ ABOUT THE VIATMINS YOU NEED TO FEEL GOOD AND AGE WELL:
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/slide/20071105/oz_20071105_350_108.jhtml
DAY 2: RE-TOOL YOUR HOME AND MIND
Shop for vitamins and calcium supplements. Buy calcium tablets that have at least 500 milligrams of calcium, 200 international units of vitamin D and 150 milligrams of magnesium. Get your vitamin shopping list.
Shop for non-toxic cleaners.
Purchase and install water filters for your home.
Do the Chi-gong Workout to build your coordination and mind-body connection.
If you have any addictions, start a cessation program to quit. Smoking the issue? Try the program here: http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/extend/extend_smoking.jhtml
FOR THE REST OF THE SUGGESTIONS FOR PART TWO, START AT THIS PAGE:
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_105.jhtml
DAY 3: START THE THREE-DAY BODY-BASIC DIET
"Start a calorie-restricted diet, and continue for three days. The goal of this body-basic diet: Recalibrate your settings to eating better foods—and more sensible amount of them.
Here's how it works: Eat about three-quarters of the amount of food you usually eat every day using only healthy foods now. You can do it by eyeballing, or literally filling your plate as usual and taking one-quarter of the meal away and storing it for tomorrow. If you find this too difficult, reducing your calorie intake by even 15 percent will work. And if that is too challenging, then just eat healthy foods in the usual amount for you.
Why? We're trying to get you to feel what calorie restriction, the only proven senility eraser, feels like. It will be a little uncomfortable, but you'll only do it for three days. Drink as much water with lime or lemon juice or fresh brewed green tea as you want, which will help clear toxins and prevent dehydration. Please take your vitamin supplements while on the program since we don't want to starve you if you're already nutritionally depleted from a life of kielbasa with mayonnaise.
When you add back a little more food on Day 6, chances are that even in three days, you'll have trained yourself and your stomach to need less food than you're accustomed to eating."
FIND THE REST OF PART THREE HERE: http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/plan/plan_105.jhtml
ON THIS PAGE YOU WILL FIND THE LINKS TO 2 WORKOUTS RECOMMENDED BY DR. OZ, INCLUDING AN EXCUSE-BUSTERS WORKOUT (that's what I need):
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/programs/young/extend/extend_workouts.jhtml
Long post but IMPORTANT! Have a great day!
FROM NOVEMBER 24 2007 - combining posts from blogs
UPDATE - THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH! Sept 1 2011
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Saturday, November 24, 2007
Toledo Budget: Good News & Bad News
(thanks a lot Carty!)
There's lots more to talk about regarding the proposed Toledo Budget that Mayor Finkbeiner has announced, but these things stuck out in my mind:
There will be an elimination of two city pools, Roosevelt and NAVARRE! No more junior pool for our East Toledo children under 13.
That means more punks roaming the neighborhoods with nothing to do this summer.
B. He actually has the odacity to include another UTILITY hike!
Electricity @ 2.5% per annum
Gas @ 2.5% per annum
Water 5% per annum
Sewer 5% per annum
We just had a new charge added to our water bills this past year for refuse collection and a hike in the water/sewer charge...now he plans to raise it again!? We have some of the HIGHEST UTILITY RATES IN THE ENTIRE US!!
I didn't ask (nor was I given the opportunity to vote on it!) for a multi-million dollar bridge to be built, not a WAY TOO EXTRAVAGANT Mud Hens Stadium, and personally, I LIKED the Sports Arena before they tore it down and decided to build a huge one downtown (that was just started this past month) why should I have to pay for it? Because our mayor tells us, as he chuckles, "Bend over and take it up the ass!"
You can see this on page three at this location:
http://www.toledo.oh.gov/Portals/0/2008%20Proposed%20Operating%20Budget(f).pdf
The only good news to speak of is that we will have a ferry dock at the area along Front Street in East Toledo, called the new marina District, that will be gearedtoward the up and coming upper class professionals in the way of housing, shops and other things most East Toledoans can't afford. But it will provide a possible service to Put-in-Bay, Cedar Point, and maybe Windsor.
Completion:
The RF's were posted Friday, November 9th as scheduled. The RFPs are due December 7 with a recommendation scheduled to the New Project Development Committee on December 12.
The facility is available for banquets and rentals.
More info about this can be found at: http://www.toledoportauthority.org/pressroom/marinepassengerterminal.asp
If you want to try to sell your home (good luck) one of the inexpensive ways, AND get the hell out of here, to live somewhere more affordable, try going to:
http://www.toledohomes4sale.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Toledo Budget: Good News & Bad News
(thanks a lot Carty!)
There's lots more to talk about regarding the proposed Toledo Budget that Mayor Finkbeiner has announced, but these things stuck out in my mind:
There will be an elimination of two city pools, Roosevelt and NAVARRE! No more junior pool for our East Toledo children under 13.
That means more punks roaming the neighborhoods with nothing to do this summer.
B. He actually has the odacity to include another UTILITY hike!
Electricity @ 2.5% per annum
Gas @ 2.5% per annum
Water 5% per annum
Sewer 5% per annum
We just had a new charge added to our water bills this past year for refuse collection and a hike in the water/sewer charge...now he plans to raise it again!? We have some of the HIGHEST UTILITY RATES IN THE ENTIRE US!!
I didn't ask (nor was I given the opportunity to vote on it!) for a multi-million dollar bridge to be built, not a WAY TOO EXTRAVAGANT Mud Hens Stadium, and personally, I LIKED the Sports Arena before they tore it down and decided to build a huge one downtown (that was just started this past month) why should I have to pay for it? Because our mayor tells us, as he chuckles, "Bend over and take it up the ass!"
You can see this on page three at this location:
http://www.toledo.oh.gov/Portals/0/2008%20Proposed%20Operating%20Budget(f).pdf
The only good news to speak of is that we will have a ferry dock at the area along Front Street in East Toledo, called the new marina District, that will be gearedtoward the up and coming upper class professionals in the way of housing, shops and other things most East Toledoans can't afford. But it will provide a possible service to Put-in-Bay, Cedar Point, and maybe Windsor.
Completion:
The RF's were posted Friday, November 9th as scheduled. The RFPs are due December 7 with a recommendation scheduled to the New Project Development Committee on December 12.
The facility is available for banquets and rentals.
More info about this can be found at: http://www.toledoportauthority.org/pressroom/marinepassengerterminal.asp
If you want to try to sell your home (good luck) one of the inexpensive ways, AND get the hell out of here, to live somewhere more affordable, try going to:
http://www.toledohomes4sale.com/
FROM WINTER 2007 - posts combining from one blog to another
Thursday, December 13, 2007
GLOBAL WARMING OR JUST TOLEDO WINTER?
From the TOLEDO BLADE, DECEMBER 11, 2007:
"Freezing rain that has blanketed northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan contributed to a crash in Sylvania that killed two people from Perrysburg, authorities said.
Those icy conditions were expected to continue into this morning with more freezing rain overnight, but temperatures were predicted to warm up into the low 40s by this afternoon.
Authorities believe that an ice-slickened U.S. 23 caused a crash in which Heather Richie, 26, the driver, and her passenger, Joseph Lee Bekker, 26, both of Perrysburg, were killed after their sport utility vehicle traveling southbound struck a guardrail and went over a bridge railing near Holland-Sylvania Road between Monroe Street and Sylvania Avenue and plunged about 40 to 50 feet onto Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
The crash likely occurred late Sunday or early yesterday, but the SUV wasn't found until noon yesterday by some children walking along the railroad tracks, authorities said.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE SADDEST WINTER STORIES FROM TOLEDO THAT I'VE EVER HEARD! THOSE POOR PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT, BUT WEREN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY UPON CONTACT>>>
They called police; the woman and the man were pronounced dead at the scene at 12:22 p.m., said Bob Hannon, an investigator with the Lucas County Coroner's Office.
Ms. Richie was wearing a seat belt; Mr. Bekker was not and was partially thrown from the SUV, authorities said.
Conditions have been just about perfect the last couple days for dangerous, icy conditions, said Mike Abair, a meteorologist at the Cleveland office of the National Weather Service.
As a result, schools across the region closed for the day yesterday, many events were canceled, and there were numerous traffic accidents."
THE ICY CONDITIONS ACCOMPANIED BY SNOW, POSSIBLY UP TO 4 INCHES, ARE GOING TO BE APPROACHING THE NORTHEAST U.S. TODAY AND TONIGHT. HOPEFULLY IT WILL DISSIPATE AND BECOME LESS OF A HORROR AS IT DID FOR US LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FREEZING RAIN IN THE PRE-DAWN HOURS< BUT BECAUSE IT TEETERED AT 32 DEGREES, IT MERELY RAINED.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd also like to mention the terror of having no heat or electricity like many (at least 20,000 people!) throughout the "tornado belt" including Oklahoma City and all the surrounding area. Can you imagine being a new mother and your brand new baby risking getting a too-low body temperature? or Having to be on life-support in the hospital and have to spend on a generator, or in a home and worrying about the carbon monoxide that a generator puts out to care for an elderly adult that may be on oxygen to begin with? PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, THAT THEY FIND COMFORT AND RESCUE TODAY!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather that Georgia and the Southeast is having this week has to be a global-warming effect, I believe. When cities that should be very cold, have temperatures from 75 to 82 in early December, something's not right.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?? PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS! THANK YOU, TTOWNROBIN
PS. THERE ARE AMAZING ICE STORM PHOTOS AT TORNADOVIDEOS.NET FROM AN ICE STORM THAT OKLAHOMA HAD IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR...I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS AREA HAD BEEN HIT SO HARD WITH THIS TYPE OF EXTREME COLD AND PRECIPITATION ALREADY THIS YEAR!! NOW do you think it might from the effects of GLOBAL WARMING???
GLOBAL WARMING OR JUST TOLEDO WINTER?
From the TOLEDO BLADE, DECEMBER 11, 2007:
"Freezing rain that has blanketed northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan contributed to a crash in Sylvania that killed two people from Perrysburg, authorities said.
Those icy conditions were expected to continue into this morning with more freezing rain overnight, but temperatures were predicted to warm up into the low 40s by this afternoon.
Authorities believe that an ice-slickened U.S. 23 caused a crash in which Heather Richie, 26, the driver, and her passenger, Joseph Lee Bekker, 26, both of Perrysburg, were killed after their sport utility vehicle traveling southbound struck a guardrail and went over a bridge railing near Holland-Sylvania Road between Monroe Street and Sylvania Avenue and plunged about 40 to 50 feet onto Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
The crash likely occurred late Sunday or early yesterday, but the SUV wasn't found until noon yesterday by some children walking along the railroad tracks, authorities said.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE SADDEST WINTER STORIES FROM TOLEDO THAT I'VE EVER HEARD! THOSE POOR PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT, BUT WEREN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY UPON CONTACT>>>
They called police; the woman and the man were pronounced dead at the scene at 12:22 p.m., said Bob Hannon, an investigator with the Lucas County Coroner's Office.
Ms. Richie was wearing a seat belt; Mr. Bekker was not and was partially thrown from the SUV, authorities said.
Conditions have been just about perfect the last couple days for dangerous, icy conditions, said Mike Abair, a meteorologist at the Cleveland office of the National Weather Service.
As a result, schools across the region closed for the day yesterday, many events were canceled, and there were numerous traffic accidents."
THE ICY CONDITIONS ACCOMPANIED BY SNOW, POSSIBLY UP TO 4 INCHES, ARE GOING TO BE APPROACHING THE NORTHEAST U.S. TODAY AND TONIGHT. HOPEFULLY IT WILL DISSIPATE AND BECOME LESS OF A HORROR AS IT DID FOR US LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FREEZING RAIN IN THE PRE-DAWN HOURS< BUT BECAUSE IT TEETERED AT 32 DEGREES, IT MERELY RAINED.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd also like to mention the terror of having no heat or electricity like many (at least 20,000 people!) throughout the "tornado belt" including Oklahoma City and all the surrounding area. Can you imagine being a new mother and your brand new baby risking getting a too-low body temperature? or Having to be on life-support in the hospital and have to spend on a generator, or in a home and worrying about the carbon monoxide that a generator puts out to care for an elderly adult that may be on oxygen to begin with? PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, THAT THEY FIND COMFORT AND RESCUE TODAY!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather that Georgia and the Southeast is having this week has to be a global-warming effect, I believe. When cities that should be very cold, have temperatures from 75 to 82 in early December, something's not right.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?? PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS! THANK YOU, TTOWNROBIN
PS. THERE ARE AMAZING ICE STORM PHOTOS AT TORNADOVIDEOS.NET FROM AN ICE STORM THAT OKLAHOMA HAD IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR...I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS AREA HAD BEEN HIT SO HARD WITH THIS TYPE OF EXTREME COLD AND PRECIPITATION ALREADY THIS YEAR!! NOW do you think it might from the effects of GLOBAL WARMING???
Sunday, April 24, 2011
HAPPY EASTER & me the lazy Procrastinator
WELL I GOT UP WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF, BUT MYSELF IS TRYING REALLY HARD TO TALK ME OUT OF GOING TO CHURCH..LAZINESS, sure, SHYNESS, of course with me (People i don't know) excuses (hard pews and my back/neck - always hurts after service, that's why I don't go other times to STA)..almost have myself completely talked out of it even tho my hair is 3/4 curled and I am running right on time. NEED PRAYERS FOR HOLY SPIRIT TO PUSH ME PLZ!
ACTUALLY - I'VE DECIDED - I WILL BE ATTENDING THE CHURCH ON STRAYER (in Maumee). LIVE ONLINE STREAMING HERE; http://thechurchonstrayer.com/livestreaming
Won't have to go out in the rain. THANKFUL!! Hope to see someone I know there at 9 or 11 am!
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, including GOD'S BLESSINGS and a reminder of HIS PROMISE TO US, that keeps me going on!
XOXO TTR
ACTUALLY - I'VE DECIDED - I WILL BE ATTENDING THE CHURCH ON STRAYER (in Maumee). LIVE ONLINE STREAMING HERE; http://thechurchonstrayer.com/livestreaming
Won't have to go out in the rain. THANKFUL!! Hope to see someone I know there at 9 or 11 am!
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, including GOD'S BLESSINGS and a reminder of HIS PROMISE TO US, that keeps me going on!
XOXO TTR
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Official Announcement - posting my thoughts on my blogs in stead of FACEBOOK from now on!
Just chose to "FOLLOW" the blog "RV LIFE IS GOOD"...you bet it is!! One day - somehow - I want to live this way so badly. Will elaborate more later. Have decided to stop 'blogging" my life on FACEBOOK, and take it back over here to my blogs WHERE IT BELONGS...that way none of my friends are FORCED to listen to me bitch, or go on and on about my new favorite band 30 SECONDS TO MARS.
TTFN
TTownRobin
xoxo
TTFN
TTownRobin
xoxo
Sunday, September 5, 2010
PS. THE real END of Summer in Toledo
I HOPE I can AT LEAST get a ride of the Black Swamp Arts Festival- I LOVE THAT ONE!! I could walk to the Greek Festival, but it's too expensive to go in and pay again just to eat...There's not much else to do there, except drink Ouzo and watch Greek dancing. Not worth 8.50! (that's what the admission was in 2008! Then as soon as we got our food, it started pouring buckets and we couldn't get any of our edmission money back!)
September 10, 2010 - September 12, 2010
Greek-American Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Toledo
September 10, 2010 - September 12, 2010
Black Swamp Arts Festival
Downtown Bowling Green, Bowling Green
HERE's WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT WEEK:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=resources/lifestyle_community/community/events&id=6032829
September 10, 2010 - September 12, 2010
Greek-American Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Toledo
September 10, 2010 - September 12, 2010
Black Swamp Arts Festival
Downtown Bowling Green, Bowling Green
HERE's WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT WEEK:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=resources/lifestyle_community/community/events&id=6032829
Toledo's Labor Day parade to include Biden, Strickland - Topix
Here is the info for September 6 2010, if you happened to find my OLD OLD post while conducting a GOOGLE search:
All the other festivals and events that were in downtown Toledo are OVER. And there was NO FIREWORKS AGAIN this Labor Day, just like 2008, but there WERE fireworks if you were at the MUD HENS GAME. I just head them, with a rounding applause after ward, at 9:30 pm on Sunday night Sept. 5.
TOMORROW, Monday, all that I can find to do nearby is the PARADE in the morning, from 9 am until 11:30 am., along the parade route in downtown Toledo (I will post the photo for the parade route map)
I'm not sure if Blockwatch is going to march in it, but if they are, and usually they do, I will just join in when they come past me, IF I CAN GET UP EARLY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE TARTA BUS and get downtown before they close the streets off. I really doubt it. If I had a car, mind you, I would NEVER miss a parade, AND I WOULD TAKE MY DOG!!
Still Love, TTR 2010!
All the other festivals and events that were in downtown Toledo are OVER. And there was NO FIREWORKS AGAIN this Labor Day, just like 2008, but there WERE fireworks if you were at the MUD HENS GAME. I just head them, with a rounding applause after ward, at 9:30 pm on Sunday night Sept. 5.
TOMORROW, Monday, all that I can find to do nearby is the PARADE in the morning, from 9 am until 11:30 am., along the parade route in downtown Toledo (I will post the photo for the parade route map)
I'm not sure if Blockwatch is going to march in it, but if they are, and usually they do, I will just join in when they come past me, IF I CAN GET UP EARLY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE TARTA BUS and get downtown before they close the streets off. I really doubt it. If I had a car, mind you, I would NEVER miss a parade, AND I WOULD TAKE MY DOG!!
Still Love, TTR 2010!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
MOST EAST TOLEDO RENTERS REALLY RAISE MY BLOOD PRESSURE!
RENTERS!!
95 percent of renters do not care about their neighbors. They let weeds grow all along the fence that turn into trees, they leave papers in their yard and walk past them without a thought of picking them up, and they let their kids bother all the surrounding neighbors while they are inside their homes watching TV. I AM SO SICK OF THE NEIGHBORS I KEEP GETTING! All the homeowners on my street take care of their homes...oh sure, not all of them will pick up a cup if they walk by it either, and none of them pick up their dog shit that they let their dogs do in everyone else's yards, but at least they give a damn more than MOST renters do. If you disagree, come over here and I'll show you..AND give you examples of what I've had to tolerate for the past 11 years, just to get along with my renter-neighbors.
95 percent of renters do not care about their neighbors. They let weeds grow all along the fence that turn into trees, they leave papers in their yard and walk past them without a thought of picking them up, and they let their kids bother all the surrounding neighbors while they are inside their homes watching TV. I AM SO SICK OF THE NEIGHBORS I KEEP GETTING! All the homeowners on my street take care of their homes...oh sure, not all of them will pick up a cup if they walk by it either, and none of them pick up their dog shit that they let their dogs do in everyone else's yards, but at least they give a damn more than MOST renters do. If you disagree, come over here and I'll show you..AND give you examples of what I've had to tolerate for the past 11 years, just to get along with my renter-neighbors.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Is it SPRING or SUMMER?
Summer has arrived- in the 80's (HIGH 80's) this week! So sorry I didn't post about Spring..I was too busy enjoying it! Well, it is STILL SPRING but it won't be feeling like it for the next 4 days...here comes the sweat..
Sunday, April 11, 2010
New Beginnings and clean yards in East Toledo
Everything seems a lot less dismal in the Spring...Thank you God!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
SAVING MONEY SHOPPING WITH "COUPON CODES"
I am having fun Christmas shopping, with no money. I have recently learned that you can save LOTS of money by getting coupon codes that you link to different store sites with, then the savings show up when you check out. I am filling up "wish lists" right now..that way if something goes on sale, it will show the new price when I come back, ready to purchase things.
Normally I would post these links at my TTown Bookmarks page, but I think lots of people in my neighborhood and family would like to save some money this year, so I am going to post them here on my "main" blog:
Offers.com: Save Offers - Save Time - Save Money
www.dealspl.us
www.couponalbum.com
www.mycoupons.com
I'll add more as I run across them!
Have a happy, stress -free holiday "shopping" season!
XOXO TTownRobin
Normally I would post these links at my TTown Bookmarks page, but I think lots of people in my neighborhood and family would like to save some money this year, so I am going to post them here on my "main" blog:
Offers.com: Save Offers - Save Time - Save Money
www.dealspl.us
www.couponalbum.com
www.mycoupons.com
I'll add more as I run across them!
Have a happy, stress -free holiday "shopping" season!
XOXO TTownRobin
Friday, September 25, 2009
Famous? Not for this I hope!
Thur, 20 Aug 2009
http://www.toledocitypaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1915:backelor-a-bachelorettes-poll&catid=96:cover-stories&Itemid=508"Yes, there are still plenty of proverbial fish swimming around in the Toledo dating pool — and we’ve caught some of the best. Peruse our roster of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, then visit www.toledocitypaper.com to read more of their answers and cast your vote for who should be named Most Eligible Bachelor and Bachelorette of 2009! "
the photo I submitted...this was done on a whim..I NEVER thought I'd make the cut. I think I might need to thank my friend from the All America City competition, Jason Webber, as well..he may have put in a good word for me....THANKS JASON.
Name: "TTownRobin"
Age: 49
Occupation: mother, homemaker, Blockwatch Leader, human being
Best pick up line: "Hi, I'm Robin."
Favorite love song: "Love Song" by Tesla
Never would I ever: smoke crack
Three words that describe me: creative, neat, private (smoker)
When I get a day off work, I: move the furniture
In High School I was voted most likely to: be a writer
Age: 49
Occupation: mother, homemaker, Blockwatch Leader, human being
Best pick up line: "Hi, I'm Robin."
Favorite love song: "Love Song" by Tesla
Never would I ever: smoke crack
Three words that describe me: creative, neat, private (smoker)
When I get a day off work, I: move the furniture
In High School I was voted most likely to: be a writer
THANK GOD MY FRIEND, MARY TOTH, VOTED FOR ME OR I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANY VOTES!! THANK YOU MARY! - you are so sweet, kind, and thoughtful!
Oh sure other people noticed, and mostly just poked fun at me.
At least my friend and neighbor, Vickie, met someone at our nearby neighborhood block party! A really nice guy too - just goes to show ya, love finds you when you LEAST expect it!
Not that I'm looking. I just wanted to see if aanyone would notice, I guess.
I am so content right now with my life, I could do a cartwheel. Seriously!
(I probably just jinxed myself.)
XOXO TTownRobin !!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
GETTING MOTIVATED: When you're BROKE, Transportation-less, and ALONE
Getting Motivated When You're Down
Also known as: "I can dish it out but I can't take it"
OR
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"
FOUND AT: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/printview
Chris Woolston
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE
Below:
• When you're feeling stuck
• Exercise: The original antidepressant
There may come a time in your life in which the days go by in a monotonous blur. None of the activities that you used to enjoy so much give you any pleasure; nothing excites you; no one makes your pulse race. You feel listless and empty, although plagued by a vague anxiety and dread. Family members may accuse you of being irritable and snapping at them for no reason, and it's true that at present their demands seem overwhelming. Even the smallest task defeats you: All you really want is to be left alone.
Curiously, when we're depressed, retreat may seem the easiest way out. But health care professionals strongly disagree. If you're feeling hopeless and blue, they say, it's the worst time to be alone with your thoughts. Your reverie will likely be peppered with stinging self-criticism and feelings of worthlessness. Not surprisingly, the increasingly bleak cast to your mental landscape will worsen your mood disorder and sap your remaining energy.
If the scenario above describes your mood and has lasted for two weeks or more, you need to seek professional help: You're in the grip of a punishing depression. Both antidepressants and some forms of therapy can bring you relief. But say you're in treatment and still find it difficult to even get out of bed. The pain of depression has diminished, but you're still distant from your friends and family, since you want nothing more than to close the blinds, pull up the covers, and hunker down.
What can help pull you out of this vicious cycle? For one thing, you can learn to slow the stream of the negative thoughts that darken your mood. But just as important, you can find a way to stay active. Walk the dog, call a friend, work in the garden -- almost anything will help distract you from your dark thoughts. No matter what you do, you can probably expect to feel better.
Choosing some activities that put you in contact with other people is especially important. In his classic book Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life, Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and researcher who is widely published in the area of work and creativity, explains the benefits of even the simplest encounter with a friend or stranger. "Over and over, our findings suggest that people get depressed when they are alone, and they revive when they rejoin the company of others. Alone a person usually reports low happiness, [little] motivation, low concentration, apathy, and an entire string of negative states such as passivity, loneliness, detachment, and low self-esteem. The moods that people diagnosed with chronic depression have… are indistinguishable from those of healthy people, as long as they are in company and doing something that requires concentration. But when they are alone with nothing to do, their minds begin to be occupied by depressing thoughts. This is also true, to a less pronounced extent, of everyone else.
"The reason is that when we have to interact with another person, even a stranger, our attention becomes structured by external demands... By contrast, when we are alone with nothing to do, there is no reason to concentrate... The mind begins to unravel, and soon finds something to worry about."
When you're feeling stuck
As anyone who's been clinically depressed knows, feeling good doesn't come easily -- or quickly. As psychiatrist David D. Burns explains in his book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (Little, Brown, &Co., 1999), depressed people often feel that there's nothing they can do to feel better. Nothing seems fun anymore; nothing seems worthwhile. Or else there's so much to do that it's exhausting even to think about. To someone who's depressed, these gloomy thoughts have the force of law.
Of course, some laws deserve to be broken. In Feeling Good, Burns has come up with a very practical plan for people so depressed that the smallest activities -- from taking a shower to eating lunch -- seem beyond their grasp. He suggests keeping a Daily Activity Schedule, a simple but effective tool that can help you organize your day and regain your motivation.
Here's how it works: At the beginning of each day, write down what you'd like to accomplish in each hour. (A daily appointment calendar could be a helpful place to keep these notations.) And what you plan to accomplish, at least until you feel better, may be very basic. From 8 to 9 am, for instance, you may write eat breakfast, balance checkbook, or read the paper. At the end of the day, record what you actually did. Burns further recommends marking each productive activity with an M (for mastery) and each fun activity with a P (for pleasure.) According to Burns, many depressed people do not plan any activities that could give them pleasure; a mix of both practical and pleasurable activities, he says, is important.
After listing your activities you can score them on a scale from 0 to 5. Something really fun or challenging gets a 5; anything dull or simple gets a 1 or 0. You can set different goals that you want to reach each week, raising them slightly each time.
Czikszentmihalyi has also suggested engineering daily activities so that you reap the most rewards from them. Of course, he says, this is easier said than done. "This sounds simple, but the inertia of habit and social pressure are so strong that most people have no idea which components of their lives they actually enjoy, and which contribute to stress and depression," he writes. "Keeping a diary or reflecting on the past day in the evening are ways to take stock systematically of the various influences on one's moods. After it is clear which activities produce the high points in one's day, it becomes possible to start experimenting."
People with an artistic or creative bent don't need to feel at all constricted by a schedule, he adds. "Creative people are especially good at ordering their lives so that what they do, when, and with whom will enable them to do their best work. If what they need is spontaneity and disorder, then they make sure to have that, too."
If you keep your schedule for several weeks or so -- and really try to stick to it -- you may begin to regain a sense of control over the most basic parts of your life. According to Burns, you'll see that you can enjoy yourself and get things accomplished. As he points out, life doesn't seem so overwhelming when you take it one hour at a time.
Exercise: The original antidepressant
If at all possible, make some room in that schedule for some exercise. According to a recent report in The Physician and Sports Medicine, exercise is a potent remedy for depression. A walk around the neighborhood or a good swim can enhance self-esteem, provide a sense of accomplishment, and burn pent-up anger and stress. Exercise may also boost the brain's supply of serotonin, mimicking the effects of Prozac and many other antidepressants.
If you haven't had much exercise lately, take it slow at first. Your doctor can help you find an exercise program that's right for you.
Whether you decide to go for a jog or read a book, remember: Something is much better than nothing. Whatever it takes, try to resist the temptation to curl up and hide. Depression may drain your energy, but it doesn't have to bring your life to a halt.
-- Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the northern California Society of Professional Journalists.
Further Resources
National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Phone: (800) 421-4211
National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc. P.O. Box 2257 New York, NY 10016 Phone: (800) 826-3632
References
Beck, Aaron T., MD. Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. Penguin, 1976
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. David D. Burns, MD. Avon Books, 1999.
Artal M. Exercise against depression. The Physician and Sports Medicine. October 1998. Vol 26(10)
National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. May 2006. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
Mayo Clinic. Depression. February 2006. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175
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THIS IS WHERE I'M AT. AT LEAST I'M TRYING TO LOOK UP STUFF TO HELP ME FEEL BETTER AND GET MOVING AND MAKE ALL THE CHRISTMAS GIFTS I WANT TO START MAKING.
My Step-Mom, Nan, (who doesn't like me very much and is mean to me on the phone when I call to see how she is) has colon cancer and is not doing very well. I don't think she will be here by this time next year. Who is going to take care of my Dad?
STRESS DEPRESSES YOU.
ANYWAY....Have a nice day!! Happy Halloween!!I get to go out FINALLY to karaoke with my neighbor friend Vickie for her birthday on Halloween! There's something to look forward to! I even got my "Sober-X" Hangover prevention sample patches in the mail today!!
:o)
TTownRobin
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This Article was First published May 25, 2001
Last updated February 14, 2008
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive
Copied with permission from the website at: http://www.ahealthyme.com/
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