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Dear Friends: Enclosed is the January, 2010 issue of our newsletter. This time of year is wonderful to spend time with family and to look back at the year gone by and to reflect on what was learned and the actions to take to improve the New Year, 2010. We started out Christmas week at Lawrence Welk Resort in Setting new goals has been a challenge. One goal of mine is to let go of 30 lbs. I have had this goal for the last three years and still weigh the same I did three years ago. You guessed right, I did not take the proper action steps. The 2nd day of the year, Pat and I went to the YMCA to exercise. We used the Silver Sneakers program which is part of our Blue Shield health plan. This is the first step in my new weight loss goal. The Alhambra YMCA received a grant from Home Depot to build a childrens recreation area. Around 40 people from Home Depot were there preparing the grounds for the new area. The YMCA will be closed on Tuesday the 5th of January to install the new play area. Pat and I are thinking of going over to help with a little work the first thing in the morning and then come back to lend a helping hand in the afternoon. In the middle of February we will be flying to Life is all about reaching and growing. So, my new weight and exercise program along with new real estate investments will get my new year off to a good start. Pat and I are very lucky to have each other. We have been married for 53 years. In the good times and the bad times we have been together pulling and having fun. I hope you also move forward with positive expectations, have a wonderful new year! Love, Carl and Pat
Here is a miracle exercise recommended by a doctor. You can do this standing or sitting down. Do it in front of a mirror, or better still, with someone. Heres how: 1. 2. You are now smiling. If people are watching you, theyll probably start smiling, too. 3. Now release your breath in short exhalations. You are now laughing. Unless those with you are curmudgeons, theyll undoubtedly start laughing, too. This simple muscular action of inhaling, raising the corners of the mouth, then exhaling in rhythmic, short bursts causes the diaphragm to bounce up and down, pats the liver on the back, and pleasantly vibrates the stomach. The heart, which rests above the diaphragm, begins to pump at a slightly faster rate, sending blood coursing throughout the body. The effect is a general feeling of well-being. More important than this, however, is the effect on others who observe you going through this exercise. They feel better, too. This triggers happy emotions within you, and sets the stage for any number of pleasant personal and business relationships. All this from one simple little exercise! Lets start the New Year by resolving to perform this exercise regularly!
Shop And Save After the holidays, many retailers slash their prices on gift wrapping paper, making January the best time of year to stock up. Consumer experts recommend choosing solid colors or patterns that can be used year-round. Help Your Babysitter If you hire an in-house babysitter, youll want to help her (or him) do the best job possible. You want her to be able to protect herself and your children to her utmost. Here are a few tips to help her do so: Place a paper and pencil by the phone. If theres an emergency and she calls for help, she doesnt have to look for writing supplies if she needs to write something down. Have a separate piece of paper by the phone with your home address, home telephone number, and cell phone number(s) in case she needs to give that information over the phone to the police. Show her how to operate door and window locks. Show her, then let her try to do it on her own. Always leave at least one outside light on. This will allow her to see if anyone is approaching and also lets possible intruders know someone is home. Show her where fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and smoke alarms are located. Provide a first-aid kit. Show your babysitter where its located and what its contents are.
Remind your babysitter to never open the door for strangers. Also, not to mention that shes the babysitter to anyone who comes to the door. Remind your babysitter not to go outside to investigate anything suspicious. She should turn on all outside lights, call the police, and make sure all doors and windows are locked. Remind her not to tell a caller shes alone with your children. She should tell the person on the phone that shes visiting and you cant come to the phone. And to hang up if the person gets persistent. Three Skills For Better Negotiation
Negotiating is a make-or-break skill, whether youre a Keep an open mind. Brainstorm ideas. Listen to outlandish proposals. Entertain unusual possibilities. This will expand opportunities for agreement. Treat people fairly. When people feel youre being fair with them, theyre more likely to make real commitments. If they think youre trying to mislead them, theyll walk away in a huff. You wont get commitment unless the other party feels youre sincerely trying to do whats right. Listen actively. Dont plan what youre going to say while the other side is talking. Pay attention to what theyre saying so you know where theyre coming from and what they really want. When your response makes it clear that youve really been listening, theyll be more willing to listen to your suggestions. A Short History Of The Lobster Mmmmm lobster. That pricey crustacean thats coupled with expensive wines and for many of us means good eating and celebrating. But it hasnt always been so. One reason that lobsters were not a highly prized food was because of the almost unbelievable abundance that could be found on the East Coast. There are tales of The word lobster is thought to be a corruption of the Latin word for locust and Old English word for spider (loppe). The native mid-coasters term for lobster actually meant bugs, probably because lobsters are pretty much a form of giant sea insects. A lobster is a crustacean, and crustaceans are arthropods part of the category Arthropoda, which includes insects, spiders, millipedes and centipedes. What these creatures have in common is a segmented exoskeleton with appendages that are articulated in pairs.
Our Great Can you name our five The Hundreds of lighthouses are situated around the The five Top Five New Years 5. I will not suddenly stand straight up when Im lying under the coffee table. 4. I will no longer be beholden to the sound of the can opener. 3. I resolve to get a bite in on that guy who gives me a shot every year. 2. I will break into the pantry and decide for myself how much food is too much.
And the #1 New Years resolution made by dogs 1. I will not chase the stick until I see it leave the hand! Ask Your Surgeon Before The Incision Surgery is almost always a scary prospect to confront. Heres a list of questions you should ask before any surgical procedure. Write down the answers as you go through the list with your doctor: What surgery are you recommending? Why do I need it? Are there any alternatives to this surgery? What are the benefits of having this surgery? What are the risks? How much postoperative pain will there be? What might happen if I choose not to have this surgery? Where can I go for a second opinion? What is your experience with this procedure? How much will the surgery cost? Where will the surgery be performed? What kind of anesthesia will be used? Can I eat or drink anything the day before and/or the day of my surgery? How long can I expect to be in the hospital? Where should I go when I arrive at the hospital, and what should I bring with me? How long will it take to recover? What if I still have pain or still experience symptoms after surgery? When do I schedule my post-surgery follow-up appointment? January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the The U.S. Congress voted to observe a national holiday in Kings honor beginning in 1986, on the third Monday of January, close to the time of his birthday. How To Make Progress, Not Excuses Is getting more exercise one of your 2010 goals? We all know we should exercise, but many of us have what seem like pretty good reasons to avoid it. Here are some of the most common, along with some common-sense responses: I dont have any spare time. The truth is that we make time for whats important to us. Schedule exercise into your day like any other appointment. Exercise is boring. The key is finding something you like. Look for team sports, group activities, or interesting surroundings to keep your mind as well as your body occupied.
Im too out of shape. Just dont overdo it at first. Check with your doctor for suggestions, and start with low-impact activities such as swimming or bike riding. Im not fat. Good! But exercise is about more than losing weight. You want to maintain your health, and also control cholesterol and prevent heart disease both benefits of regular exercise. I dont like going to gyms. If the gym scene isnt for you or its too expensive look for an exercise routine that doesnt call for a lot of equipment, like running or lifting a few weights at home. A brisk walk helps, too.
Critical Questions Successful relationships are built on a foundation of honest, thoughtful communication. Whether youre contemplating a business partnership or marriage, here are some questions to ask before entering into a long-term commitment with another person: What makes him/her angry? How does the person deal with anger? How does the person react in a crisis? How does he or she handle money? What does the other person expect from you? What happens if those expectations arent met? What are the other persons goals? What are three things he/she would like to accomplish in the immediate future, and in the long term? |