text:
Unless you live in a banana belt surrounded by swaying palm trees, you've probably noticed a slight chill in the air and a hint of color on the trees outside. That's because in the wee hours of last Monday morning, the autumnal equinox launched the official beginning of fall. One by one, the leaves on the deciduous trees will tumble to the ground.
This blog post marks the first installment in a series of safety topics an,d autumn seemed like an appropriate time of year to consider how seniors can avoid a fall of their own
According to a recent survey, one in every four Americans over the age of 65 will suffer a fall this year. As seniors reach their 70s, that number increases to one in three. Those are especially alarming statistics, when you consider that nearly 25% of those falls result in serious injuries, such as broken wrists, hips, ankles, and other bones, Fortunately, there are several precautions to help keep those bones, and self-esteem, intact.
As seniors get older, physical changes and health conditions — and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions — can make falls more likely A growing number of older adults fear falling and, as a result, limit their activities and social engagements. This social isolation can result in further physical decline, depression and feelings of helplessness.
Get back to enjoying your golden years and consider these simple fall-prevention strategies to keep the fear of falling at bay:
Physical activity can go a long way toward fall-prevention. With a doctor's approval, consider adding activities into your routine such as walking, water workouts, yoga, tai chi or dancing. Such activities reduce the risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility.
"Chair Yoga is a great safe foundation of fitness for seniors," says Tina Bertelle, Life Enrichment Director at The Clairmont in Austin, Texas. "I am certified as a Chair Yoga instructor, I teach Yoga Flow, and I'm a green belt in Taekwondo. So, I incorporate Tai Chi and different kinds of movements into almost every day of our lives. We segue from peaceful Japanese music for Tai Chi into some Country/Western music to stretch out and keep our bodies moving.
"Residents even have homework to practice their 'CAT' and 'COW' spell-out poses from the chair. It's a running joke that I tell them to 'have a Cow' every Wednesday."
The results of movement classes at The Clairmont and other communities have been overwhelmingly positive.
"We have seen residents with low oxygen stats get back to normal," says Tina, "and people who were not able to move or stretch are now able to touch their toes without pain."
For those seniors who avoid physical activity because they're afraid it will make a fall more likely, Tina has just a few words of advice: "Move it or lose it!" she says.
Swapping out footwear can be a practical part of any fall-prevention plan. High heels, floppy slippers, and shoes with slick soles can cause slips, stumbles, and falls. Properly fitted, sturdy shoes with nonskid soles are best for preventing falls and can even reduce. joint pain when worn over time.
Take a look around your living area and get rid of unnecessary hazards:
Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see. Also:
If you feel dizzy or wobbly occasionally, consider using a cane or walker. Other assistive devices can help, too. For example:
If you have serious concerns about falling, it's a good idea to talk with your health care specialists and check on the following:
Your doctor may recommend solutions or precautions that may require professional help
or a larger investment. If cost is a concern, remember that an investment in fall- prevention is an investment in independence.
Prevention is the best way to avoid the injuries and other problems related to falls. But
accidents happen despite the best laid plans. In our next installment, we'll explore what to do if
you or a loved one experiences a serious fall. Until then, stay safe and let the leaves do all the
First published on Sunshine Retirement Living, September, 2019. Some content was provided by mayoclinic.org and aging.com
Sunshine Retirement Living offers residents of Dunwoody Pines – its Dunwoody retirement community – access to a unique travel program that includes free lodging, meals, and activities in thirteen beautiful cities across six states in the US. And what we've found in the years we've offered this program? That our residents are both imaginative and adventurous, taking advantage of this special offering in a myriad of creative ways. Here's what they're doing.
Many residents would love to spend some time near their children, grandchildren, or old friends without imposing on them or incurring excess expenses on lodging and meals. Additionally, once they're accustomed to the privacy and peacefulness that accompanies retirement, they might even be looking for a great visit with a little alone time. The travel program allows them as much time as they'd like with loved ones near the community while still providing a quiet, private, non-intrusive place to rest and eat during their stay.
Those seeking to expand their network in retirement have used the benefits of the travel program to immerse themselves in other communities of like-minded folks, sharing life experiences, laughs, and good food while they establish new friendships and experience new things. Because travel program guests have full access to each community's activities, events, and wellness program, meeting new people away from the Chattahoochee is nearly effortless.
For some, retirement is about settling into a comfortable recliner with a favorite book and a glass of wine…but for others, retirement is for excitement and adventure. When they aren't enjoying local outdoor spaces like Brook Run Park, some of our residents are looking to serve themselves by expanding their horizons and making the United States their playground. The travel program supports that lifestyle perfectly by making travel easy and inexpensive – there are no extra costs for dining, lodging, or in-house entertainment when you stay in another Sunshine community.
Additionally, many communities are situated in some of the most beautiful and desirable cities in the US, giving residents easy access to national parks, local attractions, and great shopping.
Some residents have shared their tips and tricks for using the travel program to attend special events at little to no cost without imposing on family members or giving up their privacy during their time away. Weddings, memorial services, and graduations are just a few of the events our residents have attended, all while saving money and enjoying the serene, home-like setting of a sister community. Some have even made a few new friends along the way.
While Dunwoody offers a large selection of healthcare services, some doctors are a road trip away. Specialist appointments scheduled far from home can really make a dent on your plans and your budget. Many retirees find themselves traveling far and wide to see the doctors they need, paying for food and lodging and sacrificing some of their favorite daily routines, like a yoga class, lunch with friends, or happy hour. Many residents have chosen specialists in Sunshine communities to reduce their costs and make the trip just a little more enjoyable.
Cross-country travelers love to stop and spend a night in our communities along their route to ease the burden of long-distance travel, enjoy a nourishing meal, and perhaps partake in a good movie with like-minded folks.
To learn more about senior living in Dunwoody – or the myriad of luxuries, amenities, and services that accompany residency at Dunwoody Pines – schedule a visit today. Our friendly staff can't wait to take you on a private tour, help you sample the cuisine, and introduce you to new friends and great memories.
*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, March, 2019.
As we get older, we're bound to experience more physical aches and pains, and maybe a few mental maladies as well. Naturally, the more challenges we face, the more healing and therapy we need. While there's only so much that Sunshine Retirement communities can do in terms of providing physical remedies to residents, there's no limit to what we can offer when it comes to therapeutic activities that deliver mental stimulation and positive reinforcement
This month at Summerfield Estates in Tigard, Oregon, Life Enrichment Director Anthony Nosen has introduced Therapy Thursdays, an assortment of therapy sessions that have been popular at other Sunshine communities, along with a few new wrinkles.
Like many other Sunshine Retirement communities, the staff at Summerfield Estates found that Pet Therapy, Massage/Aroma Therapy, Garden Therapy, and Music Therapy sessions have helped residents stimulate physical and emotional bonds, relax tired muscles, and develop a strong sense of responsibility with ample rewards. But Anthony has taken things a few steps further by initiating Art Therapy and Theater & Laughter Therapy.
" The Hand/Massage Aromatherapy is something I have been trained on through an essential oils program," said Anthony. "The calming lavender type oils are used along with mineral oil, or a non-scented lotion while massaging the whole hand and wrist on both sides. This is huge for those with Contracture or Arthritis in their finger joints, allowing for better mobility and relief from pain."
Garden Therapy is designed to benefit residents who enjoy getting their hands dirty while nurturing flowers and plants, as well as those who don't.
" For active gardeners, manipulating the soil and experiencing the feels, sights, and smells of the garden is a form of meditation," says Anthony. "But we also have a group that simply enjoys the outdoors with a variety of breathing and meditation journeys."
Music Therapy usually involves a certified therapist that brings in interactive music programs for small groups or individuals. It is especially helpful for Memory Care or bed-bound residents.
" Art Therapy is always a fun, tactile event," says Anthony. "It usually involves manipulating clay or finger-paints with meditative music playing in the background. We create art based more on feelings and emotions, rather than the sight of an object."
By far the most unique of this month's activities at Summerfield Estates has been the Theater & Laughter Therapy, which got rolling with a variety of improvisational games and skits. Then the group switched gears to a series of improv scenes and one-liners intended to make each participant laugh for as long as possible.
" Laughter and acting, in general, have healing properties much like Music Therapy," says Anthony."It eases the mind along with re-firing the synapses in the brain for a variety of brain benefits."
Whatever the physiological explanation, the activity left all who attended in great humor with big broad smiles on their faces. And we can't think of any better evidence of healing than that.
*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, March, 2019.
Although the benefits pets can offer in retirement are undisputed, many retirees are under the impression that they have to choose between enjoying the benefits of Austin retirement community living or keeping the pets they love. However, more and more communities are recognizing the physical and emotional benefits pets provide and updating their policies on pets.
Let's discuss some of the most notable benefits pets (and pet-friendly retirement communities) offer.
For many, retirement is a time of adventure and excitement, but for some, retirement can be lonely. Pets make great company by interacting with you and showing you love and affection when they need it most. Pets can be especially therapeutic for retirees who live alone or who have lost their spouse.
Pets have a direct and measurable impact on your physical health, making them an important part of your retirement plan. As a matter of fact, people who have pets have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and lower triglyceride levels than people who don't. Additionally, pet owners have a reason to stay active and get outside – which increases your strength, range of motion, and heart health and helps you maintain healthy vitamin D levels.
One study shows that pets can improve your sleep by helping you feel safe and secure. Pets ease anxiety and worry in two ways:
Considering almost a third of adults have a tough time falling asleep and staying asleep even with the help of prescription medications, pets are a great solution with no side effects!
It's easy to lose your sense of purpose as your identity changes over time. For many years, you may have been responsible for other people – your team at work, your parents, or your children, for example – and now you're only responsible for yourself. This natural life change can leave you wondering about your purpose, but pets can help fill the void that time has created. Feeding, walking, and caring for pets can make every day feel meaningful.
Pets keep you physically active as you play with them, walk them, feed them, and care for them. This physical activity keeps your muscles, bones, and joints strong, helps you maintain a full range of motion and balance, and improves your chances of staying independent longer.
Pets can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve your mood, help you feel safe, and alleviate loneliness. They provide physical contact and encourage a predictable daily routine. Perhaps most importantly, pets can be integral in the healing process after you lose somebody you love.
If you've been looking for all-inclusive Austin senior apartments that welcome pets, consider scheduling a site visit with The Clairmont, during which time you can tour the campus, sample the gourmet menu, and evaluate whether The Clairmont is a fit for you and your four-legged friend. We offer 5 different floor plans starting at just $1,795 per month.
You can reach us at 512-879-1451 or visit us online today.
*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, January, 2019.
One thing that has been proven time and time again at Sunshine Retirement communities is that most seniors never lose their hunger for knowledge, culture and entertainment. And quite frequently, they'll go to great lengths to satisfy it. Well, at least quite a few miles.
That's been the case at several communities where Sunshine Life Enhancement Directors (LEDs) have arranged numerous outings to nearby museums.
"Museum outings are very educational and a great way for our residents to connect with things that they enjoy, whether it be art, music or history," says Muzit Sebhatlab, LED at Waterford Terrace in La Mesa, California. "Living in the San Diego area, we are fortunate to have Balboa Park, which has over 15 different museums, and there are many others throughout the county. I get plenty of ideas and suggestions from our residents, their families and even staff."
Muzit arranges for most museum visits to be guided by a docent, because it makes it easier for the residents to get the full understanding of what they are seeing. But inevitably, there are always a few residents who like to venture out on their own.
"One of our favorite trips was visiting the Museum of Music," he said. "They truly enjoyed it because they got to experience the history and evolution of American music, and see instruments from the early 1900s until today. It brought them many memories of the good old days."
Another favorite outing was to the USS Midway, a maritime museum on board an aircraft carrier at San Diego's Navy Pier. The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California.
"It was a beauty," said Waterford Terrace resident Vinny Freda. "The history and size of the ship was just fascinating!"
Next month's outing will include a backstage tour of the world-famous Old Globe Theatre. And since Halloween is approaching, they will be visiting The Whaley House Museum, a historical haunted house in Old Town.
Farther north, residents at Creekside Oaks in Folsom, California have a similar array of museum opportunities in the Sacramento area, some related to the local gold mining history, as well as to arts and culture.
"September is the perfect month for museum trips here because the temperature usually hovers around a very comfortable 84 degrees," says LED Curtis Ligon.
This Sunday, Curtis will be taking residents to one of their favorite destinations, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. He agrees that docent-led tours are the way to go.
"We love to spoil the residents and I think guided tours are so much better. They learn more history about the art from the tour guide."
The cooler days of early fall are also the ideal time for residents of Heritage Point in Mishawaka, Indiana to explore their local museums. LED Lillian Spice is planning a trip to the Hannah Lindahl's Children's Museum on October 11. No, the residents won't be doing experiments with Kool-Aid or Pepsi. The museum actually has interesting historic and regional content for all ages, but is called "Children's" Museum because it's located in an elementary school.
A docent will guide Heritage Point residents through a vast display of inventions that have made life easier for several generations over the course of time. Former resident Arnold Anderson was a history teacher who loved visiting the museum and seeing the antique standing radio.
"My family used to gather around the radio every Sunday to listen to music," exclaimed Arnold.
While nostalgia is definitely a popular reason for many residents to participate in museum outings, Merry Petroski, LED at Windsor Heights in Beachwood, Ohio, has found that any museum with a strong visual component appeals to their residents. They also tend to like natural history and botanical gardens.
Since Windsor Heights serves Assisted Living as well as Memory Care residents, it's also important for Merry to make sure each off-site field trip has easily accessible parking, good restrooms and accommodating employees.
"Most staff have been very helpful, although some are unaware of our challenges," she says. "We have to be very clear about our needs and expectations. In the past, we've had good success with Rockefeller Garden Greenhouse, the Shaker Nature Center, Western Reserve Historical Society, the Trinity Cathedral Concert Series and Lake Farm Park."
In the near future, they hope to check out Wade Memorial Chapel, Soldiers & Sailors Monument and Garfield Monument. Not only have the residents enjoyed the outings, their family members have appreciated them too.
"Thank you for bringing my Mom [to the museums]," said Bev Miller, daughter of Windsor Heights resident Shirley Hummel. "It's too tough for me to transport her on my own."
But without a doubt, the community that has museum visiting down to a science is Dunwoody Pines in Dunwoody, Georgia. In just a little over three years, LED Ashley Hurd has guided residents on more than 75 museum trips. With several intriguing options nearby in the Atlanta area, they visit a museum pretty much every Thursday, taking advantage of senior discounts or free admission about 90% of the time.
"Museums are very appealing to the residents," says Ashley. "We learn so much about the state we live in, as well as topics we've never even thought of."
So far, some of the most popular outings have been:
On the docket for future trips are:
"I love going on these trips because even though I've lived in Atlanta for over 30 years, I still learn so much," said Dunwoody resident Bob Clement. "I had no idea Georgia produced natural pink marble that is in our State Capital Building."
That's what we like to hear, Bob. Stay hungry for knowledge. And we'll keep on feeding you.
This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, September, 2018.
Well•ness – noun, the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.
If you've been following us at Sunshine Retirement Communities for a while, you know that Wellness is more than just a health care buzzword. In fact, we're so committed to helping our residents achieve an ongoing state of good health, we devote the entire month of August to the active pursuit of Wellness every year.
Sunshine's 6th Annual Wellness Month began with a Kickoff Party on August 1 at most of our 26 communities. As usual, each community has provided opportunities throughout the month for residents to learn Wellness practices from local professionals based on four different categories – Get Informed, Get Fit, Get Restored and Give Back.
We live in a changing world where information about new ideas, policies, problems and solutions constantly arise. Getting informed and learning about these new things can help us live healthier lives. A few examples of opportunities to Get Informed this month include:
For those who have been watching life from the sidelines for a while, the thought of getting fit may seem daunting. But the payoffs of living a longer, healthier life are well worth it. The first step is to develop a good attitude and set achievable fitness goals. Then keep track of progress and get into a sustainable routine. To make things easier, residents are encouraged to buddy up with a friend to support and challenge each other, then switch things up and try new things together. Some of this month's Get Fit offerings have included:
Complete with opening and closing ceremonies, the Senior Olympics is one of the perennial highlights of Wellness Month at both The Continental in Austin, Texas and at Deer Park in Novato, California. The Continental has hosted their friendly crosstown rivals from The Clairmont for the past five years. According to Life Enrichment Director (LED) Olga Rosalez, the competition breeds an amazingly warm and friendly camaraderie, while bringing a lot of enjoyment to their Wellness campaign.
Steven Cartacki, LED at Deer Park concurs: "It was fun! The residents like to be competitive once in a while and have something to play for. But ultimately, they enjoy laughing and being active with their peers."
Getting physically and mentally restored is essential for your health. With our hectic lives, we are constantly on the move and over time this has caused damage to our quality of life. We need to reclaim balance and give ourselves some much needed peace of mind, body and soul. Some ways Sunshine residents have been Getting Restored this month include:
Volunteering services or donating goods and money are not only beneficial for the recipients, but for the givers as well. Doing good for others and paying it forward does wonders for self-esteem, and having money to donate is not a requirement. This year, Sunshine's Give Back activities feature:
At the beginning of the month, residents received a special Wellness Calendar and a Wellness Stamp Card. Since then, they have been rewarded with a stamp on their card every time they attend a Wellness event highlighted on the Calendar. As the month ends this Friday, most of the communities will be hosting a Wellness Awards Ceremony where every participant will be recognized and awarded. The resident who receives the most stamps on his or her card at each community will win a customized $50 Visa Gift Card for their efforts.
As you can see, August has been a very active month for Sunshine residents. In fact, Wellness Month has become so popular, many of them are celebrating it all year round.
This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, August, 2018.
Like wine, cheese and a pair of jeans, everyone knows that men and women really do get better with age. But did you know America has an official day to celebrate that fact?
That's right. Next Tuesday, August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day, a day President Ronald Reagan – a noted senior citizen himself – declared for all to observe in 1988. Today, countless senior citizens are still very active in their communities and the workforce. They contribute greatly to our society and shower their families with advice, generosity and love. For what they have achieved and continue to achieve, they deserve our thanks.
If you have an elderly person or persons in your life that you love, this is the day to let them know how much you care about them and understand the various issues that affect them. Reach out to a senior family member. Spend some time with a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle. If you can't see them in person, give them a call and let them know how much you appreciate them.
If you have a chance, visit a nursing or retirement home. Chat, play games and participate in activities with residents. You can really make a difference in someone's day. And guess what. You'll find the experience fun and rewarding too.
If you are a senior citizen yourself, well, Senior Citizens Day is all about you. Live a little! Spend time with your favorite people. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae. Knock something off your bucket list. Or just relax with friends and family. Do whatever floats your boat, because the day is dedicated to you! You've earned it!
If you're a senior citizen who happens to live at a Sunshine Retirement Community, you just might be in luck. Because many of our communities are preparing extra special celebrations for residents on Senior Citizens Day.
They range from a Luau Lunch with a hula dancer at The Gardens at Brook Ridge in Pharr, Texas to full-blown, all-day hullabaloos like the one at Heritage Point in Mishawaka, Indiana. According to Heritage Point Life Enrichment Director (LED) Lillian Spice, they'll be having:
At Dunwoody Pines in Dunwoody Georgia, managers will pass out hand-signed cards to each resident. After lunch they'll have Balloon Volleyball and Bean Bag Baseball tournaments with the family members, friends and staff.
To help with summer hydration, Windsor Heights LED Merry Petroski has arranged for iced-tea making in the outdoor courtyard. Residents will be able to mix and sample several different tea flavors, including lemon, orange, ginger and mint. Then they'll get out the songbooks for an afternoon Sing-along. Meanwhile, at Summerfield Estates in Tigard, Oregon, residents will enjoy spa treatments, including massages, nails, aromatherapy and make-overs.
Things get a little more athletic at Deer Park in Novato, California where LED Steven Cartacki will oversee the Senior Olympic Games, a spirited competition featuring Balloon Volleyball, Bean Bag Baseball, Ping Pong, Wii Bowling, Trivia Card Games and of course, the Olympic anthem during the opening ceremony.
Goldie Hawn, one of America's most effervescent and age-defying seniors, put senior citizenship into perspective when she said:
"What helps with aging is serious cognition – thinking and understanding. You have to truly grasp that everybody ages…There is no turning back the clock. So the question in life becomes: What are you going to do while you're here?
Whether it's National Senior Citizens Day or not, you can be sure Sunshine residents will be doing quite a lot while they're here.
This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, August, 2018. Some information provided by nationaltoday.com.
After spending the last two weeks focusing on the signs and symptoms of dementia as well as what to look for in a Memory Care facility, we decided it was time to share what one of Sunshine's communities is doing to help residents overcome their memory difficulties.
Studies show that music can have a powerful effect on people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, even those with advanced stages of the disease.
"There are certain areas of the brain that are still relatively intact even as a progressive disease like Alzheimer's takes effect," says Suzanne Hanser, PhD, department chair of music therapy at Berklee College of Music in Boston and former program director of San Francisco's Alzheimer's Association.
"In particular, the limbic system, and specifically, the hippocampus, which retains long-term memory and has retained emotional impact. Music triggers these long-term memories. So we see people who have not spoken in years begin to sing songs that they knew in their early teens and early adulthood."
That is why music therapy has become an important element of treatment at most Memory Care facilities. It has proven to:
But at the Clairmont, one of Sunshine's communities in Austin, Texas, Life Enhancement Director Tina Bertelle has taken music therapy to a whole new level with what she calls "Drumstick Fitness."
"I came up with the Drumstick Fitness idea in 1997 working with early-, mid- and late-stage Alzheimer's patients," said Tina. "I slowly began incorporating drumming into the Clairmont with seated exercises and getting residents in the habit of marching with their feet while their hands are doing different things. This causes the brain to literally rethink and learn new things no matter if your 9 or 99!"
Cardio drumming classes, like Drumstick Fitness, Drums Alive and Pound have been around for a few years. But the benefits you receive when you take this type of class are so much greater than those of your average aerobics class. In addition to being a cardio workout, here's why drumming is so good for you:
Makes you smarter. Drumming is a great workout for your brain, because it accesses your entire brain. Research shows that the physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain synchronizes the left and right hemispheres. So when the logical left hemisphere and the intuitive right hemisphere begin to pulsate together, your inner guidance system – or intuition – becomes stronger.
Induces deep relaxation. In one study, blood samples from participants who participated in an hour-long drumming session revealed a reversal in stress hormones.
Helps control chronic pain. Drumming can certainly serve as a distraction from pain. Better yet, it promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, which are the body's own morphine-like painkillers.
Boosts your immune system. Studies show that drumming circles boost the immune system and help the body combat cancer as well as other viruses, including AIDS.
Creates a sense of connectedness. Drums have been used in every culture for many purposes from religious rituals to sporting events, and as a way to communicate or signal. Drumming circles and group drumming classes provide an opportunity for "synchronicity" with your own spirit at a deeper level, while also connecting with other like-minded people.
Provides a way to access a higher power. Shamans often use drumming as a means to integrate mind, body and spirit. Also, the "medicine" drum is still used in many Native American ceremonies today for good reason.
Releases negative feelings. The act of drumming can serve as a form of self-expression. You can literally drum out your feelings and remove negative emotions.
Makes you happy. Drumming releases endorphins, enkephalins and Alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with general feelings of well-being and euphoria. Don't believe us? Participate in a drum circle and see how happy it makes you feel.
Many Clairmont residents definitely concur about the happiness aspect.
"I like it a lot!" says Ann Hogarth. "It's a really physically fun session. Before you know it, you've worked out your whole body."
Betty McSpadden enjoys the challenge. "It's difficult and it makes me think as well as proud when I get the rhythm right," she says.
Resident Betty Ford agrees. "I've tried it and I love the way it's totally different from anything I'd ever thought of trying." Her experience convinced her best friend to try and see how fun it can be, which is exactly what Tina Bertelle loves to here.
"I've added a biweekly Drumming for Beginners intro class and Weekly Fitness to really make what they learn resonate deep in their soul," said Tina. "Drumming has a proven Healing Frequency. It's a powerful teaching tool we can all learn and use throughout Sunshine!"
All in all, it sounds like Drum Fitness is a form of therapy that, well, just can't be beat.
This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, August, 2018. Some information provided by drnorthrup.com and aplaceformom.com.
About two weeks ago, we told you all about Sunshine's Annual Poetry Contest spearheaded by Jerry Schmalenberger, a resident at Quail Lodge in Antioch, California. Well, to leave you hanging without sharing the results would be like reading one of Shakespeare's sonnets without the final couplet. So here's what went down, starting with Jerry's assessment of the participation and competition:
"We had a really good turnout. The quality of the poems received showed there are very thoughtful people living in our facilities. No doubt this activity is therapeutic as well as interesting. I believe poetry is the music of the soul and we sang well."
Jerry, his wife Carol and Sara Hallam, Life Enrichment Director at Quail Lodge reviewed 21 entries from Sunshine residents from across the country, 11 of which – not surprisingly – came from Jerry's fellow poetry lovers at Quail Lodge. But the 1st Place winner was none other than Jean Kirkpatrick from Waterford Terrace, who had this to say about her inspiration:
"When you write any poem, you are inspired by something that happened in front of you. I was sitting on the bus looking out the window and noticed an older man flagging us down. He got on the bus and could've sat in any of the empty seats, yet he decided to sit next to me. The entire ride we didn't speak. But once I got home, I kept seeing him in my head. So I sat and wrote about him."
Here's Jean's lovely and thoughtful poem:
A Gentle Encounter
At the Palm Street stop
he flagged us down with a white
handkerchief above his white head.
Air brakes exhaled
in the dust
as the doors parted.
He dismissed the empty
forward seats
and shuffled along the aisle.
I met his eyes,
the same soft blue
as his sweater.
We sat side by side,
comfortable strangers
drawn by need.
He stroked his knees
with well-tended hands and chuckled
at some private thought.
In a string bag
at his feet
a chess board waited.
At the Senior Center
he left the bus, and I put my hand
on the vacant seat beside me.
And murmured a prayer,
somebody loved
this old man.
Taking 2nd Place was Quail Lodge resident Sasha Johnson, who chose to reflect on her childhood home.
Home on the Hill
The sun rises and sets on our little home on the hill.
We grow, we groan, we laugh and we love.
We gawk, we gasp, we learn and we live,
On our little home on the hill.
For here is where we shall stay when dawn turns to day,
On our little home on the hill,
Where our great grandchildren can come to play.
We greet, we grin, we listen and we lecture.
We graze, we gather, we lay and we linger,
On our little home on the hill.
The sun rises and sets on our little home on the hill,
Where we live with great company and enjoy each day.
Our 3rd Place winner also wrote a poem about home. But rather than reminisce about an old home, Quail Lodge resident, Phyllis Martin, was inspired to muse about finding her new one.
A New Home to Love
When my husband died and I was living alone
Most of my social life existed by phone.
My adult children were busy with their children and spouses
And working their jobs and keeping up houses.
So I said to myself that something had to be done
To put a little spice in my life and have some fun.
So I jumped in the car and away I flew
To look at retirement homes and found quite a few.
I came upon Quail Lodge and liked what I saw
So I returned home and gave them a call.
I had a tour and like it even more
So I gave them a deposit before going out the door.
They gave me the keys and a welcome mat
And I moved in with my dog and cat.
I settled in and got acquainted quite soon
And had new friends before noon.
The activities are so many to enjoy or play
And they keep us entertained every single day.
I like the management and employees, too
And the wait-persons are very helpful it's true.
The menus are perfect with delicious food
To make us content and put in a good mood.
So to end my story of living in the slow land
I will repeat many times that I can't complain.
I thank all the powers-that-be
For my new friends and family.
I thank the good Lord up above
For helping me find my new home to love.
As you can tell from Phyllis's clever style, she knows a thing or two about telling a story in rhyme.
"I write poetry for fun and my entertainment," she said. "I have been writing poetry on and off all my life, but this was the first contest that in which I entered my writings. I am thrilled that my poem was chosen!"
We too are thrilled that many residents like Phyllis truly love their Sunshine Retirement communities. And we're delighted that they have a wonderful avenue to express it.
*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, May, 2018.
Ah, Spring! The time of year when we welcome back the birds, the flowers and the warm sunshine. And as the grass and trees outside each Sunshine Retirement community become greener, the thoughts of the residents inside also become greener – in terms of being more considerate toward our environment.
For the entire month of April, all Sunshine communities are celebrating our 4th Annual Go Green Give Back program, where every resident is given incentives and useful tips to help them practice sustainable, earth-friendly habits. Each resident has received a flyer listing numerous ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and give back.
They've also received a "Pledge to Go Green" card, which includes green footprints, that represent those four categories (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Give Back). When residents do something beneficial in one of the four categories – like carpooling, shopping with reusable bags, and properly disposing of used batteries and light bulbs – they get their card punched. When all four footprints are punched, they will be recognized and awarded a green prize.
It's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Earth Day/Earth Month happenings. Many communities have been organizing activities like art & craft programs with recycled materials, garage/rummage sales, workshops to eliminate junk mail, planting projects, eye-glass donation drives and "dark hours" when all electronic devices are turned off.
For example, on April 4, The Clairmont in Austin, Texas, hosted Cub Scouts Troop 159 for their first-ever Garden Plant & Play. Together they planted seedlings and flowers, and then rewarded themselves by playing games.
At Summerfield Estates in Tigard, Oregon, they planted an organic herb garden and began composting on April 5. This week, they also started having weekly Garden Gatherings where they will discuss sustainable practices on Tuesdays throughout the summer. Then, to top it off on April 26, Executive Chef Robert Parker will be doing his Farm-to-Table Cooking Demo, featuring a Corn Panna Cotta w/ Salted Dulce De Leche, all created with products from local farm stands.
On April 17, Fountain Crest in Lehigh Acres, Florida will celebrate the re-opening of their beautiful butterfly garden with an Earth Day Workshop. Residents will learn how to start their own butterfly garden complete with a personalized terracotta pot with milkweed seeds.
The following day, Carriage House at The Verandah in Lake Charles, Louisiana will kick off their Recycled T-shirt Bag Project, a creative way to turn outgrown or unwanted T-shirts into colorful and handy tote bags.
"I chose to use this idea because it falls under the 'Reuse' category of our Go Green Event," said Merry Beth Grant's, Life Enhancement Director at Carriage House. "I ask each resident to bring in their own shirt for the project. The great thing is, it only takes one shirt to make the bag and it doesn't require any sewing at all. The residents can use the tote bag to carry their crochet or knitting materials, or it can handle light-weight groceries."
Finally, every Monday this month, Waterford Terrace in La Mesa, California is working on their own "Reuse" project that they call "In Stitches." They'll collect thousands of used plastic grocery store bags and recycle them into sleeping mats for the homeless. The bags are cut and made into plarn, a strong yet foamy substance. Then residents use a crochet needle to weave it into a mat. It requires over 2,000 small bags to create a seven-foot mat and takes a person about 40 hours to complete one mat.
"Residents participate because they enjoy giving back to the community," says Muzit Sebhatlab, Life Enhancement Director at Waterford Terrace. "Additionally, it's a very easy and fun project for those who enjoyed knitting and crocheting but are unable to do so due to physical limitation."
At the end of this month, the mats, as well as toiletry/personal hygiene bags and sandwiches, will be donated to the Newbreak East County Church, who will be responsible for distributing them to the homeless.
"Even though many grocery stores are charging for plastic bags or not offering them at all, more than a trillion of them are used and discarded worldwide every year," claims Sebhatlab. "Considering that it takes about 300 years for each of those bags to biodegrade, our residents are very happy to do their part in keeping a significant number of them out of our landfills. And knowing that their mats will be helping those in need too, it further demonstrates that going green and giving back at Sunshine is a win/win for all of us on this little planet."
No wonder Mother Earth always likes us best.
*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living, April, 2018.


text: Are there any restrictions about my health? Health problems and disabilities are not barriers to adoption provided you can care for the children you adopt. Anyone who wishes to adopt must have a full medical carried out by their GP and advice will be sought from our medical advisor on any issues raised.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ezra Davids is chairman of Corporate/M&A at Bowmans specialising in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and securities law.Ezra is the most recent chairman of the Faculty Advisory Board of the Law School of the University of Cape Town. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Legal Resources Trust (a non-profit human rights organisation using the law as an instrument of justice); a director of Freedom Under Law (a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of the rule of law in Southern Africa), and a patron of the Student Sponsorship Programme (a non-profit organisation that places and enables academically talented, low income students to excel in South Africa's best high schools).He is also the former chairman of the recent developments in M&A subcommittee of the Corporate and M&A Committee of the International Bar Association and is a patron of the Student Sponsorship Programme and a member of the University of Cape Town Council.Ezra is the relationship partner for a number of the firm's major clients such as Bharti, Verizon, Barrick Gold Corporation, Microsoft, UPS, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Eskom and Transnet.He is also a regular contributor to international M&A and equity capital markets publications, and is co-contributor on the mergers' chapter of the Modern Company Law text book.Ezra was the first practising African lawyer to be featured on the front page of the American Lawyer.
View full profile for Bowmans
Follow Getting the Deal Through for the latest updates on law and regulation worldwide


text:
"Custom Communications
That Fit Your Business"
Phone Communications
Virtual Phone System
Mobile Phone System
VoIP Phone Systems
Browser Phone VoIP
Softphone VoIP
Desk Phone VoIP
Outbound IVR
Recurring Phone Messenger
Self Serv IVR
Virtual Call Center
Cloud Communications
Web Texting
Automated SMS Solutions
Manual SMS Solutions
Sequential SMS Solutions
Live Text Chat
eMail Manager
Video Messaging
Video Chat
Video Conferencing
Success Stories
Custom Virtual Phone System
A custom Virtual Phone System is the ideal phone communications solution for any business operating without a physical office! It works with any type of phones (landline phone, VoIP phones, cell phones, etc), and it does not require any special hardware equipment or devices, and it does not require any Internet connection (it's not VoIP)! There's no equipment to purchase and install, no infrastructure to build, no software to download and run on your computer, no contract, and no Internet requirements (this is not VoIP). Virtual Phone Service includes 1) all of the local and/or toll free phone numbers you need, 2) all of the calling features you expect, and 3) all of the sophisticated phone system features, functionality and capabilities you could ever want, need or dream!
Virtual Caller ID
| Your dispersed team can use ANY phone number your business owns as the outbound Caller ID number, In addition to being able to use your Virtual Phone System phone number as the outbound Caller ID number! So, your team can use any of your business phone numbers, to make outbound calls, on any phone or computer, at any time, in any location!
Landline Phones
| Your dispersed team can use any landline phone (office phone, home phone, etc) to make outbound calls using your Virtual Phone System phone number as the outbound Caller ID number. People receiving calls from your team will only see your Virtual Phone System phone number in their caller ID- not your team's personal landline phone number.
| Your dispersed team can download the VPS mobile app to any Android or Apple smartphone to make outbound calls using your Virtual Phone System phone number as the outbound Caller ID number. People receiving calls from your team will only see your Virtual Phone System phone number in their caller ID- not your team's personal cell phone number. Unlike all other mobile apps, It's
VoIP, so there's no requirement for a 4G mobile data connection or a strong wi-fi connection!
VoIP Phones
| Your dispersed team can use any VoIP phone or VoIP device (Skype, Magic Jack, etc) to make outbound calls using your Virtual Phone System phone number as the outbound Caller ID number. People receiving calls from your team will only see your Virtual Phone System phone number in their caller ID- not the VoIP phone they're actually calling from!
| Your dispersed team can use any desktop, laptop, or tablet computer to make outbound calls using your Virtual Phone System phone number as the outbound Caller ID number. All your team needs is a headset and a high speed Internet connection! People receiving calls from your team will only see your Virtual Phone System phone number in their caller ID.
Auto Attendant
| Automatically answers calls on the main number, plays a greeting with menu options, and routes calls based on the menu option selected by the caller, as well as processes incoming SMS Text messages.
Custom Menus
| Enables you to create your own custom voice menus with as many menu options as you need, and change them as often as you want. You can also create as many sub-menus (sub-levels and layers) as you want. You can program the system to automatically play a specific menu based on the number the caller dialed, the caller's area code, the time of the day, day of the week, month of the year; or other criteria.
| Unlimited extensions to provide call routing to each one of your employees, departments, groups, branches, etc. Extensions can be programmed to 1) connect calls to a "live" representative, 2) go straight to voicemail, 3) play pre-recorded information, 4) redirect calls based on the time of the day, day of the week, or month of the year.
Find Me - Follow Me
| Automatically connects calls to representatives "live", in real time, regardless of their location or the type of phone they are using at the time of the call (cell phone, home phone, office phone, Skype or any phone)!
Dial-By-Name Directory
| Enables callers to be automatically connected with the person they are trying to reach by entering the first three letters of the person's last name.
Company Directory
| Callers can listen to a list of employees, select the employee they want, then be automatically transferred to that employee's mailbox to leave a voice message.
- Direct Inward Dial Numbers
| Enables each user to have their own direct phone number that connects calls directly to their personal extension on the system.
Call Queue
| Increases call capacity by automatically fielding calls when all reps or all lines are busy, eliminating hang ups and dropped calls. Callers are given the option to press "1" to wait for the next available rep, or press "2" to leave a message in voicemail.
Data Route
| Automatically routes incoming calls based on the caller's data input, such as their zip code, account number, product model number, or some other numeric data.
Chrono Route
| Automatically redirects incoming calls to a different extension or phone number depending on the time of day, and day of the week.
Caller ID Route
| Automatically routes incoming calls based on the caller's phone number, area code, or geographic location.
Key-ahead Prompting
| Your callers can key ahead (enter their selection) if they already know the options they wish to select, enhancing the experience of your frequent callers.
Call Blocking
| Empowers you to identify certain phone numbers, exchanges or area codes from which you will not take calls, saving you time and frustration from spammers and telemarketers.
Smart Answer
| When you answer a call, you can first find out 1) who's calling, 2) why they are calling or 3) the number they're calling from, then decide if you want to take the call, send the caller to voicemail or re-direct the call to another employee, department, or location.
Call Transfer
| You can transfer a "live" call to another extension, to voicemail or to any phone number in the USA and many foreign countries.
Place Caller On-hold
| You can place any caller On-hold at anytime, using any type of phone (cell or landline) with the caller listening to your company message while on-hold.
On-Hold Music
| Plays your promotional message to the caller while the call is being transferred or when the caller is placed on-hold.
Call Recording
| Record "live" calls (incoming and outgoing) with real time recording controls, playback controls, email delivery as an MP3 file, phone access, and online backup storage.
| Delivers your voicemail messages to your email address as an MP3 attachment so you can listen to your messages on your computer!
SMS Text Notifications
| Notifies you by SMS text that you have a new voice message waiting for you to retrieve.
Announce Only
| You can setup any mailbox to only play an announcement to callers- the caller can't leave a message, but only listen to your announcement. Ideal for providing directions, hours of operation as well as information about your company and your products & services.
Voicemail Transcription
| Transcribes your voice mail messages to text, then delivers the text version to your email inbox or cell phone, enabling you to read your voicemail messages.
Unlimited Message Capacity
| Your mailboxes will NEVER get full! Your callers will NEVER hear "this mailbox is full and cannot take any more messages, please hang up and try again later".
Online Message Storage
| You get unlimited online storage space where your messages are automatically backed up for you. You can access, play and download your messages on any computer, at any time, in any location.
You have access to a vast inventory of custom phone numbers to boost your advertising, sales promotions, and marketing campaigns. "Easy-To-Remember" phone numbers, like 218-FITNESS and 505-555-5555 increase the response to your ads on the radio, TV, print media and billboard; generate more sales leads, build your brand, boost your various sales promotions, and increase your marketing ROI. You can have a custom phone number in any area code, city or local community in the continental USA.
Repeating Digit Numbers
- Get a memorable number with repeating digits, like 404-444-4000, 202-222-2222, etc!
Local Vanity Numbers
- Get a memorable number that spells a word, like 214-INJURED, 218-FITNESS, etc!
Sequential Numbers
- A set of numbers in a sequence, like 404-212-1000, 404-212-1001, 404-212-1002, etc.
Clone Numbers
- The same exact number in various area codes, like 731-325-8200, 901-325-8200, 615-325-8200, etc.
Toll Free Vanity Numbers
- Get awesome toll free numbers, like 877-FLOWERS, 866-PLUMBER, 888-MEDICAL, etc.
Phone Integrations
Phone Plug-Ins
Automate your tedious, routine and repetitive tasks by integrating your phone system with the software you use every day to run your business. When an event, activity or action occurs in your CRM, Calendar, or other business software, it will trigger your phone system to automatically perform a phone calling task for you! Also, when your business receives a call, it will trigger the software you use to automatically perform a data processing tasks or trigger one of your Cloud Communications apps (SMS, email, etc) to perform a communications task.
We embed custom outbound calling functionality into the business software you use to run your business, empowering you to make calls while logged in to your CRM, calendar, contacts manager, etc. Plug-ins help centralize and streamline daily calling and computing tasks, improving workflow and saving time and money! There are 3 available outbound calling features, including...
Text-To-Voice Calling
Dial Pad Calling
Click Calling


text:
"Miracle" Mayonnaise
Submitted by Kristina McFeeters on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 18:09
|Prep time
5 minutes
|Cooking time
|Total time
5 minutes
So many mayonnaises have oil in them and it makes them really rich. Here's an oil-free low-fat mayonnaise made with seeds or nuts and freshly cooked millet, cornmeal, or even grits. (See Whole Grains section on how to cook millet)
1⁄2 csunflower seeds (or cashews or almonds)
1 ccooked millet (freshly cooked and still hot--can use freshly cooked cornmeal, polenta, or grits instead of millet)
1 tsalt
1 Tonion powder
1⁄4 clemon juice
1 cwarm water
To use for a sour cream, double the lemon juice.
BLEND all ingredients until very smooth.
POUR into container.
- Log in to post comments
Export to:
- Print View
- MasterCook4
- Plain Text
- recipeML


text:
Upmarket estate agent Savills says the rampant price growth for homes in London has been slowing and that many families are selling up and moving into the home counties.
Savills' chief executive, Jeremy Helsby, said that rising numbers of people are cashing in on the recent house price boom and moving out of the capital into Surrey and Kent, and as far out as Cambridge and Oxford – as he himself has done. "People are selling up in London – they've had a very strong rise over the last two to three years – especially families with kids who decide they can't get the right schools and want more space."
Contract exchanges outside London are up 20%, helping Savills post a 15% rise in pre-tax profits to £24.7m for the first half of the year. The estate agent lifted its half-year dividend by 7% to 3.75p a share. Savills, which is based in Mayfair, conducted twice as many sales outside the capital than within, although in revenue terms its business is still skewed towards London where values remain much higher.
Helsby, who received £2.6m in pay and perks last year, also observed a shift within the capital, with more people moving from swanky west London to the east, which has been revitalised by the Olympic Park. Savills hopes to open another office in east London. Transport links across London are set to improve with the opening of Crossrail in 2018.
Price growth for £5m-plus homes in central London has been slowing over the last 18 months, while the rest of the country is still recording strong "recovery growth".
Savills forecast 3% price growth at the top end in London at the start of the year. So far prices for luxury homes are up just 2.5% and are expected to remain flat for the rest of the year, Helsby said. The remainder of the UK is on track for 4.5% growth. With the ultra-luxury property market slowing, the firm is focusing on what Helsby called a "mid-market brand," selling homes worth between £1m and £2m in areas such as East Sheen, Victoria and Battersea in south-west London.
Lenders Nationwide and Halifax say house prices across Britain are still growing fast, at an annual rate of around 10%, although there are signs of a slowdown.
Britain's commercial property market is booming, particularly shopping centres, along with the office market, Helsby said. London has become so expensive that international investors are turning increasingly to cities such as Manchester and Bristol. Office rents have reached over £100 per sq ft in London's West End, where the vacancy rate is just 3%, and breached £60 per sq ft in the City of London, while the Shard commands rents of more than £80 per sq ft.
Helsby was also bullish on the outlook for commercial property in continental Europe, particularly Ireland, Spain and Germany, followed by the Netherlands and Poland. Even Hong Kong's "yo-yo market" is looking better, where Savills has just sealed a HK$1.6bn (£140m) deal.
The Savills results beat expectations, and Numis Securities analyst Chris Millington upgraded his estimates for both 2014 and 2015 by 5%, reflecting higher US profits and a stronger than expected performance in Asia – despite very challenging markets.


text:
'Here Come the Girls'…..
Well done to Lila Galway from Fifth Class. We were delighted that she received a coveted commendation in the national Texaco Art Competition! Lila has always been creative and her 'Variations of a Sky', really impressed the judges. Unfortunately, her painting will remain in Dublin until she receives her prize, but I will post a photo of it in June. We are thrilled for her. Also Mr Paul was delighted when his footballers from Fifth and Sixth comfortably won their match against Ardfert NS recently. The Spa NS got the better of them this week, but they must be commended for fantastic skill and heart! Well done, all!


text:
How Gift Cards Can Help Your Restaurant During COVID-19
Here's why a gift card program is important to your business right now, and how and what to track using your POS system.
Read More
Designed from the ground up for the restaurant industry, Toast includes the following software capabilities:View All
Built for the rigors of the restaurant industry, Toast certified hardware includes:View All
Toast is designed for restaurant success. Customize Toast to fit the needs of your restaurant type.Learn More
SoftwareSoftware Directory
HardwareHardware Directory
Restaurant Types
Just so you know, we'll handle your info according to our privacy statement.
A great restaurant website can attract new customers, maintain loyal ones, and raise the overall profile of the establishment outside of the physical location.
But how do you put together a great website when you - the restaurant owner or operator - are busy with the many other critical tasks related to running your restaurant?
Well, building the best restaurant website doesn't have to be a time-consuming or difficult task. In many cases, there are simple things you can build into your website to share the most important information with your frequent and potential guests.
Check out 12 of our favorite restaurant websites, each paired with a pro tip that explains what makes them stand out. Further down, you can find a slideshow of Toast's 50 best restaurant websites if you need even more inspiration.
Example: Acorn (Denver, CO)
Usually, when your guests head to your website, it's to grab the most basic information: the address, the hours, and a way to contact you. Don't make it difficult! With this being the #1 thing people are looking for, put it front and center - like Acorn does on their website. No scrolling necessary, their basic information is displayed clearly at the top-left of the page.
Example: Parachute (Chicago, IL)
If the #1 thing people are looking for on your website is when and where to find your restaurant, #2 is what they'll eat when they get there! That means you should be making it very easy to find and browse your menu(s). Ideally, this will be in webpage format so that it's easy to click around and search your menu items, but at the very least, you should include a PDF of your latest menus. Parachute in Chicago, IL has simple, beautiful website that makes it extremely easy to find the menu - just scroll down, and there it is!
Example: Mei Mei Street Kitchen (Boston, MA)
The more content you have on your website, the more opportunities you have to attract and engage guests online. Boston's Mei Mei Street Kitchen does a great job of this - including information about their restaurant and food truck, content about their local and sustainable approach, as well as links to recent press. On top of all that, they have a blog where they post about their food, events, and more. A blog is a great way to keep customers coming back to your website and staying engaged with you in between visits.
Example: Upper Crust Pizzeria (Multiple Cities)
Online ordering is already widespread and continues to increase in volume across the industry. If you don't offer online ordering - for takeout and/or delivery - you may be missing out on a huge additional revenue stream. And if you do offer online ordering, make it easy for customers to find it on your website! While online ordering sites like GrubHub and Doordash provide the reach and functionality for online ordering, they can also come with big fees. If you've already got a customer on your website, take advantage of that and let them order online, straight from you. Upper Crust Pizzeria, like many pizzerias, does a lot of business via online orders. They prominently display a button at the top of their website to let visitors easily place an order. Alternately, some restaurants choose to provide links to whichever online ordering sites they use to dispatch food to customers' homes.
Example: Old Lady Gang (Atlanta, GA)
If you take reservations, make it easy to do on your website instead of sending your customers to the phone. Old Lady Gang in Atlanta, GA puts a reservations form right at the center of their homepage. This way, their guests can easily see what times are available without having to talk to a host that's trying to hear them over the din of the restaurant.
Example: Costa Vida (Multiple Cities)
Loyalty programs were created to help restaurants reward their best customers and to encourage repeat visits, creating new regulars. Consumers estimate a restaurant loyalty program would increase their visit rate to a restaurant by an average of 35%, and when a customer is about to unlock their loyalty reward, they spend 39% more on average. If you have a loyalty program, don't just rely on punch cards - make it easy for customers to check their status online, like Costa Vida does through the "Rewards" section of their website.
Example: Olympia Oyster Bar (Portland, OR)
Many restaurants will run events throughout the week - like Trivia Tuesdays or afternoon Happy Hours - to keep customers coming back at specific, perhaps low traffic, times. This is great content to add to your website to make sure new guests know about the unique things happening at your establishment. Olympia Oyster Bar in Portland, OR has an Upcoming Events section up top, and if you scroll down, you'll find their Weekly Happenings section, as well as more info about their events.
Example: Lucha Libre Taco Shop (San Diego, CA)
If you sell merchandise and/or gift cards in-store, why not also sell them on your website? Lucha Libre Taco Shop in San Diego, CA has a bright-blue button for "Lucha Gear" on their homepage, and if you scroll down, you find a button for e-gift cards. If you make it easy for your customers to buy gift cards or merchandise, they'll be more likely to think of you next time they need to buy a present! Also, offering merchandise creates awareness around your restaurant; your customers will be vouching for your brand in everyday life.
Example: Dutch's (Portland, ME)
Social media is one of the best ways to engage with your customers and share great photos and updates from your restaurant. Be sure to link to your social accounts right from your website (and vice versa), and even include a feed of your recent updates and photos - it's a great way to add more interesting content to your website! Dutch's in Portland, ME, for example, has a big section of their homepage dedicated to their Instagram account, and they also link to a bigger gallery of photos they've taken.
Example: SusieCakes (Multiple Cities)
Many of your visitors will be checking out your website from their smartphones - whether it's to grab your address while on their way, or to place an online order while sitting on the couch. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and looks good from a phone; otherwise, you risk missing out on a lot of great customers.
Example: Smith & Wollensky (Multiple Cities)
Turn your anonymous visitors into known guests you can email by collecting email addresses on your website. Some restaurants, like Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, have an email signup link, while others use pop-ups when landing on the website. In all cases, make sure you have a good reason for someone to give you their email address - such as notifications about upcoming events, exclusive promotions, menu specials, or even fun updates from the staff.
Example: Marlowe (San Francisco, CA)
Hopefully, you already have people saying wonderful things about your restaurant. Make sure to highlight press quotes and customer reviews right on your website to make it even more appealing to someone trying to decide where to eat. The website for Marlowe, in San Francisco, shows off their many accolades on their homepage, while other restaurant websites choose to create a separate page for recent press.
Here's a slideshow of 50 Examples of Great Restaurant Websites from Toast Tab to help you get even more inspired to update your own!
Just so you know, we'll handle your info according to our privacy statement.
Here's why a gift card program is important to your business right now, and how and what to track using your POS system.
Read More
Do you have the essential restaurant kitchen equipment and supplies you need? Check off this list to make sure your restaurant kit...
Read More


text:
The Bluemoon Chapel
Surrounded by beautiful pool gardens which fill the air with the aroma of the tropics,
it is the perfect place to have a celebration of a new beginnings.
Separate banquet room also available for wedding reception.
- Capacity up to 40 persons, 15 x 12 square meters, Glass building material.
- Available time slot for wedding: 10:00 am, 03:00 pm, 05:00 pm, 06:30 pm.


text:
Round trip flights to Tampa Bay from Ottawa
When it comes to round trip flights to Tampa Bay from Ottawa, you can count on WestJet. Not only do we fly to Tampa International Airport, but we also travel to more than 150 destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe, so you can be sure we'll get you where you want to go with ease. The routes we run make WestJet a popular choice, but they're not the only reason; we're also committed to offering safe, swift and comfortable travel at an affordable price — not to mention a welcoming guest experience that's simply exceptional. So look no further than WestJet when you want to put service and value first.
Low fare finder
Don't see what you're looking for? Find all of our great low fares in one place.
We'll get you to The Cigar City
Airport Details: To TPA, Tampa International Airport From YOW, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
There's no question that Puerto Plata's caramel-coloured beaches – some of the best shores in the Dominican Republic – are one of its most popular attractions. Indeed, the "Fort Lauderdale of Mexico" is renowned for its spectacular beaches, its outstanding nightlife and its many top-class spa facilities. The warm waters of the Gulf of California give visitors the opportunity to surf, fish and even observe pods of whales during winter months.
Don't wait any longer. Book round trip flights now with WestJet and soon you'll be touching down in appealing, noteworthy Tampa Bay. Whether it's a business trip or you want to visit the Florida Aquarium, Adventure Island water park or the Busch Gardens theme park, you know that you can get there swiftly, safely and comfortably with us. Fly to Tampa Bay from Ottawa and find out how your money goes further with WestJet.


text:
In my humble opinion, the page object pattern can be extremely important for a test framework.
Do you have an ever changing UI that causes your locators to frequently break?
With ASP.net do your developers frequently move elements around the page?
Do you have a brand new page and you quickly want locators to work with?
Selenium Fury just might be the tool to assist you.
I have posted in the past about generators and validators. Scott Sims has rolled this functionality up into a nice gem. The gem is easily extensible.
Check out Scott's post, use the gem and let him know what you think!
Oh, it is so fun being a tester!


text:
The final moments of the Germanwings flight is confirmed by the recording of the"Cockpit Voice Recorder," on one of the A320's two black boxes. This is the exact crash location (link).
They decided not to share this tape in the media, but it is translated into a script. In bold I added my thoughts, taking into account my initial findings about the possible roles of the pilots (link blog) and what might have caused a "violent bang" (link blog). I really want to hear the recording myself, to conduct further analysis and be sure.
The transcript [with my evaluation added]
10:00 am
The airplane takes off. [confirmed]
The Captain says to Lubitz: "I didn't have time to use the bathroom before taking off." Lubitz: "Go whenever you'd like." [I believe it.]
The plane has reached cruising altitude: 38000 feet (11.500 meters) [I believe it.]
The captain asks Lubitz to prepare the approach for landing and to verify that the plane can begin the landing process. Lubitz obeys. He repeats to the captain again: "You can go. You can go now." [On the right a selfi of Andreas Lubitz]
[I believe it. The captain takes the initiative himself to leave the cockpit to go to the bathroom. It is also the captain that takes the initiative to have Lubith prepare the automatic pilote programme for a (slow) decent. To be clear, at this time in the flight, there is no reason for the pilot to ask the co-pilot to do this. The captain asks Lubitz to prepare for landing one hour (!) before they are supposed to land in Dusseldorf? Just 20 minutes before landing is normal. Why would he ask this one hour beforehand? As a result, Lubith's fingerprints will be on the automatic pilot dashboard.]
Noise can be heard coming from a seat: the captain removes his seatbelt. The door is opened. The captain says to Lubitz: "You are in control now."
Lubitz answers with a seemingly light tone of voice: "I hope so."
[Why would the above take 2 minutes? The captain stands up. Lubitz is supposed to prepare for landing, while the captain is likely behind him watching. He then likely uses something like chloroform to make the co-pilot unconscious. This will not be heard on the voicerecorder. The captain turns around to open and close the cockpit door, while he stays in the cockpit!]
Lubitz is alone in the cockpit. He locks the armored door with the "Lock" button: it is no longer possible to open the door from the outside. One can hear the sounds of the automatic pilot being reprogrammed to accelerate the descent, pushing the plane from 38,000 feet (11.000 meters) to 100 feet (30 meters) in a matter of minutes.
[The captain provides co-pilot Lubitz a breathing mask perhaps with GHB added (maybe the click heard at 10:30h, which is supposed to lock the door). Lubitz will continue to breath normally in an oxygen mask, yet is unaware of anything for the rest of his life. The captain then reprogrammes the automatic pilot to accelerate descent. As the captain intends to escape the plane in time, while blaming it all on Lubitz, he needs the automatic pilot for the crash.]
The landing begins: the plane drops 3000 feet (900 meters) per minute. Air traffic controllers detect the problem. They try several times to contact the airplane by radio. Lubitz does not respond.
The captain's voice can be heard as he tries to open the door: "It's me!" The captain is facing a camera connected to the cockpit: Lubitz sees him on screen but does not react. The captain grabs an oxygen tank or fire extinguisher in order to break down the door. No response from Lubitz. The captain yells: "For the love of God, open this door!"
[The captain/pilot pushes against the door from the inside, as if he is locked outside and pushes from the outside. He opens the escape panel in the lower part of the door, and crawls out (this will not be notified on a blackbox, as the panel is mechanical). He then is on the other side of the door. It sounds like he is outside, trying to get in. In fact, by then he is outside the cockpit. Now the captain starts acting for a few minutes as if he is locked out.]
10:34 approximately
A first alarm goes off, audible and visual: "SINK RATE, PULL UP."
No reaction from Lubitz.
Through the cockpit door, the first sounds of passengers running in the aisles can be heard.
The captain asks for the crowbar hidden in the back of the plane. Louder bangs can be heard hitting the door, followed by metallic sounds [?]. The captain tries to bend the door with the crowbar.
[One of the cabine crew is asked for a crowbar in the back. This way the cabin crew will not attempt to help and try open the cockpit door themselves to reveal the deceipt. We have no idea what the cabin crew is doing after. We never hear from any of the other cabin crew members again, after the captain asks for the crowbar. The captain might as well have put poison on the crowbar to get rid of the cabin crew! When the first crew member falls down due to the poison, the next crew member will likely pick-up the crowbar.]
[In other media it stated that 3 times they heard "Louder bangs can be heard hitting the door, followed by metallic sounds". In my alternative theory, the captain removes the kitchen carts from the kitchen cabinet. We all know the sound of that. It is a bang followed by metallic sounds (3x). The captain then opens an access point to the storage area below deck (with another crowbar or something). The access point should have been well hidden in the floor below the kitchen/bar carts.]
10:37 and several seconds
A second alarm is set off, audible and visual: "TERRAIN, PULL UP." Still no reaction from Lubitz.
The captain yells: "Open this f… door!"
[The captain/pilot continues acting, while co-pilot Lubitz is unconscious in the cockpit. From the kitchen area he yells another time at the cockpit door, before disappearing below deck. The second alarm is likely a sign for the captain, he needs to get into the ejection seat. He likely even programmed the descent angle and route precisely beforehand, knowing he would have a few minutes to escape when the second alarm is set off.]
Despite the deafening noises, Lubitz's breathing can clearly be heard through an oxygen mask he put on. He is breathing normally. The plane is at 13000 feet (4000 meters).
[We no longer hear the captain, nor any of the other cabin crew. Only the sound of people panicking. Somehow the captain has gotten rid off the cabine crew and is quiet himself. This is not what cabin crews are trained to do in a situation like this. It sounds like the passengers are all by themselves in a plane going down. No crew member is doing anything to help or comfort.]
A violent sound can be heard outside. At the same time, inside, screaming. The Airbus hits the mountain with its right wing.
No other sound, save for the alarms and the screaming passengers.
[The captain/pilot had at least 2-3 minutes to enter his ejection seat. When he takes off, he likely uses some rocketing mechanism, which causes a violent sound and pushes that side of the plane aggressively in a backlash/recoil. The storage door is pushed against the right wing.]
The airplane hits the Estrop mountain range at 5000 feet (1500 meters) at 800 km/h.
[The pilot causing the crash likely left the plane in time by ejection seat, while the rest of the airplane with passengers continues intact, until the crash.]
p.s. While Andreas Lubitz is in the news with many pictures and stories about a potential mental illness and relationship troubles, the pilot Patrick Sonderheimer is solely praised for his courage. And there are no photo's of Patrick Sonderheimer. Oddly.
p.p.s. While I can not proof the above comments I made are true, there is also not enough proof to convict Andres Lubitz in a trial by media. Would Andres Lubitz be convicted solely on this audiotape had he survived? I do not think so. And he is dead.


text:
How individuals earn a living through work has progressed rapidly over the years in America's history. It's evident that the perception of gender roles and what women ought to be in our corporate world today has blossomed progressively. The concern is if employers are promoting this changed perception through human resource employment practices enough to enable women more growth in today's corporations?
"In 1993, the Women's Bureau conducted the first large scale, nationally representative survey about working women's employment challenges and concerns. The survey demonstrated that women are more likely to leave the labor force than men, roughly forty percent of women in comparison to one in four men. Working women were four times as likely to cite a personal or family reason for leaving the work force"
(US Department of Labor 1 & 2). Compared to thirty-one percent of men, sixty-one percent of women stated taking care of family was an important justification of their leaving. Women are great assets to any organization's development, it is imperative that employers make it a mission to not only promote a positive experience for women through benefits that assists women with maternity leave, but also by supporting women's new work life balance challenge post maternity leave.
In conclusion, there are many hurdles to overcome outside of employer compensation strategies. The US is one of three countries that does not guarantee compensated maternity leave, and the only states that provide publicly funded maternity leave are Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. FMLA is a great step forward, but there is still more ground work that needs to be done from employers and policy makers to remain pro-family. Current maternity leave policies steer towards gender pay gaps, income gaps, and create a non-inclusive work culture nationally. This is more than a call to action, but a time of acknowledgement and create justice for all women in our society.
Gilpin, Lindsey. 10 things you need to know about maternity leave in the US. 8 May 2015. <www.techrepublicarticle.com/article/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-maternity-leave-in-the-us/>.
US Department of Labor. Results from the Survey of Working Women. 2016. <https://www.dol.gov/wb/resources/Survey_of_Working_Women_Brief.pdf>.


text:
« ElőzőTovább »
pluna. Tliis duty occupied a week; and then, having been relieved by the Spaniards, it marched to join the main army in the passes of the Pyrenees, where it was actively engaged in the battles of the 28th and 30th of July. In a promotion of officers which took place soon after, Brigadier-General Madden was promoted to the rank of Marechal de Campo, or Major-General in the Portuguese service; but a brevet promotion which took place at the same date among the British officers, had the effect of raising above him many who had previously acknowledged his precedence in rank; and this led to such disagreements and inconveniencies, that he was two months after desired to relinquish his command to the next senior officer, and to proceed to Lisbon. There he remained until the peace, when he returned home in the Rodney, with Vice-Admiral Sir George Martin, in June, 1814.
Sir Geo. Madden obtained a general officer's gold medal for his Pyrenean actions, and was nominated a Companion of the Bath. He received the royal permission to wear the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Military Order of the Tower and Sword, April 4. 1816; and was knighted on the 5th of July in the same year. He was raised to the brevet rank of Major-General in 1819.
Sir George Madden's death occurred at Portsmouth, on the 26th «f November, 1828.
The foregoing memoir has been abridged from the "Royal Military Calendar."
No. XXIX.
This distinguished scholar and philosopher was a nephew of the late celebrated Dr. Brocklesby, through whose care he received an excellent education, partly at Gottingen, and partly at Edinburgh. Having taken his degrees, with great credit, at the latter place, he came to London, and was some time a Lecturer at the Royal Institution. He was subsequently appointed Physician to St. George's Hospital. In 1794 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, of which he was in 1804 appointed Foreign Secretary.
Dr. Young was, in many respects, a rarely-gifted and extraordinary man. With a mind so happily constituted as to be equally fitted for engaging in any pursuit, or mastering any given branch of human knowledge, he united a degree of perseverance admirably adapted to give full effect to this versatility, and an innate sagacity which enabled him at once to perceive the full extent of every difficulty that impeded his progress, and to overcome it. Hence it was his fortune, or, we should rather say, his distinguishing merit, to attain to nearly equal eminence both in science and in letters. Among geometers and natural philosophers, he was unquestionably, if not the first, at least in the very first class; while his great knowledge of the practical application of science to the useful arts, and the business of life, rendered his assistance indispensable to the government whenever it was necessary to obtain accurate information respecting the conduct and management of scientific establishments, proposed improvements in the arts of life, or those particular subjects oflegislation which can be regulated only upon scientific principles. In such enquiries and investigations a very considerable portion of his time was latterly occupied; but we may safely refer to the works on science which he has left behind him, and in particular to his Treatise on Optics, and his Lectures on Natural Philosophy, together with a multitude of papers in the Transactions of the Royal Society, as affording ample evidence of the great proficiency to which he had attained both in the pure and in the mixed mathematics. Nor was he less remark able for his acquirements as a scholar, than for his attainments as a man of science. The friend, and sometimes the companion of Porson, (of whose life, character, and scholarship, he has given a most masterly sketch in the Supplement to the last edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica,") it may easily be supposed that he was not unacquainted with the language and literature of ancient Greece; and, in point of fact, with the exception of Dr. Parr and one or two others, his illustrious friend left behind him no Grecian superior to Dr. Young. He had read every thing, and he remembered every thing. Nothing which had at any time interested him, and to which he had given his mind, ever escaped from his memory: all his knowledge, indeed, seems to have been written, or rather engraved, as it were, upon a tablet of brass, in indelible characters, which he could read off whenever occasion or necessity required. We do not by any means intend to say that Dr. Young was a man of refined or even of correct taste. On the contrary, he was a sort of practical utilitarian, who invariably neglected the husk or shell in order to get at the kernel, and who never concerned himself about grace, or elegance, or ornament, in his search after truth, or in his attempts to lay up a store of knowledge. The subject-matter of a work alone occupied his attention; and to this he went in the most direct and straight-forward manner possible, without regard to the dress in which it was clothed, or the embellishments with which it was bespangled. Accordingly, he had a much more intimate and thorough acquaintance with the contents of the
works of the ancients, and had taken a much more exact measure of the amount of knowledge they possessed respecting different subjects, than perhaps any other man of his day; a circumstance which is clearly evinced in the various papers on questions connected with archaeology, with which he enriched the pages of sundry publications, and most especially in the article on " Egypt," which he contributed to the Supplement to the "Encyclopaedia Britannica;" and which we do not scruple to pronounce as altogether the most extraordinary effort of scholarship that modern times can boast.
It was in that celebrated article, which has been read and studied in every part of the civilised world, that he first (in the year 181 y) exhibited a digest of those discoveries in Egyptian literature, which have immortalised his name, and added a newly-explored region to the vast dominions of knowledge. And, in truth, none can know how much he achieved, except those who have informed themselves how little was done before him. In the multitude of vain attempts which, in the course of nearly two thousand years, had been made to decipher the inscriptions which cover the monuments, or are contained on the papyri found in the mummies, of the ancient Egyptians, extravagance had succeeded extravagance, and absurdity had followed absurdity, until the subject had at length been abandoned as utterly hopeless and untractable. Men of sense had long been disgusted with the cabalistical ravings of Kircher, the wild vagaries of Pluche, and the burlesque fancies of Palin, who discovered the Psalms of David on monuments as old as the reign of Sesostris; and in the confusion produced by these conflicting follies, it was rashly concluded that, because none had as yet succeeded in finding a true solution, the problem was insoluble. The accidental discovery of the tripartite inscription of llosetta, indeed, revived the hopes of the learned; and it was expected that, with the aid of the accompanying Greek translation, the key which had been so long sought for might at last be found. But even this hope began at length to fade away; for although the most exact copies of the inscription were taken and circu
Isd all over Europe, ten long years elapsed without the least progress being made towards deciphering it, notwithstanding some of the first scholars of the age had tortured their ingenuity in repeated attempts to penetrate the mystery. At length, in 1814, Dr. Young gave his mind to the subject, and availing himself of some hints thrown out by De Sacy and Akerblad — hints which, had they known how to pursue them, might have enabled those ingenious persons to anticipate the discovery — he soon succeeded in reading the whole of the demotic or enchorial part of the inscription, and immediately published his translation in the Museum Criticum of Cambridge. And having achieved this, the most difficult part of his task, the remainder was easy; for the process or method he had employed in reading off the enchorial was, •from its very nature, equally applicable to the hieroglyphical branch of the inscription, which he accordingly deciphered and published. The results thus obtained were exceedingly curious; for it was proved beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the proper names in this inscription were spelt alphabetically; that from these an alphabet might be formed: that in the demotic as well as in the hieroglyphic branch, particular groups of characters represented particular words; that these groups were susceptible of decomposition; and that the system of writing used among the ancient Egyptians, was not simple and uniform, but complex and composite, or, in other words, made up of characters some of which were used symbolically, others numerically, and a third class upon an arbitrary principle, which it was then found impossible to explain. The monument of Philae, the antigraphs of Mr. Grey, and a variety of other antiquities which were brought to this country, enabled Dr. Young to test the accuracy of his discovery, as well as to modify some of the conclusions at which he had previously arrived; and the result of all his investigations was embodied in the celebrated article on Egypt above-mentioned.
We have no wish to enter into the controversy which subsequently arose between Dr. Young and M. Champollion, on account of the latter laying claim to priority of discovery.


text: Road, Tunnel and Transportation One of the most important fields of Ariana activities, is providing engineering & executing services in the fields of urban and suburban roads, railroads & transportation tunnels. Using the expertise of specialists in this area and Having a strong support of the machinery & equipment ability, are the reasons of this claim. Main Areas of Expertise Road ( Urban & Suburban) Transportation Tunnels Bridges Improvement of Railroads and increasing bridges capacity Urban Railways


text:
Wholesale & Volume Ordering
Wholesale Full Size Bars
For qualified* retailers, we offer keystone pricing on our full bars, with low order volume requirements. We will need proof that you're an established, registered business to set up your account. For details on the process, minimum orders, working with your business' budget, and other wholesale questions, just use the contact form at the bottom of this page or email: contact (at) thetabularasafarm.com.
* You actually need to be a business. We love our soap too, but personal stockpiling for the apocalypse doesn't quite qualify for wholesale pricing.
Bulk Guest Bars for B&B's
Yes, for confirmed B&Bs and Hotels, we do! For details on the process to set up your account, options and selections, minimum orders, and other wholesale inquiries, just use the contact form at the bottom of the page, or email: contact (at) thetabularasafarm.com.
Weddings, Corporate Gifts, Other Volume Orders
We offer a discount on one time large orders of our full size bars (100+ bars). Yes, we will work with you to match your wedding colors, or other event theme, within limits, but we will need a minimum of three months lead time for production, and depending on your requests and needs, additional time to work with you on what you want. For details on the process, options, minimum orders, and other questions, just use the contact form at the bottom of the page, or email: contact (at) thetabularasafarm.com.
Wholesale Inquiry Contact Form
Use this contact form for a quick way to contact us about wholesale inquiries.
Note: This is wholesale purchases FROM us, not selling TO us. We do not respond to sales emails submitted through this form.


text:
The Company of Animals No-Bark Dog Collar comes with two bark deterrent settings; vibrate and a high pitch noise, allowing you to find the sensation your dog is most sensitive to. Available with an adjustable strap, this lightweight collar is the perfect tool to help stop your dog from barking.Recommended for small dogs 8 to 25 pounds. Size: Small (Necks up to 10")
New Items
You may also like..
8225 Fairgrove Church RdBrown Summit NC 27214(919) 892-8994
Not logged in


text:
The big band includes funk, swing, blues, Latin, rock and other sounds. Admission is free, but offerings benefit the Empire Area Community Emergency Fund. May 28. […]Read more
Think what Bill did was the right thing at the right time. And I think this is the right thing to do at the right time […]Read more
We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to […]Read more
In 1991 she received the Lois Burpee Service Award from the YMCA. A graceful hostess, she enjoyed gatherings of family and friends. She is survived by […]Read more


text:
Orange Half Group 12+ pace
- Years Running: 3
- Years with Austin Fit: 2
- Number of half marathons: 4
- Favorite Race: Cap10k
- Goal: To continue staying fit and able to run a half marathon
After years of delay and excuses, Heather finally picked up her shoes and went out for her first run in 2016. "I can do anything for a minute!" she told herself. Little did she know that with the help of Austin Fit, she'd be able to run half marathons - four and counting! She loves to run with Austin Fit so much that she agreed to be a coach for the first time this spring. "If I can do it, anyone can!" is her mantra. Come join us and let's run together!


text:
Ancient cemeteries, coffin ships and an ancestral castle: some highlights of my trip to Ireland for The Gathering to "walk the ground" of my ancestors.
Journey to Ireland for The Gathering: Part One
Getting goose bumps and discovering "my" castle in Cork were some highlights of my trip to Ireland for The Gathering to walk the ground of my ancestors.
Opening up the world of oysters in PEI and Ireland
After I stumbled upon the world of oysters in PEI, I pursued the elusive Irish oyster, reputed by some to be the world's best, to Dublin, Ireland.
My link with Ireland: Nana
I'm counting down to September 17, the day I step foot in Ireland, land of my ancestors, for the first time. My Nana, Monica Whelan, is the inspiration for this journey.
Gathering Road Trip:
On the Whelan trail in eastern Ontario
Visiting the Ottawa Valley to find my Irish roots This year, 2013, as Ireland celebrates The Gathering (a year of…
Read More
The journey from Ireland … and back
This year, I will be tracing my family roots back to Ireland as part of a tourism initiative called The Gathering 2013. Follow me as I walk in my ancestors' footsteps.
Going home to Ireland
In 2013, I will be travelling to Ireland and visiting the land of my ancestors as part of an Ireland Tourism initiative called The Gathering.
GO Books: Going Full Tilt with Dervla Murphy
GO Books is a new book review series on Breathedreamgo. In 1963, Dervla Murphy rode her bicycle from the western edge of France all the way to Delhi and wrote about it in the rollicking adventure book Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a bicycle.


text:
One of the few TV shows I seldom miss is River Monsters.Jeremy Wade a British biologist and avid sport fisherman tracks down tales of freshwater monsters ranging from the tiny but frightening Candiru of the Amazon to bull sharks which can live in either salt or fresh water. His shows aren't for the easily rattled. Some of these could give one nightmares, for example the Goliath Tiger Fish of the Congo with teeth that make a shark's look modest in comparison. The shows are educational, as when he jumped into a pool full of piranha to demonstrate that they are not the aggressive swarm feeders they have been portrayed to be. But the kinds and sizes of freshwater fish around the world is really astonishing. The goonch, for example, lives in a Himalayan tributary of the Ganges and is said to have devoured people and buffalo. He caught one over 160 lbs. This season's catches include a spotted stingray with a fatal sting and poisonous skin, the longfin eel of New Zealand which has poisonous blood and hunts in packs, killing livestock and allegedly humans, the primitive but dangerous sawfish, electric eels in Brazil and the giant salamander in Japan, said to have killed many children by pulling them under and eating them as at its leisure. It has a mouth capable of devouring itself, being the widest part of its body.
The first link above shows Wade with a 250 lb. grouper, that looks like it could swallow him. That will probably be a some future show.
The only thing that I don't like is that he always throws them back even when they could feed a village. I think if I'd caught some of these fish, I'd have killed them to protect others, or if edible, given them to local natives for food. Others I'd toss back because they're becoming quite rare in the wild.


text: 7gam provides an easiness to play a game. You can expect the best hacking website free of charge. In February 2018 we already help millions of hacked video games. Our latest work is Battle Bay hack tool. We sure all players understand how hard to get Pearls in the game. We do not blame them to seek our help. Battle Bay generator can help them to find the unlimited Pearls. For those who need our help, do not hesitate to work with the generator.action


text:
C.A.T.S Industrial is please to provide access to upcoming specials, clearance items, EOFY specials and many more features.
If you would like access to these special deals, please contact one of our sales representatives on (+61 8) 9379 2522.
If you have lost your access details, please contact our office to have them re-issued.
2" Air Diamond Sander
6" Random Orbital D/A Sander
4" High Speed Mini Air Sander
Orbital D/A Sander (8mm) Orbit
6" Random Orbital Sander
7" Air Sander
Heavy Duty Wet Sander (Rear Exhaust )
Variable High speed Roloc Sander