Secrets to wealth and health you have got to know!
“Fear always springs from ignorance.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Economical deficits are nothing new. Tell about modern day economical problems we’re having to those who waged war over there life saving on October 29 1929 Black Tuesday. Losses for the month were an estimated total of $16 billion, an astronomical sum in those days. That was only 81 years ago. One of the lessons today is in watching successful, healthy people outlive life’s atrocities and finding the wisdom to learn new things.
A wise man learns from another man’s mistakes, but a “know it all” learns from himself -Proverbs.
Despite what the economy has governed and what financial state you’re in, remember that your current state does not dictate your future. Life can change in an instant, depending upon your perspective. However, this is not for everyone. Only those who will dare to believe. I sure do believe in you! The key is- YOU- it will be Your beliefs that create behavioral changes.
The Secret of the Rockefellers
Born July 8, 1839 on a farm in Richmond, New York. He was the second child of six born to William Avery and Eliza Davison Rockefeller. The family lived modestly, John’s father being a “pitch man” charging up to $25.00 for treatments for cancers. His father traveled and was gone for months at time and John’s upbringing fell mainly on his mother, who was very religious and disciplined. She taught her children to work, to save and to give to charities. John left high school in 1855 and took a six-month business course at Folsom Mercantile College. He completed the course in three months and began searching for a job as a bookkeeper or clerk in Cleveland. In 1855, business in Cleveland was adverse and John had trouble finding a job. After six weeks, Hewitt & Tuttle, a small company of produce shippers and commission merchants employed him as an assistant bookkeeper. Rockefeller worked hard and impressed his employers.
Secret 1: The roots dictate the fruits.
Not all of us had parents like Mr. Rockefeller. Notice they were not wealthy, but they were healthy. John was taught at very young age two things from his Mom and Dad. Treat sickness fast and give to charities!
While most experts are telling us to hold on to the money we have. John’s Mother was pushing her kids to give it away. She was instilling morals of health and longevity and a law not many experts talk about—the act of giving, or as I like to call it, reciprocity, which means, “what you give out will come back to you.” Mr. Rockefeller’s stage in life was being set by the seed that were planted by his parents. Are your kids seeing your strengths (roots) even while living a modest lifestyle? John’s roots are ones we need to start growing and gleaming from today- Living a life of good nutrition and continual acts of charity.
Next month I will give you the other secret and reveal and explain all four. but this week I’ll ask you to take a “Value inventory” on your life. Do you have any values? – are you willing to drop your pride and say- “ Could there be some things in my life that I DON’T KNOW.” I’m the first one to say. SIGN ME UP! That’s a willing attitude that always yields success.
Ron KardashianRon Kardashian is a published author, fitness expert, life success coach, national television and radio personality, and NSCA-certified strength and conditioning coach. One of America’s first life coaches, for the past 15 years, Ron’s wellness organization has inspired hundreds to reach their full physical, mental and spiritual potential.
With over 12,000 hours of coaching under his belt, Kardashian has received two consecutive nominations for Personal Trainer of the Year and has been an honored speaker for the National Strength and Conditioning Association, one of the largest institutions of health and fitness in the U.S. In short, Ron is one of the nation’s leading life coaches, sharing the stage with some of America’s top advisors. Indeed, he has become a coach’s coach! His work is pivotal in empowering executives and individuals to operate at peak performance personally, professionally, and most important—spiritually.
In addition to authoring books and other educational resources, Ron has been pursuing his ultimate passion: philanthropy. He operates a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that is relentless in its efforts to communicate the power of bringing optimal health to all walks of life. This organization’s mission is to fight obesity and all related diseases on a global scale. Across the globe, Kardashian’s integrated, holistic approach has garnered amazing results, making him a powerful, compelling voice of change for professional athletes, CEOs, political leaders, clergymen and people of every age, religion, and creed.
Ron is now accepting new clients to achieve their dreams in his proven “Coached to Win Program,” system of success. As Ron says, “These classes are a reasonable investment for you to manifest your talents in any economy. You have got what it takes. Sometimes it takes a coach to bring out the best in you. Every athlete has had one, so why not you?” You can reach Ron Kardashian at 1.888.918.HEAL or at www.kardshian.tv
Have you ever wondered how people get great seats for great events? Can you see yourself on the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl or in the front row at AT&T Park? Are you dieing to get out of the balcony and into the orchestra? If so, Just Tix in Danville may have just the ticket for you.
“We make it easy for our customers to get the best seats for the best events,” said Howie Herbert, who runs Just Tix with his father Howard in the Trader Joe’s shopping center next to San Ramon Valley High School in Danville.
Those events include The Big Game between Cal and Stanford, Dodger-Giant games at AT&T Park, Yankee and Red Sox visits to Oakland, Laker-Warrior games, and Shark playoff series. Just Tix also offers theatre and concert tickets and allows its customers to avoid investing in season tickets or planning months ahead when they want to go to a hot show like Wicked.
“Our mission is to be the best ticket company in the Bay Area,” said Howard Herbert. “And we do that by treating our customers as we like to be treated ourselves.”
Surprisingly, some of the tickets Just Tix sells are below face value. “We buy season tickets to all the major professional and major college teams in the Bay Area,” said Howie Herbert. “While that ensures that we have all the premium games, it also leaves us with many lesser events. We might sell midweek baseball games in great seats at pennies on the dollar. When the local teams are having off years, which was the case until very recently for all but the Sharks, we sell even attractive games at less than face value.
“We make it up with theatre and concert tickets, which are always strong, and will collect premium prices for the high-demand games.”
While Just Tix focuses on premium seats, they also have inventory in the less expensive sections. “We discovered that some customers just want to be in the building, and since we want to provide the best possible service to the greatest number of people, we’ve expanded our inventory.” Howard said. “If you want the very best seat in the bleachers or in the balcony, we now have those, too.”
For an event like the Super Bowl, Just Tix will quote a price depending on where in the stadium a customer would like to sit. “Then, we get them that ticket…even if it means we take a loss on it,” Howie Herbert said. Just Tix has relationships with hundreds of other ticket brokers all over the country to not only serve big events like the World Series and The Final Four, but also to serve local customers who are traveling and might want to take in a game at Yankee Stadium or see the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Just Tix will even hire someone to stand in line for customers who buy tickets for general admission-only events and want the best location, but don’t have the time to wait for hours at a venue.
The Herberts also strive to accommodate last minute requests. They have helped customers propose marriage from premium seats at big games, and have also bailed out husbands who have forgotten anniversaries and needed last minute theatre tickets.
The most famous last minute request Just Tix handled came from comedian and Chicago sports fanatic Dan Akroyd. Akroyd’s plane was landing at SFO at 12:30, and he called Just Tix as he was taxiing on the runway looking for tickets to that afternoon’s 1:05 p.m. Cub-Giant game at AT&T Park. The Herberts were able to arrange for Akroyd to have seats waiting at will call, and then saw him while they watched the game on TV and the cameras focused on Akroyd…in the front row.
The Herberts emphasize that customers who are not celebrities can also count on the level of service Akroyd enjoyed. “If you need tickets for yourself, your family, your team at work, or a group of 200, we can get you the seats you want to the event you want to see,” said Howie Herbert. Just Tix can be reached by calling 800-367-8499 or via the Internet at www.justtix.com.
Q. I’ve no luck growing dwarf citrus. It didn’t matter if they were planted in containers or in the ground. They are in poor health with lots of dried up leaves and branches. This is the second group of plants. I find no pests, they get lots of sun and I water them maybe once a week. What am I doing wrong?
A. Dwarf Citrus shouldn’t be that difficult to grow when given the proper amount of water and fertilizer. Citrus are not drought tolerant plants. They like moisture. Your “maybe once a week.” watering pattern needs to be more consistent. Irregular watering is the major cause of the dried up leaves and branches. Also, citrus in containers are watered differently than those in the ground. In containers, citrus is watered daily when the temperature is over eighty degrees. For those plants that have been in the same container for more than two years I’d lower the temperature to seventy-five degrees. With established plants, there is less soil and more roots in the container. Beside the heat from the sun, water loss or evaporation of a plant is increased with our typical afternoon winds. This is true of all container plants just not citrus. The container needs to be filled to the brim when you water so there is a sufficient amount of moisture to wet the entire root ball. Also, raise the bottom of the container off the ground so the water flows out the bottom. It’s not necessary to water plants that are in the ground this frequently as once or twice a week is adequate depending on the temperature. However, a watering basin around every plant is a must. The basin should be six to eight inches high and extends from the trunk to just beyond the drip line. Again, you fill the basin to the brim every time you water. When the temperature is over 95 degrees, you would make an additional application. Citrus is fertilized monthly with Citrus Food, year round. After the rainy season has concluded, you always water before and after every application of fertilizer. You will see a dramatic improvement in foliage color along with a flush of new growth in the next six to eight weeks.
Q. I’m curious as to why the leaves/fronds of large palm trees are tied up when they are being transported? Also, how long are they kept tied?
A. There are two reasons for this typical method of transporting palms. The horticultural reason is to protect the critical terminal bud from windburn and dehydration. The terminal bud is where the new fronds or growth originates. If this area is damage the mortality rate is huge.
The second reason is to narrow the canopy so they can be transported on roads, highways and freeways without any special precautions. They are left tied up for several weeks to many months depending on the time of the year, location and variety even after planting.
Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523
I was with my Troop Group today packing goodie boxes for our guys and gals in the war zones. In the middle of the small talk, one of the ladies asked what I was reviewing this month. I said that I had reached way back to 1988 and was doing the little movie, Crossing Delancey. Immediately at least three or four of my sorority sisters gave a collected, ahhh! Evidently, I am not the only fan of this wonderful, refreshingly simple romantic comedy set amongst a cozy Manhattan backdrop.
Crossing Delancey (1988) is about Isabella Grossman (Amy Irving) a 33 year-old single woman who lives in a rent-controlled apartment in New York City’s Upper West Side. She has a fulfilling job at New Day Books handling a prestigious series where famous authors read from their works. Among them is Anton Maes (Jeroen Krabbe), an egotistical European poet who, smitten, offers her a job as his personal secretary. However, it becomes clear that typing and filing were not what Anton had in mind, and the beautiful Isabella is soon involved with him. On one of her regular visits downtown to see her Bubbie, (i.e. grandmother) played by Reizl Bozyk, Izzy finds out that her Bubbie has decided that Izzy needs a nice Jewish husband and she has employed a matchmaker. Enter Sam Posner (Peter Riegert), the pickle maker whom Izzy likes just fine, but at the moment she is infatuated with the arrogant Anton. Made today, this movie would be a predictable love triangle, in which one suitor was clearly unsuitable, but writer Susan Sandler (who adapted her own play) and director Joan Micklin Silver keep everything at street level; these characters act like grown-ups, with grown-up feelings. They are all excited about new love, but equally wary.
I love Amy Irving’s acting. She was born in Palo Alto, California and was raised in San Francisco. Her parents, actress Priscilla Pointer and influential theatrical director and producer Jules Irving literally raised her on stage. Amy was brought up in the world of theater, she was put on the stage from the time she was nine months old, her father the director and her mother the actress, they didn’t want babysitters for their children, so if she wasn’t performing, she would stay in the wardrobe department or her mother would put her in the second row center where she could watch her. And before she was 10 years old, she had already worked in several plays. At an early age, Amy Irving was trained at the American Conservatory Theater and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Although her divorce settlement from filmmaker husband Steven Spielberg was estimated at a cool 100 million, Amy went on to work in many movies and plays.
Crossing Delancey speaks softly but delivers some provocative observations on sexual politics, family pressures, loneliness, single life, love and romantic fantasies. So cuddle up on the sofa with a buttery bowl of popcorn and watch this delightful movie. As always, I invite your comments at www.CarolynHastings.com.
Some people associate June with weddings and graduations. I think of apricots. Not those dry little orbs at the supermarket, rock-hard and green at the stem. I dream of little velvet pillows, sweetly perfumed and dripping with juice. The kind of fruit many of us took for granted as kids.
There are plenty of reasons for the scarcity of that mythical fruit. First of all, real apricots need to ripen on the tree—which renders them soft and far too fragile for shipping. (In some parts of this country, fresh apricots are considered little more than an urban legend.) Many of the apricot orchards that once blessed California have been replaced by housing developments and office parks, thereby reducing the number of sources for tree-ripened fruit. Due to increased land values, apricot growers who held their ground and stayed in business now must often rely on sales to commercial canners and other fruit preservers in order to remain solvent. Along the way many of them also abandoned organic growing principles in order to meet production demands.
Scientists thought the answer was to develop new bruise-resistant apricot varieties designed to look quite glamorous on the outside for weeks at a time, and withstand all sorts of abuse during transit. Too good to be true? You bet. One bite, and you’ll know you’ve been had. It’s frightening to think there is an entire generation that believes this is how apricots should taste. If you want to experience a real California apricot that isn’t mealy or sour or flavorless—and there’s no tree in your own backyard—you simply have to buy them direct from the grower at the farmers’ market. And make it soon, for apricot season is short but sweet.
Should you tire of eating apricots out of hand (impossible as that may seem), their sweet-tart flavor is a natural in all sorts of desserts. One of the easiest is a crisp—similar to fruit pie, but without the angst. Serve this one with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, or a dollop of whipped cream. If you feel the need to jazz it up even further—or you’ve already eaten too many of the apricots you bought for the express purpose of making this crisp—toss in a handful of blueberries, raspberries, or halved and pitted cherries.
This is so good, some people have been known to eat it for breakfast on a warm summer morning. (I’m just sayin’….)
Fresh Apricot Crisp with Cinnamon-Walnut Topping
Apricots do not need to be peeled. Right before using, rinse them under cold water and pat dry. To halve and pit an apricot, use a small, sharp knife to cut along the visible seem that goes all around the fruit; then twist the halves gently in opposite directions, pull apart, and remove the pit.
Topping:
2/3 cup California walnut halves and pieces
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
a generous 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
Filling:
5 cups pitted and halved tree-ripened apricots, preferably organic (about 2 pounds, or 15
apricots)
1/3 cup granulated sugar (or more, depending on the sweetness of the fruit)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Dash of salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake until lightly browned and fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes. Let cool, then chop coarsely.
Using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon, cream the butter and sugars together until well blended. Gradually mix in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the walnuts.
Loosely pack the mixture into a heavy-duty plastic food storage bag or bowl. Seal airtight and freeze until very firm, at least 4 hours or as long as 1 month.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish. In a large bowl, toss the apricots with the sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish, forming an even layer.
Use a knife to cut and crumble the frozen topping, and scatter it over the apricots. Bake until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly-hot, about 40 minutes. Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Serves 6 to 8.
Mind Your Manners at the Market
Please leave pets at home. Tempting as it might be, Health Department regulations prohibit them from being inside the market area.
Do bring your own bag(s) to carry home your purchases. If you don’t plan to go straight home after shopping, pack an ice chest in the trunk of your car.
Arrive early for the best selection—and also to avoid crowds.
Before making any purchases, take one quick trip around the market. This way you’ll be able to compare prices and determine what looks best to you.
Ask questions! Danville is a certified farmers’ market, which means that every vendor is somehow involved in the production of whatever they are selling. You’ve got an expert right in front of you, so storage and cooking tips are free for the asking.
Save money by buying in bulk. For the best deals, prearrange with friends and neighbors to share flats or crates of farm-fresh produce.
Bring plenty of cash, preferably in small denominations.
Plan where you’re going to stash your cash securely, and stick to your plan. Don’t absentmindedly stuff change from a purchase into random pockets or bags, where there is a good chance of losing it. There’s nothing more unsettling than finding a wad of cash on the ground at the market. (Well, okay, for a minute or so it’s exciting…until your conscience kicks in.) If you do find some bills-without-a-body—or you’ve lost some cash of your own—notify your Market Manager, Max Timms. He is the Official Lost and Found Department.
The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.
Later than usual, the annual Kings X Trivia Tournament will be held at WPLJ’s in Walnut Creek on June 27 from 11AM to 7PM. It is still called Kings X Tournament as a tribute to the long time home of Trivia in the Bay Area, “Kings X” Restaurant in Oakland. Drop by if you would like to see grown people get very competitive over worthless information. If you would like to play, let us know. The moderator will be Rich Berkery, last year’s champion and one of the games’ superstars. June is later than usual, but June is a great month. Speaking of that:
“June is Busting Out All Over” is a song from, to my mind, Rogers and Hammerstein’s greatest musical. What was that show?
A former NFL quarterback with the first name June coached University of Hawaii to great football fame a few years back. Who is he?
She passed away recently, but was made famous in the show “Gypsy” as Gypsy Rose Lee’s sister. Who was she?
One of the most beloved children of 1950’s TV had a mother named June. Who was the little boy and what was the show?
She played the “girl next door” in the movies of the 40’s and 50’s. She was Mrs. Glenn Miller in the “Glenn Miller Story.” Who was she?
“I like New York in June” is the first line in a great Burton Lane standard. What is the song?
MAY’S TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1. Dermot Mulroney
2. Doc Medich and Fritz Peterson
3. David Groh
4. Tiny Tim 5. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco
6. “Get Me to the Church on Time” from “My Fair Lady”
MAY TRIVIA WINNER:
Stacey Norman of Alameda
WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate at The Uptown Cafe in downtown Danville, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by June 25, 2010. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 199 East Linda Mesa Avenue, Suite 10, Danville, CA 94526. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.
Once again, scores of young people stand at the threshold of the future as they prepare for graduation. For some this year’s commencement is but another step in a path of higher learning, for others, their formal academic path complete, it is now time to venture into the “real” world.
In recent years I had the pleasure of congratulating my dearest niece and nephew for their accomplishments at graduation, but this year’s celebrations promise to be especially meaningful as my own son and his closest friends join the ranks of new graduates.
At the risk of bending to the temptation of offering parental advice, I ask that you indulge one proud father a few words that I would share with my son and all of the graduates of 2010. I promise this will be no laundry list of dos and don’ts, for I really have only one point to make, and it is this:
Always remember who and what you are, and remember that you can always depend upon His promises.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”—Jeremiah 29:11-14.
I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you son, for I could not be more proud. And likewise to all graduates everywhere: may this be the beginning of a wonderful and exciting journey for you all!
