Tri Valley resident, David Victor, former member of the mega-popular classic rock band Boston, is launching Strum & Spirits, a “guitar and sip” class for music lovers. The structure is similar to the popular“paint-and-sip” classes, only here the art is making music. The class is tailored for beginners and even the guitars are provided. David will share the basics of the guitar, and take you step-by-step through the cord progression of a classic rock ‘n roll song. By the end of the class you will actually be playing along with everyone else.

Along the way, you enjoy wine or beer in a relaxed and social setting while David also entertains you with rock and roll stories of his time on the road and in the studio with Boston. Strum and Spirits is ideal for private parties, company functions, corporate/team building events and neighborhood socials. David recently inked a deal to produce his own line of acoustic guitars which he will be selling at shows and classes.

David says the classes are picking up momentum and he could even see franchising the idea one day. He has teamed with Carol Shelton Wines to use her Wild Thing line at several of his shows. Additionally he has been approached by a private chef to do in-home private parties consisting of food, spirits and music. 

Each class wraps up with an audience participation/play along and an acoustic performance of a few songs by David. Given David’s history of life in the studio and on the road with Boston, BOSTYX and Rock Stars & Stripes, this is a special chance to see him perform in an intimate setting.

Upcoming Strum & Spirit events open to the public include July 13^thand August 17^that the Grand Theater in Tracy, August 4^th at We Olive in Walnut Creek and August 24^that the Firehouse Theater in Pleasanton. These events are open to the public. To sign up, visit StrumAndSpirits.com

 

 

A morning spent at the July farmers’ market is my happy place. The combination of blue skies; truckloads of just-picked sweet corn; and the intoxicating perfume created by juicy stone fruits, plump blackberries, ripe strawberries, and fresh flowers does it to me every time. Top it all off with a little live background music, and I’m ready to do some serious shopping. There’s a reason I keep an ice chest in the trunk of my car.

Sometimes there are not enough days in the week to eat all the produce I end up lugging home. But between veggie-centric meals; seasonal desserts and snacks made from seasonal fruit; my own small-batch preserving; and sharing the bounty with lucky neighbors, nothing ever goes to waste.I’m all about relaxed, one-dish meals, especially in the summertime when produce is at its peak. It’s time to show it off. The following salad is a fairly typical offering; serve it with crusty artisan breadfrom the farmers’ market and you’ve got yourself one company-worthy lunch or dinner. For dessert? Wedges of ice-cold watermelon. For a vegetarian option, simply eliminate the chicken and add some crumbled California goat cheese.

Yes, there are a number of steps involved; but the good news for the host is that all of the prep—including the grilling—can be done at your leisure in the cool morning hours so you can assemble the salad just before serving. Easy peasy.

GRILLED CHICKEN & SUMMER VEGETABLE SALAD

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes

1/4 cup California olive oil, plus extra for the corn

1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

2 garlic cloves, crushed with the side of a knife

2 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

5 ears corn

Salt

3/4 pound farm-fresh green beans

1 large Fresno or other mild chile pepper, seeded if desired, thinly sliced

1 cup vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, stemmed, halved if large

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

5 or 6 large handfuls baby arugula leaves

Basil-Lemon Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Freshly ground black pepper

 

1. To make the marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, and pepper flakes. Whisk in the oil. Stir in the rosemary and garlic.

 

2. Rinse the chicken under cold running water and pat dry. In a large heavy-duty zipper-seal bag, combine the chicken and the marinade. Seal the bag, turning it several times to coat the chicken. Let stand 2 hours at cool room temperature or refrigerate for up to 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally to distribute the marinade.

 

3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until bright green and barely tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into the ice water to cool. Trim off and discard the stem-ends of the beans. Cut crosswise into 2-inch lengths, if desired.

 

4. Prepare an outdoor or indoor grill over high heat. Shuck the corn, and use a damp paper towel to remove any excess silk. Trim off the stem-end of each ear of corn, creating a flat base so it can be held upright when removing the kernels. Rub corn with oil and season with salt. Grill, turning, until golden and lightly charred in spots. When cool enoughto handle, working one at a time, carefully hold each ear of corn upright on a large rimmed baking sheet, with the flat end positioned securely on the sheet. Cut downward with a large knife to remove the kernels.

 

5. Remove the chicken from the plastic bag, discarding the marinade and garlic. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt. Grill the chicken breasts, turning once or twice, until nicely browned on the outside and white throughout but still juicy on the inside, 8 to 10 minutes total. When cool enough to handle, cut or tear into bite-size chunks. Combine the corn and chicken in a large bowl.

 

6. Add the green beans, chile pepper, tomatoes, red onion, and arugula to the bowl. Pour in about 3/4 cup of the Basil-Lemon Vinaigrette and toss gently to mix. Taste, adding more vinaigrette if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss again. Transfer to a large rimmed serving platter or shallow bowl and serve at once.

 

Serves 6 to 8.

Basil-Lemon Vinaigrette

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, minced or crushed through a press

Fine sea salt

1/8 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes

3/4 cup California olive oil

2tablespoons chopped fresh basil

In a 2-cup measure or bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper flakes. Whisk in the oil to blend. Stir in the basil. Taste, adding more salt if needed. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.(Any leftover dressing can be used in other salads during the week.)

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & 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.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

“Going Green” is on everyone’s lips these days, and choosing to live environmentally is responsible. Sound decisions can help protect our environment for generations to come. This eco decision-making follows some adults into their car purchasing habits as they purchase cars for the future: hybrids or all-electric vehicles.

For 2017, Hyundai introduces the Ioniq:  hybrid, plug-in hybrid or an all-electric vehicle. Hyundai claims “dibs” as the first manufacturer to add a battery-electric model that does not have an engine. The 2017 Ioniq Hybrid made its debut in Blue, SEL, and Limited trim levels, while the Electric and Plug-in Hybrid versions offer Base and Limited trims. My test vehicle was the all-electric version so this review will focus on this particular model.The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq is a small hatchback that is all about the green. With at least a 12-hour 110-volt charge you will get a range of approximately 110 to 125 miles. It can be an easy drive for routine commuting or trips in town.

We took a trip up to Calistoga which was about 88 miles from door step to hotel step and were fortunate enough to get an extra charge on the way to Raymond Vineyards. They have great wines, but don’t drink and drive (just saying)!An issue occurred, however, when the hotel was not able to allow us to plug-in and recharge overnight. The next morning, this forced us to go in search of a plug-in station. Obviously, I did not plan this trip out very well, and this highlights the need to plan properly when driving an all-electric vehicle.

In designing the exterior of Ioniq, Hyundai concentrated on its future-motivated character and the appeal to make a Hybrid look like a hybrid that isn’t something fun and sporty. The fluid exterior lines help emphasize its aerodynamic body and surface volume. The sporty, hatchback-inspired profile is motivated by aerodynamics and creates an energetic feel. These attributes come together to boost aerodynamics further, which, when combined with various other smart efficiency solutions, produce an industry-leading 0.24 drag coefficient.

The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq will seat five, but only two adults comfortably fit in the back. The interior is clean, comfortable and is standard with cloth upholstery and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat with lumbar support and memory settings are also available. There is an array of storage pockets in the front and Hyundai claims that the Ioniq delivers more trunk space than its competitors. The Ioniq’s front seats are adjustable, and there is plenty of space for adults of average height. However, those with longer legs may be cramped in the back seat. Additionally, the seating fabric is pedestrian, and the seats could use more thigh support.Cool Features:

• Mobile Device Wireless Charging pocket
• Standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allows you to access popular smartphone features including: maps, text messages and music
• You can get a tax credit because of its environmental impact
• According to the E.P.A. the Electric vehicle is the most efficient car you can buy in the United States

The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq comes to you packed with safety features including the following: Vehicle Stability Management System, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System,4-wheel, 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, Hillstart Assist Control, driver and front passenger advanced airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbags, roof-mounted side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors, driver’s knee airbag, rearview camera, driver’s blind spot mirror. Optional safety features are available as well.

In Summary – The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq brings the environmentally-friendly and ecologically-responsible together with the sport and style of a handsome hatchback. In mapping out your trips, you will find that the Ioniq will take you farther than to the mall—with a range of approximately 125 miles, the Ioniq would be a great commuter vehicle. I would also recommend having a 220-volt outlet installed for faster charging times. So, if you are searching for an eco-enjoyable and “to the nines” dressed vehicle, then the Ioniq should be on your list. It will pleasantly surprise you!

Specifications

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric

 

Base price:                $32,500 as driven: $36,885(including destination & optional
                                    features)

Engine:                      88 kW Electric Motor

Horsepower:             118 Horsepower Equivalent

Torque:                      215 lb.-ft.

Transmission:           Single-speed Reduction Gear

Drive:                         Front-Wheel Drive

Seating:                     5-passenger

Cargo space:             23 cubic feet

Curb weight:            3,164 pounds  

EPA mileage:           City 150/Hwy 122/Comb 136 MPGe

Wheel Base:              106.3 inches

Warranty:                 10 years/100,000-miles powertrain limited

Also consider:           Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan LEAF, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen e-Golf

 

The medical industry wants you sick.  There is no profit in healthy people.  Time after time, in my holistic practice, I see so many patients that are having their symptoms treated with medications, many times with side effects that have created or enhanced the symptoms that brought them to my office in the first place.  To make matters worse, the cost of this treatment can be into the thousands of dollars, sometimes doing damage that cannot be reversed.

One factor that qualifies me to help these patients as well as to write this article is that I have been through this malpractice myself, not just by the medical profession, but by my own malpractice of poor diet and reliance on the medical profession to correct my self abuse.  

In my first book, WHY? The Question that Could Save Your Life, I emphasize the importance of being proactive in your healthcare, studying how to achieve optimal health on your own.  Never take a prescription without checking it out online.  Is there an alternative? Could I change my diet and lifestyle to correct this condition?

I did just that and it changed my life to such an incredible extent that I will never go back.  No more arthritis, psoriasis, indigestion, headaches or allergies—and I experience the energy I had as a kid! 

Let’s take a look at the cause of the gradual breakdown of our bodies as we age and even when we were young.  God created a wonderful creature in the human animal, capable of defending itself against diseases that now destroy us, so we invent drugs which further pollute our bodies.

The natural immune system is phenomenal but very delicate. Our cells are like a city. They require delivery of food, energy, water, bacteria and communication as well as a disposal system that takes away all pollution.  Our internal ecosystem is not designed to be overloaded with pollution that did not exist during the millions of years of our evolution.  That system also requires nutrients that are no longer in our food, especially processed and fast food.  To add insult to injury, we add stress which produces fight or flight hormones that further mess up digestion and elimination processes.

We all think that modern conveniences are so wonderful, and some of them are.  Every step we take away from our evolution has its problems.  Refrigeration prevents the fermentation of veggies which previously kept us supplied with our flora and many nutrients that contribute to our health.  One of these nutrients is SOD (super oxide dismutase), an antioxidant that is 3500 times stronger than Vitamin C, as well as being an anti-inflammatory and an anti-aging agent.

I find there are endless lessons to learn from antiquity.  Chapter IV of my next book is entitled Learning from Antiquity. There is so much knowledge to be found from ancient history that is being overlooked, and in the process we are losing this valuable resource.   

For more information or comments, please contact me:  www.aodtc.com

 

 

Q. I’m curious as to why the leaves 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 as palms have no lateral branches. The terminal bud is where the new leaves/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 months depending on the time of the year, location and variety.

Q. I have a six-foot high Meyer lemon tree that is a wonderful producer. However, this past year some bug or animal has skinned the lemons even though they have remained attached to the tree. It is a very strange site to see a lemon with some or no white pith, exposed to the air. Have you ever heard of such of a thing happening before?A. Yes, I have. This is becoming more and more of an issue for gardeners as it’s happening to citrus, tomatoes and other edibles. It’s highly unlikely that a bug would be the cause of the problem. Their mouth parts are not large enough to due this type of damage. Also, it would take an army of insects to skin a lemon so you would see signs of their activity. It’s more likely a rodent or larger animal that feeds at night is the culprit. Raccoons, possums or roof rats are the primary suspects and roof rats would be my guess. A roof rat is dark brown to black and measures thirteen to eighteen inches in length including the tail. They weigh five to nine ounces, are slender, and their ears are large and nearly hairless. Although they will nest in structures, we do find outdoor nests in dense, thick, shrubby ground covers such as Cotoneasters, Junipers, Ceanothus, and Ivy. Roof rats are omnivorous. They feed on fresh fruit, plant material, nuts, seeds, vegetables and even tree bark. They can be a problem with birdseed, both in feeders and stored in bags along with dog and cat food. They love to eat citrus and tomatoes because it serves as both a food and water source, hence they visit vegetable gardens often during the summer. I’d look along the ground for droppings which are black, long and cylindrical. Controlling the problem outdoors is easier said than done. Your best options are trapping and habitat modification. Climbing vines or hedges on fences or buildings should be thinned as should overhanging tree limbs. Again this is easier said than done because they are so mobile and move effortlessly from yard to yard. I wouldn’t use poison baits because of the threat to domestic animals. Traps should be placed off the ground like on the fence runners as they are more likely to catch them there. Overall, your success rate will be low. Fortunately, they should leave your lemon alone once the rainy season starts.

Q. When is the best time to use a pre-emergent weed control?

A. Pre-emergent herbicides are those chemical weed killers that control seeds before they germinate in a landscape including turf. They can be applied year round but once the seeds develop roots they are ineffective. Hence, they can be applied over the top of existing plants without damaging them. Pre-emergent herbicides do not distinguish between good or unwanted seeds. When installing trees, shrubs, ground covers, seasonal color and perennials, pre-emergent herbicides are applied just before adding any mulch and watering. Moisture is the critical factor in activating the chemical barrier that kills the seeds. As long as you don’t break the barrier by cultivating, the pre-emergent herbicide should last a growing season. I’d double check the label for the specific time period of each product. With an established landscape, reapply pre-emergent herbicides annually in mid November to control the unwanted weed seeds that have blown in all summer long. In non-irrigated areas, it’s applied just before the first major rain of the season. Pre-emergent herbicides are only applied to an established turf, January through March. Bonide Crabgrass Preventer and Preen are two granular pre-emergent herbicides while Monterey Weed Impede is a liquid. Also, they cannot be used as a pre-plant before laying sod or sowing seed.  With all herbicides, get second opinion from a nursery professional at your favorite garden center, so, you don’t make a critical mistake.

 

Exploring Class IV Laser pain relief for injuries and post-surgical healing

In 2004, Align Healing Center began using laser therapy to help patients relieve their muscle, joint and nerve pain. Due to the near miraculous results that laser can provide to a sprain, strain or chronic pain, our patients began to ask “what else can laser help heal?” Wondering the same thing, we began to branch out and use laser on any and all injuries and wounds that our patients were presented with. We have literally watched the healing process occur right before our very eyes. We have treated bright red scars that are 18 years old that had never healed properly, yet within a couple of visits the scar begins to thin, flatten and become less noticeable. Swelling reduces within minutes, severe bruises dissipate with no visible sign within a day or two, and surgical wounds become painless, with minimal scarring and redness. We have had patients that have had knee surgery and hip replacements, shoulder surgery, spinal surgery, breast augmentation and reconstruction, rhinoplasty, face-lifts and c-sections that heal in a fraction of the time typical when laser therapy is not employed. If you are intending on having surgery or have a stubborn injury that has taken longer to heal than you would have expected, it is worth your while to explore the benefits of Class IV K-Laser therapy.

How Laser Therapy Speeds Tissue Healing and reduces scaring

Injuries and surgery cause tissue damage and inflammation which reduces the circulation to the injured tissue, thereby impeding the nutrition and energy available to the damaged area. Laser therapy is the application of low levels of laser light to areas of the body that have been injured or damaged. Therapeutic lasers do not cut or burn, but instead, supply energy to the body in the form of photons of light. Light is transmitted through the skin’s layers (the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue under the skin). The wavelength of the Class IV Laser allows these photons to travel deep into the body—up to eight or nine inches. When laser light penetrates into the body, it stimulates damaged cells to start producing ATP. ATP is the “fuel” or energy source that all cells need to function and repair. When damaged cells have the energy they need to function properly they can immediately start the repair process.  Laser therapy accelerates the healing of injured tissue, decreases inflammation, minimizes scarring and eliminates pain, allowing patients to quickly return to normal activities.

How long does it take to work?

95% of our patients notice improvement after the very first treatment. However, some conditions may take a few treatments to respond. Each laser treatment is cumulative, meaning that each successive treatment builds on the previous. The doctors at Align personally work with you each visit to ensure that you are progressing as quickly as possible.

For more information about how laser therapy may be helpful to you, contact Align Healing Center to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Niele Maimone (925)362-8283. Visit us on the web at www.AlignHealingCenter.com.

 

The correct color foundation is one of the most important beauty products to have for women.  It is the coveted beauty accessory and understandably so – it makes the skin look flawless, youthful and healthier, but only with the correct color foundation will you achieve the most natural looking second-skin look.

A customer came in to our beauty boutique complaining she could not find a foundation to match her skin tone and that everything she tried made her look pale, cakey and unnatural. When questioned on what she was currently using, she told us she was using a ”one shade fits all” foundation tint, a cream concealer, followed by an application of a green stick pen and a mineral-based powder. These products and unnecessary steps were way too much, making her look cakey and pale. Plus, she was using products that had very little coverage, and her skin looked overly made-up and thick.

We suggested a custom foundation with AB coverage, with a warmer shade tint, mixed with a beige undertone, followed by a mica powder with 45 percent pigment, thus leaving the skin perfectly matched with full coverage to hide imperfections, leaving her skin looking beautiful and natural. She was elated that her skin looked so beautifully smooth, flawless and natural. Walking out the door, radiating her new-found beauty, she was ready to conquer the world with new confidence.

Foundations are one of the most sought after commodities in cosmetics today. It takes up to four years for a make-up artist to develop an eye for color, thus most beauty counter sales girls do not have the experience, nor do they have the know-how to choose the correct color for women. The “one shade fits all” foundation rarely works for everyone. Our client is a perfect example of someone being sold inappropriate products, not to mention wasted time and money. What women don’t know is that a perfectly matched foundation can make one’s skin go from dull and pale to a radiant glow in seconds. Custom foundations are also great for summer because you can have them made slightly darker from your base color with a bronze glow, giving your skin that natural, warmer summertime sheen. Your skin will look flawless—like not wearing foundation at all! 

At The Rouge they have been custom blending foundations and custom powders for over 20 years. They are committed to excellence and ensure that their clients have the most updated cosmetics in the industry. They are available Tuesday through Saturday to help women select the right custom foundation color, while color matching their skin using Fleur Visage Cosmetics.

People often ask me, “Why triathlon—what possesses you to race an Ironman?” My standard reply is, “Easy; it requires no skill, just hard work for long periods of time.” Of course, this is not entirely true, but you get the idea.

What successful endurance athletes really possess, in addition to a big aerobic engine, is mental toughness—the ability to forge ahead through long, painful training days and a race is one of the most valuable tools in the belt in preparing for ultra-endurance events. Sure, the physical pain brought on by numerous hours of swimming, biking, running, paddling, climbing, etc., is enough to make a billy goat puke, but it is equally, if not more important, for newer athletes to understand the degree of mental toughness required to get through those long, hard training days and for a successful consummation of the sport.

The mind and body are marvelous mechanisms. The ability to compensate, improvise, overcome, and adapt has evolved over millions of years as part of the evolutionary process. Yet, the mind will mostly likely be the first thing to shut down when things start to hurt. The accumulation of lactic acid, a climbing heart rate, fatigued muscles, rising core temperature, etc., can cause the mind to go to some pretty dark places as the body begins to reject the task at hand. By teaching one’s mind how to cope with the physical discomfort—or flat out pain in the body—we can endure more for longer,and raise our performance level to new heights.

The only guarantees in the world of endurance sport is that something will go wrong during the race day, and it’s going to hurt (some things can be practiced in training). Whether it’s a flat tire, launched water bottle, a fall, dropped salt pills, GI distress, accumulated fatigue, lactate accumulation, bike crash, or any one of a thousand other potential pitfalls that can plague an athlete on race day, having the mental capacity to stay present and make the adjustment separates average athletes from great athletes. How an athlete responds to any of these things can be the difference between a good or bad day.

When it comes to our physical and psychological self it is also important to understand the mind/mind relationship, to know our breaking point and teach one’s self how to break through the hurt and soldier on. The rule is simple: given the mind will almost always give in before the body, when we call on our body to deliver the goods, it is essential to know exactly what you are asking it to deliver so you can mentally make the adjustment to push the hurt aside, trusting that the body has the potential to deliver. This is, perhaps, the greatest skill we can possess in our sport.

In training, it’s important to address “the hurt” in sessions specifically designed to do so, as a means of testing your mental and physical limits. Further, the execution and even failure at these sessions can be your most valuable assets going into race day.

Many age groupers are unwilling to explore these deeper caverns of the mind and will back off when they think they’ve had enough or when a session is no longer “fun.” These sessions are not designed to be fun. In fact, fun and performance rarely go together in the context of “real time.” The fun comes afterward in reveling in the accomplishment of knowing you were better today than you were yesterday—even if just a little bit.

 

More than 415,000 men and women lost their lives on the lonely battlefields of the world during WWII. Quite literally, a dying breed.  Now our WWII veterans are almost gone, but certainly not forgotten.  This review offers up a movie that runs the gamut of emotions for me—at times it was sad; at times it was funny, but mostly, it was just precious. 

Last Man Club is a glimpse of getting old through the eyes of four war heroes.  WWII veteran, John “Eagle” Pennell, is a day away from being sent by his well-meaning family to a retirement home. He escapes in his late wife’s 1958 Ford Fairlane, in spite of not having driven since his wife died, some ten years earlier. “Eagle” embarks on a cross country journey to find the last surviving members of his B-17 crew with the help of Romy, a young woman he meets on the way running away from a dangerous relationship. The fulfillment of an oath is “Eagle’s” goal, but what he discovers along the way is a life affirming view of himself and forgiveness for his family who is trying to stop him.  

Once reunited with his remaining crewmen, they venture through the backroads of America, in a race to complete their mission as the police, the FBI, a dangerous gangster and “Eagle’s” family try to figure out this band of “old dudes’” next move.  (Scene Stealer: it involves an old airplane and a runway!)

The cast of Last Man Club includes well known faces, if not names. Their acting is good, if not great, bringing an almost childlike (or elderly) performance to the film. They unpack the story of once proud and brave beyond measure men who manage on their own terms to regain their dignity. As it was in their “glory days,” they find that sometimes bravery comes one step at a time and that triumph conquers fear.

If you’ve read my reviews before, you know me as a Patriot. I can’t say I have sacrificed for my country as many have, but I do try to do what’s right.  If all I can do is honor those who have, I will do it to the best of my ability.  I believe in standing for my flag and yes, putting my hand over my heart, where it belongs, when I’m pledging my allegiance.  I owe my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren to those who have fought our nation’s battles!

Watch Last Man Club.  Whether you’re 19 or 91, I believe you’ll enjoy this glimpse into the heart of our brave men and women in uniform. By the way, even the elderly who didn’t serve have a valuable story to tell. If we’ll just pause and listen, there are lessons to be learned. So next Independence Day or Memorial Day, if you find yourself watching a parade or barbecuing a steak on your day off… thank a Vet!

This film is definitely worth watching. It’s PG-13, so appropriate for most families.  I look forward to your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

 

 

On one of the hottest days of the year, our genial editor, Eric Johnson, has suggested we stay inside where it is cool and supply our monthly epic. So, here goes! Speaking of Heat…

1. In which great Cole Porter musical did he produce the song “It’s Too Darn Hot?”

 

2. A mystery writer in a recently canceled TV show wrote mystery novels about a female detective named Nikki Heat. What was the show?

 

3. What position in baseball is known as the “hot corner?”

 

4. Who won an acting Oscar for the movie “In the Heat of the Night?”

 

5. What legendary singer was known as the “last of the red hot mamas?”

 

6. Rated the funniest movie in history by the American Film Institute, “Some Like it Hot” was directed by which of the great Hollywood directors?