Friday, May 18, 2012
Making the most of, rather than just marking, time.
Next week I turn 50. Given that encroaching milestone in the background, three events this week held particularly notable importance for me and emphasized the precious but limited nature of our time here. The first was the annual Bras for the Cause breast cancer fundraiser. This year I was pulling triple duty there. My band plays for the finish line party every year so we get to soak up the zany but deeply touching atmosphere of people who come together to honor and celebrate both victims and survivors. I also led a pre-walk warm-up representing my fitness studio since we’d held a fundraiser for the organization behind the walk – Tri- Valley SOCKs – late last year. Finally, I had planned to mention it here in my column and share some …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
National Police week is May 13-19. Appreciate law enforcement year-round.
I can't tell you how many times I've overheard someone talk negatively about police officers and other law enforcement officials. All too often, I believe, the police are painted as the bad guys, writing tickets and making arrests. But they're also the first people you call when you need help. I bring this up now because May 13-19 is National Police Week. Police Week began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the corresponding week as Police Week. This resonates with me because I grew up with a police officer - my dad. Every night, my mom would kiss him goodbye and tell him to "be careful." I knew he had a dangerous job, but it never really sunk in until the night …
Friday, May 11, 2012
President Obama told ABC News that his thinking has "evolved" on the subject of same-sex marriage. How do you feel about his decision?
President Obama told ABC's "Good Morning America" earlier this week that he now supports same-sex marriage. The president—who still supports states deciding the issue on their own—said his personal views had gone through an "evolution" based on conversations with family and friends and the views of his own daughters. "They are much more comfortable with it," the president told Robin Roberts in an interview on “Good Morning America” Thursday. ”You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples," Obama said in the interview. "There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The potential blockbuster film wrapped production on Tuesday, celebrating at the low-key Pleasanton bar.
Nothing says “Hollywood wrap party” like a trip to the Y’All Come Back Saloon in P-town. The “Star Trek” crew shot their final scenes for the still untitled "Star Trek" movie — scheduled to be released this time next year — at the Lawrence Livermore Lab on Tuesday. The traditional celebration was held at the Hopyard bar, where cast and crew including Simon Pegg, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine hoisted a few in honor of the end of production. Pegg (Scotty), Quinto (Spock) and Pine (Capt. Kirk) all starred in the 2009 “Star Trek” film, which featured the same characters as the original Star Trek franchise. Cumberbatch, best know for his role as Sherlock Holmes in the series now airing on PBS, came on board as the villain …
Having trouble transitioning to a more healthful diet? Make it flavorful and attractive.
Here are five simple rules to follow to make a “cleaner” diet actually palatable and sufficient: Putting some thought into dinners can go a long way toward chiseling a leaner body, since the impact on your daily caloric equation increases significantly the closer you get to bedtime. Additionally, going to bed satisfied (but not feeling the heaviness of a big meal) helps create a morning appetite, which, in turn, makes it easier to provide adequate calories early in the day and help avoid hunger and overconsumption later the next day. And so it continues… Want more useful information on how to eat well and get in shape? Contact Dan at Tri Valley Trainer
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Secret of a Successful Mother's Day This Year.
Mother’s Day was always a big bust and I was too exhausted to endure it again. Last year, I came up with a brilliant idea. Two days before the big event, I prepared my answer to the question, “What do you want for Mother’s Day?” “Nothing,” I said. “Come on, we have to get you something. What do you want?” “Nothing. I want a day filled with nothing. No fighting. No laundry. No cooking. No TV,” I said. “You’re just saying that. You’d be mad if we don’t get you a gift.” “Nope. This is what I really want.” “No way. That’s too hard. Just let us get you a gift.” I stood my ground and reminded my family that I had been asking for nothing for years. I have …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
What’s so great about huffing and puffing anyway?
Recently, like a wide-eyed child who inserts himself into a half-finished conversation he wasn’t invited into, I naively jumped on my soap box in response to a blog post here on the Patch. My editor reassured me that the author, although he insisted in the title that he was, in fact, serious, was, apparently, not. When you read the post over carefully from a neutral perspective, I guess it’s pretty obvious that he was being ironic, but I got my dander up and squawked “foul!” just the same. I got played. So, to save you the embarrassment I suffered publicly, I’ll let you know up front with the piece below – I’m just kidding. So here they are — the top five reasons NOT to work out: I hope I’ve convinced you to stay off the fitness track, …
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The show was for Northern California HomeAid, a group that builds dignified housing where homeless families can rebuild their lives.
Howie Mandel brought his conversational style of standup comedy to the stage of the Lesher Center Friday night. The television game show and talent show star picked out audience members, asked pointed questions and brought forward items that yielded yucks in unexpected ways. Mandel picked on people but in a good-natured way. There was an occasional wrong turn, but it usually worked through the agency of Mandel's comedic timing. "I don't edit myself," he said, but it seemed to me that that was exactly what he was doing. A woman in the front row was texting her adult son, who was getting ready to board a plane from LA to the Bay Area. A woman in the back didn't know the name of her friend's pet fish. A doctor named Carla — who will never …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
My kids must have walked eight miles or more this weekend, but they never complained. And we had a weekend that is uniquely Pleasanton.
We took a huge bite out of the weekend, both literally and figuratively. Sunday was a beautiful outdoor day with a hike along the creek, stopping at Specialty Sales where Jeremy let my kids sit in a DeLorean, and a swing by the studio so they could sweep and mop to earn credit for future toy purchases. Next, a beverage break at Coffee Ali in the Vintage Hills shopping center before a mini-adventure through Kottinger park where my daughter searched for minnows and other creek life. Finally we took a last detour by Don Memo Mexican Market for some coconut, chocolate and lime popcicles. We finished the day at Mission Hills Park with my girl and her boys. But Saturday was just as much fun with our ever-changing downtown tour. In the morning we…
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Get the best value for your fitness dollar.
Ok, some of this may seem obvious, but the reality is that most people are not getting the best value for their fitness dollar. And it’s an unfortunate truth that a sizable percentage of the money in the fitness industry comes from people who spend with the best intentions, but never get much out of what they paid for, whether it’s equipment, classes or gym memberships. But, once again, I’m here to help! The first question you should ask yourself is: “Am I ready to commit to a program?” The second is: “Do I think I’ll enjoy this?” The last is: “Is it practical and realistic given my schedule and budget?” If the answer to ANY of these questions is not a definitive “Yes”, don’t spend a lot of money or make a long-term commitment of any kind…
Steve Curtis
1:44 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thank you Michael M ... well put. And very glad you brought that to our attention. more ›