Travel Blog

Golfers should pay attention to this post if they plan to golf at the golf course out by the marina in Pureto Vallarta, Mexico! Pureto Vallarta has long been known as a tourist destination. We have a number of friends who live there for most of the year. Downtown Puerto Vallarta is quaint with the Malecon along the ocean and the many bars that line the streets. For us it is a great place to spend the winter away from the snow and ice in Canada. But if you are golfing, there are crocs to watch for on this golf course.

North of downtown Pureto Vallarta is the marina area with upscale condo’s and homes that boasts a marina of course. Along with a shopping center and a golf course. The marina itself is packed with fishing boats available for charter. This is where the luxury liners come into dock for the day. Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be the prime days for docking of these massive ships with their thousands of passengers.

Pureto Vallarta Golf course

The golf course is slightly further north of the marina and is surrounded by beautiful homes. The golf course, while very nice is unremarkable except for two distinguishing attributes. First there is lot’s if iguana’s that spend their days sleeping in the sun and munching on the grass and flowers that ring the course. Some will grow to at least 5 or 6 feet long and can surprise you when you first see them. Some tourists will mistake them for the crocodiles that also live on this same course.
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Working and living in a foreign country can be exciting and rewarding while at the same time both you and your family will learn a great deal about how other cultures live,  work and play. With a little planning and knowledge of a foreign countries culture and way of doing business your time in the foreign country can be very successful and  rewarding as well.

Investing and Living in a Foreign Country

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re planning to do business and contemplate living in a foreign country.

Always investigate the number of state-owned companies and privately owned companies in the sphere of business that you plan to operate. Every culture is different and has a different view of when to do business.

• Confirm the general business hours of your company as well as a country that you will be living
• Confirm when lunch usually runs and how long business lunches are typically.
• Management contracts  and negotiations and
• Social activity away from the job context.

Male-female relationships are often handled differently than your own country both on and off the job. Be very careful how you view female to male relationships in a foreign country. Investigate how and when you should use titles and surnames in business, in private situations as well as in public situations.

How to Deal with Hierarchies

Every company as well as society evaluates people by their hierarchy in their business context. You should try to understand both if you will be the host in your country and your position. Understand what the view is and how you should handle yourself in private life versus public life.

You may find that your working space is quite different from the working space that you had in your home country. Check with other in country expats to confirm standards.

Etiquette, protocol and dress code

Multinational companies and most business people are accustomed to dealing with foreigners. There are a few things to keep in mind:

• Should you shake hands with everyone present in a group, both upon arrival and upon departure
• At first acquaintance should you exchange business cards at the beginning of a meeting as an introduction or at the end.
• Confirm the expectation with regards to punctuality and attending meetings
• In many countries, meetings often begin when the main interested parties have arrived
• Confirm the dress code for the company that you work with and where you will be conducting business
• Evaluate when pressure for responses are acceptable and whether it should be subtle or direct
• In many countries the prerequisite for success in business is to meet for drinks with your colleagues after work.
• Often during business lunches, subjects of general interest will probably precede the subject of work.
• If you’re a senior executive, it may be appropriate to invite your staff home  or to a local bar for drinks.
• If you’re invited to a social gathering you may want to find out whether it is acceptable to accept the invitation or reject it
• Giving a gift within many cultures is interpreted in many ways. Always investigate when and how you should provide a gift
• In many countries things are not necessarily as they appear. There will be a method and legitimate way of getting things done in spite of bureaucracy and regulations.

Checklist for living in a foreign country

• Obtain telephone numbers and addresses of all global hotels shopping centers and service agencies
• Investigate if there are any special precautions to be taken with regard to food
• Investigate if there are any special precautions to be taken with respect to drinking the local water
• Obtain addresses and telephone numbers for local restaurants
• Obtain telephone numbers and addresses of theaters and museums

Check out personal security requirements

Security in every country, especially in large cities should be taken very seriously. Use common sense in avoiding risky situations, remember that you are in a busy city.

Avoid, especially at night, carrying valuable jewelry or carrying valuable objects. Try to remember that the assailant is probably as scared as you are and it will not hurt you if you give in to what he is asking for. If you see someone who has run into trouble, do not interfere, but try making plenty of noise to frighten the attacker away.

Avoid places such as tunnels, quiet alleyways, jostling crowds and dark corners. Stay away from the beaches at night and stay away from any slums at anytime of the day. You must investigate the expected behavior between women and men in your host country. You should also investigate social etiquette and protocol. Understand the laws regarding alcohol, drugs and nightlife.

There are nine weight loss tips that are a combination of common sense and also supported by various diet professionals. Some involve different ways to eat, or adding certain foods to your diet. Others involve learning new behaviors or strategies to help you stay on track. Either way it involves changes to your daily routine and perseverance in sticking to your diet plan, but they are relatively easier to follow. Bottom line is that you need to make up your mind that you will achieve this goal and lose weight for it to work.  Don’t wait, get started now and follow these Weight Loss Tips.

• Variety Is Overrated
• Have Barley for Breakfast
• Beef Up Your Lunch Salad
• Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables
• Make Yourself a Party Tray
• Turn Down the Thermostat
• Downsize Your Dinnerware
• Go Out for Treats
• Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday

Nine Weight Loss Tips

Variety Is Overrated

Who hasn’t heard the advice to “just take a bite of everything” if you’re at a buffet?

I have done this myself. The problem is when there are over 100 items on a buffet, by the time you take one spoonful of everything, your plate will be overflowing! Also if your favorite foods are on the buffet, you probably will take more and increase your intake.

Be selective and focus on low-calorie food just as if you were at home. Don’t let a buffet boot you off your diet plan!

Have Barley for Breakfast

Barley got its hunger-fighting reputation after Swedish researchers found that eating barley or rye kernels for breakfast kept blood sugar on an even keel. That’s because the carbs in barley and rye kernels are “low glycemic index,” meaning they raise blood sugar more slowly than some other carbohydrate foods. This helps you avoid a spike, and then a drop, in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling famished.

Buy hulled barley, not pearl barley. The Swedish researchers used minimally processed hull barley, and they can’t vouch for the same effects for more processed forms, such as pearl barley.

Beef Up Your Lunch Salad

One of the most common mistakes dieters make is to eat a vegetable salad with little or no dressing for lunch and then they are starving by mid-afternoon. A salad is a great choice if you add some protein and a little fat to help keep you feeling full longer.

Add 3 oz piece of chicken breast, and you’ve added about 26 grams of protein but just 140 calories. Add about two tablespoons of light salad dressing, and your salad may be filling enough to get you through the 3 p.m. hunger slump without hitting the vending machine.

Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables

Sure, fresh vegetables are delicious and nutritious. Preparation of the vegetables is a pain and most consider not worth the time, so they reach for chips instead. Why not buy frozen vegetables that are already chopped and ready to be served. Just heat in the microwave and they are ready!

Make Yourself a Party Tray

A big vegetable platter, maybe with some low-fat dip on the side! Now that is good for you, good to eat and will help you lose weight at the same time. If you have it in the fridge and it is the first thing you see when you open the door, there is a good chance you and your family are going to reach for this party tray first before reaching for anything else.

Turn Down the Thermostat

Spending time in a chilly house — about 61 degrees Fahrenheit — may boost the fat-burning power of the “brown fat” in your body. Brown fat is considered “good” fat, as opposed to regular or white fat, which stores calories and tends to accumulate.  Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to these chilly temperatures boosted the metabolic rate of brown fat 15-fold, helping burn more calories.

Downsize Your Dinnerware

The larger your plate, the more you’re likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. Even if you still go back for seconds, there is a strong likelihood that you will eat less overall. You can still use the dinner plates for salads instead.

Go Out for Treats

If you must have a sweet, try not to keep them in the house. Go out instead. Just the mere energy needed to go out is going to dissuade you from heading out to the doughnut shop or the grocery store to buy that special treat. The trip to the fridge or the pantry is much shorter and too hard to resist.

Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday or before you go out for Dinner

Weekends are always a tougher time to stay on diet and Friday mornings try-on will motivate you to watch your eating during the weekend. If you wear them out to dinner, you will be even more motivated, since they are snug and not many people can eat a lot when they are wearing tight clothes. For more information about weight loss, click here.

Surprise, Casey Anthony is back and has resurfaced via video’s on Youtube! found not guilty a few months ago, she immediately went into hiding after being released from jail. She got credit for time served. She did not need to serve any more time for the charges of lying to police which she was found guilty for.

I think we all knew it would only be a matter of time before she emerged again on the news scene. She wants attention from the media and the population who followed her case.

Why Casey Anthony is Back

Why would Casey be in the Media Spotlight Again? There are various theories as to why she would make these videos and release them. According to her lawyers these are video diaries that she is making to record her thoughts and feelings. They are considered private. Her lawyers say that her account was hacked and the videos were distributed over the internet! This might be true however there are a few questions about this particular theory?

Why for example are the names of some people blanked out from the audio? If this was a hack job, why would the hacker care to protect some people? More than likely they would just release the raw video and leave it at that.
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Did you ever wonder what white water rafting companies did in the winter time when the northern rivers were frozen over and it was just too cold to take anyone rafting let alone white water rafting? turns out there are many solutions to this seasonal problem for northern  rafting companies and their employees who know they will be out of work once the season ends. For some of the guides they will be employed during the winter months refurbishing the equipment and restocking to prepare for the following season.

For many others they will be involved in marketing and booking trips for the following spring and summer. Those employees and guides  that are not involved in this off season activity have to find work in other industries such as snow removal, ski instruction or they can  move to another country to continue offering guiding services on rivers in warm climates! Which would you rather do?

Winter White Water Rafting

Well it turns out that some of the large white water rafting companies have operations in several countries. They can move their employees to more southern climates to take advantage of the warmer temperatures. Also the snow birds that flock to the south during the winter months. There still is a slow season during the transition from fall to winter. But that is time for vacation and getting ready for the next season. Many rafting guides get to take advantage of being in a tropical environment and continuing to work in the industry they love. And of course some of the employees just take off for southern climates in the hopes of securing a job with companies in various locations were it is much warmer and pleasant to offer rafting excursions.

One such company is Esprit White Water rafting company. They have operations in Canada as well as in Costa Rica and Mexico.  During the Spring and summer months they offer white water rafting along the Ottawa river and the Petawawa River. Both locations are near the Ontario – Quebec border and the closest main city is of course Ottawa, Ontario. More on these two locations in a moment, however we wanted to focus on winter white water rafting in this post.

White Water Rafting in Mexico

They offer rafting excursions in Costa Rica and also in Mexico. In Mexico, they offer just about everything that you would look for. Although Mexico is known for sun , sand and beaches, there are also some great places to go kayaking. Also canoeing and of course white water rafting. Esprit has put together  some great trips for those snow birds who are looking to get away from the cold winters of the US north and the Canadian winters. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, rafting, trekking, rappelling, zip-lining, mountain biking, cascading. As well as swimming, ecological interpretation and authentic Mexican culture! More on this in a future post, White Water Rafting in Mexico!

White Water Rafting in Costa Rica

If you are into rain forests, while you are rafting then Costa Rica is the place to go.  there are two coasts to choose from with mountains, rivers and rainforest that will impress and astound you with the beauty of the tropical rain forest as well as the challenging rapids.  This is also a great place to spend a week or two enjoying the hot weather. While cooling off in an adventure tour that offers many interesting tropical plants and wild  life as well as challenging rivers to navigate. More on this in a future post, White Water rafting in Costa Rica!

Rafting on the Ottawa River and the Petawawa River

Just 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa. You can go white eater rafting as well as bungee jumping right into the river! The bungee jump is 200 feet, which they claim to be the highest in North America.  From a 200 foot high limestone cliff you jump into an aqua blue spring fed lagoon. Then spring back almost 16o feet which they also claim is one of the highest in North America.   Esprit offers rafting and bungee jumping from May to October every year on the Ottawa river.

They also offer  white water rafting excursions on the Petawawa River from April to the middle of June. During the spring the river offers class III and IV rapids to challenge the daring and the experts among you.   There are also other rivers that Esprit offers rafting on which include the Kipawa river, the Magnetawan River, the Gatineau River and a number of Expedition Rivers.  Future posts will cover some of these interesting locations.

Belfast Weather in Northern Ireland – Ireland has this reputation for being always cloudy and always wet and also very green. Having been there several times, I can say that it lives up to its reputation. I have been there 3 times, each time for a week, and always in the fall. The sun never poked through the clouds while I was in Dublin Ireland. I hear it is much the same all over Ireland including Belfast in Northern Ireland. Admittedly late fall and early winter are the lowest average months when it comes to sunshine. But you would think that it would shine at some point. Dec only receives on average only 1 hour of sunshine a day. Jan and Feb are not much better with an average of 2 hours. This is far too little for most people to receive the amount of vitamin D they need. So many people will take vitamin D supplements while they are there if it will be for any length of time.

Belfast Weather in Northern Ireland – How Much Rain Does Belfast Receive?

Every month Belfast receives from 2 to 3 inches of rain. Although it did not rain while I was there, it was very damp and cool making it seem much colder than it actually was. As long as you are dressed warmly enough, it is very comfortable.  It does not sound very appealing, however Ireland is famous for being green. It certainly lives up to that reputation. With the rain they get and the limited sunshine, everything responds and grows well. There certainly is no desert areas in or around Belfast , Northern Ireland or around Dublin either for that matter.
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By now most of us know the story of the Teen Mom Shoots Intruder. One of two burglars who tried to enter her home on New Years eve. With the intention of looking for drugs or perhaps worse. Which is what the teen mom, Sarah Dawn McKinley feels would have happened. Apparently both burglars were high on drugs. One at least was carrying a 12 inch hunting knife.

She was on the phone with the dispatcher the entire time. While these bums were trying to break into her home over a 20 minute period. The dispatcher heard the shot as the guy is coming in the door!  Can you imagine being in that girls position? The stress she must have been under.

Teen Mom Shoots Intruder and Defends Baby

She has a small baby who is sleeping in another room and she is armed with a 12 gauge shot-gun! What would you do in this situation?  And were was the father you ask? he passed away on Christmas day from Cancer and was not there to defend his family.

In one story we read, the intruder who was shot had been stalking this young teen 2 years ago and then resumed stalking her when her husband passed away. What a low life! There will be no sympathy for him or his partner who by the way has been charged with murder under Oklahoma laws.

Intruder Charged with Murder

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I just watched an ABC report about new tires sold by all of the major retailers that are old tires sold as new when they are actually many years old. Apparently there is a code on the tire that will tell you when it was manufactured and thus how old it is. ABC did this report that looked at tires sold by Walmart, Sears , Good Year and others that were more than 6 years old. They were brand new, but had sat on the shelf for over 6 years!

Old Tires Sold as New – Exploding tires

Now some of you may be saying so what. I can get a great deal with tires on sale at all of these stores! Apparently rubber like everything else will dry out over time and this makes the tire  more unstable and capable of tearing apart at high speed when it gets hot. Tires will get hot if driven at high speed or even at normal speed when they are under inflated. Add to this a dried out tire and you get something like some of the pictures on the left that we uploaded to this post.

When we were looking for pictures of tires that had exploded, there were also pictures of some really grizzly looking accidents that we did not think appropriate to show on this post. Let us just say that the pictures showed mangled cars and trucks, with people killed or hurt very badly. We are showing three pictures that really demonstrate what happens to a tire when it comes apart at high speeds.

Tire Explosions

The ABC video also showed what happens to people driving a vehicle when the tire explodes. They were anticipating the tire to explode and even those the drivers were also skilled test drivers, many had a very difficult time keep control of the vehicle. In fact one person in a test vehicle could not get control of the car and veered off into the side of the road and overturned the test vehicle.

They were ok, however can you imagine what it would be like for you or I driving at highway speeds and your tire exploded! Many people are killed every year just because of this, so if your tires are older than 6 years which is the recommended age for tires, you may want to consider having them replaced before you go on any long trips or drive on the highway at high speeds!

Examine Your Tires

Take a look at your tires to check just how old they are. I just purchased a new car last year in 2009 and I would expect the tires to also be 2009 tires. Not so! My tires were made in the 24th week of 2007. So now they are 4 years old which is not too bad.  I purchased snow tires two years ago in 2008 for another car. I checked those tires and they were made in January of 1997! Wow , these tires in my mind were only 4 years old and the tread is still excellent on them!
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Puerto Vallarta is a really fantastic place to visit. We spent 2 months there one year and thoroughly enjoyed the culture and the many things to do there. One of the stories that we like to tell is about our ride to a small fishing village out into Banderas bay. We had to take a Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta to get there. The water taxis run every 30 minutes from the downtown pier to several locations. Including Yelapa which is where we wanted to go. There apparently were no roads so a water taxi is the only way to get from Pureto Vallarta  to Yelapa.

Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta

You catch the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta downtown at one of the small wharf’s along the beach. This particular one is popular for water taxis, fishing boats , fishing. Also for divers who like to dive off the peer and swim to shore. On this particular day the waves are rolling in at about 3 to 4 feet in height. Which is not too bad unless you are getting on a water taxi!.

If you can picture a concrete wharf going out into the water about a 100 feet. At the far end it is approximately 15 feet above the water level. There is a set of concrete stairs that descend into the water. Which the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta boats pull up to, to load and unload passengers. Of course these boats ride up and down as the waves crash on shore. They are rising and falling at least 3 to 4 feet for each wave.

Getting onto the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta

Now picture trying to get on a boat with two outboard motors , open from stem to stern, with benches for the passengers. There is no gang plank to  walk on. Basically you must time your steps so that you step from the concrete steps that go into the water and step onto the bow of the boat when it reaches it’s highest point. This can be tricky since you only have a few seconds to accomplish this without getting wet. Or having one leg on the boat and the other on the steps and being spread eagled!
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In the U.S., and around the world people are living longer than ever before. There are now about 80,000 centenarians in the US alone, which makes it one of the fastest-growing segments of the population. This means about 1 in 6,000 people are will live to be 100 years old. Live to be 100 years old is actually not such a difficult thing anymore. More people are doing it. We just came back from a party for a centenarian. She looked great and needed a wheelchair, but she made it.

There must be something that we can learn from those who have survived a century or more? Many people are trying to figure this out and studying these people who have made it to 100. It is important to remember too that not only do you want to live long, you also want to have an enjoyable lifestyle at 100 as well. So what have the experts learned so far?

The New England Centenarian study published some information, not too long ago which we have summarized in the following. Note that as more information is learned, the ideas expressed here may change and be updated.

Genes play a critical and complex role in conferring exceptional longevity.

Lifestyle and our attitudes towards our bodies can help our genes or hurt them when it comes to living well into our 80’s, 90’s and even to 100!

• Almost no centenarians are obese. Obesity contributes to the biggest diseases in our country, like diabetes and heart disease.
• Smoking history is rare.
• Centenarians are better able to handle stress than the majority of people.
• 85% of centenarians are women and 15% are men.
• At least 50% of centenarians have first-degree relatives and/or grandparents who also achieve very old age. Again those Genes!

Live to be 100 Years Old – Keep on moving

Scientists in California found that people over 50 that exercised over 5 hours per week lived longer and functioned better physically and cognitively. They tracked participants who ran as an aerobic activity over 20 years to find that they all had “less heart disease, cancer, neurological diseases, and infections.” In other words, “Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system young.” So, if you aren’t moving you are decreasing your lifespan.

Make every calorie count

The standard American diet is very high in calories, typically 2,000 to 3,000 calories. Additionally, the high calories aren’t packed with vital nutrients, but instead sugar and fat.

• Eating a healthy diet doesn’t only mean decreasing your calories, but getting the most nutrition per calorie. The most nutritious foods include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Anti-oxidants: very simply put, an antioxidant is something that prevents or slows down oxidization. In much the same way as oxidation creates rust, causing a breakdown on the surface of an old car, oxidation inside the body causes a breakdown of cells. For instance, cholesterol in our bodies is not necessarily harmful until it becomes oxidized, which then causes it to start clinging to our blood vessels, which can then lead to clogging of our arteries. Antioxidants can help to prevent this. They can also provide other benefits to your skin and hair. Antioxidant vitamins include vitamins A, C and E. The most inexpensive way to get lots of anti-oxidants is to eat grapes or berries.

More Suggestions

• Fish Oil: contains Omega 3s. The typical American diet is missing the great benefits of Omega 3s which are found in high concentrations in fish. Omega-3 fatty acids slow the rate of damage to your genes. And, fish oils have many other protective anti-aging benefits such as decreasing bad cholesterol.
• Vitamin D: The lack of vitamin D can cause inadequate absorption of calcium, resulting in broken or brittle bones. As we age, deficiency in Vitamin D is common. The reason for this is because we make most of our Vitamin D from the sun. Most older individuals aren’t getting outside for long enough periods on a daily basis to make an adequate amount. Also, our skin (where Vitamin D is synthesized), gets less efficient at making Vitamin D altogether as we get older.

Aging is about attitude

If you respect your body, and have a positive optimistic outlook on life, you will tend to look after yourself more, eat the right foods, exercise and your years lived will be extended.

It is never to late to make changes to lifestyle.

As we grow older, it really is about quality of life. We want to be able to do many of the things we have always done and enjoy our families and grandchildren. We do not want to be constrained because we are overweight, or have heart problems or lung problems. Our bodies are really quite fantastic and can recover from many things, so why not give it some help now and focus on improving your lifestyle now! For more information about lifestyle and Live to be 100 Years Old, click here.

Belfast Ireland has a nice temperate climate with average highs in July and August ranging around 68F and average lows ranging around 50F. The coldest month is January with average temperatures around 43F for the high and 33F as the average low. The Average Weather in Belfast is very enjoyable temperatures for walking and working out side. You may not do a lot of sun bathing in this weather, but it is very pleasant. This is not weather that you can work on a tan. You will need clothes for multiple seasons and weather when you visit so be prepared to take a long more clothes than you might to other destinations. A jacket is a good idea as well to use in the evenings when you are out and about.  A raincoat is also a good idea no matter what time of year that you are visiting Ireland.

Average Weather in Belfast – Sunshine

During May and June, Belfast will average 6 hours of sunshine every day. While July is the warmest month, the average declines to 5 hours. Dec is the darkest month with only 1 hour on average of sunshine. Jan and Feb are not much better with only 2 hours of sunshine on average in Belfast Ireland. Anyone who needs the sun will not like Ireland. There are people who begin to get depressed without sunshine so Ireland with the clouds and rain , may not be the right place for those people. You may even need to take vitamin D supplements to compensate for the lack of sunshine!
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Another reader was wondering if you can go white water rafting any time of year and what the conditions would be. The short answer is yes, however there are some obvious conditions that need to be considered. You also need to make sure that you have the correct equipment. Especially if you are rafting in the fall or spring. The water can be very cold. If you end up in the water hypothermia can set in rapidly causing death. Follow the guides advice. Make sure that you are well equipped for all of the emergencies.

Water Rafting Any Time of Year – Weather is a Big Factor

There are white water rafting trips that are run by tour operators all over the world and so yes you could go rafting anytime during the year. You just need to follow the seasons and you can go rafting. We are planning a post later on that will list the top 10 locations around the world.

Another factor related to weather is the spring run off. During the spring when the snow is melting, many rivers become raging torrents and only the most skilled and dare devil type rafters will brave these conditions.  A class II river in the summer time may become a class V river in the spring

Similarly with storm runoff, many rivers particularly in desert areas can go from a trickle to  a raging torrent in a few hours. Again only the skilled should risk taking on one of these.

Summer Time Flows

Summer time is usually the lowest flow for a river and many rivers are suitable at this time for inexperienced rafters who want to try a class II or III river and not worry about needing the strength or the stamina. Some of these rivers are for floating and swimming while you enjoy the beautiful scenery that abounds.

Storms can be an issue in the summer, so beware of sudden storms that cause the river to rise quickly. Also some dams will release water  to lower upstream lakes and this can increase the flow of water along the river.

Dress Accordingly

In the summer time the air is hot and the water sometimes can be quite warm. However in the spring and fall, the water will be much cooler and the air as well, so you need to ensure that you have the proper gear to keep you warm and avoid hypothermia. Many tour operators will provide wet suits or dry suits for participants to wear in these conditions, either for an additional fee or it will be included in the overall price.

Make sure you take advantage of these since, being cold can really spoil a trip and even risk your life if you get dumped into the water that is not much above freezing, especially in the spring when the river is fed by melting snow and ice.

Check with the Tour Operator for Local Conditions

Always check with the tour operator for the conditions when you book.  Summer time flows could mean a gentle ride down the river, while late spring could mean a more challenging trip. Some locations stop during the summer because the river flows are just to shallow to permit rafting.

So the answer to the questions is that yes you can go white water rafting at all times of the year, with some conditions. Location, weather and time of year are always important in terms of meeting or exceeding your expectations. Call ahead to confirm!

I am a die hard fan of the Tour de France. I have watched every episode of this race for the last three years.  Of course I cannot believe these guys have the stamina and the perseverance that they have. Bbeing able to bike for 200 kilometers. As well as climb several mountains in the process to over 6000 feet! It is July and the race is on again. Don’t miss any of the stages, they are all exciting to watch.

I like to bike on a casual basis. At my own speed and occasionally will travel 40 kilometers during an afternoon on a mountain bike. This is about the limit of what I want to do while enjoying the outdoors and the scenery. I admire these guys and the stamina they have, I am not sure that they really enjoy the scenery and the surrounding countryside. More power to them though, they can do this up to the age of 40 or so and travel around the world biking in some of the best countries and the most challenging terrain. They are in fantastic shape and have conditioned their bodies to deliver the power they need to go at top speeds along the sprints and the straight aways.

Tour de France – Safety

Which brings be to another topic that is a favorite of mine. When I go out biking I wear a helmet and comfortable shorts and t-shirt. It is not adorned with advertising and it is not skin tight, it is comfortable. Why is it that many people who have never raced and never will race feel they have to be dressed up as if they are in the Tour de France? Are they biker wannabee’s?  That is what it seems to me. Why not just go out and enjoy themselves and enjoy nature?

This is the approach that I take. I travel along at around 20 kilometers an hour and take in the scenery while saying hello to fellow riders.I sometimes travel along the road, but most of the time I am on bike paths and routinely I am passed by bikers tearing along at top speed on bike paths were there are toddlers on training wheels and seniors out for a walk. What is this? If you want to go fast go on the road and play chicken with the cars.

Enjoy the Ride

Anyway that’s my attitude. I have been asked several times to go with a friend who likes to go a long ways as fast as he can go. Forget it, wake up and try to enjoy live rather than take a chance killing yourself on some road were you are going to fast on a bike. All you need to do is hit a stone or a pothole and your in deep trouble. I think I will write more articles and posts about this subject on this blog, but that is my opinion for the moment.

If you have comments and agree or disagree with me, please let me know and why. I am sure our readers will find it interesting.

Ok, Christmas and new Years are just around the corner. First we celebrate Christmas with lots of gifts, getting together with family. We enjoy that traditional Christmas dinner with all of the special foods we all love and enjoy. We don’t take a second to think about the calories we may be eating or drinking.

In fact this is the one meal next to thanksgiving that we actually indulge way over our calorie limits and not give it a seconds thought!. There are other events during the year as well were we over indulge, but you get the picture. Whatever holiday period we are celebrating, it is time to think about how much we enjoy the food and drinks and what it does to our weight loss plans! Diet and Losing Weight is far from our thoughts in these situations.

Diet and Losing Weight – New Years Resolutions

After that it is New Years and it is another party time, with lots to drink for some and more fabulous meals.  There are lots of calories in those drinks and we only start thinking about New years resolutions on the day of New Years, knowing full well that we will blow it that evening, and then start the year adhering to all of the rules we put in place for ourselves.  Really as if that is going to happen. The vast majority of us make these resolutions in good faith, however within a week or less, they are forgotten and have fallen by the wayside. We are quickly back to our old habits. So what can we do to make sure we stick to our resolutions, especially if it involves diet and losing weight?

• Make your resolutions public
• Make them with someone so that you have a team mate
• Use each other to help you stick to the plan
• Make realistic resolutions, those that you have a reasonable chance of keeping
• If you need to lose a large amount of weight, set goals for each month that re achievable
• Remove the enablers of weight gain
• Place things or people around you that will help you
• Write your resolutions and goals down
• Stick them on a wall were you see them everyday
• Read them everyday
• Make a conscious effort to work at them every day
• Focus on a few rather than a lot. Too many and you are overwhelmed

It Can be a Struggle

These are easy words to write, but the real struggle is in making them happen. Find out what works for you and do you very best! Save yourself some effort as well over Christmas and New Years by reducing the amount that you eat and drink.  We are not saying do not enjoy the holidays. We are suggesting that instead of that second plate at Christmas dinner, you limit yourself to one plate and the same thing with the drinks that you have.

There are a lot of calories in all of the alcohol that is consumed and you can have an effect on this as well. If you avoid gaining five or 10 pounds over Christmas, then that is five or 10 pounds you do not need to lose afterwords. Your focus at all times needs to be on diet and losing weight if that is really your objective.

More than half of Canadians (58 per cent) say resolution success or failure depends on what the resolution is and many are easier to keep than others. People  who resolved to travel someplace special, save money and spend more time with loved ones in 2011 will have the most success keeping resolutions. People who’ve resolved to drink less and quit smoking are the least likely to  succeed. Don’t be discouraged by these statements, but do be realistic in setting your objectives so that you can achieve them early in the year.

Good luck and Happy New Years! For information about diet and losing weight, click here.

The Texas Roadhouse chain of restaurants is one of our favorite places to eat and to enjoy happy hour. They are scattered primarily across the US Southwest , although we have seen them in some of the mid west states as well. We really like the one in Amarillo Texas. There is nothing better than arriving during happy hour, sitting at the bar enjoying a few cold beers, some peanuts in the shell and a nice steak with all of the sides at a reasonable price! Prices change, however draft beer can often be had for $2.00 during happy hour.

Texas Roadhouse Happy Hour

Our latest stop was at a Texas Roadhouse in Amarillo , Texas. We arrived at 5:30pm. Happy hour went from 5pm to 7 pm and you had to sit at the bar or in the bar area to take advantage of the happy hour prices. We had several 22 oz beers served in frozen mugs for $3 each. What a good deal!

They also had peanuts in the shell which you crack open and let the shells fall on the floor.  This is a great way to sit back and relax after a hard days work or in our case a long day of driving. As an aside we were traveling from California to eastern Canada and this was one of our stops along the way. Some people might think that this is messy and not very classy, but it just happens to be a very nice way to enjoy an evening. Of course if you do not want to eat the peanuts, then don’t, it is entirely up to you.
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Our last post discussed Penn State and Jerry Sandusky. This one is about a broader subject.  We wanted to discuss why there are so many people in power take advantage compared to other people who take advantage of the situation in a disgusting manner. Competition is one thing and that is just the way humans are. In fact probably all animals. However why do we as humans descend to the lowest kinds of treatment as we have seen in the past few months?

People in Power Take Advantage

To name just a few, there is :

• Penn State and Jerry Sandusky
• The Syracuse university basketball coach and his wife
• The Catholic priests
• Boy scout leaders
• and many, many more.

Many of these people are smart people, they often are well educated and many are well off. Many even have families with a wife and children and they appear to lead this double life that they must know will eventually catch up to them.
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Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. It is also the largest city in Northern Ireland.  Belfast is smaller than Dublin in Southern Ireland.  Although the city has a population of  267,000, it lies in a metropolitan area of 641,000 people.  In the past industries such as tobacco, linen, rope making and ship building were the main industries.  Today it is an industrial and economic power house. It has recovered from the set backs caused by what is know as the “troubles” . This is Ireland today with many new business opportunities.

Violence has Declined

There was a great deal of violence, shootings and bombings during the period from 1969 until 1990. This caused industry as well as people to move away from Belfast. Over 1500 people were killed in the period from 1969 until 2001. Especially with  the development of the waterfront area, Victoria Square and the Belfast City center.
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We recently had the chance to stay at the Encore Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas during  the month of Oct 2015. What a nice treat, especially when it was free.

For those of you who may not be aware, always obtain a free slot card when you are staying at any casino. The cards are free and if you use them when you are playing the slots or the tables, the hotels will often send you deals to get you to stay at their casino hotels. These deals will range from discounted rooms to free rooms Sunday through Friday, to also including free meals and free play. Free play is money that is available to you play on non progressive slot machines and potential win money. We have done this several times and made up to a thousand dollars on our free play.

Wynn or the Encore Hotel

We had a choice of staying at the Wynn hotel or staying at the Encore. They are sister casinos and hotels and they are connected by an atrium filled with restaurants and shops. You really do not have to leave the hotel if you don’t want to with the choice of restaurants, two casinos and many pools to spend your time at.

We chose the Encore, since we had never stayed there before. Also because the rooms were advertised as suites. We were not disappointed. We have stayed at the Wynn previously and these rooms at the Encore lived up to that reputation and more. The rooms are larger with a living room area and a bedroom area. The bathroom is large with both a large shower as a tub to soak in. There is a small TV in the bathroom and a large flat screen TV in the main area as well. The room also has a large couch and table for entertaining and a work desk if you must keep up with emails and office work while in Vegas. Note that you will pay $13.00 a day for internet access.

The Room was Great

We stayed on the 11th floor of the hotel which is not that high. There was some concern that the view would not be that great. We were wrong of course. I don’t think there is a bad view in the place. We looked out over the strip to the north with the Las Vegas Hilton and Circus Circus casinos in the distance.

If you are heading to Las Vegas, we can confidently recommend this hotel, however it may be a bit expensive if you have to pay for the rooms. For first time traveler to Las Vegas, you should go on a package deal, get a slot card and in the future you might be able to come to Vegas on some sort of deal. The hotels want their rooms full, so in slow periods they will mail out all kinds of offers to fill up their rooms. If there is a large conference taking place, chances are that the rooms are going to be very expensive.

Restaurants

We ate at the Switch restaurant one night and found it good but quite expensive. The neat thing about switch is that the walls and ceilings change every 20 minutes or so providing a different atmosphere in the restaurant. We also found the service good, but felt that they rushed us a bit as well. We wanted to take more time with our meal and felt that they were in a hurry. They were not even that busy.

At the other end of the scale is the food court across the street at the Fashion Show Mall on the 3rd floor. They have all of the standard fast food places in the food court and you can also sit at tables outside weather permitting to enjoy your meal.

Of the two hotels, Wynn and Encore, we would probably stay at the Wynn from now on. The Encore Hotel is very nice, but we like the Wynn Casino better and it is actually a long walk from the Encore to the Wynn even though they are side by side and joined.  These are 3000 room hotels with conference facilities, large pool areas and a golf course.

When you come to Vegas always bring good walking shoes. You are going to need them regardless of were you stay! For more information about Las Vegas, click here.

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Rafting Trip – White Water Rafting Shenandoah River

Description – 7 Mile excursion, 2 to 3 hours on the river. Spring and fall include white water rapids, while the summer provides more gentle rapids with lots of swimming opportunities. Pick your dates based on the type of excursion you would like to go on and book early, especially if there is a large group of people planning to go. Summer time rafting can be quite pleasant, especially once the river water warms up and the days are hot.

White water rafting on the Shenandoah river is near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and is located where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia come together. White water rafting on the Shenandoah river is close to both Washington, DC and Baltimore – only an hour away.

River Rating – Spring and Fall – Class I-III, spring runoffs are generally higher and provide a more thrilling ride, while summertime trips are more tranquil. These summer time trips  are ideal for the novice and those who would prefer the more restful type of trip were you can enjoy the scenery. Spring and fall trips are for those people who had some experience and are also looking for a thrill.

Number of Rapids – “The Dam”, “The Needles Rapid”, “Wake Up Call” and the all time favorite “White Horse”.

Minimum Age – During spring and fall -ages 6-8 years (50 lbs)

Departure Dates – Daily March through November, book early if you want specific trips and dates

Boat Type – white water rafts, with all of the associated gear.

What to Bring – An extra set of dry clothes, swimming suit. The outfitters pretty much provide everything else, however it is a good idea to check with the outfitter you plan to use to see what they provide vs. what each person needs to bring with them. Most people will bring extra clothes and may bring extra snacks to snack on when the trip is over. Your outfitter may also provide snacks as well, although it is good to confirm. Sometimes for some people, the snacks might not be enough to satisfy your appetite and you will need to bring some of your own.

Reviews – None that we saw

Outfitters – yes, several

White water rafting is a great sport that you can have a lot of fun with. Always make sure you have a life jacket on and secured tightly in the proper manner. Your navigator and out rigger company should provide you with all of the appropriate safety gear and instructions. Listening and following these instructions could save your life.

We watched a special put on by CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta about how following a specific diet pretty much ensured that you would avoid having a heart attack.  This Heart Attack Proof Diet is at least for most people. If you have genes that suggest your family is prone to having heart attacks you may at least improve your chances by following this kind of diet.  The message in the interview with a variety of people who are following this particular diet is

• Eat vegetables as much as you can
• Avoid oils of all kinds or at least limit them
• Avoid Dairy, but do not forget to add calcium to your diet
• Reduce meat, at least red meat which is the kind that contributes most to heart attacks.

The people in  Papua New Guinea highlanders, rural Chinese, central Africans and the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico all follow this diet and heart attacks are virtually unknown in these cultures. There has to be something to this diet, however it is very difficult to change historical eating habits of North America were everyone eats some kind of meat and dairy everyday! In addition we eat lots of prepared foods which is high on cholesterol inducing chemicals and also very high in salt. Both of these contribute to heart attacks in our society.

Getting the Message Out

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. who is and was a surgeon is trying to get the message out that if we reduce or eliminate dairy and meat based products, we will suffer many less heart attacks and be able to lead a more healthy lifestyle well into our old age.

One study of 17 people who had had 40 cardiac events before going on the diet, had no events at all after being on the diet over a 12 year period. Pretty impressive. Is this for real, who knows, but it is worth checking out. Also from a common sense perspective, just consider that the oil and fat that you drain off even lean meat is going into your body and in small amounts and apparently it ends up in your arteries as plac that builds up and prevents the blood flow. Just let the oil cool and harden at the bottom of the pan and you will get the image of what can happen with this plac in your blood stream.

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. has written a book on the subject and sure this sounds like a money grab, however if CNN is promoting it, surely it cannot be all bad. If you have purchased the book or downloaded the CD , we would be really interest in your comments on the diet and whether it is for real or not?

Heart Attack Proof Diet – Partial

In the mean time, following this diet plan on at least a partial level is only going to help. Reducing salt intake and cholesterol is also only going to help and may add years onto your life. What have you got to lose other than a longer healthy life to spend with your family and friends. Giving up some of your favorite foods or at least reducing foods is only a small thing compared to living longer.

The worst mistake that consumers can make is to eat out all of the time at restaurants. The food will taste great, however it is loaded with salt and often is deep fried at some point which adds all kinds of fat and calories to your diet. deep fried food is definitely not friendly to your heart and should be one of the first things to be eliminated or at least significantly reduced.

Most people find this really difficult to do and will just fall back to their old ways. To start with consumers have to put more time in to preparing foods that are friendly to your heart and avoid the salt laden foods that are already prepared and frozen in the store. Just read the labels and you will quickly realize just how much salt there is in these foods. For more information on dieting, click here.

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We recently saw an article about extreme penny pinching and were intrigued by several of the ideas, however, some were clearly off the wall and well beyond what the average person would even consider. We wondered about, Penny Pinching While You Travel? We thought that a more interesting list of penny-pinching ideas that actually save you money while traveling would be interesting to a lot of people.

We put together a combination of our own list of things about penny-pinching while you travel to save money with a few of the items that were on the list of the article that we read. We tend to stay in hotels and rent condos while we travel, so our list is centered around this type of travel. Other people who go camping, travel in an RV, or stay with friends and relatives will obviously have other items to add. Please let us know your items in the comments section and we will add them to our list. Here is the list for penny-pinching while you travel and we follow up with an explanation of each later in the post.

Penny Pinching While You Travel

Saving Money While you Travel

• We belong to points clubs such as air miles and credit card points collection
• We ask for a seniors discount
• We watch for restaurant discounts for seniors
• We follow senior citizens at dinnertime
• I join birthday clubs so I can eat for free
• I hit up fast food dollar menus
• We eat at subway and share a foot-long sub
• We order one soft drink and share, refills are free
• I drink as much as I can during happy hour
• We eat appetizers during happy hour
• I pick up pennies wherever I go
• We eat a large lunch and lightly at dinner time
• Share Meals
• We stay at hotels that include breakfast and/or dinner and/or free drinks

Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital city, is approximately 100 miles (167 Km), and a 2½ hour drive from the city of  Dublin. Unfortunately there are no direct flights connecting Dublin to Belfast as of Sept 2011, unless you want to fly via London and take half the day to get there.

Fortunately there are alternatives which include; there’s a 24 hour bus service, take a train, or if you prefer total independence, you can hire a car, or drive your own rental car. Make sure you have an international drivers license if you do rent a car.

Dublin to Belfast – By bus…

The Belfast to Dublin route is well serviced by bus. There’s a joint cross-border bus service provided by Bus Éireann, the Republic of Ireland’s bus service. Also Ulsterbus for the Belfast to Dublin Airport or Dublin City route. Ulsterbus is operated by Translink, and is a division of Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport operator, and the route to Dublin is operated by the Goldline Express. The departure point for bus travel from Belfast to Dublin is the Europa Bus Centre during the day and from Glengall Street at night. The Europa is a combined train/bus station, and is just a short distance from the Grand Opera House, and close to the Europa Hotel.

There’s an hourly service, day and night, from Belfast to Dublin Busaras or Dublin Airport, operated by Goldline Express or Bus Eireann. This is a pleasant journey where you can enjoy the fine scenery of the North East of Ireland. The trip takes about a 2½ hours
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Have you ever been stuck on the highway because of an accident. Most of us have and most of us have only had to deal with a delay of an hour or two. Well try 12 hours stuck on I40 with nowhere to go and no information about what you can do or when you are going to be allowed to proceed.  That was us on Nov 20th on a Sunday night just outside of Albuquerque.

It was on the west side along Interstate 40. In fact we were only 8 miles from our turn off when the traffic came to a screeching halt. Talk about frustrating. On top of that we also had a hotel reservation, which we could not cancel. It was less than 24 hours notice and hotels will not accept cancellations that close to the arrival time.

Stuck on I40 Heading East into Albuquerque

For those of you who may not be aware, I40 is a heavily traveled truck route that runs from the west coast , through Albuquerque, all the way to Memphis and beyond.  In this area were the accident occurred, it is pretty much desert with rolling hills and not many side roads and certainly no roads paralleling the highway.  So there we are stuck on the highway , 8 miles from our destination. We are stopped in a valley were unfortunately there is only weak cell phone coverage and also limited local radio coverage. It is impossible to get any information about what is holding us up ahead or how long it will be. I even asked a couple of truckers if they had CB radios and if they knew what was going on. Apparently truckers do not carry CB radios any longer, at least the ones I asked do not.

The weather was clear, there were no problems on the road so this apparently was someone not paying attention and involved a van and several trucks. Two people died in this major accident.
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The folks at Penn State University probably wish they never had anything to do with Jerry Sandusky and that the management team they had running the sports side of the business had better judgement. There has been thousands of words written on this subject and there will be thousands more.This will go on for many years between the legal case against Sandusky and also the civil suits against him. There will be a lot of pain for everyone for some time.

His Own Worst Enemy

Sandusky himself adds fuel to the fire every time he does an interview.  He has to be a lawyers worst nightmare as a client. He continues to speak to the media and get himself into more trouble. But that is not really the point of this post.

Instead, the subject is about the poor state of the moral ethics of this university. Possibly others although we will focus on Penn State for this post. What is really happening here is that the university puts sports and football in particular ahead of the personal rights of individuals. Apparently they thought that if they could hide this thing long enough it would just go away.

Unfortunately for them, in today’s media and the age of the internet and instant communications, these things rarely stay submerged for  very long. It is literally a firestorm of emails, posts, and tweets about the Penn State cover up.
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What is a life changing event? We all have experienced life changing events of one kind or another at some time in our lives. For some people it can be getting married , having children or living through a major accident. There are many of these things that we live through and when we look back on them , we realize that our lives changed forever. This story is about one of mine that occurred when I was 17 and trying to decide what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

Life Changing Events – High School

I was in grade 12 in high school. This is typically the time when teens are deciding if they will go to university , college or try to find a job once they graduate from school. It can be a scary time and an exciting time for many.  Without really realizing it, you are deciding what you will do for the rest of your life, or at least set yourself on a course that will profoundly impact your lifestyle, your friends, your education and your future family although that is the last thing that many of us were thinking about.

In my case, I had good marks and was eligible to apply for and be accepted for university. My problem was that I did not have the money to attend university. My parents provided well for us. We never lacked for food and clothing, but extra money for university courses, books and a room with meals was out of the question. I had pretty much realized that I was destined to find a job when I graduated and that would be my life!

A Meeting With my Guidance Counselor

Well it seemed that fate, luck or just plain good work by my guidance counselor totally changed my life. He called me into the office one day and began one of those conversations that all teens hate. What are you planning to do with the rest of your life and what about going to university?  The answer was simple. I did not have the money to go and could not afford it.

He wanted to know what I was good at in school and what I liked. he already knew the answers to these questions, but wanted me to say them and think about them. The answer was math, physics and science. But what good are these going to do you when you look for a job in a small town with few job opportunities.

The Family Farm

I was destined to take over the family farm, since I was the oldest boy in the family.  My brother was faced with an even more uncertain future since if I took over the farm, what would he do with his life.

So my guidance counselor said to me, what about going to the University of Waterloo. They have a co-op program which means that you go to school for 4 months, then they find you a job for 4 months and then you head back to school. it takes an extra year to graduate! Five years instead of four years. However you have earned money, you have gained work experience in your profession and you have a good chance of having a job when you graduate with one of the companies you worked with. All of these things are huge benefits to people like me without enough money to go to university.

Can You Afford One Term

His next question to me was, did I have enough money to afford the first term?  Could I pay for tuition, books and room and board and last until my first paycheck? I had a part-time job and had saved a bit of money. I said that I felt that I could do that although I would be totally broke when I finished my first term.  Based on this single conversation I decided to give it a try. I saved as much money as I could, I applied for student loans and I continued working on the weekends while I went to university to make a enough money.  It is a long story, but I made it and graduated as a professional engineer in Canada!

Recognition

This wonderful story is not over. One of the things that I believe you should do is to recognize the people who have made a huge influence on your life. I did that about 30 years later, by going back to my home town  and talking to my old guidance counselor. He made a huge difference in my life and he deserved to know about what had become of me.

I knocked on his door one spring morning and he came to the door. Not only did he recognize me, he knew my name and welcomed me into his home. I met his wife and had a beer with him and told him the story of how he changed my life and what a great impact he had on me. Believe it or not we all had a good cry, it was so emotional.

His wife was so proud of him as I was and it made such a profound impact on him! I stayed for about an hour and then left promising to come back another time. I have not done that but I think I will now that I have written this particular true story.

Recognize Those People in Your Life That Made a Difference

This is what I mean when I say that there are singular events that can change your life for ever. I was extremely fortunate to have met this man and for him to have such a significant impact on my life! My brother took over the family farm and loves the work and the outdoor life. Everything worked out unbelievably great for everyone. Take the time to let those people in your life that have made a difference. They will treasure the recognition!

For more life changing events and other stories, click here.

Cities across the world are all under pressure to reduce their costs. They need to generate new revenue to pay for services that they offer to their residents. The last 3 years has really pushed this issue to the forefront due to the recession. foreclosures and many places are just being boarded up. In locations were the city gets a share of the sales tax, even this has fallen, since people are just not spending the same amount of money. Cities reduce services when the situation gets this bad.

Cities Reduce Services

Now you would think that cities across North America would reduce services to reduce their costs as they go through this painful period. And yes many are doing just that because they have so much pressure on their budgets. Read the rest of this entry »

This post is all about diet and avoiding eating more than you should, ie Diet & Will Power. My wife is constantly trying to lose weight. However she has no willpower and cannot avoid eating sweets as well as munchies that are available in our house most of the time.

In fact if there are deserts in the house, she will have a helping for breakfast instead of a regular breakfast. If we can avoid having some of these foods in the house then we cannot eat these things. We have found this is one of the most significant ways to help to manage our diets. Keep the snacks out of the house!

Food in the Home

Yes if there are desserts in the house,  guaranteed it will be eaten before the morning arrives or sometime shortly after. She would rather have dessert for breakfast instead of having a proper nutritional breakfast. In fact she does not even like breakfast, but will have dessert if it is in the house for breakfast. The only way that she seems to be able to have any control over what she eats is to avoid having the food in the house. We find that if we buy peanuts or chips, we both start snacking.

Couch Potato

She will sit down and eat them while watching a TV show or just munch on them during the afternoon. There’s no way that you can let them sit there. This is a terrible way to try to control your diet so we have found that the best way is to avoid buying all those kinds of things. If we’re having a party for some reason the people we have those kinds things in as the host of the party.

If you fall into this category and cannot avoid eating food that’s in the house the best approach is to have food that are low calorie can nature. Fruits and vegetables are a good example of the kinds of foods to have in the house. In fact weight watchers has recently changed their scoring system to include  most if not all fruits and vegetables to zero points. This means that you can eat as much of this kind of food as you want.

Get Out of the House, Go For a Walk

Another approach is to get out of the house even if it’s just for a walk or go to an exercise gym. Participate in something that gets you moving to start to burn calories. Sitting in the house watching TV eating high calorie food is just a recipe to gain weight.

So this is the season to maintain your weight or to lose weight, avoid having all of these high carb and calorie foods in the house.  Avoid foods such as peanuts chips, pretzels and other foods about type. Instead have lots of fruits and vegetables in your home to munch on whenever you have the urge to eat something. Also avoid any kind of dips that go along with these things unless it is zero  calories and zero carbs. Also avoid food that has a lot of salt in them.

Read the labels on every food that you can eat to avoid high salt content. Also to make sure that you’re eating low-carb  low calorie food if you’re on a diet and cannot avoid or do not have the willpower to avoid eating. Especially important while you’re sitting watching TV reading a newspaper or just quietly reading.

Get up and move around even if it is housework or going for a walk or going to the gym or biking. Anything that gets you away from the fridge away from getting any kinds of munchies. When you feel the urge to read something get out of the house and go for a walk. For more information on diets, click here.

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As we research articles for camping and white water rafting  to write and post on this website for our readers it occurred to us that many of our readers will encounter bears from time to time. Dealing with Bears while Camping as they are hiking, setting up camp or traveling down the river can be scary. We felt that it would be a good idea to post some basic guidelines on this website about how to deal with bears if you encounter them.

Bears are just about everywhere in the wild. You will see them on the road, along lakes and around camps and hiking trails.  If you do not see them always keep your eyes and ears alert and look for signs that they are around.

Dealing with Bears while Camping

These guidelines are taken from a number of web sites and merged to try to provide the best advice available. While we are trying to help our readers, it is understood that there is no guarantee that any of these guidelines will work when you confront a bear. The best advice is to avoid them in the first place.

Avoiding Bear Problems

The best way to avoid bear problems is to take precautions to not attract them in the first place.

NEVER FEED BEARS

If you encounter a bear while in the outdoors, remain calm. DO NOT PANIC! Leave the area.

• Store foods out of a bear’s reach, in a vehicle or enclosed trailer.
• Remove all garbage and store it in enclosed vehicles or trailers.
• Use airtight or bear-proof containers.
• Post watch for entire event for bear activity.
• Respect all bears – they all can be dangerous.
• Never approach a bear.
• Be defensive – never surprise a bear.
• Learn about bears. Anticipate and avoid encounters.
• Know what to do if you encounter a bear.
• Each bear encounter is unique. No hard and fast rules can be applied when
• dealing with a potentially complex situation.

The most dangerous bears are:

• Bears habituated to human food.
• Females defending cubs.
• Bears defending a fresh kill.
• Cute, friendly, and apparently not interested in YOU.

About bears:

• Bears can run as fast as horses, uphill or downhill.
• They can climb trees, although black bears are better tree-climbers than grizzly bears.
• Bears have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and better sight than many people believe.
• Bears are strong. They can tear cars apart looking for food.
• Every bear defends a “personal space”. The extent of this space will vary with each bear and each situation; it may be a few metres or a few hundred meters. Intrusion into this space is considered a threat and may provoke an attack.
• Bears aggressively defend their food.
• All female bears defend their cubs. If a female with cubs is surprised at close range or is separated from her cubs, she may attack. An aggressive response is the mother grizzly’s natural defense against danger to her young.
• A female black bear’s natural defense is to chase her cubs up a tree and defend them from the base. However, she is still dangerous and may become aggressive if provoked.

If you encounter a bear at the roadside:

• Remain in your vehicle. Don’t get out even for a “quick photo”.
• Keep your windows up.
• Do not impede the bear from crossing the road.
• If you park to view bears at a distance, leave your car well off the road to avoid accidents.

IF you come in contact with a bear:

• DO NOT PANIC! DON’T APPROACH IT!
• Make loud noises, bang pans, yell, honk the horn of a vehicle, wave arms.
• Back away slowly.
• Get inside a vehicle and wait for the bear to leave, if it becomes aggressive.
• Most bears fear people and will leave when they see you. If a bear woofs, snaps its jaws, slaps the ground or brush, or bluff charges: YOU ARE TOO CLOSE! BACK AWAY!
• Barking dogs, bright lights and noisemakers will sometimes discourage bears from coming into an area.

Children should not:

• Run or play in areas with dense bush.
• Play unsupervised in bear country.
• Make animal-like sounds while hiking or playing.
• Approach bears, especially bear cubs.
• Be encouraged to pet, feed, or pose for a photo with bears, even if they appear tame.

If the bear refuses to leave:

• Be sure you have allowed the bear an escape route.
• Make loud noises to scare it away.

If the bear is treed:

• LEAVE IT ALONE! The bear will usually go away when it feels safe.
• Have people leave the area near the tree.
• Remove dogs from near the tree.

Your food and garbage:

• Odors attract bears. Reduce or eliminate odours from yourself, your camp, your clothes, and your vehicle.
• Don’t sleep in the same clothes you cook in.
• Store food so that bears cannot smell or reach it. Don’t keep food in your tent – not even a chocolate bar.
• Properly store and pack out all garbage.
• Handle and store pet food with as much care as your own.

Dealing with allergies at hotels is getting better when you are staying at hotels these days. Many hotels have recognized that there is a large percentage of the population that is dealing with allergies at most times of the year and they are going after this market.

If you are a traveler and suffer from allergies, don’t forget to ask for the following when you make your reservation, depending on your personal allergy situation:

• Non smoking room
• No pets
• Foam pillows
• Hypo – Allergenic room ( some hotels are now offering this feature)
• Special foods
• Other items that are personal in nature

Dealing with Allergies at Hotels is Getting Better

Again, don’t forget to re-enforce these requests when you check in. On occasion, the original request will not get sent to the check in clerk from the reservation desk, or they are out of your desired room and they just put you in any old room.

Non Smoking Rooms

We have also been in situations were we had requested a non smoking room and found ourselves on a smoking floor in a room that had been smoked in. Obviously the clerk was not paying attention or not on the ball. We had to move rooms and we demanded a discount for our troubles. Many hotels will offer discounts on the room rate or a free meal in these situations.

The hotels are also seeing the advantage of going to non smoking rooms throughout the hotel due to the cost savings they receive on not having to clean the remains of smokers ashes and smells. Lets face it , smokers are not that clean, they leave their ashes and cigarette buts everywhere and it all becomes a filthy mess. If they are forced to smoke outside, at least it is outside and not inside a hotel room were the hotel has to pay for cleaning.

Hampton Inn 100% Guarantee

Hampton Inns also have their 100% satisfaction guarantee as well which is well worth taking advantage of if you are not satisfied. We have taken advantage of this on several occasions that were legitimate issues.

Pet Friendly Hotels

This is another market that the hotels are catering to, however for anyone with allergies to pet dander, it can be a night mare. You cannot tell if you have been in a room previously occupied by a pet, yet you are reacting to the dander and have a miserable night. We just stay away from these hotels and do not give them our business!

Hypo-Allergenic Rooms

Some of the larger chains are beginning to offer these kinds of rooms to travelers. They are charging more for the rooms, but it can be worth it to get a good nights sleep. No smoke, no pets, no perfume of any kind, no deodorizer and odor free cleaning agents. If you are allergic to any of these items you may want to consider this kind of room.

Unfortunately the smaller hotels and motels do not offer this type of room. Although they generally do offer non smoking rooms. Dealing with allergies at hotels is getting better. For more posts about hotel service, click here.

Now this is really not hot news or any kind of news, however since I live in Ottawa, I thought I would share this with readers. A recent survey was just completed which showed a very positive report about the city of Ottawa.  I am providing a snap shot of some of the stats that are being reported. Here they are:

• 82 per cent of respondents have a “positive image” of Ottawa. Followed by 81 per cent for Victoria and 80 per cent for Vancouver.
• Toronto was Canada’s least liked city, with 73 per cent giving it a positive rating.
• Canadians also rated Ottawa more positively than other international leading capitals, including Washington, DC, Paris and London, England.
• 56 per cent of Canadians want to see more national celebrations and festivals in Ottawa. While 50 per cent want more museums/art galleries and heritage buildings.

Ottawa – Lot’s to do – Well Sort of

Ottawa is a nice city and I have always said that it is the only city in Canada, were you can see your tax dollars at work. You can maximize the use of your tax dollars. We have hundreds of miles of bike paths. Miles of parkway along the Ottawa River and we have several nice museums. Skiing in the winter is close by and there is lots of fishing and boating in the summer time. You can also skate on one of the world’s longest outdoor skating rinks, in the winter time.

The Rideau canal is converted to ice skating in the winter time and boating in the summer. And don’t forget the tulips in the spring that dominate the cities many gardens. These were sent to us from the Queen of the Netherlands after the 2nd world war in recognition of our help during the war.We are close to Montreal were we can get a little culture and visit better restaurants and stores.
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