Did you know?

The largest statue in the world is Mount Rushmore, the heads of four US Presidents carved into the Black Hills near Keystone. The heads are 18 m (60 ft) tall.

Essential Tips for Planning Your Ski Vacation

By Brianna Dean

Although the 2009/2010 ski season is halfway over, many would agree that the best skiing is still to come. In addition to a great workout, skiing and snowboarding is a excellent way to share unforgettable experiences with family and friends.

It is not too late to book a trip to a ski resort to take advantage of the numerous events and attractions that the mountain towns have to offer.

Spring Break is typically associated with white sand and tropical drinks, but those who seek a more unique getaway flock to the mountains and trade in their sandals for ski boots. Still, don’t forget to pack your bikini and board shorts so you can relax in the hot tub after a long day on the slopes.

Never planned a ski vacation before? No worries. Working at a ski shop in the Mountains of Colorado has given me hands-on experience with frustrated first-timers. The frequent phrase repeated by most travelers is, “Help, I’ve never done this before”. Don’t worry, I am here to help. Below are tips I have gathered in order to ease the stress and confusion while trying to enjoy your ski vacation.

1) RESERVE AND CONSERVE…STRESS

You may think that a ski town’s most available item are ski rental packages, and that waiting till you arrive won’t be a problem to attain. Well, think again. Although there are typically a plethora of ski shops in most mountain towns, waiting until the last minute to walk in for rentals will leave you waiting…and skiing less. I highly recommend making your reservation in advance so your rental package is guaranteed to be ready to go upon arrival. Most places will require a small deposit for insurance (that will go towards your balance) and 24 hours notice so they can prepare your package. Some places, like Christy Sports, even offer a discount for advance reservations. Save yourself the hassle of a walk-in and reserve today.

With rising baggage costs, renting skis may be even less expensive than paying to fly your equipment across the country. Plus, you will most likely get to slide on some newer, more advanced skis than the pair that’s been collecting dust in your garage.

2) WHO’S WEARING WHAT?

Skiing and snowboarding gear has become increasingly stylish over the past few years, but warmth and protection should be your main focus. I’ve been asked over and over again what the temperature will be like on the slopes. There is no simple answer to this question as the conditions on the mountain are constantly changing. Preparation is key. Since weather is as unpredictable as the Dow Jones these days, I recommend the following gear:

Start at the bottom: Always wear a base layer like Smartwool or Patagonia under your ski clothing. Wear both leggings or tights and a wicking shirt for full-body warmth below your outerwear. Thick socks made for skiing are a must. There is nothing worse than frigid toes after riding the lift to the wind-crested mountain top.

Work your way up: Wear water resistant pants and a coat with a warm liner in case of a potential powder day. Knitted gloves? Don’t even think about it. You’re asking for frost-bitten fingers if you select those. Choose high-quality gloves or mittens. If you have poor blood circulation, like me, I would recommend mittens (they will keep your fingers close together to create more body heat to keep the blood flowing).

Top it off: Find a good material to hug your neck. A Turtle Fur Neck Gaitor is basically the “neck” part of a turtleneck. These can be purchased at most sports equipment stores and can be pulled over your mouth and chin to block the wind when you are racing downhill. Some people use a scarf, others use a handkerchief; just be sure to bring something to protect you neck and throat from the piercing wind.

Goggles are just as important as your coat and pants. They protect your eyes from sun, snow, and wind.

Helmets are optional yet advised. They provide both safety, warmth, and some (like Red’s Hi-Fi Audio model) feature built in speakers so you can rock out on your way down the hill. If you plan on packing in all of your extreme skiing into a 3 day weekend, just remember that even Johnny Knoxville wears a helmet in most of his stunts. It’s not worth adding yourself to the number of head-injuries that occur every year out on the slopes.

Last but not least, suncreeen with SPF 15 or higher is definitely needed to fend off the intense, high-elevation rays. A goggle tan may look wicked-awesome when you come back from your vacation, but serious sun exposure on the slopes can damage your skin just as bad as a hot summer day.

3) CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF

Altitude sickness can hit without warning. Entering a higher elevation should be gradual, but for visitors it’s understood there just isn’t enough time. The best advice is to listen to your body’s warning signs when you arrive. Thirsty? Drink more water (yes, water) than you think you need. The air is dryer up there and not as rich is oxygen and will dehydrate you faster than normal. Bring a water bottle on your trip and fill it up at an airport water fountain, or spend the extra dollar on an Aquafina.

Getting drunk faster than usual? Take your drinks with ease your first night there, alcohol will hit you harder at high elevations, make you feel worse in the morning, and amplify the symptoms of altitude sickness. Drink slowly and moderately until you know how your body will react to the new altitude.

Tired? Take a short nap. Exhausting your body won’t get you to the slopes any faster. In fact, it may ruin your trip or endanger you while on the mountain.

Click here to learn more about acute altitude sickness.

Hopefully these small tips will help you with your travels. I know just as well as all the other mountain dwellers that tourism keeps our resorts open and functioning. It is wonderful to see happy tourists enjoying themselves on Colorado’s slopes. Follow these tips and you will be sure to have a warm, safe, and happy ski vacation.

Colorado Ski Resources

Visit Colorado Ski Country USA for more information about skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.

To reserve ski and snowboard rentals online, click on Christy Sports or call 877-754-7627.

Click here order the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide.

Brianna Dean is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. She grew up in Southern California and frequently moved as a child until she and her family settled in Kansas, much to her dismay. Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a comfortable, mundane life, she packed up and moved to Colorado. Although she now calls Denver home, Brianna is currently spending the winter at the base of a mountain while working for a ski company. She enjoys biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and playing with her dog, Pali (who is named after a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin). When not working you will find her mastering a 360 at the terrain park, cooking vegetarian dinners, or discussing epic powder days at a dive bar.


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Even If You Don’t Sleep All Night

By Jim Calder

I am usually a very patient person. Unfortunately, like everyone I have my moments and breaking points. This is going to be a full disclosure blog that may be a bit long.  Last night started off as a decent Friday night, but I had no idea of the events that would follow. The traffic home on a Friday night from work can take an hour and a half on a typical Friday night, and two hours on nights when it rains. However, last night there was no rain, and I got home in a little more than one hour.

6:15- Home from work and in the door.
7:30 - Dinner with my wife
8:30 - Surfing online a bit
9:00 - Some cocktails and unwinding
10:00 - We watched the indie film “The Puffy Chair”, which we would highly recommend.

1:00 am - In bed and out for the night … or so I thought.
3:30 am - My wife wakes me from my snoring and tells me that something is beeping.
3:31 am - I say, “what are you talking about … oh it is the battery in the smoke detector, it needs to be replaced- I will do it in the morning.”
3:35 am - We realize that a loud piercing beep would be continuing for every minute for the rest of the night unless we got up and did something.
3:36 am- I take the battery out of the smoke detector in the bedroom … but we still hear beeping.
3:38 am - I try taking the battery out of the hallway smoke detector, thinking that maybe the batteries went on both of them at the same exact time … but still hear the beeping.
3:40 am - I get a step stool and unhook the smoke detector unit from the ceiling. Exposing the wires in the ceiling … but still we hear the beeping.
3:45 am - I repeat this step in the hallway so that both detectors are completely unhooked and detached from the ceiling … but we still hear beeping.
3:50 am - My calm wife (who has work in the morning) and I search the house for 9 Volt batteries, which of course we had none. Why do smoke detectors have to have these odd shaped batteries?

3:55 am - We dress and decide to head out to a 24hr pharmacy in search of 9 volt batteries.
4:00 am - It is freezing in Philly, and my aging car must warm a bit before heading out. However, the streets are dead quiet. It was as refreshing and calm as the eye of a hurricane as I experienced back in Long Island in the early 1980′s when hurricane Gloria rocked us.
4:10 am - We found a Seven Eleven that was open and Melissa ran in for the batteries.
4:20 am - We get back home and are optimistic that we will soon be asleep again.
4:25 am - I replace the bedroom smoke detector … but the beeping continues.
4:26 am - I hit the reset button, most likely pissing off the neighbors.
4:28 am - I replace the hallway smoke detector battery and hit the reset button … but the beeping continues.
4:30 am - I open the circuit breaker panel in our living room and begin to cut the power to sections of our apartment. I cut out that section where the smoke detectors are … but we still hear the beeping.
4:35 am – I realize that I may have met my match. These smoke detectors are unlike any that I have ever seen or battled before. I felt like there were cameras on me and I was Larry David in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. I imagined grabbing my baseball bat and smashing the ceiling to little pieces. I was completely puzzled and still in an early morning haze. The smoke detectors were wired into the building security system somehow. I had the complete fire detector in my hand yet … the wires in the ceiling were still beeping.

4:36 am - My wife’s patience is completely gone at this point and understandable so. She decides to call our landlords up. She calls them and leaves a message for the morning.

4:38 am – We set up shop to sleep in the living room as we close the bedroom door … but we can still hear the beeping.
4:39 am – I put on the radio to muffle out the sound but my wife and I start to take our frustration out on each other. I thought that smooth Jazz would be a good sleeping soundtrack but she thought it was too big band style.
In the interest of full disclosure I am not going to lie. There was some yelling and finger pointing by both of us.
While I am changing the radio station in the dark I miss the call back from the landlord. The landlord leaves me a message concerned because she half listened to our message and thought the building was on fire or something.
4:40 am - Melissa demands the phone from me and calls the landlord back. She gets her on the phone and explains the situation but they are confused on the other end and frustrate us more by suggesting that we take the battery out of the unit.
4:45 am – I try one last thing, by completely shutting off all power to the apartment on the circuit breaker … but we still hear the beeping. I contemplate calling our local church and getting a priest out to bless our apartment because, there is obviously something unholy going on in this apartment.
5:00 am – Still wide awake the landlord’s husband calls my cell. He says there might be an emergency number to call downstairs in the hallway of the building. But at this hour we decide that we might as well try to tough it out and get a couple hours of sleep and deal with it in the morning.
6:00 am – Melissa and I apologize to one another for taking our frustrations out on each other. With pillows over our heads we drift off and go in and out for the next few hours.

9:00 am - I wake up and can’t sleep. I put a pot of coffee on and start making some calls. The landlord had emailed me the number of the Security company that installed the alarms so I gave them a ring. They told me that I needed a pass code for the building from the landlord to enter into the panel in the first floor of our apartment. I call the landlords but they don’t know the code. I tell the landlord to call the company and get the code. The landlord calls me back with a code. I go down and try the code … but we still hear the beeping!

10:30 am – I attempt to salvage the weekend a little bit; I make some awesome pancakes for us. Melissa takes a shot at calling the alarm company; they tell her that a technician will be calling us back.
11:00 am - I talk to a tech and he tells me that my landlord has to call and make a service call appointment, that as the tenant I cannot do it. I call the landlord and tell him that they said that he has to call to set it up. While still staying calm, I tell the landlord that I need him to do whatever he can to get someone out here today or we will be staying in a hotel tonight and it will be coming out of what we pay him for this month’s rent. He agrees to do whatever he can.

12:00 pm - A new technician named Roger, who is very calm and polite, calls me and asks me about the problem. I explain and tell him how the beeping is coming from the wires. He tells me this is impossible and I explain that I realize this, but it is happening. He asks where my Carbon Monoxide detector is located. The carbon monoxide detector is a standalone battery powered unit that is sitting three feet away from the smoke detector, on the windowsill.

I start to feel really dumb right about now and voice it to my new pal Roger. The carbon monoxide detector is showing a digital symbol that means batteries are dead. I take them out with Roger still on the phone and … THE BEEPING FINALLY STOPS! Ironically the sound from the smoke detector is the same sound that the carbon monoxide detector makes.

I tell Roger how stupid I feel and he replies, “don’t feel bad Jimmy, this same thing happened to me once and I am a professional.” He ended the conversation by saying … “Have a great afternoon Jimmy.”

Thanks Roger, I intend to do just that, but maybe after a nap. Even though I can still hear the beeping a little bit in my head, I know it will stop soon.

If there is a moral to this story I feel it might be to never take your frustrations out on your loved ones, no matter how sleep deprived, pissed off or frustrated you may get … the beeping is eventually going to stop.

PS: I may not be as bright as I thought I was 24 hours earlier, but I am bright enough to end by saying that I love you Melissa and I am sorry.

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com

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Overcome Grief By Strengthening Your Heart Chakra

By Alicia Parks

It’s been nearly a decade since I broke up with my boyfriend. Well, actually it’s been more like 8 months, but it’s certainly felt like an eternity. As time continues to pass and the wounds struggle to heal I’m becoming impatient with how long it’s taking to just get over it already! Is there a cure for a broken heart – other than time?

Strengthening Heart Chakras

There are the temporary fixes: ice cream, drinks with friends, a shopping spree (be it electronics or clothes), more drinks, more ice cream, and the random cute rebound. Or, the less than classy approach: angrily cutting up the pictures, burning gift and mementos into a roaring bonfire hoping the smoke will cloud the present and blur the past.

Then today in yoga, the instructor focused on the heart chakra. We moved through a series of heart openers to create space in the heart center: space to give and receive love. By my third back bend I had lost it. I gave in and let the tears flow. I felt a sudden moment of peace for the first time in months.

The heart chakra is the center of our harmony. When this energy point is balanced we feel loved and able to give love more freely. When this energy is imbalanced we feel closed off to love. The body can actually physically begin to draw more inward to close off and protect the heart center when this energy is low. However, when this energy point is balanced the heart center will open and the sternum will lift, shoulders will draw back thus allowing the energy to flow more openly.

Chakras are seven energy points within the body from the tail bone to the crown of the head. Each point is a spinning wheel of energy and depending if the energy is low, high or balanced, the spinning wheel will either be low and small, or increasingly fast and large.

The first chakra resonates at the base of the spine and is the color red. This is the center for being grounded. The second is the center for nourishment and is housed near the genitals below the navel. Its color is orange. Next is the yellow energy wheel in the solar plexus and the center for intention. The heart center is a green color. Above that is the throat chakra which is blue in color and where we find expression. The third-eye point , insight, is purple in color or depending on text could be a light blue color. Finally, the crown chakra-believed by some to be a white or clear energy or a purple color is where enlightenment, wisdom or higher spiritual knowledge is housed.

Since chakra energy is simply about finding balance, when our heart chakra is suffering from heart-ache, loss, grief or a recent breakup, perhaps focusing on charging this energy could be an alternative to time. Though many of us seek quick fixes to pain or inconvenience, a lesson in patience could be welcomed relief.

After a series of yoga classes in which I continued to focus more on the heart center through spine-strengthening sequences like cobra, locust and floor-bow to heart openers like camel and backbends I was able to let more and more go each time. Though I still have some healing to do, I believe very much that I gained a huge edge on my path to healing my heart. We may never fully understand why some relationships work and some don’t but at least there’s another option to healing.

Heart Openers

There are several beautiful options in yoga for opening the heart center. It’s simply a matter of leading with the heart, strengthening the core and spine and releasing tension hidden in the neck and shoulders. The simplest way to open the heart is proper posture-ensuring that shoulders are drawn away from the ears and down the back while pulling the naval to the spine (engaging the core).

In a standing series, taking a slight backbend while in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is a simple and gentle option. Backbends are an effective way to open the heart as well as bring a bounty of energy into the body (which is why heart openers are best served in the morning and not before bed).

My breakthrough heart opener was in Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel) and my continuous challenging heart opener is Ustrasana (Camel). It’s important to ensure the body is properly warmed up before engaging in heart openers since these poses require good core and spine strength. Opening the hips first (with poses such as Eka Pada Rajakasana (Pigeon)) will allow a more gentle and deeper benefit from heart openers. Other options include Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Matsyasana (Fish Pose), Salambhasana (Locust Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and even Urdva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog).

For a gentle sequence after waking I recommend beginning with a few Sun Salutations starting with Balasana (Child’s Pose) moving on to Cat-Cow movement and on to plank pose. From there draw back to Audo Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog). Take a few deep breaths through the nose and slowly arrive to Uttanasana (forward fold). Slowing arrive to Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and take a gentle back bend. Release to Uttanasana then back to Tadasana with a back bend and flow through this a few times. From Uttanasana step back to high plank pose again and then release all the way to the ground on the belly. Inhale into Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). Exhale to release and then inhale into Salambhasana (Locust Pose). Exhale to release and flow through these two poses a few more times. Take time between each movement and then release back Balasana (Child’s Pose) to focus on the breath and the energy in the heart chakra. Come back to Cat-Cow movement and then come to standing on knees. Close the sequence with a long, slow flow into Ustrasana (Camel) pose. Take up to six full inhalations and exhalations before letting go and slowly find a seat with eyes closed. Absorb the energy created and released around the heart center. Acknowledge any emotions that may have come up and know that which no longer serves no longer has a hold on the heart center.

“Learn, grow, live… And then write about it!” Alicia started her path to wellness and environmental leadership at Wild Oats, following college graduation with a degree in journalism. Her passion for natural living, environment, and wellness set the foundation for a future with Aveda where she is currently a marketing manager and manages the yoga program for staff and students. She is a certified yoga instructor and received her training through Core Power. Her favorite pose is handstand, though she is still working on mastering it. Her writing is a continuous practice, much like yoga, and began when she published her first book at age 12 called, “What Mothers and Fathers Do Best.” She is a proud mother of a 6-year-old boy, Tyler, the source for her inspiration to live in the moment-be mindful-be gracious and flow. Tyler is currently publishing one book a week, his latest being the “ABC of Animals.”

Read Alicia’s other article, “Getting Back to the Yoga Mat“.

Risking it all to find happiness

By Brianna Dean

Thanksgiving Day, 2009: I gazed out the window at the glare from snow-capped mountains and thought to myself, “Wow, it’s a great day to ski”. While sipping coffee, I threw on my usual ski gear and grabbed the twin-tip’s for a nice day of carving powder. The ride up the gondola to the base of Breckenridge Mountain was quieter than usual, but it didn’t seem to bother me. The view was remarkable. I adjusted my goggles and couldn’t think of a place I’d rather be at that moment. Let me take you back a few years…

Early April, 2007: It was a gloomy Sunday evening in Kansas City, Missouri and I had just walked in the door from my typical grocery store purchase: water, turkey, bread, saltine crackers, and a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The sun set behind overcast skies accentuating the already dreary day. After putting away the groceries I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. It was 6:00pm. I had no roommate to converse with, no cable to fall asleep to. I could hear the clock ticking. Every tick was another wasted moment. It was almost time to crack open the wine and drink myself into a slumber.

I was dreading work the next day. 8 hours of staring out my office window toward the West hoping that if I tried hard enough, I would eventually see what I knew was on the other side of the Flint Hills of Kansas. On the other side sat the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the San Marcos Mountains…even the beautiful Pacific Ocean that I once took advantage of while growing up in Southern California. I knew it was all there. So why wasn’t I? Why do I only visit these places and not live there, I thought? Why do I still live in a city that leaves me depressed and uncomfortable? What am I still doing here?

My mind started to wander and soon I found myself flooded with thoughts. I was mentally beating myself up for not making the proper changes in order to be happy. I was obviously depressed. Every Sunday was the same, every day of work was the same, every evening, morning, and minute was the same: lonely and repetitive. I started to feel anxiety take over when I asked myself one final question: “Am I so comfortable that I will do this the rest of my life?”. Tears started to flow.

I mustered up the guts to call a friend. I needed company and something to occupy my mind so that it wouldn’t consume me. I arrived at their house, still riddled with anxiety. My stomach was in knots, eyes were darting, and I was sweating more than I should have been. My mind wouldn’t shut up. “Are you going to spend the rest of your life here?” My breaths were deep but seemed to lack oxygen. I became dizzy and adrenaline shot through my veins like someone had drugged me. My friend asked “Are you okay? You look a little nerve-wrecked”. All of a sudden I felt extremely uncomfortable. I couldn’t drag my friend in this. I immediately grabbed my things and left the house. I couldn’t ask for shelter from my own thoughts. I was a ticking time bomb of self-mutilated emotion that was about to blow. Where was I to go if I couldn’t go to my friends?

Mostly cloudy mind with a chance of anxiety storms

I could feel my body start to break down as I ran to my car. An overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety took over as I drove myself to the only place of safety I could think of: the Emergency Room. By the time I ran through the double glass doors of the hospital my face was as red as a fire extinguisher and the knots in my stomach were tearing up my insides. The doctors could hear the difficulty in my breathing and took me to the back right away. I woke up 20 minutes later laying in a hospital bed with an IV stuck in my right arm. Unaccompanied in a curtained room, I heard only the voices of nurses fluttering by. There I was, alone again. Unsure what they gave me, the doctors released me after handing me various prescriptions for anxiety.

It was about 2:00am when I got home, my eyes were red and puffy and I climbed into my bed. Was this going to happen again next Sunday?

Monday Morning: I slipped into my office without anyone noticing and kept my sunglasses on so that no one would see my severely swollen eyes. I knew I couldn’t hide it for long. My boss peeked his head in and said, “Hey, ding-dong, take your sunglasses off. You look ridiculous”. I pulled them off and tried desperately not to look up, but it wasn’t enough to keep my boss quiet. 

As soon as he asked the dreaded question, “What’s wrong?”, I verbally blasted every thought that was on my mind at that moment. My god, I had no idea how depressed I was until it all started to pour out. My boss just stared at me, shocked. He phoned in the President and the three of us discussed my situation for almost 2 hours. My employers were like family and wanted me to be happy. The President announced he would give me 3 months pay up front to go and find happiness. The catch? I couldn’t come back. I’ll never forget the words from my boss that day. He said, “Brianna, you gotta go find what makes you happy because it’s obviously not here. Go to France! Maybe that makes you happy. You won’t know what it is until you go find it”.

I was given the afternoon off and went back the next day to get my big, generous check. What to do now? I drove home and stared at the ceiling again. What do you do when someone gives you time and money, the two things that no one ever has? I had no idea. I spent the afternoon at a coffee shop looking at job listings in Kansas City. It hadn’t hit me yet. I wandered in to a book store and found a spiral-bound book of driving maps for the United States. Suddenly it hit me. I bought the book and ran out of the store. I realized that I was given time, and I didn’t want to waste it. My money would run out eventually and I didn’t want to blow it staying where I started. I then went over to a sports equipment store and bought an expensive backpack. I didn’t know what the hell for, but I needed it. I planned to fill the backpack with some essentials and explore in search of enlightenment. 

The next week was spent planning amazing trips! I contacted friends in other states and reserved couches and spare beds. My sister was planning out her internship in Kansas City and offered to pay my rent while I was away in exchange for use of my apartment. Everything was falling into place. Over the next few months I ventured off to Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Every day was spent exploring and seeking what excited me. I started to realize my flexibility: I was not on a lease, I had no boyfriend, no pets, no job. Now was the time to change things!

Denver Skyline - Grass Is Always Greener

Denver won my heart after spending a few days with some friends downtown. I headed back to Kansas City and applied for jobs near the Rocky Mountains. I was still on a rush of excitement that I was really going to change things. I got a phone call from a potential employer in Denver and asked if I could come in for an interview that Thursday. I panicked a little thinking that a last minute plane ticket would affect my funds so I decided to drive out for the interview instead. It was a time consuming and expensive risk that I was willing to take. Sure enough, that Wednesday night I drove 8 hours to get to Denver for that fateful interview. He offered me the job on the spot. I accepted.

I anxiously boxed up my belonging and moved with great anticipation of starting fresh in Colorado. I’ve been living happily in Denver for almost three years now. My anxiety quickly disappeared and a sense of calmness has came over me. I’m finally in a place I can call home, found new activities that I love, and have met friends that will last a lifetime. I look back on my situation years ago and wonder what would have happened to me had I not listened to my own warning signs (and my boss’s advice).

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I have found that this proverb is often spoken to make people think that, in reality, other circumstances are often not as desirable as they may appear. People who are afraid of change try to discourage others from changing by explaining that the grass is not greener; it’s the same dull grass. Maybe they are comfortable and like their grass just the way it is. I am happy for those that can be content in any situation. I am, however, not one of those people. The point is, I don’t want to live my life trusting that all the grass in the world is the same color. I want to experience it myself. Maybe the grass is the same color, but what if the other side of the fence has grass covered in snow, or kittens chasing bugs, or a beautiful pond surrounded by wildflowers. Despite what people say, you may never know until you jump the fence.

Brianna Dean is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. She grew up in Southern California and frequently moved as a child until she and her family settled in Kansas, much to her dismay. Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a comfortable, mundane life, she packed up and moved to Colorado. Although she now calls Denver home, Brianna is currently spending the winter at the base of a mountain while working for a ski company. She enjoys biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and playing with her dog, Pali (who is named after a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin). When not working you will find her mastering a 360 at the terrain park, cooking vegetarian dinners, or discussing epic powder days at a dive bar.

Are Your Beautiful Things Just Collecting Dust?

By Gayle Calder

I was standing at my kitchen sink the other day, doing my annual silver polishing before the holidays, and it struck me that a lot of people today would think this was very peculiar and why would I bother. In today’s disposable world who in their right mind would use real plates when there is paper let alone silver utensils that need to be polished now and again.

Appreciation Taught and Learned

I was lucky enough to be born into a family that has always respected the past, the history of family and the appreciation of the objects that were handed down through the generations along with the stories that went with them.

Grandparent’s Dining Room Furniture

My dining room set, a lovely old tiger oak, belonged to my grandparents who were married in 1908. Around that table they raised six children, a daughter and five rambunctious boys. Sometimes as I sit at that table I can hear the echoes of my father and uncles laughter, all long silenced, as they would play a spirited game of poker. I think of the dinners that were served there, the celebrations as the boys came home unharmed from World War II, the engagements and wedding celebrations, Christmas and Easters, birthdays and anniversaries. I think of my own three children who have been raised around this table and the son-in-law and daughter-in-law who have joined us in the continuity of our family , and all the celebrations and sorrows that we have shared around this same table.

Great Grandmother’s Dishes

I have my great grandmothers dishes, beautiful old Limoge china and yes, I use them and cherish them because it connects me to my past. When I wash these plates I wonder what this woman, who I never met, was thinking as she washed them and what her life must have been like. She was born in 1865 along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, as our country healed from the Civil War.

Avoid Waiting For A Special Occasion

How many times have you received a gift and put it away to use for a special occasion? Or maybe you have a lovely old piece of jewelry or pottery and you are afraid it might break if you use it , so you put it in the closet and never get around to using it.
Life is short. You are the special occasion! Use the things that have meaning to you in your daily life. If someone gives you a nice gift, use it don’t save it. Wear that lovely sweater. Use those great wine glasses. Celebrate your life and the lives of the people you love. Even if its just you and your loved one having dinner, set the table with your good dishes, light the candles, play some music. Don’t just do it for company.

If you are lucky enough to have something that belonged to someone in the past, use it. Tell the story of that person who owned it to your children and help them feel the connection of one generation to the next.
I know that I am going to keep polishing that silver and hope that someday I will be able to tell the stories to my grandchildren as they too sit around that table.

Gayle Calder, is a former school teacher and loving mother, mother-in-law, and wife who believes that passing on the power of “positive thought” is extremely important. Gayle was born in Baltimore, Md, raised and schooled in Manhattan, N.Y.C., brought her children into the world in Long Island, N.Y. and is currently living in Pennsylvania for the past 23 years and counting. Gayle enjoys her family, reading, exercise, history, music, travel and much more.

By Ryan Matty

There are beers for all seasons, beers for all occasions.  Nothing beats sharing good times and good beers with great friends.

After visiting dozens of breweries and brew-fests, and bellying up to countless bars, I’ve drank plenty of noteworthy brews. Below is a list of ten that you have to try.

I’m not going to lie, as a Pennsylvania resident, I have a slight bias to my local PA breweries.

But hey, I’m not saying these ten beers are the best in the world, I’m just saying that they are some of my favorites and for good reason: they are incredible.

What are you waiting for? Read the list, call your friends, and get down to the pub.

Ten Great Beers You Must Experience Now:

1. Dogfish Head 90/120 minute IPA. No other IPA has the superb balance of a malty and sweet backbone with the perfect hop kick. Both of these beers are delicious, but sip them carefully as they are tremendously high in alcohol. Milton DE’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery produces unique and tasty brews, so the “off-centered” brewery’s products are worth checking out.
2. Southern Tier Pumpking Imperial Ale. Southern Tier has been making some great beer since its inception in 2004. This pumpkin ale from the Lakewood, NY brewery, at 7.9% ABV, should be sipped in a goblet in order to appreciate its full quintessential fall flavors. With subtle hints of toasted pumpkin and spices, the beer is smooth in the mouth and has a wonderful hop presence to crisp up the finish.
3. New Belgium Fat Tire. Based out of Fort Collins, CO, this beer is the uber-sustainable brewery’s flagship offering. With a biscuit-like malty body, the beer is impeccably balanced with the perfect amount of hops. If you are a fan of amber ales, this is one of the best examples of the style along with Newport Storm Hurricane or Long Trail Ale.
4. Brooklyn Brown Ale. The name says it all. Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Brown Ale is a tasty American brown ale style. With caramel and nutty flavors, this beer is certainly worthy of a taste. Also, Brooklyn’s brewmaster, Garret Oliver, holds celebrity status in the craft beer industry, as does Dogfish Head’s Sam Caligone.
5. Victory MoonGlow Weizenbock. This heavily carbonated dark and strong wheat beer pairs perfectly with some good cheese. Downingtown, PA’s finest, Victory, is most famous for its Hop Devil IPA, but Moonglow is a “fly under the radar” offering. If you like wheat beer, this one is worth a try, but be prepared as it most certainly has some intense flavors of banana and clove. A word of caution though: pour slowly if pouring from the bottle since it is heavily carbonated.
6. Lancaster Brewing Company Milk Stout. Simply put, this beer is dessert in a glass. Lancaster, PA, well known for its heavy Amish population, should also be known for Lancaster Brewing Company. This milk stout, a quintessential example of the style, is sweet and not hoppy at all. The beer is incredibly smooth and one should drink this beer after it has been sitting at room temperature for about 20 minutes to really appreciate its flavor. Looking for a twist? Try mixing this beer with Lancaster’s Strawberry Wheat for an interesting blend of tastes.
7. Sly Fox Rauchbier. Good luck finding this, but this gold-medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival is like drinking a campfire. I know that sounds harsh, but it is a compliment. The smoky overtones dominate the taste of this ale. The whole experience of drinking Rauchbier reminds me of sitting at a campsite with friends and a roaring fire blazing in the background. Phoenixville and Royersford, PA’s gem of a brewery is Sly Fox. The brewery has always been my go-to staple for a refreshing brew and a quick bite to eat.
8. Belfast Bay Lobster Ale. Every sip of Belfast Bay’s Lobster Ale reaffirms my love of New England. The giant lobster claw tap handle sparked my interest right away. After finishing my pint, I wanted another, but I had to leave for an event, but the beer is definitely quaffable. It has a slight hop bite at the end, but the beautiful red-brown color and smooth mouthfeel make for an incredible drinking experience.
9. Samuel Adams Summer Ale/Octoberfest. Now I am torn here. I want to make these separate entries, but I have to leave room for one more amazing beer. These are two styles that epitomize the seasons. A hot summer day is to a cold Sam Summer Ale as a crisp fall afternoon is to a cold Sam Octoberfest. Boston’s Samuel Adams generally makes top notch beers, some of them pretty extreme, but these are 2 of my favorite seasonals of all time from any brewery.
10. Chimay- Red Label. What beer list is complete without a Belgian beer? Chimay is a wonderful example of what Belgian beer is. Brewed by monks in the Trappist style, flavors of clove and banana dominate the balanced and refreshing brew. Drink this from a goblet to experience everything it offers.

I am always excited to try new and different beers. What do you recommend? Comment below.

Always a science person, Ryan Matty works as an Analytical chemist at a major Biotechnology Company. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys golfing, lifting weights, hiking, flag football, company softball, watching Steelers football, camping, and jogging. He tries to be green so he practices what he preaches. He drives a VW Golf TDI and eats a healthy, organic diet. In addition, Ryan loves good beer and what the craft brewing industry has done in the last 25 years. His favorite season is Autumn.

Read Ryan’s article, “Ten Reasons Why Pumpkins Make Autumn Great“.

by Adrian Hoppel

I know the meaning of life.

I’m not kidding; I’ve figured it out some years ago. Do you want to know what it is? Well, as is the case in these kind of things, I can’t easily share it with you. Its the sort of thing you really need to uncover yourself. But perhaps I can try to share some insights from my journey of discovery, and maybe you’ll find them helpful. I hope so, because I’m sure I’m right about this, and that is why this column was born. Heady stuff, I agree; I’ve never been known to be short of ego or ambition. But more about me later…

There is a philosophy my wife and I developed that we call “Follow The Path”. The foundation of this ideology is a neat little juxtaposition: that the course of events in your life that will lead you to be truly happy are pre-determined, but the challenge (and where most fail) is to recognize when these events arise and to make the right choice. It is a destiny that is only available to you if you are careful with your free will.

It starts with a question, and this is the hardest part, because I think it is the most important question in your life. In fact, it is the question OF your life, and it is this:

What Is Most Important To You?

And you only get one answer. Uncovering something like this takes a lot of serious thought, meditation, reflection… it is no easy task. Whatever it is, achieving it should be the one thing that, lying on your deathbed, would give you cause to say your life was a success.

Think about that. A lot.

One thing. Seems like small thinking? Just one thing? I realize there are a lot of things we want to do; we all have a lot of goals, a lot of dreams. There is not enough time and resources for us to accomplish all the wonders we imagine.

And that is the point.

We are constantly bombarded with all the things that we want to do, all the things we need to do. Pressure is thrown on us from every direction, and often most fiercely from within. We become unfocused, things seem complicated, and our decision making suffers. So we get on ourselves even more, we push ourselves even harder.

We often spend too much of our energy on things that are not truly important, and neglect the things that are. We stop following the path toward happiness, because we are pushing ourselves in the wrong direction. And when that spiral really gets going, the pressure becomes stress, and we suffer physically, mentally and spiritually. You know something is not right, you can feel it at work, you can feel it in your relationships, you can sense it inside. You are wandering in the woods… off the path.

What Is Most Important To You?

Find that answer. If you don’t answer that question, or if you don’t answer it correctly, it is like trying to hit a target wearing a blindfold. You might hit it; you probably won’t. Either way, you will waste a lot of time trying, and our time here is short.

The answer is the key to the process, the key to following the path. Once you find the answer, it needs to become the focal point of every decision you face as you head down the path. Every time you are faced with choosing a direction, you simply choose the direction that most leads toward that which you value the most.

“Big” decisions, “small” decisions – it does not matter. Every choice you make is either going to bring you closer to achieving your answer, or take you further away from it. Every choice you make will either take you further down the path, or lead you astray into the woods.

That’s the trick. Sounds easy, and in a way, it is. It is easy to see the choice, to see the right answer. But that does not mean it is easy to do. If you are disciplined to this approach, if you really stay true to the path, many of your decisions are going to seem odd, are going to even be controversial. It doesn’t matter; if you were true and honest when you answered The Question, and if you are staying true to that answer, you are staying true to yourself and you will ultimately be right.

Even when the choice seems really difficult, it is usually because either choice appears to have such major ramifications on your life. Maybe they do… and maybe they don’t. It is hard to see far down the path, often you can barely make out where the next turn is.

But there are always signs. Seriously. When you are faced with the choice, and you are truly deciding which direction will continue down the path, just follow the signs. If you are really concentrating hard on the choice, the signs will be big and bright, and the choice (however shocking) will be obvious.

Following the path has been just that way for me; it has been easy to see the direction to go, but sometimes hard to go through with it. Sometimes I’ve been second guessed by everyone whose opinions I cared about, yet I forged ahead. I stayed on the path, on my path. At least, I try to.

When I find myself flailing in the forest, unsure how I got to be wandering so far off the path, I retrace my steps, my decisions, back to where I was when I was still on the path. I identify exactly what choice led me astray, and I try to correct. Staying on – following the path – that is the challenge of a lifetime.

Adrian Hoppel is in crazy-love with the same woman for 13 years and running.  Together they share 3 brilliant children, a lovely dog that unknowingly suffers from ADD, and a really, really small house in Philadelphia.  He has driven across and through most of the United States, including 3 cross-country moves with the entire family.  He’s held a variety of jobs since college in a variety of fields including: professional soldier; concrete laborer; cemetery salesperson; telecommunications salesperson; roofing salesperson; office supplies salesperson; business development consultant; and medical advertising salesperson.  Adrian also fancies himself to be The One to write the next Great American Novel.  He believes passionately in the Bill of Rights, natural childbirth, natural parenting, natural living, homeschooling, and a dedication to a lifestyle philosophy he and his wife call “Following the Path”.

Follow The Path will be a monthly article as well as a semi-daily blog where Adrian will share anecdotes and explore the meaning of life and other such trivial minutiae.

by Matt Tucker

I like the big picture. At the end of the day, the big picture is most important. Still, I think the little things are what make it so great. I like people with an outstanding attention to detail. Maybe it is because I pride myself on paying close attention to the little things. (I have been known to proofread and edit other people’s grocery lists for no reason other than the fact that ‘broccoli’ was misspelled. I know, it is borderline OCD, and I’m fine with that).

I think it is the spices and herbs that turn a meal from good to great. It is the fine, hand-carved woodworking and stained glass that make European cathedrals so glorious. It can be a comedian’s subtle facial gesture that determines if an audience is laughing hysterically or hearing crickets. A well timed, nicely written greeting card can revive a relationship, help land a job, or seal a business deal. No one will argue that the attention to detail – a focus on the little things – can make a huge difference in business, relationships, art, cooking, and sometimes even grocery lists. But what about fitness?

Little things make a huge difference with fitness and athletics too. Professional cyclists and their coaches meticulously monitor heart rate, lactic threshold, and power output. Bike manufacturers go through unbelievably great lengths to make a cyclist’s rig lighter, more aerodynamic, and more efficient. All of these details combine to paint the big picture – winning or losing. In some cases, even a second, gram, or watt can decide if a cyclist is standing on the podium or not.

Sure, it makes sense that a professional athlete monitors as much as possible including nutrition, training, power, etc. They have a lot at stake. It’s their job. How about the rest of us? Most of us don’t have the means to monitor our power output and lactic threshold. That’s fine. We do have the means to monitor what we eat and how much we exercise. Still, one of the biggest factors that determines a person’s weight is a very subtle, yet extremely important characteristic.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota reported in 2005 that “non-exercise activity thermogenesis” is more important than formal exercise in determining who is lean and who is obese. They did this by attaching motion sensors to twenty people (ten who were lean and ten who were overweight) for ten straight days.

James Levine, M.D., the Mayo Clinic endocrinologist that lead the study, explains that the calories that people burn in their everyday activities are far, far more important in obesity than they previously imagined. The data from the sensors showed that an obese persons sit, on average, 150 minutes more each day than their naturally lean counterparts. This means obese people burn 350 fewer calories a day than do lean people.

People who are naturally compelled to stand, walk, pace, and fidget, rather than sit down, are burning more calories everyday. All of the small movements create a slow burn throughout the day.

Does this mean that people who sit still and don’t fidget are destined to be obese? They are certainly at a disadvantage, but a person can still create their own fate. What this means is that they are going to have to work a bit harder to find ways to burn more calories to keep up with their leaner, fidgety friends. For some this could mean spending more time on the treadmill. Or as the study shows, it could mean making a conscious effort to move around as much as possible.

Here are a few ideas to help a naturally sedentary person start moving:

• Pace or walk around the block while talking on your cell phone.
• Watch where you sit. Avoid the couch at all costs. Sit on the floor when watching TV. Sit on an exercise ball when at your desk. In both cases, you will constantly shift your weight to stay comfortable.
• Clean the house. A 135 pound woman can burn 113 calories doing general house cleaning for a half hour. Raking the leaves for the same time will burn another 130.
• If you have multiple bathrooms in your house, walk to the farthest one when you have to go.
• Forget the escalator, use the stairs.

Want more info about how small things can have a big impact? Check out my article, “Your Fitness Program’s Worst Enemy.”

By Gerry Tucker

Does maintaining a healthy lifestyle mean we have to eat right and exercise?  With all of the advances in science, many of us had hoped that researchers would have developed a cure-all pill that could do it for us.  As the discussion about health care reform wages on in Washington and throughout the country, most of the emphasis is on the cost and availability of healthcare insurance.

Unfortunately as a nation we are becoming heavier, less healthy and will require even more medical intervention as we age.  Obesity is pushing its way into our hope of a long and healthy way of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2000, obesity-related health care costs totaled an estimated $117 billion.” The CDC explains the health consequences of obesity include:

• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancer (endometrial, breast and colon)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Stroke
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)
  

The good news is there are things we can do for ourselves to prevent disease and decrease the need for medical attention and the associated costs. In short, the keys are exercise and eating right. We can’t continue to lose a few pounds on fad diets only to gain back what we lost faster than it took to lose it in the first place. We also can’t wait for some company to devise a magic pill or procedure that will get us in shape as we sit and watch The Biggest Loser.

Living a healthy lifestyle takes hard work and commitment, but the rewards are more than worth the effort. If only you could get started.  If only you had the time.  There is no shortage of self- help books, websites and television shows coming at us from every direction.  How do you know which one is right or if it even works?  Here’s a clue, if it sounds way too easy, the only thing you’ll end up losing is your money.  Talk to your doctor and seek help from friends and family members that have made the switch to healthy. You might even be more motivated to get yourself in shape if you become the catalyst for others.

In a nut shell, we have to do a better job choosing what we eat and how much of it, and we have to be more active. Ordering a diet soda because you are getting the large fries isn’t going to solve the problem. Neither will exercise “sometime in the future” or “when you get around to it”. You have to take action now and be patient as change may come slowly at first.  Success is fun and contagious, so share the triumphs. Setbacks will surely occur along the way. Don’t worry. Stay focused on the big picture and you will have a better chance of staying on course.

Getting started is the hardest part, but keep in mind that your new lifestyle will make you healthier, sharper mentally, energized, and less likely to succumb to disease. Not only that, you will have a higher quality of life for you and your family as you get older.  Every one of us is going to get older; the only question is what will life be like for us in the future?  Will your future be filled with regret over the things you should have done differently?  Are you prepared to make the right choices now in order to live a healthy, vibrant future?

Gerry Tucker: A passion for life, especially the people that go with it, along with a sense of humor that helps grab the attention of those he meets. An unfulfilled curiosity and the tendency to look at things from a different point of view keep those around him guessing what’s coming up next. A lifelong Harley rider who is also at home cruising down a river or across a lake in his kayak.

Gerry grew up in a large family. Having eight brothers and three sisters has taught him how to survive in a crowd, get along with others and take really fast showers. The experience also helped him understand the need for compromise, patience and adaptability.

It’s all about family, friends, music, coffee, an understanding wife and being aware of the experiences life has to offer.

As president of TryAngles, a sales and customer service training company, he strives to help others enhance the experience to build long-term relationships and restore good old fashion customer service.