March 2007 Archives

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Holiday Magic

By John Gray

Once, when I was a little boy of about 11, I decided to take the $5 I had saved and buy a Christmas gift for my entire family. Since five bucks doesn’t go very far I had an idea—buy a holiday cake all nicely decorated and give it to everyone. I walked to the bakery, put my face to the glass window and my smile melted like an April snowfall. Yes, they had fancy holiday cakes all right, but the cheapest was $10. I went into the bakery anyway and looked around until I found a case filled with plain cakes that were not decorated; no snowmen, turtledoves or elves.
They did have one that was red and green, Christmas colors, for just $5 and while there was nothing special about it something told me to buy it anyway.
As I carried my cake down the sidewalks of Troy toward my home (careful not to step on a crack and break my mother’s back), I noticed something peeking from the ice and snow. What was it? I stopped, gently put the cake down on the ice and brushed away the slush. It was a team of plastic reindeer attached to a sled with Santa sitting up top. A closer inspection told me it was a decoration that someone had dropped.
I scooped up Rudolph and the gang and tucked them in my coat pocket. When I got home I hid the cake on the back porch and snuck into the bathroom to clean my newfound prize. With the help of a little soap and water the decoration looked as good as new. I dried it off, placed it on top of the cake and was amazed. It fit perfect, as if it were made for that cake.
I don’t know if my Mom was really that impressed with my present, but she fussed over that dessert like it was made from gold. Thirty years later I wonder if I was just lucky that day or if maybe Santa himself looked down on a little boy with his face pressed against the bakery window and thought, “I’m going to help this kid out.”
I love the holidays. Everything about them. I love the way families find time to get together if only for one special meal. I love the way the lights look at night as you drive through neighborhoods you’re not familiar with and admire people’s decorations. I especially love the way white lights look in a bush when they are covered with a fluffy new snowfall, glowing like an unopened present.
I love hearing holiday music as you walk the sidewalks of Saratoga or Stuyvesant Plaza window shopping, wishing you had a Visa card with a zero balance. I love the way people are more willing to hold the door for a stranger or wave someone into traffic who is stuck in a parking lot.
I love watching children’s faces as you talk to them about Santa Claus or leaving carrots out for the reindeer who will soon be landing on their rooftops. I love seeing those same children all dressed in their Sunday best holding their parent’s hands as they walk into church on Christmas day. Is there anything cuter than a four-year old boy wearing a suit and tie? Okay, maybe a four-year old girl in a red velvet dress holding a new doll she found under the tree.
I love Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the feeling of absolute peace as you walk out of church into the frigid night with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” echoing from the choir.
I love staying up late with someone I love and wrapping presents on the living room floor in front of a fire with the smell of something delicious drifting in from the kitchen.
I mostly love Christmas the way it used to be when the people who meant the most to me were still here—my Mom and Dad and grandparents. When there weren’t so many divorces in the family and getting the children and grandchildren together didn’t require so much coordination between the “ex’s”. There are a lot of divorced people out there who feel a little like a Rubiks’ cube as they constantly turn the pieces of their lives trying to make it all fit. Moms and Dads trying to jam in some “quality” time before the clock strikes twelve and it’s time to bring the little ones home.
I don’t know what kind of 2006 you had. If it was anything like mine you probably need a tall glass of eggnog with an extra shot of rum. Maybe someone broke your heart. Maybe someone you love is no longer with us. Maybe life just knocked you around the way it sometimes does and you are having trouble paying the phone bill. Maybe you’re just plain tired and there’s very little to be “merry” about this year.
Just know this—there are people who care about you. It could be a co-worker who smiles at you in the hall or the gal who waits on you at the coffee shop every morning or the pastor from the church you haven’t visited in some time. Or even the guy who writes the column on the back page of this fine magazine every month.
I look around at our troubled world and the ignorance, heartache and bloodshed are enough to make you cry. Then you look again and see acts of pure kindness. People delivering meals to the homebound, nurses working double-shifts on the holidays so the children at Albany Med won’t be alone. Volunteers painting rooms at the Ronald McDonald House, organizing a walk for Alzheimer’s, or helping out the athletes at Special Olympics. When I see those selfless acts it makes me believe that no matter how bad today is, tomorrow could be better. Will be better!
This month I want to reach out to those who have a tough time with the holidays. This is my personal invitation for you to contact me. Call me at Fox, send me an email, stop me on the street if you like. This is my home, and if you live here too, you are my neighbor and therefore never alone. You might be surprised how much we have in common.
And if you find yourself feeling low and walking with your head down, keep those eyes open. Take it from an 11-year old kid—you never know when that one thing you need will be right there in front of you buried in the snow. It could be a new friendship or job, maybe a charity that needs your help. Who knows—perhaps you’ll stumble on another lonely heart waiting to be rescued and thawed out by the fire. They say the holidays are a magic time. I think the magic is in you.
John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writing at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com

Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and others had it right: This truly is “The Most Wonderful Time of Year”.
December is that magical time of year when a rush of happiness permeates the air. It’s when the little things excite us— a new box of glittery ornaments, a weekend of baking or finding that perfect stocking stuffer. For others, it could be watching your favorite holiday movie.
Whether it’s “Miracle on 34th Street”, “A Christmas Story”, or “A Christmas Carol”, watching a holiday movie brings back memories for many. For me, it’s arriving home with my brothers after school to discover the house has been turned into a winter wonderland by our mother. It’s the cookies waiting for us to put sprinkles on before they go into the oven. It’s a Saturday afternoon spent around the dining room table painting numerous wooden ornaments (and my mother re-doing them when we weren’t looking).
This month bring back memories of your own by treating yourself to a true holiday favorite –“It’s a Wonderful Life” will be playing on the big screen at Albany’s Palace Theatre on December 13 at 1pm and 7pm. For only five dollars, you can view this movie the way many did when it was first released back in 1946.
For this issue, we’ve gathered over 100 other fun holiday events for you and your family to enjoy. One of my favorite things to do is visit historic houses adorned for the season. A list of houses in the area and a few downstate.
Also, a holiday gift guide, broken up into price categories for your convenience. For help in taming your kid’s expectations this year, read Dr. Cale’s article.
Whether it’s a movie, a sound, a smell or a tradition that brings back your favorite memories during this time of year, be sure to sit back, relax and take it all in. It is, after all, a wonderful time of year!
From all of us at CRL, we wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season.

Enjoy!

Mary Beth DeCecco
marybeth@capitalregionliving.com

Season’s greetings!
Below is an overview of gift books perfect for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list.
Perhaps you’ll find one or two titles to add to your own wish list, too—happy reading!

Humor
Humor books abound this time of year; there are books for every age and taste. Bob Newhart fans will be delighted to receive his new book, I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny (Hyperion—$23.95) Newhart’s deadpan, self-deprecating style shines in this very funny memoir, which covers his career from his stand-up days until today and includes anecdotes about his memorable friends, such as Don Rickles, Dean Martin and Jack Benny. With this book, Newhart proves that sometimes nice guys do finish first.
For younger humor fans, there is I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics ($23.95—Crown). “Top” comics might be a little bit of a stretch, but this collection of tales of hecklers, bad gigs, touring woes and other assorted disasters will convince all but the truly committed never to try standup comedy. Ritch Shydner and Mark Schiff, both standup comedians and sitcom writers, compiled these stories and Jerry Seinfeld wrote the introduction. Warning: This is definitely an R-rated comedy collection—not for the faint-hearted.
My guess is that 99 percent of New Yorker readers peruse the cartoons before they read the rest of the magazine. Two new cartoon collections will delight these readers: The Rejection Collection ($22.95—Simon Spotlight Entertainment) edited by Matthew Diffie and Theories of Everything: Selected, Collected, Health-Inspected Cartoons by Roz Chast, 1978-2006 ($45—Bloomsbury). Matthew Diffie asked 30 regular New Yorker cartoonists to choose their favorites from their rejected pile and from that stack he culled his favorites. The result is a quirkier, goofier, more risqué collection of cartoons submitted, but never published. Judging from the hilarity content, space was the main reason these cartoons didn’t make the cut in the magazine.
Roz Chast is a regular contributor to the New Yorker. Her new cartoon collection, the follow-up to The Party, After You Left is a selection of her cartoons spanning the last 28 years.

Pop-ups
Adult pop-up books are a big item this season. As children’s pop-up books become more sophisticated and collectible (think Robert Sabuda), savvy publishers are expanding their audience by moving into the adult market. My favorite is Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour ($40—Quirk Books), by Chuck Murphy with a foreword by Priscilla Presley. I will eventually visit Graceland in Memphis, but until then I will be satisfied with this paper-engineered tour. It’s all there—the jungle room, the meditation garden, the television room and more. The kitchen spread not only displays the kitchen, but it also includes a refrigerator and cabinets you can open to see what the King’s shelves were stocked with. Sidebars on each page give further details about the estate and Elvis’s life. Published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Graceland’s status as a national historic landmark, this will delight Elvis fans everywhere.
Film lovers will enjoy Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense ($29.95—Simon & Schuster). It features seven of Hitchcock’s films, one per pop-up. Best of all, each spread has a lift-the-flap sidebar that shows the scene in which Hitchcock has his usual walk-on role.
Two more pop-up books deserve brief mention—The Pop-Up Book of Celebrity Meltdowns by Bruce Foster ($29.95— Melcher Media) and The Pop-Up Book of Sex by Balvis Rubess and Kees Moerbeck ($29.95—HarperCollins). The first features the escapades of Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Paris Hilton. The second is self-explanatory. Both are perfect for pop-culture mavens, but be forewarned—they are both R-rated.

Entertaining
Parties are a huge part of the holidays and there are many books on entertaining in case you need new ideas for your gathering this year. The most elegant is A Passion for Parties, by Carolyne Roehm (Random House—$50). Gorgeous photographs of well-manicured landscapes, artfully arranged place settings and beautiful people abound in this spectacular volume. Recipes and party planning tips are at the end of the book, but this is the kind of entertaining one dreams of; in the real world, you are more likely to reach for Barefoot Contessa at Home if you need helpful hints for your next soiree ($35 – Random House). Ina Garten’s newest book features simple recipes with simple ingredients, beautifully presented. Her advice to the hostess is keep it simple and make sure your guests are comfortable. Anyone who gives dinner parties would enjoy this book. On the more plebeian end of the spectrum is Amy Sedaris’s new book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence ($27.99—Warner). The intended audience for this book is young, hip and financially challenged; the recipes are simple and don’t require exotic ingredients. While some of her musings should be taken with a grain of salt, this is a fun, hipster take on how to entertain.

Susan Taylor has been in the book business, in one aspect or another, since 1982. She recently returned to the Capital District after 14 years in the Boston area (which included stints at the Harvard Bookstore and the Wellesley Booksmith), and is happily re-employed at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. Stop by the store if you are looking for a good book—she’s read a lot more than she can talk about here!

Mexican Radio, an outstanding choice for authentic food and ambiance

Overall rating on a scale of 1-10
Service 9 •Food 9 •Ambiance 9 •Price $$$

By Danielle Pitanello

I think that everyone has their own idea of what makes a great restaurant. In my opinion, great restaurants pay attention to aesthetics. They take pains to be consistent with each dish. They do not bristle with annoyance if you ask for flexible options. They also clearly state what their “best” dishes are; these are dishes that the chef makes better than most, if not all others.
Mexican Radio, a treasure in the heart of the antiques district of Hudson, NY, measures up in these ways and more. Housed in a 1840s building on Warren Street that has been home to a private residence, a department store and an antiques store, this three-year old restaurant is the second of the same name for husband and wife owners Lori Sheldon and Mark Young, who opened the first Mexican Radio in Manhattan about 10 years ago.
On a weekend afternoon, my husband and I set out for a daytrip to Hudson in search of an antique vase (which we found) and had every intention of dining here.
Aside from the food itself, the décor also awakens your senses. The two-floor restaurant is painted with bright colors and decorated with Mexican folk and religious art imagery.
High ceilings create a feeling of spaciousness, and the bar itself has its own history, as it was made using local barn wood from the 17th century.
Feeling as if we were transported to Mexico, we started with standard fare of salsa and chips while we perused the large menu. The salsa was spicy, but not overbearing; the chips warm and crisp. My husband cleaned the plate which is praise in itself, as he makes mean salsa that most others don’t measure up to. There is a small $3.50 charge for the chips and salsa, but well worth it.
A visit to a Mexican restaurant wouldn’t be complete without a glass of Sangria, so it was only fitting that we tried their homemade version of this wine. It was fruity and light and carried us through the zesty dishes.
It is important to note that this restaurant is a vegetarian’s haven. Aside from the many choices, Sheldon, herself a strict vegetarian, makes sure the meat dishes and vegetarian dishes don’t mingle and even maintains a separate fryer for the tortilla chips.
I began my meal with a Black Bean and Butternut Squash soup. The bowl was divided in half with both thick soups and then swirled with sour cream. I could have happily ended my meal here, but chose to move forward for review purposes.
My husband chose a Chicken Tortilla Soup. It had pulled chicken, avocado, carrots, corn and sour cream. It was a spicy soup, but again not overbearing or “hot”. Rather, it had just enough kick to it.
We shared our main meal of Enchiladas. You can choose to have all the same filling or try all three. We opted for the latter and ordered cheese, chicken and vegetable. We also choose all three sauces —the house which is chocolate and fruity (Mole), Raspberry Chipotle and spicy Verde. This dish, with so many choices, was priced at $16.95 and was perfect for sharing.
All dishes are served with either Pinto beans or rice. We both opted for the pinto beans.
Our meal was authentic Mexican the whole way. I am certainly not the only reviewer that has been blown away by this restaurant. They have won numerous awards both in Hudson and NYC for their food and margaritas.
If you’re in town for the Winter Walk on Warren Street on December 2, take a break from the traditional holiday festivities to enjoy an untraditional holiday meal.
Total price including tip: $50
Mexican Radio is located on 537 Warren Street in Hudson, NY. Open daily for lunch and dinner. For more information call 828.7770; www.mexrad.com

By Henry Klein III

Wine clubs are a unique way to explore a variety of exceptional wines with the convenience of door-to-door delivery. These days, wine clubs are a dime a dozen. There are wine clubs for an array of wine enthusiasts: Red Wine Clubs, White Wine Clubs, International Wine Clubs, Dessert Wine Clubs, Wine Clubs for Women, Wine Clubs for Book Clubs, and the list goes on.

The basics
Although each club varies, most send two bottles of wine per shipment. Shipments are once a month and usually come with literature about each bottle of wine. Prices vary and can be anywhere from $18 per shipment to over $200 per shipment, depending on which club and which level you are joining. Memberships often are available for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months or monthly.
Additionally, although not as common, but worth mentioning, are wine clubs that don’t ship wine, but send monthly publications about wine. One such publication is the Connoisseurs’ Guide To California Wine. This guide offers unbiased critical reviews of California wines, as well as wines from the Pacific Northwest. Each monthly issue covers one or more wine varieties and contains reviews of 150-200 bottles, as well as broad recommendations of other wines. These publications are a great way to educate and expose yourself to the many wines that are available. Membership for this guide ranges from $60 to $130 for one year, depending on which subscription is obtained.

A closer look
My good friend and fellow wine enthusiast, Bob McNamara (AKA Albany Bob), gives rave reviews to the wine club that he belongs to, The California Wine Club. In his words, he enjoys “receiving a different sample on a regular basis, wines that you’re not going to find on your local shelves, from a place that is knowledgeable about the wine that is sent.” Bob, a financial consultant, enjoys the club so much that he often gives different memberships to clients as gifts.

About the club
The California Wine Club was founded in 1990 by Bruce and Pam Boring after often becoming frustrated trying to select a decent bottle of wine from thousands of pretty labels with a variety of prices. The Boring’s travel California’s wine country from Napa to Sonoma and Temecula to Santa Barbara, in and search of limited production wines from small, family-owned wineries dedicated to the art of making fine wine. The wines selected are typically limited production wines that are not usually found in local wine stores.

Levels of membership
The California Wine Club offers three levels of membership: The Premier Club, Signature Series and International Selections.
The Premier Club is The California Wine Club’s oldest and most popular wine of the month club. It is a great way to learn more about wine and the California wine scene. This level is offered at $32.95 per shipment plus shipping. Each shipment includes two bottles of award-winning wine and a detailed, full color 12 page magazine, Uncorked. Uncorked features the stories behind the wines, one-of-a-kind recipes from the winemaking families, wine country suggestions such as places to stay and dine, fun facts, games, wine trivia and interviews with wine country notables. Membership at this level can be monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly and can include one bottle of red and one bottle of white or two bottles of red or two bottles of white.
The Signature Series is the wine club’s upper-level. The wines sent to these members are highly rated and extremely rare wines. Each shipment includes two to four bottles of hand-selected wine along with detailed tasting notes and winemaker comments. This level is offered at a range of $150 to $225 per shipment depending on the wines being featured (shipping is included in this level). Wines can include either a red and a white or all red, and can be received monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly.
The International Selections Club is California Wine Club’s newest club. It features limited quantity wines from countries like France, Spain, Italy and South Africa, as well as others. The wines are from smaller family-owned wineries, imported directly by the California Wine Club and not available anywhere else in the United States. Shipments include two bottles of wine hand-selected from boutique wineries, along with a full color newsletter about the wines. Shipments at this level cost $50 to $70, and are offered either bi-monthly or quarterly and can include one red and one white, two reds or two whites.

Benefits of membership:
• Receive wine from smaller, boutique style wineries whose wines are not typically found in local wine shops
• Conveniently delivered to your door
• Wines delivered monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly
• No bulk, closeout or private label wines
• Three and four bottle shipments available
• Choose red, white or a combination of red and white wine
• No distributor
• Reorder wine from past selections often at a discounted price
• Experienced wine consultants to assist with wine choices and questions
• Wine Country travel experts to help plan a wine country getaway
• Full color newsletter to learn about wine and California’s wine scene
• No membership fee
• Membership can be cancelled at any time

Gift giving
Wine clubs are a wonderful way to experience an array of exceptional wines, and without a doubt, make a memorable gift for relatives, friends and business associates. You can give as much as you wish, anywhere from one to twelve months, and you can tailor your gift to meet your recipient’s wine tastes and interests. With so many choices available, it’s easy to find a club to meet the style and budget you desire. What better way to celebrate good times and the holiday season than with great wine?
Wine of the Month: Renwood Zinfandel “Sierra Series” 2003. $14/bottle.
Henry Klein III is owner of Cabernet Café, 1814 Western Avenue, Guilderland. For more information call 452.5670 or visit www.cabernetcafe.com.

By Raymond F. Angelini, Ph.D.

Turmoil and stress in relationships can happen at anytime, but tensions often run higher during the holiday season. With the different expectations each person has about the season, increased financial pressure and physical demands, it’s no wonder that conflicts are bound to arise.
We often expect the holidays to be a time of celebration with friends and family. However, the holidays invariably bring the unwelcome guests of stress and depression along with them. According to a recent Dateline NBC and Prevention Magazine poll, 41percent of us find the holiday season to be “somewhat” or “very stressful.” But, on a positive note, one of the best things about holiday stress is that it is predictable. Unlike the stress we encounter in life that catches us off guard, holiday stress has a definite beginning and ending; therefore we can reduce the negative impact it can have on us. The following are 10 tips I have used myself and with my clients over the years to help minimize holiday stress:

1. Prioritize
Decide beforehand what traditions and activities are most important to you and make sure you set time aside for these. One of the major stresses of the holiday season is overactivity, and eliminating activities that are not really important is essential to reducing stress.

2. Simplify
We simply cannot do it all. Many of us run ourselves ragged trying to do all the things we believe we have to do. For example, if you simply cannot stand the idea of not baking, do so, but on a smaller scale. It won’t kill you to buy baked goods from a bakery or the grocery store. In fact, you will likely find that with respect to holiday activities, less is often more in terms of improving your overall holiday experience.

3. Take time out
The holiday season is often such a frenzied time we fail to “take time and smell the holly”, so to speak. Be sure to allow yourself sufficient downtime, otherwise you are likely to find yourself exhausted and drained rather than joyous and fulfilled.

4. Be understanding
Try to be tolerant of each other’s mood swings during the holidays. Try to accept family members and friends as they are rather than how you would like them to be. Strive to be extra tolerant, for our family members and friends are probably feeling the effects of holiday stress too!

5. Be proactive
Strive to plan ahead and set aside specific times for baking, shopping, visiting friends and family, etc. This will help you avoid the stress often associated with doing things at the last minute. Also, allow extra time for everything so that inevitable delays and snafus won’t add to your stress.

6. Set limits
Learn to say no. Most of us are asked to do more during the holiday season than we are the rest of the year. The magic of “no” can greatly reduce holiday stress.

7. Continue healthy habits
Don’t stop going to the gym or eating right during the holidays. Most often, it is our healthy habits that fall by the wayside during the holidays. Try at all costs to avoid this. Once the holidays are over, you’ll be very glad that you did.

8. Exercise financial restraint
It is very easy to overspend during the holidays. Setting and sticking to a budget when it comes to holiday spending can greatly reduce stress, especially when those credit card bills come rolling in during January.

9. Have realistic expectations
As we change and grow, so must our holiday traditions. What was possible when we were 25 may no longer be when we are 60. Strive to maintain as many of your cherished holiday traditions as possible, but also be open to starting new traditions, which can be just as rewarding and memorable.

10. Let go of perfectionism
Remember, the holidays were not invented by Hallmark or Martha Stewart! Real life holidays usually bear little resemblance to those portrayed on television or in the movies. Expect and accept imperfections, because they will surely show up. Remember, the best gift you can give your family and friends is your presence, not your presents! This is the best formula I know of for a happier and healthier holiday.

Dr. Raymond Angelini of New Horizons Coaching has been in private practice for over 15 years in Saratoga Springs and specializes in assisting individuals in finding and sustaining careers that are more rewarding, life enhancing and in keeping with one’s personal and spiritual values. For more information, pleases feel free to visit www.newhorizonscoaching.com or email Dr. Angelini at newhorizons@spa.net.

By Randy Cale, PH.D

Okay, let’s face it—most children get too many gifts during the holidays. Certainly, it’s not true for some children, but most families have become hooked on making the big day one that is overflowing with gifts.
Is this a problem? Not always, but usually we find that the more stuff children get the less they seem to appreciate it. Just notice for yourself. Most of us didn’t have a fraction of the toys and goodies that our kids have. And we certainly didn’t have one-tenth of the number of entertainment options. Yet, with all of these goodies are your children happier, more joy-filled, more grateful?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. If there were any data to argue that children having more and more stuff made them happier and happier, I would be the first to jump up and down and support the continued growth of consumerism for the holidays. But in reality, having more toys doesn’t make for happier children (and the same is true for grown-ups). In fact, the more that we accumulate stuff, the less we value it.
As the holiday season roles around, many parents are asking how to handle the expanding requests and demands of their children’s gift list. I would like to suggest a different question that takes us all in a different direction: What values do you want to promote with the gifts you buy your children?
If your children spend significant time in front of the TV or surf the Internet with passion then we must assume that parental values are over-ridden by those of advertisers. If they can convince your children to bug you for something, you will most likely give in.
But, I am suggesting that you start from a different place. What really supports the values your want to see develop in your children? Not likely the new video game. Or the CD all their friends rave about. Or a new TV in their bedroom. All major mistakes, if the goal is to support healthy values.
So what can you do?
Consider how you can separate your family from the “more, more, more” formula and nurture values that you really care about. Here are a few simple ideas that can help you keep your feet on the ground.
Be joyful about setting limits on expectations. As the holiday season rolls around, it is helpful to set limits on your kid’s expectations. More and more, I see parents trying to fulfill a wish list of 25 items. Out of fear of disappointment, or a desire to please, they go on a search to find every item, leveraging their credit cards well beyond their comfort zone.
You can stop this madness by controlling your kid’s expectations. For young kids, you can probably do this best by telling them that Santa will only give three toys or four toys to each little boy and girl. Explain that Santa simply can’t give every child everything they want.
For older kids, you can tell them that you won’t consider more than five items on their list. Of course this won’t stop them from making a longer list and that’s okay. You simply control the expectation up front, as best you can by stating clearly what you can do.
Learn Santa’s secret: “Santa knows what’s best for you.” As you begin to make your choices, you can continue to manage your children’s expectations. I like to give kids the message that “It’s Santa’s job to know what’s best for you.” Explain that Santa is probably going to pick three toys that he feels you really need, and that will be it.
For older kids, who refuse to pare down their list to the essentials, let them know that you’ll be making the choice about what is best for them if they cannot.
The more you give…the less they appreciate. It’s the law. You don’t have to trust me on this one. Just open your eyes and look around. The more that our lives become focused on the “stuff”, the more that the “stuff” takes on the roles of filling our addictions. Kids get addicted to immediate stimulation, limitless entertainment and passively absorbing entertainment, rather than being actively engaged.
Choose gifts that work their intellectual and creative minds. Many of today’s electronic toys actually put less demand on your child’s creative muscle. Granted, it’s often what they want and these toys can be quite entertaining. But, is it in harmony with your values?
Parents can make a huge difference by picking some toys/activities where they participate partially in the creative process. I find most parents are very concerned about their child’s creativity and their intellectual development. If this is the case, then shop for toys that nurture these skills. Many will not be mainstream items. Some ideas include:
• Ready Set Learn series of toys
• Building type toys—Legos or erector sets
• Art type toys, like paint
• Writing tools for older kids that encourage creative writing
• Science projects for older kids and parents to work on together
Bottom line: It makes sense to pay attention to your values—not my values, not the advertiser’s values, not your neighbor’s values…it needs to be your values that dictate what choices makes sense to you. I encourage you to be willing to set clear expectations in advance, and focus on choosing gifts that are in harmony with what you truly view as beneficial for your child’s long-term development. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Dr. Randy Cale, a Clifton Park based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist, offers practical guidance for a host of parenting concerns. Dr. Cale’s new website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

By Rebecca Rice M.S., L.AC.

One of the most personal events of human existence is conception. We are essentially combining our DNA with our partner's DNA to form a whole new life. A perfectly structured interplay of hormonal regulation must occur in order for a quality egg and a quality sperm to be produced, for the egg to be released from the ovary at the proper time during the menstrual cycle, for the uterine environment to be optimal, and for healthy embryonic and fetal development to occur. When you look in a textbook at the interactions in the hormonal trajectory that govern conception and fetal development, one can see that the physiological mechanisms of the body are quite sophisticated. For some couples, conceiving and giving birth to a healthy baby seems to come easily, while other couples have more challenges. This may be due to physical blockages in the womb, hormonal abnormalities, male factors, or a slew of other biomedical conditions. Some couples may be diagnosed as having unexplained infertility. The role of western medicine in the couple experiencing problems with conceiving is extraordinary. Medical doctors, specifically reproductive endocrinologists, can pinpoint where in the interplay of hormonal changes there is a malfunction preventing conception. Modern medicine can analyze the sperm and perform internal visual examinations of the womb to check for obstructions like invasive fibroids or scarring. Because modern medicine has the tools to assess many physiological aspects, its role in reproductive healthcare is paramount.
Chinese medicine has a role as well. When used as a piece of the puzzle in the treatment of fertility difficulties, the effects on the individual, based in holistic therapeutics, are broad and often profound. Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, will address the whole person. This means with treatments, a practitioner will address the fertility concern by treating the root cause of the imbalance that is creating the infertility. Irregular periods, high FSH or premature ovarian failure may be just a ‘symptom’ of the fundamental imbalance, not the cause of infertility from the standpoint of Chinese medicine. The root cause is diagnosed by methods used in Chinese medicine that are not implemented in western medicine. Using the two medicines, East and West, is the most comprehensive avenue of treating most conditions, especially one as intricate as infertility.
There are many means by which Chinese medicine can address infertility. With the condition of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), the woman may not ovulate or may do so infrequently and/or irregularly. A study has shown acupuncture to induce ovulation by way of the hypo-thalamic pituitary axis (the regulatory axis of a woman’s menstrual cycle). With acupuncture, there is potential for an irregular cycle to become regular, for the uterine lining to be an optimal thickness, for moisture to be present, and for conditions like endometriosis to be addressed. During the process of conceiving, with or without ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology), stress and emotional strain are heightened. Acupuncture reduces stress, which in a recent study published by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's Fertility and Sterility Journal, reported that stress impairs the success rate in IVF cycles (In Vitro Fertilization) up to 93 percent.
Chinese medical theory holds that balance is the most important aspect in the maintenance of health. Patients who are in the midst of trying to conceive naturally or with ART will find benefit in eating a whole foods diet, supplementing with herbs or nutraceuticals as needed, getting plenty of rest and exercise, reducing stress and having a healthy state of mind.

Rebecca Rice M.S., L.AC. is a licensed acupuncturist with practices in Delmar at The Center for Integrative Health and Healing and in Saratoga at One Roof. She focuses her practice on the treatment of reproductive health. She can be reached at 689.2244.

Boys and their toys

By John Gray

It started for me with Rockem Sockem robots. Is there anything cooler than punching another guy in the chin and watching his head pop off? Video games were non-existent when I was a child unless you count a game called “Pong”. This featured a little white dot traveling back and forth on the TV screen at roughly the speed of a turtle on sedatives. If kids today saw that game they would think they were watching paint dry, but 30 years ago that was cutting edge stuff. Air hockey, ping pong, spending a rainy Sunday afternoon sinking another guy’s ‘battleship’; these were the bread and butter of my youth.
Just because you grow up doesn’t mean you have to put away your toys. You know what they say about boys and their toys—as they get older they still want them, but they tend to get a bit more expensive. Since the magazine this month is dedicating some of its space to this very topic I thought I’d offer my own insight into all the toys I can’t afford and would no doubt hurt myself using if I could.
Two wheels or three—Like every child, I was lucky enough to have a bicycle when I was a boy. Unfortunately I grew up in the 70’s when a crazy man named Evel Knievel was jumping over everything in sight with his motorcycle. Being a silly boy, my friends and I would stack bricks on top of each other, lean a board against them to create a ramp and try to imitate the daredevil. I never broke any bones, but did chip a tooth going over the handlebars. Did I mention 12-year-olds tend to have more pimples than brain cells?
I have only driven a motorcycle once in my life. I was 15 and a friend of my brother’s let me climb on his after three weeks of non-stop begging. I kid you not when I tell you the ride lasted 1.2 seconds. I popped the clutch, gunned the throttle and the dirt bike immediately shot straight up in the air like the space shuttle. Unfortunately, I didn’t reach the clouds. The bike came straight back down on the tail light, breaking it and then fell over on its side. I’m pretty sure the bike’s owner would have pummeled me if I didn’t have two big brothers to protect me.
I’ve never driven an ATV, but if I was going to give one a spin I would definitely turn to the Neimann Marcus catalogue and buy the GG Quad ATV. If a muscle car and a motorcycle got married and had a child this is what it would look like. It is beyond cool and retails for a reasonable $56,465. It boasts having 95 horsepower under the hood. I have no idea what that means, but it sounds impressive. If you plan to crash something, why not make it a vehicle that costs more than your college education?
I have gas—The ultimate boy toy is the gas grill because it brings man back to his caveman days, where all he needed was fire and a hunk of raw meat to have a good time. Most married women will tell you that just watching their husbands is proof positive that man hasn’t evolved all that much from the cave; the inappropriate scratching, bad hygiene, the growling when someone tries to take the last chicken nugget.
Now, some people prefer to barbeque the old fashioned way by putting charcoal into a grill, spraying in a quart of lighter fluid and tossing in a match to create a small nuclear explosion. We lazy folk prefer to have a gas grill that does all the work for us. Sure you could go to the store and buy a grill for $200 bucks, but this is America where, with a credit card and a 21% interest rate, you can purchase a small kitchen and roll it into the backyard. A grill that clearly says to everyone in the neighborhood, “Oh yeah, top this!” Just for giggles I went online and found something ridiculous called the Bread Baker Two Gourmet Grill.
Retailing at $8,590, it promises to give you the ultimate grilling experience. It has 862 square inches of cooking surface. If you are not good with math, that’s roughly the size of Green Island give or take a couple of feet. It also generates 176,000 BTU’s of heat so it can cook an entire cow in 30 seconds. For those who don’t know, BTU stands for “Burnt Till Unrecognizable”.
Whether you buy the $9,000 grill or something George Foreman may use, I would like to offer you one piece of advice. It’s a life lesson I learned the hard way: Do not attempt to put a grill together yourself unless you like cursing and throwing tools. In fact, if that was an Olympic event I’m sure I’d medal. Whatever they charge you at the store for assembly is worth it. The typical grill comes with 1,242 small screws and bolts, and directions that have the audacity to say, “Congratulations on the purchase of your new grill.” Trust me—this is not a time for celebration or congratulations. Put it back in the box and have the nice man at the store put it together for you.
I need more plasma—Every villain in the James Bond movies has a secret room where he pushes a button and a wall full of flat screen TV’s appears. It’s here where he plots to overthrow the world and watch “Grey’s Anatomy” on Thursday nights. (Hey, even evil people cried when Denny died last season.) Every guy wants a room like this in his house to watch football on Sunday. For someone who works on TV I know very little about the technology. What I do know is that the more letters in the name of the TV the more expensive it is—HD, LCD, the Grand Wega 720p. One thing is certain, if you buy anything 50 inches or larger you’ll have to give the store an IOU.
My Sidekick loves Blackberrys—I guess the most popular boy toy these days fits in the palm of your hand. We can’t go anywhere without being in constant contact with the world around us. Personal devices that allow us to talk, text, email, watch videos, play music, take photos and do everything but walk the dog (although I hear that’s coming!)
I love technology and can’t imagine life without it, but the greatest joy for most “boys” doesn’t come from expensive toys. Show me a father who wouldn’t trade all his high tech gadgets for a game of pitch and catch with his son. You remember pitch and catch don’t you? It involves a white ball slowly going back and forth between two people, kind of like “Pong”. Proving the point that the more things change the more they stay the same. And thank goodness for that.
John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writing at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com

Sometimes life throws curveballs at you. And you have to learn to cope with those curveballs. That’s the case for nearly 54 million mentally and physically disabled individuals in the country. One facility in the Capital Region is helping these individuals lead rich, full lives.
I recently met Margie Sheehan, director of communications, public relations and development of New Visions in Slingerlands, and was invited to visit the facility. Both she and Executive Director Andrew McKenzie took me on a tour, and it was immediately clear how much they enjoyed their jobs. Walking through the halls, we encountered many program participants with various disabilities, some more severe than others. No matter the disability, the participants love to socialize, especially when they see a new face. As we navigated through the halls, we stopped a few times so Andrew and Margie could chat with some of them. With over 600 program participants, what amazed me most is that Margie and Andrew knew everyone by name. They patted a few of the participants on the back and greeted them with handshakes, treating everyone with dignity and respect. The beaming smiles and excitement were contagious and heartwarming. And it certainly makes you marvel that, even though these adults are suffering with problems, they still have smiles on their faces.
Since March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, it seemed fitting that I write an article about this great facility. Learn more about New Visions. And keep in mind that volunteers are always welcome. To quote actor Danny Thomas: “Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.”

This month’s guilty pleasure is the very The Devil Wears Prada-esque Because She Can by Bridie Clark.

This month’s guilty pleasure is the very The Devil Wears Prada-esque Because She Can by Bridie Clark. The devil in the first novel, which was set in a magazine suspiciously like Vogue, was reputed to be Anna Wintour. In this case, the hellish workplace is a publishing house, and the over-the-top lunatic boss, Vivian Grant, is supposedly based on Judith Regan, the recently fired eponymous editor of ReganBooks. (You may remember the recent scandal about OJ Simpson’s book, If I Did It, which was pulled from the marketplace due to intense public outcry – that was the brainchild of Judith Regan, an editor not known for her good taste.) Bridie Clark, the author, has worked at several publishing houses and is keeping mum about her inspiration, but imagining Judith Regan as Vivian Grant is very easy. On with the book—Claire Truman, a mild-mannered assistant editor at a staid, respectable publishing house, has her life turned upside-down when she is offered a high-paying job as an editor working for Vivian Grant. The new title and the salary draw her in, but soon she is working non-stop, attending book release parties in strip clubs and catering to her boss’s every insane whim. As if her work life isn’t crazy enough, she is also planning a wedding to her long-term crush and short-term boyfriend and editing the manuscript of an attractive author whose interest in her seems more than businesslike. What’s a poor girl to do? This is an ideal book for a spring break read on the beach and you’ll have fun mentally casting the movie. All in all, it’s an entertaining confection, and if Judith Regan was anything like Vivian Grant, her former employees are doubtless chortling with glee.
Novels based on classics are always a gamble. The basics are there in the original—the characters, the setting, the style of writing—but most sequels range from mediocre (The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall) to abysmal (Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley). In happy contrast, we now have Pamela Aidan’s new trilogy, a companion piece to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Aidan places Mr. Darcy at the center of the action and retells the whole story. An Assembly Such as This begins with Darcy’s arrival in Meryton and ends with his and Bingley’s departure for London. Duty and Desire: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman illuminates the events that occurred off camera in Pride and Prejudice; Elizabeth Bennett doesn’t make an appearance at all, but Darcy’s background and family are explored at length. These Three Remain resumes with Darcy’s next encounter with Elizabeth during his visit to Lady Catherine and concludes with their engagement and wedding. Without deviating from Jane Austen’s restrained, almost prim style, Aidan gives us a fuller picture of Fitzwilliam Darcy, gentleman. His relationships with his sister, Georgiana; his valet, Fletcher; and Mr. Bingley and his sisters are brought to life. New characters are so seamlessly introduced as to seem a natural part of the original story. This is a wonderful trilogy and would be perfect for book groups who have read Pride and Prejudice. I read the trilogy with the original by my side, and while the conversations between Elizabeth and Darcy are straight from the original, how different they appear in the minds of each character! Jane Austen fans will not be disappointed.
For fans of Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy, there’s a new historical novelist on the block. Alison Weir is a longtime historian who has published many non-fiction books on English history. Innocent Traitor is her first work of fiction. It is based on the life of Lady Jane Grey, the ill-fated queen who was on the throne for nine days between the death of Edward VI and the ascension to the throne of Mary I, also known as “Bloody Mary”. Weir’s sympathetic view of Jane’s loveless childhood dominated by her ruthlessly ambitious parents, illustrate the fertile ground in which her fervent religious faith flourished. Jane, an intelligent and well-educated girl has lessons with the boy king and she soon becomes as single-minded in her Protestant convictions as he. While this is going on, her parents are laying the groundwork for her to take over the throne after Edward’s death. Weir does an excellent job of depicting the power struggles behind the throne when a sickly child is king and religious turmoil threatens a nation. The tapestry of the Tudor court is vividly portrayed, as is the cruelty of religious intolerance made law. Jane’s attempts to remain true to herself while being forced to acquiesce to her parents’ schemes make this an affecting and gripping story. Alison Weir has every chance of being as popular as Philippa Gregory—I hope this won’t be her last novel!
Susan Taylor has been in the book business, in one aspect or another, since 1982. She recently returned to the Capital District after 14 years in the Boston area (which included stints at the Harvard Bookstore and the Wellesley Booksmith), and is happily re-employed at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. Stop by the store if you are looking for a good book—she’s read a lot more than she can talk about here!

A taste of Paris with Albany prices

Overall rating on a scale of 1-10
Service 10 • Food - 8 • Ambiance - 9 • Price - $$$

By L.P. Clark

For twelve years, Nicole’s Bistro has enjoyed the reputation of a restaurant that can be relied on to offer consistent, quality dining in a warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s housed in the oldest building in Albany, the historic Quackenbush House, across from the equally historic Palace Theatre. As long as there is no event at the Palace, on street parking is easy to find.
With a relatively small dining area, it is wise to plan ahead. We tried to make a reservation for a Tuesday night, but were unsuccessful because two large parties occupied the entire restaurant. So we went back two days later, which turned out to be quite slow, but I still recommend making reservations in advance.
Entering the restaurant feels like walking into a friend’s house. That familiar and welcoming atmosphere is apparent from the full company of regulars at the bar. The decor artfully combines French touches with classic Albany scenes, as well as a “wall of fame” that features well known patrons of Nicole’s.
Our server, Sarah, seated us in the corner, a romantic location next to the decorative fireplace. Darling Dinner Date (D3) and I settled in to peruse the menu’s wide variety of classically French choices like pate, duck and the quintessential cheese plate, mixed with more eclectic offerings like a Tapas sampler and the Kobe beef burger. I previously had looked at the menu online and immediately noticed a difference. The Coq Au Vin, classic French chicken cooked in red wine, had been changed from being served with risotto to being served over egg noodles. Since I was looking forward to the risotto, I inquired about the change. After checking with the chef, Sarah returned to tell me it was available. She also told us about the specials, one of them being crab cakes, making our choices even more difficult.
D3 opted to start with the mushroom ragout and have the Coq Au Vin for his main course. I ordered the crab cakes and, with the temperature close to zero, was unable to resist the French onion soup. We were given a few slices of fresh warm baguette accompanied by extra virgin olive with basil for dipping, and soon after our appetizers and soup arrived, which provided an auspicious start to the meal. The cheese on the French onion soup was perfect, not stringy at all; it melted down into the crock and then into my mouth. The broth was fresh and typical for a French restaurant; the bread in the soup was wonderful day old baguette. Having French onion soup at Nicole’s could ruin it for you at other restaurants. The mushroom ragout was placed on a tart and topped with a sherry cream sauce; it was wonderfully rich and creamy and complemented by unique pickled peppers.
We had just the right amount of time to savor the memory of the appetizers when our entrees arrived. As D3 began taking the chicken off the bone of his Coq Au Vin, it became obvious he had made a fabulous choice. He could have done it with a spoon or, quite possibly, with the right tone of voice, lulled the meat from the bone. It was that tender and delicious, with none of the juices going to waste as they were seeping into an already creamy risotto flavored with French Herbs du Provence. Both of our meals came with fresh steamed green beans and carrots cooked to a perfect al dente, preserving all of the flavorful nutrients. My crab cakes were traditional and delicious in their simplicity, allowing the flavor of the crab to shine through. The cakes were accompanied by a more adventurous pesto mayonnaise on the side. The side of brown rice pilaf had a pleasant flavor and crunch, albeit a tad on the salty side. I didn’t finish the rice in order to save room for dessert and D3 followed suit. He decided to take some of his home to make way for the sweet finish.
We didn’t know what Sabayon Gateau was, so we asked. It is a dense chocolate cake layered with lightly whipped chocolate mousse, which is then covered with a thick dark chocolate icing over top. D3 was sold on this; I like to feel as though I am finishing my meal with a light touch, so I ordered the Belgian Chocolate Mousse (I knew the only thing light about it is the texture). Both desserts were phenomenal and, against our better judgment, we finished them both. They each came with fresh whipped cream topped with cinnamon, which could have been a dessert unto itself.
Dinner for two with a glass of wine, two beers, appetizers, meals and dessert was $102, before tip. If you have never been to Nicole’s Bistro, you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t been there in awhile, it will be as good as you remembered it. The chef also offers a prix fixe menu Monday through Friday, with more limited selections and prix fixe menus for special occasions. Nicole’s Bistro continues to live up to its reputation for fine dining and superb service, all in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Nicole’s Bistro is located at 25 Quackenbush House in Albany. Serving lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner Monday-Saturday 5pm-10pm. For more information call 465.1111 or visit www.nicolesbistro.com.

By Barry Sears

?Have you ever gone into a store to purchase a bottle of wine, and as you walk in and see all the different choices, start to feel a little overwhelmed? When they all look the same, how do you tell which ones are good and which ones aren’t? Over the years, I have learned several tricks to help in narrowing the choices. Here are three secrets to “picking wine like a pro”.
Rule number one: Look at the quality of the bottle; it usually will indicate the quality of the wine inside of it. Vineyards are a business, and if they spend extra money on the grapes, they will not put it in a cheap bottle. Look for bottles that are tall with thicker glass. Then look at the bottom of the bottle. Most wines will have an indentation in the bottom – this is called the punt. The punt is put in bottles to trap the sediment in wine. As a general rule, the deeper the punt the higher the quality.
Rule number two: Become a label reader. Look first at the region that it was produced in. A winemaker can only use grapes from that area, so the more specific regions tend to have the best grapes. For example, the wine with the California label can have grapes from all over the state, while the Napa Valley wine can only have grapes from the Napa Valley. Even more specifically, look for vineyard designations. There are certain vineyards in every winery that, year after year, produce the best fruit. These sites are usually a little different from the rest of the vineyard. Some are on hills, in valleys or next to a cliff. Wines that come from a single vineyard are generally the winery’s best. You may pay a little extra for these wines, but not always.
Next, look at the year on the bottle. The year printed is the year the grapes were harvested. Most wines are meant to be drunk within one to six years of being harvested. It is true that some wines get better with age, but only under controlled conditions. Most wine shops don’t have a “wine cellar” to store their inventory in. As a result, the wines tend to age much faster on a wine shop shelf than in a wine cellar. Look for reds that are within four years of age. White wine doesn’t hold up to bottle aging as well as red wine. This is due to the lower tannin levels. Look for white wines less than three years old.
Rule number three: Shoot for the middle. As a general rule, the best wine for your money is in the middle range. This mid-range ($15-$28) is where you can really get a lot of bang for your buck. Twenty dollars may seem like a lot of money for a bottle of wine, but you don’t have to spend that much to get a higher quality of wine.
Use these tips to help you choose your next wine, but save the price tag as your last decision point—most of the time you will be within a couple of dollars of what you normally spend.
The last thing to remember is that there are exceptions to every rule. Some of your most memorable wine experiences may be from going out on a limb and trying something that you wouldn’t normally. So, the next time you walk into a wine shop, do so with the confidence of someone with a few tricks up their sleeve. Enjoy.
Barry Sears is with Taste Bistro and is Bar Supervisor at the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, Lake Placid. For more information call 523.7834 ext. 687 or visit www.mirrorlakeinn.com.

By Lenore Flynn RN, MA

Mindfulness is an ancient practice that is simple and profound. It is a practice of paying attention and requires a person to believe in nothing other than the value of their own life. Mindfulness teaches a person to view whatever is happening in life disengaged from habitual narratives and free of mental constructs. It is sometimes called “bare attention”.
Most often, mindfulness is initially taught as a meditation practice; our minds need “practice” quieting down and learning to be still. Then, as one begins to experience some calm, the practice of mindfulness can be extended into many aspects of your life.

Experiment with the following exercises:
Take a few moments and close your eyes: What do you hear? Try to hear the sounds without attaching thoughts to hearing them. Notice your tendency to identify the sounds and describe them to yourself, and perhaps even qualify them as pleasant or unpleasant. Focus on your breathing for three deep, slow breaths and then try to just listen again. Do you notice a difference? You may find it a bit easier to just listen without the inner commentary.
When you sit down to eat, do so in a quite place. Take three deep breaths and then begin to eat. Bring your attention to the smells and textures of your food. Bring the food to your mouth, chew it slowly and savor it. Put your fork down while you chew; you’ll notice the tendency to be ready to go for the next bite while you are chewing.
This is the practice of mindfulness. It is so simple, but it can have profound and deep implications on our lives. It enables us to experience our life with all its beauty, love, joy, pain, disappointment and boredom. People who have learned mindfulness to help cope with devastating pain or illness report that there were times of the day when they had no pain or the pain was more bearable. By being able to be more fully aware of those times of respite they experienced an ameliorating effect on the rest of their day. They began to see how their thoughts and ideas about their pain gave it strength.
Mindfulness does not encourage you to escape from unpleasantness and move toward something pleasant; it teaches you to ground yourself and be aware no matter what comes your way. It supports response rather than reaction.
Mindfulness of sounds can be extended to listening with attention and carefully choosing our words when we speak; mindfulness of eating can be extended into issues of food choices or the amount we eat.
The benefits of mindfulness are proven. Research studies on mindfulness have demonstrated positive outcomes for symptoms associated with stress, chronic pain, anxiety disorders, psoriasis, menopause and depression. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapies and programs have been developed for corporations, schools, prisons, inner city residents and medical students. Numerous studies are underway to further evaluate the impact mindfulness can have on a variety of physical and mental health issues.
You can begin to incorporate the practice of mindfulness into your life right now, in this moment. There are classes available in many areas to support your commitment to make mindfulness a part of your life.
Lenore Flynn RN, MA is a mindfulness teacher and a founding member of Still Forest Pool Center for Mindfulness of the Capital Region. For more information call 339.9443..

By Randy CalE, PH.D

Recent surveys of teen Internet behavior reveal some disturbing trends: Over the past five years, researchers have seen a 50 percent increase in the amount of cyber bullying that teenagers experience. Cyber bullying occurs when highly negative or abusive language is used or there are threats of violence or assault.
If you allow your teenager to chat freely online without monitoring their conversations, it is likely that your teenager is using harsh and profane language. In my parent coaching practice, I see more and more examples of teenagers using this kind of language online to be “one of the crowd” even though their parents do not model such language, nor do the kids at home.
Typically, cyber-bullies represent no real threat. In the wide majority of circumstances, it takes the form of ugly comments about looks or friendships or boyfriends. For most, this has relatively little consequence. However, some teenagers are deeply bothered by the conversations they experience.
Internet chat rooms have become very personalized. Another growing trend is for chat and instant messaging (IM) sessions to take on a highly personalized quality. As if no one is watching, teens (particularly girls) will open up and share their most intimate thoughts and feelings. In doing so, however, they open themselves up for ridicule and attack. Many parents are appalled when they discover the true nature of the dialogue that goes on in their homes!
The teenagers who are most vulnerable are the newbies who are not particularly Internet savvy. When new to the Internet chat world, adolescents are often not prepared for the harsh language they experience. Many feel traumatized and deeply hurt by how quickly conversations escalate into personal attacks.
Those who are quite savvy and who use the Internet frequently for socializing, express fewer incidents of cyber-bullying behavior. This appears to be the result of learning not to take the conversations personally. However, very few parents would view these discussions as healthy.

What can parents do?
1. Use parental controls on your browser. Then monitor, monitor, monitor. Most parents will affirm that they do monitor their child’s activities. However, your teenager is likely much more savvy than you are. It is not enough to occasionally walk by and look over his or her shoulder. You need to make sure the parental controls are always activated. You don’t need to know more about computers, but you must know more about monitoring the computer than they do!
2. Purchase “ghostware”. It is relatively easy to install software on your computer that will allow you to monitor what your teenager is doing. Unfortunately, you may be able to trust your teenager, but you can’t trust everyone that they are meeting online. It is essential to carefully monitor communications to ensure that your teenager is following guidelines that you can support. This also gives you a tool for keeping track of their language and the quality of the exchanges. You can see every keystroke made when they are online or writing an email.
It is fair game to warn your teenager that this is not a confidential form of communication and that you will be watching over their shoulders. They won’t like it, but the Internet is the gateway to the entire world—the good and the bad. They don’t need to know exactly how you are doing this; you just need to keep an eye on things and have integrity by letting them know you will be watching.
3. Keep the computer in a central area of the home. There is a growing trend for teenagers to have a computer in their bedroom. With several teenagers in the home, this makes monitoring computer usage difficult. It is much easier if you establish a ground rule that requires the computer to be within eyesight. This way your presence serves as a significant deterrent to behavior and conversations that you would not approve of.
4. Establish clear guidelines and consequences for violating them. Establish guidelines about the kind of language that you approve of. Also, make it clear that your teenager is not to have their profile on websites such as Myspace.com or Facebook.com. Additionally, make it clear what types of websites are off limits, such as sites containing adult language and content.
Once these guidelines have been established make sure that your teenager understands that there will be a consequence for violating them. If you say that they’ll lose the computer for a week and follow through with that consequence, your teenager will learn to honor the guidelines that you put into place.
If you follow these simple principles, I think that you’ll find that you can keep a handle on your teenager and make sure that they are not a victim of cyber bullies or other negative influences online. Read more about this on my new blog, at www.TerrificParenting.net. n
Dr. Randy Cale, a Clifton Park based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist, offers practical guidance for a host of parenting concerns. Dr. Cale’s new website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

By Judy Torel

?Most people spend time, money and energy insuring that they are doing the right exercises at the proper intensity for the appropriate length of time for their particular body goals. Fitness clothing manufacturers have put the same focused energy into the manufacturing of high tech clothing designed for the specific needs of the fitness exerciser. Do you know what clothes to wear to enhance the enjoyment and effectiveness of your workouts?
Sneaker technology
Sneakers are the primary piece of equipment associated with fitness workouts. And like in all sports, inadequate or faulty equipment is one of the top two factors at the cause of 95% of all injuries. In the past several decades sneaker companies have done their homework and have produced progressively superior products.
When it comes to sneaker technology, shoes are composed of several components, the last and outsole being two of the most important. Depending on the materials used, one sneaker can vary greatly from another. Knowing the basics can enable you to make an informed decision as to which sneaker is best for your type of foot.
The last is the shape of the sole and the footprint that the shoe is built around—it can be curved, semi-curved or straight. The arch of your foot determines which last is going to provide you with the most comfortable and injury-averting sneaker. If you have a high arch, you need to purchase a sneaker with a curved last. If you have a flat arch, then a straight last is the proper design for you. If you have an average arch then semi-curved is the way to go. You can ask the customer service representative in a sneaker store or catalog company to show you the sneaker makes and models with the proper last for your foot.
The outsole is the most outer portion of the sole that comes in contact with the ground and provides proper durability and cushioning for the shoe. Most outsoles are made from five basic materials: carbon rubber, solid rubber, durable rubber compound, Duralon and gum rubber. The patterns on the bottom of the sneaker tread vary according to the needs of your sport or exercise activity.
Different companies have added technology to increase the cushioning effects of the outsole. Nike invented its air technology in 1979 when they released their first sneakers with gas-filled plastic membranes that were inserted into the sole of their running shoes. Has anyone heard of the Nike Air Max sneakers? In 1987, they introduced the Air Max shoe where, for the first time, you can see the air cushions in the outsole.
Asics took the Nike air concept and designed a gel technology in the outsole of their shoes and introduced their Asics Gel sneaker line. Saucony has invented its Grid technology which is a patented combination of rubber and polymer to not only cushion the foot, but also provide stability. Saucony has different Grid designs for the specific purpose of the shoe and the biomechanics of the athlete wearing it.
With the information above, you can make an informed decision as to which sneaker will be best for your foot type and fitness activity and no longer judge just by look and momentary feel when trying on sneakers in the retail stores.

Fabric technology
The days of plain cotton and lycra workout wear have been replaced with the era of advanced fabric technology. Gone are the days of being embarrassed by sweat soaked clothes and soggy, heavy, sweat drenched t-shirts that bog you down in your workouts. There is now a growing selection in cooling, wicking, wind resistance workout fabrics.
Nike has a fabric that is my personal favorite called Dri-Fit Sphere. I have run my last four marathons wearing this fabric, and although I am an extreme sweater, I crossed the finish line feeling dry and comfortable. Dri-Fit Sphere is a fabric composed of an inner layer that grabs moisture and pulls it away from your skin while an outer layer pushes the moisture to the surface where it is able to evaporate. The entire fabric is covered with textured mini-spheres, which are little domes with only the tips touching the surface of your skin so you don’t get that clingy sensation. The spheres also add a little space so that the air can circulate, which improves the breath-ability of the fabric. This makes the clothes designed from this fabric extremely comfortable and enables you to focus on your workout and not on uncomfortable clothing!
GORE-TEX fabric is designed to be an impenetrable barrier against wind and water while maximizing breath-ability. It is designed from a revolutionary, ultra light membrane technology that prohibits all outer moisture from penetrating your skin. Due to its breath-ability, inner moisture from your sweat is able to escape to the outside leaving you dry and cool while helping to avoid the chill from wearing sweat soaked clothes in the cold weather while working out. The membrane technology also helps avoid the wind chill effect that robs your body of vital heat in cold weather due to its windproof characteristics. GORE-TEX fabric is also guaranteed for the life of the clothing unlike some other fabrics that lose their effectiveness through hard use and frequent washings.
Windstopper is an outerwear line that combines durable wind protection and high breath-ability in clothes in order to keep you warm and comfortable with little bulk and less need for layers. It will keep you 300 percent warmer then bulky layers during outdoor workouts. Other windproof clothing uses coatings to make them windproof, but this limits the breath-ability of the clothing and can create overheating and excessive sweat that can lead to chill in outdoor workouts. Windstopper uses the same revolutionary ultra light membrane technology of GORE-TEX, so the fabric is durable and breathable.

Odorless technology
Everyone who has established a regular exercise habit knows the unpleasantness of punky clothes! This happens when the sweat and body oils of multiple workouts has infected the clothes and bacteria and fungus that feed off these fluids infested in the fabric. These bacterias and fungus create an odor, and once it is in the fiber it can’t be removed and will become prevalent when they get wet again—like in the middle of a workout!
Enter the new stink-control clothes! Brooks has recently introduced a line of fitness clothing called HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning). They even put it in one of their sneakers, the Trance. The technology behind this revolutionary fabric is the inclusion of silver fibers, which are a natural conductor. These silver fibers are infused into fabrics like polyester and nylon and function to move heat away from the hot spots like the underarm and backs of knees where sweat production is highest. The silver infusion has anti-microbial properties; silver ions actually stab the cell wall of the bacteria and fungus causing a natural “electrocution”. No micro-organisms equals no odor!
There are now a variety of anti-odor fibers available in fitness clothing retail stores. You will even find socks with this technology because bacteria invades socks more frequently due to a higher prevalence of bacteria on the bottom of feet. Then, when you wash your socks with other clothes, the rest of the laundry will pick up the odor. Not pleasant! Odorless socks will help you avoid this unpleasantness.
The new high tech fiber clothing are a bit more costly then their low tech counterparts, but the experience of comfortable, dry, cool and enjoyable workouts is priceless!
Judy Torel is a therapist/personal trainer with a Master’s degree in psychology. She is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a fitness trainer and works out of Planet Fitness and Deb's Sweat Shop Extension. She can be reached at JTOREL2263@yahoo.com

By Raymond F. Angelini, Ph.D.

?Most of us dream about finding that special someone who will make us feel fulfilled and complete. We all dream about meeting the “right person”, the one we were meant to be with forever. But the real question is, “How do we find our soul mate?” Some people prefer to chalk it up to fate. While I do believe that fate can play a role, most of us will not find our soul mate without some effort.
Below are five keys to finding your soul mate:
It is more important to “be the right person” than to “find the right person”
Being the right person involves first and foremost knowing yourself. Getting to know yourself first will make it much easier for you to find a partner that shares your ideals and interests. Knowing yourself involves being completely open and honest about both your positive and negative qualities. If you are in denial about your negative qualities then you will tend to project them outward onto others, especially those you are closest to.
Acknowledging your negative qualities involves being willing to become involved in your own program of personal development. It means cleaning up bad habits and becoming the person you always wanted to be. This can be a daunting task, but if you take the time to truly get to know and improve yourself, you will be much more likely to attract the kind of person who can be a soul mate.

Don’t be afraid to be alone
If you ever hope to find your soul mate, you have to overcome the fear of being alone. As anyone who has gone through unsuccessful dating or marriage can attest, it is better to be alone and happy than in the wrong relationship and unhappy. You must remember that fear clouds your judgment; it prevents us from both finding and being with the right person.

Don’t compromise
It is quite common for people to date just for the sake of “dating”. This is a huge mistake. While dating can be an enjoyable and useful experience, it is not wise to go out with someone just to have a date. Dating someone should serve as an opportunity to explore and observe if the person you are dating has the qualities you are looking for. Usually, you are able to determine this after a few dates. Continuing to date someone because you are afraid to hurt their feelings will only delay you in meeting the person you really want to be with.

Stop listening to your ego and start listening to your spirit
Your ego is that conscious part of yourself that you use to live and interact with the world. It really represents your “false” or “external” self and is not who you really and truly are. Rather, your spirit is who you are at your core. If you hope to find your soul mate, you must consult this inner source of wisdom that knows better than we do which partner will be most likely to make us happy. Contrary to popular belief, soul mates usually don’t recognize each other at first glance. The person that is attractive to our ego is seldom the one our soul deeply desires to be with. In fact, our soul mate is often the one who looks all wrong to our ego. So, when it comes to finding your soul mate, you would be wise to not be blinded by infatuation and avoid those that make you swoon. Remember, true love is never blind!

Be persistent
Meeting your soul mate requires patience, so don’t despair or become frustrated if you don’t find him or her right away. Good things come to those who wait! Finding your soul mate can be the best journey you will ever make. So, don’t give up hope and enjoy the ride!
Dr. Raymond Angelini of Hew Horizons Coaching has been in private practice for over 15 years in Saratoga Springs and specializes in assisting individuals in finding and sustaining careers that are more rewarding, life-enhancing, and in keeping with one’s personal and spiritual values. For more information, pleases feel free to visit www.newhorizonscoaching.com or email Dr. Angelini at newhorizons@spa.net.

By Mary Beth DeCecco

Walking through the corridors of New Visions is like walking through a school. There is a cafeteria and a gymnasium, as well as classrooms and lockers. But this isn’t a school. New Visions is a place where adults with disabilities learn to embrace their possibilities. It’s a day treatment facility serving over 600 disabled adults who come to foster relationships with adults who teach, care and mentor them. Many program participants are even placed in living facilities in and around the region and work in various jobs.
“We operate much like a school,” said Margie Sheehan, director of communications, public relations and development. “When our program participants come to us, they are assessed to find out what level they are at.”

Upon determination of their assessment, they are given options for various services and support in order to help them become “as independent and community integrated as they can.” These services include:Residential, which provides over 50 community-based living facilities in Albany County for individuals, both in home and apartment dwellings. Some require daily supervision, while others do not.
• Vocational services, in the form of everything to pre-vocational training to actual vocational training. “We place program participants in competitive job opportunities in the community,” said Andrew McKenzie, executive director of New Visions. They are trained in janitorial, food service, light manufacturing and the mailing business. “There isn’t any job that we won’t take a look at and decide if we can do. The employers understand the nature of needs involved and knows that they will get a good worker,” he said. Some of their accounts include: the Federal Courthouse, Averill Harriman State Office Campus, the O’Brien Building, British-American Corporation, the Capital Care Physicians building, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the NYS Tax & Finance building, Irving Tissue and Owens Corning.
• Day treatment program for participants not ready for vocational or pre-vocational training. This program helps people with activities related to daily living and self care and clinical services, such as speech and occupational therapy. “Many of these people are involved in volunteering,” said McKenzie, which, in turn, helps them become more independent. They work in 70 local businesses such as the North East Regional Food Bank, churches, schools, the NYS Museum and events such as Alive at Five. “We provide meaningful activities to help people achieve a sense of productivity.”
• Day habilitation program, for participants more interested and more capable of ongoing community experience. These people are less dependent on clinical supports and are more interested in getting fully community integrated. “The community is their classroom,” said McKenzie, explaining that they learn to use community resources such as the library and restaurants. They also volunteer.
“There isn’t anywhere where there isn’t some kind of component of volunteers.”
New Visions also offers Medicaid service coordinators, family support coordinators who will go into a home and give parents a night off when needed and a drop-in center for parents still at work. Dances and membership meetings are also offered.
Although most participants at New Visions are in their late 30s or early 40s, many have never experienced life outside their home or have been apart from their parents.
“Sometimes it’s a difficult thing to let the world have them,” said Sheehan, emphathetic to the parents’ difficulty in letting go. But within a few years of arriving at New Visions, the participants seem to thrive. “They’re out there living and volunteering and leading much richer lives,” she said.
When she needs a break in her day, Sheehan often visits the cafeteria and classrooms to talk to the program participants. “It’s almost impossible to work here and not get involved.” She also teaches yoga on site once a week, calling it “very refreshing.” “You remember what your work here is all about.”

Located on Krumkill Road in Slingerlands, New Visions has been in existence for 55 years. With a staff of 530 and a square footage of 78,000, it is the largest employer in the Town of Bethlehem.
Organizationally, New Visions is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc., a voluntary organization of 57 chapters throughout the northeast consisting of parents, friends and volunteers serving thousands of New York residents with developmental disabilities. Formerly known as the Albany County Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), the name was abandoned a couple of years ago as part of a national effort to demystify the nature of mental disabilities.
One of the earlier chapters was established in 1951 (it was a tri-county chapter consisting of Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady) by a group of parents in Albany who banded together to lobby the Legislature for services for families living with disabled children.
Their efforts were a concerted response to the shortcomings of services available in earlier decades, when disabled children frequently were consigned to institutions.
This proved to be a tragic solution, as exposed in the 1970s by an intrepid young reporter who slipped into the Willowbrook institution on Staten Island and documented the horrors of institution life. That reporter’s name was Geraldo Rivera. The end result was a landmark resolution—the Willowbrook Consent Decree—by which New York State voluntarily agreed to begin the process of de-institutionalization.
From that group of caring, determined parents back in 1951, NYSARC has expanded its presence to every county in the state. The good news doesn’t end there: with technology and early diagnosis, there are many options for disabled children today.
“The world is a more accessible and accommodating place,” said McKenzie.
With so many services offered and program participants coming as far away as California for the chance to lead a fulfilling life, it’s no wonder that the residential program has tripled in size in the past three-and-a-half years.
“We’re busting at the seams,” said McKenzie.
And fortunately for New Visions and its participants, there is no end in sight.

By Mary Beth DeCecco

Walking through the corridors of New Visions is like walking through a school. There is a cafeteria and a gymnasium, as well as classrooms and lockers. But this isn’t a school. New Visions is a place where adults with disabilities learn to embrace their possibilities. It’s a day treatment facility serving over 600 disabled adults who come to foster relationships with adults who teach, care and mentor them. Many program participants are even placed in living facilities in and around the region and work in various jobs.
“We operate much like a school,” said Margie Sheehan, director of communications, public relations and development. “When our program participants come to us, they are assessed to find out what level they are at.”

Upon determination of their assessment, they are given options for various services and support in order to help them become “as independent and community integrated as they can.” These services include:Residential, which provides over 50 community-based living facilities in Albany County for individuals, both in home and apartment dwellings. Some require daily supervision, while others do not.
• Vocational services, in the form of everything to pre-vocational training to actual vocational training. “We place program participants in competitive job opportunities in the community,” said Andrew McKenzie, executive director of New Visions. They are trained in janitorial, food service, light manufacturing and the mailing business. “There isn’t any job that we won’t take a look at and decide if we can do. The employers understand the nature of needs involved and knows that they will get a good worker,” he said. Some of their accounts include: the Federal Courthouse, Averill Harriman State Office Campus, the O’Brien Building, British-American Corporation, the Capital Care Physicians building, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the NYS Tax & Finance building, Irving Tissue and Owens Corning.
• Day treatment program for participants not ready for vocational or pre-vocational training. This program helps people with activities related to daily living and self care and clinical services, such as speech and occupational therapy. “Many of these people are involved in volunteering,” said McKenzie, which, in turn, helps them become more independent. They work in 70 local businesses such as the North East Regional Food Bank, churches, schools, the NYS Museum and events such as Alive at Five. “We provide meaningful activities to help people achieve a sense of productivity.”
• Day habilitation program, for participants more interested and more capable of ongoing community experience. These people are less dependent on clinical supports and are more interested in getting fully community integrated. “The community is their classroom,” said McKenzie, explaining that they learn to use community resources such as the library and restaurants. They also volunteer.
“There isn’t anywhere where there isn’t some kind of component of volunteers.”
New Visions also offers Medicaid service coordinators, family support coordinators who will go into a home and give parents a night off when needed and a drop-in center for parents still at work. Dances and membership meetings are also offered.
Although most participants at New Visions are in their late 30s or early 40s, many have never experienced life outside their home or have been apart from their parents.
“Sometimes it’s a difficult thing to let the world have them,” said Sheehan, emphathetic to the parents’ difficulty in letting go. But within a few years of arriving at New Visions, the participants seem to thrive. “They’re out there living and volunteering and leading much richer lives,” she said.
When she needs a break in her day, Sheehan often visits the cafeteria and classrooms to talk to the program participants. “It’s almost impossible to work here and not get involved.” She also teaches yoga on site once a week, calling it “very refreshing.” “You remember what your work here is all about.”

Located on Krumkill Road in Slingerlands, New Visions has been in existence for 55 years. With a staff of 530 and a square footage of 78,000, it is the largest employer in the Town of Bethlehem.
Organizationally, New Visions is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc., a voluntary organization of 57 chapters throughout the northeast consisting of parents, friends and volunteers serving thousands of New York residents with developmental disabilities. Formerly known as the Albany County Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), the name was abandoned a couple of years ago as part of a national effort to demystify the nature of mental disabilities.
One of the earlier chapters was established in 1951 (it was a tri-county chapter consisting of Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady) by a group of parents in Albany who banded together to lobby the Legislature for services for families living with disabled children.
Their efforts were a concerted response to the shortcomings of services available in earlier decades, when disabled children frequently were consigned to institutions.
This proved to be a tragic solution, as exposed in the 1970s by an intrepid young reporter who slipped into the Willowbrook institution on Staten Island and documented the horrors of institution life. That reporter’s name was Geraldo Rivera. The end result was a landmark resolution—the Willowbrook Consent Decree—by which New York State voluntarily agreed to begin the process of de-institutionalization.
From that group of caring, determined parents back in 1951, NYSARC has expanded its presence to every county in the state. The good news doesn’t end there: with technology and early diagnosis, there are many options for disabled children today.
“The world is a more accessible and accommodating place,” said McKenzie.
With so many services offered and program participants coming as far away as California for the chance to lead a fulfilling life, it’s no wonder that the residential program has tripled in size in the past three-and-a-half years.
“We’re busting at the seams,” said McKenzie.
And fortunately for New Visions and its participants, there is no end in sight.

By Michelle Coyne

Tonka trucks or a 10 ton dump truck, it doesn’t matter how old a boy gets, he will always want to play with toys. These days men of all ages (and let’s face it, some women too) have their share of toys. Below are just a few.

RVs
An RV is, perhaps, the most luxurious of toys. Wouldn’t it be nice to tour the country in home-like accommodations? If you’re thinking about becoming an “RVer”, then you will be joining the nearly 8 million U.S. households who own at least one RV. Contrary to the belief that RV owners are retirees, you will be surprised to know that the typical RV owner is between 35 to 54 years old. According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, the typical RV owner is 49 years old and married.
“More and more, you see families coming in and buying RV’s,” said Douglas Cordo, sales manager at Boat-N-RV warehouse in Albany.
RV is short for Recreational Vehicle, which is a generic term for any pleasure vehicle that contains living accommodations. The larger the vehicle, the more comfort it can provide. The amount of occupants you’ll be traveling with and the amount of space you’ll need are important factors to bear in mind when it comes time to purchasing one. There are many types of RV’s and even more models for each type. Here’s a breakdown:

Motor homes
As suggested by the name, a motor home is a home on wheels. It usually contains a kitchen, sleep area, bathroom and dinette. Inside, you can enjoy electricity, heating and air conditioning. There is also running water and propane gas to cook with. When camping, the RV can be hooked up to electricity, water and sewer drains for conservation purposes. There are three classes of motor homes, each differing in accommodations and price.
Class A motor homes are considered the largest and most luxurious, measuring between 21-40 feet. They come with the amenities listed above, and some models even boast hot tubs. One of the newest and most popular models is the Georgetown, 315DS-SE. This RV comes with a slide out feature that expands the sides of the RV for more living space. The price ranges from $50,000 to $900,000.
Class B motor homes are more commonly referred to as “van campers”, because they actually look like a van. But don’t let appearances fool you: they come equipped with temporary eating, sleeping and bathroom facilities. The price range for these can be anywhere from $38,000 to $70,000.
Class C motor homes are a scaled down version of Class A. These mini motor homes provide the same luxuries of the Class A except they are generally 20-28 feet. General prices range from $42,000 to $121,000.

Other options
If you’re not ready to purchase a motor home, you can opt for a trailer. Trailers can be towed by a pick-up, van or car while offering some of the best comforts. There are two types, the Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer and the Travel Trailer.
The Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer offers all the comforts of a Class A motor home (running water, electricity, etc), with the added convenience of being able to detach the trailer at a site and use the pick-up for side trips. These usually vary in size between 21-40 feet and can vary in price from $12,000-$99,000.
The Travel Trailer is exactly like the Fifth-wheel, but does not necessarily need to be towed by a pickup. With a bumper and hitch frame, the trailer can also be towed by car or van. There is also the option of the Telescoping Travel Trailers that can be lowered to car-top level, thus making it more fuel efficient by eliminating wind drag. These trailers range in price from $9,000 to $76,000.

Campers
There are two general types of campers, truck campers and folding tent campers: Truck Campers are attached to a truck bed or chassis. These smaller versions of trailers actually offer a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping arrangements, but with limited space. These generally run 18-21 feet and can cost anywhere from $3,300-$25,000.
Folding tent campers are the more economic choice. The lightweight dynamic of the tent camper allows them to be towed by almost any car. When arriving at a destination, all you need to do is unhitch it for full enjoyment. The cost of these trailers ranges from $3,500-$18,000.
So there you have it: A beginner’s guide to some of the more fun vehicles out there. And with plenty of retailers in the Capital Region, you’re sure to be able to find your dream RV and hit the open road.

Spas, Hot Tubs and Whirlpools
Who doesn’t dream about having their own hot tub, spa or whirlpool at home? They’re a great escape to forget the day’s events and unwind every muscle in your body. If you’re having a tough time deciding which model is best for you, there are some things to keep in mind before making your purchase.
Today, the word “spa” and “hot tub” are used interchangeably, describing a jetted, heated tub of water. Hot tubs are above-ground jetted pools that combine water and air and bubbles pumped from the seating areas. Water inside the pool is treated chemically and is periodically drained. A spa is similar to a hot tub, but is built in-ground (though there are new models of portable spas built above ground.) Both have either contoured or bench seating and come with different amenities. They are best suited for outdoor use.
A common misconception with spas and hot tubs is that they differ from Jacuzzis. But the term Jacuzzi is just the name brand of a hot tub.
Now that you know the difference, you can begin to ask yourself the key questions to help you choose the right model.
Where do you want to place your spa or hot tub? When installing a hot tub or spa (indoors or outdoors), be aware of placement of pipes and hoses so you can easily fill it.
Electricity anyone? Make sure your spa is near the appropriate power sources.
Weight control? Be sure (especially indoors), that the location will be able to hold the weight of the spa, water and the people inside.
How much insulation? You don’t want to worry about your spa’s affect on your energy bill. All spas use a solid layer of rigid foam insulation between the inner shell and the outer walls. The thicker the foam, the better the insulation and the less energy it takes to keep the water hot.
How much do you want to spend? Two person hot-tubs can start around $4,000, while a six person package can bring you up to or more than $10,000.
No matter what you choose, it’s advisable to always have professional installation for spas and hot tubs.

Fun stuff
No “big boy toy” would be complete without the cool customizable amenities that can be added, such as:

• Jets—Though they come standard, the amount of jets can be customized as do the way they work. Jets can gush, pulse, or move water in circular motions depending on what really relaxes you.
• Seats—Do you want a regular bench style seating? Love seats for cuddling? How about padded seating or a lounger option that allows you to recline in the water?
• Controls—Everything has a remote these days, why should your hot tub be any different? With a remote, you can operate your hot tub from indoors or opt for a floating remote to keep by your side.
• Color therapy—Many whirlpools, hot tubs and spas now come equipped with underwater lighting that changes colors. Some experts have even praised the therapeutic qualities of color therapy.
• Entertainment—Who wouldn’t love to listen to their favorite music while enjoying a soak? Or how about watching your favorite show? Many models have built in sound systems and TVs.

These are some of the basics you should know about the ultimate relaxation devices. The best part of shopping for one? Trying them out! Grab your suit and hit the showroom to enjoy a test run.

Rolex Rangers:
Motorcycles are for everyone
There was a time when the word “motorcycle” conjured up images of scruffy haired men with tattoos. Today, that stereotype no longer applies. Over the past few years, the typical biker has been transformed from truly hard core to the neighbor next door.
Between 1985 to 2003, the number of bike owners who were business professionals increased 12 percent according to figures from the Motorcycle Industry Council. In fact, many professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, have taken up motorcycle riding, and have even been dubbed the “Rolex Rangers”. Dean Spligttgerber, owner of Spitzie’s Motorcycle Center in Albany, can attest to that.
“It’s nothing new to see professionals buying motorcycles…politicians, judges, lawyers everyone under the sun uses them.”
Many use the weekend sport as a way to clear their minds on the open roads. In actuality, it’s also cost effective way to travel. According to the Department of Motor Vehicle website, most motorcycles can get upward of 80 miles per gallon.
Wondering what types there are out there for you? Here are some model types and 2007 manufacturer models to go along with it.

Standard
This is a great model for first time bike owners. They’re less expensive and are a wise investment for the novice rider. Dubbed “naked” bikes because they tend to have little or no plastic, they can be customized, and since they’re not as heavy as other bikes, they offer versatility.
Also, you can travel for long or short periods of time. If you’re looking into the standard model, there are plenty to choose from.
A great standard is the Harley Davidson Sportster XL883. This Harley offers a no-frills, yet sturdy bike that will give you all you need and run you only about $8,000.

Sport bikes
Sometimes referred to as a “crotch rockets” because of their lightweight capability and small design, the sports bike is meant to go fast. It doesn’t come with many frills, but it handles turns expertly and is a great ride if you’re looking to take a short trip
The BMW F800S is the newest model. Yes, the ultra chic car dealership has been turning out all types of motorcycles models since the 1920s. The F800 is a middleweight bike that is perfect for jetting around town. This new model from BMW debuts this month and will run you about $10,000.

Cruisers
These are the stereotypical Hell’s Angels bikes. They come with lower seats, fatter rear tires and tend to be heavier than most other bikes. These bikes are longer than most and handle great at high speeds. Check out Yamaha’s new Stratoliner Midnight, which was voted 2006 Cruiser Rider Magazine bike of the year. It’s no wonder: the bike comes with some great detachable items such as a windshield and back rest for your passenger. This is great for short weekend trip and will cost you around $16,000.

Touring
The touring bike may look big and bulky, but don’t let that fool you. If you’re already into biking and love taking long trips, than this is the ultimate bike for you.
From optional GPS packages to heated seats and audio systems, a touring bike is the mother of all bikes. The Honda Gold Wing Airbag model comes with the same optional features that you would find in a car – enhanced audio, GPS, heated seats, anti-lock brakes, and an airbag. But, all these features means a hefty price tag of around $25,000
For about the same price, you could also check out the Harley Davidson Street Glider, a model that Spligttgerber said is popular in the area. It gives you all the comfort of a touring motorcycle with a lower slung seat and smoother ride than most.
Some tips to keep in mind:

• No matter what style you choose, comfort and safety are the two key things to keep in mind before you purchase. Make sure you’re comfortable with your seat height and location of your handles.
• Always protect yourself. Make sure you’re wearing protective clothing and boots. And most importantly make sure you have your helmet!

Home theater systems: Who needs the movies?
Friday nights at the movies used to be a fun experience. But wouldn’t it be nice to just lay back and watch the movies in the comfort of your own home? Well now you can. One of the best ways to enjoy the amazing feeling of being at the movies is by setting up your own home theater. You’d be surprised how many new home owners are having houses built with them already installed. If you aren’t one of them, don’t worry. With many companies now offering all inclusive packages it’s easier than ever to purchase all the right components. And for once you can enjoy a movie and not have to fight someone for the arm rest.

Basic info
First, educate yourself with the basic components of a home theater: a television over 27 inches, a DVD player, a home theatre receiver and speakers. But, instead of building your own system, you can purchase an all-inclusive package.

The Sony Dream Systems DAV-DX225 comes with the works—a five-disc DVD, CD changer, AM/FM radio, front, center and surround speakers and a subwoofer. The beauty of this technology is that the price tag probably isn’t as much as you’d expect – only $300.

For around $1,000, the Bose sound system offers the 3.2.1 GS Series 2 Home Entertainment System. Like Sony, it has a built in DVD/CD player as well as AM/FM radio. But the Bose comes with the added convenience of fewer wires than most and more powerful speakers. The design is unobtrusive and the receiver and speakers are smaller and blend nicely with any decor. This system is great for small spaces.

The Yamaha DTX-CS870 comes in a sleek black design and offers a five disc DVD changer, amplifier, five speakers, as well as a subwoofer. It also comes with some fun amenities that aren’t always included in the standard home theater system, such as XM satellite radio and as an added bonus, is also iPod ready. The price tag for this is about $650.
These are just a few of the many choices out there in home theater systems. They come in varying color, sizes and with different added bonuses. Finding one is just a matter of taste and sometimes space. But, no matter which system you choose, you’ll find that your movie experience at home will have changed for the better.

For the true TV buff, chances are you will want to purchase the most popular “toy” to go along with your new home theatre system—the plasma flat screen TV. These are probably best suited for your home entertainment needs since it’s widescreen ratio (16:9), is designed to match your field of view, much like regular movie theater screens are.
They give you crystal clear images, while its flat design (usually only 3.5 inches in depth), still conserves space. The TV’s come in 42, 50 and even 65-inch screens. And best of all, plasma is meant to work best with Digital TV (DTV) or a High Definition TV (HDTV) signal, so you can count on even better viewing quality. You might want to look into the Panasonic TH-65PX600U; the 65-inch plasma is the ultimate toy. Not only will it hook up seamlessly with your home theater system, but it also comes with the added bonus of memory card slots, so you can view your digital photos on one of the largest plasma screens. But it will cost you around $10,000.

Other toys:
TRX 400EX ATV—Honda’s ’07 TRX 400EX ATV has one of Honda’s best XR engines. It’s the ATV of your dreams with a rugged steal frame and radial tires for smooth handling. With triple disc brakes, its stopping power is superior. The ATV comes equipped with a reverse gear and a push button electric starter. The design ensures you’re as safe as possible, while the sporty look will make you the envy of all your friends. Price tag: $5,999.

2007 RS Rage GT snowmobile—This snowmobile by Yamaha has a four valve engine, a lightweight hydraulic brake system and rear exiting exhaust that allows for maximum airflow through the engine. It also has some of the best amenities going, including electronic ignition, tall windshields that offer protection from snow and digitally controlled hand and thumb warmers. Price tag: Starting at $12,699.

2007 VX Cruiser—For all you water lovers out there, Yamaha also offers various jet skies. The VX Cruiser has a lightweight design and an added seat that ensures the comfort of both you and your passengers. The reverse jet propulsion system makes sure you don’t get stuck in any tight spots. And the electronic fuel injection system makes it both environment and fuel friendly. Starting at $8,999.
Tahoe 195 I/0 deck boat—If you’re looking for a more relaxed day on the water, then you can look into this deck boat by Tahoe. With a hand laid hull, UV resistant vinyl and thread, and a heavy duty rub rail you can be sure this boat is built to last. It can seat eight people comfortably and offers stereo remote and CD changer, making it perfect to take out for a day of relaxation. Price tag: Around $20,000.

Tech toys:

• The iPhone —The craze of the Apple iPod is pretty self-evident, everywhere you go you can see the telltale white earphones dangling from people’s ears. Now all that technology has been converted into a super sleek and useful phone. The iPhone has the capability to not only play mp3’s, but stream live video, check email, take and send pictures, and, oh yeah, make phone calls too! With touch screen technology this is one “toy” you definitely won’t get bored of. Price tag: $499.
• The Casio Ex-V&SR—This is one of the newest and most advanced digital cameras out there! It’s slim and sleek while still being functional. With a 7X zoom lens, you won’t miss one shot of action no matter how far away you may be. The camera also has the newest movie format, the MPEG-4, which allows you to take amazingly clear video and save it in smaller file sizes leaving you more room to keep capturing the moments. Price tag: $399.
• Ducane-60,000 BTU Stainless-Steel 5-Burner LP Gas Grill—The grilling fanatic in your family will fall in love with this piece of machinery. This Ducane gas grill model offers a side burner on top of the already five primary ones, two shelves for easier preparation and a rotisserie and warming rack. The 60,000 BTU’s and 832 square inches of cooking space is enough to keep grilling through the night. Price tag: $899.

Choosing a custom-made wood floor

The idea of creating your own custom wood floor is an unusual new way of adding uniqueness and personality to your home. Like custom kitchens and baths, you can now specify your own custom wood floor including the wood species, the finish it will have, its surface texture, whether the boards will be wide or thin, random or consistent lengths and even whether the wood is reclaimed or antique.
T. Morton & Co. Custom Wood Flooring is one of the few wood flooring makers that offers truly custom created wood flooring. And, like anything that is made especially for you, this is an opportunity to be completely involved in the decision-making process.

When beginning to think about custom wood flooring, be sure to do your homework. Ask yourself what you want out of your wood floor. Be sure to visit websites and home furnishings magazines to research custom flooring options. Talk to people (especially interior designers and custom builders) who have gone through the process of choosing custom wood floors.
Once you’ve checked resources, it’s time to connect with a flooring design specialist— someone who will guide you through the entire process from inspiring your initial ideas to installing your new floor. T. Morton certified wood flooring specialists can answer your questions and give you guidance on how to select the best options. The flooring design specialist will be able to refer woods and finishes that are more or less durable, as well as help you order samples to compare various finishes and textures.

Solid or Engineered - Wood profile or platform
The first consideration should be the wood profile or platform, solid or engineered. Solid boards are the wood’s natural cut and can be laid into any floor. Engineered boards, however, feature a 100 percent wood construction assembled in multiple layers. The wood layers are permanently bonded together in a cross-ply construction for superior strength and dimensional stability. The floor platform decision will impact your next decisions, specifically wood species and color.

Wood species and color
Choosing wood species and color is the next step when selecting your custom wood floor. From T. Morton, for example, there are domestic and exotic species of wood from which you may choose. They offer various domestic species from the forests of Canada, New England and Pennsylvania including Maple, Oak, Cherry, Walnut and many more. Exotics, from around the world, include Bubinga: a beautiful pink-red hardwood, also known as African Rosewood that has a mix of straight and interlocking grains and matures to a deep burgundy red. The list of exotic species is virtually limitless.
When selecting your wood species you will be making decisions about durability, texture, and color. Some species may dictate what your color options are. The wonderful advantage of custom flooring is the ability to decide to stain, paint or “go natural” when deciding on color. Many choose a custom color to match existing furniture or cabinetry.

Widths and lengths
Another benefit of purchasing custom flooring is the selection of widths and sometimes depending on the species, you may be able to choose longer lengths, or customize your floor with random widths and/or lengths. “Larger spaces with wide width planks have been the hip wood floor look as of late,” says Joe Guarino of T. Morton & Co. Custom Wood Flooring. “There are always a few trends that garner a lot of attention in wood flooring at any given time. We are seeing a lot of custom coloring and custom sculpting going hand in hand with the attraction to the wider wood planks.”

Surface treatments and textures
The appointment or treatment can change the look and feel of each wood to better match a unique style. There are numerous appointments to consider—handsculpted, wirebrushed, or French Bleed to name a few, or you might choose not to treat the floor at all. Surface treatments are visual and tactile options that can be important to setting your wood floor apart from all others.
With custom wood flooring you are the one in control. Unlike stock products, custom wood flooring eliminates the frustration of not getting exactly what you want. The result is a gorgeous hardwood floor, designed by you and is yours alone.

For more information on purchasing custom wood flooring, visit www.tmorton.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Is your basement a blast from the past??Unless your name is Carol Brady, retro relics like green shag carpet and dark wood paneling have probably disappeared from your home’s decor. But venture into many a basement and prepare to enter a time warp. Remodeled decades ago and decorated with smoked mirror wall tiles, swag light fixtures and velvet paintings, these dingy spaces seem uninviting by today’s standards, yet they can add significantly to a home’s useable square footage and value.
Just because the basement is the lowest level of the house doesn’t mean it has to be at the bottom of the list of rooms to renovate. As homeowners look to gain more useable space from their home, a growing trend is emerging: remodeling old basement remodels.
Remodeling is in. In the 12 months ending in September 2005, homeowners spent $125.2 billion to remodel their homes, an increase of 6.6 percent over the previous 12-month period, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.
“We are increasingly getting requests to remodel old basement remodels,” says Frank Palmeri, business manager, Owens Corning Basement Finishing System. “For those with a basement finished decades ago, many are finding it just doesn’t meet their needs any longer. Whether it’s drafty, dark or just dated, even a finished basement doesn’t provide value if it’s not a room where homeowners enjoy spending time.”

Building a Better Basement:Then and Now
Just as there have been advances in design and decorating over the past decades, so have there been advances in basement finishing techniques. There are now systems available that are specifically designed for basement environments which offer distinct advantages over the traditional wood and drywall construction used back then.
The Basement Finishing System by Owens Corning exemplifies the benefits of a ‘then vs. now’ approach to remodeling your old basement remodel. For example:
Then, drywall and traditional methods yielded a basement that provided little to no insulation or energy saving properties. Now, insulated walls create a warm, cozy space that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewal Energy, can help reduce whole-house energy costs by up to 30 percent. Plus, it may qualify homeowners to claim up to a $500 energy tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Then, traditional walls could actually absorb moisture, making them conducive to mold and mildew growth. Now, the breathable walls of a finishing system resist mold and mildew.
Then, access to plumbing, foundation walls and wiring was difficult and messy — walls had to be cut into and re-patched. Now, removable walls provide easy access.
Then, there was minimal sound absorption. Noise would bounce back, creating maximum echoes. Now, there is 95 percent sound absorption, helping to foster a warm acoustic environment.
Then, walls were easily dented, cracked and stained. Fixing them required repair work and repainting. Now, virtually maintenance-free walls are dent- and stain-resistant.
Then, it was a noisy, dirty, dusty installation process that could take months. Now, trained professionals complete the process in as little as two weeks with minimal disruption and virtually none of the dust and mess.

“According to our research, one of the key reasons homeowners finish their basement is for lifestyle factors — needing more space for a dedicated purpose, such as a theater room, home office or exercise room,” says Palmeri. “These customers tell us that their new basement becomes a room they can’t wait to use, rather than one they feel obligated to use because the space is there. Homeowners are pleasantly surprised by the speed of this building process, especially if they’ve been through a traditional drywall basement remodel the first time.”
If your finished-long-ago basement has devolved into the land time forgot, it may be time to remodel the remodel.
For more information on Owens Corning Basement Finishing System, call (800) Basement or visit www.basementfinishingsystem.com. Basement Finishing System is a trademark of Owens Corning.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Household invaders
By Michelle Coyne

Mold.
Just the word alone is enough to make your skin crawl. This fungus travels by spores and needs three key essentials to survive: warmth, food and moisture. It likes to grow in wet or damp parts of your home and can grow on walls, floors and ceilings and attach to anything including pets, dust, plastic bags and even people.
“You would most likely see mold anywhere you’d have the most chance to have a water pipe break,” said Sander Bonvell principle partner of Air Resources Group LLC in East Greenbush.
If an area of your home has flooded and wasn’t cleaned up quickly or properly, you can be sure that you’ll see mold growing.

What does mold look like?
Mold can be found in many shades, from green to reddish brown to black or even yellow. It generally looks fuzzy, but can also appear cottony or leathery.
Common places mold can grow include carpets, drapes, ceiling tiles, under wallpaper or in ductwork. It’s most commonly seen in kitchens (because of the moisture caused when cooking), bathrooms and basements, but it isn’t limited to these areas.
Just as pollen in the air affects some people so can mold spores, depending on how you tolerate them. Some people may experience hay fever like reactions such as eye irritation, headaches, and in some severe cases, mood swings and nosebleeds. Some of the worst mold can produce a potentially toxic chemical called mycotoxins. One of the molds capable of producing this toxin is called Stachybotrys, also known as “black mold”. Though there are no definitive studies that say black mold is worse than any other type of mold, removal of it (like any other mold) is recommended immediately.

How do you know if you have mold?
While companies like Air Resources Group can test the level of mold buildup in structures, there are also telltale signs. Have you ever walked into a room and it smelled a little musty or earthy? That’s a good sign that mold has started to grow. Another more obvious indicator is discoloration in certain areas or on objects and actually seeing a substance growing.
“Any individual structure is susceptible to mold growth,” said Bonvell. “Keep moisture at a proper level in the house.” To prevent mold spores from growing, there are simple everyday tasks you can do:

• Vacuum & clean regularly, especially in the bathrooms
• Try to use rugs or washable floors rather than wall to wall carpet
• Repair water leaks as soon as possible
• Clean out and scrub your fridge regularly
• Make sure gutters are cleared of debris that might cause blockage and water buildup
• Make sure your clothes dryer is vented to the outdoors
• When watering outdoor gardens make sure water doesn’t flow towards the house
• Install a dehumidifier in chronically moist rooms

On top of these tips, you can also opt for greater reassurance and have a whole house purification system installed that eliminates indoor air pollution, including mold and mildew, toxins, dust mites and allergens.
Jake Zakrzewski, owner of A-1 Basements in East Greenbush helped design the EZ Breathe Ventilation Systems, which pulls moisture out of the entire house.
“Moisture is a food source for viruses, mold, mildew, carpenter ants and spiders,” he said
Within one week of installation all moisture will be completely eliminated. The system will even help those suffering from allergies and asthma and has been endorsed by the American Lung Association, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to Zakrzewski this system is mandatory in homes built in Texas and Alabama and the movement is slowly moving north.

New construction
Think that your new construction home is immune to mold? Think again. More and more owners of newly built homes are finding mold. The cause is mainly the result of poor construction practices.
When building Bonvelle offers some advice. “Make sure contractors are taking the proper precautions when building your home, such as keeping the work area as dry as possible until sealed and not using building products that are conducive to mold growth.
Added Zakrzewski: “Once wood gets wet it becomes a food source for mold.”

Removal
If you do find mold in your house it is recommended that you call a professional for removal. The process of removing it (if not done properly) could actually spread the mold even more. However, if the affected area is small and you want to tackle it yourself, use a common solution of 1 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. Also, be sure to wear:

• a filter mask
• goggles with no air holes
• rubber gloves
• clothes that cover your body and can be
easily laundered after.

Who pays?
Homeowners should be aware that most homeowner’s insurance does not cover damages and repair costs due to mold. Instead, mold problems are considered to be part of cleaning and maintenance and not disasters and damages. This can become costly to the owner, especially in more severe cases where the remedy is to remove whole walls and areas and have them rebuilt. Very extreme cases have been reported where homes had to be burned down to permanently rid them of mold.
Mold doesn’t have to be an enemy —you just need to take the proper precautions and be sure that your contact with it is as minimal as possible.
For additional testing of your home’s indoor air quality and to save money on your energy bills, use the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program and receive a comprehensive home assessment. To find a participating contractor in your area, or to find out more information call 877-NY-SMART or visit www.getenergysmart.org.

Facelift for the middle-aged door
These days, baby boomers aren’t the only ones worried about showing their age. When it comes to the middle-aged home, the front door is often the first to go.
That’s because exterior doors — one of the larger openings on the home — often take the brunt of UV exposure, wind and rain over a period of decades. A Harvard University study shows the average age of a home in the United States is 32 years old and rising, so doors definitely develop their share of “age spots.”
“It’s important to understand the causes and effects of wear and tear on exterior doors because they provide security and energy efficiency benefits, not to mention curb appeal, for the home,” says Shane Meisel, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN doors. “Proper maintenance — just a little attention over time — can help extend the life of exterior doors for many years.”
To maintain their youthful appearance, it’s important to regularly inspect exterior doors and repair problem spots, such as fading and the ill effects of water penetration. So with both performance and curb appeal in mind, here is a guide to recognizing and reversing signs of aging on exterior doors.

Anti-aging regimen for exterior doors
Proper finishing. The first defense against premature aging of doors is proper finishing. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions and be sure to finish all six sides of the door. Even though you may not see the top and bottom, they can be conduits for doors to absorb moisture from the environment, causing swelling and cracking over time.
Correct exposure ratio. The placement of an exterior door plays a major role in its maintenance and longevity. It’s important to determine the amount of overhang that protects the door from sun and rain and understand the UV exposure generated by the direction the door faces. In mild climates, the overhang should equal at least one-half of the door’s height. More severe climates require larger overhangs. The industry term for the correct exposure ratio is “coefficient.”
High-performance materials. New advances in manufacturing technology have taken the worry out of wood doors. JELD-WEN now offers AuraLast wood for U.S.-produced pine wood doors and frames. Thanks to a revolutionary penetrating treatment process, AuraLast wood is guaranteed to resist termites and decay for 20 years, and AuraLast wood frames carry a lifetime warranty.
Periodic inspection and maintenance. Just like any other exterior surface, doors need cleaning and care each year. Homeowners should expect to refinish wood doors every two to five years. For solid wood doors, lightly sand, then wipe away dust with a clean cloth, slightly dampened with mineral spirits. For doors made of other materials, follow the manufacturer’s refinishing recommendations. Apply at least two coats of a fade-resistant exterior polyurethane with an ultraviolet inhibitor, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Sand lightly between coats and be sure to finish all six sides of the door in the same manner.

Top tips for sprucing up the front entry
Once the entry door is properly finished and protected, homeowners may want to consider these inexpensive cosmetic upgrades.
1. Consider a new paint color. A touch of color for the front door gives the whole front of the home a lift. JELD-WEN’s new front door selector tool, offered at www.jeld-wen.com, allows homeowners to experiment with different looks online.
2. Install new hardware. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to spruce up the front entry on your own. Be sure to consider how the color and finish of the hardware coordinates or contrasts with the color and texture of the front door, and select a low-maintenance finish. Examples of new hardware to consider are brass kick plates, door handles, door knockers, locks and even mail slots.
3. Incorporate house numbers and lighting at the entryway. House numbers are a huge trend in “exterior design.” With more stylish options available than ever before, this little weekend project makes a big impact at the front entry. Likewise, a matching exterior light adds a warm and welcoming ambience.
For more door care and maintenance tips from JELD-WEN or to browse new styles for replacement doors, visit www.jeld-wen.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content .

Getting ready for a kitchen remodel?
If cooking in limited space is a challenge, your countertops are cluttered and you have no cabinet space left, it may be time for a kitchen remodel. According to the national trade publication “Kitchen & Bath Business,” an estimated 6 million households will embark on said adventure in the coming year.
If you’ll be among the masses, make the process easier by putting some thought into it now. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends you start by:
1) Determining the main purpose for remodeling the room. Do you want to add more space or just better utilize the limited space you have?
2) Next, look into your options. Can you “borrow” space from an adjoining dining room or will you have to add on space?
3) Prioritize the changes. Figure out what you want to change the most and what you can keep or just update.
4) Collect ideas and information. Look through books and magazines to get an idea of the “look” you want. Make a clip book of all the pictures and ideas that represent your style. Visit home shows and collect brochures featuring products you like.
5) Determine your budget. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2005 Cost vs. Value report, the average kitchen remodel costs $43,862. If you don’t have that kind of money to spend, don’t despair. You can still remodel, just on a smaller scale.
One of the easiest, and least expensive ways to update a tired kitchen is to change the wall color and flooring. If you want to make the room appear larger, go with a shade of blue or green. If you want a more comfortable, cozy feel, yellows, reds and golds are the way to go.
To make the colors really pop, choose a flooring material that lets you be the designer. Marmoleum Click by Forbo (available in 18 colors) comes in easy to install 12-inch wide by 36-inch long panels. They can be combined with 12-inch by 12-inch squares for a wide variety of patterns and color combinations.
In the kitchen, islands and bars can be surrounded by color that will really set them apart from the rest of the room. Color can also be used to separate the kitchen from an adjoining dining room or great room. You can make the room appear larger by using light colors and simple patterns, or choose a busy pattern and darker colors to make the room feel cozier.
If you want the patterns to be the focal point of the room, you can install zig zags of alternating colors, or even checkerboards. The material can even be used on backsplashes.
Marmoelum Click is easily kept dirt and dust free, and tests show its anti-static and bactericidal properties prevent micro-organisms such as Staphylococcus from growing. Mold won’t grow on it in the bathroom either.
To learn more about Marmoleum Click, or to find the dealer nearest you, log on to www.themarmoleumstore.com or call (866) MARMOLEUM.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Tips for remodeling on a budget
If you’re tired of the look and feel of your kitchen and want to try something different, don’t let the high cost of a remodel scare you off. There are some inexpensive upgrades you can make that will have a huge impact:
1. Paint the room
2. Update the lighting
3. Change the faucet and sink
4. Change out the cabinet hardware
5. Upgrade the countertops
Highly polished granite and stainless steel were the hot trends in the 1990s, but because of their expense and need for greater upkeep and care, there’s now a renewed interest in synthetic countertop materials that combine both style and function.
One that’s getting a lot of attention these days is Wilsonart HD, a high definition laminate. The material is available in hundreds of colors and patterns so you’re guaranteed to find exactly the look what you want, whether that’s a vibrant pure colored counter that will compliment cherry cabinets, or the elegant look of stone or wood.
Log on to www.countertop.com or call (800) 433-3222 to request samples.

Tile: A home improvement that lasts a lifetime
By Holli Rossi

Flooring can be one of the most important decorative decisions and investments that you make for your home or business. While the floor you walk on can reflect your own personal style, it also has the potential to last a lifetime.
Flooring experts Mark Guiliano and Tony D’Auge owners of Albany-based Pro Tile, Inc. agreed that the trend in flooring has shifted away from traditional to harder porcelain and marble tiles, which have proven to be virtually indestructible, stain resistant and appealing. Imagine transforming your mudroom or entranceway to a welcome room with decorative porcelain tile or adding elegance to an office lobby with marble flooring.
With over 20 years of combined experience in the flooring industry, the two men aim to install quality tile flooring that can last for a few generations. Since opening in September 2006, Pro Tile transformed the lobby of Anton Wood Associates on Central Avenue, in Albany, by laying three-dimensional flooring, which resembles that of the Guggenheim Heritage Museum at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Called Marble Illusion, the floor is made with square marble tiles bordered by black and white marble pieces to create an illusion of steps cascading across the room.
According to Guiliano, the customer handed him a picture from a magazine and asked him to do the job. It took Guiliano and three other men three days to cut hard marble pieces and lay them out in a pattern until they got it right. In the end, Pro Tile installed an elegant marble floor and re-decorated the lobby walls of the business. In total, it took 11 days to complete.
“This is the most intricate project we have ever done,” said Guiliano.
Guiliano, who started out in the flooring industry in 1992, only recommends three-dimensional flooring for large business entranceways. Tile patterns or murals are more appropriate for square rooms. Because marble can be slippery, Guiliano suggests using porcelain tile for residential mudrooms and entranceways.
If you want to give your bathroom a functional facelift, porcelain tile is the way to go. Porcelain, which is known for its low water absorption, can withstand high-traffic areas and continuous exposure to moisture. While there are many colors to choose from, tiles can be mixed and matched to create a pattern. Tile borders or hems can also create a stunning look. Popular today are soft neutral tones.
Because ceramic tile can last so long, customers have leaned toward earth tones that will match many types of furniture and wall coverings. For a more personal touch, customers can opt for a pattern of tile or have decorative inlays installed.
Cost can be influenced by how many different sizes of tiles are used. While most customers choose to go with one size of tile, there are those who want floor patterns which can require up to five different shapes.
Remember, though, that ceramic tile is only as good as the sub-flooring that is installed. Because ceramic tile is more heavy and brittle, it requires a stable underlayment that can carry the weight and prevent surface tiles from cracking or coming loose over time. Additionally, sub-flooring should be both nailed and cemented down. “It [sub-flooring] is the key to making tiles last,” said Guiliano.
Floors aren’t the only thing that Guiliano and D’Auge specialize in. They also use tiles to create unforgettable walls. A tile backsplash behind a stove or above a countertop can add life to a tired kitchen and protect walls from drips and splatters. In its simplest form, a backsplash can consist of a main tile with a border and a few inserts. However, a colorful mosaic backsplash or tile mural can be installed for as little as $1,000.
If you’re considering revamping your home with tiles, Guiliano suggests you get two to three quotes from different vendors to compare pricing. Additionally, tile stores can often recommend reputable contractors.
For more information on Pro Tile call 365.8882 or visit www.protileofalbany.com.
Holli Rossi is a Capital Region resident who has a way with words and would love to tell your story. She can be reached at 235.5393 or hrossi@nycap.rr.com.

A garage fit for a car
There are over 100 million garages in North America and it’s not likely that they all have cars parked in them. Most likely they hold an accumulation of life’s cast-offs, essential or rarely used tools, sports and hobby stuff. With the garage so crammed full of stuff, many times your car is the one that suffers.
Building and remodeling contractors report that after the kitchen, bath and multi-purpose utility rooms, garage space is getting a lot of attention in both new construction and remodel jobs. Fortunately for homeowners, there are more options than ever for solving the problem.
When trying how to get more out of the 500 square feet in your two-car garage, consider just how it will be used:
• Rebuilding a classic car has an entirely different set of requirements than nurturing orchids.
• Do you need to work in the space as well as store things; if so, what tools do you need regularly?
• Do you need heavy-duty shelving or specific racks for sports gear?
• Do you need to protect children or pets from dangerous items?
• What is in there that shouldn’t be?
Next, look for usable space, which is probably more than you think. If you think cars will take most of the floor space, look for products that take advantage of vertical wall space.
The best solution is a customized system that gives flexibility for future needs. These systems are typically a combination of tall and wall-mounted cabinets and shelving, work surfaces and slat wall or pegboard with use-specific hangers to control tools and small items. For the ultimate garage package, air filters, high-tech flooring, refrigerators, plasma screens and built-in power tools can be found. Whether you need a practical all-purpose storage area or a motor-head monument, a garage upgrade is an investment that you’ll appreciate daily–and when your home is sold.
For more information call California Closets at 218.7883, visit them at Peter Harris Plaza, Route 7, Latham or visit online at www.californiaclosets.com.