Dating or dental work
Which is more fun?

By John Gray

Ask the average woman which she would rather do—go on a blind date or have a root canal performed without the benefit of Novocain and chances are she’ll pause 30 seconds and say, “I’ll go with the root canal.” Dating is tough. Not to mention tiring, humiliating and frustrating. It’s also necessary if you want to meet that someone special, fall in love, get married, and in a few years, look across the living room at that person lying on the couch with cheese stains all over his face from inhaling the whole bag of Jax and think, “Oh my God what have I done?”
Okay, so maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age, but being 44 and having dated a time or two, I do think I bring some wisdom to the table. Let’s start with a few of the do’s and don’ts.
Don’t trust people when they say they know someone who is “perfect” for you and they want to fix you up. By the end of the date you’ll be wondering if your friend knows you at all. We’ve all been there for that moment when you walk into the restaurant scanning the faces for this ‘perfect match’ and someone you are not remotely attracted to says, “Hey I think you’re looking for me.” You think to yourself, “Relax, maybe he has such a great personality that I’ll find myself drawn to him” only to learn his favorite movie is “Silence of the Lambs” and for the next hour your blind dates keeps telling the waitress, “It puts the lotion in the basket!” Later, he orders fava beans with a nice Chianti while making that creepy slurping sound like Hannibal Lector. This would be funny if a part of you didn’t think there’s a real chance this guy might actually have a woman at home trapped in his basement.
As for my do’s, do get out of the house. You won’t meet anyone curled up on the couch staring out the window at the moon. This works in fairytales, not so much in the real world. Prince Charming is not dropping by to toss pebbles at the window. He’s probably at Noche or Pearl wondering how a bottle of water could possibly cost that much. To that end I give you John’s Top Five Dating Tips.
1) Coffee first—The only thing worse than a bad date is a bad date that lasts two hours. You do not want to be in a fancy restaurant with a person you can’t stand, suffering through a five course meal. If the waiter asks if he can tell you about the specials and you reply, “I’d like the chicken, a can of mace and the check. In that order,” that’s generally a bad sign. I suggest meeting someone new for coffee first. This assures you that the ‘date’ can be over in 15 minutes or less. If it’s going great you can either order another drink or move from the coffee shop to a nearby restaurant.
2) Cell phone—use it or lose it. When it comes to cell phones I have different advice for the different sexes. Women should always carry a cell phone on the first date and keep it turned on with the ringer set on ‘high’. Program the phone’s alarm to go off roughly a half hour after you are scheduled to meet this person. You can pretend it’s not the alarm, but an urgent incoming call. Get up from the table and walk a few feet away, but not so far that he can’t overhear your conversation. If the date is going well and you want to stay, say into the phone, “Listen, I’m with someone special and we can deal with this tomorrow. Don’t disturb me again.” Then, shut the phone off and put it away. If the date is a disaster and the only interesting thing about this guy is that he can sing the theme song to “The Beverly Hillbillies” or name every episode of “Star Trek”, then yell into the phone, “Oh my God, you’re kidding! Now? Right now? Alright, if the heart transplant can’t wait then I guess I have no choice.” This lets you exit gracefully.
Guys, on the other hand, should not bring their cell phone or try any of these tricks. Listen buddy, it was your idea to ask her out and if the date is going badly tough luck. Suffer through dinner, walk her to the door and tell her it’s a shame you joined Greenpeace and are leaving in the morning for the shores of Australia to save the humpback whale.
3) Dating resume—This is my most brilliant idea ever (aside from that day Al Gore and I had lunch and invented the Internet) and will save everyone a mountain of misery. All singles should be required to sit down and type out a resume which lists their likes, dislikes, goals and deal-breakers. Picture it, you meet at Uno’s or Macaroni Grill and before either of you are allowed to speak a single word you exchange dating resumes.
“Allergic to cats I see. Hmm. I have two of them. Not good.”
“Oh you want to wait at least five years to have children? I’m ovulating right now buddy.”
“You think comedian Kathy Griffin is funny? Every time she’s on Bravo I want to stab myself in the forehead with a shrimp fork just to stop the pain.”
Dating services use a similar approach to match people, I just think having all your pet peeves and must haves on a piece of paper that you can hand out saves time and money. In fact, I have mine laminated.
4) Don’t buy, lease for awhile—When you meet someone you think is incredible the brain releases a chemical into your system that gives you a sense of absolute euphoria. Studies have shown this is the same feeling you get when you eat large amounts of chocolate or stumble upon a “One Day Sale” at Macy’s. The problem is that while your heart is going “pitter patter” your brain and eyesight are out to lunch. Meaning, you are completely blind to any faults this potential mate may have. This is why you should not move in together, buy a ring or even split an order of nachos for at least a year. If you have gone through all four seasons with this person and you still think they are swell, then you may just be onto something my friend. And if they are completely full of baloney and this whole thing is an act, chances are you’ll see some signs of trouble by the time you carve the Thanksgiving bird the second time around. Oh, and if he has been lying, cheating and using you, skip the wishbone, just have two big friends each grab one of his legs and make a wish! And finally…
5) Don’t settle—When you are lonely it’s easy to skip Mr. Right and go for Mr. Right Now. Don’t do it. This goes for the guys too. Far too many smart people have overlooked some pretty big issues in an effort to avoid being alone. If you want kids wait for someone who wants kids. If money is really important to you don’t marry a guy who makes 25k a year and then spend the next 20 years resenting the fact that you can’t afford a house in Loudonville. Be honest with yourself and any potential partner. You’ll both be happy in the long run. And keep an open mind that sometimes the one person you’d never choose is exactly the person you need. Don’t dismiss people before you get a chance to know them. Even if they’re divorced with kids. You’d be surprised what you can make work if you truly love each other.
So there you have it. My top five can’t miss dating tips. If you’re looking for love I wish you luck. Oh, and one last thing. On that first date avoid eating ribs. Not even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie look attractive picking strands of pork out of their teeth. Go with the pasta. l
John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writer at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com.

This month I have a mixed bag of books—one chick-lit, one horror story, one companion to a classic and one that I debated including at all—I found it somewhat horrifying, somewhat instructive, mostly appalling, but still I was unable to put it down. The first three will have you turning pages quickly, eager to find out what comes next; the fourth might have you throwing it across the room, cursing my name. It is certain to be a controversial book, so it is worth reviewing. You heard it here first!

The newest Shopaholic book by Sophie Kinsella is out now. The fifth in the series, Shopaholic and Baby ($24—Random House), is another fun, fizzy shop-fest. Becky Brandon, our fearless heroine, is now married, pregnant and happily shopping for two. Of course, Becky’s life never goes as smoothly as planned and her pregnancy is no exception. She and her husband Luke are searching for a house for their new family in the cut-throat world of London real estate. Luke’s business is growing, thanks to a huge corporate client, and he is often distracted by work. And there is the double-edged sword of Becky’s new obstetrician, Venetia Carter. On the plus side, she is the Hollywood A-list celebrity doctor beloved by celebrities, models and Bond girls, so Becky is thrilled to be on her patient roster. On the minus side, she is Luke’s ex-college girlfriend and Becky has a sneaking suspicion that Venetia would like nothing better than to rekindle the old flame. Kinsella spins a charming tale and Becky manages to triumph once again. This is a purely fun read, perfect for your pregnant friend or a recent mom.
Joe Hill is the author of the debut novel Heart-Shaped Box ($24.95—HarperCollins), a modern day horror story. In the interests of full disclosure, I must reveal that the author’s full name is Joe Hill King, as in son of Stephen, and it is clear he has learned some things about writing from his dad. Ordinarily, I avoid horror novels because I hate being scared (no roller coaster for me, thanks!), but I make an exception for new Stephen Kings books, and now I make exceptions for his son’s books. The protagonist of Heart-Shaped Box is Judas Coyne, a death metal rock star in his fifties who is known as a collector of bizarre and occult items—a used hangman’s noose, a cookbook for cannibals, even a snuff film. When he sees a ghost for sale online, he snaps it up, only to discover that this particular spirit won’t rest until he has driven Jude Coyne to his death. Hill’s deft touch with contemporary details and pop culture references is reminiscent of his father’s, but with an updated, edgier feel. As Jude’s family background is revealed (he was born Justin Cowzynski, son of a vicious pig farmer and his beaten-down wife), his reluctance to let anyone get close to him becomes understandable. As the malevolent spirit’s intentions become clearer, it becomes obvious that in order to survive Jude needs the help of his current girlfriend, Marybeth, sometimes known as Georgia. As Jude and Marybeth’s shared danger brings them closer, the ghost becomes more vindictive, until the shattering climax of the book in which good and evil, love and hate, battle it out for Jude’s soul. I couldn’t put it down—I raced through the ending, forgetting to breathe because the suspense was killing me. Do NOT read the end of this book at bedtime. You will either stay up too late reading or be unable to sleep afterwards. Consider yourself warned!
Finn by Jon Clinch ($23.95—Random House) is the background story of the fictional Pap Finn, Huckleberry Finn’s father. Clinch’s portrait of Finn corresponds with his brief appearances in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” He is a man bedeviled by his urges for strong drink and African-American women; his weakness for both leads his father, a respectable, respected and feared circuit court judge, to banish him from the family. Living as a riverman, fishing to make the meager money he needs to keep himself in whisky and food, Finn lives a life unfettered by society’s constraints, much as his son does in Twain’s novel. Unlike Huck, however, Finn seems to be missing a moral compass. Like a child, he sees the world only in terms of what he is owed and what will benefit him. Despite this, his occasional attempts to better himself and win his father’s approval tug at the heartstrings. While Finn is no prize, his father the judge is the true villain; his smug superiority and certainty of his own moral rectitude despite acts of despicable cruelty are breathtaking. Like Twain, Clinch draws a sympathetic portrait of a man who is true to himself despite society’s censure; also like Twain, he takes aim at the hypocrisy embedded in society’s dictums. I think Twain would approve of this companion novel.
On to controversy—The Last American Male by Chad Kultgen ($13.95—HarperCollins) is a morally reprehensible novel. That out of the way, I found it fascinating like a car wreck on the side of the road. It purports to be how all heterosexual American men really think and feel, but if that is true, there are an awful lot of miserable men in this country who think about nothing but sex every minute of every day non-stop. And they are not thinking of love or romance; far from it—women are objects, sex is pornographic and muddying the waters with emotion would ruin the whole thing. I kept reading this book, hoping that the narrator would undergo some character development, but alas, it was not to be. Read this book if you want to know what the lowest common denominator of male is thinking when he’s out at a bar looking to score. Otherwise, hope that the men you know are more evolved than the unnamed narrator.
Until next month—happy reading!
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!

Decoding the wine label

By Henry Klein III

Can you judge a wine by its label? Well, perhaps not entirely, however the label does provide a great deal of information about the wine. Label reading requires some knowledge as requirements vary significantly from country to country.

United States requirements:
Brand - May include owner’s name, winery name, growing area, appellation where wine originated and grape variety or trademark name.
Class - All wine labels must identify their contents as being one of nine classes. The most common being Class 1, or table wine, which in the US simply means a wine whose alcohol content is between 7% -14% (please note that the term “table wine” on European labels is used to refer to a lower ranking wine, a distinct difference than the US definition).
Alcohol content - Alcohol content must be listed on wines containing more than 14% alcohol by volume. Wines in this instance are considered fortified and taxed at a higher rate. Wines containing 14% or less may either list the alcohol content or they may use the designation “table wine” or “light wine” which implies an alcohol content range of 7-14%.
Name and location of bottler - The name and address of the bottler must appear on the label of all American wines preceded by the words “bottled by”. The words “produced and bottled by” may be used if the winery made at least 75% of the wine.
“Made and bottled by” is used if the winery fermented and clarified a minimum of 10% of the wine or if the winery changed the class of the wine.
“Cellared”, “vinted,” or “prepared” means the named winery subjected the wine to any cellar treatment specified in the regulations at that location, i.e. barrel aging.
“Blended and bottled by” means the winery mixed the wine with another wine of the same class and type at that location. Blending simply means mixing together two or more individual lots of wine, usually from different grape varieties. However, it may apply to wines from different vineyards, regions or vintages as well, i.e. blending together Cabernet and Merlot.
Net contents - Expressed in milliliters with the standard wine bottle being 750ml. May be molded into the bottle itself or appear on the label.
The phrase “Contains Sulfites”- All wine bottled after July 1987 must state this. Wine producers use sulfur in wine primarily to prevent spoilage from bacteria and oxidation and to improve color. Sulfur is readily digested by the human body; however there is a small percentage of the population that has allergies to sulfur.
Government health warning - All alcoholic beverages bottled or imported for sale or distribution in the US since November 18, 1989 must contain a health warning on the label. The warnings include (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Vintage dating option - A vintage year may be listed on wines produced in the US if 95% of the grapes harvested and fermented within that calendar year were used and have an appellation more specific than a country name.
Appellation of origin - This refers to the country or region where the grapes were grown. In the US an appellation of origin on the label is mandatory if:
• The name is qualified with the word brand
• The wine is labeled with the vintage (year the grapes were harvested)
• A varietal or type with varietal significance is used
• A generic term is used
California state law requires that if a label lists California as the appellation of origin then 100% of the grapes need to be from California. The majority of other states require that 75% of the grapes come from the specified state. If a label specifies a designated viticultural area (i.e. Napa Valley) a minimum of 85% of the grapes must come from the named region.
European countries that produce wine have a very distinct ranking system. Wines must meet specific criteria to determine rank. A higher ranking does not always mean that it is better, but it is an indication of higher quality.
To very briefly touch on the European Union’s wine ranking system, wines are either categorized as QWPSR (Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region) or Table Wines, with the latter considered a lower status.
The following ranking systems are listed from highest to lowest:
(the intials AOC, AC, VDQS, DOCG, DOC, DO, Qmp & Qba fall into the QWPSR category)
France - AOC or AC, VDQS, Vin de pays, Vin de table
Italy - DOCG, DOC, IGT or Vino da tavola and geographic name, Vino da tavola
Spain - DOC, DO, Vino de la tierra, vino de mesa
Portugal - DO, Vinho regional, Vinho de mesa
Germany - Qmp, Qba, Landwein, Deutscher tafelwein
Varietal - Not mandatory, however if the varietal is named a minimum of 75% of that varietal must be present in the wine.

Additional information not required by law
Winemakers may include a number of other descriptors on the label as well. These often appear on the back label and include buzzwords such as “crisp and dry”, “rich”, “supple”, and “soft”.
Certain terms can be quite meaningful if the wine was produced in a particular country; however the same word may be meaningless elsewhere. An example of this is the term “reserve”. “Reserve” in Italy and Spain indicates a wine has received extra aging, implying that the wine is of better quality and is more expensive. The use of the word “reserve” is not regulated in other countries such as France and the US, and though while historically used to designate a better wine, this is not always the case and may be used for marketing purposes only.
All in all wine labels are a delicate balance between marketing and legality. While there is no substitute for tasting the wine, an educated label reader can definitely make better buying decisions and use the information provided to help reveal the tastes beneath the cork.
Wine of the Month: Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa Valley/$20 bottle. l
Henry Klein III is owner of Cabernet Café, 1814 Western Avenue, Guilderland. For more information call 452.5670 or visit www.cabernetcafe.com.

The new science of flexibility

By Judy Torel

The fitness industry is evolving at a rate similar to that of computer technology. Because information changes so rapidly, oftentimes it appears as conflicting. In reality, the science is evolving and what was thought to be safe and effective is outdated by new and more subtle insights. This is exactly what is occurring in the science of flexibility and stretching.
Most of us who are old enough can remember when ballistic or (bouncing in a stretch position) was thought to be a safe and effective method for increasing flexibility. But, research has shown that this type of stretching can actually lead to increased rates of injury and except under very specific instances, ballistic stretching has gone the way of the dinosaur.
What determines flexibility? Are there different types of stretches? When is the best time to stretch during a workout? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more!

Flexibility
Flexibility is defined as the range of motion (ROM) around a joint. A joint is where bone, ligaments and tendons come together and allow movement. Flexibility in the human body is desirable and having a full range of motion in all joints leads to unrestricted mobility and is correlated with higher levels of physical performance and lower rates of injury.
There are a number of factors that influence ROM in joints. Age and gender are two factors that affect flexibility. ROM generally decreases with age. This is partly due to muscle fibers evolving into fibrous connective tissue which has less elasticity. Females are generally more flexible then males. That said, being a senior male does not mean that you are destined to be rigid. Flexibility can be increased at any age and in both genders with appropriate training.
Deep connective tissue such as ligaments, fascia and tendons can limit ROM. Ligaments and fascia are more limited then tendons in their elasticity so their job is to stabilize joints. Tendons and muscle fibers are more elastic in nature and it is their job to create the movement around the joint. A healthy joint must have a base level of stability and elasticity. Stretching will help prevent unnecessary tightening of the connective tissues within a joint
Previous injuries or chronic muscle tension can lead to a thickening or fibrosing within a muscle. This fibrous tissue is less elastic and can lead to fibrous nodules called trigger points. Trigger points are the knots we often feel in muscles. These knots lead to improper muscle lengthening during movement because they are not as elastic as healthy muscle fiber and often are the cause of strains, tears, muscle pain and joint injury.

Types of stretching
Stretching both before and after physical activity, whether it be a workout or daily activities such as shoveling snow, is important in avoiding injury. Stretching is also instrumental in facilitating muscle recovery, optimizing muscle strength gains and increasing ROM. Current science has identified two types of stretching.
Dynamic stretching uses movement and active muscular effort to create a stretch. The end position of dynamic stretching is not held. Dynamic stretching is useful before a workout, athletic event or any activity that is physically strenuous. When performed before a higher intensity activity, dynamic stretching has been shown to reduce muscle tightness which is a major factor that causes musculotendinous tears. The most recent science indicates that dynamic stretching is the type of stretching that should be performed at the beginning of a workout or more strenuous activity.
Examples of dynamic stretches are arm circles, walking lunges, high knee walking and standing squats. The movements should be performed repeatedly for 30 seconds to several minutes. These movement patterns involve progressively increasing ROM and increasing blood and heat into the joints and muscles that will be called to perform in the subsequent activity or exercise.
The second type of stretching is static stretching, which most people are familiar with. This type of stretching is slow and constant and involves holding a stretch position for 10-30 seconds. Static passive stretching involves some external force to facilitate the stretch. For instance, when you lie on your back and use your hands to pull your leg towards your chest in a hamstring stretch position, you are performing a passive static stretch.
Doing the same stretch, but using the muscles of your leg to bring it towards your chest without your hands is an active static stretch. In this type of stretch, your own muscles are involved in creating the stretch. This is also known as functional stretching and there is thought that functional ROM is best for athletic performance. Passive static stretching may cause a reactionary tightening of the muscles and a decrease in muscle strength, neither of which are desirable in athletics nor human performance in general.
Static stretching, both passive and active, has been shown to be most effective in increasing ROM over time. The best time to perform static stretching is after a workout or activity when muscles and joints are very warm and lubricated. If performed before a workout, there is evidence that indicates that muscles will have a reactionary loss of strength and ROM due to the stretch reflex response, therefore dynamic stretching is better before a workout.
When performing static stretching you should always already be warmed up. You should take the stretch to just before the point of discomfort. As you hold the stretch you should notice a decrease in tightness. You should breathe out while performing the static stretch. It is desirable to hold the stretch for 10-30 seconds and you should shake out the stretched muscles in between stretches. Each stretch should be done 2-3 times before moving to the next one.
Examples of static stretches are: sitting on the floor and leaning forward to touch your toes, placing your hands behind your back and moving your arms away from your back to stretch your chest and letting your heel hang over a step to stretch the calf.
Increasing flexibility is desirable for maximum mobility and helps decrease chances of injury. Dynamic stretches are best performed before an activity and static stretches should be executed after a workout or activity. No matter what your circumstances, proper flexibility training can improve your ROM and help avoid pain and injury. A comprehensive flexibility program is just as important as strength training and cardiovascular workouts. l
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

Secrets of building self-esteem

By Randy Cale, PH.D

A healthy sense of believing in one’s self is at the core of a happy, productive and successful life. We want our children to develop healthy self-esteem. Unfortunately, the more concerned we become about our children’s self-esteem, and the more we focus on building a strong sense of self, our efforts often create the opposite result.
In other words, in trying to build their self-esteem, we actually weaken their self-confidence. While this might not make sense initially, when we are really observant, we can see this in action. An example is taking your child to the gym to workout, but carrying him or her around. By doing this they cannot develop muscle. Likewise, children do not develop the “muscle of self-esteem” if we carry too much of the weight. To avoid this, consider these three secrets to nurturing self-esteem.
1.) Your children are always esteeming themselves…either positively or negatively.
Self-esteem is not a thing. It’s a way of thinking about ourselves and a set of beliefs about who we are. Children do not inherently think negative thoughts about themselves, but unfortunately they pick up negative messages from the world around them.
2.) Limit your children’s exposure to negative esteem robbing experiences.
A healthy self-esteem emerges in the absence of negative, critical esteem robbing experiences. Children can learn to think negatively about themselves based upon a variety of esteem robbing experiences. I would encourage you to ask these questions:
What do my children see and hear? Do they hear critical parents? Do they hear lots of negative comments? Are their parents critical of others or of themselves? Criticism in the “outside world” only breeds internal criticism.
How do kids entertain themselves? What shows do they watch? What videos do they play? Do they live an active life or is theirs a passive life where “the box” entertains them? Too often children are entertained passively, and they escape from the real life requirements of the world, such as the demand of exercise or mastering relationships with peers, or engaging in responsible, academic effort. Such passive activity is often an escape from living life and such escape never produces success, joy and never builds resilience and strength.
Do they hear parents constantly nagging? Nagging is like sending two messages. The verbal message is, “Take care of that.” The non-verbal message is saying, “You’re doing it wrong, you’re doing it wrong, you can’t get it right.” The impact of constant nagging is that your children hear that message as one of failure and incompetence.
3.) Stop trying so hard to build self-esteem and allow their inner strength to emerge.
There are two ways that our efforts can actually destroy the emergence of a healthy self-esteem. First, when we begin to offer constant praise and encouragement and offer repeated statements about how wonderful and unique and intelligent our kids are, we actually don’t help them in any way. Just test this. Notice if your kids begin to behave in ways that reflect a greater sense of self-esteem. You’ll find that it doesn’t work.
The second way that we can undermine self-esteem is by continuing to correct children when they complain against themselves. In other words, children will sometimes make statements that are highly self-critical. They complain about their appearance or about their intelligence or how other kids don’t like them. As your kids offer these complaints, notice that they are rarely offered in a manner suggesting a desire to solve a problem. Instead, these are self-directed complaints.
Rather than trying to repeatedly counter these complaints, act disinterested in them. Why? Because these are lies! Children are lying about themselves, and you are not interested in such self-directed lies.
The more that you engage the self-directed complaint (or lie), the more that you validate that complaint for your child. It’s as if your very effort to try to have them drop that complaint about themselves deepens the power of the complaint.
If children are predictably able to obtain the attention and energy of the family when they offer negativity, their brains begin to believe that the world cares about negativity. This is a formula for failure. So turn this around. Walk away from these repeated self-complaints and lies. Instead, reserve your attention for those moments when there is a positive event. Reserve your attention to notice a moment of cooperation or effort, a moment of responsibility or kindness. Put your energy into what you want while it’s happening and notice that their esteem will begin to grow.
Behind these three simple principles are the tools that give you true power and influence as a parent. For a complete solution to this problem, check out my new program, The Confident Child online at www.TerrificParenting.com. l
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.

Guiding children through loss and grief

By Diane E. Lykes, LCSW

In 1975, a teacher at a small suburban high school decided to teach a class called “Death Education”. His name was George Campbell and despite the controversy involved, he developed an in-depth curriculum for a class that would affect the lives of his students for years to come.
Many people in our society are uncomfortable talking about death. There is a general feeling that children should be shielded from the pain associated with loss wherever possible. However, loss is inevitable in all our lives and with our help, children can appreciate the feelings that are unique to this occasion, they can learn the skills to cope with these feelings and they can grow to appreciate and embrace life more fully.
George Campbell knew this and spent a good part of his teaching career helping students to understand and appreciate the complexities of loss. His curriculum included many guest speakers such as hospice workers, physicians, funeral directors, rescue squad personnel, police officers and clergy members.
Read on to learn a few different types of loss that children experience, how children and adolescents express grief and how we can guide them through the healing process.

Types of loss
It is estimated that over two million children in the United States experience the death of a parent before age 18. The percentage is much higher when the statistics include grandparents, relatives, siblings and friends. Many parents also report that the death of a beloved family pet can produce strong grief reactions in their children.
In addition to losses through death, there are many other ways that children experience loss. The high divorce rate in families, as well as major world events (9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami) often create a sense of uncertainty in our children. Unfortunately, the media sensationalizes tragedy and violence and children will rely on adults to reassure them and help maintain their sense of security.

How children express grief
Although adults and children grieve very differently children do grieve, and often, very deeply.
For infants and toddlers, grief is expressed through their behaviors as they have an inability to express themselves and do not understand the finality of death. They will display their grief by:
• Bedwetting
• Clinging to adults
• Temper tantrums
• Searching
• Regression
• Stubbornness
• Crying
• Separation fears
6-9 years old have a very limited understanding of death. They still believe that the “boogey man” can snatch a person and often make up stories to try and understand their loss. They also believe that if they wish for something their mind has the ability to make it happen. As a result, they may fear that they caused the death by being angry with the person. Children at this age may display:
• Anger
• Denial
• Irritability
• Self-blame
• Regression to earlier behaviors
• School problems such as lack of concentration and poor grades
By age 9 or 10 children begin to acquire a better understanding of death. At this age they can understand that death is a permanent state, cannot be reversed and that it will happen to everyone at some point in time.
Middle school age children often display the following symptoms as part of their grief process:
• Crying
• Longing
• Resentment
• Isolation and withdrawal
• Sleep disturbance
• Physical symptoms (headaches, stomachaches)
• Academic decline
• Withdrawal from adults
Finally, adolescents (13 and up) are clearly able to understand the significance of death and are at a stage where they are beginning to question their own mortality. They often turn to their friends as they struggle toward independence from their parents, yet they feel overwhelmed by the emotions that death brings about. They may express these reactions with:
• Anxiety
• Depression and sadness
• Guilt
• Resentment
• Numbing
• Risk-taking behavior
• Fear of death
• Changes in sleep and appetite
• Distancing
• Academic problems
It is important to remember that these symptoms are actually a normal part of the grieving process. Most often they do not last and children and adolescents return to their previous level of functioning. In fact, if these behaviors do continue over time and become more pronounced, it is important to seek professional help.

How we can help
The following is a list of helpful strategies adults can use to help children move through the normal process of grief. These strategies have also been divided into categories based on the age group of the children.
Pre-schoolers:
• Use words like “dead” or “death” rather than “went to sleep” or “passed away”. These phrases will only confuse a child in this age group.
• Give plenty of physical affection, attention and comforting words such as “you are safe” and “I am here for you”.
• Stick to day and nighttime routines as much as possible.
Elementary school aged children:
• Reassure the child that they are not to blame.
• Limit TV viewing of world tragedies that can fuel more uncertainty.
• Read books written for children about death and dying.
• Give children in this age group a choice about whether to attend the funeral or memorial services. If the child does want to attend, prepare them beforehand for what they may see and hear, including the grief others may show.
• As much as possible, maintain the same household routines.
• Reassure children that it is all right for them to play and laugh again.
Teenagers:
• Be available when they are ready to talk rather than expecting them to talk.
• If they ask questions, be honest. If you don’t know the answer, then say so.
• Enlist the help of a minister, close family friend or close peer to check in with them. Sometimes they distance from parents—a normal short-term reaction to grief.
• Enroll them in support group (contact Hospice for more information) with other teenagers who have also experienced significant loss. This connection can be a very powerful part of their grief work.
• Encourage the use of journals and expression through art.
• Remind them that it’s the person’s life, not the death, that’s significant.
In their outstanding book, On Grief and Grieving, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler describe their view on why it is so important to grieve:
“We grieve for two reasons. First, those who grieve well, live well. Second, and most important, grief is the healing process of the heart, soul and mind; it is the path that returns us to wholeness. It shouldn’t be a matter of if you will grieve; the question is when will you grieve. And until we do, we suffer from the effects of that unfinished business”.
Just out of curiosity, I contacted that small suburban high school to see if George Campbell was still teaching his “Death Education” class. Unfortunately, a secretary in the guidance office informed me that when he retired in 1995, this class retired with him. Maybe we can all do our small part in carrying on his legacy by teaching children about death and its connection to living. l

Spring resolutions for a healthy year

You’ve resolved to live a more healthy llifestyle, but where do you start? The American Medical Association has some advice on how you can improve your health.
“It is important that we develop healthy lifestyles and behaviors that we can carry with us throughout our lives,” said AMA president-elect Ron Davis, M.D.
The AMA offers these ideas for improving your health:
1. Avoid smoking—the leading preventable cause of death—as well as exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Released earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that there is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS, and the California Environmental Protection Agency estimates that SHS kills 50,000 Americans each year.
2. Eat your fruits and vegetables—As recommend by the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, eat about two cups of fruit and two to three cups of vegetables daily to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke and high blood pressure.
3. Cut back on salt—Limit your salt intake to one teaspoon per day (if you are 50 years of age or older, cut back to about half a teaspoon per day) to help lower blood pressure and decrease your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
4. Limit fat in your diet—Eat a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and trans fats to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of developing heart disease.
5. Check cholesterol—Have your blood cholesterol checked regularly by your doctor and keep your cholesterol level under 200 mg/dl to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
6. Reduce amount of soda you drink—Per capita soft-drink consumption has increased by almost 500 percent over the past 50 years. Limit your consumption of regular soda pop and other sugar-sweetened drinks to help you avoid weight gain and obesity, and to also decrease tooth decay.
7. Check blood pressure—Have your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor to help reduce your chances of heart attack or stroke. If you have high blood pressure, make sure that you keep your blood pressure under 140/90.
8. Get a colonoscopy - If you are 50 or older, ask your doctor about getting a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer to improve your chances of early detection.
9. Get a mammogram—If you are a woman 40 years or older, get a mammogram every one to two years to help detect breast cancer early and if diagnosed, improve your chances for survival.
10. Protect your skin from the sun: Use sunblock (with an SPF of at least 30) or protective clothing when you’re in sunlight for a prolonged period. If you frequently get a suntan or sunburn, have your doctor check your skin regularly to detect early signs of skin cancer.
“These resolutions are just a few of the things you can do to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes. Continue to look to the AMA for a wide range of health information and continue to turn to your physician for the highest quality of care for you and your family,” said Dr. Davis. l
For more health advice, visit the American Medical Association at www.ama-assn.org. Courtesy of ARA Content

A dozen hand-picked destinations with real “flower power”

By Linda McClain, CTA

Even though the calendar says “spring”, we still have to wait a few weeks for the telltale signs: the warmer weather, the longer days, and of course, the colorful fresh blossoms. But, you don’t have to wait to enjoy the flowers – below are a dozen destinations that ooze of Mother Nature’s floral bouquets.

60th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens – March 15-April 14
Charleston, South Carolina
Renowned for three centuries as “a city set in a garden,” Charleston holds this festival during the peak of the historic port city’s blooming season. Enjoy tours of private gardens in 150 historic houses in 11 colonial and antebellum neighborhoods. A true southern paradise, Charleston will entice you with its old world charm and hospitality. For more information: www.historiccharleston.org.

Annual Cherry Blossom Festival – March 31-April 15 ( Parade - April 14)
Washington D.C
The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift to the city of Washington of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and celebrate the continued close relationship between our two countries. For more information: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival – April 5-June 3
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
Disney’s talented horticulturists give you a behind the scenes look at how they create and maintain the beauty of Disney World. Visit Minnie’s magnificent butterfly garden and see colorful foliage with hundreds of free flying butterflies. Don’t miss the world showcase exhibits. From Japan, China and parts of Europe, you will observe beautiful floral and gardening displays. For more information: www.wdwinfo.com.

Biltmore Estate Festival of Flowers - April 7-May 20
Asheville, North Carolina
Spring arrives with a stunning display of more than 100,000 tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in the Walled Garden (www.romanticasheville.com/biltmore_flowers.htm). Also, enjoy spectacular garden tours at Biltmore Estate Gardens April through October (www.biltmore.com).

Historic Garden Week, Virginia (statewide) - April 21-28
Step through the gates of more than 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks. Three dozen Historic Garden Week tours present a rich contrast of some of the country’s finest properties at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color. For more information: www.vagardenweek.org.

Nantucket Daffodil Festival - April 27-29
Nantucket, Massachusetts
More than three million daffodils bring visitors to the Massachusetts island of Nantucket. Just 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, this tiny island finds good reason to celebrate spring each year. They include an antique car parade featuring over 100 cars decorated with daffodils, an annual tailgate picnic featuring elaborate gourmet cuisine, children’s daffodil parade and daffy hat pageant. For more information: www.nantucketchamber.org.

59th Tulip Festival - May 11-13
Albany, NY
Celebrate Mother’s Day and Albany’s historic Dutch heritage right in our own backyard as Washington Park comes alive with thousands of vibrantly colored tulips. Tulip Fest is one of Albany’s oldest and most highly anticipated events. See who is crowned Tulip Fest, enjoy the live music and shop the many vendors. For more information: www.albanyevents.org.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour - May 12-13
Atlanta, Georgia
This fundraiser for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens includes tours of 11 private gardens.
For more information: www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

14th Annual Fields of Lupine Festival - June 8-25
Franconia, New Hampshire
View nature’s creative floral display of lupines within this beautiful region of the White Mountains. Enhancing the picture perfect scenery are dazzling butterflies that are attracted to the long-lasting flower blooms. There are also a number of events such as historic tours, garden workshops, concerts, performances, arts, crafts and beautifully scenic road trips. For more information: www.harmanscheese.com/lupine.html.

Secret Garden Tour - June 15-17
Newport, Rhode Island
Self-guided walking tour of private gardens of some of Newport’s most prestigious properties.
For more information: www.secretgardentours.org

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Longwood Gardens
One of the most impressive horticultural displays anywhere is Longwood Gardens. Situated in Pennsylvania about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, it was created by industrialist Pierre S. du Pont and is sometimes referred to as the du Pont Gardens.
The gardens have 1,050 acres of meadows, woodlands and spectacular fountains, which shoot up from manicured gardens filled with seasonal flowers. You can also visit 20 indoor gardens and choose from as many as 800 horticultural and performing arts events, such as the chrysanthemum festival, held every fall. A must-see site includes the Topiary Garden, where evergreen shrubs are clipped into the shapes of a table and chair. For more information: www.longwoodgardens.org.

In case you missed it, mark your calendar for next year:

Canada Blooms - March 7-11
Toronto, Ontario Canada
This annual show is the country’s largest indoor garden show. For more information: www.canadablooms.com.

Gardenscape 2007 - March 15-18
Rochester, NY
“The best of garden shows East Coast and West”- New York Times. Featuring many classes and seminars, including an interactive children’s garden. For more information: www.rochesterflowershow.com. l
Linda McClain, CTA, is owner of Capital Region based Linda McClain Travel Services “From The Islands To The Highlands, No Dream Is Too Far From Here!” For more information call 372.7657 or visit www.lindamcclaintravel.com.

Garden Guru

By Kerry A. Mendez

Q: What is the difference between compost and mulch? I heard a speaker at a garden show say that compost was good to use as a mulch. I thought compost was what you turned into your soil. I’m confused.
A: Don’t feel alone. Many people have asked me the same question. Basically, when someone says they mulched their gardens, all this means is they shoveled some material on top of their soil and around their plants to reduce weeds, conserve moisture and to make the gardens look nice. There is quite a range of materials that you can use for mulching your beds, compost being one. Compost is typically a combination of decomposed leaves and grass. Additional compostable items include kitchen waste, such as vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells, coffee and tea grounds. Do not add meat and dairy products. These take a long time to break down and may attract your neighbor’s dogs and cats, in addition to foraging wildlife. Compost is a super mulch for perennial gardens as it breaks down more quickly than wood products, releasing valuable nutrients to your plants. Other materials that can be used for mulch include cocoa hulls, straw, finely shredded wood, aged grass clippings (only if they are not treated with chemicals), shredded newspaper and pine needles (these do not change pH as quickly as people think). A word of caution concerning cocoa hulls if you own a dog - many dogs find these chocolate-tasting morsels irresistible. Unfortunately, chocolate is toxic to them and ingestion may cause a very upset stomach, or worse, death.

Q: When I go to the garden center I get overwhelmed with all the different kinds of fertilizers. Is there any one that is better than others for my perennial garden?
A: I wish it was as easy as simply saying a fertilizer is a fertilizer. Allow me to give a very simple fertilizer 101 class. In general, there are three types of fertilizers: liquid (water-soluble), granular and time-released. Liquid fertilizers like Miracle-Gro, fish emulsion, and manure tea (manure that is steeped in cheesecloth in water) are quickly available to the plant and absorbed primarily through the leaves. These usually are effective for several weeks. Granular fertilizers such as 5-10-5 and 10-10-10 are applied to the soil with the nutrients released to the roots. If you get granules on the leaves, you may burn the plants. These fertilizers are usually effective for four to six weeks. Time-released fertilizers like Osmocote or Plant-Tone are also applied to the soil, but release nutrients over three to four months. The other factor to consider when buying fertilizers is the amount (by weight) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer. Again, simply said, nitrogen (the first number) is for leaves and stems; potassium (the second number) is for roots, flowers and fruits; and potassium or potash (the third number) is for hardiness, disease resistance, root growth and overall health. If you are still confused about which fertilizer to buy, the safest route is to purchase a balanced fertilizer, one with all three numbers the same. Remember to always follow package directions for application rates. More is NOT better.

Q: Are there any rabbit-proof perennials? I am sick of fighting the battle with Peter Rabbit.
A:Bunnies are cute, but not when they are acting like mulching mowers in our gardens. There is good news though: there are some plants that rabbits wrinkle their noses at. Sun to part sun perennials include geraniums (‘Rozanne’ is an incredible blue geranium that blooms from June through October with no deadheading); catmint (nepeta); Siberian and bearded irises; black-eyed susans; alliums; globe flower (trollius); spiderwort; and blue-bladed grasses. Shade perennials include spotted dead nettle (lamiums); Bishop’s hat (epimedium); bergenia (this perennial works in sun or shade); Lenten rose (helleborus); astilbe; and lungwort (pulmonaria). Of course, poisonous perennials would be good choice (don’t fear, rabbits are too smart to eat these). Foxglove, monkshood and lily-of-the-valley fall into this group. Other strategies for keeping rabbits at bay include surrounding the garden with a 2’ to 4’ high chicken wire fence with a 1” mesh. To sabotage burrowing rabbits make sure the wire extends into the ground at least 6” or make the wire L-shaped at the bottom so it is flush with the ground. You can also use taste and smell repellants such as Bobbex-R, Ro-pel, and Liquid Fence, but these should be varied from time to time so rabbits don’t get used to them. Most need to be re-applied after heavy rains or at periodic intervals. Be especially diligent about this in the spring when tender new growth is most attractive to bunnies. Blood meal is another option – the smell of dried blood is not very comforting. Predator urines, such as fox and coyote, will also wave a warning flag, as does the scent of dogs. I’ve even had some women swear their husbands are just as effective. To each his own…….. l
Kerry Mendez is the owner of Perennially Yours and is a teacher,writer, speaker and consultant residing in Ballston Spa. To learn more about her work please visit www.pyours.com.

Pools: A great way to soak up summer fun

By Michelle Coyne

Imagine lazy summer days cooling off in the pool, floating on a raft immersed in your favorite book and throwing pool parties. All of these are possible in time for the fast approaching summer season, but you have to start planning now.
Though they don’t improve the re-sale value of homes, having a pool will improve your quality of life – they offer a place to sit, relax and enjoy family time. If you’ve been thinking of installing a pool, you’re in luck; the Capital Region is one of the more popular areas for pool manufacturers in the region.
“We have one of the largest market areas in the Northeast for pools,” said Michael Burnett of Majestic pools in Hudson.
With such a well educated and technically advanced market, deciding on the perfect pool to suit your needs and style should be hassle free.

Above ground pools
For those looking for a big bang (or in this case, splash) for your buck, an above ground pool is ideal. Starting as low as $1,000, they are also ideal for homeowners who have land unsuitable for an inground pool (such as land with too much rock or granite). And, there is the added bonus of being able to disassemble the pool and take it with you if you decide to move.
Above ground pools can range anywhere from 24”to 52” deep and come oval, rectangular or circular shaped. Not sure which shape to choose? “All the shapes are great, but twenty four foot round pools seem to be popular in the area,” said Burnett. Comparatively, a round pool is a better value as well. Though other shapes may be more appealing to the eye, you can get a larger circular pool for less money.
These pools can be totally exposed or have a deck built around them to create an “inground” effect. If everything goes smoothly, they can be installed in about a day; at most a weekend.
The linings for these pool are vinyl and come in different colors and patterns. However, proper winterization is key otherwise the pool can suffer severe and costly damages and cracks in the liner.
“About four to six percent of above ground pools fail during the winter because of ice damage,” warned Brennan, and almost every above ground pool is not warrantied against such damage. So, to make sure your pool lasts, it’s important to take proper precautions every winter.

Inground pools
For homeowners looking for something a bit more permanent, an inground pool offers you an oasis right in your own backyard. And, unlike an above ground pool which comes in pre-manufactured sizes and depths; you have more choices with these pools and the ability to build longer, shapelier and deeper designs.
With a few choices in styles, it’s best to be prepared when you go shopping. Below are the four most popular inground pools:
• Fiberglass—These pools are typically the quickest to install because they come pre-manufactured as one piece. They have a non-abrasive vinyl finishing that resists staining and helps reduce the formation of algae. Fiberglass pools come in many shapes and sizes from rectangular to free-form styles (pools that you design yourself rather than choosing from traditional shapes) and can cost upwards of $15,000.
• Vinyl — These, too, are smooth and stain resistant surfaces, and offer many different pattern and color choices allowing you to customize the look. The average sized vinyl pool costs between $7,000–$15,000.
• Concrete – One of the most popular pools, concrete allow you to create any design you please. The entire structure is built by pouring concrete over a wood reinforcement. Every concrete pool has a finish; the most popular is tile. These pools range around $20,000 and take several weeks to set up.
• Gunite – Gaining in popularity and the most expensive, gunite is similar to concrete pools. Gunite is a mixture of sand and concrete that is sprayed over steel support rods, rather than wood, which makes the pool more durable and easier to build. These pools come in many design options or can be shaped into any design you prefer making them both appealing and durable. But the innovative technique puts these pools in the highest price bracket—they begin at $25,000 and increase depending on the size and shape.

Questions
Now that you know the four main types, here are some questions to ask yourself and a few things you might not have thought of:
• The all important question—how much? Be realistic about your budget. Remember that pricing varies greatly in different areas and with different contractors. Depending on where you buy the pool, the price may or may not include the cost of set up and installation. Also, the shape and size of the pool impacts the cost. Be sure to spend ample time shopping different pool dealers and asking questions.
• Setup – While above ground pools can usually be completed in a weekend, inground pools require a lot more time to excavate the land and get the pool set up. You can shop for a pool all year round and building can be started in early spring.
• Space – You have to realistically think about your backyard and pick the right size and shape that will suit the area. “Even a limited amount of space can be used to install a pool as long as it’s approved by the building department,” said Roger Zanin of Keil’s Pools in Stuyvesant Falls.
• Heating – Installing a heater in your pool will extend your pool season. “Many customers install heating to extend the season through October. There’s natural gas, propane, radiant and electric heating choices available, depending on what you’re looking for,” said Zanin. Electric is the most economical, but if you’re looking for speed, propane will heat the pool faster. Prices for these heating systems vary. A gas heater without installation usually ranges between $2,500-$3,000, an electric heat pump ranges between $4,500- $6,000.
• Maintenance – Remember to ask about the routine maintenance. How long are you willing to spend cleaning the pool? Some pools need more upkeep than others. Those with liners must be checked to ensure that there are no small rips throughout. Above ground pools need to be winterized to ensure that they don’t become damaged. Ask about filtration systems, chemicals and all the things you’ll need to keep your pool in tip top swimming shape.

The builder
Choosing the right contractor is extremely important. Aside from regular maintenance, the key to pool longevity begins with how well it was built, said Burnett. There are plenty of things to remember when choosing a contractor. Some points and tips include:
• Schedule an initial meeting. If they’re on time and give you a good vibe this is the first good sign.
• Ask for references! A contractor should be proud of his work and be willing to tell you about his pleased customers.
• Ask if they are licensed.
• What are their warranties?
• Will crews clean up the mess they make or are you responsible for this?
Just as in any major building project you would do on your home, choosing a pool requires just as much thought and attention. And, though it may seem overwhelming at first, you’ll soon be the envy of your neighbors as you lounge away in your personal haven.

Pool safety

While being a fun way to keep cool during the summer, having a pool also comes with a lot of responsibilities. Being the owner of a pool, means that you have to look out for your family’s, neighbor’s and friend’s safety. Below are some safety precautions you can take to keep everyone happily splashing around the pool.
• If you’re just building your pool, make sure to use non-slip materials on the surrounding surfaces, diving board and ladders.
• EVERYONE should learn how to swim. You and your family should take swimming lessons to become stronger swimmers.
• Install a fence or gate system, especially if you or the neighbors have younger children. As part of the residential code of New York State, all inground pools need to be surrounded by a 48 inch barrier. Above ground pools are exempt from the barrier code if the side walls reach 48 inches.
• No one should swim alone, this goes for adults too.
• Toys should not be in the pool. This entices younger children to want to jump in after them.
• Rope off the shallow section from the deep end as a reminder to the non-swimmers.
• Think about installing a phone line outside or keep a cell phone nearby to quickly call 911.
• LEARN CPR. Should anything happen you can perform this life saving task until help arrives.
• Keep equipment like poles, rafts, etc. close by the pool.
• Use pool covers when not in use.
• Keep all cleaning and maintenance supplies locked away from children and pets.
• Keep radios and electrical equipment away from pools to prevent electrical shock.
• Don’t mix alcohol and swimming.
• Invest in drain covers to minimize the likelihood of having hair caught in the drain.
• Invest in pool alarms that go off when there is movement in the pool when it should not be in use.

Home and garden trends grow on the web

With an abundance of new home and garden décor and appliances on the market this year, shopping for these items can be daunting. It takes lots of time and research to find what’s best for your home, and what will complement your existing items. The simplest approach is to use the Internet, where all the information you need is in one place.
Consider an online comparison shopping website that does all the research for you, by conveniently collecting a large amount of helpful product data and prices from retailers. Comparison shopping sites also provide shoppers with in-depth product details and unbiased product reviews from sites like Epinions.com so they can educate themselves before making a purchase.
“Filling your kitchen, home, and garden with useful, yet stylish items can be easy when you have the right tools,” says Wendy Sept, online shopping expert for Shopping.com. “One of the greatest advantages to shopping on a comparison site is having access to not just one store, but thousands. You can search by product, price and even read reviews, all from one place, so you can be confident of your purchase before you buy.”
According to Sept, home and garden is the fastest-growing category on Shopping.com. She offers insights below into the popular products and trends they’re spotting:
Classy cookware
Pots and pans are made from many different materials and come in a variety of colors to match your kitchen décor. One of the most popular choices for functionality and style are those made from stainless steel. Stainless steel provides a sleek and clean look for the modern kitchen. For a more classic look, copper cookware is very popular. Other cooking items made from metal or ceramic come painted in a rainbow of colors and can blend with any kitchen interior.
Automatic vacuums
The hottest way to keep your floors clean is with vacuums that do all the work. A popular choice is the iRobot Roomba. This vacuum works automatically to clean floors including carpet, tile and hardwood. You can preset the scheduler so that the vacuum cleans your house, even when you are away. The same model can range in price by around $30 on a site like Shopping.com.
Countertop jewelry
Food processors are not only a functional item for the kitchen, but can add color to a dull countertop. Everyone wants to eat healthier and food processors are an easy way to integrate your favorite fruits and vegetables into recipes. Food processors slice, dice, chop and puree, reducing prep time in the kitchen. According to Shopping.com, some of the most popular brands for food processors are Cuisinart and Braun. Food processors are available in many colors, shapes and sizes to fit all needs.
Cozy patios
Fire pits are one of the most popular additions to patios. They’re available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors to add a decorative addition to your outdoor entertainment area. Many have styling details such as tile, copper, ironwork, pottery and stone design to enhance any patio. Plus, fire pits provide a safer way to enjoy an outdoor fire because they contain the fire in a small area and many come with a screen or cover to contain sparks.
Personal touches
The details can make a garden special. One popular trend for garden décor is using stone. Items such as stone statues can add personality to a garden while still sticking with a natural look. Memorial stones are also popular. These stones are engraved with names and special sayings and placed within the garden or on a path. Bird feeders continue to be popular and come in a variety of sizes and styles to attract a little wildlife to your garden oasis. Weathervanes are also making a comeback and add rural charm to the outdoors.
Now that you are thinking of some of these trends and ideas to update your own home, go online to see which fits your needs best. Comparison shopping sites can help save time and money when deciding which items to purchase. Check out sites like Shopping.com that offer shoppers easy-to-use tools and millions of unbiased product and merchant reviews from sites such as Epinions.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Eliminate weed problems with the right landscape fabric

Spending time on your yard making your landscape look superb can add to your house’s curb appeal as well as your own enjoyment. But nothing is worse than putting in all that time and effort only to deal with weed problems. Not only do weeds look unappealing, they can cost you hours of frustration and hard work. The solution to the problem might be in choosing the right landscape fabric — one that’s designed for weed control.
Weed control fabric should be used in permanent settings such as in mulch beds, around trees and shrubs — places where you want to stop weeds but also want water, air and nutrients to reach the roots of desirable plants. It also is ideal for using under patios and decks, walkways or paths, around swimming pools, under sandboxes and children’s play sets.
Products sold as a “Landscape Fabric” usually claim multiple functions, including soil stabilization, erosion and drainage applications, as well as weed control. Unfortunately, the properties that make it effective for stabilization and drainage uses also make it ineffective for weed control. Stopping weeds requires a material with very low permeability, yet all other applications require high permeability to allow water to pass through as it holds back soil and pebbles. It is important to understand the difference in fabrics in order to get the results you want.
The worst thing about using a fabric that isn’t designed for weed control is that it will actually make your weed problems much worse. When weed roots penetrate the fabric, they establish themselves and thrive in the moist soil below, making the weeds extremely difficult to remove. Their roots become entangled in the fabric and will tear up your landscaping as well as the fabric when you try to pull them out.
Quality and effectiveness vary widely among the weed control fabrics available in the marketplace. Almost all weed problems come from airborne weed seeds that settle and germinate in the top mulch. Most landscape fabrics on the market do not successfully combat this problem. The key is to use a fabric with limited openings; ideally a material that matches the soil’s ability to absorb water. There really are only three products on the market that offer this type of control—Weed-X, Weed-Proof, and Gardeneer Weed-Shield by Dalen Products. Weed-X in particular has been rated number 1 for stopping weeds by nine independent testing labs.
All other fabrics and films do not successfully control weeds because they are too porous. In other words, there are too many openings. All those openings are opportunities for weed roots to penetrate the fabric to the soil below.
“We feel the small pore spaces didn’t allow weed or tree roots to penetrate and get a foothold in the fabric,” explained Bonnie Lee Appleton, nursery specialist at Virginia Tech University, who has been testing various brands of landscape fabrics since 1987. “We found the Weed-X brand to have the smallest-sized pore spaces of all the fabrics tested. It also had the least amount of root penetration from weeds and nearby trees.”
Selecting the right product can be confusing because most landscape fabric packaging doesn’t distinguish between weed control and erosion control. So how can you tell the difference? Fabrics that you can easily see through are among the worst for weed control. Also, erosion control fabrics are generally a stiffer fabric known as non-woven spunbond or flatbond.
Weed-X is a patented, dual-layer material that is black on one side and light gray on the other. The small pores will help eliminate weed problems and give you the best level of control in your yard. You can find Weed-X and Weed-Proof at Wal-Mart stores. Visit www.weedxworks.com or call Dalen at (800) 747-3256 for more information.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Is your garden in style? Tips and trends for 2007

Each year, new gardening trends emerge, fueling more than 83 percent of American households to participate in lawn and garden activities, according to a recent survey by a leading gardening association.
Troy-Bilt, a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden equipment, predicts that in 2007, gardens will continue to be viewed as an extension of the family room and grow in their role as an outdoor entertaining destination.
Following are tips to ensure your garden is the talk of the neighborhood this coming year.
• Less is more — Whether it’s a rose garden on a rooftop patio or an herb garden in the kitchen, gardeners are transforming any available space into green wonderlands. And, they are finding that creating many small gardens provides them a unique opportunity to experiment.
• Add a touch of flair — Since gardens are intimate domains, many gardeners are individualizing their spaces with bird feeders, fountains, waterfalls, ponds, statues, globes — even lights. But don’t go overboard. Remember — less is more.
• Traditional container gardening is out — For the past few years, container gardens, or potted plants that line stairways, walkways and pools, have been the craze. Although plants in pots are still popular, gardeners are beginning to mix and match colored pots with bunches of various plants and flowers for a drastic but simple backyard makeover.
• Color is in — The hottest garden accessory for 2007 is color. Hot hues add contrast to a space and can help hide dull outdoor furniture. Besides colorful plants, shrubs and flowers, try adding various shapes, colors and sizes of garden pots throughout the space for depth and dimension.
• It’s about you — A garden is an intimate experience that should reflect your style. It’s a form of self-expression that focuses on your individuality, creativity and confidence. Remember, a garden is an extension of your home and should mimic your tastes.
For more tips, visit www.troybilt.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content

Outdoor fireplaces

Don’t limit the warmth and ambiance of a fire to the indoors. These days, outdoor fire places, pits and rings are all the rage. They add ambiance to your backyard, not to mention warmth and light that you can enjoy all year round.
Fireplaces
Not only meant for your living room or bedroom anymore, there are a variety of outdoor fireplaces to choose from. You can either have permanent (built in) or semi-permanent models. Prices can vary greatly depending on what material is used, the size and what fuel is burned. Not to mention the installation costs. The fireplaces themselves can range anywhere from $500 to upwards of $3,000.
• Stone - Stone is one of the more preferable elements used when constructing a fireplace. It’s durable and can be shaped to fit any setting.
• Brick - Another durable option, these types look very charming and make you feel cozy. Plus, they’re easier to clean.
• Concrete - Is the most versatile because it can be molded any way you like. And, by adding just a little pigment the fireplace can be color coordinated with the rest of your outdoor motif, making it seem like an extension of your house.
• Chimineas – These attractive, portable mini fireplaces are the least expensive. The design ensures that smoke doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment. The clay models do require more maintenance in comparison to other models. They must be painted yearly with a water sealer and insulated on the bottom. These start as low as $30 and can be found in many chain retail stores and garden centers.
Fire pit
Fire pits are becoming extremely popular in many backyards. It doesn’t always have to look rustic either; there are plenty of color choices and motifs that allow you to customize the look of your pit to match nicely with your house and garden. They can be portable or built in as a permanent fixture. They range in price from $100 to as high as $2,500.
Fire rings
Not just for your campouts any more, fire rings are made out of iron or steal and are a less expensive way to have a roaring fire in your backyard. Many models now come with different cut outs to give it a design. You can find steel rings for $50 on up to $100 for cast iron rings.
Some facts and safety issues to remember:
• Make sure you’re burning the right type of wood for your fireplace and don’t burn fuel, leaves or garbage.
• Make sure it’s placed away from any and all fire hazards such as hanging tree branches or wires. Be sure to keep wood and burning materials down wind and away from the flames.
• Think about how weather conditions (especially wind) will effect the location.
• Check the fire codes in your area before making your purchase.

Changing the look of your kitchen: Upgrade your countertops for a new look

When thinking of remodeling, many homeowners instantly update their kitchen for a fresh look. A recent Angie’s List poll found that one of the most popular changes made in the kitchen are new countertops.
“New countertops can be one of the best ways to spruce up your old kitchen” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “But, the wide array of surface products can quickly make the project overwhelming, not to mention costly.”
It’s best to consider your family’s needs in addition to your budget, Hicks advises. And, just as important, no matter what material you choose, give careful consideration to how long you will own the house and what you intend to use the surface for.
Industry experts say solid surfaces are growing more popular among consumers, but there are many options when in comes to choosing countertops.
Natural Stone: This includes granite, marble and soapstone. It holds up to heat and comes in an array of colors. It is one of the most expensive materials and requires lots of maintenance including periodic sealing. The stone absorbs stains and is porous.
Engineered stone: Quartz is just as costly as granite, but easy to maintain. It has a non-porous surface that takes the heat and resists stains and scratches.
Solid surfaces: These countertops offer seamless, acrylic faces with seams that are only visible from the underside. A popular brand is Dupont Corian. Scratches can be easily sanded out and is non-porous. Does not take heat well.
Ceramic tile: Is durable and easy to clean. The grout needs to be sealed regularly for stain protection.
Laminates: Is easy to maintain, inexpensive and the most versatile. Laminate is not scratch or heat resistant, but is stain resistant. Requires no regular maintenance. This is marketed under such trade names as Formica, Wilsonart, and Nevamar.
Wood: Easy to clean, but maintenance is required. Wood can be damaged by water and stains over time. Be careful when installing over a dishwasher because the moisture could lead to warping.
Stainless Steel: Heat and stain resistant. Stainless steel is expensive, noisy and may dent.
Concrete: Heat and scratch resistant and very durable. It is porous and absorbs stains, so it must be sealed regularly.
No matter what type of countertop you choose, be aware of these factors.
Maintenance: Countertops are either porous or non-porous. Porous surfaces absorb contaminants into the surface and also absorb moisture, thus allowing bacteria to grow. Porous surfaces should be sealed regularly.
Durability: Check to see if the countertop is scratch or heat resistant. Always use cutting boards and heat pads to avoid permanent damage.
Longevity: The more durable the countertop, the longer it will last.
Special Cleaners: Check to see what cleaning agent your countertop requires. Every surface comes with different restrictions.
Price: Countertops are priced by lineal or square foot. Also factor in delivery and installation. Prices vary on a variety of factors including texture and color.
Return on investment: Because there are many variables that affect the housing market, you shouldn’t expect to get a dollar-for-dollar return on a project. A $20,000 kitchen remodel doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get $20,000 more for your home.

Living large in smaller homes: 1-in-5 respondents want to downsize

For some homeowners, bigger might not be better. In fact, in a recent poll of Angie’s List members, one in five respondents in homes of 2,000 square foot or more said they want to downsize.
Considering the average U.S. house has more than doubled in size since 1950, could the Angie’s List poll results point to a new trend toward smaller living spaces? While big houses are still the norm—the average home now measures 2,434 square feet, increasing numbers of homeowners are deciding that big isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
“Whether it’s for cost, coziness or time, some homeowners are finding that smaller living spaces better fit their lifestyle,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.
Among the reason poll respondents wanted to downsize, 62 percent said to have more time for things other than their house; 53 percent cited utility costs; 50 percent said empty nest; and 49 percent cited wasted space.
For those who feel smaller may be a better fit for them, Angie’s List consulted the experts and put together 10 tips to help make the most of small spaces:

10 tips for maximizing smaller spaces:
1. Be cool. Light and airy colors will help small spaces feel just a bit larger. Stick to cool colors like blue and green.
2. Go monochromatic. Think soothing tone-on-tone for paint techniques, fabrics, and patterns. Cream and white, icy blues, pale greens, and butter yellows are just a few of the combinations that can open up a small room.
3. Keep it open. Whenever possible, arrange furnishings to open up areas of floor and avoid blocking views to windows and doors. The farther you can see into, and through, a space, the larger and more open it will seem.
4. Make a match. Consider painting some of your furniture to match your walls. Even large chests and armoires will seem to melt into the background when finished in a color that’s close to the wall tone. Add tone-on-tone stencil details to doors for added interest.
5. Lighten up. Uncover windows and add additional light fixtures to avoid dark, dreary corners. Brighter spaces will automatically make the room feel larger.
5. Clear the table. Bring in some see-through style by using glass tables. They’ll provide useful surfaces as dining or end tables, yet practically disappear in a visual perception of the room.
7. Two-in-one. Maximize space with furniture that serves multiple functions. Some headboards double as bookshelves, for example – or try an ottoman with built-in storage space, which can also function as a coffee table.
8. Livin’ large. A few larger pieces of furniture will reduce the visual clutter that can result from several smaller items. Stick with simple lines and shapes to create a sense of calm and space.
9. Keep it simple. Cover sofas and chairs with plain or textured upholstery rather than vibrant prints. Neutral tones in lighter colors will usually make a room feel larger.
10. Reflect your style. Add sparkle and reflection to your space with mirrors. Place mirrors on a wall opposite the windows to increase light and reflect outside scenery.
Angie’s List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 250 different categories. Currently, more than 500,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information and consumer tips at www.angieslist.com.

According to my trusty and very well-worn Merriam Webster Dictionary, Spring Fever is listed as “a listless, lazy, or restless feeling commonly associated with the beginning of spring”.
I’m sure I’m not the only one “suffering” from spring fever these days. This is the time of year when 50 degrees feels warm and a light jacket is all we need. (I always find it interesting how relative the weather is. In July, 50 degrees is considered chilly and has us reaching for our scarves). It’s a time when flower bulbs start pushing through the earth and the landscape returns to its beautiful greenery. At CRL, this is the time of year when gardening expert Kerry Mendez returns with her ever-popular gardening column. With that, we know that spring has finally arrived. This month Kerry, owner of Perennially Yours in Ballston Spa, writes about the difference between compost and mulch, offers a 101 on fertilizers and names a few perennials that won’t be damaged by rabbits.
Also in this issue are many tips to help get your yard and gardens in tip-top shape for the season. On page 20 read about the differences between above-ground pools and inground pools. If you’re thinking this is the year you’ll finally get a pool, this is the time to buy.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out our “Best of the Capital Region” survey. The response was enormous and the results will be published in the May issue.
On a final note, our website has been “downsized” to www.crlmag.com. Not only is it short and catchy, but you’ll notice a fresher, more upbeat site. Over the next couple of months, we’ll be adding a weekly poll, blogs and more. Feel free to email me any ideas for the new site at the address below. And remember, email your gardening questions to Kerry at pyours@nycap.rr.com.