E D I T O R 'S D E S K
Editor-Publisher, Eva Dunn
Here We Go!
January 2010 is on the fast track; here it is almost the end of the
month! Christmas is a memory captured through hundreds of digital
photos, wrapping paper and ribbons still hang about, with gifts of
chocolates, wine and cheese. Good times were had by all. It was
wonderful to visit with family and friends, to play with the
grandchildren, to enjoy the warmth of family love.
Although it is always cold in January there are many things
happening to warm our hearts, and our bodies. This is a great month
for charities, for bargains, for sales you just can't pass up, for
great vacation deals. It is a good time to face your old debt and
work out a budget to be debt-free in no time. Yes, we did it almost
two years ago and it is a powerful, amazing feeling! It is also a
great time for homemade soup during these cold, rainy days. The
slow cooker is queen in the kitchen again, providing wonderful
meals by the time you arrive home after work. January is your month
to begin a health regime, with wise food choices and activities to
jumpstart your body. Read our Health and Fitness page 8 in this
issue for even more tips to good food and good health. January is a
hard-working month, indeed! It sets the tone for the rest of the
year, so snuggle in and work out your yearly plan, while enjoying
that hot bowl of energizing, homemade soup!
Health for Life
There are so many natural healing products available to us...I am
drawn to health and nutrition, information on alternative
medicines, herbal supplements, and natural remedies because of how
drugs affect me adversely. Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Diabetes,
Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's; these are real diseases and
illnesses, but they do not have to define who you can be!
We
have to understand how inflammation, stress, poor food choices, and
the crippling lack of exercise live in the dark recesses of these
conditions; how they affect our health. As I learn more on my
health quest, I will share with you on our Health page. It is vital
for us to know our bodies, to understand how it works, and what we
can do to be the streamlined, super functioning, healthy person we
need to be to fully enjoy our lives and to be there for our family
and friends. It is not set in stone that as we age, we cease to be
vital and vibrant. Don't give in to disease, illness, or aging; do
all you can to challenge your body. Be diligent, become
self-empowered, armed with knowledge to turn your health around.
You can achieve wellness no matter what your condition. Envision
what you want and set it as a goal, then work for it! Believe in
yourself! Then hang out with others who believe in you too.
My
mentor is my daughter, Jennifer, who has shown me what hard work
and diligence can do in just one year! She runs marathons, has 3
children and looks fantastic! I am going to beat my illnesses and
be healthy again in my 'golden years'. Our bodies are amazing, they
want to be healthy; they were created to be strong. Fortified with
Folic acid, Omega-3 capsules, flaxseed, and vitamin D, this is my
year! You can make it yours also.
Heads Up,
Seniors--What's Happening in April?
OK, seniors in Upcountry Amador...what do you think
the most important event will be in this year of 2010, and what
does your input mean? I won't keep you guessing. It's the
Census--taken every ten years in April. That means most likely for
us oldsters, that we will only be able to act on it six or seven
times in our life times.
Just as a reminder, the U.S. Census counts every resident in the
United States, and is required by the Constitution. The collected
data helps to determine the number of seats our state has in the
U.S. House of Representatives. It takes away the guess work and
myth based remarks in a community or county. It provides national
decision makers with guaranteed facts from which to make
comprehensive decisions. This year, the form will be the shortest
in history--ten questions--and although short, it is a powerful
tool as each question will help determine how more than $400
billion will be allocated to communities across the nation. And no,
you will not be able to fill out your census online, to avoiding
the risk of someone hacking into your valuable, personal
in-formation.
The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400
billion in federal funds for needs like hospitals, job training
centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public
works projects and emergency services. At the same time, the Census
tells us where we have been. For example, the Census annual report
for 2008 on income and poverty told us that the recession had
already erased 6.9 million jobs. Poverty rates had jumped to 13.2
%, the highest since 1997. Women earned 77% of what men made in
2008, unchanged from a year earlier. Seniors fared the best, as
only households led by people 65 and older enjoyed income gains--a
1.2% increase. Doing worst: the middle-aged, with households headed
by 45 to 54-year-olds, which suffered a 5.4% drop. According to
Minnesota demographer Tom Gillaspy, "Social Security and Medicare
make a big difference to the elderly."
Please, tell your neighbors, friends, families, community
organizations and churches how significant the census is, and ask
them to participate. Me--I'll remind you again! What's in it for
you? According to an interesting report on how aging affects the
human brain, recent medical studies contend that the brain keeps on
creating new cells as long as people try new things.
That means our older years can be a time of major change and
growth. The report wondered whether nurturing of creative activity
helps keep older people out of costly nursing homes, and whether
older people can be retrained to perform educational and social
tasks that would otherwise go unfilled. Shall we prove it?
Ruth Gottstein, Publisher Emerita, Volcano Press, P.O. Box 270,
Volcano, CA 95689.
ruth@volcanopress.com;
www.volcanopress.com
--"Printed by
permission of Upcountry News"
Valentine's Day! Not just for lovers
A Day of Love and friendship, Valentine's Day gives
us the opportunity to tell other people in our lives that we love
them and appreciate them, too. Spread the joy outside your usual
circle and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Food and Fun, late!
Some evenings get so busy that before you know it,
it is past dinnertime and most of the places you can grab some real
food (not fast food) have already closed in the Sutter
Creek/Jackson areas. I expect this will happen more often as the
holidays completely bamboozle us! That's what happens in gold
country, when by 9pm most places are closed.
Well, happily I was reminded of a fun and lively place that's open
til 10pm weekdays and later on weekends. Hoot 'N Annie's in Martell
offers delicious food, with lots of different choices to please
everyone. A full bar awaits you with domestic
and import
beers to go with that delicious burger, or Amador County wines and
liquor, or soda for the kids. For those sport lovers, get together
with friends after a hard day to watch the plus 10 flat-screen TVs
to keep on top of the sports world. Families love the reasonable
prices and easy atmosphere. New are the DJ and Live Music nights on
weekends; fun for all! Saturdays swing!
Check out the chicken specialties, zesty salads, 10 burger
variations, great garlic fries, yummy sandwiches, and fiery chicken
wings. Come on in to Hoot 'N Annie's at 11310 Prospect Drive, Suite
50; open for food service from 11 a.m. to 9 pm daily; may close
earlier some days. For more information, call 209-223-4400. Check
out the live music on Saturday night's. NEVER any cover! Full menu
online at www.hootsbar.com
Sacramento Choral Society
This Sacramento Choral Society plans to launch its 2009-2010 season
by adding a brand new series of concerts entitled "Sacramento
Stained Glass" This two concert series will take place at the
recently renovated Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown
Sacramento. (11 & K Street).
SCSO Artistic Director Donald Kendrick launched their new season
with Organist Stephen Janzen at the Cathedral in November
2009 with a tribute to the English Cathedral tradition
featuring the Malcolm Archer Requiem and works by Vaughan Williams,
Stanford, Parry and other notable English composers.
The second "Stained Glass" concert at the Cathedral on Saturday,
June 5, 2010 at 8 PM will offer a tribute to the great churches of
Europe. Tickets for the SCSO's Cathedral concerts are $25,00
general and $12.50 students. Concert attendees will enjoy general
seating with some preferred seating available
for
subscribers. A free post-concert reception will allow concert goers
to meet and mingle with the artists following the performances.
"Sacramento Stained Glass" tickets can be purchased online at
www.sacramentochoral.com
or by calling (916) 536-9065.
The SCSO plans to continue their
choral orchestral series at the Mondavi Center with matinee
concerts as a separate season. Performances will include two
performances of their standing-room-only "Home for the Holidays" on
Saturday, December 12 at 2 PM and 8 PM, the Brahms "Requiem" on
Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 2 PM and Orff's "Carmina Burana" on
Sunday, May 2 at 2 PM. The SCSO made their Carnegie Hall debut
performance of "Carmina" in May 2003.
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