My daughter, Rachel and friend, Ben decided to design, build and paint their own bird house, complete with a swmming pool, before leaving for college. I think you’ll be impressed with this house. I’ll be securing it in the tree eagerly awaiting to see who moves in!

This has been a week of oddities. The following events have all taken place in the last even days:

1. My daughter was shopping at Target and overheard a man on his cell phone saying, “It’s only your belly. Don’t be afraid of your belly. Just look down and see it. It’s just your belly. Now don’t make me come out there and tend to this. I said don’t be afraid of your belly!” HUH? OMG!
2. I have been preoccupied lately as usual. A couple of mornings ago, I went to make my fruit shake after my workout. I took the pits out of some cherries (this is a lot of work), cut up an apple, and put it in the blender with some almond milk and a splash of honey. Then I went to the freezer in the laundry room to get some ice to make this concoction more like a shake. Rather than reaching in the freezer to get ice, without thinking, I managed to reach into the dog food bin and put 2 heaping scoops of Buffalo Blue dog food into my shake. OMG. (Needless to say, I had to start all over and throw it all out.)
3. My daughter drove to the park to go rollerblading one afternoon. She came home and said she had put her cell phone on the roof of her car, sat on the seat to take of her skates and then forgot to take the pone off the roof of the car and drove away. So she and I raced back to the park to look for the phone. It was nowhere in sight. No one turned it into the office. So we drove back home looking on the ground, with no phone to be found. When we got home, my daughter stayed in her car while I used the house phone to call her phone. She could hear it ringing somewhere outside. Lo and behold – that damn phone had slid down the rear window of the car and got wedged in between the window and the trunk. The funny thing is that she has a thick Jesus sticker on the phone, and we believe it helped the phone stay in place. It made through all that driving and over speed bumps and around corners, baking in the hot Florida sun. OMG! Literally.                               
4. I won’t name names, but someone I know went to a wedding in San Francisco. That someone did not pack enough fresh underwear, so he had to travel home commando. That someone had to go through the new x-ray security screening! He got some interesting looks from the security guards. HAHAHAHA. OMG.
5. I was out walking the dog today. Two teen girls pulled over, almost hitting me with their car. They were overwhelmed by Darwin, had to pet him, invade his personal bubble and take his picture. They asked me about 100 questions, struggled with their cameras, put their faces in my dog’s face, let him lick their mouths over and over again. It was a bit weird, but things got weirder when a man stuck his head out of his truck and said, “Is that some kind of a bear you are walking?” Inside and out, this truck was full to the top with junk. The only view out was a pumpkin-sized hole out of the driver’s side of the front window. The side and back windows were oozing with junk. There was no visibility out. I assumed he just lived in there, and the truck did not run; I was wrong. The guy started to drive away with that one small clearing in the front window! If I had a cell phone, I’d have called the police. OMG!
6. I was contacted about a month ago by a journalist through another writer friend to be interviewed for a long article in a national weekly news magazine. My name was not used. One of my daughter’s friend’s Mom sent me an email to tell me she read a most interesting article I should read. It was the one I was interviewed for. What is the likeliness of that? Of all the thousands of articles out per week, this was the one I was interviewed for, but there was nothing in that article that revealed I was one of many people interviewed!!! OMG.

Weird week.

My brother, Eric Rosen is surfing in the Maldive Islands, located in the Indian Ocean off the Southwest coast of Sri Lanka. These coral islands are surrounded by pure white sand beaches, and the waters are home to vibrant coral reefs.

This weekend I discovered the secret to true relaxation. It’s really quite simple – walk along a beach teeming with seashells. I experienced that firsthand on Sanibel Island this weekend . . .

It is virtually impossible to be stressed out while walking along a warm, sunny beach, feet dragging in the water. There’s nothing better than the sounds of the waves lapping ashore, skimming the seashells on the sand, causing them to gently clank together, shift and resettle as the water flows back into the ocean. This gently repetitive sound moves in sync with your inner rhythms, leaving you feeling completely content. It is as if the tranquil sound takes over any worrisome thoughts you may otherwise have. Sure there are a few children laughing in the background, but that only adds to the calming experience. You can breathe easier, deeper here while soaking it all in.

Walking along the shore, you meet the friendliest people, who share your love of shelling – grannies, young couples and kids, all in the best of moods. You just can’t be mad, sad or disturbed while walking along a beach.

My daughter poked fun at me for using a bright orange net to scoop shells up from the water. But my method proved to be successful. I was able to find some larger seashells while others nearby seemed frustrated while trying to sift through piles in the water. But in the end it’s not really about collecting the shells, rather just the excitement of the find. A perfect specimen with no chips or cracks, with a most beautifully interesting pattern ust waiting to be scooped up by you.

Contemplating the many mysteries of the sea is overwhelming in the most pleasant way. As I pull a gem of a shell from the water, I ponder its journey to the shore. (Stay with me here.) What happened to the animal inside? How many miles did it travel to get here? How many others are there like it in the world? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions? Billions? Or more than there are numbers to count? Do these creatures socialize with each other? What if I throw it back in, as far as I can? Will it ever wash ashore again? Maybe it will get caught in an undercurrent and get stuck in the sand forever, never to be seen again. Just how many seashells are on this beach anyway?  How long did it take for the waves to finely crush this many shells to make this much sand? How many species are out there we have yet to discover? What is it really like under the surface of the water during the worst of storms?

In the evening as the dusk approaches, the sky turns into an ever-changing collage of colors and clouds, making an ideal backdrop for

My daughter and I decided to make 2 collages, with a travel theme, for her dorm room walls, as she is off to UPenn in the fall. She made one, and I made the other. We used travel stickers (that look old) that came in a tin from a museum gift shop. In order to give the pictures texture, we glued some interesting things on the collages – old buttons, pins, foreign coins, old stamps, old keys, a tiny padlock, feathers, miniature items from a doll house, pressed leaves, hot sealing wax, piece of an old passport, old airmail letter envelope, ripped section of a subway map, cut out from a safetly brochure from an airplane.

We used thick watercolor paper and heavy duty glue. It was a lot of fun! Now we need to find some shadow box frames to put them in.

1. you are happily bored.
2. you can hear cicadas.
3. your ice cream melts really fast.
4. you feel like staying up later and later.
5. you see stacks of watermelon at the market.
6. there are nothing but reruns on television.
7. you are no longer on a schedule.
8. your dog pants a lot.
9. you can’t imagine being cold.
10. the seat of your car burns your butt.

1. Run through the sprinkler (like me and my dog in this picture). So much fun!
2. Get out your water guns.
3. Water balloon fight!
4. Jump in the ocean or the pool.
5. Wash your car (and yourself with the hose).
6. Go to an  indoor ice skating rink.
7. Hang out and play a game in your basement (if you have one) where it is the coolest in your house.
8. Drink a tall glass of lemonade, iced tea, or just plain ice water, while sitting under a fan.
9. Eat a Popsicle, or 2.
10. Run after the ice cream truck with your kids, and reward yourself with the biggest coldest ice cream bar available.

Happy Earth Day!!!

What is Earth Day anyway? It is a special day set aside to encourage people to appreciate the earth’s natural resources and help preserve the environment. It is celebrated on April 22nd each year.

So what can you do with your kids to celebrate this important day?

1. Go to Earthday.org and search for special events in your community. There are so many activities going on through the country today, and this website let’s you search events by zip code.
2. Do some gardening. Plant a tree, buy some seeds for an organic vegetable garden or just plan out your ideas with your kids for a summer garden.
3. Clean up. Volunteer to pick up garbage on your street on the beach, at a park or somewhere else near your home.
4. Learn something new together. Check out a book from the library, or go online to learn about global warming, pollution, consumer use of natural resources or the truth about our world’s diminishing rain forests. Learn about using renewable resources to build homes and products we use every day.
5. Do a craft. Make a wreath for your front door using natural things you find outside. Paint a rock. Recycle some materials into a beautiful craft, like the ones here on Kaboose.com.
6. Visit a museum or a zoo. Find a museum in your city that has an environmental or plant exhibit, or go to your local zoo to learn about how animals other than humans rely on natural resources to survive.
7. Write a story together. Your kids will love writing a story about the rain forest, plants and animals or saving the earth. You can illustrate it too.
8. Send a letter. Have your child write a letter to a congress person or local official about the importance of preserving the earth. You may just get a reply.
9. Eat outside. Celebrate the earth with a healthy, all natural picnic dinner at a park or right in your own back yard.
10. Be thankful. Make a list of all the beneficial aspects of a clean world as well as all the things you could no longer do without some of our natural resources.

Every day should be Earth Day! Now go out there and enjoy it!

Have a picnic, use the equestrian trail or put your small boat on the lake, and bask in the sun at beautiful Wolf Lake Park in Davie, FL.

1. Your Child’s Name – See what other people have the same name and what they do.
2. Your family Tree – Try to find information about your relatives and ancestors.
3. Recipes of your child’s favorite food – See how many different ways there are to make it.
4. Exotic animals – There are so many species you’ll discover that you never heard of before!
5. Biography of a famous person – Make it someone your child admires.

1. Trivia – You can find trivia on an endless number of topics.
2. History of your own town – You can find photos of what the town and streets looked like when it was built.
3. Jokes for Kids - You’ll find plenty of appropriate silly joke sites.
   
4. Activities for Bored Kids - From crafts to games and outdoor activities, you’ll find some fun ideas online.
5. Design your Own – Doll, toy, car, house, game, etc.

My daughter, Rachel made a Didgeridoo for her friend’s birthday. It was fun, and it looks fantastic!

A homemade Didgeridoo

Materials

• 5.5 feet of wide PVC pipe
• 1 can white plastic primer spray paint
• sand paper
• 2 cans black matte spray paint
• 1 can bold blue spray paint semigloss
• assorted colors of acrylic paint
• reposition-able spray adhesive
• painter’s tape
• artist’s paint brushes
• foam brush
• matte varnish
• 1 block bee’s wax (get this at a craft store or online)
• stainless steel pot for melting wax

Directions

• Have the hardware store cut you a piece of PVC pipe anywhere between 4 and 6 feet long.
• Sand the ends so they are not rough. Use an orbit sander if you have one.
• Spray paint the pipe with the primer. Use the entire can. Shake it well and spray it in fast, short sprays so it does not drip. Practice on something else first so you get a feel for it. You don’t want it to drip down the pipe.
• After it dries, spray paint the entire pipe with the black paint, or whatever color you choose. Do 2-3 coats.
• Make a (thick) paper design as a stencil. Rachel made a lizard with a wrap around tail.
• Spray a light coast of the spray adhesive on the back of the stencil. LET IT DRY COMPLETLY or it will not come off the pipe.
• Tape off the top and bottom 18 inches of the pipe.
• Place your stencil in the center section of the pipe, making sure you press all the edges down frmly so paint does not get under it.
• Spray paint the center section blue, right over the stencil. As soon as you are sure you have good coverage immediately pick off the stencil.
• After it is dry, add more designs freehand with the acrylic paint.
• Let is dry completely. This may take a while depending on the humidity.
• Seal with matte varnish using a foam brush.
• When it is completely dry, you are ready to make the mouthpiece using bee’s wax. Use a heavy stainless steel pot. Pour hot water in it and let the wax sit for 15 minutes. Start working it with your fingers to shape it into a ring the size of the PVC pipe opening. Bee’s wax is flammable so beware! Do not spill it over onto your cooktop.
• When you have finished the ring, melt some of the leftover wax in the pot on low with no water.
• Dip the mouthpiece end of the pipe into the pot of wax, twirling it to coat about 2 inches of the pipe with wax.
• Then pop the wax ring into the microwave in a glass bowl. Nuke it for about 45 seconds to soften it. Quickly shape  it over the pipe opening that has been dipped in wax.
• Then dip the entire mouthpiece end of the pipe back into the melted beeswax to seal completely.

Melting a block of bee’s wax is messy!

Shaping the mouthpiece into a ring from the wax

Then you’re done! It’s more difficult to play the didgeridoo than you may think- here’s a brief tutorial on how to play the instrument: http://www.didg

My brother, Eric Rosen, took his kids sledding at Central Park yesterday and sent me these pics. Gorgeous snow! Thanks, Eric! And by the way, there has been more snowfall this winter in NYC than since a year in the late 1800s!

Husband and wife team, Doug Tate and Patty Weir are the owners of Tiger & Dragon Boca, a Kenpo Karate Studio in Boca Raton, FL. Karate is more popular than ever before (with both adults and kids) because of its many benefits. Today I sat down with Doug and Patty to get the scoop on karate, so our readers can learn more about this special art.

How did each of you get started in karate?

(Doug) I started in karate as a kid in Ohio.  My uncle owned multiple Kenpo Karate schools throughout the area and I trained extensively, earning my first black belt at the age of sixteen.  For years I trained and taught with my Uncle until I left for college.  I regained my passion for the martial arts many years later, when my own son was old enough to train in karate.  I’ve been training in multiple styles since that time, earning 2 additional black belts, and of course, opening a school with my wife, Tiger&Dragon Boca.

(Patty) My karate training started with my son when he was 7 and I was in my late 30s.  I had always been physically fit, working out at the gym and taking various cardio classes. I had watched my son take karate for several months, and then he stopped training.  He had a few months left on his contract, so the instructors asked if I would like to train in his place. Once I started, there was no turning back.  I earned my first black belt in 2008 and have started training in traditional Kenpo with my husband.  My son, age 12, has since re-joined and is well on his way to his first black belt.

Patty and Doug with their sons Dallas (left) and Adam at the studio

How would you best describe Kenpo to someone who may be unfamiliar with it?

Kenpo Karate is not a sport, it is the ultimate in real world self defense.  Kenpo Karate, also known as Ch’uan fa or “fist law,” is both an ancient and modern method of self development and self defense.  A true blending of inner and outer strength, Kenpo helps you develop grace and coordination as well as stamina and speed. Through Kenpo instruction, you will learn proper breathing techniques and movements utilizing the natural weapons of the body – the hands and feet – by developing breath control, muscle tone, quick reflexes and agility.

In addition to self defense, what benefits does Kenpo have for the participants?

The benefits of Kenpo karate, Shootfighting and the martial arts in general are many.
From training, there will be an increase in strength and flexibility, a gain in self confidence, concentration and focus.  Students learn how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations in addition to learning real-world self defense.

Students learn about their true inner strength and the art of self control, and experience improved cardiovascular health, weight loss and muscle toning through training and exercise.

After the holidays, are you seeing a lot of people who are coming into the studio to get into shape?

We definitely saw an increase in interest during and immediately after the holidays.  We all know that the holidays bring out the best in good food, celebrations and family time that often revolve around meals and delicious foods.  We often “give” ourselves permission to indulge during this time o

0 Comments on Get in Shape with Kenpo Karate – Tiger & Dragon Boca as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment