Imagine a young, hoofed animal that walks out onto a recently frozen lake
to experience walking on ice for the first time. No matter how slow and
cautious he is, he just can't get any traction; then there is some slipping
and sliding and eventually he ends up sprawled on his belly spinning in
circles.
(look you can see my baby bump in the bottom, right corner!!)
Who knew that three years later (plus three months, as this photo is an engagement shot and obviously not from the wedding) we'd be expecting a little boy, living in PA, working in corporate America, nearly done with law school, and tending to the most adorable canine companion?
2. Stas is fantastically spontaneous. He likes to go on trips and doesn't feel the need to overly plan them out (like I would). He gets an idea and makes it happen. I rarely have ideas, but when I do I then spend so much time analyzing/planning/deciding that they never formulate into much. Luckily Stas has inspired in me a "just enjoy the ride" sort of attitude and we have a fantastic time exploring a new city or new event together. In the last year he has surprised me with a trip to Texas over Easter, a trip to New England, a trip to Niagara Falls & Toronto, a visit to the US Open and a trip up to State College, PA for a Penn State football game. I truly admire Stas's passion; he creates an idea and then follows through with so much excitement you can't help but want to be a part of it!
3. Stas is the funniest person I know. Hands down. I always tell him that this is his best quality. Regardless of my mood he can always make me laugh. The examples here could go on for pages, but I'll just share one. I was trying to make a PB&J sandwich (big surprise) but could not find the peanut butter. Seriously, it is very hard to loose things in our little kitchen. I had searched everywhere and was absolutely frustrated; I was about sure that I had lost my mind. Then Stas, who had been in the kitchen with me the whole time, asks me "what are you looking for?" Seriously kid, you're asking me that as your last contact with me before I plunge into insanity. As I turn around from what feels like my millionth search in the pantry I see Stas balancing the jar of peanut butter on his head. Just try to imagine that! I burst out laughing immediately and still do every time that I think of it. He's my favorite comedian.
And there you have it ladies and gentleman, three simple reasons why I love my husband.
Three years down, and eternity to go. I can't wait!!! I love you Stas and happy anniversary!!
The philosophy is simple. Children who are just learning to read often feel judged or intimidated by classmates and adults. But reading to a dog isn't so scary. It won't judge, it won't get impatient, it won't laugh or correct if the child makes a mistake. In a nutshell, dogs are simply excellent listeners. And for shy kids or slow readers, that can make all the difference.
"It sounds a little kooky when people first hear the idea," she admits. "But if they know dogs at all, and the way people relate to dogs, it quickly starts to make sense. But you don't quite ever grasp how really lovely it is until you see it happen and you see the kids light up and you see how excited they are. You see all these changes in them that they just weren't able to make."
How about now?
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications)
2. Hands-off-the-face approach. Resist all temptations to touch any
part of face
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t
trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal
cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents
proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a
healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this
simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with
warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good
Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and
swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very
effective in bringing down viral population. [Robyn’s note: we have a neti pot
that you can get at health food stores, and my kids use it for occasional head
congestion without my telling them to, because it is so effective: use warm salt
water.)
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C
tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids (herbal tea, etc.) as you can.
Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse
direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach
where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
These are taken from Dr. Vinay Goyal, who has 20 years of clinical
experience in hospitals.I hope this helps keep you all healthy this Fall!
“The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the
heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can.”-Karin Winegar
Clijsters, the 26-year-old, unseeded wild-card entry from Belgium, who was
a former No. 1 player, left the game two years ago to start a family and
returned to tennis just one month ago.
As Clijsters laughed at her 18-month-old daughter hamming it up around 11 p.m.,Please read the full article here. Clijsters is truly a classy lady with proper priorities. Her opponent, Wozniacki, is also a classy lady:
she told the crowd of the plan that she and her husband, Brian Lynch, left, had:
“We tried to plan her nap time a little bit later. It’s the greatest feeling in
the world being a mother.”
“I’m so excited that she came back, but unfortunately she beat me today,”Not classy: Serena Williams. I have no tolerance to unsportsmanlike conduct from professional athletes who are suppose to be role models. Shame on them. What kind of example are they setting for our youth?
Wozniacki said of Clijsters. “She played a great match, and she deserved
it.”
And then, to prove her poise, Wozniacki took the time to thank her fans
and friends in English, Danish and Polish.
Clijsters, 26, turned professional at 14 and ascended to No. 1 six years later. But by her early 20s, tennis no longer captivated her. “I had other things in my mind that I wanted to achieve as a woman and as a person,” she said.
So she retired, married Brian Lynch, an American whom she met while he was playing pro basketball in her native Belgium, and gave birth to their first child in February 2008.
Motherhood was going to be her full-time job for the foreseeable future. That was her assumption, anyway. She was like many elite female athletes, convinced that the
beginning of her childbearing years meant the end of her competitive career.
But a funny thing happened to Clijsters on her way to sleep-deprived nights and activity-filled days. Her life became at once busier and more balanced. Parenthood, she said, “definitely made me a more complete person.”
I applaud this women. If I ever have a daughter, and she wants to play tennis, I am excited that she will have this story to inspire her.
Happy Birthday, Stas!!
I love you!!!
