Tour de France - 2012

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Since I began writing on this blog, I have learned so many wonderful and interesting facts.  Today is no exception.  Today is the start of the Tour de France.  I am not that big into sports, I do know enough to fake my way through a cocktail party.  For example, I know that the Tour de France involves bike riding in France, and Lance Armstrong, a competitor from the United States, has won the most times in history for a record 7 times.  If the conversation goes beyond that, then I am at a loss.  Well I should say was at a loss, because I have done some more research on the subject and have found some more interesting facts.

(Google Image) 

Did you know that the competition began in 1903 and it takes 23 days?  It will begin today in Liege, Belgian and will end in Paris on July 22.  In fact, it always ends in Paris. This marks the 99th time the tour has been held.  There was no race during World War I and II.

(Google Image) 

There are 18 teams that have been invited to participate.

The race is 2173 miles, and has 20 different stages.

For more information about the Tour de France, or if you would like to find where to watch, or purchase merchandise, click on this site:  http://www.letour.fr/us/index.html

I think I will pull out my bike and start training for the next competition, or at least make it around the block!

THE STAGES
Stage	Type	Date	Start and Finish	Distance
P	Prologue	Saturday 30 June	Liège > Liège	6.4 km
1	Plain	Sunday 1 July	Liège > Seraing	198 km
2	Plain	Monday 2 July	Visé > Tournai	207.5 km
3	Medium mountains	Tuesday 3 July	Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer	197 km
4	Plain	Wednesday 4 July	Abbeville > Rouen	214.5 km
5	Plain	Thursday 5 July	Rouen > Saint-Quentin	196.5 km
6	Plain	Friday 6 July	Épernay > Metz	207.5 km
7	Medium mountains	Saturday 7 July	Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles	199 km
8	Medium mountains	Sunday 8 July	Belfort > Porrentruy	157.5 km
9	Individual time-trial	Monday 9 July	Arc-et-Senans > Besançon	41.5 km
R	Rest Day	Tuesday 10 July	Repos
10	High Mountains	Wednesday 11 July	Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine	194.5 km
11	High Mountains	Thursday 12 July	Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles	148 km
12	Medium mountains	Friday 13 July	Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay Davézieux	226 km
13	Plain	Saturday 14 July	Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde	217 km
14	High Mountains	Sunday 15 July	Limoux > Foix	191 km
15	Plain	Monday 16 July	Samatan > Pau	158.5 km
R	Rest Day	Tuesday 17 July	Repos
16	High Mountains	Wednesday 18 July	Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon	197 km
17	High Mountains	Thursday 19 July	Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes	143.5 km
18	Plain	Friday 20 July	Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde	222.5 km
19	Individual time-trial	Saturday 21 July	Bonneval > Chartres	53.5 km
20	Plain	Sunday 22 July	Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées	120 km

Rebuild Your Life Month (June) – 2012

We all need help from time to time
(Google Image) 

By Terry Orr

Building upon last year’s article (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-is-rebuild-your-life-month.html) the following is offered for your considerations.

(Google Image)

Kristine Smith of the Berthound Examiner writes: “Because June is 'Rebuild Your Life Month', there's no better time than now to reexamine your life and take charge of it by removing stressors as you are able. While stress comes in many shapes and sizes, and much of stress is our perception of the environment around us, some situations are simply too big to ignore for long. Our bodies react strongly to even short term stress and long term stress can take the body and mind months or even years to recover from. Therefore, rebuilding your life can be the healthiest option for us, both physically and mentally.”

“Recognizing the stressor is the first step to rebuilding your life or redefining what you want your life to look like.”

“Rebuilding your life can be as simple as rearranging furniture or rearranging the relationships in your life. The bottom line is that looking forward to the future by readjusting the sails to navigate away from the past can be the best decision you will ever make.” (For more from Kristine’s article, please follow this link: http://www.examiner.com/article/june-is-rebuild-your-life-month)

Good advice Kristine and thank you.

(Google Image)

Life is about change.  Things all around us are changing constantly and we need to incorporate those changes (some we can simply ignore and other we may choose not to include).  I still take time each morning to have a short chat with myself in the mirror – reviewing how things went yesterday and if I had a do over – how would I change my actions.  Now that I am retired, I revisit my short, mid and long term goals – generally monthly.  While I was still working, that happen about two or three times a year – depending on what was going on.  Point being –be willing to make those necessary adjustment as smoothly as possible.

(Google Image)

A quick search on Amazon.com this morning list 787 books on the topic “Rebuild Your Life”.  Lots of good  meaning information out there – lots of folks are willing to tell you what you need to do – but when it comes right down to it – you need to do what is best for you!

National Candy Month

Who can take a sunrise

Sprinkle it with dew

Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two

The Candy Man

The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

First of all I want to apologize to you.  June is National Candy Month, but I picked a terrible time to tell you since it's the next to the last day of the month.  That doesn't give you much time to indulge, so I guess you can say I was looking out for your health.

(Google Image) 

June is a great month for candy.  In recent years a popular item at wedding receptions is a candy bar,  A table is set with all kinds of different candy, sometimes in the bride's wedding colors, and in various types of containers.  This is a big hit for children who are attending, and is also fun for grownups too.  Normally a bag is provided for the guests to fill with their choice of candy and this serves as their "wedding favor" or gift for attending the wedding.   Since June is the most popular month for weddings, celebrating candy in June makes good sense too.

(Google Image) 

When my son was small we had pizza and movie night every Friday night.  Every Friday night he would always get the same movies, Peter Pan and Willie Wonka.  My favorite part of Willie Wonka was when all the kids were on the boat and they are floating down the chocolate river and they arrive in "Paradise".  The room where everything is edible and the kids are running around tasting everything.  It all looked so delicious.

(Google Image) 

I have dabbled a bit in making candy.  Mostly at Christmas time I will make fudge, divinity and pralines.  Pralines are a southern specialty, and I have a wonderful recipe for them that will simply melt in your mouth.  Since I was so late in telling you about Candy month, I thought I would share my secret Praline recipe with you.

(Google Image) 

So for the last days of Candy month, treat yourself to your favorite candy, or try your hand in making your own.

Pralines

Ingredients:

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 can evaporated milk

5 Cups sugar

1 stick butter

2 tsp vanilla

1 pound pecan halves

Directions

Mix first 4 ingredients and cook on low in large pot.  I use my biggest soup pot.  Stir side to side until you can see the bottom of the pot when the spoon scrapes across.  This takes about 2 hours.  Add vanilla and pecans.  Cool pot in water and stir until thickens.  Drop on wax paper in large spoonfuls.  Let Cool.  Enjoy.

National Waffle Iron Day – 2012

(Google Image) 

By Terry Orr

What is a Waffle?

A waffle is a batter- or dough-based cake cooked in a waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape. There are many variations based on the type and shape of the iron and the recipe used.

(Google Image)

Waffles are eaten throughout the world, particularly in Belgium and the United States. Common toppings are strawberries, chocolate, sugar, honey, syrups, ice cream, and pieces of other fruits. (Wikipedia)

A waffle iron comes in many shapes and sizes – and they have been around for hundreds of years.  Last year we shared history of the waffle iron.

(Google Image)

Waffles are one of those fun foods to make and eat.  There seems to be an unlimited number of recipes, toppings, and foods to go along with Waffles.  One such variation is a dinner time with fried chicken (my grandson Evan enjoys this meal).

(Google Image)

So go ahead, find a new recipe or make up your own and enjoy a Waffle!!

(Google Image)

Links:

http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/06/national-waffle-iron-day-2011.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2331092_celebrate-national-waffle-iron-day.html

http://www.squidoo.com/waffle-iron-day

http://notecook.com/bread/celebrating-national-waffle-iron-day-june-29/

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/breakfast-and-brunch/waffles/

National Handshake Day

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Every Sunday Morning at my church we have a part at the first of the service where we welcome each other and guests.   During this time we shake hands or even hug people.  I can tell alot about a person by their handshake.  I like a nice, firm handshake with a dry warm hand.   Some of the people around me have cold, clammy weak handshakes, the kind where after you shake their hands you want to say Yuck!

I used to play this joke with my son using different handshakes.  There would be the guy from the dairy farm, and I would shake his hand squeezing it every second like I was milking a cow,  Then I would be the guy from the hardware store, who sold saws (I would move his hand back and forth like I was sawing something) then hammers (I would raise it up and down, as if I was hammering), then clamps (I would squeeze down hard on his hand).  Then I would be the guy from the mortuary and barely touch his hand, that would feel the creepiest.

(Google Image) 

Handshakes have been practiced since at least the 2nd century B.C.? Many researchers believe that the handshake originated in the Western world. It was a gesture peace, demonstrated by the fact that the hands held no weapons.  Today, a handshake is offered upon meeting or parting. It is an expression of goodwill, gratitude and congratulations, or even a secret way to identify a group or club.

(Google Image) 

My husband was a member of some organization that had such a secret handshake.  He would grab the hand but then place his thumb on a certain knuckle.  Since I thought that was weird and he was no longer in that organization...I told him he didn’t need to do that type of handshake any longer.

There are other types of handshakes, those that are too hard and forceful, and those that never want to let go.  There are handshakes after a sporting event to show good sportsmanship, and those that signify some sort of deal or contract.

There are some who are germ phobic, and prefer to not shake someone's hand, Howie Mandell comes to mind.  He practices the "fist bump".  A form of greeting that doesn't allow the grasping of the whole hand, but just the back of the fingers.  This move was commented on when the first lady performed this action with the president after winning the nomination from the Democratic Party.

(Google Image) 

Today is National Handshake Day.  You don't have to be a general signing a peace treaty, or a major league ball player or even a member of a secret club to give someone a nice firm handshake and wish them a good day.