Dogs, Dogs, Dogs

Have you ever watched the Westminster Dog Show? It’s a two-night dog-filled exhibition held in early February each year wherethe best of purebreds and handlers come to “strut” their stuff for professional judges to be named “Best in Show.”

Seeing the crowds on television that have filled Madison Square Garden in New York as well as feeling the excitement that builds as the dogs are shown and then presented before the judges shows just how much people love dogs and take pride in them.

A smaller, more spontaneous dog show occurred when I went walking with friends in downtown Mount Dora yesterday. In the span of an hour, we saw at least six or seven different breeds of dogs from Greyhounds to Labradors to a sweet Basset Hound.

The weather could be a big part of why people were bringing their four-legged friends along for a downtown trip, as it was a picture-perfect weather weekend this past weekend. Yet it felt more like a “mini” Westminister was occurring as owners wanted to proudly showed off their “Best in Show” pet.

Some owners sauntered around with their dogs on the leases or sat comfortably on sidewalk benches as their dogs lounged on the ground as though “on display” for others to see.

Whenever you passed a dog, the owners seemed to perk up and smile as you took more interest in their dog. They were quick to say “she won’t bite” so you would feel encouraged to pet them or answer any questions you may have about their dog.

With the televised dog show and the improvised dog show in downtown Mount Dora, the dogs seemed glad to be out and about looking around and sniffing at everything while their owners/handlers were happy seeing their puppies getting extra attention.  

In the end, it was just a display of adoring love that humans can bestow on one of the most beloved companions in the animal world.

So go ahead and let one of these fun-loving creatures give you a hearty lick or long sniff on the hand.  Just make sure you wash your hands afterwards!

Festival Ins and Outs

The events taking place everywhere in Lake County over the next few months are impressive in their turnouts, guests and activities to take part in.

One event that has continued to increase in size of participants and attendees is the Mount Dora Art Festival, an event I visited for the first time this year. I was able to enjoy the festival as a attendee walking around the enormous art festival landscape and as part of a booth for English Communications (a sponsor of the event).

Although I’m not much of an art enthusiast, I became one for a day during the festival on Saturday. Visiting booth after booth and hearing about where the artist got their inspiration as well as just seeing how they transferred the idea in their head to the canvas, metal or platform was amazing.

One woman I spoke with, Rosemarie Brown, had been trying for the past 25 years to be part of the festival and this year’s festival marked her first time ever to be a participant. Her metal and glass jewelry and stained glass artwork made her booth a trip under the sea, only brightened by her obvious excitement at being part of the nationally-recognized art festival.

Another booth had artwork that would become three dimensional once you held the booth’s 3-D opera glasses to your eyes. Before what was a unique picture of a school of fish or boat sailing the ocean was brought to life before your eyes with color value and lines.

Sunday marked my time getting a glimpse at what the artists experienced during the weekend, watching the crowds of people coming to look at their booth and ask questions.

I didn’t have any work to show people, unless you count the magazines and two framed covers, but I got to describe my “art” in the way of talking about the magazine and what I did for the magazine.

What was most rewarding of my time there was hearing many people expressing their love of our magazine and how they think we all do a great job. Especially during these trying times, it helps to hear we are still putting out a great product people enjoy!

However, nothing could top my  time at the festival weekend than getting to meet Cindy Williams, Shirley of Laverne & Shirley (One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Sclemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated.)

I will remember her most as the dreamy-eyed high school girl, Laurie Henderson, in the George Lucas classic American Graffiti. I made sure to tell Ms. Williams when I met her that one of my favorite movies has always been Graffiti, which seemed to surprise her coming from a young person.

She and her manager then went on to tell us about their trips to several car shows around the nation and how the film’s cast still are favorite guests at the show. Ms. Williams mentioned that they would soon be making a stop up in Dollywood and how she was looking forward to riding the roller coasters.

Cindy Williams a roller-coaster enthusiast?!? Only in Mount Dora would you find out that sort of information.

I also was able to get a picture taken with Ms. Williams and my mom, which you can view on our web site today, and she wished me a Happy Birthday and sweetly patted me on the back. She still seemed the personable person that her famous characters conveyed on screen. You can etch that in my brain under “Memories that Will Last Forever.”

If you have never gone to the festival, make it a point to go next February. You don’t have to be an art enthusiast to appreciate what all a person can do with art.

Helping Haiti

Everyone watching the nightly news recently has seen the devastation in Haiti and are probably all in agreement that we all want to help any way we can. Maybe you helped (or will help) through text donations on our phone or by bringing supplies to organizations or just simply praying for relief to come soon to the earthquake-shaken island.

The city of Eustis gave several people, including myself, the opportunity to give more than many possibly thought they could last night when LASER (Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery) held a packaging event for county residents to package food for those in Haiti.

Reading the e-mail about it sent from a local charity to me, I immediately wanted to help and pre-register the next day. I felt I needed to do this, especially after reading about Aaron Jackson and the Planting Peace organization he started that provides orphanages in Haiti.

In the article, which many of you should read, Aaron states the obvious that the efforts and goodwill aspirations for Haiti made by the world right now will dwindling months and years down the road as people become concerned with something else in the world.

Last night, though, the pain and suffering of those in Haiti were on the minds of several hundred volunteers as we put together food mixes of vegetables, rice and soy in a package to feed a family of six or six individuals.

While packaging, we shared smiles, laughter and conversation, ending each 15 minute set of packaging with a cheer and applause.

I was able to do four different jobs the four times I went through the packaging line in the two and a half hour period (additional half hour spent in line to help due to mass amount of volunteers).  I got to pass the bags along the line, measure each bag that came through, seal the bag (the most tedious job) and pad it down to prepare it for being boxed.

All the while, I couldn’t get over the volunteer euphoria that I was feeling and that everyone seemed to be feeling. Nothing beats being able to help those in need and only get out of it a stronger sense of what you can do for others.

LASER is continuing their Haiti relief efforts today until 4 pm while an additional day of packaging possibly tomorrow. Go out and help out those who are in need.

Before I go, between 5 pm and 8 pm last night we packaged 60,000 meals for the Haitian people. I was part of that effort and you can be too, so go and help!

www. http://www.laserfl.com/ 

Stretching My Body to the Outer Limits

I have tried yoga before, from videos to an actual class available for free at my college, Stetson University. However, it has been a few years since I have been involved with yoga in some form or fashion and my body probably isn’t prepared for anything like what I put it through last night.

To change up my workout routine of going to the gym and walks during the week, I decided to try out Jeweled Lotus Yoga in downtown Leesburg, a new advertiser to our magazine.

Tuesday nights at 5:15 pm are when the Vinyasa II class occurs and it is taught by Jeweled Lotus owner Kellie Adkins. Though it is a II class, Kellie told me you could come even if you are a beginner.

With my yoga mat in hand, I arrived for the class and tried to “prepare” my body for the hour and 15 minute class that was to take place. I realized immediately I had to shed my pullover jacket because the temperature was quite warm in the studios to allow your body and mind to relax during the warm conditions.

After preliminary stretches, Kellie began instructing us on the moves we were to perform and guiding us through the moves with patience and encouragement. She walked the lines of mats and people, kindly pointing out how we could change our hand, foot or body position in order to help reduce unnecessary strain on our bodies. 

I was surprised to see how easy it was to remember the new moves and transition into each pose with fluid motions. There were a few times thought for each of us when we had to flap our arms like birds to steady ourselves and keep from falling into the person next to us.

Kellie worked every area of the body, from arms to legs to core, giving our bodies a chance to work hard and get toned in the process.

What I liked most about Kellie’s instruction was how she went slow enough in her directions that you could get, at some point, to the move she was describing to do. She also told us to look at what other people are doing to get an idea of what we were to do and demonstrated the more difficult moves that would require more work and confidence to get to.

By the end of the class, many of the students (including me) were surprised at what our bodies were able to do and how energized we felt at the end of the class than we did at the beginning.

As I type out this blog though, I am definitely feeling the effects of what I “encouraged” my body to do, soreness on all parts of my body. However, I’m happy I pushed my body to reach the outer limits of what I can do and look forward to what I can do for the next class.

Maybe I can get my feet over my head!

www.jeweledlotusyoga.com  

Weekend Trip into Florida History

One thing Florida always encourages in locals and visitors alike is to explore all that lies within its peninsula and this past weekend, I did just that.

Instead of hanging around Lake County, I went with family to two favorite spots in Volusia County where Florida history is alive and well along with popular as ever.

The first stop was to Blue Springs in Orange City, a favorite “meeting spot” for a certain gentle giant of Florida’s lakes and rivers – the manatee. When the weather cools down (or freezes as it happened a couple of weeks ago), the water reaches the cold temperature that encourages manatees to come and visit.

The board at the window of the Blue Springs Ranger Station as you pull into the state park listed 178 manatees roaming the waters of the springs that day but I think we saw at least 50 manatees through the three hours of being there.

What is so incredible about watching these beautiful creatures lumbering through the water is knowing they have been around for centuries. They have survived so much over the years but lately they have had to contend with boaters and their unforgiving propellers. The scars on their backs and their missing limbs (even on baby manatees) make you almost cry as you think those marks could have been prevented if boaters were more careful.

However, the amount of Floridians and visitors to Blue Springs that day showed people are still enthralled with manatees and are interested in doing what they can to protect them for future generations to enjoy.

Preserving history was almost evident in the next spot I visited the following day – St. Augustine. Almost every Floridian can recall their first visit to St. Augustine, whether they were young, middle-aged or old.

I remember first going to the historic city when I was 10 years old as part of our Florida History lesson we were learning during my 4th grade year. I think we were more excited to get rock candy and have a day out of school than actually realizing we were standing on what we had learned all year about in class.

Yet what is still amazing is the fact that many of the popular attractions in St. Augustine, from the Castillo de San Marcos fort to the Colonial Spanish Quarter and Oldest Schoolhouse, have all been here since the late 1600s. They have weathered hurricanes, war, sunshine, and daily wear and tear from humans (and some squirrels).

Active preservation efforts have been ongoing for years by the city to keep the historic elements in town safe enough so people can enjoy them and learn more about their hometown’s story. I’m amazed every time I go how well-kept everything is but most to see how much interest there still is in these historic “attractions.”

New generations of people are first learning about the story beneath the Castillo de San Marcos’ walls while older generations are appreciating the active enjoyment younger people are displaying while in the city.

If you haven’t visited either of these memorable stops, take a weekend and do it. It will leave you a better person than when you first arrived there.  

Make Today for Today

Go ahead! Call me a wimp for thinking it is cold outside. I may have been born in Northern Georgia but my veins were raised on Florida temperatures, the unexpected temperatures that are causing our current longer than normal cold front.

It’s funny when you go outside after having 40 degree temperatures and realizing 59 actually feels pretty good.

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, I want to talk about resolutions this year and why I chose one that I hope to continue the whole year.

I passed the typical ones that everyone uses (including myself, though I always forget it) such as losing weight, cutting habits and giving more to charity. I focused instead on having one that I hope defines all of those resolutions and anything else that comes along.

My resolution for 2010 is to . . . just live.

As the Nickelback song, “If Today Was Your Last Day” asks, would you donate every dime you have, leave old pictures in the past, call up friends you have never seen and forgive your enemies? As cheesy as some might find that song, I think in the present times that an example of hope is expressed in that song.

With the song in mind, I plan to do just what it asked. So far I think I’m on the right track.  I’m planning on being part of a local charitable organization this year and have started de-cluttering my apartment to get rid of things I don’t need or don’t ever use.

When I go shopping, I’ll see items that I want but I stop myself with a little bit more ease now to ask ”Do I really need that?” I’ve even done that for purchasing DVDs, which my friends, family and co-workers can attest that I am a movie buff.

Items I have seen that I do purchase are usually what I think others would want for their birthdays, anniversaries or because they need something to brighten their day. The happiness on their face when receiving the gift is their gift to me. 

Most of all, I have reconnected with people that I may have ended on uncertain terms with and found that they were willing to talk with me as I was with them. facebook has definitely helped in that department as I have been able to correspond with friends that are elsewhere in the state or country but were available as though I were sitting right across from them to talk and catch up.

I have also worked on my patience issues and even called to apologize for the times that my temper got away from me (and it has on more than one occasion).  

Why did this come about? I think it is a mixture of realizing how precious life is and how cloudy our path seems ahead of us. I feel better knowing that God is leading my path (through thorns and all) but there can be times that I question what will happen next.

That is why I plan to focus this year on the day I’m living in and try to make the most of each day. As my dad says, I’ll smile every chance I get and know that the next day is a day in itself. If I want to call someone, I’ll call them. If I want to help an organization during the weekend, I will. If I want to have a night or weekend to myself, I’ll have it.

Life’s too short so I want to just live to tomorrow and know that when it is my time to go, I lived life right every day. Even during the chilly ones!  

Experience Over Gift

I’m stretching a little bit from my original intent of my blog, which was to cover all the events, festivals and attractions that are the must-sees throughout the year.

I wanted to talk about in this posting, since we are only eight days away from Christmas, about how age can change your perspective on gifts on December 25th.

Growing up, I couldn’t wait for Christmas because my parents always seem to know what I wanted each year as did my relatives. I could always count on gifts from my aunts, uncles and grandparents and couldn’t wait to rip into the next package. It was all about the presents for me growing up, as with many children around the world. 

I don’t know when it changed, but Christmas became to me about giving the gift more than getting it. Before I knew it, I was more excited about finding that great gift for someone than to seeing what I would be receiving from them that year. My list included names of who I wanted to get gifts for and some had listed ideas of what they might like. I knew I had found that gift for them when I made that connection or made that smile that said “this is what they will want.”

Age probably is the biggest reason for this change in attitude towards Christmas. As you get older, you start to realize that you don’t know what you want for Christmas anymore. You start to realize you would want more than anything to just have time with loved ones, spent doing the activities that you love to do. 

For me, the experience is worth more than a gift. I would rather have the time spent with friends, the time to sit at Ghiradelli in Downtown Disney sipping hot chocolate during a chilly December night as we opened gifts. I would rather have the time spent around the table withfamily members as we relax with homemade food. I would rather have the time spent watching favorite Christmas movies with friends as we laugh at our favorite parts or find new ones.

I would also rather have the experience of seeing a friend’s face light up, whether they are an acquaintance or a long-time friend, as they open a gift I bought them that they didn’t expect to get. Maybe they have had to weather through job loss, family difficulties or just life taking their toll on them during the year, but for that one brief moment they can be happy for what they have in their hands. Their problems are gone for a second and their day had a bright moment for once.

So it’s the experience with those you love rather than getting that treasured DVD (for me) or newest electronic gadget. Sometimes people discover that understanding of giving at an early age, sometimes it doesn’t come until they are older. The point is to get to that point where the greatest joy is giving a special gift or extra time to someone than to just get something material from them.

Also, remember the reason for the season….

Inspecting Carol – A Humorous Spin on Christmas

Scrooge. Mr. Cratchit. A sombrero-wearing ghost? Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” enjoyed an update of sorts with the Melon Patch Theater’s performance of  their Christmas production, “Inspecting Carol.”

This version of “A Christmas Carol” takes place behind the scenes of a struggling local theater as the actors prepare to perform the Christmas tale for the umpteenth time over a more than 10 years period. Each year’s performance has brought its own drama among the cast members, from Scrooge reciting his lines in Spanish to a lead actor’s ”death” after reading a critic’s review. Read Full Entry

True Meaning of Thanksgiving

It’s not about the delicious spread of food on your table or getting days off of work. It isn’t even about getting an early start on Christmas shopping with the deals on Black Friday.

No, Thanksgiving is truly about being thankful for what you do have and giving to help others reach that similar feeling of thankfulness. I was able to experience that same feeling this Thanksgiving by helping three families get their own Thanksgiving dinner, one of which was a friend of mine.

I took part in the typical, yet still helpful, ways of Thanksgiving by paying for a Thanksgiving meal for a local family with a visit through the Publix’s shopping line. I also participated in a food drive at my apartment complex, giving food towards members of the community.

Yet the best feeling or example of Thanksgiving occurred when a friend of mine (and our company) was in need of care and support (both physical and edible). We came together as a company and provided the friend with homemade treats, gift cards and presents for the person to enjoy with her family.

The look on the person’s face was priceless as they were overwhelmed by what we presented them and they were truly touched by our support, revealing a face of gratitude and belief in compassion.

My mom wanted to take part in the giving for the person so she created an elaborate Thanksgiving meal that she split in two so my friend could have a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday and my family could as well. My dad was gracious enough to drive from Orlando to our office in Leesburg to deliver the meal, something I’m very appreciative that he did for my friend and myself.

I could have had just a sandwich on Thanksgiving and not had any days off for Thanksgiving and would have still felt like I had the best holiday in years.

I’m ready to see what goodwill experiences will come my way for Christmas this year and encourage all of you to take part in helping out those who need it most this Christmas season, even if they are just within your own social circle. Give of yourself and you will experience more from the holidays. 

HOWLIN’ MORNING IN LEESBURG

A rare treat happened at this morning’s Leesburg Chamber Breakfast, courtesy of the staff members of the Chamber and LAKE Magazine. Our popular contest, Pooch Perfect, had a few of the participants attend the breakfast, including the winner Zoe. Zoe was named number one pooch for the contest because of her “doggie” ability to sense when her owner was going to have a crippling migraine or if someone had a fracture of some sort.

Besides Zoe, participants Fred and Toby (along with their owners) made the trip in the early morning to nosh on breakfast and interact with members. I was thrilled to see all of the dogs but especially Fred as he is a rescue dog and my childhood was spent loving on a rescue dog as well.

Fred was found by his current owners on their property, beaten and scarred at the hands of someone who should never have a dog or child for that matter.

My rescue dog, Goldie, was a Yellow Labrador who hated water. The reason was because the previous owner before my family punished her (for not being a purebred of all reasons) by dumping buckets of water on her. Until the day she passed away, she was always in fear of our swimming pool, bathtub and water hose. She was the best dog ever though and I miss her to this day.

Just as with my rescue dog Goldie, Fred made a miraculous recovery and is now a happy, healthy dog that loves people and naps, according to his owners Frank and Roberta.

Toby was one of the other participants to take part in the breakfast and he had an amazing story of survival as well. He was diagnosed with cancer but made a full recovery with no relapse. He is also a therapy dog, bringing joy to others as well as to his owners each day. I plan to help my first dog (on my own) become a therapy dog so I can make trips to nursing homes and childrens’ hospitals to help others forget their problems if just for a little bit.

It was an amazing morning to see these extraordinary dogs in our own town and they are just a few of the many stories and pooches we covered in our October magazine. Thanks to all who submitted their dogs and showed why life can be so much better with a furry pet.