Columbus Day: Things You Didn’t Know

Here are some little-known facts about the explorer celebrated by Italian-Americans across the United States.

· When the Columbus Day Holiday Began - Columbus Day became a national holiday much earlier, in 1937. At that time, President Franklin Roosevelt declared the holiday would take place on Oct. 12 (the date Columbus first landed in the Bahamas). But the first known Columbus Day celebration in the U.S. took place in New York City in 1792, long before it became a national holiday.

· Columbus’ Bones Are Still Shrouded in Mystery - It’s still unclear where Columbus’ bones were finally laid to rest. When Columbus died in 1506 his remains were taken to a family mausoleum in Seville, Spain. But nearly 40 years later his son requested that the remains be placed in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo in the capital of the Dominican Republic, where he intended to be buried. In the late 1700s the bones moved to Cuba, and 100 year later they returned to Seville. But in 1877 bones marked as those of Columbus were found by cathedral workers in the Dominican Republic. Those bones have since been interred in the Columbus Lighthouse in Santo Domingo.

· Pope Rejected Bid for Columbus’ Sainthood - In 1882 the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s fraternity, supported Italian Americans who rallied for Columbus to be recognized as a saint because they said he had brought Christianity to the Indians. Pope Leo XIII, however, rejected that request because Columbus had an illegitimate son with Beatriz Enríquez de Harana, his mistress.

· Columbus Brought Citrus to the New World - The history books note Columbus forcibly scored a lot of loot from the islands he visited, making off with gold, parrots, spices, and human captives from Haiti, an island he later named Hispaniola. The “riches” pleased his Spanish sponsors, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, who were funding the voyage. During the process, Columbus also carried European items to the New World. In 1493, the year of Columbus’s second voyage, he brought citrus fruit seeds to the West Indies and the trees ended up in the West Indies, Mexico, and Florida. (Adopted from http://abcnews.go.com)

Time Management For Kids - Help Them, Help Yourself

Better time management for kids is always possible, no matter what age they are. All too soon, fun, school and chores become work, choices and responsibilities, so teach your children how to use and apply simple time management skills and tools -- you’ll both reap the rewards for many years.

Sure, kids learn to tell the time; but what does that actually mean? Simply that they know how to break days down into hours, minutes and seconds. But telling the time is one thing; linking it to activities is another.

As adults we have learnt to associate tasks with time. Children who learn this too will be better equipped to cope with the way people structure life. In other words, kids need to learn that there is always a finite amount of time. For example, they only have so long between waking up and going to school, or ending school and going to bed.

Do they know why it matters? Are they clear on the consequences, costs and benefits of their time management? As adults, it’s our responsibility to make sure children understand and expect these. When they do, they’ll internalize habits faster and better… which benefits everyone

Tools to use:

1. Time management chart. Regardless of age, everybody benefits from being able to map out their days and weeks. It’s a simple and effective way to show improves time management for kids' routines, rhythms and limits during their days and week.

2. Analogue and digital clocks. When they’re young, teach them to make the link between time with activities. Using the earlier example, how much time is there between waking up and going to school? What needs to be done? How much time will it take? Sit down together so they understand, and then involve them in planning out a routine. This naturally leads on to useful techniques such as time boxing.

3. Timer. A simple kitchen timer is a great way to quickly improve time management for children. Use it to put limits on any activity you can think of.

4. Daily planner. When they are young, your weekly planner will help you map out their activities. As they grow older, encourage them to purchase and use their own daily planner so they can increasingly plan, remind and manage themselves. (Adopted from www.time-management-success.com)

Recipe Of The Month: SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP

Ingredients

• Crock pot recipe
• 16 oz can pumpkin
• 1 C chopped celery
• 1/2 C chopped carrots
• 1/2 C chopped onion
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/4 tsp ground red pepper or caynene
• 4C vegtable or chicken broth
• 8 oz can diced tomatoes
• sour cream - optional

Directions:

In 3 1/2 quart crockpot put spices, pumpkin and

broth. Gradually stir in vegetables. Cover and cook on low Heat for 6 - 8 hours or high for 3 - 4 hours. Then, stir in tomatoes. Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream. This is a good fall recipe.

Quick Weight Loss Tips…

• Eat six small meals a day.

• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Cut down on white refined sugar and caffeine, such as colas and coffee.
• Reduce your intake of bread and pasta, especially those made with bleached white flour.
• Try not to eat past 7 p.m.
• It is better to broil or grill foods. Eliminate as many fried foods as possible.
• Choose 100% pure virgin olive oil over other vegetable oils.
• Eliminate artificial, "junk" foods. Replace them with healthy alternatives.
• Keep a food diary.
• Plan your menu of meals for the week in advance. (Adopted from http://www.drmaloof.com)

Monthly Stress Reducer - Forgotten The Rules For A Safe & Happy Halloween?

• When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

• Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.
• If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.
• When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go it alone.
• If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out!
• If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around.
• Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing.
• If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.
• If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately.
• Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.
• If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws.
• Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you are doing. (adopted from http://www.humormatters.com)

Fall Fun With Your Dog!

It is one of my favorite seasons — in part, because it’s a great time to get back outside, enjoy the more refreshing weather and have fun with your dog.

In my opinion, fall is one of the best times of year to enjoy the great outdoors with your canine friend. For one, once the weather cools down a little, you don’t have to worry quite as much about your dog getting too hot. And, many dogs really seem to perk up quite a bit once the temperature dips.

Some of my favorite activities to do with my dogs in the fall include:

• Camping at a state park, in a pet-friendly cabin or a tent.
• Going for a hike at a state park or natural area that allows dogs.
• Taking a day trip to a nearby dog-friendly apple farm. My dog, Maddie, loves to walk around there and look for apples that have fallen to the ground. (She seems to think they’re dog toys!)
• Take long walks at nearby parks. It’s especially fun to sit and watch the geese flying overhead.
• Let the dog supervise the yard work. Many dogs love to jump and play in piles of leaves, so get raking!
• Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy dinner or coffee on an outdoor restaurant patio with your dog before the patios close down for the winter.
• If you do decide to get back to nature while enjoying the fall weather with your dog, don’t forget to brush up on outdoor safety tips — such as these great reminders from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It’s a good idea to make sure your dog is up to date on flea and tick preventative, carry a pet first aid kit with you, make sure your pet is wearing ID and always carry plenty of water for both of you — and a collapsible water bowl for your dog. And, follow these great tips for keeping your dog’s seasonal allergies in check.

Also, many people love to let their dogs off-leash while hiking or at parks — but if you do so, please make sure you’re allowed to do so in the area you’re visiting, you’ve taught your dog a good recall and that you don’t let her out of your sight. In addition to keeping your own dog safe, that’s a courtesy as well to all the other people out there who might be walking their dogs on leash. Dogs that, perhaps, don’t want to be barreled over by a dog they don’t know. Not taking these steps can lead to a less-than-pleasant experience for you and others who are out enjoying the fall weather with — or without — dogs. - enjoying the breeze, the sunshine and the crunch of the first few falling leaves underfoot and under paw. (Adopted from http://blog.k9cuisine.com)

Fire Prevention Tips

safety and survival begin with everyone in your household being prepared. Follow the safety advice below from the Home Safety Council to reduce the chance of fire in your home:

Prevent Fires Caused by Cooking:

• Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
• Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the range top.
• Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot burner and catch on fire.
• Always stay by the grill when cooking. Your grill may stay hot for a long time. Keep children and pets away.
• Keep grills at least ten feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.

Prevent Fires Caused by Matches & Lighters:

• Many young children are badly burned or die playing with matches and lighters.
• Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
• If you must keep matches or lighters in your jacket or purse, put them in a place where children cannot see or touch them.

Prevent Fires Caused by Heating:

• Space Heaters - Space heaters need space. Keep them at least three feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Furnaces - Have a service person inspect chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Have them cleaned when necessary.
• Fireplaces and Wood Stoves - Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace. Creosote logs can be used to help reduce the build-up of creosote in fireplaces. Check labels to make sure the log has been tested and approved by UL. Even if you use creosote logs, fireplaces should still be inspected by a professional each year.

Prevent Fires Caused by Candles:

• Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Always use stable, candle holders made of material that won't catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc.
• Blow out candles when adults leave the room.

Vitamins For The Mind! - I Already Know That!

“Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don't anymore, I realized it was killing conversation. When you're always trying for a topper you aren't really listening. It ruins communication." Groucho Marx

“I already know that.” Now there is a phrase that does not encourage conversation. In fact if someone approaches you to speak with you and you hit them with an “I already know that”; you might as well say “Go away” or “I don’t care what you think”. You just killed the conversation.

And if you don’t say it aloud but you think it to yourself, congratulations you just turned off your brain and you just killed the conversation.

Of course you are really smart and you do know lots of things. So when your friend, partner, co-worker or child starts to share information with you, perhaps you do already know what they want to tell you. But that isn’t always the point. When you shut them down, you are closing the door to communication. When you turn them away with an “I already know that”, you are discouraging them from sharing with you and from growing with you. The next time that they have information to share, they may see you and just keep walking. And when that happens, you will really miss out. You will miss the opportunity to learn something new, you will miss the opportunity to strengthen your bond with this person and you will no longer play a part in their growth and they will no longer participate in your growth.

When someone starts to tell you something that you think you already know consider refraining from saying “I already know that”. Try not to even think it. And if it pops into your head, push it to the side. Your role in this situation might be to allow the other person to share and explore this information. Your role might be to help them learn and grow simply by listening and discussing this information with them. And isn’t it possible that you don’t know everything? Isn’t it possible that listening to them share the information and hearing their perspective could broaden your perspective? The conversation may start with something that you are sure that you know, but who knows where it will go from that point? But if you stop it before it starts, it goes nowhere.

But then you already knew that, didn’t you?

“I already know that.” Now there is a phrase that does not encourage conversation. In fact if someone approaches you to speak with you and you hit them with an “I already know that”; you might as well say “Go away” or “I don’t care what you think”. You just killed the conversation. Adopted from www.positivearticles.com

Going Green Has Never Been Easier!

What is CRS ?

Community Recycling Solutions makes it easy for businesses, schools and individuals to recycle!

WHO CAN RECYCLE WITH CRS? Community Recycling Solutions makes it easy for Indiana businesses, schools and individuals to recycle by offering dumpster placement, free pick-up services, curbside recycling and more! (Web Page: http://communityrecyclingsolutions.com)

What we Recycle

• Cardboard
• Toner Cartridges
• Paper
• Metals
• Plastics 1-7
• White Styroform
• Carpet Padding
• E-scrap
• And a ton more

Reel Partner Of The Month!

Ask The Reel Team About Real Estate: Do You Now Need 20% Down Payment?

Questions that I receive frequently: Is it possible to get into a home for a minimal amount of money? Do you now need 20% down payment? Is it really difficult to get a loan approved? How long does the process take?

• FHA down-payment requirement is only 3.5% Rural Housing for specific areas is zero down. VA loans for qualified veterans is zero down. There is a 3% down option in the conventional market.
• More documentation is required to get a loan and can make the process seem like more work. However, for someone with stable employment, good credit and funds to close, loans are being approved. The rules have changed very little as to what makes a borrower credit-worthy.
• Most of our loans are approved within 2 – 3 weeks and another week to set up the closing. This applies to both our refinance and purchase customers.