Serving Great Local Families and Businesses
GLFMagazine February/March 2015
Vol. 4, No. 2
FINS Spans the Generations See pages 20-21
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A Passion For Perfection! Philadelphia native, Hollie Adams, came into aesthetics the hard way: through the U.S. Marines. At 19, she enlisted and was sent to Camp Pendleton, California wear she lived through active duty. It was there, in California, that she studied at Bellus Academy, the number one ranked beauty school in the nation. It’s one of the few that offers a Master Aesthetics program. There she attained certifications in professional Makeup Artistry, Esthetics, Master Esthetics (medical esthetics), and was afforded an opportunity to become internationally certified in Esthetics. With a soldiers fortitude, she took on a vigorous written and practical examination done but once a year on the entire west coast. This examination was proctored by a representative direct from London’s ITEC headquarters which awards the European standard of excellence to passing individuals. Hollie is one of those individuals. Now, as a professionally trained and licensed aesthetician, she retains the heart of a Marine. Her precision, attention to detail and enduring drive to hold herself to higher standards makes her the best at what she does. She researches conditions and issues that her clients might struggle to resolve and won’t quit until she has achieved success. That is one of the things she loves most about her job: working hard to make her clients look their best and leave more confident than when they walked in. When asked what skin mistake she saw most people making, the answer was quick. We Texans are simply not using adequate levels of sun protection. Rain or shine, there should be an SPF 15 or greater on the skin. The sun here has a Texan mentality. It’s big. So profound that it demands an SPF daily. And not just one application. If you are out all day, as she herself loves to be, you must reapply. “Understand that sunscreen efficacy works in 10 fold, meaning if the bottle states there is an SPF 15 in the product, it will last about 150 minutes of direct sun exposure before the product is rendered ineffective and calls for a reapplication. My clients who are prone to pigment damage (dark, medium, and olive undertoned) are usually the ones lacking the sun protection, perhaps because they feel its unnecessary if they don’t burn but tan. I also notice my former and present acne clients
Hollie Adams, a professional in aesthetics.
skipping the sun protection for various reasons. Protecting healing blemishes is essential to prevent post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (post acne marks) from darkening and lingering on the face/body. Pigment changes to the skin can take months to correct and still have the potential to return, So, please please, please layer on the sun screen.” Come by Massage Envy and experience the professional expertise Hollie can provide. There’s no skin concern too tough for her to battle. Rest assured, she will bring even the most war torn skin to peace. It will be fresher, more vibrant and healthy that it was before. And you, will be more confident, ready to take on the day.
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February/March 2015
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GLFMagazine
February/March 2015
Neighborhood Publications LLC 9337 Spring Cypress Road, Suite #205, Spring, Texas 77379 • www.glfmagazine.com
Letter From the Editor Laissez les bons temps rouler means a whole lot more than “let the good times roll” and goes far beyond Mardi Gras. It’s the idea of joie de vivre, enjoying the living of life. And the best time for that is always today. As I write, the weather is wonderful and the mosquitoes are still sleeping. Green beer and King Cakes are on their way and on February 16th, a whole lot of chocolate will be half price! Just makes me all warm inside. We at GLF hope this issue finds you enjoying life. May you find the baby in the cake (pg10) and claim your pot of gold (pg28). And know that everyday, with readers like you, we feel we have a little of both. Leanne Donelson
Editor of GLF Magazine
Get your photos and articles published! If you would like to be reconized in a local magazine and be published, this may be the place. I am looking for local stories of family and people in the Spring, Klein, Champions and Tomball areas. Submit articles and photo to:
Info@GLFMagazine.com GUIDELINES FOR SUBMSSIONS: PHOTOS: Photos for print should be (300 dpi). Do not embed photos into the article file; please submit as separate jpg files. ARTICLES AND ANNOUNCMENTS: Word content should not exceed 350-400 words. Articles will be edited to meet our guidelines or space constraints. If you have a story idea, just send us an email and we may be able to use it in one of our future publications.
Editor Assistant Editor Leanne Donelson Candy Cruz Head Writer Contributing Writers Carla Hoch Candy Cruz, Josh Arcemont Laurette Veres, Kevin Galloway Graphics Photography Mike Reeves Audree Garcia, Mike Stolte Publisher Neighborhood Publications
If you would like to advertise or want information about us, please call (281) 401-9143 or email: Info@GLFMagazine.com. Thank You, Leanne Donelson
Table of Contents A Passion For Perfection! Mardi Gras with a Touch of Maroon King Cakes Family Road Trip Fun Deet Lake Lodge Back to the Future FINS – Family-owned business grows and remains true to its passion From Marlboro Man To Ironman Restoring History Trapping A Leprechaun Fish Fridays! Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Inner Strength Writing Well
4 8 10 11 16 18 20 22 26 28 29 34 35 38
DISCLAIMER: All articles, information, website addresses and cartoons in this publication express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Neighborhood Publications LLC or its employees. Neighborhood Publications LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles, information website address and cartoons submitted by others. The Publisher Neighborhood Publications also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication and ad warranties, representations and endorsements made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding it’s content should be taken up with the advertiser. Neighborhood Publications LLC disclaims and denies any and all liability, therefore The publisher Neighborhood Publications LLC assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and /or misprints in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes. Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish on a timely manner. This is not an official publication of your particular subdivision, (although we print more interesting information and take better photos) and your particular subdivision does not endorse, affiliate or associate itself or its affiliates with this publication. Neighborhood Publications and it’s Associate Publications/Business Interest, whether business or person, do not accept any assumed benefit of the QR Bar Code Readers/Bar Codes, etc. published in any of Neighborhood Publications/Great Local Families Magazine or it’s affiliate publications whether in print or electronic. The publisher is not liable for ANY DAMAGES for failure of the Post Office to deliver the magazine in a timely manner, so long as the publisher has delivered the magazine to said delivery point by the contracted date. All articles and photos in this publication are copyrighted. PUBLISHED BY: Neighborhood Publications, 9337 Spring Cypress Road, Suite 205, Spring, Texas 77379.
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Mardi Gras with a Touch of Maroon Beads! Beads! Beads!
By Laurette
Veres
The chant echoes through the crowded streets as the parade rolls along the seawall and thousands stretch out their arms begging for beads.
In honor of The Tremont hotel’s close association with Mardi Gras, and in memory of hotel owner and 1940 Texas A&M University graduate George Mitchell, The Tremont House transitions its longstanding Mardi Gras Ball to a Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Party benefitting Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG).
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Mitchell, who has been recognized as the most generous donor in Texas A&M University history, donated the land for TAMUG’s main campus in his father’s name. Now, the George P. Mitchell Society of Texas A&M University at Galveston will be the beneficiary and host of this annual Mardi Gras event, which had been previously presented by George and Cynthia Mitchell and the Mitchell family since 1985.
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The first “A&M Mardi Gras Parade Viewing and Balcony Party,” underwritten by The Tremont House, A Wyndham Grand Hotel, will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015. All festivities will be in the Tremont Ballroom, offering guests a premier view of Galveston’s biggest Mardi Gras Parade. For tickets, visit: www.tamug.edu/mardigras
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 9
King Cakes By Candy
The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the “Twelfth Night,” also known to Christians as the “Epiphany.” Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means, “to show.” Jesus first showed himself to the three wisemen and to the world on this day. As a symbol of this holy day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each King Cake. The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870. A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy that is a little coffee cake, a little French pastry and completely delicious, full of both flavor and history. It’s decorated in royal colors of PURPLE that signifies “Justice,” GREEN for “Faith,” and GOLD for “Power.” These colors were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past, such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were also hidden in each King Cake. Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if his or her piece contains the “baby.” If so, then that person is named “King” for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake. Mardi Gras Day has a moveable date and may occur on any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, and always falls 46 days before Easter.
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Cruz
Best places to get King Cakes: Local: Acadian Bakery 604 W Alabama St., Houston, TX 77006 (713) 520-1484 acadianbakers.com Rao’s Bakery 6915 Cypresswood Dr # F, Spring, TX 281-251-7267 raosbakery.com Three Brothers Bakery of Houston 4606 Washington Ave., Houston, TX 77007 (713) 522-2253 (CAKE) 3brothersbakery.com
Online:
Joe Gambino’s Bakery New Orleans gambinos.com Haydel’s New Orleans haydelbakery.com Manny Randazzo’s King Cakes New Orleans randazzokingcake.com
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Family Road Trip Fun By Laurette
Driving East on I-10 is a great way to see part of America. Stops along the way are easy and fun each providing a different resort-style getaway.
Veres
Blaster Sunset Dolphin Cruise is a party boat that searches the coast for dolphins. It’s a perfect way to end the day.
Gulf-Shores and Orange Beach Your first stop: the white-sand beaches of Alabama. Only a day’s drive away; here you’ll find a wide range of accommodations, diverse attractions and exquisite cuisine, all set in an atmosphere that exudes ultimate relaxation. You’ll absolutely love Turquoise Place (managed by Spectrum Resorts). Here you get all the comforts of home and then some. Watch the magnificent Gulf coast sunset from your own private outdoor hot tub on the balcony of your beautifully decorated 3, 4, or 5-bedroom suite. Each is fully equipped with indoor/outdoor kitchens, wet bar; even washers and dryers. Resort amenities include state of the art exercise area, spa appointments, airconditioned poolside cabanas, Tiki bar and a 450-foot lazy river. The atmosphere and experience will have you booking your return stay before you get home. Now is the perfect time to discover why Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are known as “Pleasure Island.” Travelers to this southern beach resort have compared it to Hawaii, Laguna Beach and the Bahamas. This breathtaking destination has much to offer – relaxation, fun and entertainment.
Destin Visits to Destin revolve around the gorgeous Emerald waters. Find your dream vacation rental through Newman-Dailey Resort Properties. For over 29 years, they have managed the area’s premier rental properties. We stayed in a cute cottage called the Royal Bahamian in Crystal Beach. Just minutes from the beach, spend your first day exploring the water. Dinner at Camille’s is casual and comfortable. The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has just completed a $4 million dollar renovation. The dolphins are the stars here and you could spend hours watching them swim in their pavilion. After learning about dolphins, look for them in the wild. The Sea
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Sandpiper Bay Club Med It’s true when they say everything is included at Club Med. On this property enjoy tennis, volleyball, golf, sailing, standup paddle boarding, and a circus and trapeze school. Allinclusive eating and drinking and a kid’s program starting at 4 months make this your ultimate family destination. This stop on Florida’s East coast marks the halfway point on the road trip. Time to head back to Texas.
Grande Lakes Orlando Home to over 500 acres of the most enchanting natural surroundings, the Grande Lakes Orlando is world’s away from your typical Orlando vacation. When you stay at the Ritz Carlton, you have access to all the amenities at the adjacent JW Marriott. Master the art of golf on a Greg Norman Signature course. The secluded lush gardens at the Spanish-Moorish style Spa
continued on 12
February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 11
the central nervous system through neck massage). For dinner, the new Highball & Harvest features handcrafted cocktail classes, and a creative, playful menu. Look for Cajun-inspired dishes from young Chef de Cuisine Mark Jeffers, infused with local Floridian citrus flavors and ingredients from local purveyors and the resort’s on-property 7,000-square-foot Whisper Creek Farm. Don’t miss the Pig-n-Potatoes, an allday breakfast dish of poached egg, potato hash, and tender pork cheeks with sweet peppers, caramelized onions, H&H Hot Sauce, and hollandaise sauce.
Hilton San Destin
Photo by Laurette Veres
create a relaxing environment. They surround over 40,000 square feet of spa facilities, including 40 treatment rooms. Unique to the Ritz are treatments in the outdoor Rooftop Eco-Space and herb garden. The Eco-Hammock Massage combines “zero gravity” and massage techniques including Thai stretching, deep tissue and Cranial Sacral (balancing
You’ll love the view at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Florida’s largest full-service beachfront resort hotel boasts 602 spacious accommodations, a world-class spa, fitness center and more. The wrap-around patio is the perfect vantage point to enjoy the full moon. Picnix Poolside Market is a casual eatery right in the center of the action. In addition to its stunning ocean views and breath-taking beachfront location, kids of all ages can work off their energy exploring the emerald green waters on paddleboards or kayaks, or just jumping waves while parents relax in their beach lounge chairs under their shady blue signature Hilton umbrella. The hotel even offers a shuttle to the nearby Village of Baytowne Wharf where guests can spread a blanket on the lawn and watch family-friendly films on Thursday evenings for the “Sunset Cinema” or pick up a new swimsuit and shades at Silver Sands Premium Outlets.
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel Located in Mobile, Alabama, the rotunda at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel is breathtaking. The glass is ceiling here and in the restaurant are certified Tiffany continued
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Champions Montessori
Photo by Laurette Veres
glass. The current building was built in 1908 and is the second hotel to stand in this location, replacing an earlier Battle House that was built in 1852 and burned down in 1905. Stay here and you are just walking distance from many bars and restaurants. The friendly atmosphere here resembles New Orleans. This is the perfect location to wrap up your road trip.
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GLF Magazine 13
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GLF Magazine 15
Deer Lake Lodge By Laurette
Veres
Rejuvenate, Revive and Cleanse Looking to make a change for 2015? Deer Lake Lodge is the perfect location to re-set your lifestyle. Learn about healthy living. Make a change. The cornerstone of the program here is a complete cleanse: mind, body and spirit. This is achieved through a liquid diet and spa treatments. Although the goal of the spa isn’t weight loss, that is a definite by-product. While you are here, you give your digestive system a break. You do take in plenty of vitamins and minerals, but with nothing solid to digest, your system rests. Before arrival, the mandate is to eat only fruits and vegetables for four days. Getting over the emotional attachment to food is the hardest part of an all-liquid diet; you wonder if you can actually make it through the weekend. You can. All of the supplements you need are packed and
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labeled in a handy plastic bag. You have a checklist to complete, and you take a pill or have a drink every 30 minutes. Focusing on this regimen keeps you busy. Also, the combination of fluids and treatments makes you feel great and not at all hungry (believe it). If you’ve ever heard that food makes you crave food, it’s true. Therefore, the lack of food also curbs your cravings. The fasting lounge is where all the action is. You hang out all day drinking tea, lemon water, vegetable juice and the special treat of hot vegetable soup. Instead of thinking about food, you’re too busy scheduling facials, massages and yoga classes.
continued
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Spa During the detoxifying process, the organ that excretes the largest amounts of toxins is the skin. Many of the spa treatments are specifically geared to help your body cleanse. The Magnetic Ritual helps eliminate the effects caused by electromagnetic pollution. The treatment begins with a balancing of the chakras, and is followed by applying a luminous mud with diamond dust combined with a massage using magnetic tools.
Diet You’ll enjoy the daily classes geared at improving your eating habits when you get home. When you are making dietary changes, you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be better. You can’t change everything, but if you’ll change a little bit, you are on your way to making healthy choices 80 percent of the time. Most of all, relax and think clearly. Get away from daily stress and re-group. You’ll be amazed with how clearly you are able to think when preservatives are out of your system.
Deer Lake Lodge & Spa www.DeerLakeLodge.com Photos from the website: http://deerlakelodge.com/
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 17
Back to the Future By Candy
Cruz
“Wait a minute. Wait a minute, Doc. Ah . . . Are you telling me that you built a time machine . . . out of a DeLorean?” 30 years later we are now officially Back to the Future! To sum it up, we all know the 80’s were like bodaciously, awesome. We had gnarly music and totally rad movies. Every kid and teen in the 80’s saw and fell in love with the movie Back to the Future. No matter if you were a jock or a nerd we all loved and wanted to be Marty McFly with his tubular time machine and selflacing shoes! As the Back to the Future movie turns 30 this year, a local company has the perfect way to help you celebrate. At the DeLorean Motor Company of Houston, you can find several DeLoreans still for sale. They even say they are happy to convert any one of them to an exact replica of the movie. Yes, you read that correctly, complete with a “Flux Capacitor” or “Mister Fusion,” if that is what you want. Even Doc would approve! The cost for a screen-accurate conversion like this one is about $45,000 on top of the cost of the car. With the
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push of a button, smoke comes out the back. The cars look just like the ones Marty McFly drove to get from 1985 to 1955, 2015 and then back to 1885. Only about 9,000 were made before the company went bankrupt in the early 1980’s.Though the stainless steel body and gullwing doors certainly made the vehicle unique in its day, the film franchise made it into an icon. As it now turns 30, fans are lining up for a piece and are willing to pay to go Back to the Future! Earlier this year, Nike announced that they will be releasing Back to the Future style self-lacing shoes in 2015. So for the rest of us who cannot afford the DeLorean, looks like we can still bring home a piece of the iconic movie that we all loved. We are officially Back to the Future . . . Great Scott!!!
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From Marlboro Man To
Ironman My Journey of Redemption
By Kevin
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Galloway
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Like a lot of 20 somethings, I thought my glorious athletic career was behind me. No longer a long distance runner like in high school, metabolism slowing down like a jet hitting reverse thrust upon landing, I decided at age 23 to take up the world’s worst habit: smoking. It was, and likely will forever be, the worst decision of my life. By age 26, I was up to 2 packs a day of Marlboro Lights. 3 packs if I was stressed. My record was 4 packs during a particularly awful 24 hour period. I didn’t stop there either. Most of us drink heavily in our early twenties, usually in social settings, college, etc. From age 26 to 33, I took it to an extreme. Bourbon was my adult beverage of choice. An employer of mine had made a bottomless bottle of the stuff part of my compensation package. It was like an episode of Mad Men: we smoked at our desks and we drank at 5 pm every day without fail. We even went by Eastern time, that way we could justify our full glasses at 4 pm instead of 5 pm. To complete my act of selfdestruction, I added in the worst possible diet. Consuming on average 4000-5000 calories a day of high fat, high sodium food. Fast food, processed food, candy, cookies, ice cream, if it was bad for you, I ate it. If the package said “serves 4”, I took that to be a challenge. A typical lunch was the triple bacon burger, and it used to irk me that they would always ask if I wanted to “Biggie Size” it. Well, duh, if you’re gonna eat like a pig, eat like a pig! Yeah I wanna Biggie Size it, and I want the largest, most surgary, most acidic cola you can legally sell me! I would eat this at my desk and puff on cigarettes in between bites. I knew where I was headed, I just didn’t care. I had walked out of high school a scrawny 115 lbs. After leaving the U.S. Army Military Police School, I had bulked up to a nice 145 lbs. By 2004, I was tipping the scales at 240+ lbs. I had a 42 inch waste. I smoked like a chimney; I drank like a fish. It all changed one day in October 2010. My friend from high school, Phillip Smith, who I had run Cross Country with back then, asked me to come watch him participate in a “triathlon.” I had heard of a triathlon, and I knew it consisted of swimming, then biking, then running. Something about this “triathlon” thing intrigued me. I went to watch the TriAndy’s Tri in Sugarland. This is what most people call a “mini” triathlon; it is actually known as a “sprint-distance” triathlon. Phil would swim 300m in a lake, then ride 10 miles on a bike, then run 3 miles. It sure didn’t sound mini to me. I was enthralled at the pageantry of the race. It reminded me so much of a high school cross country meet. I loved cross country, and I had no idea there was a way as an adult to recover that experience! Sadly, I was actually smoking while watching the event. But, as Phil came toward the finish line, something in me snapped. I had to do this. That night, I finished the pack of cigarettes I had. I have never touched another one since. I was done. The next day I spent $600 on a bicycle. I didn’t know To advertise, call 281-401-9143 or email info@GLFMagazine.com
they made a $600 bicycle, let alone that I would be dumb enough to buy one! Then I joined 24 Hour Fitness, because I knew I would need a pool. I jumped in one day and told myself I’ll do an easy 20 laps. On lap 4, all I could think was “oh $#@!, I’m gonna drown!” I ran one mile in 11 minutes and 30 seconds. I needed two days off to recover. Finally, the following August, I competed in the Bridgeland Triathlon. I didn’t drown, I didn’t die in a bike wreck and I didn’t go into cardiac arrest on the run. I had made it. I was officially a triathlete. It was a SPECTACULAR feeling. All the power I had as a youth was back! Weeks and months wore on and slowly I got stronger. I got up to running 12 miles at once. On a fateful February day more than one year later, I rode my bike for 100 miles. I could do 157 laps in a pool non-stop. I hadn’t just snapped, I’d lost my ever-loving mind. In 2012, I did the unthinkable. I competed in and completed Ironman Texas, a 140.6 mile triathlon. The race took 15 hours and 49 minutes to complete, and embodied my comeback from an alcoholic, smoking, morbidly obese idiot. In 2013, I raced Ironman Texas again, and finished 2 hours and 8 minutes faster, having dropped to 171 lbs from a high of 240 (incidentally, I was 171 at 3 am before the race, 160 lbs an hour after the race!). Today, I have competed in more than 50 triathlons and road races. Oh, and my current bike is a bit more expensive than $600. Houston has an awesome community for people interested in triathlon or running races. I am a member of the OnUrLeft Triathlon team, so named for the phrase you yell out as you pass another cyclist. Aaron Palian, founder of OnUrLeft, is the owner and director of three local triathlons, Cypress (formerly known as Bridgeland), Houston (held at Town Lake) and Kemah. They are the largest non-Ironman events in Texas, and offer incredible opportunities for novices to enter our world. In triathlon you can find a very tight-knit group of like-minded people who seek to better themselves daily. You do not need to be an athlete at any level; triathlon is the only sport that celebrates the last place finisher more than the first! I really wish I had known about triathlon teams during my first year, it would have been much, much easier! I’ve been a lazy, alcoholic smoker, and I’ve been a respected athlete. I much prefer the latter. If you’ve been wondering about running or triathlon, there is no better time than the present to start! Visit our team website at www.onurleft.com, and also visit www. onurmark.com to see our various area races. Some other helpful websites are www.beginnertriathlete.com and www.ironman.com. We all start somewhere. I implore you, do something today to make your life healthier tomorrow. The worst action you can take is inaction.
February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 23
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 25
Restoring History By Candy
Cruz
A few months back the Houston City Council was debating with whether to convert the 107-year-old Gus Wortham Golf Course or the Glenbrook Golf Course into a botanical garden. Earlier this year, decisions have finally been made; Houston City Council formally backed the transformation of two city-owned green spaces in the East End: one into a renovated golf course and the other into a landmark botanical garden. Gus Wortham became a flashpoint for golfers and some residents because it is the oldest course in Texas, was the original home of the Houston Country Club, and hosted such past luminaries as Howard Hughes. Both golf courses became targets of the garden group, in part because it is difficult to find large green spaces in Houston, Wortham is 150 acres and Glenbrook 120 acres. The Houston Golf Association plans to fund up to $15 million into restoring and renovating the Gus Wortham Golf Course. As for the Glenbrook Golf Course, a few miles farther east, the Houston Botanic Garden wants to launch what could be a $40 million effort to develop a signature attraction for the city of Houston. With all the debating back and forth it is exciting to see the Houston Golf Association finalizing a deal to take over the Gus Wortham Golf Course, renovating it and adding to the facilities assuming they can generate $5 million by the end of 2015. The eventual price tag will be steep but the results will be worth it considering the course’s legacy and restoring a piece of Houston’s history.
26 GLF Magazine
February/March 2015
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Koenig Dance School Ages Now 2Registering years - Adult For Fall Classes
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 27
Trapping A Leprechaun By Carla
Hoch
On the night before Saint Patrick’s Day, leprechauns will be out in full force hiding their pots of gold. If you catch one, you may have their hidden riches. It’s a tradition in our household to set out a leprechaun trap to do just that. Sadly, we’ve yet to catch one. However, we have made contact. Last year we were left air fresheners with a note that said our trap stunk. However, we’ve also been left wonderful treats such as Lucky Charms. It all depends on the leprechaun. While they are all harmless and would never ever hurt anyone (that’s against leprechaun law) some are real rascals and like to play tricks on you. If you decide to try your hand at catching one, here are some handy tips: 1. Despite what Pinterest would have you believe, leprechauns are a little bigger than a Barbie doll, about the size of an Elf on the Shelf. Shoe boxes are the perfect base for trap construction.
2. Leprechauns love shiny things. Consider this when choosing your bait. Tin foil has proven an effective lure for us as have fake coins and gem stones. Do not put paper money in your trap. They are not impressed by it.
3. Use the color green on the outside of the trap. They are wild for kelly green in particular. 4. You may leave the trap indoors or out. If you leave it indoors, keep it away from your bedroom. Leprechauns are easily distracted by toys and may miss the trap altogether.
5. If you leave the trap outdoors, be sure it will not be damaged by the weather. 6. If you have a pet, put the trap in a place the pet can’t reach. Leprechauns are quick. They can get around even the fastest cat or dog. But, once they are trapped, they are a bit helpless. 7. Carefully check the trap after the sun comes up on St. Patrick’s Day. If you have not trapped the leprechaun, it will have left you a token. It may be a good one, or it may be a trick. Either way, you don’t want to damage it. 8. If you do catch a leprechaun: A. Remain calm first and foremost. Don’t go sticking your fingers in the trap. It offends them and they may just bite you. B. Introduce yourself politely. This is very important. Practice introducing yourself to your family to be sure you have it down. Say, “My name is ____. What is your name?” C. Flatter the leprechaun. They love that. Compliment its clothing, hair, eyes, anything. D. Only now may you ask for the location of its pot of gold. If it rebuffs you, remind it that it is in fact obliged, by leprechaun law, to reveal the location. If it doesn’t relent, simply replace the trap and walk away. Trust me, the pixie will change its tune and divulge the information. E. Do not let the leprechaun go until you have your hands on the gold. I can’t stress this enough. I don’t mean to insinuate that leprechauns are liars. But, the sad truth is that some are. F. After releasing the leprechaun, be sure that it is in good health and not injured by the trap. Then, offer them a piece of the gold from the pot as a token of gratitude. Good luck, readers! Please post pictures of your leprechaun traps on the GLF Facebook page. And, may the luck of the Irish be with ye!
28 GLF Magazine
February/March 2015
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Fish Fridays! Whether you are celebrating Lent or just love fish. Here are GLF’s top fish places for fish on Friday night! Babin’s Seafood House 17485 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77064 babinsseafood.com (281) 477-9300 Barracrudas 2616 Fm 2920 Road, Spring, TX 77388 (281) 771-5134 Bluewater Cafe 4921 Farm to Market 2920, Spring, TX 77388 bluewaterseafoodonline.com (281) 288-9222
BlueWater Seafood 6107 FM 1960 Road West, Houston TX 77069 bluewaterseafoodonline.com (281) 895-9222 Boiling Cajun 13730 Alice Road, Tomball, TX 77377 boilingcajun.com (832) 761-1188 Capt. Benny’s Seafood 222 West Rankin Road, Houston, TX 77090 captbennys.com (281) 876-2533 Captain Seafood Kitchen 7418 Fairbanks N Houston Road, Houston, TX 77040 (713) 896-0068 Caribbean Hot Pot Restaurant 954A Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX 77090 caribbeanhotpotrestaurant.net (281) 377-1961 Crabby Daddy The Woodlands Gateway Plaza 25186 Interstate 45, The Woodlands, TX 77386 crabbydaddy.com (281) 296-2722 Drunken Oyster 7110 Louetta Road, Spring, TX 77379 (832) 843-6196 Hank’s Famous Cajun Crawfish 156 Farm-to-Market 1960 Road East, Houston, TX 77073 hankscajuncrawfish.com (281) 645-8286 Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen 7110 FM 1960 Road West, Houston TX 77069 pappadeaux.com (281) 580-5245 Pecos Grilling Company 28900 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, TX 77375 pecosgrillingco.com (281) 290-9200 Rakuu 5200 Farm to Market 2920 #190 Spring, TX 77388 rakuurestaurant.com (281) 651-5464 Redfish Seafood Grill 19550 State Highway 249, Houston Tx 77070 redfishhouston.com (281) 970-8599 Rockfish Seafood Grill 5500 FM 1960 Road West, Houston TX 77069 rockfish.com (281) 587-2900 Vida Mariscos 22400 State Highway 249, Houston, TX 77070 vidamariscos.com (832) 559-3709 To advertise, call 281-401-9143 or email info@GLFMagazine.com
February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 29
April 17-18, 2015
Friday 10-3 and Saturday 10-4
Being a mom is a special bond shared between women. This two day tradeshow is designed to bring moms together, motivate, inspire, nurture, and reward women of young families as they travel through their journey we call “motherhood.” Our tradeshow will be held at the Berry Center in North Houston, and will feature exhibitors with special interest items particularly for women, moms of young children, and kids from newborns to school age, with educational content, demonstrations, play zones, music, entertainment and more! Come to this show to get answers, seek guidance, and find options that meet your family needs no matter which stage of motherhood you are in. Follow us on Social media for free tickets to this event! Berry Center: 8877 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, TX 77433
30 GLF Magazine
February/March 2015
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37th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 15, 2015 Start time: 2 pm Location: Route is Champion Forest to Kuykendahl down FM 1960 3.1 miles New! Vendor Area at Home Depot 4159 FM 1960 ½ way on the parade route. 10 am-6 pm Shoppers and Vendors wanted Shamrock ‘N Run 5k New Route Starts and ends at 4159 FM 1960 FM 1960 Home Depot. Run starts at 2 pm Online registration only! For more information go to: www.1960parade.com
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 31
32 GLF Magazine
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Visit Us At Our New Location: 6535 FM 2920, Suite 200 • Spring, TX 77379
continued
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! By Carla
Hoch
Schools and libraries around the world will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2. He’s not only one of America’s most beloved writers but also one of its most well known. The mere name conjures up words and illustrations that are uniquely his. But, how well do you know the man behind the work? How well do you know Theodor Seuss Geisel? 1. His father and grandfather were German immigrants and successful brewmasters.
2. As a Scout, he sold so many War Bonds that he was to receive a Presidential award. However, he never received his medal from President Roosevelt as, in the ceremony, they were one medal short.
3. He was fired from his first writing job as the editor-in-chief of Dartmouth University’s humor magazine when he and his friends were found in violation of prohibition laws. He continued to write for the magazine using several pseudonyms. One of which was T. Seuss.
4. He used several pseudonyms throughout his career including Theo LeSieg (Geisel backwards) and Rosetta Stone. 5. Seuss was his mother’s maiden. The correct pronunciation is actually “Zoice.”
6. He lied to his father and told him that he had a scholarship to Oxford. Before he could tell him the truth, that his application had actually been denied, his father told the local paper and the inaccuracy was printed the next day. Geisel went on to Oxford anyway.
7. He worked for an ad agency for fifteen years and became famous for his adverts for a pesticide. He claimed he wrote children’s literature because the contract he had with the ad agency forbade him to write just about everything else.
8. He and his first wife Helen were unable to have children. Tired of hearing other parents brag about their kids, Ted, as he was known to his family, created then heartily bragged on a fictional one of his own: Chrysanthemum Pearl. Her name was even included on their Christmas cards. His second book, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, is dedicated to Chrysanthemum.
9. Helen, was also a children’s author and editor. After a series of illnesses, she committed suicide in 1967, the same year The Cat in the Hat was published.
10. His first published book, And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street, was refused by various publishers about thirty times. Geisel was about to throw the book away on the street when he ran into an old college friend that made its publication possible. 11. He drew propaganda cartoons for the Army. 12. All totaled, Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated forty-one books. Several more are attributed to him posthumously from notes he kept. 13. One of his most popular books was written after he was given a list of what were considered the 348 most important words first-graders should know and challenged to write a book using only those words. He went a step further, shortened the list, and using only 236 of the words, wrote one of the best selling children’s books of all time, The Cat in the Hat. 14. Green Eggs and Ham was also written on a dare. But instead of 236 words, he was to use only 50. 15. Ted remarried and became the father to two step children, the oldest of which is the sculptor of the sculpture garden dedicated to Seuss in his home town of Springfield, MA. 16. He created the word, “nerd,” in his book If I Had a Zoo. 17. Dr. Seuss NEVER won an award for book writing. He has been awarded Caldecotts for illustration, a Peabody for journalism and a Pulitzer as well as several others for contributions to children’s literature, also two Oscars and Emmys. But, as of today, not one for the actual writing in his children’s books. 18. To date, more than 600 million books by Ted Geisel have been sold and translated into more than 20 languages. 19. In the weeks before his death, he was asked what advice he would give to the children of America. It was, “we can . . . and we’ve got to . . . do better than this.” 20. The last line in the last book he ever wrote, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, reads: “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So . . . get on your way!”
34 GLF Magazine
February/March 2015
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Inner Strength
Tips from Master Josh Arcemont
When we think of strength, we tend to think about people who are physically strong. But there is a different strength, a strength that comes from inside. In our martial arts school, we call this Inner Strength. Unlike physical strength, inner strength comes from within. We all know how to develop physical strength, through resistance. The more reps you perform, the more weight you lift, the more stress and resistance you put your muscles under the stronger they will become. But, how do you develop inner strength? The answer is surprisingly similar. In order to increase your inner strength, you have to break out of your comfort zone and be pushed mentally, physically and emotionally. You have to get to the point of wanting to quit, and then keep going. This builds confidence in yourself, it builds character, and increases your inner strength.
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When my students come to me and want to quit, I smile on the inside, because I know that this is a teachable moment. They will either drop out, or push through the resistance and grow because of it. People often ask me, “How long does it take the average person to become a Black Belt?” The answer is, “Never! The type of person that has what it takes to become a Black Belt is not average.” I tell people to set a goal to become a Black Belt, not for the belt itself, but for what you will have to become in order to get it.
(832) 717-4376 6411 FM 2920 Spring, Texas 77379
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 35
“Flu season is here. Vaccinate!”
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36 GLF Magazine
Dr. Susan Reed, M.D.
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February/March 2015
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Your Klein Oak Baseball Booster Club Presents
The 5th Annual Diamonds and Dice Casino Night! Mark your calendars NOW! The Public is Welcome!
Call for more details!
Saturday, February 21st – 7:00 p.m. Augusta Pines Country Club Proceeds benefitting YOUR Klein Oak Panthers Baseball Team Food, Silent and Live Auctions, Gaming Tables Tickets are $45.00 For more info or to order your tickets contact:
Jamie Creager at Jamiecreager@yahoo.com or under KOBBC at Kleinoakbaseball.com Hope to see you there!
832-843-6632 707 W. Main Street Tomball, Texas 77375
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February/March 2015
GLF Magazine 37
Writing Well By
Dear Writing Well, my teenaged daughter, H., has written a book and is looking for an editor. Do you know one? – A. Garcia After receiving this message, I called the mom. First and foremost, I praised her daughter. What an amazing kid! Then, I got a little more information. I found out her daughter’s age, the book genre, word length, suggested a few pros I know and asked the all important question, “how many times has she edited it?” When you write a book, finishing it is a huge relief. You immediately want to get it out to the world. And, before you do, it absolutely should be professionally edited. But, there’s a few things to think about before hiring an editor because they are expensive, especially the good ones. The good ones don’t just look at grammar and punctuation. They look for holes in the plot, trace the character arc and manage continuity, meaning, keep the details consistent throughout. Was Monday, June 6, 1883 actually a Monday? (It was a Wednesday.) Does your character have an item or reference something that is out of place for the time period? Was the chair red in chapter two and green and chapter ten? First and foremost, edit the MS (manuscript) yourself five or six times. Yes, even NYT bestselling authors do. That’s how they became NYT bestselling authors. Read it out loud and listen to the flow. Make note of important details to keep them consistent. Trace your plot, and character arc. Have you, in the first fifty pages, introduced the main characters, established normalcy and presented what’s at stake? If you haven’t, you should. That’s about how many pages an acquisitions editor or agent will give you to get their attention before they trash it.
Carla Hoch
When you have done that, get a critique by someone who doesn’t love you. Somebody who isn’t going to try and make you feel good about yourself. Writing is a tough business. Your words are an extension of you and when they are criticized, it hits you in the gut. You have to get over that. You have to separate yourself from your creation. Because, when that professional editor gets their hands on it, they will demolish it. That’s their job. I have a short story coming out in an anthology this month. The first edit by the publisher had over fifty revision suggestions. So, for about every 100 words, there was an edit of some sort. The book I’m writing now, I’m on the third rewrite. Third. It’s killing me. But, that’s the business, it’s what the agents want. If it’s what I want too, I have to suck it up and forge ahead. If you love writing, if you want it to be what you do, read books on writing, take classes, go to conferences. Get better at it. Don’t assume you’re as good as you need to be. (Even pro athletes have coaches!) Some books I highly suggest are all by my favorite writing teacher, Jeff Gerke. He writes craft books for Writer’s Digest, is an author, an editor and former publishing house owner. The First 50 Pages and Write Your Novel in a Month are two of his books that I love. Now, here’s my message to you personally, H., you are officially my hero. Keep working hard. Keep learning, reading and writing. Learn to enjoy the taste of criticism. Gobble it up and ask for more. It, above all else, will make you the best you can be. And you deserve to be the best you can be. Until next time at the Writing Well, keep writing well. And visit my blog at RedWritersHood.blogspot.com.
Houston Children’s Festival WHAT: McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival 2015 presented by Baker Hughes BENEFITING: Child Advocates, Inc. POSITIONING: The Largest Children’s Festival in the United States WHEN: March 28 & 29, 2015; Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 am – 6:30 pm WHERE: Downtown Houston – City Hall Area, Library Plaza, Sam Houston Park & Tranquility Park ADMISSION: $12.00 per person; under 3 years free _ For special admission offers, please visit our website. Food, beverage & games by coupon only; 9 coupons for $10.00 Event Highlights: 6 Stages Of Music & Entertainment, 10 Big Family Adventure Zones, Over 300 Activities
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38 GLF Magazine
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