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Hardwood
Reg (sf) Now (sf)
Hickory Oiled Leather $5.29 $3.29 Capistrano Maple Barley $4.99 $2.29 Capistrano Maple Portola $4.99 $2.29 Hand Scraped Hickory Saddle $4.99 $400 Takes All (156.24 sf remaining) Pantagonian Pecan Auburn $5.49 $300 Takes All (122 sf remaining) Maple Bordeux $5.49 $300 Takes All (100 sf remaining) Asheville Oak - Chestnut $5.49 $300 Takes All (105 sf remaining)
Armstrong LVT
Laminate
Reg (sf) Now (sf)
Kings Canyon Cherry $1.79 $1.29 Riverdale Hickory Tellico Hickory $3.99
$2.69
Ornamental Cherry 5� Smooth $2.99
$1.79
Butterscotch Oak $3.29 $1.69 Spiced Merbau $3.29 $1.69 Northhampton Hickory $1.99 $1.39 Artisan Oak $1.99 $1.39 Davenport Red Oak $1.99 $1.39 Mayfield Mahogany $1.99 $1.39
Reg (sf) Now (sf)
Barclay Apple $2.99 $1.39
Rustique Parquet Gunstock $3.99 $0.59 Vieux Parquet Crest Brown $3.99 $0.59 Rustiquet Parquet Spice $3.99 $0.59 Cork Natural $3.99 $0.59 Laplata Cocoa Dust $3.99 $0.59 Mancos Slate Terra $3.99 $0.59 Talus Soft Stone $3.99 $0.59 Natural Creations Eathcuts Stone Tile GD $3.99 $1.59 Nat Creations Brazilian Slate Brown Stone Tile GD $3.99 $1.59 Natural Living Black Walnut Plank GD $1.99 $1.49 Chestnut Amber $1.69 $1.29
Parkside Oak $1.99 $1.39
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Abbington Fruitwood $1.99 $1.39 Aged Carob Oak
Reg $2.29
Country Maple $2.29 $100
(148.31 sf remaining)
Takes All
Bennington Cherry Autumn $2.29 $0.99 Northland Birch $2.29 $0.99 Washington Oak $2.29 $0.99
Check out our website for pictures of all of the above products. Instock rugs 50% off regular price.
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An Interview with Santa Claus By Bob Cox Q: Why did you get started in the business of gift giving? A: My story began nearly two millenniums ago with Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was born on March 15, 270. He was also called Nikolaos of Myra. Saint Nicholas was a Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor, which is now in modern-day Turkey. Q: Was it Saint Nicholas who inspired you to become such a giver? A: Yes. He has an enduring reputation for anonymous giftgiving and I really admire that quality. He was known to put coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, a practice celebrated with a feast in his honor: St Nicholas Day, December 6. Nicholas was also famous for his generous gifts to the poor. One story in particular stands out: When he presented the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. Saint Nicholas was also the patron saint of sailors, merchants, repentant thieves and children in cities and countries around Europe. Q: Is that why you always say ho,ho, ho? A: You really didn’t just go there? Next question. Q: How did the legend of Saint Nicholas evolve into the modern day Santa Claus?
A: During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before Saint Nicholas Day, children were bestowed gifts in his remembrance. The custom of gifting of children at Christmas has been promoted by Martin Luther, a prominent German friar and priest during the 15th and 16th centuries. His goal was to offer an alternative to the previously popular gift custom on St. Nicholas Day and refocus the interest of the children to Christ instead of the veneration of saints. Despite his efforts, Saint Nicholas remained popular as a bearer of gifts for the people. Q: That’s fascinating, but we still seem to be far away from the modern version of who you are. What happened next? A: Prior to Christianization and beginning in the 4th century, the Germanic people celebrated a midwinter event that stretched from Mid November to early January called Yule. With the Christianization of Germanic Europe, numerous traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas. Q: I know you don’t drink Red Bull to stay alert on those long and cold Christmas eve nights, so how did you get your wings that allow you to soar through the skies with a sleigh and flying reindeer? A: Now that is a very interesting story! During the Yule celebration, supernatural and ghostly occurrences were said to increase in frequency, such as the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The leader of the wild hunt is frequently affirmed as the Norse god Odin, aka Jólnir, which means “yule figure” and Langbarðr, meaning “long-beard”. Odin was also known as the “Gift-bringer of the North”. He had a long white beard and wore a blue-hooded cloak as he rode the midwinter sky on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, bringing gifts to his people. Q: That all sounds like someone we know! Could it be Jolly Saint Nick? A: Busted! You got me there Bob! Q: What would you say have been the biggest influences in how we Americans see you today? Continued on page 8
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B-12, I had absolutely no By Paula Fredette numbness in just two months! When I first hurt my back, I I was pretty much back to didn’t consider seeing a doctor normal and soon began feelor chiropractor because I don’t ing better than ever. I started like modern medicine. I’m exercising again and dropped not sure how I got hurt. I just a lot of weight. Dr. Blakely turned funny and something also recommended joint supsnapped. I was in major pain port for my lower back and all weekend, so the following a supplement for my gut to Monday, I trusted my instincts improve my immune system and walked down the street to and mental clarity. Dr. Beth Blakely’s office. I’m totally indebted to I was numb from my hips Dr. Blakely! When I was 25 to my toes on the left side. At No matter how much Paula Fredette prayed, we years old, I would wake up the time, I was at 25 years old still took her picture...sans makeup! feeling like I was 97 years old! with no health insurance and But after going to Dr. Blakely’s, I now wake up in the working at Burger King. During my first visit, I filled out morning with no pain. I feel much better overall. My a lengthy questionnaire and then shared my medical knees, back and sciatica don’t hurt anymore. She did a history with Dr. Blakely. She took her time with me and lot of awesome things for me to help me get to a point explained what was going on in my body. She really where I can now do awesome things for myself. knows what she’s talking about. Today, I’ve got a real job working at Dr. Blakely’s ofDr. Blakely gave me an adjustment that day and fice. I’m surrounded by wellness and life is amazing! strongly recommended B-12 to help relieve the nerve damage. She worked out a payment plan that I could Editor’s notes: Dr. Beth Blakely is afford and I was able to continue an ongoing treatment a chiro-practor that specializes in hoplan. listic health care practices. She can be During my treatment, I researched the nerve damreached at (916) 944-1444. age I had and found that it normally takes 500 – 1,000 days to heal. With the combination of adjustments and
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An Interview with Santa Claus Continued from page 4
A: My physical appearance was reshaped back in 1823 when a poem was written by Clement Clarke Moore titled A Visit From St. Nicholas and a generation later, an illustration drawn by John Leech of the Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens’s festive classic A Christmas Carol had major influences on my appearance. Finally, in 1863, political cartoonist Thomas Nast created a characature of me in Harper’s Weekly that has been reinforced through the decades on radio, television and motion pictures. Q: Speaking of reshaping, how are you with your robust body image? The ladies these days really seem to be going for the hard body, wash board abs look, which by the way is still on my Christmas list. A: No worries. Mrs. Claus appreciates my well rounded physique. Hopefully, your wife appreciates yours! Q: Ouch, I mean touché. Do you have any great gift giving ideas for shoppers this year? A: Yes, shop local and support the businesses that are the infrastructure of our local economy. When you keep your money local, great things happen. Businesses expand, they hire more people and the extra money collected in taxes can go back into community improvement projects and programs. Q: Gee Santa. I didn’t realize that you were an economist too! A: Running a successful toy manufacturing and distribution business for centuries isn’t as easy as it looks.
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Q: Do you have any funny Santa stories that you’re willing to share? A: Yes, back in 1955, a Sears store in Colorado Springs, Colorado ran an ad with a misprinted “Santa Hotline” telephone number. Children hoping to speak with me called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) on Christmas Eve instead. When Colonel Harry Shoup received the first call, he responded by telling children that there were signs on the radar that Santa was indeed heading south from the North Pole. A tradition began, which continued under the name NORAD Tracks Santa, when in 1958 Canada and the United States jointly created the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). This tracking can now be done via the Internet and NORAD’s website! Q: Any advice for parents? A: Yes, for goodness sakes, indulge your children in these two good four letter words: work and play. Back in my day, very few kids sported the portly physique I’ve been bestowed by that Nast character. Physical work and play is wonderful for the body, mind and spirit. Too much sitting around playing with those high tech contraptions isn’t healthy for anyone. Q: Will I finally make the nice list this year? A: With questions like these, keep ho ho, hoping. Just kidding. No more coal for you Bob! Bob Cox is the founder and publisher of Go For It Magazine. He can be reached by phone at (916) 266-3115. His email address is coxrobert@comcast.net. Go For It Magazine is owned and operated in Rancho Cordova, CA. Copyright © 2015.
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Great Gift Giving Ideas for Christmas! By Alika Salazar I have some very exciting news for all you holiday shoppers. Are you looking for something that’s fresh, hot and totally new for the loved one that seems to have everything? Remember when Michael J. Fox rode the hoverboard in the movie “Back-to-theFuture”? We’re now selling self-powered people movers that are also referred to as hoverboards. The brand is called the Sonic Smart Wheel and I saw my first one during a Las Vegas convention a few months ago. I was instantly hooked as I watched people gliding effortlessly across the expansive floors. I had to have one and I’m so happy I purchased mine because they are a blast! Sonic Smart Wheels are fun, easy to ride and a great way to travel about. A Sonic Smart Wheel features two motors, one beneath each
of your feet that detects micro amounts of pressure that takes you in that direction. Dip your toes forward to go forward, put your heels back to go backwards. Apply pressure on just one foot and you’ll turn in that direction. It almost reads your mind! Sonic Smart Wheels are durable, lightweight and come with a one year warranty. They are available in four colors: gold, blue, red and white and prices start at just $499! We also have several other great gift giving ideas for people that love their high tech gadgets. We are now offering fully reconditioned smart phones, tablets and iPads. Reconditioned phones will be starting at $120 for an iPhone 4, while iPads and tablets will start at $180. We also have a great variety of cases and screen protectors to make sure your investment is protected. Before the holiday season melts away, be sure to stop in and check out all these amazing new items. You’ll be glad you did! Editor’s notes: Alika Salazar is the owner of iParts Phone Repairs. He can be reached at (916) 936-9316.
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Car Tech Talk Treating Your Family Like Our Family By Dave Trux When I hire somebody, one of the things that I do is tell them about our basic business philosophy. The first time anybody walks through our front door, they’re a friend. It doesn’t matter if they’re a customer, an inspector from the state of California, somebody that runs parts or a process server serving papers. It doesn’t matter. The second time they walk through that front door, they’re family. You treat them as such and if a delivery person comes in and we have pizza or other food we’re sharing, if they were a family member, wouldn’t you invite them to sit down and have a soda and something to eat? I feel my personal philosophy on running any kind of business, especially when its service oriented, you want to exude that feeling of contentment and happiness. People don’t come to us because they want to. They come to us because it’s a necessity. When a customer first walks in, they’re likely going to be in a negative space. I think it’s our duty to do our best to put them at ease and make them feel comfortable.
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Treating a person like family is probably the fastest way to get there. If there’s any question about how I should handle something, all I have to do is ask myself, “If they were a family member, what would I do?” We had an incident where we had a problem with a car on Friday, and I came in the following Monday at 10:30 am and it hadn’t even been on the rack yet. I looked at my manager and said, “Not only is this a good customer, he’s a personal friend. He’s been here more than once. Is this how you would treat your family?” When you set the goal of treating everyone like family, if you do fall a little bit short, you’ll probably be okay. The goal is to show my employees how I expect to be treated. My hope is that this attitude will eventually come as naturally to them as it does to me. I truly like my customers and enjoy speaking to each and every one when I’m in the office. Editor’s notes: Dave Trux is the owner of Valley Motorwerks in Rancho Cordova, CA. Their address is 11403 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, CA, their phone number is (916) 636-9526 and their website is www.vmwerks.com.
Art is all Around!
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.“ ~ Thomas Merton And in this unique season which combines family, friends, spirituality, generosity, community, and hectic chaos all at one time, isn’t it nice that we have time and space available to “find and lose ourselves” as well as be able to share this Spirit with others? I consider these oases (plural for oasis... had to Google that) gifts themselves. Here are some “safe havens” that you should know about: • the Holiday Pop-Up Art Gallery at the Capital Village shopping center in Rancho Cordova featuring local artists through Dec. 13 • a Pop Up Art Sale at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael December 12 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm and then continues through December 18 • a FREE Holiday Concert by the Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra on Friday, December 18 at the River City Christian Church (formerly named First Covenant Church) starting at 7:30 pm • the Annual SFAC Holiday Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday, December 19, & Sunday, December 20 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm • the FALL SHOW art exhibit on display at Rancho Cordova City Hall through Jan. 17, 2016. It will be followed by “IMAGINE” opening on Jan. 28, 2016 And GOOD NEWS! We have pretty good intel thatthere is more ART to come in 2016. Visit BobsPocket.com for details on the above and what lies ahead!! * Visit BobsPocket.com for Bob’s bio, past blogs, and to learn more about events & organizations.
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