by Owen Strand

‘Wassup’ is for lakes, rivers and bays without surf, just right for North Texas.  Stand-up paddle boards are surfing’s newest device.  Stand-up paddle surfing became the big hit of the summer this year. In warmer parts of the country, like right here, it’s still going strong.  True surfing enthusiasts proclaim that “this sport sort of came from out of nowhere.”   From the stars to the athletes, from the young to the old, everyone’s catching waves in a new way.  Once you own your board, you can beat high gas prices while being in the fastest-growing water sport around.  Dave Kalama, a champion Stand Up Paddler who is proclaimed to be the world’s greatest waterman says “It’s like walking on water.”

Surfboard makers say paddle boards are the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Sales have mushroomed in surprising places such as Chicago, Boise, Idaho and Austin, according to Surftech, a Santa Cruz, California-based manufacturer.

In addition to being down right sporty and a great new water recreation the stand-up board has now taken off as part of a fitness craze. The additional element of cross training that comes with SUP surfing is a bonus, this sport provides a total body workout.   Since humans are made to stand upright; stand up paddling leads to less muscular imbalance than regular surfing. The position of standing parallel on the board works the legs more and the pivoting and leaning work the abs. All this leads to better conditioning for other sport activities.   Paddling exertion will also benefit the arms, back, shoulders, abdomen and legs. All in all, mixing fun and cool water with a workout also increases success probabilities.

Known as SUP (pronounced “Wassup”); the popular board is about 32 inches wide.  While this is one of many boards available it is one that will be good in the lakes, rivers and streams of our area rather than boards made for coastal areas. Some luxury models are available at surfing stores, but Costco sells a board-and-paddle set for $429.

Paddlers wear a flotation device and stand with feet apart and knees slightly bent. Newcomers should first kneel on the board and paddle before trying to rise to a standing position. Once standing, it’s pretty easy to stay that way.  Larger boards can accommodate two people for a combo ride.

Jump in, get wet and fit up, stats indicate you will enjoy the ride.

Why Me?

by Mardi Allen, Life Coach
Mardi@CoachMardi.net
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why me?” Or how about, “Why can’t I do this, why did this happen to me, why did they do that to me?”  The questions we ask ourselves strongly impact how we live our lives and how we deal with challenges.  They will empower you or they can leave you powerless.

When you ask a question, such as “Why am I so unhappy?” your brain will search for examples to find out.  It may not even be true or relevant, but your brain will come up with answers.  If you ask, “Why did I do that? It was so stupid,” you will stay focused on your shortcomings instead of your strengths. What if instead you asked, “What I can do to change my behavior next time?” That approach puts you in control, moves you into acceptance, and then into action and change.

We all have challenges in our lives and the questions we ask can help us get through them quickly with grace, or can keep us stuck in a rut being the victim. Parents often discipline children by having them go to their rooms and spend an hour thinking about what they did wrong. What if instead they thought about what they could do differently next time?

Pay attention to the consistent questions you ask yourself and start asking questions that will empower you.  Where do you want to spend your time, dwelling on something you really can’t do anything about, or on a solution to change?

Instead of asking:
•  Why me?  Ask what can I learn from this?
•  What is wrong with me?  Ask what can I do to change this behavior?
•  Why did they do that to me?  Ask what do I need to do to attract the
right people into my life?
•  Why am I so sad?  Ask what can I do to lift my spirits?
•  Why can’t I do this?  Ask how can I do this?

The wrong questions keep you focused on your shortcomings, so ask the right questions, focus on your strengths, and move into action and power.

Kids, Horses, and Life Lessons

By Debbra Dunning Brouillette

“Putting kids and horses together is a natural,” says Linda Bush, who owns the Diamond B – Rockin’ A Ranch in Pilot Point along with her husband Gary Anderson.

Equine Youth Experiences, Inc. (EYE) is an outreach program formed as a non-profit foundation in 2009 for youth who are developmentally challenged, at risk, in grief recovery, or are in need of building trust and a sense of responsibility.

“The EYE program is patterned after the therapeutic riding services offered at the Spirit Horse Therapeutic Center in Corinth,” Linda explains. “Fran Ferguson, EYE’s second instructor, and I spent two weeks there last year and are now Certified Spirit Horse therapeutic trainers. We recently became a SpiritHorse licensee as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.”

Equine Youth Experiences offers outreach programs such as Equine Lessons in Responsibility, Partnership, and Teamwork, along with other therapeutic riding related activities. It is part of a seven-step process involving the youth who learn the language of the horse. “They learn to become the horse’s leader,” Linda says, “and to communicate with them as they would in a herd. This teaches them leadership, communication, respect, and trust.” As Linda explains, many of the at-risk youth who go through the EYE program can really benefit from supportive experiences in these areas.

She relates story after story of young men and women who have been transformed by the new skills they have gained in responsible relationships and partnerships by working with the horses, but testimonials like this one sum up how Linda and Gary feel about continuing their mission to help others through EYE:

“It just gave me such a sense of self and so much self esteem. I was so confused, and it gave me so much clarity. To think that I could actually communicate with and control the animal that I had so feared, and have all the power to do what I want, and that I could actually complete something… It’s indescribable to say what all I got from it, and I was only there two weeks. I can only imagine what it could do for a kid who’s involved for a longer period of time. The lessons are free but the payback is priceless.”

In addition to their work with at-risk youth, Linda and Gary’s 150-acre horse and cattle ranch also serves as a retreat for corporate training and executive coaching sessions, where the same lessons are taught in relation to workplace team-building experiences. For more information, contact Linda at 940.686.0200 or lindabush@bushanderson.com.

So far 2010 has proved to be another interesting weather year here in Texas. A very nice, cool, and fairly wet spring in North Texas has been followed up by a hot and semi-dry summer.  Nothing compares to the benefits we get from rainwater. I tend to rant and rave about different things, but the “art” of watering tends to come up on a weekly basis this time of year.

September has proven to be our third month of summer here lately and conserving water and proper watering should be on everyone’s mind – actually year around! I highly encourage everyone to check into rain barrels. We let so much good free water run down the storm drains when placement of a rain barrel can help decrease your water bill. It is as simple as buying a 55 gallon drum and diverting your gutters into it. Install a faucet at the base and off you go! Your plants will thank you each time you use rainwater instead of tap water.

Now, for those of you who rely on a sprinkler system to water your lawn and gardens, there are some basic guidelines to follow. Quit Watering Every Day! It just makes me crazy to see a home with their sprinkler system running every day. I just want to go knock on the door and tell them to shut the darn thing off. Proper watering once a week is plenty for your plantings. If it is an automatic system, try starting the system at 1:00 a.m. and set the individual zones to water no more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. When all zones have been run, set your controller to run through them again. This will give you a deeper water penetration, with little or no run-off. During the heat of summer you can set it to go a third time. Now soils vary around the area so I suggest you watch your system run and judge for yourself. Sloped areas may not be able to run for more than just a few minutes before running off. Use the basic system for setting up your manual sprinklers.

It all comes back to common sense. Take the time to watch your own little eco system. If you have planted water wise plants and Texas natives, you may not even need weekly waterings. Also, some plants may need individual watering with a water hose. However, remember never to water in the heat of the day. You will get a better feel for your garden’s water requirements if you hand water some plants. This is a good time to evaluate how your plants are doing, look for diseases and insects, and what you may “not” want to plant again. In my own yard I try to let nature run its course. The only spraying I do is a mixture of Garrett Juice or Maestro-gro Sea Mist combined with Plant Wash as often as possible. If the plants cannot make it with minimal care, they become compost.

Don’t forget the use of soaker hoses – the weeping ones only. Most of these are made from recycled rubber materials and will last years in your garden, use them in place of the sprinkler system as much as possible.

Hear Tropical John and “The Dirt Doctor” Howard Garrett on Sunday Mornings 8 am to 11 am on KSKY AM 660. Tropical John’s Gardens, phone 972-771-2449.

THE hottest color for fall or at least for October will be pink. This year, don’t wear it mindlessly.  Make a commitment that for every little pink ribbon you see/wear, for every pink t-shirt you don you will be AWARE.  For many years now we talk boldly about Breast Cancer Awareness month, but it is time to be completely sure we all understand what we want to be AWARE of.  Be Aware that the best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps detect the disease in its’ early stages.   Be Aware that you must start your Early Detection Plan today.  Be Aware that you must be consistent with your plan.

Early detection
One of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Additional changes that may also be signs of breast cancer include:
•  Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast    •  Change in breast size or shape
•  Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away    •  Pulling in of the nipple
•  Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle    •  Clinical Breast Exams
•  An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple    •  Self Breast – Exams
•  Dimpling or puckering of the skin    •  Mammograms
•  Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  One in eight women will be diagnosed during their lifetime.  Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage.  When detected early (localized stage), the 5-year survival rate is 98%.  All breast cancer success rates have soared; early detection increases all the successes. You have probably heard all or most of this before, but now it is time to make a decision today to become a statistic…be one of the women who take charge of their breast awareness plan and be a positive statistic.

Be sure to read the Headrush Salon article on page 29!  The Salon is hosting a hair show to benefit the Susan G Komen foundation.  The finale is a drawing for a new Sea Doo Jet Boat donated by Jerry Whittle Boats.  Kudos to Headrush the Salon and Jerry Whittle Boats for being community leaders in the Breast Cancer Fight.