Hundreds gather to protest global warming

Pine Nuts = Bitter/Metallic Taste

Ate pine nuts that were in my Lebanese iced tea on Sunday afternoon and by Tuesday night I was experiencing this strange bitter, metallic taste in my mouth. By Wednesday morning it was definite. As any self respecting individual seeking medical attention would do...I googled my symptoms and thankfully came up with the following:

http://pinchmysalt.com/2009/05/02/pine-nuts-left-a-bitter-taste-in-my-mouth/comment-page-6/#comment-13949

p.s. I'd been in New Orleans over the weekend and thought for sure it had to do with the spicy food, turtle soup, and alcohol consumption.

Industry pushes chocolate milk in schools

Kindly note: Actual article (Italics are my comments)

By EMILY FREDRIX (AP) – Nov 8, 2009 (and Supermom101 - my comments are in italics)

MILWAUKEE (Boston) — The creators of the "Got Milk?" campaign are getting ready to make a big push to keep chocolate milk on kids' minds and on school lunch menus, a plan that has some educators and obesity activists none too pleased. (My husband thinks that cow's milk was flavored back in the days because it was going sour. Doesn't it have more sugar than most candy bars?)
The new ad campaign from the dairy industry, set to launch Monday, emphasizes that sugary flavorings are ways to get kids to drink milk. Without them, some youngsters won't drink regular milk and won't get its nutrients, the ads say. (And the reason that we need to drink another mammal's milk is... Suppose one could claim that a candy bar has "nutrients" too?)

The "Raise your hand for chocolate milk" campaign starts Monday with an ad in USA Today featuring chocolatey brown colors and the launch of a Web site that asks people to sign a petition declaring their support for chocolate milk in school. (Please visit http://www.foodincmovie.com/ and sign the petition to support healthy food choices in our schools.)
But some educators and obesity experts say kids get enough calcium — essential for bone growth — and will drink white milk if it's the only milk offered. They say kids get too much sugar, which is heightening America's obesity problem, and schools shouldn't serve chocolate milk at all. (Why isn't water a beverage choice?)
The idea behind the campaign is to draw a distinction between chocolate milk and the soda and candy that have come under attack in schools, said Vivien Godfrey, CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program, the industry marketing group that developed the campaign with the National Dairy Council. Godfrey said the effort will cost between $500,000 and $1 million. (Is chocolate cow's milk a candy beverage? "They" already control the beverage choices set by the U.S.D.A. Four types of cow's milk and juice. No water or soy milk are offered on the menus. If "they" are truly concerned about the nutritional needs of our youth, why don't they take the $1,000,000 and donate it to schools that would benefit from a garden?)
She said most kids choose chocolate milk, but without it they drink juice, soda or water, which don't have the same nutrients. (Since when do I need a science degree to know that the "nutrients" in chocolate milk are the same as a candy bar? Last time I checked when our children run off the football field or basketball court they don't reach for a milk bottle. The facts — that chocolate milk does have nutrients — are getting lost in the debate over school lunches, she said. (What "nutrients" does chocolate milk have?)
"If there's even a chance chocolate milk might get taken out of schools, that really can do more harm than good," she said. (She must really, really believe what she's saying. What harm would come besides the sale of chocolate milk would decline?)It's not clear how many schools have chocolate milk or are pulling it. But parents and school districts are becoming increasingly concerned and asking for more information, said Margie Saidel, a vice president with Chartwells School Dining Services, which manages food programs in 600 districts and supports chocolate milk. (Thank goodness our 10 year old informed me this morning that after December chocolate milk will be coming off our local school lunch menu. The horrors! What's next? Offering our children real apples, pears and oranges. Or cow's milk without added growth hormones?)
But experts like Marlene Schwartz, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, want chocolate milk tossed. She said kids have too much sugar already and chocolate milk has no place in schools. (Thank goodness a voice of reason and from a nice ivy league school to boot.)
Dairy products are a common source of added sugar in children's diets, so that's why parents and educators consider removing them, she said. But the research does not point to any calcium shortages when chocolate milk is removed in schools. (Calcium shortages? Isn't calcium added to cow's milk any way. Doesn't orange juice have calcium added. Whew...I've been really worried about calcium shortages.)

Would you eat this for lunch?

According to the head of of our local school lunch program, "our meals must contain 2oz of protein, fruit, vegetable, bread and [cow's] milk in order for us to be reimbursed [from the federal government]. "

"They" wonder why Americans have never been sicker or fatter. And...since when do I need a science degree or a clinical study to tell me that eating a banana for breakfast is better for me than chocolate milk with a pop tart.

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. - Hippocrates (462 BC)

Ever wonder why there's 4 types of cow's milk on the school lunch menu and no water?

Have you ever wondered why you can check off the chocolate milk box on the school lunch menu but there's not one for water? Yep! They can serve our children french fries and cow's milk complete with growth hormones but no water? The reason.. the federal government sees no nutritional value in water and won't reimburse your school lunch program if they serve it. And "they" wonder why childhood obesity is soaring along with diabetes and a host of other health problems. Check out: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/about_us/

According to their website, Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.

SLOWFOODUSA is embarking on a letter writing campaign to change the school lunch menus. The food pyramid is of course heavily influenced by the food/beverage industries and they are working hard to change the way school lunches are prepared, delivered and served.

Since when do I need a science degree to know that eating a banana is a better breakfast for me than a pop tart with chocolate milk.

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire

A time to count our blessings

Well done is better than well said
- Ben Franklin


Please keep these families in your prayers:

http://www.themccarthyteam.org/

http://beatricefamilyfund.blogspot.com/

Sharing our (crazy) world with an exchange student from Spain

Supermom101 does not have anything unusual or exciting to report besides the Spaniard that is now sleeping in the bedroom of our youngest child. By all appearances he is a kind, respectful young man (16) and greeted our daughter at the airport by kissing both cheeks. (I haven't told my husband...yet!) He even appreciates Supermom101s husband's jokes so everyone is happy. Told our children that I just may end up loving him more than them over the next three weeks.

And so much for cultural barriers. His favorite TV shows are Family Guy and House, his favorite bands are AC/DC and Led Zepplin and his favorite American team is the Boston Celtics.

HUGE bonus is that Supermom101s husband is keeping the heat at 66 degrees even during the night. (We’ll see how long that lasts since it is usually set to 58 degrees.)

While frantically cleaning the house and the bedroom he would be using the furnace kicked on for the first time this year. Our oldest (16) who is hosting the student was assisting me in fumigating his bedroom. Conversation while squeamishly poking under the bed with a duster (and I wasn't just terrified of a harmless little dust bunny):

Supermom101: Your room is freezing.

Son: I know, remember I told you I don't have any heat?

Supermom101: We've lived here for over a year and your room doesn't have heat?

Son: Yeah! Remember I told you how cold it was in here?

Supermom101: Really? The radiator in your room doesn’t work?

Son: Yes, I have no heat in my room…it’s broken.

Supermom101: Well! He can’t sleep in your room. You have no heat.

Two hours later...

Supermom101: Our son's room has no heat.

Husband: Oh.

Supermom101: He said he told us last year.

Husband: Well we're not paying to get it fixed so the exchange student can sleep in his brother's room.

Morale of the story: Our oldest is delighted because he is still sleeping in his queen bed even though he is sharing it with his younger brother who is sleeping on a mattress on the floor. The youngest is thrilled because, well, he's sleeping in his older brother's room. Our daughter...sleeping alone! And the exchange student has a quiet room to himself. Although yesterday morning I found the bedroom window wide open. Either he had had enough and was planning on jumping off the porch roof to escape or it was too hot for him.

Teach Yourself to Become a Better Investor

Teach Yourself to Become a Better Investor

Shared via AddThis

The No-Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

The No-Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

Thankfully, over eight years ago when I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at the age of 38, I discovered the No-Dairy Diet. Thank you Dr. Plant. I've never been healthier or thinner...

Does eating "pink" donuts really cure breast cancer?

Check out http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/

Does Mammography Save Lives?

Does Mammography Save Lives?" "There is no reliable evidence that screening decreases breast cancer mortality" was the conclusion of Danish researchers after reviewing eight studies on mammography according to the Cancer Project http://www.cancerproject.org/stage/nyn/breast_cancer/screening/does_mamography.php

Hmmmm...now there's some more "food for thought."

What are 21st Century Skills?

(Recently published on the Newton Parent's List serve)

Common sense is not so common.
-Voltaire

Many years ago when hiring for entry-level public relations roles I found the "best employees" to be those college graduates that had a liberal arts background and interestingly not a communications or PR degree. The main reason: those with a liberal arts degree were critical thinkers that were capable of writing a complete sentence, didn't mind stuffing envelopes, and were pleasant and interesting people to work with. Many of our employees had English, history, political science and economic degrees. The only employee with a "communications degree" had studied for a semester in Spain and was fluent in Spanish. When talking with college administrators about this phenomena, I heard on more than several occasions, "it's the parents that are paying the bills and they want a degree in something. What kind of job can an Art History major get?" That was 20 years ago.

My 8th grade educated grandfather read the daily newspaper, was a teamster, and when I was a junior at Newton North High School experiencing the pressure of "what will I do next," he gently suggested that I pursue what I love because I'll change my path several times during my lifetime anyway, and "I might as well enjoy what I'm doing."

My definition of 21st Century skills: realizing that 70% of Sports Center on ESPN is opinion, 5% is fact and 25% is entertainment and you can defend your opinion (verbally or written) by presenting the facts without offending or embarrassing the other person. (Insert any topic of course...it doesn't have to be sports.)

I would like to encourage everyone to subscribe to the school committee newsletter at www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
-T shirt on a Newton Centre teenager

Boston Book Festival on 10/24

Save the Date: Boston Book Festival on 10/24

Newtonville Books has partnered with the Boston Book Festival 2009, presented by State Street Corporation, which will take place on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in Copley Square.

More than 70 top authors and presenters will be on hand for this FREE inaugural event. It's a great excursion for book groups, families, and anyone who loves to read.

The list of authors includes Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, Richard Russo, Anita Diamant, John Hodgman, Dennis Lehane, "Heroes" creator Tim Kring, Cornel West, actor Alicia Silverstone, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Jill Lepore, and children's book author and illustrator Chris van Allsburg, and more. There is something for everyone:

Book Signings and More
And, it's FREE and open to the public!

Read all about it at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102722425268&s=5457&e=001UVldNi2yZfGR95WizU_LB-u_hU-ceM6rgB0TWKEAEM4lvMqsevfPztYGNfcDOkb8MY6Ci7nAyHPQukfZRAvt0ecs_mov8NGSh6sE5xIS9-7HDix3-6WcyuyMseXnyAj_.

Boston Book Festival events have no fee or reservation requirements with the following exceptions:

There will be two special ticketed events in the evenings.

The Festival will open with a song and word-filled kick-off event on Friday night, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Church (tickets $12 available 10/1).

On Saturday, October 24 at 6 p.m., the Boston Book Festival will go out with a bang with the launch party for Boston Noir, a new collection of short stories edited by Dennis Lehane (tickets $15, 21+, available now). There will be a juice and cookies event for children with the Fairmont Copley Plaza's canine ambassador Catie Copley and author Deborah Kovacs. Free. Reservations open 10/1. Grub Street is leading two events for writers that require pre-registration: Jumpstart Your Writing and Writer Idol. Free. Reservations open 10/1. Visit the Boston Book Festival site at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102722425268&s=5457&e=001UVldNi2yZfGR95WizU_LB-u_hU-ceM6rgB0TWKEAEM4lvMqsevfPztYGNfcDOkb8MY6Ci7nAyHPQukfZRAvt0ecs_mov8NGSh6sE5xIS9-7HDix3-6WcyuyMseXnyAj_ for more information or to buy tickets and make reservations for ticketed events.

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102722425268&s=5457&e=001UVldNi2yZfEtoIlbEV0dq0_pIW2AjwmR9MRtjn4KyXTmKBbHlx8_wqY2ZXaW-NvepR6jK8LNzaKA_v563CIQ6CpH9Z4dOtOp5pX3pKb6rztqRcPKZzLanfso06rIh_aI

Today is 5% Day at Whole Foods Market to support the Newton Boys & Girls Club

5% Day At Whole Foods Market

Save up your shopping because the Boys & Girls Club is going to get 5% of all of the revenue generated by Whole Foods Market - Newtonville on this day!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

www.newtonbgc.com

Farm for those in Need

Farm for Those in Need in Waltham
Saturday, September 19th
Waltham, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mulch, weed, and harvest at Waltham Fields Community Farm, a community farm distributing produce to local people in need.

Don't Vote! Can't Argue! Vote tomorrow...

On TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, Newton will hold its preliminary election. It is imperative that you get out and VOTE on Tuesday. This election will determine the final two candidates for Mayor of Newton, as well as the final two candidates for the Ward 8 School Committee member.

The preliminary candidates for Mayor are:
Ruth Balser
Paul Coletti
Bill Heck
Ken Parker
Setti Warren

The preliminary candidates for Ward 8 School Committee member are:
Margie Ross Decter
Linda Green
Tom Mountain
Thomas White

Regardless of what ward you live in, you may vote in ALL School Committee elections.
Please take the time to get to know a little about the candidates. The following website provides direct links to all candidates websites:
http://www.lwvnewton.org/votersService.php

Thanks - and again, please VOTE on Tuesday. (And thanks to the Horace Mann PTO for sending out this reminder.)

Big Food vs. Big Insurance

Why do we (Americans) find it so hard to accept the fact that what we are eating and feeding our children is making us sick?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-quarters of health care spending now goes to treat “preventable chronic diseases.” Not all of these diseases are linked to diet — there’s smoking, for instance — but many, if not most, of them are. The American way of eating has become the elephant in the room in the debate over health care. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html

Op-Ed Contributor
Big Food vs. Big Insurance
By MICHAEL POLLAN
Published: September 10, 2009

Favorite Political Quote ...

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt....If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...[we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers...And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.

- Thomas Jefferson

Surprised at the TAB's Endorsement for Mayor?

TAB Endorsement: Best choices on Sept. 15: Balser or Warren - Newton, Massachusetts - Newton TAB

"I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it."

-Thomas Jefferson

Does a newspaper's endorsement change your mind (positive or negative)?

Last debate before election to be held this evening!
Today, Thursday, Sep 10th at 7:30pm
at Congregation Mishkan Tefila, Chestnut Hill, MA
Congregation Mishkan Tefila will be hosting Newton’s 2009 mayoral candidates in the last scheduled debate before the primary election. All five candidates will participate: State Representative Ruth Balser, Alderman Paul Coletti, Alderman Ken Parker, and Candidates, Bill Heck and Setti Warren.

Super Summer Shrimp (super fast)

Need a quick meal and something to do with all those garden fresh tomatoes?

This meal comes together in less than ten minutes - provided of course that you have all the ingredients on hand. I was able to chop it up, grab a bag of non-gentically modified "organic" tortilla chips and enjoy while watching a summer baseball game.


Eight cooked large shrimp
2 garden fresh tomatoes
8 large stems of cilantro
1/2 lime
one very ripe avocado
pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon of olive oil
splash of Modena vinegar

Chop shrimp in to small, bite sized pieces and place in glass dish. Dice garden tomatoes and discard inside core leaving mostly the outer skin. Pull cilantro leaves off stems and toss with shrimp and tomatoes.

Roll lime on counter using the palm of your hand to "loosen the juice." Cut lime in half and take a teaspoon to "twist the juice" in to the bowl of shrimp.

Dice avocado and toss with mixture.

Serve with tortilla chips and a glass of ice water splashed with lemonade.

(I would double the recipe if you are preparing for two.)

Enjoy with a cool breeze...

Supermom101 accused of starving 15 year-old - 6'2" teenage son

This past weekend, Supermom101 was accused of not feeding her 15 year-old son for an entire week. According to a source familiar with the situation, "Supermom's son has been starving for a week."

Allegedly Supermom's husband got their son up and out of bed at 9:30AM Friday morning because he had to mow three lawns that day. This was the morning after his son's team had won the Babe Ruth Championship series the night before (they swept the series). "What's a kid to do?" the source familiar to the situation continued. "The night before they had won the Championship and maybe he stayed up late to watch the Red Sox's lose and now he has to mow lawns in the 85 degree heat with nothing to eat. It's just not right, man."

According to Supermom, she received a telephone call from her distraught son at approximately 3:35 PM Friday afternoon. "I had just returned to my desk from a meeting with the CEO and saw that I had missed two calls from home on my cell phone when my office phone started to ring and displayed the home number. They never call me at the office. I knew it was an emergency since the younger two were at camp and our oldest was off mowing lawns. I thought maybe it was my husband calling to say the dog had been hit by a car or our son was hit with a projectile while mowing the lawns." When I heard our son's voice I was concerned.

"Mom, you have not fed me for one full week. There is nothing to eat. I am starving and sick of spending my own money to eat. I'm sick of making quesadillas and why don't we have any food? Why haven't you been food shopping. There is nothing to eat." And then the phone went dead.

Superom101 reportedly started to laugh when the receiver went dead. When asked to elaborate she only commented, "Um well. The day before my friend had just spent a small fortune at the supermarket and her 15 year old son told her there was nothing to eat too and she had just put all the food in the refrigerator and he was staring at a fully stocked fridge. Is it because I'm not there to prepare it and deliver it to him on a silver platter?"

"Although I was a bit annoyed that he hung up on me," Supermom101 continued, "I called him back about twenty minutes later when I knew he had calmed down. I figured there was more to the story."

According to an expert on childhood development and specifically hungry teenage boys, "I question the parents judgement in leaving a 6'2" fifteen year old at home and expect him to mow three laws and make his own lunch. What type of young adult is Supermom raising when she and her husband are sending him mixed messages," the expert continued. "I don't want to imply that Supermom101 is being negligent but not having his food prepared for him and in the very least cutting the edges off his crust? The father should pay a landscaper to do his son's work and let the kid sleep until noon. What type of "teachable moment" is this young man experiencing when his parents are placing so much responsibility on him. What's next? Keeping his room clean and feeding the dog?"

Supermom101's husband could not be reached for comment. However, according to another source close to the situation, "His dad is the type to say, ya know, get up and get out and mow the lawns. And. I think it's really like unfair, 'cause maybe he was up late watching sports center and like the Red Sox's always lose to the Yankees and you want to keep watching the same Yankee's home run over and over because you can't believe they go extra innings and once again..."

P.S. Supermom's 6'2' 15 year old son looked over her shoulder when she was editing this post and his only comment, "no one is going to read it; so why bother posting it?"

The "Real" Cost of Health Care

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

-Benjamin Franklin

There can be no real discussion on the "health care debate" without first discussing the obese, white elephant that's been sleeping on everyone's couch, eating genetically modified food products sprinkled with corn syrup and watching our high definition TVs. And what about those of us that have never struggled with weight issues, are busy chasing toddlers and thought "we were eating right" by following the recommended daily servings of the USDA's Food Pyramid and still ended up with breast cancer at the age of 37?

According to The Cancer Project (an organization founded by MDs that is advancing cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research) "approximately 80% of cancers are due to factors that can be controlled." And the main one is (gulp) diet. Yep! 1 in 100,000 women in China will get breast cancer during her lifetime and the number in the US is 1 in 7. (There is no dairy in the rural Chinese diet.) How can heart disease be rising, children diagnosed with diabetes at unprecedented levels and cancer rates soaring? And...we've never spent more on health care or research.

The recent health care debates, dialogue and discussions (in my opinion) are looking right past the elephant, straight through my kitchen and out past the back door. Why isn't anyone asking who or what is opening my front door and letting this elephant lounge around my home at my personal expense when I certainly wouldn't put myself or my children in harm's way. (Maybe my husband if you catch me on a bad day.) This elephant is showing up in our homes at an alarming rate and no one is asking why? He is consuming billions of dollars in research money to "discover" the latest and greatest technology to detect him and point out which end of the couch he's sitting on. We're spending billions of dollars on drugs to placate him, and we're removing him from our homes at unprecedented rates only to have him return a short time later. I wanna know why he showed up at my house to begin with and why is he sleeping on my couch? PERIOD!

Our medical system rocks when we are in a serious car accident or need emergency surgery for an appendectomy. There is none better in the world. But, again, in my opinion, and as a cancer consumer of health care that experienced several major surgeries in a very limited time frame, we have done a lousy job of addressing the white elephant of nutrition and disease. When you have a heart attack your cardiologist will tell you to change your diet and "eat healthier." As my brother would suggest, the next time you are in the supermarket lug around a twenty pound bag of dog food and ask yourself if you are carrying around that much added weight on your skeleton. A child has to monitor their food intake when living with diabetes. To lower one's cholesterol and blood pressure we are told to "eat right." while we are inundated with low fat natural food products that don't have an ounce of nutritional value but are endorsed by associations, industry sponored research and the "USDA's food pyramid."

So, what is a Supermom to do? Stay tuned...I'll post the rest later. This is depressing and it's too nice out.

What are you reading this summer?

I always come away from the local library feeling inspired and completely inadequate. Thousands of titles beg to be browsed and so little time... Would love to hear what you are reading this summer.



Friends have suggested:

Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage by Jeff Benedict (The library was out but it's on order.)

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's missions to Promote Peace...One School at a time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Started a few nights ago and it's intriguing.)

Supermom's favorite subjects include (in no particular order):

• Diet, disease and nutrition
• Historical fiction, including: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo
• Investment techniques and strategies
• True stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations
• Artist techniques
• Inspirational and motivating

Would love to hear what's on your bed table this summer.

Where's the beef? 1,000,000 pounds of ground beef and beef products recalled in less than one month

Colorado Firm Recalls (466,236 pounds) Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination and earlier in July (386,483 pounds) due to possible e. coli (see previous post).

I can't make this stuff up! The link below is direct to the federal governments recall page. Over one million pounds of beef products in under one month have been recalled? What happens to all this "bad" meat? And the good news..."this strain of Salmonella is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs." Is that government speak for... antibiotics! No kidding? Could it have anything to do with the antibiotics fed to the cattle.

Please tell me I'm not the crazy one?

As a result of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 associated with ground beef products, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) notified FSIS of the problem. Epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by CDPHE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that there is an association between the fresh ground beef products and 14 illnesses reported in Colorado. The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation by their less common pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern found in PulseNet, a national network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the CDC.

This particular strain of Salmonella, Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

Colorado Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

This government recall was made the day after I saw the movie Food Inc. (The movie trailer is on YouTube if you want to see what you are in for. Kindly note: I'd eat dinner before you head to the show.) Scary stuff... 380,000 lbs of beef. Now, that's alota beef. Wonder what happens to all that meat? Hmmmm...

Colorado Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

E. coli O157:H7 H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to food borne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Disappointed in MSN - Substantive article is replaced with non-news nonsense!

Sunday morning when I logged on to my personal MSN email account to check practice schedules and remove the SPAM telling me I'd won million$, there was an article that was (gulp)of interest and not the non-news nonsense they inundate us with. It was a subject near and dear to me and it was under the guise of weight loss. Perfect! The article was well written and well researched (although they didn't bore the reader with the hundreds of studies to back up claims, for example, that eating blueberries and other plant foods are better for you than fast food.)

I was hooked and read the comments. Several bloggers appeared to be the typical "industry plants" (see previous post) and it was great. There was a dialogue and bloggers were engaged and posting. (With today's technology why can't MSN block the individual that was posting more than his/her two cents? At least twenty posts under the same name?) I replied to a "Doc" (obviously not an MD) who was touting the benefit's of cow's milk and was obviously industry. Logged off at 8:00AM.

Fast forward through a busy Sunday with baseball practices and Sunday dinner and there were over 200 comments posted...Yippee! Excellent commentary and dialogue had continued all day. And then as quickly as MSN posted a substantial, meaningful article that engaged many of us with discussion and analysis... it was gone. Disappeared I tell you. And in it's place? The sexiest beaches in the world with a woman on a surf board.

Help me boycott this non-news nonsense that we are inundated with on a daily basis. Yes, some call it guilty pleasure. I call it crap! Don't open, forward or otherwise give these knuckleheads a click they don't deserve.

Oh by the way...happy Monday morning!

Monsanto Announces Its Exit From the Growth Hormone Business

Monsanto Announces Its Exit From the Growth Hormone Business

Interesting article...

A picture says a thousand words...

Despite the rain...rain...rain, we had a great time at Three Mile Island (as always). Shared laughs with cousins and uncle and made new friends! (www.3mile.org)

p.s. All fish caught in photos were catch and release.

Waiting for the dinner bugle and enjoying the view. (Main reason I go...no shopping, cooking, or clean up!)

As we wait for the launch to the island, it's the last communication using an electronic device. Not easy to disconnect from the world...but we found things to do that don't involve screens.







Serious ping pong tournaments in the rec hall on the main dock. (Notice player closest to viewer.) Losers had to dive in to the lake and jump off the wicked high dive. Not so fun when it's pouring rain and the water is warmer than the air.

One...two..three...

No excuse needed to nap, read and relax...

Next year anything over 3.5lbs will end up on our dinner plates.

Unless of course...

Enjoyed a campfire through the drizzle.

Inexpensive and safer way to store and reheat food

My Italian friend's mother used this economical trick when storing leftovers. Place food in a glass bowl and cover with a salad plate. See example to right. You can now stack other food on top of the sturdy "lid" and the salad plate can be left on to reheat.

Kindly note: If you don't drink water that's been sitting in the hot sun in a plastic container because it "tastes like plastic" why reheat food in plastic, microwavable containers. All those chemicals leeching in to your food can't be good for you. Why take the risk when there are plenty of safer options!

Food Inc. Movie Review

The Phoenix News Features Factory food

If you are what you eat...are you cheap, fast and easy? Cattle in their natural state are designed to graze on grass and tomatoes to grow on vines. Wanna see what happens when we mass produce and engineer food to make it cheaper, faster and easier?" American's have never been sicker or fatter...

I changed my diet eight years ago when treated for breast cancer at the age of 37 and am thankful that movies such as Food Inc are peeling back the layers and shedding light on the reality of diet, disease and even death.

Did you know that most of the movie stars on the big screen don't eat mass produced food? (They may be paid to sponsor a product but very few consume it.)

Is the government really our advocate and protecting our health?

Since the Food Inc Movie is a horror movie (and I hate horror movies) I choose not to bring our children. I did notice a few children in the theatre that looked to be between nine and twelve. I’m certain as a mother of three that Food Inc. will become mandatory viewing for all 8th grade health classes. (You’ll need a note from your parents to be able to view it.)

Most of the individuals responsible for the industrialization of our food supply are not illiterate snake oil salesmen but individuals that hold advanced degrees and are considered "experts." Now…that’s scary!

Common sense is not so common anymore. - Voltaire

Supermom101 takes a vacation...

Kindly note: I'm checking out for a week (mentally and physically) while I "vacation" with the kids for a week at an AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) "resort" located on Lake Winnepesake in New Hampshire (http://www.3mile.org/). Why would a self proclaimed "camp Hyatt" alumnae choose to be without running water, electricity or flushing toilets for seven days? Find out next Saturday...

To life, laughter and love...

p.s. Wish us sunshine.

Beware of industry web sites and bloggers trying to disguise themselves as concerned individuals!

"Common sense is not so common."
-Voltaire

We've all seen the annoying infomericals that pop up when we google. How to loss 20 lbs and still eat everything you want. However, a much more tainted and covert propaganda that is especially pervasive in the blogging community is the establishment of industry funded websites and bloggers that try and pass themselves off as concerned individuals. These "so called individuals" post comments and direct the reader to a specific website that contains "expert" research and opinions that not surprisingly sell the wonders of their products. Two recent blog imposter's directed readers to: http://www.milkismilk.com/ and http://www.sweetsurprise.com/

The good news is if industry is doing this...they are on the defensive. Most consumers I know are feed up with the misinformation, misguidance, food pyramid nonsense that we and our families are inundated with on a daily basis while we and our children get sicker and sicker. Keep up the enlightenment all you bloggers and posters! It's easy to see through the industry veil and find the imposter's.

For the record, I have no problem with an individual "monetizing" their blog to sell products. I am a capitalist at heart (majored in economics in college and am a HUGE fan of Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations) but this is much more subtle and pervasive. These websites/blogs are industry people actively participating in a public relations campaign to "get their message out there." Blogging is our opportunity to get our message out there! Several friends and family know first hand of the koolaid drinking that goes on within industry and their experts. So, just keep your senses up when surfing the web and use common sense when viewing a comment, website or blog:

-Who are these experts? Are they paid by the sponsor of the web page for their "expert" opinion? (Doesn't hurt to google the name and check out who their peers are, where they publish and who funds their research, i.e. industry, academic - both?) Although they may hold many degrees don't forget to ask yourself who signs their pay check?
-Is this truly an individual or a corporation or industry association?
-What products are they selling and why?
-Do "they" really have my health in their best interest or are they just selling me their products?

Happy surfing!

p.s. YIKES! Just looked up dairy and breast cancer on webmd and an advertisement for cow's milk came up complete with a celebrity wearing the ridiculous moustache! The above button was handed out at our May elementary school picnic that focuses on health and fitness. I (of course) added the red line...

Official Food, Inc. Movie Site - Hungry For Change?

Official Food, Inc. Movie Site - Hungry For Change?

SIGN THE PETITION! Have you ever wondered why your school lunch program offers three types of cow's milk (including chocolate) but no soy or water? That's because (and I quote) "The Federal Government sees no nutritional value in water" and will not reimburse the school lunch programs if water is a choice. YIKES! Wonder what they think about fruits and vegetables...

We have always encouraged our children to be active in organized sports and I can't see myself saying, "hey kid's grab that water bottle full of cow's milk before you head on to that field."

As former President Ronald Regan said, the nine scariest words he ever heard: "I'm here from the government and here to help."

Change your diet and change your life!

Super Delicious meals in under 20 minutes! Cheeseless pizza with dates and sauteed onions

Dinner and Dining in less than 20 minutes!

Super Delightful Date Pizza with sautéed onions and garlic

I made this meal at 8:00PM after a cold and rainy Babe Ruth Baseball Game. It's so easy. We use the frozen, organic (white) pizza dough from Whole Foods and throw it on the counter in the morning when I'm heading out the door.

Ingredients:
One - Frozen pizza dough (left on counter to thaw during day)
One - large onion, diced (or two small)
Five - Cloves of garlic (sliced)
10-15 pitted Madjool Dates (Trader Joes sells them) - number depends on whether you want the entire pizza covered - which I do!
1/8 cup of Olive Oil
Optional: (Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Grilled Teriyaki Chicken)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees while you prepare the ingredients and prep the dough.

Gently sauté chopped onion in 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Once onions are almost translucent add sliced garlic cloves and continue sautéing for another three to four minutes. You can also add Trader Joe's Teriyaki Chicken at this point.

Using a metal baking pan with sides (so the olive oil doesn't drip in to the oven), place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the bottom of the pan. Take thawed pizza dough and from the center work in to a square (or circle) by gently kneading it out with your hands while it dangles in the air until the pizza is less than a 1/2" think. Toss in olive oil to coat both sides.

Place sautéed ingredients on top of dough, open dates, coat with remaining olive oil. and place on top of other ingredients.

Bake on top rack at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes depending on how crunchy you enjoy the crust.

Let me know how it tastes.

Next post will be beef stew served with warm bread from the oven. Perfect for a 48 degree overcast and rainy day in Boston.

Super Meals under $20 and 20 minutes - Beef Stew

Beef Stew for a Hungry Family of Five
(This one is cooking while you are at the office or standing on a rain soaked baseball field waiting for the first pitch.)

I usually prepare this meal in the morning (even before breakfast), place in the oven, set the automatic start and come home to a piping, hot meal. Now I know some of you are thinking the house could explode. REALLY? Well, don't you think it's better we are not home when the house takes off like the Wizard of Oz? We haven't had a problem...yet.

A great find at Marshall's was the Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/4-Quart Round French Oven (pictured above). These are not cheap, but you know how Supermom101 is all about value and would never pay full price...EVER! I paid $75. I use this French oven at least twice a week in the winter. This meal costs less than eating out and is much better for you, of course. Plus, the cast iron will last forever. Now, that's GREEN!

Prep time is 15 minutes
2 lbs of organic beef stew meat ($10) - cut into bit size pieces
1/4 cup of unbleached flour
1 large onion - diced
6 clean (skins still on) Russet baking potatoes (maybe $3.00) - cut to bit size pieces
4 carrots (washed but not peeled) - sliced to bit sized pieces
3 bay leaves
1 container of organic chicken or vegetable broth ($2.19)
1/8 cup of olive oil
pinch of salt and pepper

2 loaves of whole foods frozen ready to be baked french baguettes ($3.29)
Olive oil for dipping bread

Heat olive oil in Cast-Iron skillet. You never want to heat olive oil at high temperatures because it will smoke and burn. Since our meat is packaged in a plastic bag I just add the flour and shake until the meat is coated. Place meat in bottom of pan and brown all sides. As the meat is browning cut up the potatoes, onion and carrots.

Once the meat is brown on all sides (about ten minutes) add the broth to cover. Add the potatoes, onions and carrots. Add just enough liquid to cover the poatoes, carrots and onions. Break the bay leaves in half and place in the liquid. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the lid on. Program the oven to 325 degrees for three hours. I usually set ours to turn on at 2:00PM and turn off at 5:00PM.

Just before you are ready to eat and you are setting the table, bake bread as directed on the package and serve with olive oil for dipping. ENJOY!

The Sullivan Sisters are auditioning for American Idol in Boston this weekend!

We are so proud of you Meghan and Bridget!

My goddaughter Meghan Sullivan, age 24, placed third in the Country Idol competition hosted by the local Country Radio Station http://www.wklb.com/. Check her out on http://youtube.com/. She and her sister Bridget, age 19, are heading to Hollywood... well, Foxborough this weekend to audition for American Idol. Wish them luck...

I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. - Thomas Jefferson

Vegetable/Herb Garden has been Planted

As of 12:00 today the plants are in. Most plants were organized and arranged to complement growth and nutrients when planted together i.e. basil with tomatoes and the native American planting: corn, beans and squash.

Front Far Left:
Lavender "Hidcote" Ht:12"
From gilbertiesherbs.com
"Lavender branches were burned on St. John's Eve at mid-summer to drive away evil spirits. This slow growing variety is the most popular of the English lavender with its dark purple blooms. All lavenders require well-drained sweet soil with a pH above 7.8 so add lime. The essential oil is an insect repellent."
Sage Painted Ht: 24"
From gilbertiesherbs.com
"Once used to flavor wine by the Greeks and Romans, painted sage is grown for its beauty today. Heart shaped leaves rise to rose, purple pink or green bracts adding stunning effect to herb garden. Requires full sun and good drainage; do not over winter."
Aloe Vera Tender perennial Herb Ht: 1'-3'
"Aloe is an African native with a long medicinal history. Yellow/orange flowers are borne on a spike above the foliage. New plants are produced at the base. Currently valued for the juice of its leaves which soothe and heal sunburn, insect bites and minor skin irritations.



Center 3 rows:

Early girl Tomato Ht: 24-36" Matures early 52-54 days

Big Boy Ht: 24-36" Matures in 78 days x 2 plants

Basil Sweet Bush (annual herb) Ht: 24" x 8 plants
according to Gilbertiesherbs.com
"Sweet bush basil was considered a royal herb by the Greeks and venerated as sacred by the Hindus and basil is still one of the most popular herbs today. All basils require full sun, consistent moisture and warm temperatures to thrive. Do not plant outside until nighttime temperatures do not go below 50 degrees F. This is the traditional sweet basil."

Sweet Pepper Bell - planted in between tomato and basil stakes
Matures in 60-70 days

Far Back rows includes 6 mounds of the native American planting: Three sisters

Each mound contains three corn, one blue lake pole bean in center and one butternut squash.
Sweet Corn - Bicolor Maturity 70-85 days
Plant in full sun 4-6" apart

Blue Lake Pole Beans (Plant three plants to a pole) we are using the corn stalks as the poles
Tender, plump, top-quality beans on tall growing plants

Early Butternut squash hybrid (tray of six) - matures in 70 says (fruit size 10-12")

We are not planting the perennial/annual flowers/shrubs until the main water line to the house is finished. In the meantime, I couldn't help put purchase two beautiful rhododendrums of the most unusual color and they will only get 3' high called Rhodo Percy Wiseman #2
Dense compact, rounded evergreen shrub with dark green foliage, multicolored flowers of peach, pink & cream age to white with a yellow throat. Late mid season bloom. Unusual color. Ht 3'

Trash Test - failed miserably

Well done is better than well said. -Benjamin Franklin

Today I’ve decided to keep track of every thing I throw away at home, the office, at the baseball field…anywhere.

Cut up watermelon for son’s school picnic and almost threw out the rinds. Will place in the garden with the loose, seeped tea leaves this evening.

One piece of white office paper – placed in shredder

Youngest school picnic. Threw out paper plates and over 23 plastic sports and water container also three plastic sheets to cover the picnic tables...I gave up counting items

Cancer Survivor Says He'll Hide Chemo-Ditching 13-Year-Old

Cancer Survivor Says He'd Hide Chemo-Ditching 13-Year-Old - Children's Health - FOXNews.com

Check out http://www.billybest.net/

WOW! This is a tough one. As parents I'm certain most of us would go to extreme measures to do what we believe is in the best interest of our child, we would weigh the pros and cons of our options and do whatever it takes to save our child's life without ever intending to harm them in the process. It is not the natural order of things to lose a child. At the age of 37, I was diagnosed and treated for Stage I breast cancer and faced the question of whether I should receive chemotherapy after six weeks of radiation. I likened it to taking a machine gun to kill an ant. I wanted to know what possible link could exist that caused my cancer and what would prevent a recurrence. I didn't want to make my body any sicker and believed that there were other options.

Thankfully my doctor's agreed and encouraged me to weigh the various options (yes, there is more than one option) by obtaining a second and third opinion. At the same time, I came across a book called Your Life in Your Hands by Jane Plant. The basic premise of the book is that 1 in 100,000 women in China will experience breast cancer during their lifetime and the number is 1 in 8 in the U.S. What's the difference...dairy in the diet. For over eight years I have not consumed dairy, and I'll discuss the details under a separate blog. In the meantime, the link to Billy Best's web page is interesting. He too does not consume dairy.

Hopefully this young boy's health will be restored and the medical community will acknowledge that most types of cancer can be treated and prevented by diet.

For additional information and links to those organizations that are currently studying diet and disease...take a look at the survey questions on the right hand side of the blog as well as the links.

First attempt at Vegetable Garden - Updated May 21st

Well done is better than well said.
-Benjamin Franklin

This morning at 7:00AM we had three yards of screened loam dumped in the yard for top soil. It is so much more economical that buying and transporting the bags from a giant home gardening center plus we're supporting a local business. The cost was $124 delivered! No wasted plastic bags (although I would have cut them open to use as a weed screen). This weekend we'll plant. Need to finalize the garden plot so I don't over buy and know exactly were everything will be placed.

My husband said it best, "are we investing $400 in manure and plants to gain about $30 worth of tomatoes?" Probably! Thankfully I have many Italian friends who have already provided soil recommendations as well as time tested plant varieties and the "pipes" to stake the tomatoes. I've planted and tended perennial gardens for years but this is different. If a plant doesn't come back the next year no one else will even notice. You plant a vegetable garden and nothing grows...



Intend to plant in 10 x 20 space in full sun in Boston climate:

Two staggered rows of the "native American" three sister plantings i.e. corn stalk with squash and climbing beans. Seven hills in total.

Row of tomatoes: http://ezinearticles.com/?Which-of-the-Hundreds-of-Tomato-Varieties-Should-I-Plant?&id=191656

Four zucchini plants on edges to train over the border.

Left and right front corners: herbs, including: basil, lavender, rosemary, oregano

This weekend is dedicated to turning in manure and other organic matter to prepare the soil.

Let me know those plant varieties that worked best for you. Check back for weekly updates including unaltered or airbrushed photos of the garden as it grows.

There are lazy Minds as well as lazy Bodies. - Ben Franklin

Happy Mother's Day? The Gift of Time

I rank Mother's Day up there with Valentine's Day...way over hyped...way over rated and way over priced. The only people that win are hallmark cards, florists and restaurants. It was originally intended to unite mother's against war and has just became another way to set unrealistic expectations on everyone. Now, before you go in to a panic...my philosophy is simple...you better be nice to me 364 days a year too and not just pick one day to go out of your way. And, for the record, we call Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends in our house, "amateur weekends." Those who enjoy traveling and travel often, stay home on long weekends. Valentine's Day is a great way to highlight those that belong to the lonely hearts club.

Yes, I want my kids to agonize over the right word to use in their hand written poems, to make a mess in the kitchen while they prepare me breakfast and pick me fresh flowers (hopefully not from the neighbor's yard). I'm not my husband's mother, and I don't expect him to orchestrate the "Special day." Now, I may be a tad jaded because my first Mother's Day over 15 years ago my husband was in Ireland visiting friends and family. He lost his mother five years later and he used to call her on most Sundays and tell her how much he loved her. Don't wait for Mother's Day to be good to your mother or Valentine's Day to share a special meal with loved ones.

This past weekend was a very special Mother's Day because it was also our daughter's 14th brithday. As a family we went to church and had lunch with her God "mother". We spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine, people watching and laughing at political buttons in Harvard Square. Spending time with my family...priceless... epecially since a friend's family couldn't celebrate mother's day with her because they had lost her to cancer a few months earlier at the age of 45. Time is the most under rated, underhyped and under priced gift we have.

So...I'm not certain who the author of the following poem is but it was sent by my close friend for Mother's Day:

To A Beautiful Woman

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord
My shape to keep.

Please no wrinkles
Please no bags
And please lift my butt
Before it sags.

Please no age spots
Please no gray
And as for my belly,
Please take it away.

Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord
For all that you've done.

Time to...

This blog is coming to you from the local library. It's the only place I can work (for the most part) uninterrupted by family members looking for misplaced wallets, book reports or disappearing cleats. I still don't understand how one can come in to the house with a shoe on each foot and then exactly 12 hours later not be able to locate either one of them. I'm flattered my family thinks I am the godess of lost items, but I always fall back on the same mantra my mother used to preach, "I don't wear them so I don't know where they are."

NOT...the kid's just found me in the library and they are looking for money! It cost me $7 to have them get lost for a half hour.

I digress...

Several books that sit by the bedside include:

Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber

John Adams by David McCullough (Finished but kept for frequent reference and inspiration.) McCullough's chapter of Adam's experience in Shrewsbury where he overhears the farmers concern over the blockade at Boston Harbour was riveting..."the people are ready for revolution." It's how I feel with all the celebrities with milk moustaches. We're paying with our lives and they are being paid by the dairy council.

Brilliant Color: Painting Vibrant Outdoor Scenes - I haven't touched a paint brush in three months and am very disappointed in myself for lack of focus. Need to carve out a few hours a week and have always found taking a class helps. Just can't fit it in to the Spring schedule with all the school, work, church and sports commitments. The Open Studio is happening in two weeks, and I am not participating again this year. My goal is to have eight paintings from Tuscany available next year.

Next posting will be journal entries from Tuscany trip (Spring '08) where I was able to paint for six days without looking for cleats or paying off the kids...it was heaven!

p.s. The painting at the top of the blog is a small study of a Tuscan photograph. It is a gift to a dear colleague.

Can't afford to go away for school vacation week and live near a major city?

BOSTON, MA - Finagle a few days out of the office and pretend you are visiting the city for the first time. We live ten miles outside of Boston and on some occasions have utilized last minute hotel deals that add to the “out of town experience.” We've been "visiting Boston" for years. Our hometown library offers passes to the various museums, but you'll need to plan ahead to take advantage of them. I've developed an itinerary for one long day and it's fun for all ages. Yes, even the eye rolling teenagers will enjoy the day.

Let me know what has worked for you and your major city!

We enjoy the Freedom trail and other typical, touristy Boston excursions, but this time we thought we’d shake things up and in honor of the stock market decline…not book an overnight stay and look for less expensive ways to enjoy the city for a one day excursion. That’s code at our house (15, 14 and 9 year old) to bring your own money if you want to buy something, pack a snack and eat a big breakfast because we're not eating for a while. Surprisingly, even the nine year old will think twice when it’s his own money he is spending.

The following itinerary (in various forms over the years) has been tested with toddlers in strollers, older/younger cousins, 15 year old boys, 14 year old girls, two nine year old boys, and on occasion I’ve even had a friend with me. The best part is your spouse does not need to take time off from work, there’s no airfare, and you don’t need to hire your neighbor to walk the family dog.

Public Transportation (http://www.mbta.com/)
-Take public transportation in to the city....its part of the experience and gets everyone in the mood for "people watching."

- Boston's a great walking city so get ready to hit the streets and wear down your shoes. No parking as close to the mall as possible here. Make certain everyone dresses appropriately as the weather can be a bit unpredictable and change throughout the day. Also, don't encourage the children to walk around the fountain ledges. Several years ago one of our children fell in to the Fountain at Copley Square (true story and not the cleanest water in the world) and our party of 15 had to wait while I scoped out a discount clothing store to buy dry clothes. Remember the main rule when traveling with small children, pre- teens, teenagers, adults and seniors: what goes wrong is what we remember most and will fondly tell (and retell) our grandchildren.

Newbury Comics
-Start at the corner of Newbury and Massachusetts Ave. and head down Newbury Street...you will be walking against the traffic. (That means the cars will be moving toward you as you walk down the one way street). Check out The Original “Newbury Comics” at 332 Newbury Street on the right. What teenager or adult doesn't enjoy the political satire and practical jokes? Caveat: keep a keen eye on the two nine year olds as you may want to steer them away from certain items. I don't try and create a mystique around "adult flavored jokes" but I also don't want a friend's son saying, "Mommy, you should have seen the store Mrs. Supermom took us in today. It had really cool stuff. We saw a T-shirt that said….”

Sonsie Bistro
-Glance across the street at all the beautiful people at Sonsie enjoying the outside café and wish you had not invited the neighbor's nine year old. Maybe next time you and your friend can enjoy lunch and an afternoon cocktail. (The kids can get lost for a few hours.)

Prudential Center Mall and Skywalk
-Continue down Newbury Street which is great people watching...cross over at Fairfield to Boylston Street and head in to the Prudential Center Mall. We stopped in the candy store on the right and could not resist the over priced candy. How much is gold valued at these days per pound?

-Visit the Skywalk Observatory on top of the Prudential Center (The Pru – http://www.prudentialcenter.com/ ) You may need to ask for assistance as to where the entrance to the elevators are is as it's not easy to find. Check out the 360 degree view of the city from 60 stories up. This will cost as much as the overpriced candy but hopefully the kiddos used their own money to buy the pranks and gag gifts at Newbury comics. The view is spectacular and the model depicting Boston prior to the massive, Back Bay landfill provides an interesting perspective on the City. It's too bad you have all these kids with you. The Top of the Hub restaurant/lounge on the 52nd floor offers not only the fantastic view but terrific service, great drinks, and amazing appetizers. Yes, the Martini is $13 but you are paying for the view. You'll need to come here with a friend or spouse when the kids are back in the hotel room playing video games and eating the rest of the candy.

-Check out the Apple Store on Boylston Street. Also free.

Boston Public Library
-Continue down Boylston Street and head in to the main entrance of the Boston Public Library that faces Copley Square. Also free. If your teenager starts to roll her eyes, tell her to wait on the steps and eat her candy while you go inside. It’s the first free municipal library in the United States (http://www.bpl.org/). Don’t miss the famous reading room, The Sargent Gallery or The Abbey Room on the 3rd floor.

Bostik Kiosk
- Directly across the street is the Bostik Kiosk that sells discounted tickets for shows that evening. Even though we ended up going directly to the playhouse to purchase tickets for an evening show of Blue Man Group, there are plenty of last minute tickets for sale at a great price.

Public Garden
-Continue down Boylston Street and you will arrive at the corner of Arlington and Boylston. The Boston Public Garden will be on your left. This is the scene of the famous book Make Way for Ducklings as well as the Swan boats. Each year it gets harder to get our 6’2” son to ride the Swan Boats but we can usually coax him for a photo opportunity atop one of the bronze duckings located by the Beacon and Charles streets entrance. The teenagers find it intriguing that every few years one of the ducklings mysteriously disappears.

-Continue through the Boston Common (site of public hangings until 1817) and continue up the hill toward the State House walking parallel to Beacon Street.

- You can pick up the Freedom Trail in front of the State house and follow it to Faneuil Hall. This is about a 15 minute walk. Just make sure you ask someone if you are heading in the right direction. The Freedom Trail is a walking tour past historic sites and buildings. Follow the brick or red line markings on the sidewalk.

Green Dragon (side alley near Faneuil Hall)
-Although Faneuil Hall is interesting and the market has a great food court it would not be a day out in Boston without stopping for a pint at the Green Dragon (11 Marshall Street, Boston). Even our daughter’s teacher pointed out after her 5th grade field trip that she wanted to know why the class was walking the freedom trail but not stopping in the Green Dragon. “It’s my mom’s favorite place and she lets us order French Fries and a soda.” (A treat at our house as I liken it to candy in a can.)

-If it’s a Saturday afternoon than the Hay Market should be in full force and that's always a fun experience… fish heads and rotting fruit. The market closes up by mid afternoon but there are usually remnants lying around. Pass through the market on your way to the North End.

North End and Pizzeria Regina
-By now everyone should be fairly hungry from working up an appetite from walking. The North End is still home to some great Italian dining but with kids in tow, I suggest Pizzeria Regina at 11 1/2 Thacher Street (617) 227-0765. You may have to wait in line for a few minutes but hopefully the experience will be well worth it. Remember the old timers order their pies well done! Maybe the waitress will even give the kids a few coins for the juke box.

-On your way back to the train…if you’re not broke yet, stop and let the kid’s order a Gelatto while you and your friend sip a martini or espresso with Sambucca. You both deserve it!

-On the train ride home it’s fun to listen to the kids chatter about what they saw, what they did and what went wrong. The younger ones will fight to keep their eyes open for fear of missing out on something.

Tomorrow…Let me know if you’re interested in an outing across the Charles River to Cambridge to visit Harvard Yard.