BBQ in Vermont!!

What: The Fifth Annual Harpoon New England Barbecue Championships
When: Saturday, July 23 - 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm (entrance closes at 6:30 pm)
Sunday, July 24 - 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (entrance closes at 3:30 pm)
Where: The Harpoon Brewery, Windsor, Vermont
Cost: $5 per person.

• 40 BBQ Teams from all over will be competing for prize money & trophies
• Good food to sample!! Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream for dessert.
• Great live music provided by the hottest local bands from Vermont
• Brewery tours offered through out the weekend
• Bring your camp chair or blanket to relax on the grass and enjoy the company.

Doob and have gone for three years in a row and plan on attending this year as well. At least for one of the days. The food is great and the music is usually enjoyable as well. Hope to see you there.

Harry Potter Book Six!!

When the clock strikes midnight
all kids and adults will be out of site!

The new Harry Potter book will hit stores,
and we will all read all day & night and let go of our chores.

What will the pages hold?
What magical and wonderous storeis will be told?

Harry and his friends will soon be the talk of the town
and whoever reads it first can't shout or let out a sound!!!

Bastille Day in France

Today, July 14th, is a National Holiday in France. Bastille Day, much like our Independence Day on July 4th. And much like our 4th of July celebration Bastille day was the end of the French Revolution and the people finally had say over how they wanted their country run. No more kinds and queens!! Just the fun fact for the day!

Space Shutte Discovery Launch TODAY 7/13

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery on NASA's Return to Flight Mission is scheduled for 3:51 p.m. EST today July 13th. Check out the link below for the launch clock count down and other facts and figures. Hope you can all sneak away and see it launch on TV!

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/index.html?skipIntro=1

Post Vacation Exercise

Okay - I am feeling a tad bit guilty about all of the treats I allowed myself this past week while on vacation. I assume I am not the only one out there that is feeling this way. Here are a few ideas for getting back those few pounds that may have crept onto to our waist lines!

YOGA: Yoga improves posture, increases the intake of oxygen, and enhances the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and elimination systems. Its effects on the emotions are equally beneficial: calming the mind, attuning us to the environment, and diminishing insomnia caused by mental restlessness. Yoga is highly recommended for people in competitive, stressful working environments, for those who suffer from headaches, back and shoulder aches, allergies, and asthma; and for anyone over the age of 40 (although the younger, the better). Yoga also works to unite the split between the mind and the body. Find a yoga studio near you. http://www.yogafinder.com/

Stomach crunches: Lie on the floor -- you may want to use a mat or blanket -- with your knees slightly bent and your hands gently resting behind your head, elbows pointing out. Using your stomach muscles only, slowly lift your chest toward the ceiling, keeping your feet on the floor and your chin pointed toward the ceiling. Lower your head until your shoulder blades hit the floor -- but do not completely relax. Repeat.

Push-ups: Get down on your hands and knees. Rest all your weight on your extended arms, and keep your body straight. Slowly lower your chest toward the floor, keeping your chin up, and then raise until your arms are straight again. (You can keep your knees on the floor, but you should eventually try to use just your toes.) Repeat.

Aerobic exercise: Spend at least 5 minutes warming up/stretching; then speed walk, jog, do an aerobics or strenuous yoga class, jump on a stairclimber, go biking, jump rope -- anything that will get your heart rate up. Then spend at least 5 minutes warming down/stretching. Ideally, you should alternate your aerobic activity so you don't get bored.