Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

Belgium in all honesty had their chances and perhaps might have scored one or even two on that day but the truth is that Maradona was just too overwhelming, even to the point of having Jean Marie Pfaff congratulate him after the game in an exhibition of gallantry. Belgium like England had played well defensively but against a great player on a great day there is little that could be done, and who knows what might have been if that ball had not hit the crossbar but gone in? Or if Valdano had not send in to the crowds that pass Maradona gave with an almost empty goal?

In football most people only remember plays that ended in goals but if ever there was a great play it was the one that preceded Valdano's miss. Maradona had a long pass given to him on the right and some how managed to get to it before it went out of bounds and then with an opposing player coming up on him in an attempt to sweep him. Maradona, literary jumped over him like a hurdle while passing the ball around him and catching it on the other side. After this Maradona went down the flank going past another defender till he was almost at the goal line which prompted Pfaff to come off his line; only to have Maradona pass the ball of to Valdano; who by all accounts should have made it 3 for Argentina.

The final came and who but Germany should meet Argentina in the final. Germany however was not the favorite to win despite having made it to (this one included) 3 out of the last 4 finals however they are never easy to beat. This Bilardo, knew full well as he also was aware that on that day Germany would have Maradona covered to the point where he would be limited to doing very little if anything at all; which was the case. Beckenbaur (Germany's head coach at the time) had Matthaus follow Maradona just about every where on the field along with other players used to assist in the marking Maradona.

Argentina however in spite of Maradona being so closely marked went up 2-0; being that other players were given more freedom such as Brown and Valdano, who got on the score board. Germany however are known for not giving up and coming back as they had done so many times in their history and that day would not be the exception. First it would be Rummingge, to pull one back, as he did against France four years before. His effort would be followed by Rudi Voeller in getting the equalizer. At that point it was clear that the momentum had shifted over to Germany and I must admit that I thought they could win. As for myself personally I can not claim to have been pulling for them or not; as to me only Italy counts.

Germany kept on attacking and it was then that Maradona showed a quality which to be honest I never knew him to have; of a leader. True he had been an outstanding player though at times erratic in his form but till that day he had never been what I would call a leader on the field and it was then while not being on his best form and with team now facing the threat of Germany going up 3 to 2 that he stepped up and delivered a great pass to Burruchaga. It was a ball filtered through the German defense to Burruchaga; who was left one on one with Schumacher and made no mistake when putting the ball in to the net for Argentina's third and winner.

Argentina was world champion for the second time in three world cups and now Maradona was no longer being hailed as arguably the greatest player of his day but of all time. He had won the world cup and was on top of the football world along with his country but there was more to it then that as far as I could see. Maradona was great; this my mind held little room for doubt but what was great about him? This is question I was able to understand for myself if for no one else.

Football for the most part up until I saw Maradona play in that world cup had come down to a few things which I have already mentioned in this article however Maradona went beyond these elementary things. For Maradona's greatness was not limited to being able to be at the right place at right time or being able to hit the ball just right at any given moment or make a move or two that would free himself just enough to get off that shot but something that went beyond that. Maradona had the ability to do everything and then some and that some being controlling a ball like no one ever had. He would actually go through players with skill alone, where so many options did he have at his disposal to pass a player that it was the defender, how ever many there might be were bound to get passed or have to resort to committing a foul. This being the case and the only way to stop Maradona as it could be said that his body was ideal for the sport he practiced much like Jordan's was for basketball. Maradona, stood at 168 cm and was stocky, perhaps such features would not have lend themselves to making him a great basketball player but for football they proved to be ideal as his low center of gravity made it difficult to knock off the ball when he had it plus his short legs made him very fast in short sprints.

It was after the 86 world cup that I spent the whole summer that followed Argentina's win thinking if anybody ever had been that good and I could not think of anybody who had. Beckenbaur was serene and kept his cool organizing his team but was never brilliant though he did do the simple things well like bringing the ball up field and managing to make a pass but other this he had never come close to doing what Maradana had done in that world cup. Pele, was great in his time, scoring over a thousand goals but his time was one when the average game ended with a score of 5-3 and just about anybody could score as teams played with 5 forwards going up against 2 defenders. Also Pele played at time when a good ball controller was one would could bounce the ball on his knees and head and do it many times where in Maradona's time this was something just about anybody could do.

Maradona had dominated Mexico 86 like nobody ever had in a world cup much like he had done in the Youth World Cup of 79 but those had not been the top professionals but youths, now it he had done the same to the great players of the day. I remember thinking back then that he should not have been allowed to play in such a tournament given he had already played with an adult national team but what could be done now. Should another league be created for him after what he had shown in Mexico 86?

His statistics had been good but in all reality five goals (one which even should have been disallowed) and five assists was not really all that impressive. Specially when considering for instance that Muller had scored 10 goals in 6 games in the world cup in 70, Fontaine 13 goals (in 6 games) in the world cup in 54 and Kocsis 11 goals (in 5 games) in the world cup in 54 but with Maradona it went beyond numbers. I do not always agree with Cossell but I would have to when it comes to statistics not always reveling the whole story. So many great plays that did not always lead to a goal though perhaps should have will not be written down in the books but never forgotten by those who saw them. Maradona had five assists and who knows how many he would have had, had he had Batistuta instead of Valdano; who was a fair player but nothing exceptional. With regards to his other teammates; in all truth none of them were all that great as their careers in their respective clubs would show, so it can not be really said that he was surrounded by great players. Pele, for instance having Garrincha, Santos, Didi and Vava in 58 and later in 70 Jairzinho, Tostao, Carlos Alberto and Rivelino. It can not even be claimed that Argentina like Italy in the previous world cup won thanks to having a well balanced team. This had not been the case but of Maradona simply winning for them, as if handing them the title.

After that world cup up until the world cup in 1990, Maradona was considered the best in the game, by far! Him going on to lead SSC Napoli in winning the Scudeto for the first time in their history in 1987 and again in 1990. It was during his time in SSC Napoli that he also lead them to victory in the "Copa Italia" in 1987, Italian Super Cup in 1990 and above all the UEFA cup in 1989, while for himself he was top goal scorer of the Serie A in 1988.

As for "Italia 90", this would end in disappointment for Argentina who would go on to loss the final 1-0 to Germany; in a game that will be mostly remembered for being possibly the worst played final in the history of the world cup. Maradona however got Argentina to the final despite not playing his best football and playing in a world cup that was mostly limited to very defensive play. As for Maradona in what was Italia 90, he again got away with another hand ball against the Soviet Union that prevented them from scoring. Maradona however in this world cup that saw very little of brilliant play will also be remembered for a run through four Brazilian players after which he despite being pulled down by the last one managed to get off a perfect pass with his right foot (something rare for him) to Caniggia. It was this player who scored the goal that would give Argentina a 1-0 victory. As for scoring in Italia 90; this Maradona did not do though he would put in a fine performance unfortunately for me against Italy in Napoli which would see my dreams of seeing Italy win the title at home end. Maradona converted his penalty kick and Serena missed from the same penalty spot. It was perhaps even a difficult situation for most Italian fans in Napoli because on the one hand Italy was playing and on the other hand so was the only man who had ever managed to give their loved Napoli any kind of title. This making it hard for them to decide for whom to cheer for which perhaps might have lead to less support for Italy then they normally would have gotten at home.

Maradona after having problems with cocaine and being suspended for a year and half would come back to play in the World Cup USA 94. This after helping Argentina qualify with a goal in his country's 1-0 qualifying victory over Australia in Buenos Aires after having drawn at 0 in Melbourne. USA 94 however would only see Maradona play two games in which he scored one against Greece in what would be an Argentine 4-0 rout, after which he would provide two almost perfect passes to set up goals against Nigeria; whom Argentina would beat 2 to 1. At that moment it seemed much to my fear that Maradona and Argentina were back in form. Fortunately however this would not be as Maradona, after the game against Nigeria was suspended from the world cup for using a banned substance.

After USA 94, Maradona was nearing the end of his career which saw him play several more years in Argentina till his retirement in 98 and perhaps again Maradona was loved as he was ending his career and even those like myself who had always seen him as an enemy now looked back and realized what a great one we had been privileged with. Of course, the younger generations may watch him on YouTube but I was fortunate enough to see him play live. This being the case though I would have been happier if he had played for Italy in the same way that Camoranesi (Camoranesi also being born in Argentina but obtained Italian citizenship due to being of Italian descent) does today.

Contrary to popular belief, a baby doesn't actually need support from shoes. The muscles in and around the foot are well equipped to do the job. We now know that the best thing for growing feet is not a cute pair of baby running sneakers, or stiff, high-topped baby shoes designed to support flat-footed steps and wobbly ankles or even flip-flops, but rather no shoes at all.

In adults non shoe wearers have better flexibility and mobility. Their feet are stronger and have fewer deformities along with less complaints than the shoe wearing population. In fact, it is suggested that we should walk barefoot for at least part of each day. Common foot problems in the United States are corns, bunions, hammer toes, athlete's foot and ingrown toenails, however, none of these pose problems in countries which most people go without shoes.

Children with the healthiest feet are those who habitually go without shoes. As your baby's feet are developing, walking barefoot helps toes get a better grip and develops foot strength. There is increasing evidence to suggest that wearing shoes in early childhood may be detrimental to the development of a normal arch. Additionally, children are more likely to have good posture if they go without shoes as often as possible.

While being barefoot is best, sometimes it just is not very practical. Your baby has tender feet that need protection from rough surfaces and hot or cold temperatures. The more closely baby shoes resemble the barefoot state, the better.

Soft soled baby shoes are the best choice in footwear for your little one. They promote the healthy development of growing feet, freedom of movement and allow the foot to flex, while still offering a protective, comfortable layer. A suede sole is skid-resistant, while the leather is flexible, soft and breathable.

Baby shoes should be lightweight, flexible and shaped more or less like the foot itself. Softness and flexibility are ideal with a soft, rounded heel, similar to the fatty pad of a bare foot, and a toe area that is wide and easy to bend. Above all, the shoe should not have any arch inserts or stiff sides once thought necessary to lend the foot support.

Until toddlers have been walking for at least a few months, the only purpose of footwear is to protect the child's feet and to offer some grip on a smooth surface. Children's feet should be left alone as much as possible. Prescribing shoes to attempt to correct physiological flat feet, knock knees or bow legs is not useful for the child and expensive for the family. There is no evidence that corrective shoes correct anything. You don't think of a shirt as something that will alter the development of the arms or trunk, it's worn for comfort and protection, and the same should be thought of when choosing baby shoes.

Many babies are born with what looks like foot abnormalities. Nearly all have flat feet because the bottom of the foot is covered by a thick pad of fat. It is through walking that the muscles and ligaments in the foot strengthen and pull upwards into a functioning arch. In most cases, the arch is fully developed by 6 to 8 years of age. As the limbs develop, they may assume any number of unusual variations, nearly all of which are outgrown.

The growing foot has a remarkable capacity to adjust itself. Many babies have feet that point inward, pigeon-style, usually as a result of having been cramped into the fetal position for so many months. Other children have hip bones or lower leg bones that rotate inward a bit more than they do outward causing the feet to point inward. Pigeon toes generally correct themselves by six months to three years of age.

Many other children begin walking with their feet rotated outward, more like a duck's than a pigeon's, but most will assume a more straightforward gait within six months of toddling. The great majority of youngsters also begin to walk striking the ground toe first and heel second, or even to remain on tiptoes. Most will master the normal heel-first stride by about 18 months of age. Bowlegs and knock-knees are also extremely common. For children who never do develop an arch are likely to be fine with soft, ordinary shoes. Flat feet are perfectly healthy feet, and are actually subject to fewer stress fractures than high-arched feet.

Keeping a baby out of shoes in warm, dry conditions is a good idea because walking barefoot develops good toe gripping and muscular strength.The best baby shoes should have softness and flexibility while resembling a baby's foot as close as possible. Baby shoes are needed to protect the feet, not help with walking or foot development.

Every bride wants to look her very best on her wedding day. They search for months on end to find a dress that fits them just right. Sometimes it can seem like a never-ending process, but once you find the dress of your dreams, you will know it right away.

Today there is a stunning array of wedding dresses available that are designed specifically for a full figured bride. These gown options will flatter all of your best curves and create a strikingly slender silhouette. Women of all shapes and sizes can finally look fabulous on their wedding day.

Wedding gowns today come in a wide array of styles, from the classic and contemporary to modern and eccentric dresses that will knock your socks off. Here are a few examples of the different styles of wedding dresses that are available today.

Big and Bold

One way to make a striking impression on your wedding day is to wear a gown with a fitted top and a voluminous and flowing skirt. Try out a strapless option made out of luxurious silk taffeta material. This dress has a draped bodice and a large bow on the side.

From the waist down, this dress seems to flare out in all directions at once. It can even be tailored specifically to fit your unique measurements. This stylish gown is available in either ivory or white color options. Add a glimmering necklace or a short veil to make the most of the strapless effect.

Flattering Accessories

Another way to show off the best parts of your figure is by finding a dress that has cleverly placed embellishments. One style has gorgeous silk chiffon floral highlights that run diagonally across the bodice, creating a stunning visual affect.

The rest of this dress is strapless and made of extremely comfortable silk satin material. The "fit to flare" effect means that the fabric hugs the curve of your hips and then dashes outward at the knees to give it a unique look that is all its own.

Simple and Sweet

A great way to create a different look is by wearing a dress with a stylized "crumb-catcher" bodice. This means that the top of the gown is strapless, and yet it still sticks out from your chest to form a dashing and daring silhouette.

From the high empire waist of this silk satin gown flows a long and pleated skirt. A sash runs across the waist and is decorated with lovely handmade silk satin flowers. This gown comes in white or ivory and will do wonders to compliment your figure.

Short and Sassy

Are you planning on having a festive summertime wedding? There is nothing quite like a ceremony out in the sunshine followed by a fun night out under the stars. Of course, you are going to need a wedding dress that suits the weather.

This fantastic style has a fitted halter that will have you looking fabulous. It flows into a lavish skirt that hangs to right at the knees, keeping you cool and comfortable all throughout your day.

One of the nicest aspects of this party dress are the hidden pockets on either side. These are great for keeping a little makeup, in case you need to freshen up, or just to strike a dynamic pose during your wedding photos! This option comes in white or ivory and looks great with an extra high pair of heels.

Ornate and Original

Of course, not every bride wants to battle the summer heat. For a cool fall ceremony, however, you might want to consider a gown that comes with a matching shrug so you can keep your shoulders warm if the air turns brisk.

There is a gorgeous dress with an Alencon lace shrug that you can take off for the ceremony and then put back on during the reception if you get a little chilly. It matches perfectly with the strapless ball gown made of fine silk organza fabric.

All across the bodice of this dress, you can find elaborate beadwork and delicate hand-cut organza flower petals. The intricacies of this delightful wedding gown are virtually unparalleled.

Shopping for a wedding gown is not entirely unlike searching for a husband. Sometimes the right one comes along right off the bat. Other times, it takes a whole lot of searching, trying one after the other until finally you find one that suits you perfectly.

In both love and fashion, the important thing to remember is that the right one is out there for you somewhere. Take your time looking for wedding gowns and don't get frustrated. This can be a fun process if you allow yourself to enjoy the experience. There aren't many times in your life when you get to try on a wide array of fashionable gowns. Enjoy the process, and you'll be even happier when you find the perfect fit.

Well-intentioned people find it hard to confront hurting another person, but if a situation develops where you or a friend is likely to be seriously injured yourselves, it's really important to have some techniques to apply and defend yourself with.

A lot of the basic moves taught in martial arts classes are useful, as they're most often extensions of what you'd do normally, pushing aside a blow aimed at you. The more complicated moves probably aren't much use in real self defense unless you're a master of the art.

Some of the basic moves that shouldn't be underestimated are using elbows and knees. Your elbows are much stronger than your hands and less likely to be damaged, and if someone is grabbing you and pulling you towards them, it's a lot easier to simply move in and strike with your elbows than to try to pull away and hit with your fists.

Most likely they won't expect you to move in as they pull, and if they're stronger than you there's not much point in trying to muscle your way out. What you want to do is surprise them enough to break free and escape.

I'm not a specialist in self-defense at all, having only done karate when I was a kid, but here's a short list of moves that I have practiced or know about, which can be used to temporarily disable someone who's attacking you - especially if they're expecting you to fight back.

1. Grab behind their collar bone where the soft dent is with your fingers and push down hard. ?Then you can also make a fist after that and in the same motion push your knuckles up and into their neck.


2. Head butt them. ?Now this bit is important - DON'T use the front of your head where it's softer and has the blood vessels - the hairline is an especially bad place to use. DO USE the top-side corners of your head where the bone is thicker and you are safer from injury. You can knock them repeatedly with the top corners of your head - it doesn't have to be a big butt if you're pushing into their nose eyes or jaw.


3. You can drop down and push your head up under their chin ( again with the side of your head ). If you follow their chest, you know their head is up above.


4. Gruesome as it is to social people, gouging eyes with thumbs will distract someone a LOT.


5. Strikes to the throat cause people to lose breath. Don't try the karate chop that you see in the movies - it takes a bit of practice to be able to do it effectively at all. ?Hold your fingers straight and tightly together and poke into their throat.


6. Kicks can be OK it you do a side-swipe to their knees, but I'd avoid them as it's too easy to throw yourself off balance, or have your leg caught.


7. Knee strikes to groins are good if you're in close, similar to elbow strikes to higher up places.

The first thing I teach young children is about their personal space. As a dance educator, it is more then just "keeping your hands to yourself" but understanding what exactly is space. For example, some children like to talk close in another child's face; other's will instinctively grab a friends hand or sit on top of another child. Some children do not have an understanding of their bodies and when they play they easy knock into others and are considered "rough." When the child's whose space is inadvertently being squished speaks out the squishier can interpret this as the child does not want to be play or be friends.

This can be the furthest thing from the truth but teaching children about friendship is more than using kind words, sharing and good manners. It is also about respecting boundaries and space and achieving a certain level of body control. Think back to your own personal relationships. How do you feel when you are in a conversation with a close talker, or on top of someone in a tight elevator? A certain amount of control is lost. Your body is constricted and it reflects how you feel. The same is true of children.

There are simple games that you can do with children to teach them about personal space, the space around them and how they move their body through the space. Try some of these ideas out with your children or students and watch as their understanding of their bodies change and the concept of friendship develops beyond words.

1. Have every child start in their own special spot. They can use "magic glue" to glue to the bottoms of the shoes to the ground. Ask each child to take their most favorite food out of their pocket. Let them describe it to you. If they need help prompt them. Some good examples are: sticky, gooey cheesy, melty pizza. crunchy popcorn, wiggly spaghetti, and/or jiggly jello. The more descriptive words the better. Now have them pretend to eat it and follow the journey of the food as they swallow it and the jiggly jello jiggles down their throat, jiggles in their bellies and jiggles to the bottom of their feet. Maybe the sticky, gooey pizza travels around their ribs and to their arms. This exercise begins to teach children that we have space inside our bodies. Food gets chewed up and travels through out our body as energy. They can experience the inside of their bodies through a visual and kinesthetic experience. They can move inside their body without traveling from their spot.

2. Every child should still be in their own special spot. They cannot move their feet from their special spot but they can reach and stretch with their arms in any direction. Let them explore the space around them, above them,under them, beside them. Let them explore the close space around their neck, behind their knees, under their chin and reach as far away as they can as well. Space is not only inside them but always around them as well.

3. Now we are ready to move through the space. Make the movement boundaries very clear. You can use cones or painter's tape to mark the movement space on the floor. I usually make a rectangle or square and call it our movement square. We have a defined space and are not to go outside the space. Now that the children worked on moving their bodies in their spots, remind them they have control of their bodies and the space around them. Start slow and have the children walk around the space. They may be close or far from another person but may not touch. This game gets better the more they practice. Have the children meet very close to the center of the space without touching and then get as far as they can from each other. They are becoming aware of their own space and others. After they have mastered walking you can add other steps like galloping, skipping, jumping and jogging. You can move sideways through the space, and carefully backwards through the space as well.

4. Kids like to touch each other. With permission and guidelines gentle touching is a great way to connect to each other. When they are comfortable moving through the space, add touch to the experience. Yell out two body parts like "hand to hand." The children need to touch a child connecting with their hands. "Hand to foot" would be two children touching one hand to one foot. Other fun ones are hip to hip, hand to knee, elbow to knee, back to back, etc.

5. Lastly, see if they can put some of these concepts together. In groups of four or more see if the children can create a shape together that explores space. They can reach in high, middle or low level, they can be close or far from each other, they can choose to touch and they can choose to move their shape through the space. Team work is involved, muscle control, spatial awareness and body awareness.

After working on these activities, a gentle reminder about space when a child is sitting on top of another child or talking very close to a friend will take on new meaning. These kinesthetic exercises give children the practice they need to become better friends; understanding space, boundaries and gentle touch. It gives children ownership of their bodies, the space around themselves and others. Have fun learning with and through the body, developing connections and helping the little ones in your life develop friendships.

I took up running in my late 40s after looking hard and long at a picture taken in New York City during a family vacation, a picture in which I truly did not like the way I looked.

Out of shape. Tired. Overweight. Neglected. Dark rings under the eyes. No juice. And that big belly which I didn't notice before... hmmm...

Clearly, dieting and exercise was the only way out. But dieting has never been something I was very successful at. So that left me with the only other option available - exercising.

But what kind of an exercise? I felt too old for a lot options and almost for all team sports. I didn't have too much spare time either.

It had to be something that I could start doing right away without much preparation or driving around and would then allow me get back to my daily routine with the same ease.

As I was meditating on the issue, as luck would have it and as it usually happens by divine arrangement in situations like this, my eyes happened to fall on this very elderly gentlemen, easily in his 70s and perhaps even more, RUNNING past my window with a stilted but comfortable gait!

I pressed my nose to the glass to take a second look just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating or anything.

Nope, the white haired gentleman was slowly but surely inching his way up the street where I lived, looking smart in his great looking sweat shirt and pants and matching jogging shoes.

I was embarrassed in a way. If this guy could run in that very advanced age, what excuse did I have for self-pity and inaction?

So that very same evening I did what I always do before embarking on a new project - I hit the bookstore.

While perusing the racks of books and magazines I found what I needed. The latest issue of the Runner's World magazine which had a 10 week startup program for the absolute new beginners. I checked it out while still standing there in front of the magazine rack - it was built around a "walk 2 minutes and then run for 2 minutes for a total 10 minutes" type of idea.

Certain that I could walk and run in 2 minute intervals, I purchased the magazine right there on the spot.

While driving back home I almost ran a red light because in my mind I was already off and running like a cheetah up and down gorgeous hills and mountains and across all over God's green earth. Boy, was I ready for some glory.

The next morning, with my old plastic watch strapped to my right wrist, and wearing my almost brand spanking new running shorts and jogging shoes, I was out in front of my house, feeling really nervous and excited like a little kid about to join a new game.

The first 100 yards I thought I was doing fine until I was stopped in my tracks with an excruciating pain that stabbed me on the side. And that was the end of my first "run." I walked back home holding my side and cussing at myself for failing in my grandiose "becoming a runner" project.

Was this for me really? Was I going to be able to run, ever, for 2 MINUTES straight for god's sake?!

The next morning I did not feel any better when I saw the same old gentleman cruising past my house, this time in an even better-looking jogging outfit.

In ten minutes I was out again, making it past the 100-yards mark and welcoming the familiar side-stab at about 200 yards. But I felt I was doing it. At long last, yes, I was exercising, one killer side-stitch at a time.

Let's fast forward to a year later...

My runs were now always over the 30 minute mark and I was running like 3 or sometimes even 4 times a week. I was feeling great, lost some weight (not a lot though) but in general I was really feeling charged the way someone throws off a switch in a dark room and turns on the lights. The sensation of renewal was really remarkable. The fact that my wife also commented on how better I looked and how she was also inspired herself by my new routine made the rewards even sweeter.

Since then running became truly an addiction for me. I can now run for over an hour at a slow comfortable pace and easily do four or five miles at a stretch. When I feel rested and especially energized, like perhaps once every other week, I also combine some after-run sit ups and bicycle-kick crunches for some extra conditioning.

Within the past few years I've even participated in a 5K and 10K race with mediocre times nothing to write home about (33" and 72", respectively). But I feel peaceful, strong and about 20 pounds lighter. I know I probably have another 20 pounds to go but it is a process. An up and down process that I've learned to manage.

Some days I feel tired and ragged, and I've learned how not to force myself on days like that because, thanks god, my body does not care for my ego.

I've learned to respect my limits and not to injure myself. So I never got injured so far, knock on wood.

On those magical and rare days when I feel this inexplicable energy roaring out of nowhere in the third mile of a 5 mile run, I've learned to let it rip and open up downhill like a child while praying inward that my knees would hold up and not let me down for one more day.

I've learned to appreciate the beauty of running and all runners young and old, fast and slow. I've learned the proper form to run efficiently and how not to be arrogant when I saw fellow runners with bad-form, and how not to be upset when those same runners with bad-forms easily left me reeling in their dust.

I know what a privilege and blessing it is to be able to run. I cherish it with an almost religious reverence. I'm truly grateful. I remember all those who cannot run even if they wanted to for one reason or another and I send them all my heartfelt silent prayers. I hope they are accepted.

If you are already a runner, I'm sure you're already familiar with my experience. And if you are not, first of all let me slip in the obligatory caution that I'm not a doctor and I strongly recommend you see your doctor before undertaking any exercise program, including running.

But having said that, I heartily recommend running for everyone, within their own limits and capacity. Take it very easy at first. Walk a minute, and then "run" for 30 seconds, if you need to. There's nothing wrong with that. Who said you need to run like Alberto Salazar as soon as your New Balances hit the ground?

It's all about circulation and sweating out the toxins. I think running is unique in revving up our circulation to its maximum and that's why it's got so many health and psychological benefits. But that deserves another article of its own.

Do it and you'll like it. And the more you like it, the more you end up doing it, no matter how old you are. That's how this positive addiction grows on you and becomes a new friend.

Oh, by the way, I later happened to learn the name of the same white-haired gentleman that unknowingly became my inspiration and silent mentor because I ran in a 5K with him. For the first 4K he was ahead of me. It was only within the last klick that I pulled even and passed him.

If I did not pass him in that 5K race I might seriously consider quitting running altogether because I also learned his age from another fellow runner that knew him pretty well.

He was 84 years old and he is till running up and down my street. God bless him.

About two years ago, right before my 10 year high school reunion, I was feeling pretty down about myself. I had made it through having two children and didn't gain a ton of weight. But then I moved to Alaska and gained about 80 lbs in 6 months when I was 21 years old. Over the years, I struggled with gaining and losing weight. In reality, I always will. I had always wanted a tummy tuck, even when I was thin in high school. I never had a flat stomach....my gut was almost like a pet. It was always there. So as my high school reunion neared, I decided that I was going to go to a consultation and at least get the info.

I went to Chattahoochee Valley Plastic Surgery in Columbus, GA and saw Dr. Naman. A girl I knew had gotten her boobs done there, and they looked amazing. Dr. Naman graduated from Princeton and worked at the Mayo Clinic. If you are going to get plastic surgery, please check out your doctor. This person could completely screw you up!

I went in, discussed why I wanted a tummy tuck and my expectations. After discussing pricing (which was $4500) I walked out with an appointment for the following Monday to have my surgery. Now you can pay cash for surgery, or most plastic surgeons will finance them, like a car. The cost was what had made me wait so long to decide to move forward with this, because I felt guilty spending that much on myself.

I went in the day of my appointment, they knocked me out, and about 3 hours later, I woke up. I was groggy and tired, but not really in any pain. They stitched my abs back together because if you have kids, pregnancy often separates the muscles, making the wall sag. The stitches inside, I could feel if I breathed too hard or coughed. The incision didn't hurt at all because when they open you up, they detach the nerve endings.

For the next 10 days, I had to walk bending over and constantly slather Neosporin over my incision so it would stay moist and heal with minimal scarring, which it did pretty quickly. I had to lie in bed with a pillow under my knees and slightly sitting up, but the painkillers they give you knock you out, so you still sleep. I took a week off work, but probably should have taken about 10 days. You wear a big Ace bandage around your stomach for a month. It helps the scar tissue form tighter around your abdomen.

A month later I was at my high school reunion, and everyone probably thought I had gotten implants rather than a tummy tuck, since I was pretty flat-chested until I had my kids. The money I spent was well worth the cost and the minimal discomfort I was in. I don't ever feel like I look horrible now. I have days that are better than others, but I never want to just give up on myself. My husband has told me that if he knew what a big difference it would make for my self-esteem, he would have let me do it years ago!

Stop torturing your skin under the sun and get a sunless tan. A great tan not only enhances your beauty, but also indicates good health and lifestyle. It's time to get the summer bronze look, but without exposing your skin to the malicious UV rays. Remember, you want only a tan, not wrinkles, dark spots, and cancer risks along with it!

One of the benefits of using tanning products is that you save time. Also, you're saved from risks associated with sun exposure. In other words, the tan products provide an absolutely safe and natural tan. Nowadays, you can get tinted tans too, which provides an even application and avoids streaks or blotches.

Steps

* Exfoliate the skin. If you wish a tan on your whole body, take a good shower. Scrub your knees, elbows, and other areas that more likely to accumulate dirt and dead cells. Remember, these areas tend to turn darker during tanning.

* Tie your hair; they shouldn't fall over your face, or your tan may get uneven.

* Moisturize the area to be tanned. Wait for several minutes before you apply the sunless tan. The area should not be damp.

* It's better to apply the tanner with bare hands, instead of wearing gloves, for even application. It's your choice though. Gloves won't ruin your tan session. Make sure the gloves are thin.

* When self tanning the whole body, start with your feet and gradually move upwards. Rub the tan gently in thin layers. Do not apply more than your skin can absorb. It's sheer waste.

* Areas like your back of your neck, legs, arms, and knees are usually exposed to the sun more and get tanned naturally. That doesn't mean you leave these areas during the sunless tan session.

* When applying the tanner on your face, smooth it into your hairline and eyelids. Keep your eyes and hair away from the tanner.

* If you have sensitive skin, you must choose a tanner formulated specifically for your skin type.

* After finishing your tan session, wash your hands properly with soap. Don't forget this, or your hands would get an awkward color!

* Remember to wear loose clothes and those that you'd rather not wear outside because they might get tanned too.

Hot Tips

* Want a lovely, deep tan before a party? Apply the sunless tanner overnight. When you wake up in the morning, apply the tanner again. Before stepping outside, check your face for any visible streaks. If you notice them, take a damp paper towel and fix them.

* Want to look completely natural? Apply a bronzer on your face and shoulders and get a killing look!

* Don't apply sunless tanning lotion in haste. You need to have at least 10 minutes to spare. Hurrying can give you an uneven and blotched tan, which, of course, you will not desire.

Sunless tan has stolen the limelight because it's safe, quick, and convenient. Choose the right product and shade for your skin. You're almost ready to knock off the world with your beauty!

You can find bowling alleys virtually everywhere in the US. But some people prefer to play other variations of the traditional ten pin bowling game. For example: using six pins there are simpler versions of bowling perfect for kids, as well as the 3-6-9 variation of the game of the ten point set up. When I was younger, especially in girl scouts, we used to do what is sometimes called "crazy bowl" - making up our own rules as we went along.

You can get kids' six pin (or ten pin) games at many major toy stores. The six pin method is definitely suited especially for kids. Six pin bowling is usually designed to set up at home. There really are no strict rules, just the basics. In addition, there are no official tournaments, or even venues that provide this type of bowling for children's entertainment. Often these toys can be great preparation for a child who might become very involved in competitive bowling later in life. Or you can purchase a bowling game for the purpose of just having some fun that your kids can enjoy - and no other, major goal.

The "crazy bowl" game I used to play in Girl Scouts is one of the goofiest kid's games ever. If you decide to rent a lane or lanes to play this with a group of children - I seriously recommend that you get the gutter bumpers that are almost always available. If you have children or if you have ever worked with children, then you already know that goofy is good.

There are rules for crazy bowl - but you can make up whatever rules you want. Of course the rules should be made considering the safety of the kids, those bowling balls are heavy, right? And heavy can be dangerous, as you probably already know. For example: my Girl Scout troop went on little field trips to the bowling alley with double bumpers. We sat with our legs in a V position - almost on the lane and pushed the ball as hard as we could to see how many pins we could knock over (or how far the ball would roll. We rolled the balls backwards between our legs, swinging our bodies and the ball in both hands and rolling it behind us down the lane.

Back when I played crazy bowl we also enjoyed the carefree task of pushing the ball in teams of two, sitting on our knees on the lane. There were usually two girls pushing with both hands. One last example is the only one in which we were actually using the finger and thumb holes in the ball, but there was a catch - we had to do it blindfolded and a non-blindfolded partner would point the girl who was bowling in the right direction so that no one would get hurt accidentally.

When you are trying to find fun ways to entertain your family, consider bowling. There are many ways to make bowling a wonderful family hobby. Your kids may want to join a league, it can become a regular family activity, or you can just play around with bowling toys at home. Whether you do it for fun, profession, competition or for a simple family focus, bowling is a great sport that has lasted thousands upon thousands of years.

The increase in popularity in girls' basketball has coincided with an increase in knee injuries. Girls tend to demonstrate less muscle mass and strength than boys. It's extremely important that they have training and drills specifically developed with their characteristics in mind. It's also best that girls be involved in this training and start doing these drills as early as possible because the injuries later on are generally the result of unwise practices when they were younger.

For example, girls under 12 years tend to play everything in an upright position. This causes muscles in the trunk, hips, and legs to be underdeveloped. If these weaknesses are not changed as early as possible, the girls will continue to play in this position and the muscles they need to play as adolescents and adults will not be strong enough.

Women jump differently than men do. They jump and land in a more upright position. They land harder, and the knee position is flawed. Arms, legs, and feet need to be coordinated and initiation needs to come from the core or near the navel. Male athletes land with a force about two-and-a-half times their body weight. Females tend to land with five times their body weight. This, of course puts greater strain on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage around the knee. This comes from the too-upright landing as well as a rotating movement of the knee.

Also, lower leg alignment weaknesses may play a role in the number of ACL tears as well as other knee injuries. Because she has a wider angle at the pelvis and lower back curve, the upper leg bone tends to rotate inward. The knees just naturally become "knock-kneed." This puts stress on the knee and the ACL because of the inward rotation.

Correct jumping techniques include landing on the ball of the foot and sinking into the heel; flexing hips, knees, and ankles; keeping the back straight; keeping the chest over the knees and the knees over the second toe.

The key to jumping higher for female athletes is to find a trainer who understands the limitations and the capabilities. They can learn to jump higher and avoid injury with the appropriate training.

Shivering in a jacket much too thin

for this night of sleet and freezing rain

She wanders in mad dog attack darkness

feeling for the strength to step one

more feeble step, knowing panic

well enough to call it by its first name

She had felt the approaching void

screamed to God, but his cell was

out of minutes, as many times before

Insanity rode her like a jockey

who was hell-bent-for-leather

Given a treasured bus pass, she rode

the streets of Nowhere and End-of-the-line

Had to find a place to sleep

Had to hide away

Safe place, no rapes tonight

At a familiar stop she descends

the steps of her mobile champion

Home called her

Home was there

just up the street

before the trees

Pausing on the sidewalk she watched

the Dale Kincaid lights in her home -

that was hers no more

She chose him, married him, so

tough luck, baby

you're screwed now

February

Ice Storm

Incredibly cold

Stumbling into the grocery store

parking lot, she sees the wink of

a Goodwill donation truck

Under it are parcels and pieces

like presents under a Christmas tree

Needles sewed the ice pellets to

cheeks as hollow as yellow eggs

sucked out to make beautiful art

Jacket no warmer than a shirt

Last place she stayed, they stole

her coat and put her out at 3:00 A.M.

Threw her into the night rain

Sleep sucked her at the way a baby

sucks at the teat where warm milk is

A little mouse

afraid of cops

who ask her

where she's going

They know damn good and well she

isn't going anywhere she hasn't

already been, but wherever she is

they don't want her there

Ducking beneath the Goodwill truck

she sees bags and wonders if a warm

coat might be crouching there, waiting

Won't do to dig, cops roust you for that

In one brave swoop she picks up a

little suitcase, as forlorn as herself

Scurrying away, rat-like

smelling her sour fear

she heads for the urban woods

Just past home

that is not home

dragging the bulk of an old refrigerator

carton by the string around it,

she feels the burden

blow up and knock her in the knees

Not young

Not well

Not sane

F*cked up

The trees welcome her

They twinkle like stars in the sleet

Fever grips her like an avid lover

Got to go in far enough no one sees

Brittle brush fingers grab at her

Hidden hazards laugh if she falls

But the suitcase is a comforting

weight

Finds a fallen log, a hollow by it

Lines the refuge with cardboard

Trembling like a virgin lover

she opens the suitcase and there is no coat

There are dresses

Sparkling dresses

Cocktail dresses

Stiff

unyielding dresses

Alive with sequins and tulle

that pulls itself out of her swollen

fingers

Jackie Kennedy dresses

Rich woman's baubles, but no coat

Freezing rain coats her hair

Cools her fevered cheeks

Leg infected where he shot her

yellow pus running down her leg,

gluing her pants to flesh

Pulling the fabric away tears skin too

Half the dresses make a pallet

Half the dresses make a slippery

covering, sequins sliding

That suitcase, Judas, liar

serves as a tent when put upside down

over the log and some brush

Keeps the worst out of her eyes

It would be logical that she die by morning

but she never seemed to have a bit of luck

Hockey custom orthotics may help with plantar fasciitis, arch pain, heel pain and spurs, pronation, weak arches and tired, aching feet.  In other words, they may help a lot. 

Regardless of your sport of choice, using customized insoles can help improve your game.  Those that have tried them report reduced pain, everywhere from the lower back to the feet.  They have also reported reduced fatigue, which allowed them to participate for longer periods of time.

In addition to those benefits, they may also reduce your risk of injury to the knee, hip or ankle by correcting pronation.  Pronation is when the heel bone angles inward causing a knock-kneed effect.  If a person with a pronated foot does not make additional efforts to correct the problem, the result can be a fallen arch, which is very painful.

Pronation can also cause shin splints, knee pain, Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.  As you may be able to see, many of the conditions that affect the feet are interconnected.  One can cause or worsen another.  A problem in the heel can cause pain in the arch and vice versa. 

Although they are beneficial in all sports, hockey custom orthotics may be particularly beneficial in providing additional support to the ankles.  Any hockey player should spend extra time on lower body workouts that strengthen the calf muscles.  Elastic band workouts that strengthen the Achilles tendons and improve flexibility are recommended.  Stretching is, of course, important, but so is a good warm up.  Stretching cold muscles can increase your risk of injury.

But, there are some things that additional exercise cannot "fix".  Almost all people are born with slight differences in the feet, legs and hips that can cause a slightly uneven gait and interfere with one's athletic ability.

If you need hockey custom orthotics, you probably need insoles in all of your shoes.  If you have yet to consult a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist, it might be a good idea to do that.  But, orthotics will cost more if your order them through the doctor's office.  They are more affordable when you order them online.

Unlike other sports, where skates are not involved, the importance of equipment maintenance cannot be overstated.  If you have pain in your knees, shins or feet not caused by a fall or other injury, your skates could be to blame.  If the blades are not sharpened correctly, that could be responsible for your problem. 

Injuries can sometimes lead to the need for hockey custom orthotics.  It's a tough game.  No matter how much padding you wear, there is additional stress placed on the joints.  If you want to continue to enjoy the game and perform to the best of your ability, you need to take advantage of everything that sports medicine has to offer. 

A little physical therapy could be advisable.  Regular massages or visits to the chiropractor might be necessary.  Hockey custom orthotics are just one of many things that have been brought to us by the field of sports medicine.  They help amateurs and pros alike. 

Isn’t it amazing how fast our children grow up right before our eyes and yet sometimes we don’t even notice?

The early grade years seem to rush by all too quickly, and suddenly your little angel is transformed into a teenager. We all hope as parents that the time and patience that we have invested in our children while they were young, trying to guide them through life, hasn’t all suddenly gone out the window as soon as puberty walked through the door.

Teenagers have their own pressures to deal with and it sometimes feels like Moms and Dads just don’t have a clue about what they are going through.

For example the trend that seems to be going around at the moment with a lot of young people is, it’s cool to wear your pants down around the back of your knees and nearly trip over when you walk. Hey! I don’t knock it. I used to think it was cool to walk around in those bell bottom trousers, so who am I to talk. We as parents sometimes think that we are prepared to handle just about any situation that our teenagers are going to face. Besides, we were teenagers once. Right?

So are we as parents prepared for that question when it eventually comes?

Mom, Dad, can you teach me how to drive?

I have to say here folks. I have seen a lot of Moms and Dads driving and let me tell you. I would question whether Mom and Dad should teach son / daughter how to drive at all. So, here is a question to all of you parents who have managed to stay with me this far. Are you ready to teach your teenager to drive? Now lets be honest here. Do you think that you are a good driver? Do you think that you set a good example for your teenager, or anyone for that matter when you are behind the wheel?

The reason is that if Mom or Dad’s driving habits aren’t the best. What then do you expect to teach your teenager? If you are going to teach someone how to drive, the first thing that I would recommend you do, is sign up for a defensive driving course if you haven’t completed one for a while.

I recommend this because anyone can be a good driver, but bad habits have a way of creeping up on us and sticking. You don’t even realize it. So for the sake of your teenagers introduction to driving, why not give them the best possible start by tweaking your own driving habits.
There are a couple of good courses here that will help you on your way. See if you can find one that suits you and your timetable. [http://www.driving-defensive.com/defensivedriving.html]

Remember that completing one of these courses not only helps your son / daughter. It also helps Mom and Dad to identify any areas of driving that need addressing. It’s a win win situation. Now, back to teaching your teenager. This is going to take a lot of planning for you to be able to teach them effectively and safely. Here is a tip. Teach them one driving skill at a time whenever you have a lesson. It may be reversing, parking. You may want to teach them moving off skills. I have written some guidelines called defensive driving for parents which will help you organize lesson plans. Read this section carefully. It will help.

[http://www.driving-defensive.com/DefensiveDrivingforParents.html]

When teaching someone to drive, be prepared to nurture and guide them, and be patient. Don’t expect miracles and you won’t be disappointed. Teaching someone how to drive takes special skills. Have a look at the following questions and decide. Can I indeed teach my teenager how to drive? You will know the answer to that question after you answer these.

Am I a good example of how I want my teenager to drive?

Do I want my teenager to have the best possible driving tuition?

Can I stay calm when they don’t pick things up as quickly as I would like.

Am I the type of person who gets anxious when other people are driving?

Do I have the ability to guide my son / daughter through a potentially dangerous situation on the road using my voice?

Do I have the time that it takes to nurture and guide them?

Can I plan, the lessons as set out in the defensive driving for parents section?

Will I yell and lose my temper?

After reading and answering these questions, you should have no doubt whatsoever as to what you should now do when your teenager asks: Mom, Dad, can you teach me how to drive today? You and you alone know what the answer will be to that question.

Defensive driving saves lives, that’s a well known fact. Let’s use that knowledge and allow our teenagers the benefit of learning these new techniques and teach them how to drive to survive.

Happy Motoring

Timoti Petera

There are many reasons to have boudoir photographs taken. Each women has her own special combination of reasons that inspire her to take that leap of faith to do these photographs... but to help you with your decision we have compiled a "Top Ten" list to help get you excited and understand just what boudoir is, and what it can do for you and your significant other!

Top 10 Reasons to Have Boudoir Photographs Taken

10. Celebrate a milestone. Getting married? 5, 10, 25 year anniversary? Just turn 25, 30, 40? Just enter into a relationship? Just end one? Hit a goal weight? All perfect reasons to have A M A Z I N G boudoir photographs done. A boudoir photography session will make you feel amazing about yourself in this moment right now, whatever milestone you may be celebrating.

9. It will shock your friends! They are going to see the images of you looking incredible, and be insanely jealous. Most likely they are going to have their own session done too after they see your photos and how it made you feel. You may even start a movement of women who are incredibly sexy and have the photos to prove it.

8. Every woman should have at least one photo (or a whole set of them) that makes them feel so gorgeous that they just get giddy inside!

7. Putting together the outfits is a blast. Sneaking away your man's sports jersey, buying lacy, frilly, pretty new lingerie, or maybe even a costume. Coming up with looks that you love is a really fun part of the whole experience.

6. Because he won't be able to pick his jaw up off the ground! Trust us, speechless won't even begin to describe it. Seeing the woman he loves all done up glamorous and gorgeous is enough to bring any man to his knees. Plus, do you think he would rather have another new tie or shirt... or pictures of you wearing that shirt... or maybe just the tie...

5. To reconnect with the more intimate parts of yourself. Life happens... between school, jobs, kids, husbands, families, friends, volunteering, etc... its EASY to lose sight of the intimate parts of ourselves and our relationships. What better way to rediscover that fire than with a boudoir session?

4. Its about feeling sexy... not getting naked. There are few feelings more powerful than feeling sexy. That can be done a myriad of ways. From barely there lingerie or nothing at all, to shorts and a camisole and sports socks or a football jersey, all can create incredibly fun, flirty, and sexy images. The point is, that decision is up to you! Some girls want to bare it all, some want to bare a little, just remember you are in control. The amount of clothes isn't whats important, its the feeling of being Sexy that we are after. If you feel it, you will look like it!

3. You don't have to do it alone! Everybody is different, some women will want to bring their friends for support, others will want to share the whole experience with somebody and do a dual shoot, still others will want the whole experience to be about them. Whatever the case, we will make it happen. If you have a friend that wants to come along for moral support, bring them! We will give them a comfy place to sit, watch, and comment, and may even have them hold a light, or a reflector, or fan your hair, or something! Heck, even better, book a dual session and share the whole experience. The only thing we discourage is bringing husbands, boyfriends, or otherwise significant others. Half the point of doing this for them, and keeping things under wraps until the images are finished is the best way to really knock their socks off!

2. Because professionals will make you look gorgeous! Ever wonder how the girls in the magazines look SO amazing??? Teams of professionals, that's how! With our most popular packages, from the moment you step in our studio you are being pampered, cared for, coached, primped, plucked, and polished. We work with some of the premier makeup artists and hair stylists in the Hays Kansas and Central Kansas areas. We are familiar with their boudoir work, and its incredible. As a professional boudoir photographer, its our job to take your new glam look to the next level. We will coach your posing and expression until its perfect, and lighting will be done just right to accentuate your best features while diminishing anything you are self conscious about. Full professional retouching is also done to every photograph before you ever see it. We don't change who you are, but we do nip, tuck, smooth, and polish the image to the level you see every day on billboards and magazines. As a husband and wife team who do this for a living, professionalism is paramount to us. We have different viewpoints, and a male and female eye at each session is somewhat unique to us in the boudoir photography profession. We are complete goofballs, and the mood in the studio will be fun and light, and your nervousness will turn into confidence and you will be hamming it up before you know it. We guarantee you will have good time!

1. For YOU! These photographs and this boudoir experience will make you feel amazing about yourself. Its as simple as that.

Here's a simple challenge for you. As you will know, simple doesn't always mean easy.

Its called the "Younger Man Challenge", and its designed to boost strength and fitness levels fast. What's more its simple and clear cut. You know exactly what you have to do, and more importantly when you're done.

The exercise sequence is -

-Chin-ups - grab an overhead bar and pull, partial pull ups are fine for this challenge as we're seeking to build endurance and strength. Choose whatever grip suits you best,
-Hindu or Free Squats (no weights) - the basic free squat involves lowering your bum toward the ground as though preparing to sit down on a couch, and then powering back up again (there's a little more to the Hindu squat),
-Press-ups - you know the drill, hands shoulder width apart and crank them out. Again, if you're struggling with your number its okay to finish these on your knees once you tire at the beginning, as it continues to build strength and endurance,
-Sit ups - lie down on your back, bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the ground and curl up.

The deal is you want to do as many repetitions of each exercise as your AGE - for example I'm 30 years young, so I do 30 repetitions of each exercise.

Break it down, however it works best for you, say 4 sets of chin-ups, 2 of squats. This routine will certainly get you huffing and puffing, and when you can knock out this exercise routine in 1 set per exercise you will unquestionably be phenomenally fit.

This article is not for the faint at heart; it is for that woman who knows what she wants and will stretch out her hand and grab it. It is for that femme fatale who won't wait around like "the damsel in distress" for a guy to come and rescue. It is for that lady who is similar to "Edie Brits'" character in Desperate Housewives.

If you qualify, then read on to discover how you can propose marriage to your guy and knock him off of his feet (just don't swing too hard a'ight?).

Number 1 - Know Your Future Spouse

Before proceeding to the rest of the points below, you need to consider this point very seriously! There is no point proposing to your man (or any man for that matter) if he will be threatened by the gesture. So think about it seriously...

To know whether or not if that will be the case requires knowledge about your future husband - is he the type to be easily threatened by a marriage proposal from a woman? Is he mentally prepared for marriage? Is he an ego freak (that is, would he feel emasculated if you do the asking)?

You need to realize that he may want to be the one "on bended knees not you" - [Gloomy detour: I am reminded of that amazing group of fantastic singers; Boyz II Men. They sang "on bended knees" which happens to be one of my all time favorite jamz - I really miss them (sob!)]

Number 2 - Set the Stage

Now that you are sure your man is up for this, you need to put some thoughts into choosing the venue where you will propose to him.

This could be his favorite hangout (think; diner, snooker bar / joint, a secluded camping site, a fancy restaurant, a golf course at sunset etcetera. You must understand that this is not about you any longer so whether or not you think his favorite hang out is romantic or not is really not up to you. You should trust in the taste of your man.

Number 3 - Be Flexible

You need to be prepared to go with the flow. If you told him that you will take him out and he chooses to go to a French restaurant instead of the snooker bar, go with the flow.

The only reason why you would insist is if your plans involve other people or specifically pre-planned events.

Number 4 - Bring a Gift Along

Remember to buy and engagement gift - buy him an item that will last for a while. At this point you may choose to leave out an engagement ring as that might be too much for him (but again you know best).

Number 5 - Give Him Time to Be Shocked

Note that no matter how much your guy knows you, he really may not be prepared for this. So give him a while for the shock of it to wear off. Do not rush him.

My aim is to create Happy Babies through massage but of course not all babies lie there cooing as you lovingly perform infant massage techniques on them. From running classes and teaching hundreds of parents and babies it is not uncommon at all for babies to howl indignantly at the first sign of massage, and the worst thing you can do is grit your teeth and carry on - you run the risk of creating a negative association in their minds. So I have written this short article to help those mums with babies who don't like being massaged.

So why bother? Surely if the baby doesn't like it, just don't do it? Well of course that is an option but when you consider all the fantastic benefits of infant massage it is worth trying some of the ideas discussed here.

Tip #1 Set the Scene

Think about the environment and your baby. Is it warm, calm, quiet? A sensitive baby being undressed in a draughty church hall with six other babies when they are used to quiet, peaceful days at home just the two of you, is likely to protest. Some babies love the social interaction of being with other babies, and being in a new, simulating environment, and some don't. Think about which you baby is and set the scene accordingly. Choose a smaller class, in a warmer environment, or get a DVD or download and practice at home.

Tip #2 Dress (and undress) Wisely

If you are going to a class, or doing the routine at home, dress your baby in loose, comfortable clothes. Sleep suits are ideal. Tugging and pulling clothes off a baby can be a bit stressful for them so make things as easy as possible for both of you. Undress them slowly and gently, with lots of positive encouragement to make them feel happy and comfortable. A major problem with small babies is that they feel insecure when naked (don't we all?!) so bear this in mind. Place a muslin or blanket over the parts of the body that aren't being massaged. This prevents them getting cold and increases their feelings of security, so unless your baby is one that loves to be naked at any opportunity (mine were, and frankly still are) this is a good strategy.

Think about your own massages (you do remember them right? A long, long time ago...) and how you are draped with towels and only the section you are having massaged is exposed. For newborns, temperature regulation is very important so I would recommend massaging in the home for the first few weeks. For the baby who point blank refuses to be undressed happily, or the parent who want to massage without getting involved with oil (whilst out and about for example) it is lovely to massage through the clothes. Single layer is best and gentle effleurage to the back and legs whilst being help upright to the shoulder is very calming and soothing - I imagine you do this naturally anyway so you are already practicing baby massage every day! If they are not happy lying flat on the floor sit with your back supported and let them lie on your knees, that way they can see you better too.

Tip #3 Timing is everything

The time of day you massage is important, but I can't tell you the best time for you. This is one of the most common questions I get asked but it is so individual to each baby's routine but my advice is always this: Massage at your baby's happiest time. Every baby has a good period of the day - some its mid morning, some mid afternoon and some around bedtime. The common consensus has often been to make massage part of the bedtime routine and I would support that, but not if by the time the bath is done, your baby is screaming hungry and exhausted. That is not the time to start massage.

Evenings can also often be a manic time, with partners arriving home and whipping baby up into a frenzy, or older siblings wanting their share of your attention, or people to feed (sometimes even yourself) and so on. So in some cases it seems madness to try and fit 'massage the baby for 20 mins' into this time when you have spent all morning sat just the two of you watching Jeremy Kyle and eating hobnobs (just me then?). I have found from the feedback from my mums at classes that massage in the morning leads to better quality daytime naps that day and improved sleep that evening. Also if you are massaging for colic, mid morning is a calm, quiet time and massaging then seems to have a positive knock on effect on that evenings' colicky time. So make positive associations and massage when you are both at your best.

Tip #4 Fit it into your schedule, not the other way round

Another point I should make here is that you shouldn't feel that you must sit and perform a full 20 minute routine every day - I am sure you have enough to worry about without feeling guilty that you haven't done massage too! Try to fit in a full massage a couple of times a week, yes, that is great, but also be creative, and fit it into your routine not the other way round. I'm passionate about massaging the feet (since I am a trained reflexologist) so I would recommend massaging the feet every day, and a good time to do this is during a nappy change (and there are enough of those in the day) and when they are having a little kick about.

Tip #5 Be Happy

If you have a baby who isn't so keen on being massaged, it can be easy to feel tense prior to starting, especially in a group situation. Your baby will pick up on this through your body language and their own sixth sense! Stretch, get comfy and relax yourself before starting. Make sure you have everything to hand (oil, wipes, towel). maintain eye contact and smile! If you are concentrating hard and looking at your hands rather then at them, then they can get a little concerned. Eye contact, smiling and singing silly songs all help!

I hope the above helps if you have a baby that isn't so keen on being massaged. You may also find that as time goes on different moves are preferred and disliked so it is important to try again in a few weeks and see if things have changed. Enjoy your baby!

Knowing how to tackle is a must for a defensive player. Offensive and special team players must also know how to perform a tackle in order to stop the other team. A good tackler should be agile, hostile, and aggressive. Therefore, it is important to install proper tackling drills and coach youth football players to be aggressive tacklers. Drilling should be performed with much repetition to come up with more confident and aggressive players.

The basic key to tackling is to lunge through the ball carrier while wrapping him up, then pushing with your legs. Proper tackling should be handled first with the shoulders and chest area, rather with the hands and arms.

The first step in tackling is to take position in front of the ball carrier with knees bent, hips low, back flat, and head up. As the ball carrier gets near, use your legs to drive through him. For better momentum, push your legs as hard as you can before lunging. Knock him over by wrapping your arms just under his butt. This gives out a lower chance of your tackle being broken. Put your head across his body and in his path to prevent him from falling forward for an extra yard.

For front-on tackling, you should hit with your shoulder pads. Most players tend to hit with their helmets, which is wrong. While on tackle, you should keep your feet moving and wrap both arms tightly around the ball carrier until he goes down. Don't stop until that guy is on the ground and wait until the whistle is blown.

One important attribute of a good tackler is his vision. He has to focus on the belt buckle area of the ball carrier to keep his head up in the proper position. He should avoid lowering his head to make contact to prevent injury. It's important that he keep his head up all the way. To secure the upper body on the tackle, he should slide the belt buckle in front of the ball carrier by punching his arms around him.

For the lower body, a good strategy would be to use the same leg, same shoulder; that is hitting with the left shoulder and using the left leg to drive the ball into the carrier. This strategy helps give more force and control.

For successful tackling, there should be two tacklers. The first one should aggressively come in contact with the ball carrier, wrap his arms around him, lift him, and drive him backwards, pumping the legs forcefully. The second one strips the ball loose from the carrier.

It's always important to remember that tackling is a team effort, not a solo act. The first tackler gets the carrier and the other one gets the ball. Keep it that way to avoid mess.

Everyone loves 9 years old Allison. Allison lives with Mark, a confirmed bachelor. The story goes that when Alison's parents died in an auto accident, her parents identified Mark as the guardian in their will. Allison's biological family hates it. Mark discovers that Allison is dying. Everyone has an opinion. No one can agree on the best solution. This creates a very stressful time in Mark's life. Any decision he selects will generate criticism. As Mark ponders these thoughts in his heart, he wonders if he will survive this crisis.

The Panic Button

How do you deal with a serious crisis? Does it bring you to tears or do you grow stronger? How does a person make a critical decision with little time on their hands? That is the question that I pondered in my heart as I reflected on the many critical decisions made over the last several years. Unfortunately, many of those decisions were life threatening ones that required immediate action.

As I think about my decisions as the head of my household, I knew everyone did not agree with my decisions and as a consequence created strained relationships. In the role of a church leader and in my job, I constantly come across people who must make decisions in a crisis. Decisions made in very short timeframes create much anxiety. Some of these decisions relate to personal health, death in a family, relationship drama, and financial obstacles.

Any of these situations can knock a strong person to their knees. Before I discuss some helpful tools, let's discuss some practical facts that make a crisis difficult for us. A crisis is defined as a decision point in an unstable condition involving an impending abrupt or decisive change. Living in a crisis can cause an emotional or traumatic change in a person's life.

A decision is defined as an act of reaching a conclusion or making up one's mind. When you add a crisis, with its emotional baggage, to a decision, you have created a situation that most people find difficult to cope. Dr. William Black, author of Finding Strength, explains, "The reality of our existence is that life can be hard. We have difficulties to face....For each of us, life's trials may be detrimental to our ability to function in everyday life."

The Crisis Club

If you are a human being, your life will include of a series of easy to complicated decisions. Some critical decisions include selecting your life insurance, buying a home, or accepting a job offer. A rational approach to decision-making under a normal situation would be: (a) define the problem, (b) weigh the pros and cons, and (c) select the best solution. Given this simple process, what then makes a crisis difficult? There are several things that make a crisis a challenge for most people, which are: (a) shortness of time, (b) the emotional component, and (c) the immediateness of a response by the individual involved.

Wouldn't it be easy to just deal with a crisis in a logical manner? In most cases, this is difficult to do. For example, a doctor is faced with disconnecting his mother from life support. His head tells him that it's the logical thing to do, but his heart tells him that she's his mother. Therefore, the emotional drain and the additional adrendine clouds our sense of judgment in a crisis. However, individuals can take comfort that you can take some positive steps in making a good decisions. Here are some proven methods for getting through these crucial times:

• Seek comfort through pray and meditation. These solutions have stood the test of time.
  


• Determine how much actual time you have to make the decision. If possible, use all of the time you have to make a good decision.
  


• Write down the problem. Can you define the actual decision that needs to be made?
  


• Write down the possible options to your problem. Do you have enough information? Is more research needed?
  


• Weigh your options by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages.
  


• Get advice from reliable sources you trust. Can you trust Aunt Susan to give you her best advice when she's emotionally attached to your problem (she may)?
  


• Trust God. Although this may not be popular in our culture, the reality is that people, as humans, are limited. It better to believe that God will correct the situation.
  


• Make the best decision, move on, and accept the consequences.
  

Fortunately, a crisis is not the end of the world. You might actually view it as a new beginning because you will gain strength through these ordeals. There are countless stories of marriages torn apart and families destroyed due to a faulty decision mode in the heat of a crisis. Don't make that mistake. Keep a positive outlook on life. Start today!

Consider planning out how you will address a crisis before it happens. Talk with others who have been "battled tested" through a crisis and learn from them. Remember, good things can come from bad situations. Be encouraged and start planning today.

The lagging spiritual fruit of our religious efforts are glaringly evident. We seek God religiously more than we seek Him by His Spirit. We say "yes" with our mouths but down deep in our soul and convictions (all the things that God really cares about), we are disobediently reserved.

We suppose that God doesn't notice the little compartments in our lives, which we presume to salvage for our own uses as we dedicate ourselves to the Lord only so far as it is convenient. But this is neither dedication nor obedience.

Many of us presume to obey two masters. But friends, this is impossible. God is too smart to fall for this and He is too consistent within Himself to put up with it for long.

God has proven over and over that His grace is superior to every worldly thing. Our best game-plan has always been to surrender everything, even our most treasured compartments, over to Him. But don't we already know this?

His Spirit will work in us, from an inside-out direction, to bring about a whole new quality of faith that we could never have expected or manufactured on our own. And, when we spend more open and honest time with Christ, He will work out this impossible thing called "surrender."

We churchgoers would like to reserve for ourselves some right to call the shots at least sometimes. We would like to keep our religious inventions and claim at least some credit for the way God gets things done. Our religious and non-religious clutter is comfortable and we like it.

The fact that we churchgoers value our own comforts more than we desire God's Presence in our lives is obvious even to the casual, outside observer, no matter how our pretty prayers might sound otherwise. We pray with our words for God to show up, while, in our heart of hearts, we desire anything but life-altering Godliness.

Let's be at least honest enough to admit that we don't like to listen to or obey God. We know that, if we stop to listen to Him, then He'll probably tell us a lot of things we don't care to hear. We know that He will command us to keep moving forward, right into a mess of unfamiliar, spiritual territory. And He requires what seems like endless, painful growth. Indeed, true fellowship with God must be hopelessly inconvenient for the hypocrite because it is directly linked to basic, everyday life.

Apparently, many people manage to pray with their mouths and, at the same time, rebel with their hearts. Prayer time comes around so that people can say the word they've been practicing for whoever is scheduled to listen at that time.

For this reason, religious prayer (from God's point of view) is a sour wind springing from rotten, worldly hearts. The purpose of flesh-inspired prayer (which is not prayer at all) never rises above comforting the flesh.

Granted, if we want to seek out Christ, then wherever we are is a good place to start. But we know deep down whether we're seeking Christ as innocent children or acting like proud, religious specialists.

Total Christ-consumption is God's only reply to churchgoers who pray occasionally for miraculous things, when they happen to feel the need, though with no intention of ever relinquishing their worldly enchantments. And total Christ-consumption is God's reply to our lopsided, westernized idea of devotional life, where we treat every slight discomfort as an opportunity to throw a pity-party for ourselves. (I want to encourage people in general, but I also must speak the truth about these things).

We should keep in mind, as we present our issues to God, that neither His answers nor our faithful obedience will ever guarantee greater convenience for our flesh. In fact, our nearness to the Lord can only spell doom for our worldly infatuations. But don't fret in any case. Christ will let you in on your true relationship to Him and lead you on from there if you only ask.

If we are infants still (which is the case for most western church-folk) then it is well for us to fall to our knees when houses, cars, or whatever little things related to our standards of living are threatened. But afterward, as we keep moving forward, Christ will teach us to accept this likelihood, that He will not replace our superficial, material losses with more superficial material. If God blesses us from a heavenly standpoint then, at the same time, He will probably downsize and minimize our excessive clutter, religious or non-religious.

God pays no respect to the flesh as He destroys our sinful emptiness and replaces it with a superior, heavenly contentment. But, if we cling to our junk for comfort's sake and not because God specifically gave us these things, then we are deliberately rebelling against Him. And, if we continue praying and yet also clinging for years and years, then this is a good indication that we have not been praying at all.

God is answering the prayers of institutional churchgoers, only He is not giving us the answers we want. God's answer for us church experts continues to be, "Obey Me in the little things first. Get rid of useless distraction so you can hear Me at all."

If knowing the Lord's mind depends on how well we are listening, and we don't care to listen, then how can we know what is on the Lord's mind? If effective faith in Christ depends on our openness and honesty with Him, and we are neither open nor honest with Him, then our westernized version of living by faith must be fundamentally misguided.

God might move us toward bigger things, such as effectively establishing His kingdom on earth... but we'll never know so long as we do not take care of this minor thing, which is to surrender our entire, everyday, physical and non-physical way of life over to Him.

Our relationship to God right now is not too much different from a pouting teenager who is upset because his parents won't let him take the car out. God is like the parent who doubts that His teenager can handle the responsibility of driving a car when he can't even pass his classes or clean his room.

Has a physical makeover ever changed a person's inward motivations? No. So also for us religious folk, our everyday lives will manifest the spiritual truth as to whether or not we have a clue about Christ's mind or His kingdom on earth.

We have freedom from acting some religious part because our exclusive Audience is the Lord, who sees right through us, straight to our heart of hearts. Our simple calling is to present to Christ whatever is really on our minds. All who desire Christ can start exactly where they are and Christ will build them up from there.

Our encouragement is still only in Christ. Because He is God, He is fulfilling His promises in His people throughout the world no matter what the world has to say about it. He is carrying out what He explicitly set in motion for God's glory.

As of now, we can approach the fullness of God in Christ because it is part of His unchangeable, gracious character to give undeserving people good things. On the whole, it is for reasons outside of ourselves that God chooses to hear us and answer us. Whether or not we perfectly comprehend Him right now, the Spirit of God is listening, moving and transforming us as we actively seek, ask and knock.

by Patrick Roberts. Find his book and additional material at www.BooksByPatrick.com