Mary E. Trimble

It’s a national problem. Look around and you’ll find obese and overweight people outnumbering the healthy and fit.

The statistics are grim. About 34 percent of kids 2 to19 years old in the U.S. are obese or overweight. One third of adults are obese, another third overweight.

What’s the difference between obese and overweight? Overweight means a body exceeds the recommended weight for height and bone structure. Generally, obesity in adults means 100 pounds over their recommended weight. Childhood obesity occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his age and height.

A serious problem with childhood obesity is that it puts the child on the path of adult obesity and introduces associated diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

Genes play a role, but DNA in humans has not changed in the last generation. The American lifestyle and eating habits have changed.

What can be done? How can we reverse this trend? Adults need to take the lead, not only to promote a healthy lifestyle for themselves, but for their children as well.

Following are ideas to embrace a healthy lifestyle:

– Think in terms of a healthy life style, rather than the negatively perceived “losing weight.” Do not restrict food, instead have a variety of healthy foods available. Avoid labeling foods “good” and “bad,” but rather emphasize that protein and calcium will give strength in sports performance. Fresh fruits and vegetables will give luster to skin and hair. Walking and/or running will make your legs shapely.

– Kids, and adults, will eat what’s in the pantry and refrigerator. Stock only healthy foods. Keep a bowl of fruit handy on the kitchen counter. A parent’s example is stronger than anything you can tell a child. Don’t expect a child to reach for an apple when he sees a parent munching on potato chips.

– Make meals count. Eat at the dinner table, not in front of the TV or in the car. Be mindful of what you eat. Make family dinners a pleasant event and a time for sharing thoughts. Prepare dinner plates in the kitchen to ensure balanced meals. After everything on the plate is eaten, allow second helpings of favorites. Serve the family’s favorite fruits and vegetables more frequently, giving everyone a say in what is served.

– Health experts suggest covering half the plate with fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables will satisfy appetites better than snack foods.

– Educate the family on healthy food. A diet soft drink isn’t a healthy choice, even if it has fewer calories. Praise family members and friends when you see they make healthy choices.

– Don’t use food as a reward. Instead reward yourself and your children with some fun time out that involves physical activity.

– Become physically active. Walk, play ball, swim, join a health club. Try to do something physical for at least an hour a day. Children should spend even more time with physical activity. Limit time in front of a TV, computer or cell phone.

As a nation, we must act on this unhealthy overweight epidemic. I often see people buying cases of soft drinks, giant packages of chips, super sized bags of candy. This trend must stop or we’ll have a nation crippled by our eating habits. Change won’t happen overnight, but it’s imperative we start NOW.

Book Review: The Egg Rocker

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Mary

The Egg Rocker by Jack Gunter takes you from tranquil Camano Island, WA to the jungles of South America, with hair-raising stops in between. The fast-paced novel is the second in the Wally Winchester Adventure series.

Wally Winchester makes a winning on-line bid on an antique chair, an egg rocker and he naively plans to go to South America to pick it up. As it happens, his live-in partner, Rae Roberts, a professional photographer, has a photo shoot assignment from National Geographic in Chile, so they travel together. Wally leaves Rae in Chile and drives a rented truck to collect his treasured chair from South America. The chase is on.

Wally picks up the chair, but then is drawn to other antiques, European artifacts stored in old barns or run-down shops in unsavory parts of various towns. Later, Wally is joined by an old friend, a recently retired Russian who worked for a United Nations agency recovering stolen national properties. Together Wally and Yvgeney scour shops in the South American countryside, seeking antiques. Along the way, Yvgeney’s investigative background begins to surface, revealing alarming facts.

The story maintains high-pitched excitement as the two antique dealers weave themselves into a web of underground intrigue. When they finally return to Camano Island, their troubles aren’t far behind.

The author, a well-known northwest artist, is also an antique collector, so speaks with authority on the subject. His sense of humor, together with his knowledge of antiques make for a fascinating read. The three book series, Original Finish, The Egg Rocker, and Mother of God, all deal with mystery and intrigue. They’re meaty, complex mysteries that provide scary moments with plenty of laughter thrown in.

To learn more about the author, visit www.JackGunterArt.com.

Sixty Miles of Beauty: Oregon’s Central Coast

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Mary

One of the most beautiful coastlines in the world can be viewed along Oregon’s Highway 101. The amazing variety of sights include broad, sandy beaches, high, sheer cliffs, craggy shoreline rock outcroppings, historical lighthouses, majestic forests and gigantic sand dunes, all connected by architecturally impressive bridges.

State and private parks abound for RVers and campers, or hotels, motels, condos, and bed & breakfast establishments for those who don’t care to haul equipment. Over the years, we have visited most of the coastal parks and have our favorites. On our last trip, we concentrated on Oregon’s Central Coast which stretches 60 miles from Lincoln City to Yachats with Depoe Bay, Newport, and Waldport in between.
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We camped north of Newport at Beverly Beach State Park where getting to the beach is a breeze. An attractive arched walkway leads visitors under the highway and onto a wide, sandy beach stretching from the Yaquina Head Lighthouse to the headlands of Otter Rock. Brave souls surf; beach combers find their treasures along a shoreline known for its fossils.

The park’s interpretive programs and the displays found along nature trails teach visitors about bats, beavers, cocoons and salmon migration. Close by, whale watching is popular at several spots including Depot Bay, Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint and Yaquina Head.

Stopping at a Visitor Center is worthwhile for tips on what to see and do in the area, to purchase books or souvenirs, or talk to the knowledgeable people behind the counter.

We like to make a State Park our headquarters and branch out from there to explore. The seaside towns are fun and we spent time in several. Newport is one of our favorite places and is home to the famous Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. Each unique little town offers its specialty and the drive between them is always spectacular with ocean views.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, visible to the south of Beverly Beach State Park, is a must-visit. Its 93-foot tower is the tallest on the Oregon coast and stands 162 feet above sea level. Completed in 1873, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse beacon is visible 19 miles out to sea, flashing its unique pattern of 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off. The adjacent Yaquina Head Interpretive Center helps visitors appreciate the rich history of the area.

The town of Florence, Oregon, south of the park and situated on the bend of the Suslaw River, is the gateway to the spectacular Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The area is popular among off-road-vehicle riders, but also has areas closed to all but foot traffic.

Five bridges cross channels along Highway 101: Yaquina Bay in Newport, Alsea Bay in Waldport, Siuslaw River in Florence, Umpqua River in Reedsport, and Coos Bay in North Bend. Four of the five bridges were built in 1936 and were designed by Conde B. McCullough, Oregon’s master bridge builder. The bridge McCullough designed for Alsea Bay had to be replaced in 1991, but the new bridge pays tribute to McCullough by incorporating an arch, which was a hallmark of his bridge designs. An impressive little free museum, Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center in Waldport, offers good information on Oregon’s McCullough bridges.

The Oregon Coast is a satisfying, exciting destination, whatever your preferred lodging might be. Oregon’s coastline is often referred to by North, Central and South Coast. Each is unique and beckons, “Come, stay awhile.”

Book Review: The Inheritors

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Mary

The Inheritors, a novel by Judith Kirscht’s (New Libri Press), offers thought-provoking views of challenges and conflicts between nationality, class and race.

Alicia Barron attends the funeral of her dearest girlhood friend, the friend’s husband and their child who were killed in an automobile accident. Although once as close as kin, she finds herself an outsider now, not only to this family, but even to her own mother. This animosity dates back to Alicia’s college years when she participated in the violent Vietnam War demonstrations.

Raised Latino, Alicia never knew her Chilean father who was killed in Korea before she was born. With her dark hair and eyes, she never suspected she was anything but Latino. Even when asked, her mother didn’t share information about her own background, but simply lived in the moment. Alicia and her mother were a pair without history, without relatives, but still, her mother insisted, were a family.

After a long absence, Alicia has returned to the working-class Chicago community where she was raised and she teaches at the same elementary school she attended. Alicia and fellow teacher Ricardo Moreno are in love and share many of the same interests.

Alicia inherits an old, run-down mansion, an estate left by a Chicago industrialist whom she eventually discovers was her grandfather, her mother’s father. She learns that her mother was the daughter of an Italian woman and a white father. Delving into her past, she discovers a line of women who fought and overcame the battles of nationality, class and race.

When she shares her discovery with Ricardo, he is upset and wants her to reject her gringo roots. Their love is threatened and Alicia must decide what path she will take. Should she investigate further and work with her new status? Or, should she follow Ricardo’s desire and pretend she never made the discovery?

The Inheritors is a well-researched book, written about bias, though without bias. It was an eye-opener to me to learn views of some Latinos who live in a diverse, industrial city like Chicago, at least how it was in the 1960’s and 1980’s. Kirscht handles flashbacks smoothly, giving plausible reasons for misunderstandings and conflicts. This is an important novel that reveals views from a fresh perspective.

The Inheritors is currently available as an ebook and is scheduled to be published in print in the fall. To learn more about the author, visit www.JudithKirscht.com.

A Weekend at the Ranch

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Mary

Photo from kDiamondk Website: www.kDiamondk.com

A great opportunity to change pace came along when writer Dawn Nelson organized a Writer’s Weekend at a guest ranch. The 1600-acre kDiamondk, is a working cattle ranch in northeast Washington, near the old gold mining town of Republic. Another writer friend, Lani Schonberg, and I set out with high hopes of a fun, informative, and different experience. We weren’t disappointed.

The kDiamondk Ranch, located in the Okanogan National Forest, was a special treat and a different experience for me. The hand-crafted log lodge gives the feeling of the American West’s wide-open spaces. Sixteen unique bedrooms offer lodging in style with a down-home feeling. Three daily home-cooked meals in a family setting are part of the attraction to this warm, relaxed atmosphere.

Guests can participate in a variety of activities, depending upon the season. Among them, of course, is horseback riding, a wonderful way to really get the feel of the ranch. Fishing, gazing at wildlife, biking, photography and bird-watching opportunities abound. If you love snow activities, that part of the country has snow from Thanksgiving through February. Sitting by an evening fire, either a bonfire outside or a blazing fireplace inside, is all part of the experience. Upstairs, a lovely gift shop offers a variety of western goods, including western clothing, knick-knacks, and books. Nearby communities feature fairs, rodeos, golf and glimpses into the past.

A group of us drove the short distance to the old town of Republic to see the sights. Republic, the Ferry County seat, sprang from a gold mining camp originally called Eureka Gulch, and later renamed Republic. We poked our heads into many of the town’s shops.

Republic Drug first opened its door in 1904. Although it has modern conveniences, up-to-date goods, and a full-service pharmacy, the drugstore still has relics of the past. The owner, Rob Slagle took time to show us around and share stories of his grandfather, who founded the drugstore.

Blending the old with the new, we stopped at the recently opened Republic Brewing Company, located in the old Fire Hall. With hand-crafted beer and free peanuts, the family-run brewery and taproom is a fun place to visit and mingle with townsfolk.

A must-see is the Stonerose Interpretive Eocene Fossil Center and Boot Hill Dig Site. 50 million years ago, in a time known as the Eocene Epoch, the City of Republic was part of an ancient lake. Over many years, layers of sediment built up on the lake bed. These layers can be seen today as fine-grained shale, volcanic ash hardened into sedimentary rock. The layers of shale split apart revealing insect, fish and leaf fossils. Visitors can see samples of these fossils, attractively displayed and identified at the Interpretive Center. In fact, you can dig for them yourself. Stonerose Fossils have been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian and Sunset magazine, and more recently the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, WA. For more information about this fascinating fossil site, visit www.stonerosefossil.org

Our trip was everything we hoped it would be. We exchanged ideas with other writers, some of us explored via horseback, others spent time in a the great little town of Republic, returning to the warm, friendly atmosphere of the kDiamondk ranch. For more information about the kDiamondk, visit their website at www.kDiamondk.com.

Book Review: On Chesil Beach

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Mary

On Chesil Beach (Anchor Books), a novella by Ian McEwan, is a burst of fresh air, a book that swiftly moves along and took my heart with it.

Both virgins on their wedding night, Florence and Edward can only imagine what the evening will hold. They eat dinner in the honeymoon suite as they gaze out onto Chesil Beach. Florence tries not to think about what will soon happen; Edward hopes he’ll know what to do and when to do it.

The book, set in England in 1962, flashes back to when they met and how their love gradually blossomed. Although a university graduate, Edward’s vocation was still illusive. Florence, however, never doubted her choice as a professional musician. Their differences melt away as their love develops.

Back to their wedding night, Edward anxiously begins to make love as he has so often fantasized. Florence, overwhelmed with this sudden closeness feels herself mentally backtracking. The inevitable plays itself out, but not as they expect.

I found this small book haunting, yet filled with compassion. McEwan is a master at detachment while evoking intimate details. On Chesil Beach is a profound novel, a story that demonstrates that what isn’t said can transform lives.

GARDENERS’ BEST FRIENDS: Beneficial Insects and Other Friendly Critters

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Mary

“You’re kidding! There’s such a thing as a good bug?”

We tend to think of all garden predators as enemies. Not so. Entomologists (insect specialists) tell us there are actually only ten or twelve insects or pests that cause problems in a vegetable garden, the worst being cutworms, aphids and slugs. In contrast, there are hundreds of different kinds of insects and other garden helpers that befriend gardeners.

By avoiding or reducing pesticide use, gardeners can protect those predators which actually improve the condition of gardens. In addition to providing food for birds, good bugs help break down organic matter to enrich the soil, pollinate crops, and give us honey and beeswax. Many of the good insects are parasitic and eat the bad ones. Insect-eating insects are an important factor in controlling the population of pest species.

Garden predators which actively feed on damaging organisms are often called “beneficial insects.” Here are a few examples of gardeners’ friends.

Ladybugs and their larva (sometimes called “grubs”) have big appetites for aphids. These oval-shaped, bright colored, spotted insects will reproduce in your garden if the alligator-shaped larvae is left alone to develop. You can purchase ladybugs, or lady beetles, as they are sometimes called, by mail or in a garden store and then release them in your garden.

Ladybugs are strongly attracted to marigolds and damp mulch. Other flowers, especially ones with small or flat flowers like sweet alyssum and daisies, attract ladybugs and other beneficial insects. Gardeners will have more success with ladybugs if the insects are allowed to hatch in the garden.

Ground Beetles come in a variety of kinds and sizes, usually ½ to 1½ inches long. They have hard forewings that protect the abdomen, hindwings, long legs, and prominent mouthparts. Beetles eat garden pests including moths, cutworm larvae and slugs. The beetle usually feeds at night and hides under sod or logs during the day.

Lacewings are either green or brown with golden eyes, long antennae, and finely veined wings held tent-like over the body. Their larva are 3/8 inch long with flattened, wedge-shaped bodies and long sickle-shaped jaws. Adult lacewings feed mostly on nectar but larval lacewings eat aphids and other small insects, mites and insect eggs.

Syrphid Flies, sometimes called hover flies because of the way they pause in mid-air, are usually black and yellow and resemble yellowjackets or bees. The adults eat pollen and nectar but the wrinkled, fleshy, brown or green maggots feed on aphids.

These and other helpful insects, such as dragonflies, wasps, and centipedes, are particularly vulnerable to insecticides, in many cases, more so than pest species. In order to avoid destruction of these good bugs, use pesticides only when absolutely necessary and choose narrow spectrum types, those formulated for specific pests.

In addition, other friends of the gardener include birds, earthworms, and garter snakes.

Birds can be real troupers in eating unwanted garden pests. Although you may want to use bright flags to keep birds out while your garden is sprouting tender new shoots, as soon as possible welcome birds into the garden area. They love to feast on bugs and will help rid your garden of unwanted insects.

Earthworms ingest organic matter such as decaying leaves, roots, and weeds. The castings earthworms leave in their wake are rich in minerals and the granular substance improves soil structure.

Garter snakes consider slugs a treat. They’ll even eat slug eggs. The garter snake has three stripes, one on the back and one on each side. Encourage snakes to take up residence in your garden by providing warm, protected places, such as a compost pile.

Learn to recognize “the good guys” in your garden. Remember: if you eliminate beneficial bugs and other helpers, you inherit their job.

Book Review: Starlight Rescue

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Mary

Starlight Rescue by Leslee Breene, a Contemporary Western Romance, is a story of a woman with a big heart, and a big debt.

Veterinarian Kimberly Dorn, runs a Wyoming ranch on which she keeps rescued animals, mostly horses and llamas. She’s facing a large loan payment and the threat of greedy land developers. Gabe Trent, from Montana, is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker who needs a temporary place to stay while working in the area, and rents a building on Kimberly’s ranch.

Sparks are ignited, but Kimberly must keep reminding herself that Gabe is just passing through. One of the highlights of the book is when a llama gives a complicated birth and Kim and Gabe assist.

The intriguing love interest is well handled. Breene also does a good job of portraying the personalities of the animals in her charge. Readers have an opportunity to learn about horses, llamas, and emus as Kimberly conducts her daily business.

Starlight Rescue is a fun read, full of life’s passions, compassion, and vivid Wyoming landscapes. For more information about the author, visit www.LesleeBreene.com.

Our Far Reaching Military

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Mary

We’re all familiar with American military training and the resulting expertise churned out. I hadn’t realized how far-reaching this training was until we were in a desperate situation in The Gambia, West Africa, while my husband and I were serving with the Peace Corps.

In the early morning hours of July 30, 1981, a group of political dissidents seized The Gambia’s only radio station, the airport and other key installations in an attempt to overthrow the government of President Alhaji Sir Dawda Jawara. We happened to be near the capitol city of Banjul at the time, rather than our home village 250 miles inland. We found ourselves stranded and in an unenviable position.

We crammed ourselves into a house with 116 other expatriates, mostly Americans, but also citizens of Germany, Sweden, India and others who sought safety and shelter. The battle raged around us for eight long days. Peace Corps and US AID personnel took leading positions in organizing the group. Bruce operated two radios, providing the only communications link between the Embasy in Banjul and the United States. The coup put us all in a precarious position and, although we remained officially neutral, our safety was not assured.

On the eighth day, we heard the whump, whump of helicopters landing on the nearby beach. In order to see this new threat, I stood on a chair to peek over a mattress we had put in front of a window for protection from flying glass.

Camouflaged African troops, all heavily armed, filed up the steep bank. They formed a circle around the house and began setting up their weapons. From my perch I described the scene to the others, wondering if this was good news or bad.

“Are they facing toward the house or away?” someone asked.

“They’re facing away.”

“Well, then, I’d say they’re protecting us.”

Two Englishmen accompanied the troops and we learned from them that these men were special forces from Senegal and were there at the request of President Jawara who was in England at the time attending the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana. The Gambia and Senegal, which surrounds The Gambia on three sides, had a long-standing agreement for military assistance.

After things calmed down, I ventured outside to talk to one of our protectors. I started to walk toward him, then realized we probably couldn’t converse because I spoke neither Wolof nor French, the national languages of Senegal. I turned to look for someone who could interpret for me, but to my surprise the soldier said, “May I help you, Ma’am?” in a perfect Southern drawl.

“Where are you from?,” I asked, thoroughly confused.

“Senegal, but I received my training at Fort Benning, Georgia.” He sounded like a true Georgia native.

So here they were, Special Forces from Senegal, trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, protecting American citizens in The Gambia. It’s a small, wonderful world.

Book Review: Lazarus Arise

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Mary

Lazarus Arise by Colonel Chuck Lehman gives life to the Biblical story of Christ bringing Lazarus back from the dead.

Y’shuah (Jesus’ Hebrew name) and Lazarus were boyhood friends in Nazareth. As teens they began working with their fathers; Lazarus as a builder and Y’shuah as a carpenter. Within a short period of time, both their fathers die and Lazarus and Y’shuah form a partnership and successfully support their families.

Y’shuah moves on to begin his mission as the Son of God. Before he leaves, Y’shuah tells Lazarus of his calling, that God is his true father, and that he is the Messiah of the Jews, but Lazarus finds it impossible to believe. Now without a partner, Lazarus finds work in Judea and becomes an accomplished builder. From time to time Lazarus and his sisters hear about Y’shuah and his work as a healer.

A splinter in his hand becomes infected and causes Lazarus great pain and eventually he dies from the wound. His sisters send for their friend Y’shuah and four days later he arrives and brings Lazarus back from the dead. Many witnesses see the miracle, but Lazarus is forbidden by the Sanhendrin Court to speak of it. He feels bound to tell the truth and is sentenced to death, but then given a reprieve if he promises not to speak of his resurrection. Lazarus witnesses Christ’s crucifixion and flees to Galilee to find work and to seek the freedom to tell the truth about Y’shuah and his own miraculous story.

Lazarus struggles to make a living when customers and suppliers are warned not to do business with him. In the meantime, he feels compelled to tell the truth; he cannot deny his resurrection.

Lazarus Arise is a fascinating and gripping story. Lehman’s research and knowledge of early first century AD is impressive as he follows the familiar Biblical account, filling in with plausible and realistic narrative and settings. The author’s details of period customs, building materials and tools used, and the strife between various warring factions are impressive. The book is available in print and e-format.