We’re already halfway through the summer and by any measure this has been a hot one! A few years ago I had two proposals to decide between; one, install central air conditioning or two, install solar panels on the roof. We decided that we could live without the A.C. and could tough out the handful of dog days of summer. So we went with the green alternative and now generate a lot of energy with our solar panels. But this summer has been a challenge. Working outside designing and building residential gardens, it gets hot!  At night, I can feel my body releasing the trapped heat of the day.  I’ve discovered a great new use for my Paradice icepacks, though!  A perfect, cold buddy for falling asleep at night in the heat, they have become my portable A.C. pack! The cold dry fabric pack gives off enough cooling power to make the unbearable bearable until I drift off to sleep!  A pair of P150 cuffs slipped onto my feet, or the 6×9 flatpack on my head, I’ve found the way to chill this summer!!  P.S. Check out our mention in the August issue of Self Magazine on page 76–We certainly are a COOL AID and FROZEN TREAT!!

Every day as I go online to read my e-mails, I allow myself to get sidetracked and read celebrity news headlines or breaking news headlines, then I finally get down to business. Lately I’m reading a lot of USA Today info about exercise and leading sports injuries.  I’m shocked to learn that only 40% of all Americans are getting enough exercise. Come on people–how can we sit here and complain about health care and drug companies, as we become more and more dependent upon them,  when we each have the power to make ourselves healthier by MOVING our bodies a little more often?? Of course I’m being simplistic and yet not really since most great change begins in a small way. Maybe we should all make a renewed commitment to exercise this Spring as it remains a powerful way to express our independent American spirit.  As our mentors have said, actions speak louder than words!