Wrapping Up Summer

As hard I try I find most weeks there really isn't balance between work and personal responsibilities. The week I am satisfied with how clean I've kept my apartment, exercised, played with the dog and made time for family and friends; well, honestly, work was just basic work. Yet the weeks when I have great accomplishments at work, including looking ahead and scheduling future projects, I find laundry doesn't get done. Or there are dishes in the sink or just some pile of unattended to paperwork all over the desk. But so what? I've found that is how I balance, not day to day, not even week to week. Just sometimes more effort is needed at work, other times at home.

We're all busy. And I'm finding that summer is actually ending just as busy as it began. I remember summer starting out with events every weekend. Now the same is happening. After this upcoming Labor Day Holiday, every weekend in September I have a charity event or two I'm planning to attend. Now that I think about it, the list moves into October. I'll be building another scarecrow out at Plasko's Farm in Trumbull and eating cider donuts before I realize summer is over. And wait a minute, I still never took that Spring Break! Oh, no, I never made it out to Jones Family Farms before blueberry season was over. But pumpkin pickin' is right around the corner there. Oooh- but if you hurry out to Silverman's Farm peach picking runs through mid-September and apple harvest is underway through mid-October. ( I still might be able to squeeze this one in my What's To Do schedule.)

However, despite eveyone's hectic schedules, have you noticed how some people still find ways to give of their time? There are different levels of this. Of course we have the amazing people who spend countless hours organizing charity events or raising money to help find cures for disease. There are also the people who volunteer in their communities, such as those at the local animal or food shelters, or at hospitals or with children. But we also have the people who just do nice things. Did you ever see the website that my co-worker weatherman Paul Piorek kept for his son and little league team? Paul took the pictures, wrote the stories and kept everything up to date. The people who do all these types of things should be very proud of what they accomplish. Even if they aren't getting a thank-you every day. I just wonder how in the world they ever get their laundry and dishes done.

In between walking my dog and blogs, here are some events I'm involved with over the next few weeks. September 10th, the Graff Diamond Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club.

September 17th and 18th, the 14th Annual Michael Bolton Charities' Benefit Concert and Celebrity Golf Classic.

September 23rd through the 25th, the Consumer Tech Fest at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport.

October 1st, the Alzheimer's Memory Walk 2006 Alzheimer's Memory Walk 2006 at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.

All of these much more important and fun than folding that pile of laundry.

Is that my Phone Ringing?

You are driving along, and all of a sudden you hear your cell phone ring. Wait, is that your cell phone? Hopefully you have your hands-free device all plugged in and you aren't scrambling to find your phone when you realize the ringing is just on the radio.

You may have also pulled over looking to get out of the way of an ambulance, then realized the sirens were coming from a song or a radio ad. I've even heard car crash noises on the radio that have made me step on the brakes.

Distracting noises on the radio is the latest "What's Bugging You."

Janet Stuelpner is a viewer from New Canaan. She wrote in to tell me sirens and car noise bug her. She says "I think that advertisers should be more careful in their choice of sound when making an ad for the radio. Some things just don't lend themselves to the car radio when in motion. This is the kind of thing that will drive listeners to Sirius or XM radio where there are no commercials."

My photographer and I did a little experiment. We drove around in our news car over several days with the camera rolling on the radio. The first day we did it non stop for an hour, the second day, only half a hour. I have to admint both days we flipped around a bit, but only during songs we knew had no sirens or bells in them. In that time, we didn't hear any commercials or songs with sirens. However, we did hear one commercial with cell phone rings and another with a car horn.

Advertisers are probably aware of the scare tactic of the siren. Advice I found online from the Washington State Association of Broadcasters warns advertisers that though there isn't a law against such sound effects, it doesn't necessarily make it okay in every circumstance to use them.

The FCC has a rule (former Section 73.4240; deleted effective 11-28-83) which prohibits the use of "sirens and like emergency sound effects in broadcast announcements."

Local radio stations typically play the ads that come to them unless they are offensive or indecent. Eric McDonald is the Program Director at Fairfield County's 96.7 the Coast. He says the only thing the FCC enforces in relation to content is indecency.

The Radio Advertising Clearance Centre of London warns advertisers against certain sound effects. RACC advises that sound effects of ambulances, police sirens, screeching tyres, car horns, vehicle collisions etc. are used ‘in context,’ ie. where relevant to the advertised product or advertisement scenario and in cases where listeners can reasonably expect them to be, or recognise them as, part of an advertisement.

Where draft scripts indicate such sound effects, we advise agencies and stations that extreme care in production is needed to help ensure that the sound effect is not likely to create a safety hazard to those listening whilst driving. In practical terms, this care could take the form of ensuring that the sound effects are brief, muted and under accompany voiceover(s).

The Radio Authority and a few stations themselves have received some listener reaction about a police siren sound effect which appeared on its own at the beginning of a national advertisement broadcast in July.

You can find people complaining about sirens in ads all over the internet. Here people would like a law. Here people would like a law against certain sound effects.

Here is a New York Times article on thinking your cell phone is ringing when it isn't. Another chatroom of ad-noise haters. And just for fun, a forum for commericals people hate for whatever reason.

However, if you are driving and hear a siren, don't assume its the radio.

In Connecticut the law demands that regardless of the the way you are traveling, you must pull parallel to the right as far as possible and come to a complete stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.

Bless You and Bee Well!

If you've been sneezing or sniffling or have had a sore throat over the past week, you might be suffering from allergies. Yes, welcome to ragweed season. It typically starts mid August and runs until the first frost. Hey - at least one reason to look forward to the colder temperatures.

Your symptoms could be more severe this season, according to local allergists, because of all the rain we had earlier in the year. Another reason rain bugs us! However, cold-like symptoms aren't the only ones associated with allergies. Absentmindedness, constipation or diarrhea, depression, irritability, dizziness even a difficulty with concentration  have been linked to allergies.

Along with an appointment with your doctor, there is a natural product that is said to help with symptoms, and that is local honey. Recently I spent some time with several local bee keepers, and I'm hooked! However it is important to point out that to benefit from honey, you need to consume local or regional unpasteurized honey. Andrew Cote of Silvermine Apiary explained to me most of the honey you buy in the grocery store comes from several different countries, mixed together then pasteurized. He says heating like that destroys all the healthy enzymes in honey. He quips, "It's sugar water. You might as well drink corn syrup."

BENEFITS OF LOCAL HONEY

Sweetening your tea or coffee with local honey could help you build up an immunity to what you are allergic to, since its in the honey. Its almost like a flu or allergy shot.

Honey has been used for its healing properties for more than four thousand years.  Honey was found in the tombs of egypt. The mummies were embalmed with honey and propolis, another product from the hive. Honey is also used to treat skin disorders and to heal cuts and burns. How to use honey to heal a cut and more, from a private health care provider in the UK.

Plus, honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions.

LOCAL BEE KEEPERS

Cote, his brother and his dad all have bees around southwestern Connecticut that travel miles collecting local nectar and pollen. Marina Marchese is another bee keeper in southwestern Connecticut. Actually, there are several. Here is a list from the state of Connecticut.

Marchese is the bee keeper responsible for Red Bee Honey. She also uses her honey to make soap, insect repellant and other items. She does so right in her Weston kitchen. You can order online.

Marchese also taught me how to eat honeycomb. You just spread it right on a cracker, bread, slice of fruit or just about anthing. It tastes great with a piece of cheese and olive or nut. You never have to eat Oreos again!

While you don't want to eat half a jar every time you have a pot of tea, if there is even a slight chance a  64-calorie tablespoon a day will promote weight loss and help with absentmindedness, depression, irritability, dizziness and concentration - associated with allergies - I can't think of a better way to start the day.

How many can you eat?

Oh, memories of trying to slurp down as many oysters in little plastic cups as possible. Seeing Stephanie Simao's piece on Milford's Oyster Festival this weekend made me reminisce about entering an oyster eating contest with our David Springer.

These are the actual oysters that David Springer and I tried to keep down during an eating contest at the Norwalk Oyster Fest two years ago. Actually, if you missed out on today's shucking and slurping in Milford, The Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival is coming up in three weeks, September 8th, 9th and 10th.

Yes, this looks like David and I are doing some type of dance, jamming out to the bands at the oyster fest-- did I mention Bo Bice of American Idol fame will perform this year? Actually, David and I are doing a pre-oyster eating stretch.

As for how we did. Not so well. I actually thought I'd do okay- considering I like raw oysters. However, I quickly learned eating them as quickly as possible out of little plastic cups was very different from sitting in a restaurant putting each oyster on a cracker with tons of horseradish.

If I remember correctly, someone from the Norwalk Sanitation Department won. I think David and I came in next to last and last.  However, even if you don't like oysters, the fest is a good time- so I'll see you there in September! Look for the News 12 Connecticut booth.

Have a Good Hare Day

This is T.J. below. It's assumed he was dumped by owners when he and his companion began to fight.

  And this bunny, Melissa was found caked in feces.

And Crystal, here, was given up by her owner when she couldn't take of both her and a new baby.

These are the stories of just a few recently abandoned rabbits I encountered while doing my What's Bugging You report on Tuesday. The majority of bunnies found in and around Norwalk appear to have been released into the wild. The problem with dumping is that domestic rabbits are estimated to live only up to three days once set free. The recently rescued are staying at either the PAWS shelter on Main Avenue, or being kept temporarily at foster homes.

Catrin Frolich rescues animals and runs Rabbit Allies Connecticut. She also volunteers with PAWS. You can also contact her at 203-838-2483. She'll help you make a match with the bunny that's right for you. Frolich has been rescuing rabbits for about eight years. She believes the problem has gotten worse here southwestern Connecticut recently because of the increased popularity of bunnies as pets. She says pets stores are marketing them as the perfect low-cost low-maintenance starter pet for children. But Frolich says the opposite is true.  One example- children can usually hold a bunny when it is small and young, but since rabbits don't usually like to be held, as one grows up and refuses to be held, a child may wonder what went wrong. Also, you can't tell what sex rabbits are until they reach three or four months of age. But, since rabbits often do better by bonding in pairs, stores often will sell you two. You'll know in that four months what you have; if its a boy and a girl, you'll probably have more bunnies! If they are the same sex, they will probably fight. However, once rabbits are spayed or neutered, the aggressiveness usually subsides.

Actually, a viewer wrote in to tell me what a great pet his rabbit is. He doesn't have his in a cage, rather he says he has built more of a rabbit run area in his home. He says he even leaves the radio on for his pet.  He says his spoiled bunny likes WICC's Johnny LaBarca, especially on Sundays. Plus, he says his bunny loves it when he sings to him: "He runs up to the fence, ears pointed high
and listens (probably thinking... is this dude kiddin me... stop, just stop!"

Send me pictures of your pet bunny! I'll post them here!

Need a Vacation? Dr. Says a Day Will Do

Right in the middle of prime vacation season, you may be thinking you need to get away. But who has the time? I still haven't taken a "Spring Break" so I'm not even over the winter blues yet. And I'm just realizing this as I notice the new fall clothing lines are already in stores. Good luck finding a bathing suit amongst the tweed if your get-away dictates a visit to the beach.

If you can't afford to get away, don't have the time, and are stressed at a job you only took to pay the bills, then you need a vacation the most. Chief of Cardiology at Norwalk Hospital, Martin Krauthamer, M.D., says a change from your daily grind is essential. However, you don't need to go on an expensive exotic trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. Dr. Krauthamer says a long weekend, or even one day away from the job can be very beneficial to your health. He says a change could lower blood pressure and the adrenaline response of the body a little bit, as well as allow a sense of recovery. He says you just need to do something different. If you sit in front of a computer all day every day, he suggests taking a day to hike or work in the garden. Those who do manual labor are advised to do something more relaxing on their time off.

A recent survey  shows American's aren't taking enough time off to recharge. It also offers tips on how to get away from work without getting behind.

On the other hand, Dr. Krauthamer says vacations can be dangerous, especially if one isn't carefully planned. He says put two people in a hotel room with limited activity and a lot of bickering can occur. He says if you are going somewhere, you need to plan it emotionally as well as physically. He told me that patients frequently ask him about the dangers of flying. His answer is, being on the airplane is the safest part. Airports are what he warns people about because they can be very tension-provoking. You have to get there early, carry your bags, wait in several lines to be searched, all while possibly worrying about missing the plane. If you have a heart condition or serious physical limitations, he says you have to plan ahead so that you aren't carrying a 20-pound suitcase for nearly a mile in an airport. He says a vacation has to be planned to be restful for the person taking it. The problem is what is restful for one person may not be for another.

Vacation Deprivation? Book here. However, especially now with the recent terror threats, you might not want to fly anywhere. You don't have to. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm on vacation here at home. I've found that hotels often offer special deals to unwind and relax. Here are some of the specials at  The Stamford Marriott.  1. Couple's Getaway, includes a deluxe overnight stay, breakfast for 2 adults, dinner for 2 at Vuli's and 25% discount on their choice of spa treatment. The rates are $189 weekends, $309 midweek.

2. Romantic Rendezvous Package for 2, An overnight stay, breakfast for 2, with a 50 minute Couple's Massage at The Agora Spa. Champagne & fresh cut strawberries through room service, a CD of romantic love songs to take home. Rates are $279 weekend, $389 midweek.

3. Girlfriend's Getaway, Overnight stay, including breakfast for 2, two spa treatments, one per person, including ½ price on purchase of any Aromatherapy Body Polish and a popcorn lover's basket with movie from On Command. Rates are $269 weekend and $379 midweek. You can also enjoy the Marriott's indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool and pool bar.

Or take a dip in the Big Apple.

Hotel Gansevoort  offers special getaways including "The Renewal Day Package" and "Honey We're Stuck With the Kids" to name a few. All include use of the boutique hotel's 45-foot heated outdoor pool with underwater music.

Oh. And don't worry if you can't leave that laptop behind. The doctor says if you are using it for work, then just set a schedule where you check in for a couple hours in the morning, then put it all away. However, a recent study reveals that that person on the beach with his or her laptop, might not be working after all; it could be providing entertainment.

Some Pics!