Biscayne Bay Baynanza

Ok..it's been a little time since my last blog. Well alot has happened since Vail and now it's time to get caught up. I have alot of blogging to do so I'll start with "Baynanza 08". I have been fortunate to grow up on Biscayne Bay. I spent many weekends fishing the flats with my Dad and watching my Mom cut the wake waterskiing. However, over the years with Miami's growing population the Bay suffered from pollution and the marine environment was in steep decline.The Bay needed a 911 water rescue and got it from Miami Dade County.

It was in the early 1980's that the County stepped in to save Biscayne Bay. Baynanza was created as part of a larger effort to save the Bay. Now in its 26th year, Baynanza is a celebration of the Bay and its importance as one of our most important ecological and economic systems. Even though Baynanza includes more than 40 great events spanning from March to April, it is the Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day that generates the most interest.

So to celebrate the Bay, we volunteered on April 19th with 6500 other people to clean the Bay. People cleaned the Bay from Haulover in the north all the way down to Black Point to the south. Armed with rakes, gloves and trash bags, we all collectively removed more than 30 tons of garbage that had accumulated along our shores and islands of the Bay. The Porifera group (Joe and Charles and ofcourse our coffee connoisseur Lisa) were on Monument Island which is located just south of the Venetian Causeway near Star Island. Our island had nearly 50 volunteers and collected over 120 bags of garbage in three hours. It was a great effort but the Bay needs more than one weekend of cleanup to keep its 69,000 acres clean.

Not all residents appreciate just how fabulous it is to live with one of the largest subtropical lagoons in the United States. It stretches from Haulover all the way down to Card Sound including Biscayne National Park.The Bay supports a diverse biological community from coastal wetlands to submerged aquatic habitats. Anyone who has driven over the Julia Tuttle Causeway can see the extensive seagrass beds at low tide. And for those of us who boat on the Bay are familiar with Miami Limestone (not so good)and ofcourse all the fish fauna. According to the University of Miami School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, there are atleast 512 fish species in the Bay and over 150 species of shrimp, crabs, and lobsters.

Matter of fact, Baynanza weekend we saw manatees, dolphins, herons, egrets and a huge loggerhead turtle. It doesn't stop there...many North American species use Biscayne Bay as a major stopover in the autumn migration. It is all that rich marine life that played an important role in the historic makeup of the Bay. The Tequesta and Calusa Indians settled along the shoreline of Biscayne Bay for its abundant wildlife. Their occupation along the waters of Biscayne Bay was unfortunately short lived after the Spanish made their landfall. Early explorers included Ponce De Leon who sailed into what was then Chequescha Bay. Over hundreds of years little by little what small footprints remained of the Bay's history were filled in by urban development.

However the Bay is still a beautiful aquatic preserve. There aren't too many places that you can go boating, sailing, or pilot an ultralight while watching a pod of dolphins, a manatee or osprey. It is truly unique and hopefully it will stay that way with people respecting the Bay and keeping it clean.

So be involved and be green...the next cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th. This time the cleanup brigade will be on South Beach starting at 1st beach and working its way north. Visit the Environmental Coalition of Miami Beach (ECOMB) website at http://www.ecomb.org/ for more info and to sign up.

Ciao,

Angie of the Green Girls

Golden Vail

It was a quick Autumn for Vail this year. The aspens have a few golden leaves left but will probably drop those once the predicted snow showers roll in this weekend. If you don't get to experience the Fall in New England then definitely experience it out west in the Rockies. I still love the drive up to the White Mountains and the Mohawk Trail but there are some equally spectacular routes around Vail and Aspen.

You can drive over to Aspen from Vail to hike Maroon Bells which are quite possibly the most photographed mountains in North America. It is an ideal spot to capture the glory of fall color. If you are one of the lucky ones to secure a campsite along Maroon Lake, you can actually drive all the way into the park and really experience the purple mountain majesties. Maroon Bells for me are as awe inspiring as the Grand Tetons. There are wonderful hiking trails from beginner to expert covering all different areas of Maroon Bells. The Bells are not be missed!

Another beautiful area is Independence Pass which is just down the road from Aspen and it's quite the driving experience. The Amalfi drive in Italy is for girlie-girls compared to Highway 82. There is no dividing line on the shelf road. So as you drive around a curve hugging the mountain you pray no one else is coming the other way. It is a jaw dropping, white knuckle drive up to the 12,095 feet Continental Divide.

There is so much to do in the Vail area. With I-70 right out your door, one can literally drive less than two hours to the best hiking, rafting and skiing areas. Plus there is easy access to some of the "Fourteeners". Those are the 54 mountains in the state that rise more than 14,000 feet above sea level. I definitely intend on climbing a "14", I just have to pick out one. Who knows maybe after our Disney World Marathon weekend I will have to plan a "girls only" trip to summit a "14". No boys allowed, they would only slow us down.

And for those of you who want to have fun the relaxing way there is always the Georgetown Loop railroad. It is an old-time steam locomotive that chugs all the way up a canyon passing the remains of gold and silver mines. It is a two hour journey that takes you through the 1,000 foot deep Royal Gorge along the Arkansas River under the famous Hanging Bridge. I have seen Bald Eagles and Bighorn Sheep and it's a wonderful way to spend a Rocky Mountain afternoon.

Unfortunately, I was in such a rush I left my camera card behind at the house. So no pictures that day..well, more the reason to go back.

So being bi-coastal is totally passe now..bi-mountain is where it's at. Don't forget to check out the The Weather Channel for the latest updates on the Fall Foliage.

The picture this month is one of my favorite trails at Beaver Creek that leads up to Trapper's Cabin. Trapper's by all means is not a "cabin" but a true Beaver Creek experience. It's rustic and rich all rolled into one and the views are simply breathtaking.

Stay tuned for more blogging and check out my new video on YouTube.

Ciao,
Angie of the Autumn

Best of Bodyboarding in The Wedge (Newport)

No wimps allowed when it comes to The Wedge.

Water, Water Everywhere

So how much water do you really need to keep yourself hydrated and cool during the summer season? Do you know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke? Know the answers to these questions and you will definitely enjoy the summer and keep yourself safe.

Heat-related emergencies are ofcourse caused by overexposure to heat. If you recognize them in the early stages, heat-related emergencies can usually be reversed. If not, then they may progress to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. So what is the difference between the two? Heat exhaustion is basically when the body's cooling system becomes overwhelmed. The signs are-

• Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin.
• Headache, nausea, dizziness.
• Weakness, exhaustion.
• Heavy sweating.

Whereas, Heat stroke is when the body's cooling system is so overwhelmed by heat that it stops functioning. It is a life-threatening condition. The signs are-

• Red, hot, dry skin.
• Changes in the person's level of consciousness.
• Vomiting.

So what do you do if you have a heat-related emergency?

• Move the person to a cool place.
• Loosen any tight clothing.
• Remove sweat soaked clothing.
• Apply cool, wet towels to the skin.
• Fan the person.
• If the person is conscious, give them small amounts of cool water to drink.
• If the person refuses the water, vomits or starts to lose consciousness then call 9-1-1- immediately.

How can you keep yourself or a loved one safe during the dog days of summer? Be smart...do errands early in the morning or evening hours. The same goes for working out be it in the yard or going for a run on South Beach. Make it early in the morning preferably earlier the better. My marathon training group starts our workouts very early on the weekends and we are done no later than 9am in order to beat the heat.

Besides overcoming heat distress during the summer don't forget to keep yourself hydrated. There is no denying that a serious shortage of fluids can cause major problems. When it comes to determining how much hydration you need you can always use the "Sweat-Rate Test". It was developed by the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. First you have to weigh yourself the night before a workout, then you track how much you drink during the workout which is followed by post workout weigh-in but don't forget to take that number and convert it to ounces and then add that number to how many ounces you drank divided by your hourly fluid loss.Yeah right...

In the end, it all comes down to listening to your body. Whatever you choose, drink it cold and in frequent small amounts. This strategy ensures your fluids will be absorbed more quickly--leaving you properly fueled and well hydrated for your workout. You can drink plain old water or sports drinks but drink whichever you think tastes better. Remember drinks aren't the only way to replenish your energy and electrolytes when you're working out. There are portable gels, sport jelly beans, chews and tablets. It is just a matter of finding one that works for you.

Most importantly when working out in the summer heat be smart..if the heat index is too high then delay your workout until it cools off. Wear a hat, sunscreen and hydrate.

See you on the beach!!

Ciao,

Angie of the Sandbar

Stay tuned for my next blog on great things to do during the changing of the leaves in Vail, Colorado.

This month's picture is from one of my favorite places in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park, a great place for snorkeling, beaching and sunsets. Check out my previous blogs on the Keys and don't forget to visit Self-size.com for my latest fitness tips.

Just added this month to YouTube is my travel video from India. www.youtube.com/amlfl

Chowda-Heads

Happy as a clam….chowda heads..Seafood is as quintessential to New England as are lighthouses, the fog, Fenway Park and long, rocky beaches. A non-native can be frustrated trying to translate all the various shellfish you find on the menu. Well here is your quick, easy guide for eating your way across New England.

First there are steamers which are steamed soft-shell clams bought by the bucket. It is a little work to find the meat inside and can be messy. If you don’t want to hassle with a fresh bucket you can have them served deep-fried as clam strips. There are also clam cakes which are deep-fried made with stuffing and chopped clams then dunked in malt vinegar or sprinkled with salt or lemon juice.

Next are cherrystones which are round clams either served raw on the half shell or baked in the shell with bread crumbs and spices as what is known as clams casino.

Ok..stay with me…then there are quahogs. Those are large hard shell clams which are also Rhode Island’s state mollusk, only in New England will you find a state mollusk. However when you take the meat of the quahog mince it all up and throw on breadcrumbs and spices and bake it like clams then they are called “stuffies”. I only learned this the other night having a seafood feast with the family at one of our favorite restaurants in Jamestown, Rhode Island. My little cousin Vicenzo was nice enough to point out the subtleties of clams casino versus stuffies.

So we have steamers, clams, quahogs, cherrystones, periwinkles (a very small snail) and we can’t forget mussels. Mussels which are my favorite of the New England shellfish are a dark, oval-shaped mollusk. They are best enjoyed steamed with drawn butter.

However, I still haven’t discussed lobsta’s or chowda. Those two food groups have their own place with me. Anyone who knows me understands my love for lobsta (not lobster) and chowda (not chowder). During my visits in New England I have lobsta rolls, lobsta bisque, lobsta eggs benedict, lobsta omelet’s, lobsta penne, lobsta pizza, etc…When I am not having lobsta I am sampling and savoring fresh New England chowda not Manhattan chowder. All chowda must be accompanied by a big spoon and oyster crackers. Some of the best chowda around is Rosie’s in Ogunquit/Maine, Fenway Park/Boston (especially when the Red Sox win), The Black Pearl/Newport, the beach road deli/Provincetown, and one of the all-time best was the restaurant which is one block off the wharf on the island of Nantucket. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant but the chowda was a heavy, milky broth with huge meaty chunks. It was wonderfully delicious.

I have yet to find lobsta ice cream but when I do I will let you all know.

In closing here are a few things to remember when eating shellfish. Shellfish should be cooked/iced immediately upon harvesting. The shells will naturally open themselves when cooked and if the shells are still closed DO NOT eat them.

Also it is imperative that you have enough drawn butter, plastic bibs, Wet-Naps and crackers (to crack open the lobsters, not ritz) to really experience what is a traditional New England summer memory.

More to come…

Angie of the Lobstas

PS. We are all going to see the movie “Evening” this week. The movie which stars Meryl Streep, Glen Close and Vanessa Redgrave was filmed in Newport and the nearby town of Tiverton. The white house in the movie is located in Newport and is known to the locals as “The Ledges” because it literally sits at the edge of the rocks off Gooseberry Beach. I did a previous blog about Gooseberry Beach. The beach is a wonderful spot in Newport and the view is spectacular.

7 Mile Bridge Run

Do you know where the yellow bus is? Are the buses on the bridge yet? All of us who have run the 7 Mile Bridge Run have uttered those words. It is a footrace on one of the world's longest bridges that connects the mainland to the Florida Keys. The race started in 1982 and spans the channel between Key Vaca and Little Duck Key and is run entirely over the water. The competition is limited to the first 1,500 runners whose fees are received via the US Mail somewhat like a postal lottery. Supposedly the Marathon Runners Club receives ten times the applications for the race. It's a one-of-a-kind scenic run over water with a touch of Discovery Channel's Planet Earth. During previous runs on the bridge I have spotted huge pods of dolphins, schools of barracuda, magnificent manta and eagle rays, turtles and ofcourse an assortment of sea birds. There is no other roadrace like it!

This year I was one of lucky 1,500 entrants along with my sister Carolina, family friend Rosemary (both from the Rome Marathon hall of fame) and the latest addition to the group our friend Nancy. We have run marathons and half marathons but the 7 Mile Bridge Run is unique. Unique in a sense that runners have one hour and 30 minutes to traverse the bridge and "beat the bus". All traffic to and from the mainland is obviously interrupted, as there is no alternate route. So this is where the famous "yellow bus" comes into the scenario. If you can't keep up the pace then you are picked up and transported to the finish line. There is no discussion about being picked up. The Monroe County Sheriff's Department run a tight bridge and even post a sheriff on the bus for those who refuse to be picked up or think they can outrun the bus to the finish line.

So why do it? To say you "beat the bus" plus the run really is an extraordinary roadrace over the water. Besides that the shirt is always a keeper and the finisher's medal and button are an added memento. For those of you wondering if any of us got picked up by the bus, well to paraphrase the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, "No bus for you!".

Now that summer is approaching the running season is coming to an end for us in South Florida. However we have a new race in our plans and that will be the Disney World Half-Marathon in January 2008. Instead of the fantastic four, we will be the fabulous five now that my cousin Francesca has decided to join us for the Disney Half Marathon. I don't mean on the sideline, Francesca will be there with us to claim her medal. I must say the Disney World medals are quite spectacular and I heard Chip 'n Dale actually hand out the medals.

Stay tuned for more roadrace insights, tips and a heat advisory for the summer. Plus blogging on the best beach in the Florida Keys and what is considered the best trail in New York's Central Park for that early morning workout.

-Angie of "the Bridge"

p.s.- Don't forget to check our my fitness tips at Self-size.com.

Luna Lullaby

Oh…it so mesmerizing our little wonderful Moon. It is the Earth’s only natural satellite and sits 238,854 miles from us. It has had quite a few faces over the years including Jackie Gleason’s, Mac the Moon and many others. Men have landed on it and a cow named Trixie has jumped over it. She has made numerous appearances in motion pictures from her first debut in the 1902 silent movie “Le Voyage dans la Lune” to “Moonstruck”. There is music from the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, Clair de Lune by Debussy, Surfer Moon by the Beach Boys and of course the Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. There are quotes galore about the moon but one of the most famous is from the movie Now, Voyager with Bette Davis when she says, “Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars”.

Besides in Hollywood, the Moon has played an even bigger role. The calendars of the Hindu, Hebrew, Islamic, Tibetan and Chinese are all based on the phases of the Moon. Did you know that it is traditional to assign special names to each full moon of the year? There is the traditional English name and also the name given by the Native Americans. The Moon seemed to have caught the eyes of Aristotle and Galileo who wrote books and books on their findings. Besides being responsible for the tides on Earth the Moon receives its share of blame for odd behavior. In fact the word “lunatic” is derived from the Latin word for moon, Luna. The Moon does seem to have an effect on our emotional balance and people swear it affects their sleep. People complain of nightmares, strange dreams or even sleepwalking.

Moon or no Moon, 70 million people in the United States are affected by a sleep problem. About 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder and add another 20-30 million who are affected by intermittent sleep related problems. Nearly seven out of 10 Americans experience frequent sleep problems or insomnia. Insomnia is usually characterized by a difficulty in going to sleep, maintaining sleep or waking too early. All this lack of sleep costs Americans over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave and property damage. Yes, property damage…because as you drive home you are a little drowsy and whoops you miss the driveway and plow over the fence. Count yourself in with the 51% of Americans who said they drove while feeling drowsy and the 17% who actually doze off behind the wheel. EGADS!!!

So what’s an Earthling to do? Well there are some simple steps you can incorporate in your daily lifestyle so that you don’t end up somewhere in a bell tower with a sawed-off shotgun.

• Step 1 – Maintain a regular bedtime schedule including weekends. Our sleep wake cycle is regulated by a “circadian clock” in our brain and the body’s need to balance both sleep time and wake time.

• Step 2 – Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as reading or soaking in a hot tub.

• Step 3 – Make nice with your bedroom. Keep your sleep environment comfortable, dark and quiet.

• Step 4 – Get off that Aerobed. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows. (I must say I have slept on an Aerobed for an extended time and they are quite comfortable in the pinch.)

• Step 5 - Use your bedroom for sleep and sex. (No comment)

• Step 6 – Stop eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime. Eating or drinking too much may make you less comfortable when settling down for bed.

• Step 7 - Finish that exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime. In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep but too late in the day and it will take your body too long to drop its temperature for a restful sleep.

• Step 8 – We all know this one but we all seem to forget. STOP with the caffeine close to bedtime. It will keep you awake. By caffeine I mean coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and certain ice creams. Don’t forget nicotine…it is also a stimulant. Smoking before bed or in bed makes it more difficult to fall asleep.

• Step 9 – No alcohol close to bedtime. It can actually disrupt sleep and cause nightmares. So even though that third martini is calling to you just remember your brain cells would prefer you passed on another round of drinks.

• Step 10- Too little sleep may increase the chance of becoming obese. According to a Columbia University study it found people who slept four hours or less per night were 73% more likely to be obese, possibly because of effects on appetite hormones.

So here is a little poem to leave you with:

Insomnia

I think the moon must be to blame:

It fills the room with fairy flame;

It paints the wall, it seems to pour

A dappled flood upon the floor.

If you want to see the moon close up visit Google's great moon site. It's most excellent. See what happens if you try to zoom in too close to the lunar landscape. Personally, I prefer havarti or gouda or even a nice provolone.

And no matter how many times you stand outdoors on a clear, crisp autumn night or a balmy summer evening how can you not be in awe of the Moon’s beauty? It is one sight I don’t think anyone on the planet ever gets tired of seeing. The picture on my blog this month is the beautiful full moon we experienced in India. I have to say I have captured many moons with my camera but this one was very special.

Ciao,

Angie of the Snow Moon

p.s. Don't forget to visit Self-size.com for the latest in nutritional counseling and fitness tips.