| Rome in Winter: What to Eat, What to Do
I love it. I come in every season, so I can say with some authority that in certain ways this may be the best time to visit. Many trees may be bare, but Rome is filled with umbrella pines and date palms, enough green for me. I don't know what this is about, but towering umbrella pines and date palms make my heart go pitter-pat. And I can still pick fragrant bay leaves (laurel) from the many evergreen bushes, a favorite potted plant used to enclose the street-side restaurant seating on almost every block. Even in winter, Romans sit outside, albeit under gas heaters set under umbrellas. Red, pink and white cyclamens are everywhere. True, the weather is a bit of a drawback. The days have been rainy and warmish alternating with sunny and coldish. Maybe best of all, hardly anyone is out and about.
Montclair makeover
But if the city's ambitious plans go forward, a pedestrian-friendly, leave-your-car-at-home place to shop and work may become a reality. If built to its potential in the next 30 years, the North Montclair Downtown Specific Plan would provide residents in north Montclair with 2,800 new homes within walking distance of the mall, a train station, retail stores, promenades, parks, and new businesses in a new downtown. "The idea is living where you shop," Community Development Director Steve Lustro said. "That's a goal I think every community would try to achieve, although it's a lot easier said than done." "There is only one grocery store in Montclair, and there's Costco," said Lairmore, who lives within the boundaries of the downtown plan in the 5000 block of Highland Street.
A financial nudge from Uncle Sam
I'll be spending on luxuries. Like gas for a car and food and healthcare and my mortgage. This is what Bush and the Rethuglicons fail to understand. They have so damaged the economy that people have little to no discretionary income so they finance luxuries on their credit cards or refinance their home. Case in point is my vacation. Due to the increases in airplane fuel costs and the decreased value of the dollar, I couldn't afford to pay everything out of pocket. So I had to get a 0% credit card and charged all my expenses on it. Now I have to pay off the balance over the next 12 months. This is what Bush and the Rethuglicons have done to the economy. People have to finance their retirement (15%), pay their mortgage (20%), heat and cool their house (12%), put gas in the car (7%), buy food (10%), and go to the doctor (30%).
Witnesses Describe Shooting Scene
It is sad that he wanted to take his own life, but to add to that the lives of others. It truly shows though the times we are living in. Sad as well is the environment that provides some of the fuel for the ideas. Parents think for a moment, the games, drugs, etc... I am not saying that the parents are to blame, that I don't know. I have a young son (3) and I will say that if I had older children, they would not be permitted to have some of the games, movies, etc that fuel some of the ideas these kids get. It just simply would not be an option. Some parents I think give in so quickly to their children, letting them play violent games, watch violent movies, and hang out with bad associates. And over all are not really involved with their kid's lives when you think about it. My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this.
Green Thumb: February is time to fertilize citrus
The other two should take place in May and August.To make it easy to remember, feed them on Valentine's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day — give or take a few days, of course!Citrus trees need nitrogen and phosphorous to grow properly. You can supply this by using a fertilizer such as ammonium phosphate (16-20-0), or you can use a similar analysis specially prepared citrus tree fertilizer used at the following rates: Young trees (one to two years after planting) will require about one-half pound of fertilizer; Small trees (two to three years after planting) will require about three-quarters pound; Mid-sized small trees (three to four years after planting) will require about a pound and one-half; .
|
