By Wendy Reid Crisp Editor in chief, GRAND magazine Frank is the only member of our family with health insurance. A two-year-old McNab mix we acquired at the Humane Society, Frank is entering his second month of free medical insurance, part of the adoption package. After this month, we will pay $9 a month to, as the literature says, “protect Frank.” Free or not, Frank had to first be registered. Following instructions from the Humane Society, I called ShelterCare, the insurance company, and gave the young-voiced customer service representative Frank\’s adoption information. The rep... Read More

Does the following description appeal to you? “Cohousing is a type of collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own neighborhoods. Cohousing residents are consciously committed to living as a community. The physical design encourages both social contact and individual space. Private homes contain all the features of conventional homes, but residents also have access to extensive common facilities such as open space, courtyards, a playground and a common house.” This quote, from www.cohousing.org, reflects a lifestyle choice in the United... Read More

Empty today. Sad, worried, lonely, achy, anxious, immobile. Let just a little light in through the pain. Change always happens. In the center is the paradox of carrying hope and crying. Grieving is real. We just aren\’t use to paradoxes. Words like, both are true, and this is also how I feel, aren\’t communicated very often. We weren\’t taught to have a range of feelings and to honor all of them as value. All of the feelings build our heart muscles and add wonderment to life. Each experience, if you look back in your life, has added something for you to toss, re-evaluate, honor,... Read More

Yesterday I got a call from my precious daughter-in-law. Seems the family purchased an oversized kiddy pool for my grandbeauties. I was elated! After all, my grandchildren were already showing signs of being the next Olympic hopefuls with their nightly bathtub aerobics, so naturally, the next step would be for “Gan Maw” to show the little darlings how to dog paddle. I don\’t like to brag, but growing up I was known in some circles as the “girl you want to be with you when you\’re up the creek.” People at the local swimming pools would actually stare, and some pointed in awe.... Read More

Warm weather has finally arrived, and so it is time to get walking and watch your intake of calories. Take advantage of locally grown fruits and veggies and eat lean protein such as fish and organic chicken. Getting to a body mass index in the normal range is important. Body mass index is a number that is derived using an equation that takes into account your height and weight. The body mass index (BMI) is also tied to risk for disease. A body mass index between 25 and 30 is considered overweight. Thirty and over is considered to be obese. A woman who is 5\’2” and weighs 140 pounds has... Read More

Author: Kelly Stonewww.kellylstone.com Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos “No excuses. No distractions. No more blank pages.”—-such is the premise for Kelly Stone\’s no-nonsense guide for finding time to write. Who better to instruct on when to write, the art and logistics of getting your written work published—on finding your voice and unleashing it in print—than those who have successfully done so. Freelance writers, bestselling and award-winning authors, columnists and journalists impart the tactics they\’ve employed to achieve writing goals. Time to Write encourages... Read More

Author: Lorena McCourtneywww.lorenamccourtney.com Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos Lorena McCourtney serves up a light and mildly entertaining murder mystery in Your Chariot Awaits. Andi McConnell is the somewhat reluctant sleuth—forced to delve into the circumstances that placed a dead body in the trunk of her newly acquired limousine, as she is fast becoming a prime suspect. The death was ruled a result of foul-play and Andi McConnell moves to take matters in her own hands to clear her name. The story reads like the adventures of a sixty year old Nancy Drew and to a degree it works.... Read More

Author: Edited by Joanna Brandtwww.yogahealth.us Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos Loss is inevitable, Grief is natural, Healing is gradual is a compilation of stories that illustrates the grief we suffer when we lose something or someone we love. The accounts are varied: scenarios depicting the “dying away” of destructive notions that breakdown the self-esteem; the movement away from addictions with food and unhealthy body images; the letting go of identities that are superficial to create ones that are authentic and true, and the losing of someone who is dear to us. Eighteen authors share their... Read More