Gizmos & Gadgets

Hostess Gadgets for the Holidays

Tools for fun & festive entertaining...

The holidays are almost here and soon it’ll be time to eat, drink and be merry! Here are five great gadgets that’ll make entertaining over the holidays a breeze.

Everyone loves chocolate fondue and it’s never been easier to serve, and keep warm, than in the Dessert Electric Dip Tray by T-fal. There’s no need to search around for a tea light and match since the chocolate melts directly in the ceramic pot. Put biscotti and fresh cut pieces of fruit in this compact tray and you’ve got a festive dessert that will have your guests grinning with delight. Also great for keeping appetizers like a spinach and artichoke dip or cheese dip warm.

$49.99 at The Bay,

Home Outfitters, and Sears

If you enjoy slow cooking, you’ll love the 3-in-One Slow Cooker by Hamilton Beach. There are three different bowl sizes (2, 4, or 6 quarts) so you can cook a meal according to the number of guests you plan to have at the big holiday feast. The stoneware bowls are elegant enough to be placed right on the dinner table. For cocktail parties, make a mulled cider in the slow cooker and let guests help themselves.

$69.99 at major department and hardware stores Visit HamiltonBeach.ca to find a retailer.

Impress your guests by how quickly the turkey gets carved and ready for serving. The Electric Knife by Cuisinart is a handy gadget that easily slices through large cuts of meats. The handle is designed for a right- or left-handed person so the turkey-carving task can be done by just about anyone. Also comes with a second blade for bread slicing.

$59.99 at Home Depot

If you forgot to put the white wine in the fridge, the Single Bottle Wine Cooler by Koolatron will cool it for you in less than 30 minutes. The temperature can also be heated to up to 45°C which makes it great for warming up sake, too.

Serve your guests a perfectly brewed cup of coffee at dessert time using the Pro Grinder-Brewer KM 7000 by KRUPS. This hi-tech appliance automatically measures and grinds the right amount of beans so the coffee tastes the way your guests like it—mild, medium or strong. There’s even a programmable clock to set the machine to start brewing coffee at anytime—a great feature for the hostess who bustles around all evening!

$249.99 at The Bay and other leading kitchen and gourmet stores

$47.99 at Costco

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises

As seen in the December Issue of Main Street Magazine.

Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Ancient Mystic

Helen of Sparta and Troy

Some of you may have even seen Troy, the movie with Brad Pitt playing a very sensitive Achilles and Orlando Bloom as a painfully wussy Paris. I love that movie, despite the fact that it's only loosely based on recorded myth, but seeing Helen was a big downer for me. I mean, she was hot (and that was great given my feelings about most artistic representations of the heroine), but what's awesome about Helen is that no one every can really know her. That she is profoundly multi-dimensional and beyond any one telling. Which brings me to my own telling: what do I do? I will try to tell you as much as I can so that you can choose the aspects you like best and make her into the woman of your dreams, just as she was meant to be.

I'm here to tell you the story how those infamous thousand ships got launched, but, since you can (and should) go ahead and read the Iliad to see the version focusing on such heroes as Achilles and Hector, I will begin with the woman who got the blame, and unlike Euripides' version, I will begin at the beginning.

Leda was the very beautiful Queen of Sparta and married to this dude Tyndareus by loved by that most fecund of all gods, Zeus himself. Only, this wasn't any ol' seduction, as you may remember, Zeus was quite creative, and in this case, he took the shape of a swan. Less than a year later, Leda laid two eggs. The first contained Helen and Polydeuces and the second held Clytemnestra and Castor (the idea being that Helen and her egg mate were Zeus' children, while the latter egg belonged to Tyndareus. Anyway, Helen grew up in Sparta getting more and more beautiful until just after she hit puberty and really began to follow in her mother's footsteps by getting abducted.

The abductor was the equally famous Theseus, King of Athens. He took her to Aphidna and they did their thing for a good while. One unlikely version says that their child was Iphigenia. At any rate, his goal of banging a daughter of Zeus now accomplished, the king moved on. But Helen was still a hot (in the slang sense) commodity, and her family - especially her brothers who were heroes in their own right - wanted her back. Castor and Polydeuces (the Dioscuri) attacked Athens and got Helen back and even took some girl slaves of their own while they were there. Back at the ranch, Clytemnestra was already married (first to Tantalus and then to Agamemnon who we will see later) but Helen, well, now that she was home her unmarried status became an immediate problem. As Mr. Robert Bell says, "Every red-blooded male in Greece who had heard of the gorgeous Helen dreamed of possessing her." And that was an economic problem for Daddy Tyndareus who had to pay for all the suitors coming to visit.

Alternatively, the rule of Sparta was matrilineal and thus she was such a hot ticket because she also brought with her in marriage one of the most successful cities on the continent. Either way, she had a lot of suitors. Fortunately for Tyndareus, when Odysseus came (and ended up walking out with Penelope, Helen's cousin), he made a suggestion that suitors be required to swear an oath:

Whoever Tyndareus chose to be Helen's husband must be respected by the rest, and more than that, ready to defend that relationship against anyone who would try to steal her away.

Turns out, Tyndareus chose Menelaus. Menelaus kinda sucked. He was kind of like a noble, not-to-attractive, rich scrub (since most of his power and money came from his powerful brother Agamemnon - remember? the one that married Clytemnestra?). Yeah, well, anyway, when his granddad died he went for some rituals and met Paris (aka Alexander) and took him home and then LEFT him there while he took a trip to Crete. What?!? Well, I suppose he felt safe given the oath of the suitors. Well, Paris had a different kind of advantage given to him by the goddess Aphrodite herself.

You ready for the abduction? Hah! Not yet. First she cranked out 4-5 kids. Menelaus' kids. Or possibly Menelaus' and a handy hunky slave's kids. Don't feel bad for Menelaus, kids; he was cheating on her when he was out mourning his grandfather. So, yes. Helen was a MILF. Incidentally, while Menelaus was out purifying himself one day (there was a famine, and if you've read Oedipus Tyrannos you know it's gotta be the king's fault) and he brought home Paris (aka Alexander aka Orlando Bloom). Now Paris was already convinced that he had been given Helen by Aphrodite, but he didn't mention that to Menelaus. Instead he bided his time and when the moment seemed right ... that is, the moment Menelaus left Paris in the house while he left town (this is a very Mafia moment here). Young, dashing, arrogant Paris was actually given extra hotness by Aphrodite to seal the deal and off they went in his ship back to Thebes. Now, I feel like I owe it to Helen to explain that there are a number of different versions of the "abduction". Some say it was by force, some say she went willingly, some remember that Aphrodite had cursed both daughters of Tyndareus to be unfaithful and hey look, she was already sleeping with slaves!, mostly, though, they say she fell in love. Even if she was in love, there was a whole lot of sorrow in her life and her relationships hurt a lot of people, not least of all Helen. __

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the December Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Poetic Musings

Reaching for White
By Lisa Shields

The sun rose on fields
snow blown and misted
ghostly swirls and dervishes.
No fog this---
for fog simply lies.
No---this was living
as it arched and twisted,
fingering out to the road
and reaching for me
like the shade of a beloved friend.
There was white inside,
trying to seep out of pores,
I felt it strain
trying to mesh and meld
with this sentient wraith
fingers touching
joining
and suddenly
I am the morning mist
dancing in the crystal air.


© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

kiss - I Was Made For Loving You

Fun and Easy Crafts

Create Instant Artwork

Creative Paper Picture Matting
Use leftover paper as a makeshift mat board. Simply measure your scraps and piece them together in a patchwork pattern. Customize the frame with photos and journaling.




Paper-Lined Jars
The difference is in the details. Cover the insides of plastic or glass jars and containers with patterned paper. Cut to size, place inside, and secure with tape. Cover a grouping of jars and display together







Pretty Desk Organizer
Take your desk organizer from plain to pretty with paper scraps. Start with a clear acrylic desk organizer. Cut scraps according to size of the organizer spaces. Play with patterns and colors to create a fun look. Adhere to the bottom of the container with tape. These can be easily switched when your decor changes.







Gift Embellishments
With Christmas right around the corner you might want to try some homemade gift wrap. Adorn gifts with repurposed paper details. Tie up packages with pretty ribbons. Stamp on plain or patterned paper. Cut around the design and adhere to the gift or use as a tag.

Treat Baskets
Another great Christmas idea!
Make little baskets for anyone deserving of a special treat. Cut paper in a circle. Make two cuts to the center so that one-fourth of the circle is removed. Wrap the paper in a cone and adhere. Punch holes near the top to lace through a ribbon handle. Fill with treats for any occasion, these are great for your child's teacher, you can customized the paper with a theme, names or other funky ideas. And there is no limit to the goodies you can put inside.

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

10 Affordable ways to De-Stress

Whether you’re an executive, an assistant juggling 10 high-level bosses, or a receptionist dealing with difficult customers, any can be overwhelming and stressful. Learning how to manage stress and channel it through positive means is vital, not just for a successful career, but for your happiness and well-being too.

If you don’t take time to unwind, constant stress can lead to a number of physical and psychological problems, like poor concentration, depression, back pain and weight gain. It also weakens your immune system and increases your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

1. Do Something You Did All the Time as a Kid
Do you ever long for those days when your biggest concerns were nap time, recess and Saturday morning cartoons? You’d build pillow forts at slumber parties, climb the biggest tree in your neighbourhood and catch fireflies at night. It’s amazing how much less complicated life was back in the day.
Just because you’re all grown up now doesn’t mean you can’t still partake in the simple joys of childhood. Turn off your Blackberry, disconnect from the internet, and act like a kid whenever you can. Revel in the refreshing nostalgia, and feel the positive associations and memories melt away your stress.
If you have kids of your own, have them participate in these activities with you. Ride a bike to the park. Start a pick-up kickball game with your family or friends. Make a snowman in the wintertime. The possibilities (and your imagination) are endless.
Cost: Free

2. Volunteer Your Time or Expertise
One of the best feelings in the world is giving back to others. As an administrative professional, you have tons of knowledge and experience and can work in any field, so why not share your skills with someone else? Volunteering can be something small – like reading a story to young cancer patients one day a month. It can also benefit your career. No matter what you do, you can be content to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.
Not only is volunteering incredibly fulfilling, it’s also a great resume builder. If you’re a recent grad or career changer, volunteering can give you valuable training and hands-on experience to jump start your career – you can even offer administrative services like business writing to charity organizations in need.
Non-profit associations are always looking for more help, so even if you can only donate 5 hours a month, your time will be very much appreciated and well worth the effort.

Cost: Reading at your local hospital or cleaning up litter at your favourite park costs next to nothing (just factor in the transportation costs and pack your own lunch). Volunteering abroad may cost the price of airfare and lodging.
You can also Google “volunteer” and your town.

3. Stretch, Breathe and Meditate
It’s hard not to feel stressed and overworked by the hectic pace of a hyper-connected society that moves at the speed of social networking. Before you go into meltdown mode, hit pause, relax and take a breather.
Even if yoga’s not your thing, basic meditation, stretching and breathing techniques, though seemingly simple, can work wonders for your stress relief. When you stress out, tension is stored in your body, causing pain and tightness, especially in your back and shoulders. Stretching will get your body loose and your circulation flowing in full force again.
To meditate, find a relaxing atmosphere, sit on level ground (find a cushion if uncomfortable), close your eyes, relax every muscle and breathe deeply with your abdomen, not your chest. Focus on each inhale and exhale to exclude other thoughts and quiet your mind.

Cost: Free
More Info: Google “how to meditate” or visit How-to-Meditate.org

4. Hang Out With Your Funniest Friend
It’s been scientifically proven that laughter is both preventive and therapeutic. It decreases your stress hormone levels and boosts healthy hormones, like endorphins, strengthening your immune system. You even get a mini workout for your abs, diaphragm and your shoulders.
Not only will laughing with your friend boost your mood, it’ll take your mind off all the stressors in your life. It offers a release from the pent-up emotions and frustrations you may be feeling, and the emotional bonding will boost your self-esteem and feeling of connectedness to others.
Laughter really is the best medicine, so call up your funniest friend and hang out. You’ll be glad you did.

Cost: Free

5. SLEEP
Nothing beats a good night’s rest. Impatient customers calling you non-stop? Holier-than-thou coworkers bossing you around? Many administrative professionals bring their troubles home with them and that equals more stress for you and your loved ones. Why not sleep it off? Getting even 30 minutes of shut eye can help you relax and put your problems in perspective.
If you’re going to try to sleep off your stress, make sure you’ve got surroundings that promote good quality rest. A dark, cool, quiet room with few electronics is best. Feeling antsy but still want to rest? Try a cup of Valerian Root or chamomile tea. A warm bath can also help put you in a restful state of mind.

Cost: Free
More Info: National Sleep Foundation

6. Visit the Shooting Range
Does your stress ever turn into rage, and you want to rip your hair out and scream? Before you tear down your curtains and punch that hole in your wall, consider paying a visit to your local shooting range.
There’s something curiously calming about loading a gun, aiming, squeezing the trigger and hearing the bullets rip holes into a paper target. Not only does it release the physical tension that’s been building up from your stress, but you also get the satisfaction of taking home your target and showing off your killer aiming skills to your friends.
Shooting ranges generally charge by the hour, and the prices are reasonable if you have your own gun. Renting a gun isn’t that much more expensive, but if you wanted to take a class, they’re a bit pricey, ranging from $40 to $65.

Cost: $10-18/hour if you have your own gun; Renting a gun can be $10-20/hour extra; Classes run $40-65
More Info: Google “shooting range” and your town.

7. Buy Cheap Paints or an Art Project at a Hobby Store
Looking at art definitely has its calming effects, but it’s not always just about the product. You don’t have to be Picasso to get the health benefits of producing beautiful works of art either. People who make art as a hobby find that the process of self-expression through unwinding and creating art can be extremely soothing as well.
Artistic self-expression originates from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, who theorized that the power of imagery could tap into the thoughts, memories and feelings of a person, whether conscious or unconscious. Art therapy is thus frequently used in hospitals, clinics and rehab facilities to promote physical, emotional and mental wellbeing via creative expression.
Making art helps lessen anxiety, stress and depression, and promote self-awareness, self-esteem and insight into your life. You can pick up reasonably priced art supplies or art kits at any hobby store. Just set aside an art space, turn on some relaxing music and paint to your health.

Cost: $7-25
More Info: Google “art store” or “hobby store” and your town.

8. Cook a Delicious Dinner with Items You Have in Your Fridge
America’s “Fast Food Nation” mentality has us ploughing through processed, barely digestible microwave dinners and super-sized extra value meals. Not only is our physique suffering, our stress and anxiety levels are off the charts. Everything around us, even food, is moving at the speed of light.
Back up, slow down and consider taking the time to cook your next meal with simple items you already have in your fridge and cupboards. Cooking takes patience and persistence. The process of chopping, measuring, stirring and sautéing can be incredibly therapeutic.
Check what ingredients you have in your kitchen, and look up a recipe (see below). Pick something simple to make, so the preparation and cleanup don’t stress you out. Let the culinary sensations, like scent, sight and touch mesmerize you. Finally, take pride in the sense of accomplishment as you slowly enjoy your delicious meal.

Cost: Free
More Info: Visit any of these websites to get recipes based on ingredients that you have:
• Allrecipes.com
• Cookingbynumbers.com
• Bigoven.com
• Recipematcher.com
• Supercook.com

9. Go on a Hike or Go to the Park
Sometimes we get so caught up in traffic, shopping malls and the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we forget to stop and smell the flowers. But when Ralph Waldo Emerson said “adopt the pace of nature,” he wasn’t being poetic—he was being entirely scientific.
Science has proven time and time again how the psychological benefits of nature can calm the brain and better your mood and concentration. Hospital patients recover faster when they have a view of trees and flowers from their window, and children with attention-deficit disorder exhibit less symptoms in a natural environment.
So get back to basics, and enjoy nature. Bring a blanket to the park and lie out, or go for a hike and take in the scenery. Bask in the sun, breathe in the fresh air, and appreciate all the colourful simplicity of the outdoors. Your brain’s health depends on it.

Cost: Mostly free (Some parks/hiking grounds may charge $3-5)
More Info: Check out this great interactive park directory or just Google “hiking trail” or “park” and your town.

10. Take a Bath with Candles and Aromatherapy
The recuperative and healing properties of water have many stress-relieving benefits and allow the body to fall into a deeper sleep. Submerging in a bath tub relieves your body from the constant pull of gravity, and heated water relaxes muscle tension, improving circulation, range of motion and energy flow.
Melt away your stress by creating a mini spa in your bathroom. Turn on soothing music, dim the lights, light candles and prepare fresh towels. The music will drown out household sounds that you may associate with everyday stressors, and relaxed lighting can go a long way when creating a peaceful mood. You can pick up high-end aromatherapy bubble bath soap, skin-moisturizing oils and exfoliating body scrubs on the cheap at your local discount stores.
Most importantly, make arrangements for your well-deserved uninterrupted solitude. Turn off your cell phone, log out of email and if you have roommates or family around, tell them to leave you alone for an hour or two. Be sure to prepare your bed beforehand so you have a nice, comfy space to crawl into after your bath.

Cost: $4-18, depending on how many spa items you want to buy

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Ancient Mystic

Aphrodite
Greek Goddess of Love
At first I thought that Aphrodite was one of those women - you know brain dead and beautiful? She got herself (and others) into enough trouble! But she was also far more than that. Women and men turned to her for aid to ease their longing; she was seen as gentle, fierce, pure, whorish, unpredictable, complex, fickle, steadfast, beautiful ... you get the picture. Love, to the ancient Greeks, was not a fluffy bunny emotion; it often clouds your judgement, gnaws at you, and just plain hurts. Aphrodite was not even immune to that herself (see her relationship with Anchises, among others). I said this would be quick, so I'll finish up with a few more important facts: she was born from the foam on the sea, married to an ugly nice god but slept around with a gorgeous jerk of a god, and could be quite involved in the lives of mortals (see Paris and Helen, Pygmalion and Galatea, and Meliboea, to name a few). She also had a girdle that made her smokin' hot and she sometimes lent it out.
Birth of the Love Goddess
When you think of Aphrodite, you probably think of the painting at the right - Botticelli's beautiful white-skinned red-headed goddess sailing to shore on a shell. He got it as right as can be expected, but the truth was, there was more than one story of her birth. The most well known has to do with the first part of her name: "aphro" (it means foam), and it's mostly the one we all think about as "the real story" - try to keep in mind though that there really isn't just one correct version. So without further ado, the story of Aphrodite's birth (according to Hesiod, a Homeric Hymn, and Pausanias).
Wayyyyyyyy back in the day, there was this dude named Uranus (Heaven). Now, Uranus wasn't such a great guy. He was totally harsh to his kids and his wife, so it wasn't much of a surprise when they turned on him. Gaia (Earth), his wife, sent their youngest son Cronus against his father, armed with a sickle. So, as Cronus was throwin' his dad out of heaven, he castrated him with the sickle (we are talking some serious daddy issues). The blood from Uranus' genitalia fell into the sea, and caused foam upon which the beautiful Aphrodite was born. She was blown to the island of Cythera and then went on to Cyprus with Love and Desire accompanying her (this is slightly confusing since other myths say that she gave birth to Love later, but don't worry your head about it!). As she arrived on the shore, she found the Horai (Seasons) there waiting for her dancing around like beautiful dorks. As she stepped off her pillow of foam onto the sand they clothed her in golden robes and jewels and led her to Mount Olympus. It's worth mentioning that Cyprus maintained the largest cult of Aphrodite, based on her apparent "birth" there, and she was particularly big in Paphos
The second most popular story is the one described and alluded to by Homer (in the Iliad), Apollodorus, and Euripides (in Helen). It says that Aphrodite is not as parentless as she seems, her mother's name is Dione and her father was Zeus. This creates a couple of problems when Zeus decides he wants to sleep with her, but not for long. Not a whole lot of pretty details on story two, but I did warn you.
There are also stories that ascribing parentage to Uranus (Heaven) and Hemera (Day). And even another story that said that she was the daughter of Euonyme and Cronos. Euonyme may sound new to you. That's okay; she was new to me, too. Robert Bell says that she is an epithet of Gaia. So another Earth connection. But then Carl Kerenyi says that Euonyme is just a corruption of Eurynome (the Oceanid and Creatrix). Then there's the version that makes her an Oceanid. Try to believe all of them at once, if you can.

Lovers
I'm still working on this part. Trust me; there are a lot of them. She slept with both gods and mortals - but tended to prefer the former - except in the case of Adonis. It's a story that everyone should know, as it is still referred to by "educated people." There was also her relationship with Ares, with Hermes, with Poseidon, with Zeus, and with Dionysus, with a little minor water deity named Nerites. In addition to Adonis, there was the unfortunate fling with Anchises, the lucky Boutes, and the young Phaon and Phaethon. She had a number of children from these unions; in fact, she bore children to most everybody except her husband. To Ares she bore Phobus (Fear), Deimus (Dread), and Harmonia, To Hermes she bore Hermaphroditus, the counterpart of Androgyne. To Dionysus she bore Priapus - who had huge genitals given to him by Hera in disapproval for Aphrodite's promiscuity.
Some of her affairs were hilarious and some were tragic, and some just nice. I will try to remember to come back and fill in some more details when I get a chance.

Marriage
Marriage for upper class women in ancient Greece wasn't so much about the love, and this was just as true for Aphrodite. When Hephaestus got mad at his mommy, Hera, for throwing him off Olympus and crippling him, he tricked her into imprisonment in a golden throne. Zeus, the dutiful husband, offered up his ward Aphrodite to whoever let Hera out. Aphrodite was pretty sure Ares would be able to do it (he wasn't). When Hephaestus came back and released her himself, she was stuck with him. Sort of. It's tough to make a goddess do what she doesn't want to do.
Homer tells the story of how Ares wooed her with gifts and flowers (plus he was certainly more attractive than the lame Hephaestus). They started sleeping together, mostly in Hephaestus' bed. But Helios (the Sun) saw through the window that they were getting it on and went straight to tattle to Aphrodite's husband. Well now, he was a master craftsman - the God of such things in fact - so he made a trap with a golden net to catch them in delicto flagrante. It worked and they were caught in the act. Hephaestus, pissed off like nothing, called all of the gods to witness (and laugh their butts off at) their shame. Hephaestus got his bride-gifts back, and Poseidon (the sea god) convinced him to let the couple go (they were off like a shot in different directions). That was Aphrodite's only marriage. Well, almost the end. Hephaestus gave Harmonia, Aphrodite's daughter from the affair, a cursed necklace that screwed all of her descendants (see Semele, Agave, Ino, etc.)

Her Realm
Aphrodite is more complicated than most Greek myth summaries give her credit for. That said, she does have her moments - like the one about Aphrodite's work ethic. You see, the Fates allotted Aphrodite one divine duty, and one only: to make love. Perhaps sex got old for her, perhaps she had a headache, who knows, but one day Athena found her at a loom. Athena immediately complained that her territory was being violated, and threatened to abandon the loom and everything that went with it. Aphrodite, not wanting to be stuck with too much to handle, apologized profusely, and never did a day of work after that. But that is NOT all there is to this Goddess. More later, but I need to mention that she was also the patron goddess of prostitution.

Ancient Poems
~Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, translated by N. S. Gill~
I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold- filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father's house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had fully decked her, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea.

Poetic Musings Presents

Poet T.R. Woodruff

© Copyright, T.R. Woodruff, 2010.
Reproduced with permission to: Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises, from T.R. Woodruff

Goddess

I had never touched a woman
with an immortal beauty, & while
what I know of goddesses
wouldn’t satisfy the curiosity of scholars,
something in me summoned up
the archetypal figure in my head
of Aphrodite.
With your long hair, exposed
breasts silhouetted & I watched you enter
moonlit waters, that pale reflection
distorted in the rippling pond,
your flesh an eternal glow.

I asked you if you were real, your stare
declaring war against my body,
while untruths filled your eyes like inky pools,
swirling with obscurity, your lips
whispering promises to the darkness, perhaps
even to me.

Come! you said when first you took me
into the glistening midnight pond, rippling
rings spread outward. You in its middle,
standing nude, waist deep.
Softness, your tender skin
cleansed with an earlier rain, gentle—
—locks of hair
caressed the midsummer wind,
like a child’s giggle somewhere off in the distance.
Grey mist twisted from the surface of the water
I was afraid of you, afraid
of your embrace. That I the liar & you the thief,
would lead us into trickery, into deceit
I knew my flesh betrayed me
to you in that moment
your pale radiance the prison.
I surrendered to you,
your sexual shape, my sexual lust, & the writhing creature
our bodies twisted into, yours equally strong—
the proof of passion,
small scratches on my skin.


Goddess! I said out loud
to the hooting owl & trickling fish,
I had to read your lips above the crickets, whining—
My tongue swollen in my mouth
kissed midnight dew drops from your skin.
In the water, as we embraced
in the wavering reflection of the moon,
you kissed me hard & with a smile
said, You are a surprising lover!

I awoke in the moist earth, stuck against
a stone & mud soaked stalks.
My feet touched the pond.
You, the goddess I loved hard, gone & I tried
to shake the image of your nakedness
from my mind,
but my body collapsed into the soil,
slurping muck, my own nakedness
my lust & lost underthings.

Whether we loved under the moon
or only I imagined you on your pedestal
that night, there’s no telling.
But something made me wonder,
that you touched me before I got there. Let me to believe
you were with me all along.

About the Author: T.R. Woodruff lives in the Midwestern grasslands of Missouri. In the spring of 2010, he left behind more than fourteen years of corporate America to pursue his passion for words. He is wrapping up his MFA from Lindenwood University, holds his MBA from Webster University, and plans to pursue his PhD in 2011.

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the October Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Budget Travel

Off Season Travel

By Mark Kahler

During an enjoyable and unhurried visit to Venice, my budget travel curiosity prompted a question for the desk clerk. I asked him what our room would cost in July.
His response came in two parts: The first was "if it's available" and the second was a quote of about $110 USD.

Notice "part one" of the answer. Smaller budget hotels that build loyal clientele often have their rooms booked months or even years ahead. This little budget gem might not even be an option for the July budget traveler.

Now to part two: although $110 is a reasonable rate, it was about 40 percent more than I was paying in March. It's the same room, with the same complimentary breakfast and the same short walk to St. Mark's.
Many European hotels have a "menu" of prices almost as extensive as the restaurants down the street. November rates are low, December can rise one week, sink the next, with January lower still.

One drawback to this strategy is that some European inns close during the off-season, content to remodel and retool for the next tourist onslaught. So off-season travelers need to do even more homework than most. That great deal in the guidebooks might come with fine print that says "closed" on your intended travel dates.

Dark and Cold

The weather can be a big problem. It's not much fun admiring the architectural beauty of Rome when a biting wind is in your face. Be sure to dress in thin layers that can be peeled off as the weather warms during the day.

Burning sun can be a turn-off, too. That's something to think about if you're bound for Italy. Personally, a cool day with occasional showers is fine for sightseeing. A day with overwhelming heat and humidity is much less enjoyable.

Bonus

I'm told Venice is a crowded place in summer. Every other person you see has a camera and a bag of souvenirs in hand. The natives love it because they can sell lots of high-priced film and kitsch.
These are things I have read about. Remember, I went in the off-season.

I got to meet restaurant owners and shopkeepers. They were relaxed enough to talk to me and answer my wide-eyed questions about their beautiful city. A few were able to share money-saving tips.
This could happen on a crowded, hot summer day, too. But the odds are much more in your favour from November through March.

Low prices, smaller crowds, and better opportunities to meet the natives. Who says it's "off" season, anyway?

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the October Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

ART in ACTION: Interview with Nick Rose

|For the complete interview including photos and art work download a pdf copy of MSM on the website. |Copyright Main Street Magazine, October 2010 issue. ISSN:1920-4299, Printed and published in Canada. For your FREE copy of MSM go to www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Nick Rose is a traditional illustrator who is renowned for his of pictorial storytelling, and influence he acquired by studying the work and teachings of Howard Pyle, the father of American illustrations as taught to him by Master Daniel Horne.

Not only has he trained under a Master, he also trained under Todd Lockwood, one of the all time greats in the fantasy field. Though the years Mr. Rose has done 100’s of book and magazine covers as well as interior illustrations. He also has an impressive list of commercial clients, including Sea World, the Carolina Panthers, the Williamsburg VA civil war museum, and Quay Publishing in London England to name a very few.

Some of the more notable publishers he has worked for are Dragon Magazine, Evil Nerd Empire, Hero Games Inc, 100 Kingdom games, Whiskey Creek Press (The Torrid Romance division, yes, he even did erotic romance covers) and many, many more.

Main Street Magazine had the opportunity to interview “Nick”, and we are happy to have him in our first “ART IN ACTION” article! We know too that as you read his story, walk in his shoes and get to the man, the artist and the vision of “Nick Rose”- that you too will love him as much as we do!

“I was born with the name William “Nick” Johns”, Nick told MSM, “but after becoming a professional artist, I decided to go by a name I had used in my days of doing fandom art, Nick Rose. I always have had a love for roses, and I felt like my life was a lot like a rose. After a long time I bloomed into something beautiful, but still would draw blood if you were not careful. That’s one reason I named my blog “Every Rose has its Thorn” like the song by Poison. If you’re interested in reading it, you can find it at http://nickroseart.blogspot.com/

I talk about my life as an artist, the work I do, and share the lessons I was taught by 2 of the greatest artist in the world, Master Daniel Horne and Fantasy legend Todd Lockwood. Like myself, I realize that there are a lot of talented artist out there that never got the chance to go to an expensive art school and learn the things that “famous artist” learn, but mostly don’t want to share. I understand why a good percentage of artist don’t want to share the knowledge, (They don’t want any more competition than they already have) but in my eyes, I feel that the knowledge should be shared with anyone who seeks it”. Daniel reached out and offered to help me after we had known each other for several years. He is truly one of the all time greats, and a wonderful man. His paintings, sculptures and Monster masks are amazing, and he does do some on line classes as well. The lessons he taught me where handed down by the very first American Master, Howard Pyle. So there is a lot of pride and history there. One day I hope to do a book or a long article on the linage of how the knowledge was passed from one student to the next. I know the Master that trained Daniel is named Ken Lagger.

Daniel introduced me to Todd Lockwood to learn the basic rules of drawing and painting. Todd is an awesome man and artist, but he explained to me he didn’t have time to blow smoke up my butt, and if I wanted to learn, he didn’t have time to waste so I did everything he told me to do. It was like going to boot camp, I love Todd to death, but he didn’t cut me any slack. At one point he told me I had no business painting, because I didn’t even understand how to draw. I’m not ashamed to admit it, he had me in tears. Up to that point I had been working in small press and had at least 80 illustrations under my belt, 20 of those being covers, and at the time I could not understand why he would say such things to me, but now 4 years later, I understand why, and in his shoe’s would have done the same thing. One thing is for sure, without the help of these two wonderful men, my career would have been very different.

A self taught artist does not know those basic’s, you can read about them, but until someone actually takes the time to go over them with you with examples, questions and answers you really don’t “get it”, or at least I didn’t and most of my friends that I came up through the ranks with didn’t either. It’s like when I was a kid and I wanted to learn Kung Fu, and I bought some book full of pictures on how to do it. I studied it and I thought I knew what I was doing, until I got out of the Army and studied Martial Arts for several years. The real thing, and I what I thought I had learned from the book where two very different things. So this is why outside of doing my own art and projects that passing this knowledge on is something that is very close to the chest with me. I want to equal the playing field, and give everyone the same chance I was given. If Daniel and Todd hadn’t helped me, I would be someone that only a few people have heard of. I am also putting all this information into several books and DVD’ that should be available around 2014, and we are going to sell them very cheap compared to the 100 grand you would spend at an art school. I’m thinking just enough to cover the cost, plus a few dollars for the work put into it, and of course the money we donate to children’s charities. That is something very important to Madison and I.

MSM: Your artwork is considered by most as being on the dark side. How do you describe it?

What some see as dark and scary, I see as beautiful, mysterious and consider to be part of who I am. I often tell the young folks that I was “Goth” before people had a name for it. I am not a person of evil, a devil worshiper or any such thing. I just see the world in a dark light, and I consider that a gift. You can’t have the light without the darkness. Most the images I paint are a reflection of how I see some of the real life monsters that have always found there way to me ever since I was a child, or the ones I see on the news, and pass by on the street. The painting of the ghost girl (Spooky) to me is a sad painting. A poor little girl’s spirit left behind for whatever reason, just wanting someone to spend time with, but people run in terror from her because she is different and misunderstood. Like all things the majority of the human race doesn’t understand, they either kill, or experiment on. I have dreamed about her on several occasions and often wonder if she is real.

Over half of the work I do comes from my dreams, and a good bit comes from writers who I am hired to illustrate a cover for, but things have changed now. If I do work with a publisher or writer, it really has to be something that gets me excited and I feel like was made for me. I have reached the point to where I can pick and choose the work I do, and the really dark work is yet to come. One of the projects I am publishing myself is going to be called “The Book of Rose” It is a story told, with countless drawings and paintings by me, and it will be very dark. The faint of heart will have nightmares from it. But that is all I can say for now. Perhaps when I get it completed and published, I will tell more then, but honestly, I have a few people out there that like to steal my ideal’s, and this one no one is going to have a clue about until it is out and everything is trademarked and copyrighted. I am creating a role playing game based on it as well and there will be many volumes of “The Book of Rose” to come. This is one of those projects that will keep on as long as I am alive, perhaps even longer.

To me the darkness is like a blanket. In it, I feel protected and free from harm. When I am hurt, it is where I go to heal. I remember when I was a young teenager; my stepfather would get drunk and beat either my mom or me. I still have the scars under my neck from where he threw a glass at me and it shattered in my neck. My mom wouldn’t take me to the hospital, because she was afraid of what he would do. Instead, she picked most all the glass out of my neck with a pair of tweezers. I was lucky that it didn’t hit a main vein, after that I ran into the woods to a place only I knew about and hide in the darkness. The moon was out, and I could feel something around me giving me comfort as I shook with terror from what the monster had done to me. I didn’t come out of the woods the next day until he had left for work. That was the first time I can remember not being afraid of the dark, and felt safe in it. That is why my tag line is “May the Darkness Comfort You”

How did you come up with the name "Wicked Kitty Studio?"

Well, the truth is, it just kind of happened. I’ve always loved cats, and anything to do with them, including cartoons. Shortly after I moved in with Madison, she got a cat for her daughter and named it Misty. We had no ideal how old Misty was, because the family we got her from had found her a few years earlier in a church parking lot. At that point she was already full grown. But the couple who had found her told us that she didn’t “Play” well with other cats and hada lot of “wild” left in her. They finally had to get rid of her, since they had several cats and Misty didn’t want to share the food with the other cats.

She was declawed, so she could not scratch us, but she had one mean bite. I had also noticed that she seem very sensitive in the back half of her body, so I am guessing that she was hurt at some point and was never given the medical attention she needed.

Misty took up to me like I was her long lost owner, but she would play rough with Madison and the kids, so as a joke I started calling her “Wicked Kitty” and one night when everyone else was in bed, I got a wild hair and did a sketch of a cartoon like cat with an eye-patch, scars and so on. A few weeks later I did a quick painting based on the sketch, and I added the words Wicked Kitty Studio, and the Studio was born. It was about this time that Madison started forking out a ton of money for some very expensive equipment for me to use, and as the year went by, she had invested a lot into my career and gave me the chance I never had before. So Wicked Kitty Studio became a publishing company as well. Once we knew that we where going to be married and spend our lives together, I made her the owner of the company, so everything we build will be protected. By the time people are reading this, it will be Wicked Kitty Enterprises LLC.

For the complete interview with Nick Rose, visit www.mainstreetmagazine.net and download a FREE copy of MSM

One last thing, please check out my website at http://www.wickedkittystudio.com we do have prints for sale at very reasonable prices, and please check out the link page as well. You can visit the websites of the models I use, my artist friends, and other great things.Many blessings and Much Love. “May the Darkness comfort you”

~Nick Rose~

That's The Spirit

Well summer has passed and fall is into its full glory. Sunny days, cool nights and natures paintbrush have coloured the landscape. Sundays are full of football and the frost has hit the ground; my favourite time of year. Here are some of my favourite fall libations.
I always enjoy a wee glass of scotch by the fire on these cooler nights. I have been sampling a few new ones. My recent discovery is the one for me this fall – Longrow 10 year old. Longrow is a hard to find single malt from the Campbeltown region. Some suggest it has reached cult status. Longrow is double distilled from heavily peated malt. The whisky itself is restrained but full of flavor. It is antique gold in colour and delivers a full nose of toffee, salt and notes of peat. I love it s robust full body with its sweet palate of peaches and a hint of smoke. It has a pleasing long finish highlighted by its smoky, peachy palate. I enjoy it neat paired with a robust Cuban cigar. Try the Cohiba Siglo VI.
After a hearty stick to your ribs meal I like to enjoy a snifter of brandy. My recent favourite is a domestic pear brandy by Essential Spirits. As I look out at our small orchard and see our pear trees this brandy seems only appropriate. It has a delicate pear, cream, anise cookie, and mineral aroma. Its palate is clean with a balanced texture and long honeyed pear finish. A great dry fruity character with allspice and pink peppercorn accents. Very serious stuff and very enjoyable as a digestive.
In the fall we tend to eat a lot of breads and cheeses. We refer to them as nibbles when we have guests. Our cheese and bread selection is usually very artesian in nature and obviously very unique. This is when I like to roll out a full bodied deliciously deep red wine. This fall I will be serving up 2003 Due Torri Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico. This wine is produced from a blend of corvina, rondinella and molinara that has been dessicated on specially ventilated drying racks. The result is a full-bodied red with generous, plummy, dried fruit and chocolate notes. My note: A gorgeous, full-bodied to the max wine. Notes of deep black cherry liqueur. Food matches: aged cheeses, braised venison, bison steaks.

Many a folk will be raising a stein to celebrate Octoberfest. When thinking about this German celebration we must stay true to its origin. I like Spaten Oktoberfest. It can be described as golden to amber in colour. The aroma is fruity, caramel with a slight pungy rye hint. It is light and semi sweet in flavour and very satisfying. I like how it is malty with a very nice finish. Don’t forget to serve it in a traditional German stein. You may want to forgo the lederhosen unless you are throwing a full on Oktoberfest bash! Ein prosit!

It is apple season and what better way to finish the evening off than with a unique beer. Nickle Brook Brewery offers up a special little treat. They have brewed a Green Apple Pilsner that gets high marks. It is not an every day beer for me but at the end of the night it is a pleasure. It is amber in colour and has a very white head when properly poured. The aroma is of green apples – just what we would expect! There is a touch of sourness to the aroma and a thick rich creamy mouth feel. The overwhelming taste is of green apples with a slight sugary note. The finish continues to be sweet with a cider like taste while the aftertaste continues to deliver green apple flavours and a light hop tingle. If you are so inclined try serving it with a cheese sampler. Your guests WILL be impressed!

As always enjoy responsibly and
share amongst good friends.
Clare Jackson

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the October Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Money-Saving Tips from Finance Bloggers

Snowball Your Debt
J.D. Roth at Get Rich Slowly (getrichslowly.org) dug himself out from under a mountain of debt and now has cash in the bank. He did it by bucking conventional wisdom, which is to pay off the biggest debt with the highest interest rate first. This does minimize the interest you pay over the long term but offers very little motivation to stick with the program, because it's easy to feel like you're not getting anywhere and give up. Instead, Roth did what's called a "debt snowball," paying the minimum on every bill except the one with the lowest balance, which he quickly knocked out in full. Then he did the same thing again, eliminating another balance, and so on. I jumped on the bandwagon, paying off a small retail credit card lickety-split, which made me think I was succeeding. I added that monthly sum to the minimum payment on my next-smallest debt. Each time I hit another zero balance, the amount I can throw at the next debt in line gets bigger. As my snowball keeps growing, even large debts are dwindling—much to my delight.

Compute the Real Cost
According to the Bargain Babe (bargainbabe.com), if you're a minimum-amount-due type of payer, you end up shelling out 68 percent more for an item when you buy it with a credit card. This means that those 50-percent-off shoes are no bargain if you can't pay with cash. Since I loathe paying retail, I find that mentally adding 70 percent to the purchase price of something about to go on plastic is surprisingly effective at holding the line on my spending.

Know What Triggers You to Shop
When I click to open the National Spending Journal blog (blog.shoeboxed.com), these words greet me: "Often, consumers aren't aware of the underlying psychology that drives them to buy. Does the product trigger a nostalgic memory? Will it help you forget the bad day you just had?" Yes! That's me! This sort of pleasure-purchasing often happens to me at Target—I mean to grab shampoo and end up enthralled with a cappuccino machine. I know the drill—the best way to break the spell in a situation like that is to just walk away. For me, that's difficult. The next suggestion is to jot the must-have item on a list, which I tell myself I can bring shopping next time. But usually, said list looks silly when I get home and ends up in the garbage.

Shake Up Your Eating-Out Routine
As a big fan of eating out, I took note when Wise Bread (wisebread.com) suggested, "Bring your own wine." Obviously this depends on whether the restaurant allows it, so my husband and I go one better—we pair takeout from a place we like with our own bottle of red or white, and dine somewhere romantic, like in a park or next to the fire pit in our yard. Another trick we use pretty often is to hit Restaurant.com to buy gift certificates at a discount. I recently nabbed a $25 gift certificate for $10. We ate and drank in style for the cost of fast food.

Drive a Hard Bargain
At I Will Teach You to Be Rich (iwillteachyoutoberich.com), author Ramit Sethi offers no-holds-barred advice about negotiating, offering scripts for talking to everyone from your cable provider to your credit card issuers. I turned to him before I bought my Honda Fit. Even though I already considered myself a worthy adversary for any car dealer, I did learn from this master. As Sethi suggested, I began the process by going online and asking every dealership within 100 miles to e-mail me its best offer. A place an hour away offered me a lower price than one nearby, but not enough to make me want to road-trip. Off I went to my local dealer, just minutes away. Sure enough, he matched the price, which was lower than I would have dared suggest had I been a walk-in customer. The salesman tried to convince me to spend what I'd saved on a pricey maintenance package. I laughed. "It's my money," I said. "I'll keep it."

Log Spending
"Track your spending for three months," insists J. Money at Budgetsaresexy.com. True, this is the only way I can learn exactly where our money goes. What a huge eye-opener—so much so that instead of stopping at three months, I do this daily. I pay for everything with a credit or debit card and use Mint.com to trace every penny. The free program connects to all of my accounts, applies transactions as they happen to specific categories, like gas, groceries, and shopping, and compares my spending with the budgets I've set up. If I go over my allotment, I get a text message or e-mail (as does my husband) immediately, often before I'm even out of the store. (Yikes.)

Real Estate Secrets
If you pay a mortgage monthly or might list your home, keep this advice front-of-mind:
The Mortgage and Credit Diva (mortgageandcreditdiva.blogspot.com) says you can negotiate the commission you pay your real estate sales agent. "Consumer Reports conducted a survey recently of sellers," she says. "Only 46 percent tried to negotiate the fee with their real estate agents, but 71 percent of those who did were successful. You won't know if you don't try." I absolutely plan to do this if we sell our house. What do I have to lose—the respect of my real estate agent? Highly unlikely I had that anyhow.
Fivecentnickel.com helped me feel better about the $300,000 in interest my mortgage will cost over 30 years by showing me how to nearly effortlessly reduce that number. "Try making a payment every two weeks instead of once a month," he writes. "By sending in half of your monthly mortgage payment every two weeks, you end up making the equivalent of an extra payment each year." This will cut years off the life of the loan. Another way to accomplish the same thing is to overpay the mortgage by a fixed amount every month—as little as 10 percent extra does the trick. If I shave just five years off my mortgage, according to my bank's online calculator, I will save $59,000. Now that's a shopping spree!
Originally published in the July 2010 issue of Family Circle magazine, but certainly worth repeating here.

Javier - The Answer is Yes

16 Outdoor Decorating Ideas for under $50

by Yasmin Tabi

From the cheapest lounge chairs to easy-to-make decorations, here are 16 ideas that will turn your backyard into a festive entertaining space for family and friends.

Decorate with a Casual and Comfortable Feel
The key to creating a good space -- indoors and out -- is making sure the environment allows for relaxation and enjoyment.
• Start creating your backyard escape by surrounding yourself with items you love. Whether it's placing a collection of small glass bottles filled with daffodils on a side table or hanging wind chimes from a few tree branches, your styling choices should reflect your personal taste.
• "Treat your outdoor area as an integral part of your home," says Susie Coelho, star of HGTV's Surprise Gardener and author of Everyday Styling. "Break the psychological boundaries of the walls of the house by bringing indoor elements such as drapes, pillows, mirrors or candelabra out to the patio or yard."


Use color to create a festive look. Canvas pillows, for instance, are a perfect way to brighten up an old lounge chair or a washed out wicker loveseat. Keep in mind that pillows don't necessarily have to match; have fun experimenting with different styles.

Set the Mood with Outdoor Lighting

From easy-to-make lanterns to candle-adorned garden torches, create a mood with these lighting ideas:
• Create a rustic feel by making outdoor lanterns out of items from your own kitchen. Start with a few rusted tin cans and old mason jars (cleaned out, of course), add a candle and hang it with wire.
• Not only are citronella candles great for keeping bugs away, but they're also a cheap alternative to outdoor lighting. Drugstores carry various sizes of citronella candles in small hand-held mugs and larger buckets, which give those old yellow candles a more festive feel. When entertaining, cluster a bunch of citronella candles in the center of your picnic table to create a stylish effect.
• Fabric lanterns are all the rage this season. You can hang them from tree branches or planter hooks. Look for them in houseware and gift specialty stores.
• Though it might seem strange to pull out your Christmas lights in the middle of the summer, wrapping that small iridescent string of white bulbs around tree trunks and branches will bring a romantic, starry atmosphere to your backyard.
• Try something different than the typical summer tiki torch and look for candlelit lawn torches with flower or butterfly covers.


Create an Inviting Seating Area

Turn your backyard into an outdoor room with seating that's functional and comfortable so that you and your guests can relax and enjoy the surroundings.
• Don't be afraid to use old indoor chairs outside -- especially if they're just taking up space in the garage. Change their look and get them ready for summer by recovering cushions with colorful fabric.
• Add some tropical color to the backyard with bright beach chairs and recliners, perfect for relaxing and seating party guests.
• Create a canopy to define your area. With just four posts, some rope and a large piece of canvas, a make-it-yourself canopy can be a striking backdrop to your backyard.
• Another way to brighten up an old bench or lounge chair is to decorate it with colorful pillows and cushions. In fact, the brighter the pillows the less likely you are to notice the small nicks and signs of age on your outdoor furniture.


Use Outdoor Accessories

Maybe your outdoor space is already the ideal haven, but it still needs a few extra touches. Whether it's a pillow, a hammock, umbrella or some cute table settings, the smallest extras can add so much.
• Author Susie Coelho suggests highlighting the colors in your outdoor area by using coordinated place mats, glassware, dishes and plants. "For a centerpiece with the spirit of the outdoors, collect old or new bottles in different sizes, shapes and colors. Group them together and fill each one with a different flower or sprig of greenery from the garden."
• Create an easy-to-make outdoor table with help from styling guru and Discovery Channel star, Christopher Lowell. Christopher suggests pairing a wicker basket or a large terra-cotta pot with a piece of glass to create a quick patio table. (Just be careful of the kids!)
• Free-float in the summer breeze with a hammock, or lie back under the cool shade of a colorful umbrella, and let the weight lift from your shoulders.
• Decorate your eating spaces with exotic bamboo place mats that will add style to any table, followed by some fun (and unbreakable) acrylic plates in pastel colors.

Legal Beagle

*Please note, “Legal Beagle” articles are general legal guidelines and are not meant to replace legal counsel. Please see your local Paralegal, or Lawyer for detailed case-by-case information.

Step One: The Divorce

Marriage Breakdown

THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO GET A DIVORCE
The easy way - - Uncontested Divorce:
or
The hard way - - Contested Divorce

Divorce in Canada is controlled by the Divorce Act

However each province also has its own Family Law Acts, which will affect your divorce in some manner.

Divorce is granted in Canada for one reason. Marriage breakdown.

Marriage breakdown is based on one of the following three "grounds." There are just three grounds for marriage breakdown: Cruelty or Adultery, or Separation for one year. Any one of them is sufficient for divorce. You do not need to have more than one ground.

• Separation for one year:
  You have lived "separate and apart" for a year having decided the marriage is over. Living "separate and apart" does not necessarily mean living in separate homes. You can live separate and apart while sharing a home.

It is also possible to claim that although you only recently moved out and live in a different home, the marriage broke down and was essentially over at some time in the past, regardless of living arrangements

You do not need a separation agreement to prove separation.

• Adultery:
  Your spouse has had sexual intercourse with someone else and you are not going to forgive her/him for that.
• Cruelty:
  "Cruelty" can mean just about what ever the woman wants it to mean. If she claims it is unbearable to continue living together, the courts will probably accept that. Cruelty may include physical or mental "abuse."

Unfortunately many women's groups coach women on how to manipulate the system by claiming abuse, or be unfair regarding support, whether it is true or not, or out of spite and revenge; DO NOT put yourself and your children through this mess. Stick to the truth and the facts.

You should seriously consider using Separation as your ground for divorce. Most divorces in Canada are based on the grounds of separation for a year or more. Proving cruelty or adultery will be expensive, slow, frustrating and very difficult. Most people find it faster, simpler and much less expensive to simply separate for a year and then plead Separation as the grounds for divorce.

How do you determine when the one year waiting period started and ends?

The clock starts running when you decide that the marriage is over and there can be no reconciliation. You do not have to be physically living in separate homes to be "separated." Your separation can mean living in separate bedrooms, or as one of you moving out and living elsewhere. A separation agreement is a good idea as it will help you resolve property, custody and support matters. However you do not need a legal document that says you are separated, as there is no "legal separation" in Canada.

A Long Separation Doesn't Mean You're Divorced

Some uninformed people will say that if they are separated for a long period of time, say ten or twenty years, that their marriage is nullified. This is not true. Marriages do not just disolve or evaporate. A divorce granted by a judge is the only way that your marriage will be terminated under the eyes of the law.

Divorcing When You Didn't Marry In Canada

If you didn't marry in Canada, you can still legally get a divorce here. Divorce in Canada is based on residency, not the place of marriage. So, if you or your spouse has lived in Canada for at least one year you can obtain a divorce here. Citizenship: You do not have to be a Canadian citizen to apply for a divorce in Canada. You must reside here. Canadian Divorce Laws

The Divorce Act is a federal law made by the Parliament of Canada, administered equally across all provinces and territories. Only the superior court of each province has jurisdiction to deal with a Petition for Divorce. There Are No Winners in Court: Getting involved with the courts in a contested divorces is a lousy, destructive, enervating, expensive, frustrating, and time wasting nightmare that will last for years.

Do you know, for example, that a prolonged divorce or family court battle often will wipe out your resources completely? Can you afford to spend $30,000 or more on legal costs? How would that help your children? Or be in their "best interests?" Dealing with divorce is very trying and hard on both parties. It is not just the divorce, it is also the custody and access battles that follow and drag on for years. Dealing with the many unknowns.

How do I file for divorce in Canada?

You can do your own "uncontested" divorce, using separation for one year as the reason. You will have to do some leg work and follow simple instructions, but it can be done cheaply and quickly. If your divorce is simple and there are no major problems, you can do it yourself and seek an uncontested divorce with or without the help of a lawyer or paralegal. BUT, regardless it is prudent to spend a little money and consult with a divorce lawyer and have your options explained before you act A lawyer will explain how the law applies in your situation and how to protect your rights. You can then choose the right course of action for your situation. You can file for divorce with or without the involvement, consent or cooperation of your spouse.

BASIC TYPES OF DIVORCE

• Uncontested Divorce: You file the forms for divorce and if your spouse does not file a response, then the divorce becomes uncontested. You probably will not even have to appear in court. Usually a judge will just rubber stamp the divorce so long as there is no glaring unfairness or inequity in the proposed divorce arrangements. You cannot file an "uncontested divorce." The court determines this based on your filings.
• Joint Divorce: If you and your spouse agree on most or all of the issues you have an uncontested joint divorce. When both parties sign, and swear to the divorce papers the divorce is mutual and you are telling the court that you both want a divorce and agree on the terms you set up.
• Collaborative Contested Divorce: A Collaborative contested divorce occurs when the parties cannot agree on all of the issues, but are willing to negotiate through lawyers to solve all problems and all agree not to go to court.
• Contested Divorce: A contested divorce occurs when the parties cannot agree on all of the issues. This is where lawyers get involved. A contested divorce will involve considerable time, money and frustration. They often turn into major battles and both parties end up losers.

Common Steps to Divorce.

• Decide to Divorce.
• Research.
• Attend to property issues.
• Decide if you need a lawyer to prepare your divorce documents.

Each province has it's own way of doing things. Basically in each province the steps are:

• File your first set of papers in the right court.
• Wait for clearance from the Divorce Registry in Ottawa.
• While you are waiting you conduct 'service' on your spouse according to the rules of court procedure.
• Wait the prescribed number of days and hope the other side does what you want.
• File the second set of papers and your Affidavits.
• File Motions and financial statements as requested.
• Wait for a court decision

When are you divorced?

Divorce becomes final 31 days after the judge signs the order.

Once the judgement is final you can apply for a certificate of divorce.

You cannot remarry until you have that certificate.

Donna Kaye

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises

As seen in the June Issue of Main Street Magazine.

Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

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