January 2011
Posture misalignment can cause pain in your back or anything connected to it. After all, the hip bone’s connected to the back bone, the back bone’s connected to the neck bone, and on it goes. It’s not just a folk song, but the integrated reality of our body. The key to good posture is correct joint alignment, though the complete picture involves balance, nerves and muscular strength—strong abdominals avoid pulling on the lower back.
Posture is the position or bearing of the body whether characteristic or assumed. The functional problem with posture arises when we assume a pose to walk around. Robert E. Dahl of Dahl Chiropractic Clinics said, “The head is heavy—about 10 pounds—and we’ll hold it in whatever way necessary to keep pressure off the nerves. If there is difficulty, our musculo-skeletal system gives off pain signals, but the brain sends messages to realign for proper flow to keep vital organs functioning.” Continue reading “Holding a Body in Balance”
Anne Geddes may have been the first to peddle the idea of a tot in a flower pot, but photographers like Tasha Schoen of Freckles Fotography find their own inspiration in every tiny newborn. For a Houston firefighter, she recently posed the family’s newest addition on dad’s helmet. “It was a difficult shot to get, but the parents loved that image,” she says. “I’m so honored by parents who trust me to photograph their precious children.” 
Do not forget me. Do not forget my story. At the age of 81, this is a reasonable concern for Walter Kase, who is still robust after all he has seen and been through. Born in 1929, Kase survived the Holocaust, and now, shares his story with the community in hopes of promoting love and ending hate. Kase focuses on reaching out to children, giving more than 50 speeches every year in schools and colleges throughout Texas. “I just tell my story,” he says. “Children’s minds are still open; you can make an impression.” In Cy-Fair, the impact of his message can be readily seen among students, and Hamilton Middle School has even dedicated the Walter Kase Commons to him. 
What do ninja eggs, space hamsters, and mighty mini-marshmallows have in common? They are fantasy and any one is the beginning of a great adventure. As a professional cartoonist for three decades, Mark Kistler of Cy-Fair has shared his love of drawing through an energetic teaching style with more than 7,000 school assembly workshops worldwide. “With a powerful imagination and a pencil, anyone can spend the afternoon in the jungle or on the lunar surface,” he shares. 
Touch is healing. We recognize and respond to a pat on the back, holding hands or a hug. Massage takes it the notion of touch as healing farther. And it can be especially beneficial to those who live alone or to someone who longs for a few minutes alone. 
Arriving at the defunct Bita Hochee Trading Post on the Navajo reservation, it was impossible to miss its striking butte. Bita Hochee means “red rock runs through it.” The trading post — north of Holbrook and about a two-hour drive from Flagstaff — serves as the studio for celebrated Navajo artist Redwing Nez. 
When entering the Merchants Gathering in Jerome—an old filling station complete with pump—visitors often find Cody DeLong, brush in hand. On a Friday, he carefully daubed drab olive paint on a canvas to bring a relic truck to life. Whether he is mixing oils for a still life or a landscape, his subjects are often right around the corner.
Set in the Bayou City in 1974, the financial thriller, Bond Daddy, takes readers into the inner workings of a bond market boiler room. Attorney turned author, Jason Fowell, and securities broker turned author, John Bott, give readers a rare glimpse into the high-pressure, deceptive, and coercive sales tactics used to lure investors into purchasing stocks and securities.