"Social Butterfly" Shrimp

This delectable Parmesan Herb Shrimp recipe is perfect for the reunion planner on the go and is made in just 5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 2 tablespoons white wine

• 1 tablespoon McCormick® Perfect Pinch® Mediterranean Herb Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Parsley Flakes

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add shrimp; cook and stir 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. 


2. Stir in wine, Seasoning, Parmesan cheese and parsley until shrimp are well coated. 


3. Serve with cooked rice and garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.

per serving:
Calories: 154
Fat: 7 g
Carbohydrates: 2 g
Cholesterol: 185 mg
Sodium: 366 mg
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 19 g

Goooooooooooooo Greyhounds!

Karen and John met at their 25 year high school reunion.  Karen was living in Southern California and flew back to Chicago to reconnect with her classmates from Hubbard High.  She was looking forward to seeing so many of them.... other than her ex-husband, Mike, that is. 

Once in Chicago, while staying at the home of her Aunt Marge, she lost her nerve and decided to skip the reunion. She just couldn’t face Mike and his new sweetheart.  “I just don’t think I can do this, Aunt Marge.”

Aunt Marge’s reply? “For God’s sake, you flew all the way out here!  Now get off your a** and go to that reunion!!”

And so Karen did go.... alone.

 
When she arrived she was handed a name tag, to which she immediately added the inscription, “Yes, Mike is here, but we’re divorced.”

While chatting up a mutual friend, Larry, Karen was introduced to John.  “He looked like he was having so much fun!” Karen commented.  That night John was cutting up the rug, dancing the night away with one female classmate after another. So, it came as no surprise when he asked Karen to dance.

While boogying, they both learned that the other was divorced and thus “available.”  Their connection was immediate.  The only hitch was Karen was living in California, not Chicago.... As fate would have it, John was living in California also - within driving distance of Karen’s home!

After the reunion festivities wound down the pair whisked away to an after-hours party where they snuck off to a back bedroom and “made out” like teenagers.

John (the geek) and Karen canoodle....
as Mike (the jock) is kept at ba

Karen returned to her aunt’s home at 5am to find Aunt Marge still awake, sitting window-side like a sentry, awaiting her return.  Words were exchanged and Aunt Marge issued the granddaddy of all threats, “I’m gonna call your mother!”

Karen was 42 years old at the time, by the way.

The very day Karen returned home to California, John called and asked her out on a proper date.  They shuttled back and forth between their two cities of residence for 4 years until taking the plunge and marrying.  That was 12 blissful years ago.

“Not bad for a geeky guy.” John beams. In high school Mike had been a football star; John, a member of the Audio Visual Club.

It’s endearing stories like this that seriously tempt me to hit the “like” button on my alma mater’s reunion page.

Afterward: John made a point of asking me to add the following note, “The night of the reunion, when I met Karen, there were a lot of women after me... but I chose Karen.”

Class Acts, Decades Later

Every year event venue’s summer calendars are jam-packed with class reunion functions.  The planning of these once-in-a-decade events can involve as many details as a wedding! So who does all the work?  People just like you - volunteer classmates with busy lives and obligations who take it upon themselves to gather up “the gang” and do their best to show them a good time.  But how exactly does one go about this Herculean labor of love?  Where does one start?  eHow.com offers this handy guide, as penned by one of their contributors:

How to Plan Your Class Reunion

So, you've graduated and you've started your career. Maybe you've even started a family. Years have past since your last prom so what better way to catch up with old friend and plan a reunion. The keys to creating a successful reunion involve an efficient reunion committee and as much advance planning as possible.

Begin the planning process at least a year in advance. Select a reunion committee of 5 to 10 alumni, and conduct your first meeting to brainstorm and develop an initial plan.

Locate as many alumni as possible through your alma mater's alumni center. Make a list of missing classmates, and begin a more extensive search to locate these people.

Research large ballrooms, convention centers, cruises and restaurants in your school's town. Call well in advance to reserve the venue for your preferred reunion date. Ask about any initial deposits up front, and inquire about the refund policy.

Consider working with a reunion planning specialist. These professionals can help plan your reunion, and will often front the money until attendees have sent in RSVPs and paid.

Plan an entire weekend around your reunion festivities, since many attendees will be traveling from out of town solely for the event. Plan one main reunion event on a Saturday night, as well as planning a Friday night welcome mixer and a post-reunion brunch or picnic.

Send out initial reunion "save the date" invitations approximately nine months before the reunion date. Include a missing classmates list, and ask people to respond if they have any information about the lost alumni.

Ask local businesses to provide door prizes and awards for the event. Businesses can receive logos and advertising in the reunion invitations and event schedules in exchange for their donations.

Tips & Warnings (various sources):

When deciding what month to hold your class reunion you might find it useful to know that national averages show the most popular months to hold a class reunion are:

• July 23%
• August 21%
• June 12%
• October 12%
• September 10%
• November 5%
• May 4%
• Other

When planning and budgeting for a class reunion you may find it useful to know that the number of classmates who attend their class reunion is typically in the range of 20-30%. Greater than 30% should be considered a highly successful reunion. 

You should plan that 80-90% of classmates attending the reunion will bring a guest. 

Ask attendees to send alumni histories with their RSVPs. Create an inexpensive memory album with a then-and-now for each student.

Set RSVP and payment deadlines well in advance.

Make name tags for all attendees. You can include a senior photo on the name tag if it is not cost-prohibitive.

Prepare a slide show or video compilation for the main event. Ask attendees to send their own clips for inclusion, and return all clips at the event. 

Decorate the center of tables with balloons in your school colors, stuffed mascot toys and relics from your school era.

Helpful comment from reader Tedpack:

“The single most important thing you can do to insure a good time is talk to the DJ/Band before hand. The people who never left town and see each other every week at PTA, soccer practice, poker night etc. are going to want to dance. The ones who did leave town and flew 1,500 miles to attend are going to want to talk, and they are not going to want to shout over the music. The ideal solution, if you can afford it, is to hire two rooms. Unless you are from Beverly Hills High, you won't be able to do that. Having the music "on" for 30 minutes, then off for 30 would be a reasonable compromise. Promise the DJ/Band the same amount of money as if he played all night. Impress upon him the desire of half the audience to talk. Reunions are not the same as dances or concerts. People (some people) want quiet time, to talk. Keep hammering that home to the DJ/Band.”

Do you have any reunion stories to share? We'd love to hear them!

Warmly,

Lilo

Two on One - Chateaubriand

The superlative 'for two' dish, prepared in classic fashion

Prep Time: 1 Hr
Cook Time: 10 Min
Ready In: 1 Hr 10 Min

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) fillets beef tenderloin filet, 1 1/2 inch thick 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• freshly ground black pepper to taste 
• 2 tablespoons butter  

Directions

1. Rub the beef with the vegetable oil and season with freshly ground black pepper. 
2. Let the beef rest at room temperature for 1 hour. 
3. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. 
4. Quickly sear the meat about 5 seconds on each side, then remove from skillet. 
5. Melt and brown the butter in the skillet. Return the meat to the skillet, and fry 4 to 5 minutes on each side. 
6. The outside of the meat should be browned and crisp. Remove from the skillet and let stand for about 5 minutes for the juices to settle.  

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 711 | Total Fat: 50.1g | Cholesterol: 219mg

Pairing suggestion: Potatoes Dauphin, Brussel Sprouts

One on One-derful

Team sports, going out for a group of friends, a lively debate in a large university lecture forum, an overflowing and enthusiastic Zumba class, scores of pipsqueaks mincing about in pre-school -- there is nothing like the vibrancy and energy that comes from large group activities. At the other end of the spectrum is the one-on-one experience, a concept that is becoming rarer as academic class sizes balloon and more and more people are spending more and more time interacting remotely online.

Among September’s observances, is the celebration of One-on-One month -- what a lovely idea, that of giving pause and heed to one-on-one, person-to-person interaction. But this sort of connection is not confined to cozy, dimly lit dates. There are a variety of scenarios where personal attention has resulted in increased well-being, success or self-esteem, and the formation of a meaningful relationship built on mutual respect trust. These run the gamut from personal coaching in sports to psychotherapy to Catholic confession. Herein we will briefly touch on two of the most popular forms of one-on-one interaction.

Tutoring 
Tutorzilla states, “The definition of a tutor is: ‘One who is acts as a private teacher and is charged with the instruction and guidance of another’. A tutor can also be defined as: ‘A private instructor or coach who gives additional, special, or remedial instruction.  

Whatever the definition, at some point or other in our academic lives, almost everyone needs a tutor.  Even the brightest kids may have one troublesome subject, or maybe they just need a little extra boost to get the higher grade and get into the college of their choice.  With the fierce competition to get into good schools, a little algebra tutoring, calculus tutoring, or science tutoring may be just what you or your student needs.”

Personal Trainers 
Now a mainstream commodity, the success rate of personal training is well-documented. So much so, that even the budget-conscious consider this kind of investment prudent. In the article, Do You Need a Personal Trainer? 10 Reasons a trainer may be right for you, author Elizabeth Quinn details the following benefits of employing a trainer to work with you one-on-one:

A young Bruce Lee with his teacher, Yip Man

• Motivation 
• Individualized program 
• Efficiency 
• Improve technical skills 
• You are new to exercise 
• Break through plateaus 
• Learn how to go it alone 
• Workout Safely 
• Workout at home 
• Lose Weight

Whether or not you are seeking to excel in academia or sports, chances are you can benefit from taking the time to engage with others, especially loved ones, one on one. Just showing up is not enough however. To get the most out of the experience you must put in the effort the occasion calls for and deserves. This means eliminating distractions, turning off your electronics and tuning into the other person. You will learn volumes about the person you are giving your attention to... and you just may learn a little something about yourself.

When baking goes to the dogs

People love feeding their four-legged best friends treats. But much of what goes into Lassie's mouth is not fit for ..... well... a dog! Here is a delicious nutritious recipe created just for the cute and cuddly canine in your life. 

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Puppy Treats   

Ingredients 

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 
• 2 eggs 
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon   

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
 
Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. 
 
Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. 
 
Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. 
 
Cut into 1/2-inch pieces. 
 
Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.  

Nutritional Information:  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 56 | Total Fat: 1.3g | Cholesterol: 17mg   
thanks, AllRecipes.com

The Princess and the Paw

September is World Animal Remembrance Month and I, for one, am all for it.  How else would we ever recall we owned pets? Without such a reminder one may very likely forget to feed them or let them out in the morning, or to pick up labradoodle Chloe from the Pet Spaw.  One may neglect to visit the butcher to get that organically farmed salmon for Miss Persephone the abyssinian, or heaven forbid, fail to finish knitting that Barbie-sized sweater for Jasper, that rascally budgie!  All good-natured sarcasm aside, no one can dispute the fact that as a society we have become pet crazy. From middle-agers cracking open their wallets to show off their grandpuppies, to pet rescue services and anti-abuse activism, animals have taken center stage.

The worldwide month-long observance of critters was created to “remember, respect and honor the memory of all animals... to pay tribute to companion animal family members; animal victims of abuse, cruelty and neglect; animals lost in natural disasters; and animals killed in the line of duty,” according to the PALS Foundation.

In an era when many people are choosing not to marry or have children, pets are becoming the objects of our affections, individually and collectively. Similarly, our furry friends have come to serve as welcome companions for those who are single or work from home with limited human contact.  


With growing awareness about adoption and the positive health benefits of pet ownership and interaction - including reducing stress and depression - more people are treating their animals like extensions of their human selves. 

The catch here is the fact that animals are not human. Clinton Sanders, a sociologist and author of Understanding Dogs, says pet obsession has been rapidly growing over the last two decades. "The danger is that we don't let animals be animals anymore... It does them a disservice and results in some ignorant kinds of treatment.... Dogs would be perfectly content eating the same food every day for the rest of their lives. It tastes good, fills them up and never disappoints. A dog's owner, on the other hand, might say, 'I would never want the same meal again and again, how boring.' Then she goes to the store and buys her pup a variety of options, which in turn disrupts the dog's digestive tract.... Dogs aren't like us."  

And yet we treat them like they are.  Here are just a few of the ways we are currently spoilering our family members who lack opposable thumbs.

We:

• Carry them in purses
• Arrange for them to have spa treatments such as massages, peticures, etc 
• Take them on play dates and to Doggie Cay Care
• Board them in Vacation Resorts and doggie hotels with HD television
• Send them traveling and on Pet Airways, a new airline devoted to pampered pawsengers
• Walk them in pet parades
• Enter them in Costume Contests and Beauty Pageants (my own city boasts the biggest pet costume contest in the world as well as the biggest, if not only, Bulldog Beauty Pageant... note: for “the world’s most beautiful bulldog” see this week’s Saturday Sentiment) 
• Buy and bake gourmet grub
• Invite them to sleep in the family bed
• invest in braces, orthopedic beds, strollers, car seats, electric toothbrushes,   neuticles (fake implants for neutered male dogs), motion sickness aides, antidepressants and anxiety meds 
• and we dole out serious dollars on fashion ensembles, faux-mink coats, jewelry,  leather jackets and more

.....Suddenly being “in the doghouse” doesn’t sound so bad.

Playing the numbers game... and winning!

They Don’t Call Them Master Athletes for Nothing

I planned to write a cute little feel-good story about some inspiring senior athlete I might find online.  I felt fairly confident I’d happen upon at least one or two.... It turns out their ranks are formidable and quickly growing.  And so rather than choose just one and deprive you of the rest, here are snapshots on a variety of these iron-folk.

At age 55, Canadian distance runner Martin Parnell pledged to run an astounding 250 marathons in order to raise money for Right to Play International, an organization that provides enables children in impoverished countries to participate in sports. In his very first race, on Jan. 1, 2010, Parnell ran in temperatures of -23 F. On Dec. 31, 2010 he completed his 250th race of the year, in weather that was only a few degrees warmer than his first race.  As he later told CBC News, "I didn't have a clue if I could do it, and there were times during the year that I thought 'This is it; I'm done.  But I just kept plodding, and here we are today."

63-year-old multitalented track and field phenom Philippa Raschker, continues to sprint, throw the javelin, high jump and pole-vault with abandon. An accountant she holds 18 world age-group records in track.

At age 58 Leland McPhie took up tennis.  At age 69 he ran his first 50-meter dash race.... and won!  Now, at age 95, he is still winning competitions in his age group.

Jane Hesselgesser enjoyed a career as a concert pianist.  Bill Cunningham was a soccer player and a double for 50‘s icon Frankie Avalon. Now in their 60’s and 70’s respectively, they compete as a pair in bodybuilding events around the world against couples 20 years younger.

Similarly, Japanese weightlifter Tsutomu Tosuka, age 74, took the winning title in the senior category of the Japan Master Bodybuilding Championships 2009.

Are there any physical activities you’ve put off taking on?  Might this be the time to try something new?  Come and share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you.

Warmly,

Lilo