My posting has been rather sporadic the last weeks as I've been setting up a small business so sell copies of Room for Two and manage other business related expenses of being an author. Though the process hasn't been difficult, it's been rather time consuming and also very educational. The good news is that it will all pay off next week when copies of my book become available.
More to come soon!
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Admittedly, Marathon Girl and I aren’t the best gardeners. This, however, doesn’t stop us from plating a small garden every year in the hopes of having some fresh vegetables to eat during the summer.
The last two years our garden has done quite well. We’ve had an abundance of tomatoes, squash, and corn despite adverse growing conditions and a lack of any natural gardening talent on our part.
This year something went horribly awry. Despite the fact that we fertilized the soil, weeded the garden, and did everything else just like the past two years, many of our plants have stubbornly refused to grow.
Oh, they’ve flowered and produced fruit. It’s just that the plants themselves and what they’ve produced have been very small.
For example, our squash plant has only spread out about eight inches from where it started. And though it’s produced a lot of squash, they all very in size from three to five inches. (See photo above.) The tomato plants are small and producing fruit about the size of cherry tomatoes. (No, we didn’t plan cherry tomatoes.) Our onions stand about three inches tall and have bulbs about the size of Molly’s fingernails.
We have no clue what has caused this. Our neighbors’ gardens on the other hand are growing normally and producing normal sized fruit. Some have suggested we didn't put enough nutrients in the soil. Others have said we didn’t give them enough water. Most have just smiled when they've seen our Munchkin-sized garden. Whatever the problem is, the garden is beyond saving.
It’s too bad we didn’t plant corn. At least there’s actually a use for small ears of corn.
In a move designed to fend off potential litigation and possible state and federal advertising regulations, eleven of the nation’s food and beverage companies have come up with their own guidelines regarding junk food advertising aimed at children under 12. According to the Los Angels Times, the voluntary ban includes junking ads for "candy bars, soda pop, and sugar-laden cereals, including such brands as Trix – famously advertised for decades as being ‘for kids.’"
While the pledges from companies such as General Mills, McDonalds, Pepsi, and Kraft may come as a welcome relief to parents tired of their children’s constant demands for sugary treats, it will do nothing to decrease the number of the nation's overweight and obese children.
Numerous studies have shown that a bigger contributor to childhood obesity isn’t the amount of junk food advertisements children are exposed to, but the amount of television they watch. One 2003 study concluded that children who watch three or more hours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours and that "more than 60% of overweight incidents can be linked to excess TV viewing." Another found that in "12- to 17-year-old adolescents, the prevalence of obesity increased by 2% for each additional hour of television viewed."
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when you include videos, DVD’s, and other prerecorded shows, children watch about four hours of television a day. Times that by seven days a week and that means kids, on average, are spending slightly more than an entire day in front of the boob tube. The amount of television viewed shouldn’t come as a complete surprise considering the average home now has more televisions (2.73) than people (2.55) and one third of children as young as six have a television in their bedroom.
With the copious amounts of television being watched in American households, is it any wonder kids are becoming fat?
The solution to the growing obesity problem doesn't involve government advertising regulations or lawsuits against the junk food companies but, quite simply, better parenting.
In too many households television has become the babysitter, entertainer, and parent. It’s become the easy way to keep them entertained, distracted, and out of a mom or dad’s way for a couple hours. And while letting children watch an occasional DVD or cartoon in order to accomplish housework or other tasks may be at times necessary, letting children watch hours upon hours of television every day is simply irresponsible.
Turning off the television may at first invoke weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from kids used to doing nothing else but staring at a screen with blank expressions, but being a parent often involves telling their children no and, if necessary, providing alterative activities.
Sadly, most kids probably get their television viewing habits from their parents. Those who watch a lot of television are probably most likely to have parents who also watch a lot of television. Part of getting kids off the couch and involved in more physical and meaningful activities may include getting their television-addicted parents doing something as well.
The results of a decrease television viewing can be very rewarding. Not only may kids (and adults) shed a few pounds but their school work might improve and family relationships become stronger.
I can defiantly attest to the latter. Even though I occasionally enjoy watching programs on our one TV (yes, we only have one), at the end of the day I’ve always found the time better spent with my wife and kids and have never regretted missing a sporting event or news program to spend time with them.
Curbing the numbers obese or overweight children doesn’t require government regulation or even self-regulation from the food and beverage industry (though the latter is appreciated). The solution begins at home with parents who can turn off the TV, remove it from their child’s room, monitor what their children are eating, and involve their kids in more engaging, stimulating, and ultimately more rewarding activities.
The result could change families and a nation for the better.
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This essay was originally published on FreeCapitalist.com. You can read all of Abel's FreeCapitalist essays here.
When I tell people they’d make a good politician, sometimes they take it as a complement. It’s not. Why do people insist on bringing their cell phones in the work out area of the gym? I really don’t want to hear about how awful your ex-spouse is while I’m working out.
Sometimes I think I’d be a better parent if kids came with some sort of instruction manual.
After years of watching the Tigers languish near the bottom of baseball’s power rankings, it’s nice to see them consistently ranked in the top five.
Why is it when someone is an expert in one field, they think that makes them an expert in everything else?
Sometimes the hardest thing about writing books is deciding which of the three or four that are constantly bouncing around your head is the one you want to write.
Nice clothes, a fancy car, and a big house may give someone the appearance of success, but the real measurement of success is not what you wear, drive, or live but what you actually produce.
Michael Connelly is one of the best writers in America. Too bad the literary snobs of the world won’t give him a read. They’re missing out.
As much as I love politics, I’m really sad that the presidential election has started as early as it has. I could get burned out on it long before it comes time to vote in the primaries.
The only thing worse than having one sick child, is having two sick children. Thankfully I don’t know what it’s like (yet) to have three sick children.
We haven’t had any measurable precipitation in over six weeks. It’s time like this I wished I lived in the Seattle area.
You know it’s hot outside when you never seem to cool down from your run no matter how cold of a shower you took.
I’ve gone to the pool more this summer than in the last 10 years combined.
Talking about fixing a problem is easy. Taking action to actually solve it is difficult.
I love reading to my kids.
If I could have anything in the world right now, I’d ask for a comfortable couch to lie on, a good book to read, and ask that all my other pressing deadlines simply go away.
For those who are regular readers of my poltical columns, I'd thought you'd like to know they are also being published over at BlogCritics.org.
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I’ve been so busy being a husband and father, and getting the final details on my book worked out, I didn’t even know that the Detroit Tigers traded Mike Maroth to the St. Louis Cardinals three weeks ago. I was driving back and forth from the hospital on Saturday listening to sports radio when some baseball announced that Maroth was getting pounded against the Phillies and my first thought was: What are the Tigers doing playing the Phillies? I thought they were taking on the Mariners this weekend.
The only reason I mention it because I saw Maroth pitch in his second major league game and earn his first victory against the then defending World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks five years ago. (What it really five years ago?) It happened to be the first Detroit Tiger game I ever attended and one of my fondest sports memories. Marathon Girl and I also saw him pitch and earn a win against the Rockies the following summer.
Because he seemed to win every time I watched him play in person, I offered to attend every game he started in return for airfare, tickets to the game, and other expenses. Sadly, he never took me up on it. He really could have used my presence in the stands Saturday.
I hope he enjoys playing for the lowly Cardinals. That has to be a big step down going from a winning team to a losing one -- espically when he was with the Tigers when they were the lowliest team in the majors.
Available to order online at abelkeogh.com in August 2007
In bookstores September 2007Â
On a November afternoon, Abel's world comes to an end.
As he steps through the door of his home, he hears a gunshot echo from the bedroom. His fears are realized when he finds his pregnant wife dead, a victim of suicide. Their premature baby is rushed to the hospital. She dies nine days later.
A true story, Room for Two follows Abel as he deals with the grief, anger and guilt that accompany his wife's death. As he struggles with the thought that he is to blame for Krista's depression and subsequent suicide -- and the death of their only child -- Abel comes to realize that if he wants to move on, he must forgive Krista, as well as himself.
With time and the help of a wonderful woman, Julianna, Abel begins to understand that if he can let go of the past he can have another chance at happiness. As their relationship progresses, he also learns that every life has trials and tribulations -- none are exempt. It is when a person rises to their challenges that they conquer and find peace.
A touching account of one man's struggle for happiness, Room for Two is a story that readers will never forget.
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Those who are on my mailing list know I’ve expressed concern that my book cover would look like some sort of silly romance novel – you know, one that I’d be embarrassed to be seen reading, selling, or giving out for friends and family.
Well the good news is that I just approved the final cover of the book from the publisher. I really like it and I’m proud to say that it’s a cover that I’m not ashamed of. All things considered, I think Cedar Fort did an excellent job and captured the mood and message of Room for Two very well.
I showed the real cover to my graphic designer friend Trevor yesterday. He said the publishers didn’t get the actual message of my book and whipped up the cover at the top of this post.
I think he did a great job recreating my reoccurring nightmare.
I did have some fun with the fake cover around the office, however. I proudly showed several co-workers the amazing cover for my book and had to hold back the laughs as they struggled to complement it.
I’ll be posting the real cover in the next few days and unveiling some new places on my website. Be patient and stay tuned.
Update: I forgot to mention that I thought Trevor did a great job of capturing my muscular body though my hair's brown, not black.
When the Boy Scouts put American flags in yards throughout my neighborhood on Wednesday, I didn’t check to see if the flags were made in the United States. They might have been manufactured in China, Taiwan, or Mexico. Honestly, I don’t care where the flags were manufactured. All I know is that they added to the patriotic feeling in the neighborhood as we celebrated our nation’s independence.
If I lived in the great state of Minnesota, however, I’d have to care where the flag was made. At the end of the year, a new law goes into effect that makes it illegal to sell American flags that aren’t made in the United States. Those who sell foreign-made American flags could be faced with a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.
The Founding Fathers must be rolling in their graves.
The new law was the brainchild of Democratic state congressman Tom Rukavina who, bursting no doubt with American-made pride, said: “The biggest honor that you can give the flag is that it be made by American workers in the United States of America.â€
Actually, the biggest honor you could give the flag is actually abiding by the principles it symbolizes – freedom and liberty – not cloaking yourself in the American flag while acting like a communist dictator or petty tyrant.
The irony of passing a law that forces retailers to sell only flags that are made in the USA is apparently lost on Rukavina and the other legislators that supported the measure. Having the freedom to purchase a flag made in America or one made in China is a foreign concept to them.
It’s easy to get upset at smalltime state representatives like Rukavina. But his well-intentioned bill is small potatoes compared to what other freedom-grabbing politicians are doing.
Freedom or liberty anyone?
Politicians on both sides of the aisle don’t understand it. Most pay lip service to our liberty and rights but often use the first opportunity to restrict them. Of course they do so under the guise that they’re making our lives better. Supporters of the Minnesota law said it would help save American manufacturing jobs.
Of course if people understood what true liberty and freedom was, they wouldn’t elect politicians like Rukavina who have nothing better to do then dictate whether the flags we buy are made in the United States or another country.
Before you know it legislators will be demanding that only American made flags be displayed.
Oh, wait. Arizona is already doing that.
As of last Sunday, each junior high, high school, and college classrooms in Arizona are now required to display an American-made Old Glory. Flags made outside the United States are not allowed to be displayed.
Apparently the great minds in the Arizona legislature think displaying the American-made Stars and Stripes will make Arizona students bleed red, white, and blue. It seems that flags are a more effective way to promote patriotism than actually teaching things like the Constitution.
“Nothing is more embarrassing to me than a plastic flag made in China. This replica of freedom we should respect should be made in this country,†Rukavina said as he passed out miniature flags at Independence Day parades in his district.
In reality, nothing is more embarrassing than a politician giving lip service to freedom while supporting laws that do the exact opposite.
American politicians should know better.
Unfortunately, most don’t.
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This essay was originally published on FreeCapitalist.com. You can read all of Abel's FreeCapitalist essays here.
I haven’t spoken Bulgarian on a daily basis in 10 years. Were I put in a room today with someone who only spoke Bulgarian, I’d probably have a hard time understanding them, let alone putting together a comprehensible sentence. The last time I attempted to speak it with a native Bulgarian was on my honeymoon with Marathon Girl. We ate at a Bulgarian restaurant in Las Vegas and I managed to order a meal and carry on a basic conversation with the waitress. The waitress was so floored that an American could speak Bulgarian, she rewarded Marathon Girl and I with some complimentary Bulgarian deserts after our meal. The only word Bulgarian word I use on a somewhat regular basis is stiga (pronounced STEE-ga). Translated it means Stop it! or Enough! When used on context, you say it to a misbehaving dog or other animal. You never say it to a person. At least that’s what Bulgarians told me.
Of course how one is supposed to use the word doesn’t stop me from using it at my kids when they’re fighting or misbehaving. If they don’t settle down I’m more than likely to use the world stiga than “Knock it off!†or “Quit fighting!†For some reason the word just works better in my mind for the point I'm trying to make to the kids.
I didn’t realize that the boys even understood the context of stiga (or how much I used the word) until Aidan and Steven were fighting over a toy last week. Steven was upset that Aidan wouldn’t share and tried to take it from Aidan. A mighty struggle ensued. Once Aidan realized Steven wasn’t going to give up the fight for the toy he yelled “Stiga, Steven!†at which point Steven backed down.
After I got over my initial shock that Aidan said a Bulgarian word, I took him aside and explained to him that stiga wasn’t English and that most people wouldn’t understand what he was saying. I then told him I’d try to speak English when I was talking to him and Steven.
Of course that little talk did nothing to dissuade Aidan from saying stiga several times since then. And I still catch myself using it even though I quickly follow it up with a “Stop it, boys†or “Quit fighting.â€
The whole incident has been another reminder for me what an example parents are to their kids and how we constantly do things that they pick up on – even if we’re unaware of it. I should be glad that it’s just a Bulgarian word my kids have picked up on. If I was a swearing man no doubt Aidan and Steven would pick up on that too. I’d much rather have them stay stiga than swear words.
Hopefully any other bad examples I’m unconsciously setting for them aren’t becoming part of their daily habits too. If they are, not doubt they'll show up very soon.