On The Waterfront

Shrimp & Avocado Cocktail

capty99 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:06:36 -0500

Shrimp and Avocado Cocktail

Makes 8 appetizer servings

Ingredients:

1 can (11 1/2 oz.) tomato and chili cocktail (bloody Mary) mix
1/3 cup tequila
3 tablespoons lime juice
1/3 cup finely chopped onion, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 to 3 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño chili
2 firm-ripe avocados (1 to 1 1/4 lb. total)
3/4 pound shelled cooked shrimp (50 to 70 per lb.), rinsed
Kosher or regular salt
Lime wedges

Method:

1. Combine shrimp, cocktail sauce, avocado, onion, cilantro, hot pepper sauce and pepper in medium bowl. Divide into 8 appetizer portions; serve with lime wedges and chips or crackers.

Tortilla chips or saltine crackers
1 pound medium OR large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1 (12-ounce) jar seafood cocktail sauce
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon optional hot pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 lime wedges
Tortilla chips, or assorted crackers

Method:

1. In a bowl, stir together tomato and chili cocktail mix, tequila, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and 2 teaspoons chili.

2. Pit and peel avocados; cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Add avocados and shrimp to cocktail mixture. Mix gently and add salt and more chili to taste.

3. If desired, rub rims of 4 to 6 margarita or martini glasses with a lime wedge. Immediately dip into a dish filled with 1/4 inch kosher salt.

4. Spoon avocado-shrimp cocktail equally into glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and serve with tortilla chips or saltine crackers.

Orange Breeze

capty99 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:54 -0500

Orange Breeze

Makes 1 beverage

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Stoli® Ohranj vodka
1 1/2 oz Cointreau® orange liqeur
3 oz orange juice
3 oz cranberry juice

Method:

Build in a large goblet with ice and stir. Garnish with a slice of orange, and serve.

Water-wise Trees for Central Texas

capty99 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:36:23 -0500

Central Texas has a diverse cross-section of soils, terrain and plant life. For many people, it evokes images of white limestone, brilliant wildflowers and stately live oaks. However, drought and extreme heat make it difficult for most non-native plants to survive without supplemental water and soil improvement. Before making your plant selection, evaluate the size, texture, flowering patterns, light requirements and wildlife value of each tree. To assist you with your landscaping plans, the Lower Colorado River Authority has developed a list of some of the most popular native and adapted trees for the Central Texas area.

Shade Trees

Evergreen

Arizona Cypress
Cypressus arizonica
25’ – 50’
good choice for limestone soils
requires good drainage

Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
40’ – 50’
fine texture
requires good drainage

Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
30’ – 50’
oak wilt susceptible
provides dense shade

Monterey Oak
Quercus polymorpha
30’ – 40’
fast growing
attractive trees
prefers deep soil

Deciduous

Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
75’ – 100’
large oak
majestic
very adaptable

Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
50’ – 60’
Fall color

Chinquapin Oak
Quercus mulenbergii
30’ – 50’
tall, slender form

Lacey Oak
Quercus glaucoides
20’ – 30’
bluish-green foliage’
grows well in limestone soil

Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
60’ – 80’
nut producing

Texas Ash
Fraxinus texensisn
40’ – 50’
fast growing

Texas Red Oak
Quercus texana
15’ – 30’
Bright red fall foliage

Western Soapberry
Sapindus drummondii
30’ – 40’
showy winter fruit
yellow fall color

Ornamental Trees

Evergreen

Cherry Laurel
Prunus caroliniana
25’ – 30’
screening plant
wildlife food

Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
15’ – 20’
red berries in winter
small tree
shade tolerant

Mountain Laurel
Sophora secundiflora
15’ – 20’
showy
fragrant purple flower

Texas Pistachio
Pistacia texana
12’ – 20’
almost evergreen
red berries
white flowers

Deciduous

American Smoke Tree
Cotinus obovatus
15’ – 20’
beautiful spring blooms and fall foliage
requires well-drained soil

Anacacho Orchid
Bauhinia congesta
8’ – 12’
orchid-like flowers
needs well-drained soil

Carolina Buckthorn
Rhamnus caroliniana
12’ – 20’
glossy green foliage
good food source for wildlife

Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia x. hybrida
15’ – 25’
summer flowers
many varieties

Desert Willow
Chilopsis lineaaris
15’ – 25’
orchid-like blooms
not a true willow

Escarpment Black Cherry
Prunus serotina var. eximia
20’ – 30’
fall color
fruit bearing

Eve’s Necklace
Sophora affinis
20’ – 30’
good nectar plant
flowers in necklace-like clusters

Golden Leadball Tree
Leucaena retusa
12’ – 20’
fragrant yellow blooms
fine-textured, airy foliage

Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
25’ – 30’
long white blooms
wildlife nectar source

Kidneywood
Eysenhardtia texana
10’ – 15’
fragrant white flowers

Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
10’ – 15’
fragrant pink spring flowers

Mexican Plum
Prunus mexicana
15’ – 25’
white spring flowers
wildlife food

Possumhaw Holly
Ilex deciduas
12’ – 15’
attractive red winter berries
sun or part shade

Red Buckeye
Aesculus pavia
10’ – 20’
beautiful red flowers
loses leaves in late summer

Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum
Viburnum rufidulum
15’ – 20’
Beautiful spring blooms and fall foliage
Slow growing

Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
15’ – 25’
wildlife food
attractive gray trunks

Placement Tips
For future energy savings, plant trees to shade the west and southwest sides of your home. Space trees at least 15 feet away from structures to avoid future conflicts as they grow. Avoid planting trees that exceed 20 feet in height near or beneath overhead utilities. Be sure to locate underground utilities such as sewer lines, septic fields and waterlines, allowing enough space to accommodate root systems.

Transitions: The Sounds of Silence

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:31:25 -0500

In an early episode of the TV drama, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” a kidnapped woman’s husband grows impatient with investigator Gil Grissom, who has been listening to the ransom message over and over and over again. Why are you sitting here listening to this tape for the 20th time, the frustrated husband asks, when you should be out there looking for my wife?

“Sometimes, if you listen closely,” replies Grissom, the Zen master of forensic scientists, “you can hear a lot.”

When I give keynote speeches on clarity or leadership or living a legendary life, I’m invariably asked the same question in one form or another: “But how do I get clear about (fill in the blank)?”

I can sense the impatience in the questioner, much like the kidnapped woman’s husband, as well as his willfulness. What I’m really being asked is: “What can I do to (fill in the blank)?” But sometimes, as Grissom points out, listening trumps action.

After another run-through of the ransom message, Grissom deduces the location of the kidnapper. The husband admits his amazement, and asks, how did you do that? Grissom just shrugs. “I listened.”

The clarity we are seeking-- whether it’s a career decision or a life transition or something deeper, like a sense of purpose- -simply cannot be obtained by force of will. In fact, the harder we work at figuring it out, the more stuck or uncertain we become. Spinning our car wheels in the mud rarely gets us anywhere but deeper in the muck.

It’s only when we pause to listen that we can hear what we’re trying to say. Because we already know the answer.

You may not “know” it at an intellectual level, but you “know” it in your depths.

Years back, when I began to realize that I needed to slow down if I wanted to connect with that place within myself, I was heartened by a bookmark emblazoned with this quote from Virginia Woolf: “It is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.”

Don’t you love the word, “idleness”? So quaint, so refreshing. Visions of mint juleps on the veranda at dusk.

Unfortunately, our culture has literally been driven to distraction. There is no idleness (excuse me, “downtime”) permitted. No place to unplug. The more cell calls we receive, the more important we are. The more we’re juggling, the more accomplished we are.

Now that the research results on multitasking are in, we know that the opposite is true. In fact, multitasking diminishes our capacity to learn and to achieve. There is no substitute for focused attention.

If you want to get clear about what’s most important to you, then you need to slow down and tune out the world. You need to press “pause” long enough to hear what you have to say.

Even Maria Shriver, first lady of California (Arnold’s wife), has learned this lesson. In her new book, Just Who Will You Be?, she pledges to give herself 10 minutes of silence a day.

In my book, Clarity: How to Accomplish What Matters Most, the first of the five steps I outline is an injunction to do 15 minutes of nothing a day. Of everything I say in that book, these seven words attract the most response. It’s unthinkable to so many people, to devote a mere 15 minutes a day to themselves! Then there is the creative group I love. They try to get special dispensation for a “two-fer.” For example: Does my manicure count? Can I walk the dog, too?

It’s only in this silent space of grace that we can hear what I call our “flutters.” That’s how I knew that I was called to make the move from teaching to coaching. I felt a kind of flutter in my body when I heard about this new kind of helping profession. It was quiet, it didn’t say anything, it was a wave of a flag. “Hey, pay attention to this.”

Oftentimes we signal our deepest desires not in thoughts or even in emotions, but in physical sensations like the “flutters.” It takes 15 minutes of nothing a day to train ourselves to connect with those fleeting messages and to gently, kindly, and compassionately observe what they mean, without judgment. Once we’re used to attuning to our sensations, feelings, and thoughts during this 15-minute training interval, we can better attune to them in the rest of our everyday life. We can understand immediately that we really don’t want to say “yes” to that invitation, or that your recent job offer isn’t a good fit. If you listen closely, you can hear a lot.

Ann Daly PhD is a life coach, speaker and author of Clarity : How to Accomplish What Matters Most. She helps women in transition get clear about what they want and how to get it. Write to Dr. Daly at transitions@anndaly.com

Nobody's Waterproof : Playing It Safe In The Summer

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:28:56 -0500

Everyone knows that the place to be in Texas in the summer is in the water. There's lots to do: party boats, jet skis, water skiing, swimming and just relaxing on the shore with friends and family. But far too often a fun day on the water becomes a nightmare when someone drowns or is injured or killed in a boating accident. Playing it safe on the water isn't hard to do. Follow these simple tips to help prevent a fun day from turning into tragedy.

Never swim alone. Most drowning victims don’t yell for

help; instead, they panic and slip quietly under water. Ask friends and family to keep an eye on one another in and around the water and learn to recognize the signs of someone in trouble.
Always wear a life jacket. These days they come in really cool styles and colors. And they float, even when you don’t.
Know the rules of the road. A boater education class can bring you up to speed on the latest boating laws and rules in Texas. They’re just $13 and about six hours. And they may save you money on boater insurance.
Boat safely. Know where you are on the water and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Know how to read and follow buoy signs.
Drink responsibly and designate a driver for the boat and a safe ride home. Many drowning accidents involve alcohol, which affects your coordination and judgment - even more so when you’re boating or swimming. Try to avoid alcohol on the water. If you do drink, do it responsibly. Designate a sober boat operator and keep an eye on those who are drinking. And always drink lots of water to stay hydrated - especially when drinking alcohol.
Have proper equipment onboard. And make sure it works correctly! State law requires some equipment be on board at all times. Use sunscreen every time. Being called “Lobster Boy” can get old fast. Plus it hurts – the sunburn, that is. And Hippie Hollow is far more painful without it.
For more information, please visit www.lcra.org.

Ask the Expert : Jewelry in Other Countries

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:24:43 -0500

Question :

I read recently that you can acquire jewlery at a really good bargain in other countries. My husband and I will be going to Cancun this Summer on vacation and I’m considering on updating my wedding band. I’m nervous, however, about quality. Is it really possible to find authentic stones at bargain prices?
- Kristin L., Hyde Park

Answer :

On more than one occasion I have been asked to do an appraisal for a purchase made while a client was on vacation. I have seen many different styles of jewelry and many different price ranges purchased on a cruise or in a resort area. Some have been beautiful and well made pieces but the vast majority were misrepresented. The hardest part of my profession is telling someone that a piece that they have purchased, been given or inherited is not what they believed.

Many years ago, prior to the internet and the ever expanding global economy, it was possible to find truly good prices on many fine jewelry items including fine watches. But times have changed. Manufacturers now balance the pricing of the products they manufacture and you will find that one item in Europe, for example, costs the same at home. Moreover, the jewelry stores that have sprouted up in resort areas are there for a reason. They have a captive audience on holiday with money to burn and people are usually celebrating an event that they would like to commemorate with a beautiful piece of jewelry. The temptation is GREAT, I know, I have been there myself. I was actually offered the management position for several stores in Alaska that opened when the cruise ships arrived. I simply could not take the position. It not only required me to be away from my family for 6 months at a time but the pricing policies and types of merchandise I was required to carry I deemed below my standards.

Please remember one simple rule when purchasing ANY piece of fine jewelry. It is always a good idea to purchase from someone you can get your hands on. This is not to say that if you find a modest piece that you like, it will remind you of your trip and it is something you will wear for a while and enjoy you shouldn’t purchase it. But be smart about a major purchase. The idea of spending over $300-$400 in another country from someone you do not know and will never see again should cause you to think twice.

Remember!!!! You should know your Jeweler as well as you do your doctor, lawyer and accountant.

Thank you to our experts at Austin Diamond District Matt O’Desky and Sheldon Millsap, 512-458-4367 www.austindiamonddistrict.com

Choosing the Right Contractor

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:21:20 -0500

Most people take for granted the comfort provided by their central air conditioner, heat pump or furnace until something goes wrong and the unit needs to be serviced or replaced. When this happens, you need a quality heating, ventilating and air conditioning/ refrigeration (HVACR) contractor who is knowledgeable, skilled and qualified to do the job.

A Quality Contractor

Complies with state and local codes and regulations and carries the proper business and workers' compensation insurance
Is prompt, courteous and provides fast, reliable service while attempting to perform service at your convenience
Has the skill and knowledge to not only service your equipment, but if necessary, to design and install the right system for you
Is up to date on the newest developments in equipment, technology and design procedures in order to choose and install a system which will be the most efficient and most reliable system for you
A heating, ventilating and air conditioning system is designed to suit your needs. Your contractor selects each part of the system individually so that everything works at top efficiency to provide the comfort you need. All the system components are matched (the furnace, the condensing unit, fans and blowers, air conditioning coil, the duct work) to produce a heating and cooling system that will work best for you.

When Consulting an HVACR Contractor
Ask the contractor for references. Find out if other customers were satisfied.
Ask the contractor about his or her license. If a license is required in your area, ask for the license number.
Ask if the contractor's technicians are NATE certification. NATE-certified technicians have proven their knowledge of modern HVACR systems.
Ask the contractor if he or she is a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. ACCA members have access to the latest technical information regarding HVAC systems. Through ACCA, contractors learn how to make quality an integral part of their company operations.
Don't forget to ask about ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment.
For more information: Susan Lundgren, ACCA Austin 512.507.4826, www.accaaustin.org

Choosing Your Next Television : Size & Resolution

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:17:25 -0500

Question :

I am going to purchase a flat screen television for my media room, but I don’t know how large it should be. I also don’t know whether to get one of the 1080P TVs that the guys at the electronics stores are pushing or a much less expensive 720P version. – Lisa J., Rollingwood

Answer :

Lisa, those are two of the most common questions I get asked. The answer depends on a few factors, including how big the TV is, how far away you sit when you watch, your eyesight, and, of course, the amount of money you spend. But first, a little background on resolutions.

Have you ever been to an art museum? If you have, then you’ve probably seen paintings done using the pointillism technique. Instead of using broad brushstrokes, the artist dabs small dots of primary colors around the canvas and creates an image. To be “immersed” in the painting, don’t stand too close – you won’t be able to take in the whole picture. But don’t stand too far away, either – if you do, you’ll be distracted by the other paintings and the museum guard.

A television is very much like a moving, electronic painting done using the pointillism technique. A 1080P TV provides just over 2 million dots, whereas a 720P TV has just under 1 million dots. Whether the picture on the television looks like a painting or a bunch of dots strung together depends – just as it does at the art museum – on viewing distance, the size of the dots, the size of the canvas, and your eyesight.

Studies have shown that in order to be engrossed in a viewing experience, the angle made by the left side of the screen, the person’s eyes, and the right side of the screen should be around 36 degrees. For an immersive experience, a 26 degree viewing angle should be used. Just remember this simple formula: take your viewing distance in feet and multiply by nine to give the recommended screen size in inches. Or multiply by 6.4 to give the minimum screen size. For example, if you sit 10 feet away, you should get between a 64-inch TV and a 90-inch projector screen. Of course, money and wall space usually conspire to make us go smaller, especially for casual, family room viewing.

Assuming that you have 20-20 vision, you’ll notice the difference between 720 lines of resolution and 1080 lines of resolution with a TV that, in inches, is five times the number of feet from your main seating area. For instance, if you sit 10 feet away, you’ll see an improvement using a 1080P TV if it’s over 50 inches diagonal. In this example, if you’re getting a 60-inch TV, make sure it’s 1080P. If only a 46-incher will fit, save the money and buy a 720P set.

Tom Wilkinson is a home theater enthusiast, and is owner of Xpress Home Theaters. You can reach him at Tom@XpressHomeTheaters. com

Brand-U Home Edition: A Lucky Winner's Remarkable Before and After

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:12:50 -0500

Since 1958, Goodwill Industries has been in the business of changing lives in Austin through the power of work, and in the fall of last year, it took a new approach when it launched Brand U (be unique, be creative, brand you), a shopping campaign that awarded a lucky Goodwill patron a complete personal shopping spree with a professional designer, along with a complete hair and make-up transformation. For the winners, few of whom ever dreamed of the luxury to dote on themselves, the promotion gave the opportunity to brand their own unique styles at a nominal cost, giving them the personal confidence to open doors in all areas of life.

This year, Goodwill Industries, which will be celebrating 50 years of service in Central Texas, teamed up with Your Address Magazine and Interior Designer, Rubi Kaur, to take it a step further with Brand U – Home Edition, which aimed to improve lives by improving a living space with the use of furniture and accessories from Goodwill, Rubi’s design expertise, and some fabulous final touches from local sponsors.

“When I was first approached about this project, I knew instantly that it was something I wanted to do,” said Rubi, principle designer of Interior Motives. “I love the city of Austin. It’s been really good to me, and I wanted to do something to give back to my fellow Austinites.”

After meeting this year’s winner, John Rodriguez, Rubi was eager to start the design process. The home was “rife with potential,” with a lovely stone fireplace and an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories. The bold pallet of the interior walls encouraged Rubi to make a few bold choices of her own, knowing that John wasn’t afraid to make a statement to express his personality.

The first step was repainting the walls – the easiest way, according to Rubi, to transform a room and your attitude. The eye-catching striped accent wall in the living area exemplifies the “splash of fun”Rubi wanted to incorporate into the home.

“John had such a true Austin personality and spirit, and I wanted the room to reflect that. This led me to begin with a wall that mimicked bead board. We painted it a neutral gold (to complement the cool and inviting Mediterranean blues we chose for the adjacent walls) and added four colors in strips of varying thickness to create an effect that really popped.”

A few trips to Goodwill resulted in some amazing finds that made the room come together. Rubi’s favorite piece, a microfiber chair and ottoman, served as the perfect accent to the contemporary blue sofa selected to anchor the room.

“It was actually a lot of fun shopping at Goodwill, and I was amazed at what I found! Of course, I usually work with new goods, and I was excited to work ‘out of the box’ on a project like this that inspires creativity.”

Thanks to the generosity of local retailers who were inspired by the Brand U goal, we were able to make dramatic home improvements from the ground up. Rich hardwood flooring in the living room, gorgeous ceramic tiles in the kitchen, granite countertops, and a state-of-the-art range turned a humble home makeover project into a jaw-dropping before and after that one very lucky homeowner will enjoy for years to come.

Meet the Designer: Rubinder Kaur
Rubi Kaur is the owner and lead designer of Interior Motives, an Austin based interior design firm. Rubi received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she triple majored in Business, Finance and Interior Design. As the lead designer for Interior Motives, Rubi has worked on several commercial and residential properties, including apartment complexes and model homes in both Austin and San Antonio, bringing out the best each property has to offer. Rubi’s work on residential homes in Austin focuses on highlighting the unique character of each home and homeowner to express their true individuality. Designing is Rubi’s passion and she is constantly looking for inspiration from Austin’s unique mix of people, cultures and architecture.

Lakeway/ Bee Cave Fun Guide

capty99 — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:06:04 -0500

Lakeway Activity Center
The Lakeway Activity Center is a multi-use facility owned and operated by the city for the purpose of conducting, promoting and facilitating outstanding social, civic and recreational activities and to do this in the most cost effective manner possible. The Activity Center offers many activities for all ages. Did you know you can also rent the activity center for your meeting or special event? Many weddings and wedding receptions have been held at the Activity Center. (512) 261-1010, 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, TX 78734.

The Lakeway Skate Park
The Lakeway Skate Park is located at 3107 Lakeway Blvd next to the Swim Center. The Skate Park is free and open to the public. Lakeway Skate Park is approximately 9000 sq. ft. of combination bowl and street elements. Skateboards and in-line skates only allowed at the Skate Park, no bikes. We strongly recommended the use of helmets, knee and elbow pads. (512) 314-7530.

The Lakeway Swim Center
The Lakeway Swim Center is located at 3103 Lakeway Blvd and has many services and amenites to better serve the community. Located in the Heart of Lakeway. Open Year Round. Our amenities include:
• Basketball and Volleyball
• Picnic Tables and Large-Shade Umbrellas
• Concession Area, Restrooms and Showers
• Climbing Wall and Canyonlands Hiking
• Sun Lounge Chairs and Terraced-Sunning Area
• Outdoor Frog Play Feature
• Coin-Operated Lockers
• Lilly Pads in the Pool, Frog Slide, Large Slides
• Chess and Checkers

Bee Cave Public Libary
The Bee Cave Public Library will provide intellectual, cultural, educational and recreational resources in a variety of formats. The library will offer an inviting environment, promote lifelong learning and foster a sense of community. (512) 767-6620, 13333-A HighWay 71 West, Municipal Complex