Protective gear is especially important for the cricket batsman, necessary protection includes a helmet with face shield, leg pads and gloves and a box or cup, batting gloves are worn to prevent hand injuries.

Sometimes injuries are unavoidable, and in fact, broken fingers are one of the most common injuries in a wide range of sports. Hand or finger injuries usually occur when a player catches the ball or from the impact of a blow. Common hand injuries include ligament sprains, fractures, and dislocations. They are really important to protect yourself from the possible direct impact of the ball, which can be excruciatingly painful.

Batting gloves are also used to help increase your grip on the bat, maintaining a firm, controlled grip is essential to ensuring successful hits. You need to be very careful when choosing the right cricket gloves, making sure that the fingers of the gloves have flexible padded areas with extra thumb protection.

CA Sports Ltd is now a famous world class producer of all cricket equipment. This reputed manufacturer offers high-quality products and can recommend three cricket batting gloves for your preference. Suggested batting gloves are CA PLUS Premium, CA Pro 2000, and CA Power. The first two models are available for right-handed and left-handed hitters, while the latter is only available for right-handed hitters. The CA Plus Premium and CA Pro 2000 models are designed with premium sheepskin leather and a soft palm, a double protection reinforcement layer, flexible construction in the finger area with an improved finger chamber system for protection and comfort. The CA Power glove is designed with good quality PU upper, leather and cotton palm fused together. This manufacturer has been conducting research since 1958 to meet the needs of consumers for their cricket equipment including bats, gloves, etc.

It is essential that you choose the correct batting gloves to ensure that you get the best possible protection.

If you want to donate money to charity and are planning your estate, what’s the best way to do it? There is the option to donate to charity each year or as a lump sum upon death. At the time of death, there are options to donate to charity as part of your will, through life insurance, or by donating assets. There are considerations to keep in mind when making these decisions:

What is my income level and what do I need for my lifestyle now and on the day of my death?

If you have a high annual income (high would mean you’re paying the highest tax rates) and you don’t need this money for everyday expenses, then donating to charity while you live might be a good idea. You can make this decision each year if your income fluctuates, or if you have a year in which income increases, such as a year when a property is sold or capital gains are made on investments. There would be a trade-off between lowering current tax rates and lowering them for the estate. You’ll also want to consider how quickly you want to donate to charity and whether you’d like to see how your money is used.

There are many personal opinions that come up regarding charitable organizations and how they should be done, so it requires some introspection to ask yourself what your preferred method of giving would be. It’s a good idea to ask your favorite charities how they’d like to receive their donations: lump sum vs. frequency and assets vs. cash. Some charities have a hard time handling large sums of money because they may not have the facilities to allocate it where they need it. Other charities may have unpredictable funds from other sources if large sums are donated that would disrupt their cash flows. Depending on the type of donation, a charity can put it to different uses and this would make it easier for the donations to be used.

If I give donations at the time of my death, how should I do it?

Donating your RRSP

What about donating RRSP, RRIF or LIRA accounts to charity? Why do this? These accounts may be subject to heavy taxes depending on your income on the day of death and the balance remaining on the day of death. This strategy is similar to donating stocks that have large unrealized capital gains at death that could be nullified if the shares were donated to charity prior to sale.

Donate through your will

The disadvantages are that the will can be challenged or changed, which can affect the intended outcome of the charitable gift. There are also probate fees that apply to anything that passes through a will.

Gift of Life Insurance by Will

This donation is made upon death. Keep in mind that the donation is made by inheritance and at the time of death. Please note that “cultural gifts” and “ecological gifts” are taxed differently. Gifts may be claimed: in the estate tax year in which the gift is made, a prior estate tax year, or one of the individual’s last two tax years up to 100% of net income. The farm can also transfer gift credits up to 5 years into the future if it is a Graduated Rate (GRE) farm or 10 years for ecologically sensitive lands. Note that a gift given through a will or through probate is treated the same. The donation consists of a lump sum and the tax receipt is made to the estate and not to the individual. There are probate fees, public disclosure, and the possibility of estate contestability.

Life Insurance Donations by Naming a Charity as Beneficiary of the Insurance Policy

The person in this case would not qualify for a charitable contribution tax credit for the premiums paid. This would be done when an insurance policy is about to be renewed or expires. If you let the policy expire by not paying premiums, you may not get any value for it or you may get a cash surrender value that may be less than its fair market value. Life insurance policies can be donated 1) by changing the charity’s assignment as beneficiary and upon death. The estate would receive a tax credit based on the amount of the gift. Another way is to 2) change the ownership and beneficiary of the policy to the charity. The charity should be asked if they would accept this type of gift. This method is useful for direct donations instead of using third parties. Can the donation credit be used? It is worth a maximum of 75% of net income with a 5-year carryover.

Life insurance policy donations directly to a charity

In case 2), the fair market value is used, which is usually higher than the cash salvage value. Who will pay the premiums once the insurance policy is donated? The insured can continue to pay the premiums and get additional tax credits for the payments if they are made after the insurance policy is transferred to charity, or the premiums can be deducted from the policy’s cash value. Other donors to the charity itself may also pay the premiums. The charity may prefer to pay the premiums as if the donor agrees to pay the premiums and does not, the insurance policy will lapse. Please note that the features of the life insurance policy should be thoroughly verified to ensure that the correct fair market value is arrived at. In the second case, there are no probate fees, no contestability of the estate, and no problem with creditors and the estate. This case may apply to a new or existing life insurance policy during your lifetime. The rest of the inheritance can be kept in full for the other beneficiaries. Donating a life insurance policy can be cheaper than giving a cash gift because the investment income is generated within the life insurance policy. Keep in mind that if there is a split of an insurance policy between a donor and a charity, the CRA does not want an advantage in favor of the donor. The benefits to the charity and the donor must be clearly separated, otherwise the charity’s tax deduction would not be allowed. The person making the donation has to calculate the value of the split, which is likely to be done with the help of an insurance underwriter or actuary.

asset donation

This method consists of donating assets in kind when there is an unrealized capital gain or loss implicit in the transaction. This is called a gift of capital assets and the total gift limit is increased by 25% of the taxable capital gain. The donor may designate a value between the ACB (Adjusted Cost Basis) and FMV (Fair Market Value) of the donated property to calculate the capital gains and tax credit. If an insurance policy is purchased to replace the value of donated assets (and offset the tax consequences of a capital gain), the tax savings from the gift can be applied toward the purchase of the insurance policy.

Donor-advised funds and foundations

A donor-advised fund is an endowment fund. Money is deposited into the fund and the fixed payment is made to registered charities. There is flexibility as to when donations are made and to whom. This can be used as a legacy of charitable donations, as the donations can continue after death and be your heirs as well. The money is donated to an organization that invests the initial donation, manages where the proceeds are donated, invests the money guided by you, and issues the tax receipts.

BRIAN’S STORY

Brian was a 20-year-old college basketball star who was in excellent condition with no history of health problems. He grew up in a tough neighborhood with a single mother who raised him to be a fine young gentleman. He was awarded a basketball scholarship to the state university, where he became the league’s leading scorer during his junior year. When his mother came to visit him for a game at the end of the season, she noticed that Brian’s neck seemed much larger on one side than the other. The next day, she convinced him to see the university doctor who felt multiple enlarged lymph nodes on the right side of his neck extending from the angle of his jaw to just above his clavicle. The doctor ordered a neck and chest CT scan which confirmed multiple abnormal lymph nodes on the right side of the neck and in the center of the chest. Brian was referred to a general surgeon who removed one of the largest lymph nodes in his neck during outpatient surgery. This excisional biopsy revealed Hodgkin lymphoma.

Following his diagnosis, Brian was sent for a bone marrow biopsy which came back negative. He also underwent a PET/CT scan which confirmed abnormal activity on the right side of his neck and chest in multiple lymph nodes. Brian was referred to a medical oncologist who recommended treatment with ABVD chemotherapy. He received 4 cycles that he tolerated very well, with moderate fatigue. A restaging PET/CT scan revealed no residual abnormal activity. He was seen by a radiation oncologist who recommended low-dose involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) after chemotherapy that was given for 3 weeks. Aside from a slight sore throat, Brian tolerated RT quite well. He was seen every 3 to 6 months by his medical and radiation oncologist for alternate follow-up visits. Brian has been disease free for 7 years.

THE ESSENTIAL

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is much less common than non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), although it can be diagnosed in both children and the elderly. If the disease is localized, 5-year survival is greater than 90%. Even the most advanced HL patients have a 5-year survival rate of 75-80%

RISKS AND CAUSES

People who have a history of a first-degree relative diagnosed with HL have a significantly higher risk of developing the disease. Furthermore, patients who have an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection early in life appear to be at increased risk of HL later in life. There also appears to be a correlation with patients of low socioeconomic status.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The vast majority of HL patients will present to the doctor with the complaint of an enlarged lymph node or multiple lymph nodes that do not go away. Most often, the node will originate in the neck, but it can also be felt in other common lymph node areas, such as the armpit (under the arm) and groin. Doctors should also ask about unexplained weight loss, fever, or night sweats, the “B symptoms” that are classic lymphoma. Although present in only a subset of patients, B symptoms tend to predict more advanced disease. Rarely, diffuse itching or redness of the skin may occur when patients drink alcohol as an early sign of LH.

DIAGNOSIS

Like NHL, the preferred method of biopsy for HL is complete surgical removal of an enlarged lymph node (excisional biopsy) whenever feasible and safe. There are multiple subtypes of HL including: nodular sclerosing, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte-rich, and lymphocyte-depleted. Another subtype, called nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL, appears to be biologically different from the others, but it also has an extremely high cure rate.

STAGING

Standard laboratory evaluation should include complete blood count, serum chemistry including kidney and liver function, blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the latter two of which have been shown to predict more advanced disease when elevated . As with the NHL, the Ann Arbor staging system is used. This system is based on the number and sites of involvement in lymph nodes and other organs, as well as the presence or absence of B symptoms. Imaging should include CT of involved areas, including the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Whenever available, PET/CT is extremely useful for staging, radiation therapy (RT) planning, and assessment of response to treatment. Bone marrow biopsies are indicated for patients with advanced disease, including those presenting with B symptoms. Other factors that may have a negative impact on the result include male gender, age greater than 45 years, low serum hemoglobin, high white blood cell count. , low albumin and stage IV disease.

TREATMENT

Like NHL, HL is treated with a combination of chemotherapy drugs. For HL, four drugs are most commonly used in the United States: adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. The acronym for the combination is ABVD. Treatment of tens of thousands of patients over the past decades with ABVD has consistently shown excellent results.

Early-stage HL patients generally receive 2 to 6 cycles of ABVD. Restaging images are obtained after 2 to 4 cycles to guide subsequent treatment. PET restaging is predictive of outcome. The combination of ABVD followed by involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) offers an excellent chance of cure.

Common acute side effects of ABVD include fatigue, nausea (usually well controlled with medication), mild anorexia, reduced blood counts, and hair loss. Rare but serious late side effects after treatment include adriamycin heart damage, bleomycin lung damage, and vinblastine nerve damage. Chemotherapy puts patients at slightly increased risk of developing future cancers, most commonly leukemia or NHL.

Since low doses and fairly small treatment areas are currently used for IFRT, the side effects are much less than decades ago when doses were higher and treatment areas were larger. Common acute side effects of IFRT include mild fatigue, possible partial alopecia (hair loss), and sore throat or difficulty swallowing, depending on the area treated. There is a risk of pneumonitis (lung inflammation) characterized by low-grade fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath on exertion, which classically occurs 1 to 3 months after RT. 5-10% of patients who develop lung inflammation usually have a resolution of their symptoms within 3-4 weeks of starting steroids. In the long term, despite the low doses and small RT fields, there is still a small risk of developing radiation-induced cancer years after treatment. Patients should be encouraged to stop smoking prior to RT. Adolescents and young women who require chest RT should start an annual mammogram (and usually a breast MRI) within 7 to 10 years of treatment or age 40, whichever comes first.

Late-stage HL is most commonly treated with systemic chemotherapy alone, again ABVD efficiently in the US Cure rates are around 70%. Patients may receive 6 to 8 cycles of ABVD, and restaging PET/CT is performed after 4 to 6 cycles to assess response. The role of consolidation IFRT for these patients is controversial.

Have you ever been to Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland? If so, you know it’s a medieval fishing village, but also a yachting community that straddles Irish small-town rural village life and an international cosmopolitan vibe. Kinsale enjoys the best of many worlds. Our population ranges from perhaps 3,000 in the dead of winter, when most people have fled to warmer climates, to 10,000 or more in the height of summer, when everyone is in residence and all the tourists have dwindled.

This article is not about the hustle and bustle of an active resort town, but rather about the joys and delights in a quick “walk” through the city center that is only available in the fall here. Since its autumn, or autumn, the Irish will say, life is moving a little more slowly than in the summer. You’ll hear the locals catch up and always talk about the weather. If you just start every conversation with a comment about whether it’s a nice day or a rainy day, you’ll fit right in. Looking down on the map of Kinsale town center you will see a small square surrounded by shops. Surrounding that would be five other business streets with three or four long driveways, each leading into this tangle. It is the outer streets, running through the city and out at the quay, that comprise the busiest section of the city. Built in medieval times, with narrow streets, this half-mile square contains a myriad of enchanting and fantastic Irish experiences. This article will take you through some of my favorites. The walk begins in a corner, going down to the town, in the church of St. Multose, erected in 1190, which is currently decorated after the end of the Harvest Service. Harvest is a big season in Ireland, a surprise to our American visitors, who couple the celebration with Thanksgiving. A quick stop at the church reveals beautiful stained glass windows and a peaceful place to contemplate ancient history while blending in with the modern world. Continue through the gate taking a right and heading towards the center of town. Turning around, you pass Tap Tavern, which should be a stop for you later that night. There is no pub in Kinsale as quaint as “The Tap”. A hangout for the local acting types, it has several small rooms where you can find a place to chat with your friends or, if you fancy mixing with the locals, grab a seat at the bar. The Ghost Tour starts from here, so you’re likely to see all sorts of believable and not-so-believable characters.

Enjoy walking down the street as you meander toward downtown, with its art galleries, restaurants, and shops, but be sure to stop at Eileen Murphy’s Paint Shop. The sign above the door says Murphy’s and you’ll know from the window on the right that they sell paint, but the left side of the store is packed with an amazing assortment of homewares and gifts. Since it’s fall, the windows have stained glass lamps and other cozy homey items, designed to make us think of cozy evenings by a campfire. Looking around the store, notice that it doubles as both a delivery location and a Kinsale news hub. Eileen does the town a great service by offering to keep something from one person so someone else can stop by and get it later in the day. And of course with each installment we get to hear the latest news about things like Kinsale standing up with the Tiny Town Campaign this year.

There are many fantastic places to shop for gifts in Kinsale, each with their own reasons for being so charming. The other two I recommend to most would-be Hamish Hawken’s and the Perryville House gift shop. The owner of Hamish Hawkens has a practical eye and at the same time everything has an unusual style that makes it seem “one of a kind” when you bring it home. Perryville House has the best Irish pottery and always lovely housewares. But like I said, shopping is such an individual experience in Kinsale which has dozens of shops each with their own unique style. You will surely find several that you will love. Finally, when it’s time to stop and rest your feet, you’re also spoiled for choice. If you want to have a coffee or lunch I would recommend Cucina’s upscale nouvelle cuisine or Salvi’s which is quiet and open to moms with strollers. If the weather is nice, there are a couple of restaurants with outdoor tables where you can sit and enjoy the bustle of the city.

Dinner, however, is where Kinsale shines. Known as the culinary capital of Ireland, there are dozens of excellent restaurants, some ethnic, some traditional Irish and some just fantastic gourmet food. My favorite of the latter variety is Max’s Wine Bar, where they serve up perfect proportions of flavorful delights from a menu crafted from what was fresh that day, all enhanced with fantastic wines. Fishy Fishy is happy and reliable, and definitely the restaurant in town that gets the most attention. Located just behind the dock road rose garden, don’t be surprised if in a busy season you may have a short line waiting to get in. The Blue Haven serves delicious food and can accommodate travelers at times when other restaurants may be closed or full. Just the other night when we were there we were enjoying traditional Irish music while eating in the bar.

Wherever you go in Kinsale, whether you stay here for one night in a B&B or hotel, or for several nights in self-catering accommodation, you’ll find our town friendly, interesting and charming. You only have to browse the Kinsale net to see that many people have great memories of their time here. But in my heart, there is no better time than fall.

The word Singapore is derived from a Malay word ‘Singa’ and ‘pura’ meaning lion and city respectively. So, the city is also known as the lion city. Singapore has proven its name worth and these things impress many people multiple times. This island state has significantly changed its status from sleepy fishing village to major financial hub. It has become a prominent tourist destination and a gateway for all types of travellers, whether they are adventure vacations, leisure trips, business destinations or even just passing through.

Whatever the purpose of your trip, accommodation always remains your main concern. Singapore luxury hotels are available in a wide variety and the most attractive fact is its proximity to major tourist hubs like Singapore Zoo, Orchard Road, Jurong City and Sentosa Island. All of these areas are a major tourist hub in Singapore. Sentosa Island is a wonderful amusement park that is spread over an area of ​​390 hectares. One can easily access various luxury hotels in singapore all around the park. The center of industry in Singapore is the city of Jurong and it is very popular with tourists due to some beautiful places such as the Chinese Garden, the Singapore Discovery Center and the Jurong Bird Park. Similarly, Orchard Road is a major shopping area. One can easily find here luxury hotel singaporewith excellent restaurants, international shopping centers, coffee shops, wine bars and much more.

Aside from shopping extravaganzas; Singapore festivals also attract numerous tourists every year. The best 24-man crews from around the world compete in the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival. They sprint through the water to the invigorating beat of drums and gongs. This event is very popular throughout Southeast Asia where Chinese influence has been widespread. The Singapore Fireworks Celebration is an annual festival to celebrate the independence of Malaysia. This incredible event includes amazing pyromusicals that light up the city’s skyline. This carnival opens at night with lively street shows and people from all over the world take part in different live shows.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is a very special event as it has tremendous faith and blindly follows the tradition of the ancient era. Monkey God’s birthday is another auspicious occasion for locals and tourists alike to explore the real Singapore. On the ninth day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival; images of the gods are paraded from the temple to the street in an elaborate sedan. Therefore, these few occasions provide a beautiful view of the impressive Singapore.

With more than 2.8 million people in the city living there year-round, it can be hard to even think about finding the right place for you in the city of Chicago. After all, with so many people living there, how can you find the perfect Chicago apartments to view and rent? And, if you’re on a budget, it can be even more difficult to think about searching for apartments for rent in Chicago. But if you know what you’re doing, you can easily find the perfect apartment for your needs that will also be within your budget. There are many neighborhoods throughout Chicago that attract all kinds of people. Let’s take a look at the best neighborhoods to rent apartments in Chicago.

logan square

Located on the northwest side of Chicago, Logan Square is known for the Illinois Centennial Monument located in the center of the roundabout formed by Kedzie and Logan Boulevards and Milwaukee Avenue. The monument was erected to celebrate 100 years of the state of Illinois. There is a wide variety of cuisine available with over 100 restaurants, cafes and bakeries in Logan Square. Logan Square’s land area is 3.2 square miles with a population of 83,000 people of many ethnicities. Apartments in Logan Square range from $750 for one bedroom, $900 for two bedrooms and $1,100 for three bedrooms.

Avondale

Also located in northwest Chicago, Avondale is home to a total of 43,000 people with an area of ​​2 square miles. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, large numbers of Polish immigrants settled in Avondale. Although most Poles have moved to other neighborhoods, Avondale still has a rich Polish history with a Polish character still evident in the local arts and culture. Apartments in Avondale range from $650 for a one bedroom, $775 for a two bedroom and $950 for a three bedroom.

lincoln park

Lincoln Park is one of the most expensive areas to live in Chicago with the average home selling for $1 million. The community was named for its park that contains the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago History Museum, the Lincoln Park Conservatory, ponds, ball fields, and many entertainment venues. The neighborhood has many unique shops, restaurants, and malls. Apartments start at $1,000 and go up to $5,520 per month.

wicker park

Many young white-collar workers call this neighborhood home due to its easy access to downtown Chicago. It is close to public transportation and the Loop. Wicker Park has many entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, and shops. The neighborhood has grown substantially, and as a result, real estate prices have continued to rise. Apartment prices are comparable to Lincoln Park with one bedrooms starting at $900, two bedrooms at $1,200 and three bedrooms at $1,400. Depending on location, amenities, and size, apartments can cost up to $3,000.

One of the great things about apartments in Chicago is that there is a wide range of different apartment sizes and styles, which means that no matter what your budget is, you should be able to find something to suit your needs. Learn more about the different neighborhoods before you start your Chicago apartment search and you’ll be able to find areas in the city where Chicago apartment rentals are much cheaper than other areas.

As the corporate hospitality industry gears up for London 2012, UK caterers and outside caterers are preparing for the busiest weeks of their business lives.

Corporate hospitality is big business now, and never more so than at an international sporting event like this, the biggest and best in the world of course.

It really is the perfect way to surprise customers of all countries and nationalities: a day in the Olympic stadium watching the world’s best athletes compete on a world stage, but with an excellent three-course lunch with fine wines and champagne, perhaps a traditional English. tea for wives and couples, all culminating in a gala dinner when the day’s sport is over. What better way to secure new business and keep old ones too?

External caterers and caterers involved in corporate hospitality must therefore ‘up their game’ in the coming months to ensure they stay ahead of the competition in the corporate hospitality catering packages they offer. Of course, some companies will fare better than others – some of the largest and most well known caterers such as Keith Prowse and “rhubarb” even offer corporate hospitality consulting services so that your experience in all things event related can be shared with any group. or organization, anywhere in the world.

And some companies will need that help. Good corporate hospitality isn’t simple: It’s not about sandwiches and cold beer (although that happens sometimes too!). No, good corporate hospitality catering is a good balance between great food, plenty of drink, charming staff and excellent levels of service, as well as (of course) the event it’s based on. Truly flawless corporate hospitality will also take into account branding, logos, goodie bags and all the other minute details that make a difference in corporate entertainment.

Top caterers like Urban Caprice or Alison Price can offer anything, anywhere, and are experts at serving food to polo field marquees, rowing club outfields, and even training or practice rooms. from sports stadiums and music venues.

And location is, of course, crucial: for 2012, hundreds of new corporate hospitality venues are being planned and built. Huge swathes of temporary tents and installations will be set up alongside the Thames, for example spaces dedicated to outdoor caterers and their work to entertain the world during the Olympics.

However, wherever corporate hospitality catering takes place, you need to ensure that you have the concept, styling, menu design, operational delivery, and every part of the event process in between, down to absolute perfection.

Experienced corporate event caterers can make every corporate event a true theatrical production, with the finest glassware and china, the most professional corporate logo and uniformed staff, and of course the best, freshest, seasonal food. served in the most impressive way. . If you work events for a large corporate company, and if your corporate event budget fits the bill, then using this type of event catering company means you can be sure your business is hitting exactly the right notes. If you want perfectionism and professionalism, if you want to impress with attention to every little detail, if you want your corporate event catering to reflect and mirror your company’s business image and reputation, then this is the way to go!

As I got older, being efficient became a higher priority for me. While the priority of doing things in a logical order without wasting time is great on paper, having children makes it extremely difficult. Have you ever “helped” your kids get ready for the school year that starts in August? How many times have you gone to the same stores because they “forgot” that they needed pencils, a new backpack, binders, folders, pens, paper, or some other supply? I thought the week before school was the worst. Then came football season. The football store now greets me personally when I walk in.

Gavin decided to make soccer his first sport at the young age of seven. I grew up playing other sports, but there seemed to be less violence in football than soccer, and keeping a giant metal bat away from kids wasn’t a bad idea either, so the prospect of Saturday mornings in the home court looked pretty good. at first.

When we signed him up for our local league at the community center, they gave us a list of things to buy at the soccer store. A t-shirt, some pads, a few items that would help if you wanted to practice on your own, a mouth guard, all the things you could hope for.

It started on our way to his first practice, “Dad, I forgot my shoes.” No problem, quickly stop at home, collect them and go out to practice. Upon arrival at our home, there are no keys where to be found. To the football store, a pair of boots, please.

On the way home from the first practice, we talked about how it went. She was looking for fun, challenges, maybe if she had a lot of luck shooting. Gavin’s assessment, “Timmy had really cool sweatbands.” We went to the football store to become proud owners of neon green sweatbands with black stripes.

By now you know where the story is going. Every practice, game, and tournament that followed required a stop for something. Who knew soccer jerseys came in so many different “cool” colors?

I never had a problem with any of the teams that protected or helped teach the sport. I even enjoyed buying things like whistles and rule books for the time Gavin thought refereeing might be fun.

In many ways, we came together around that football store. As it grew, the sizes increased. We moved from one part of the store to the next. I wish I had taken a picture of my son and I in the mirror the first time we walked into the store. We could have told the story of our lives through that one business.

It was never efficient, whether it was when we “had” to go or what we “had” to buy, but it was a great place to bond and grow. I have no idea how much money I spent over the years, but it was worth every penny for the time with my son and seeing the smile on his face.

When it comes to cooking your favorite pasta dishes, you probably already make your own pasta or it’s been a dream of yours to be able to make pasta for the dinners you create for your family. It’s not as difficult as many people may think it is because with a pasta maker, all you have to do is simply mix the dough ingredients together and adjust the dough to the right consistency for the type of noodles you want. to produce, and then pass the dough through the pasta maker, to have your noodles ready to cook on the other side.

Making homemade noodles is an amazing way to add a unique flavor to the dish you are creating, but even if the flavor is there, you still need the right size and consistency of noodles to make the dish perfect. For example, you don’t want macaroni-style noodles in a batch of spaghetti. It can be done, and has been, but when it comes down to it, a bowl of spaghetti needs spaghetti noodles! However, creating these types of thin pasta can be a difficult task, which is why I definitely recommend using a pasta maker.

Having different types of dies to use makes handling different types of pasta a breeze. By changing the type of array or rack you are using, you can easily switch from making one type of noodle to another to create different types of delicious pasta dishes. There are smaller handheld devices that are simply rolled over the dough to form noodles, and then there is a pasta maker that makes the job a lot easier. There are even electric pasta machines that mix all the ingredients for you to form the pasta dough. With most pasta makers, all you have to do is place the dough on the roller and start turning the handle to push the noodles out the other side.

Probably one of the best pasta machines out there is the Imperia pasta machine; I think I’ve seen them in more restaurants than any other type of pasta machine. If so many chefs use this type, I think it’s a good idea to buy the same one, right? Invest in a pasta maker in your kitchen and you’ll never have to eat the pre-packaged kind again; you won’t want to after experiencing the taste of fresh homemade pasta.

“Oh, so many things I want to practice, so little time to do them.” We all get like this sometimes. This is my suggestion to make the most of your practice time. Whatever amount of time you have to practice, divide it into three parts.

Segment one will be “warm up”. Warm up with a little technical work. This is a good time to make sure your hands and arms are stretched out. Run some familiar scales. Play with a metronome. Metronome time can only take many hours if you are thorough and serious about being a stronger musician. Play some of your favorite rhythm patterns too. Use different rhythm patterns while playing scales, chords, arpeggios, triad inversions, and anything else you can think of.

The next segment will be “growth”. Growth usually consists of non-musical work. Things like learning new scales and chords would fit into this category. Brushing up on new theoretical ideas, learning new rhythms, or anything else new, these are all things that fit into the growth segment. Now, the more you solidify with your practice routine, I’m sure you can see how using a metronome, you can cross the first two segments. When you cross over to the second segment, turn up the challenge level and play unknown scales or patterns. Increase the tempo or try increasing your subdivisions. For example, if you’re playing eighth notes at 80 bpm, work on triplets or sixteenth notes at the same tempo.

The last segment is the “Fun/Jam” segment. That’s when you just have fun and play the songs you like, or put on a Jam-along CD and moan some pentatonic licks over it. You can even change it to a “creative” segment. This is where you would be exploring songwriting ideas, creating melodies, or working on your improvisation skills. Make music!

Now we are all at different levels and we all have different goals. So feel free to be a bit flexible with this plan. Let’s say you have an hour to practice. You can divide that hour into three 20-minute segments or two 15-minute segments and the third 30-minute segment. Maybe you really want to fine-tune your rhythm or pentatonic scales for an upcoming gig, audition, or rehearsal. You can make your “growth” segment a bit longer and condense the other segments.

Also, make sure your goals are clear so you know how to best customize the segments to fit your needs. Have fun with it!