January 2014 Newsletter

A message from BJ...

Ring out the old. Invite in the new. As we say goodbye to one year, we can look forward to the hope and possibilities of another one.

When our hopes are high, our possibilities are endless!  Wishing everyone a very Happy and Healthy 2014!

Happening January 1st...

On New Year's Day we will get together in the RV Park, watch a football game, play a little pool, cornhole and ping pong!  We will light a fire and just enjoy the day.  There will be some "lucky" foods to eat and some good conversation.  We will begin the Party at 1 PM with some games and "Bowl Watching"!

Remember be there or be "SQUARE"!



Christmas Party...

As usual, our Christmas Soup Party was a big success.  Our Super Salads were Caesar Salad, Garden Salad and Cole Slaw.  There were several different kinds of bread and Cake and Cookies for desert!
We had many different soups to taste.  There was Chicken Noodle, Chicken with Rice, Chicken and Dumplings, Southwestern Tortilla, Tomato Basil, Seafood Chowder, Ham Chowder, Potato, Vegetable Beef, Broccoli Cheese, Tropical Chili and Red Beans and Rice.





"Here's to 2013" ...

"Here's to 2013." Illustration by Mario Zucca
President Obama sitting at a computer with an error message, Lebron James holding a trophy and Kim Kardashian pushing a stroller-- all in one place.
"Here's to 2013" is a blend of pop culture and news, depicting nearly 90 events that took place this year. The drawing includes some of the year's most popular television shows and newsmakers, including "Breaking Bad" and Pope Francis.
Illustrator Mario Zucca was approached by Beutler Ink, a public relations agency, to compile all of the year's events into one drawing. "I jumped at the chance," Zucca wrote in his blog. However, he also noted that the task was "daunting."
"I didn't really know where to start," Zucca wrote, "so I began by mapping out the events into basic zones." Zucca posted a breakdown of his drawing, showing the events are divided into sections. For instance, on the right side near the balcony he planned to draw Prince William and Kate Middleton with their baby along with Dennis Rodman and Kim Jong Un.
Zucca told The Los Angeles Times that he has decided to draw a similar piece in the coming years. "I think based on the response this has gotten, it will definitely have to become a yearly thing," he said.

Thought this was worth posting in the Newsletter!  Hope you enjoy it!


A Really BIG MOON...

 

This month brings us two new moons, not only are they FULL moons, but they are SUPER moons!  One on the 1st and another on the 30th!

By Zachary Stieber, Epoch Times |

So what exactly is a supermoon? It’s when the moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than usual, which is most noticeable when there’s a full moon.

“So, the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” said Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”

Because of how close the supermoon is, it can appear “as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at minimum size and brightness,” according to EarthSky.

While supermoons don’t normally impact much, they may bring higher tides than usual.
The term supermoon came from astrologer Richard Nolle over 30 years ago, and is only now coming into popular usage, according to EarthSky. Nolle said a supermoon is “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”

This usually means an average of four to six supermoons per year.

The other supermoons in 2014 will be on July 12, on August 10, and on September 9. The moon will be the closest to the Earth on August 10.

Saving Water...

Water is included in your monthly rent at Aripeka West and we want it to stay this way, but  the cost of water is continuing to rise, like the cost of other goods and services.  To keep our water cost down, everyone must help.  If you have a dripping faucet or a toilet that runs continually, please make the necessary repairs.  If for some reason you are unable to make the repairs yourself or you are in a rental mobile home, please contact the office for assistance. A dripping faucet wastes about 2700 gallons of water per year.  A running toilet can waste two gallons of water per minute.  So that "little drip" is not so little after all and that toilet handle that you "forgot to jiggle" is a really big deal!

Let's all work to keep the cost of water down by repairing the "little drips" and fixing the "jiggling handle" problem before they cause the cost of water to rise for everyone!

Trash or Treasure...

Which is it?  When you can't decide, please take it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.  Please do not place your unwanted items beside the Dumpster.  We do not want TV's, working or not, furniture of any kind, building materials, yard waste or any other household items placed in or beside the Dumpster. All residents and guests at Aripeka West must dispose of their unwanted items at the Pasco County Dump located 14230 Hayes Road Spring Hill, FL 727) 861-3006.  There is no charge to Pasco County Residents to use the Dump.   Our Dumpster is usually very full at this time of year, so please use it for your household garbage only! 

If you have large appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers or A/C units) to dispose of, please call the office and we will put you in touch with someone who will make a pick up. 

Also there are many people that will pay you cash for cars and trucks that you want removed from your yard, running or not.  Again, if you call the office we can put you in touch with someone who will pick up.

Limbs, Fronds & Other...

We try to collect fallen tree limbs and palm fronds as soon as we see them, but if you find one in your yard, please place it near the road in from of you home and we will pick them up.  We usually drive the entire park at least every other day and will pick them up.  Limbs and fronds that are behind your home may not be noticed while driving through the park.  While these hidden limbs and fronds will certainly be found during mowing, they may be on the ground for several weeks between mowings, especially in the winter months.

We have also observed other items laying in the yards around the park.  Please take a walk through your yard and if you see items laying on the ground, please pick them up.


Can you spot...

the eight differences in these two pictures?

New Year's Resolutions...

Super Bowl Tailgating ...

Coming to Aripeka West on February 2nd!  We may not know who will be playing yet, but everyone has their favorites picked!  What do we know?  Our Super Bowl Tailgating will begin at 5:30 PM on February 2nd, so mark the date!  More info to come...

Some Football Trivia...

Q: What Ivy League football team once lost an NCAA record 44 straight games?
A: Columbia.

Q: What yard line must a football team drive to, to reach the "red zone"?
A: The twenty.

Q: What budding politician led the AFL in passing yards for the 1960s?
A: Jack Kemp.

Q: What NFL footballer saw his weight reach a league-leading 340 pounds in 1988?
A: William "The Refrigerator" Perry.

Q: Who played defensive back for the New York Giants before he coached the Cowboys?
A: Tom Landry.

Q:  What football league had expansion teams in Baltimore, Las Vegas and Shreveport for the 1994 season?
A: The Canadian Football League

Q: How many points was a touchdown worth in 1911?
A: Five.

Q:  What university's football team played in the first seven Holiday Bowls?
A: Brigham Young's.

Q:  What NFL team did Rafael Septien boot balls for from 1978 to 1986?
A:   The Dallas Cowboys.

Q:  What National Football Conference division do the Lions, Bears and Packers play in?
A: The Central Division 

Q:  What Dallas quarterback fumbled a record five times in four Super Bowl games?
A: Roger Staubach. 

Q: Whose NFL playing career began in 1949 and ended in 1975?
A: George Blanda's. 

Q: Who said life's three important things were "family, religion and the Green Bay Packers"?
A: Vince Lombardi.

Q: What sportscaster posted an NFL coaching record of 103-22-7?
A: John Madden.

Q: What "winning" slogan credited to Vince Lombardi was uttered first by UCLA coach Red Sanders?"
A:  "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing"

Q:  What three NFL teams had lost four Super Bowls each, through 1996?
A: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings.

Q: What former Chicago Bears star was known as "the Enforcer," "the Animal" and "Paddles"?
A: Dick Butkus.

Q: What were NFL players required to wear in games for the first time in 1943?
A: Helmets.

Q: How many teams graced the NFL after the AFL officially joined in 1970?
A: Twenty-six. 

To 2014...

 

 



Here's to the bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old; Here's to the things that are yet to come and to the memories that we hold.

 

 

 



December 2013 Newsletter

A message from BJ...

Wow, the month of November just flew by, where in the world does the time go?  Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas 2013 is just around the corner and 2014 begins very soon!  I think the old saying is true, TIME SURE FLIES!

I am sorry that I missed our Thanksgiving Dinner on the 23rd, but a family illness kept me out of town that weekend.  I heard that the dinner was a huge success and was attended by over 50 people!  I am glad that you were able to get together, enjoy a great meal and talk to your friends and neighbors. 

December will again offer us a chance to get together with friends an neighbors to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.  Watch your calendar and be sure not to miss the fun!

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



Christmas at Aripeka West...

This year we have decided not to have a contest for decorating your homes and yards at Aripeka West.  We do hope that you will continue to decorate for Christmas even without the incentive of a contest.  We love seeing the great colors and sights of the season.  We are planning a different type of contest for this Christmas.

Aripeka West will host a Christmas Party on Friday December 20th.  The theme will again be our traditional "SOUP PARTY".  Please bring a pot of soup to put on our grill above a bed of embers to keep it warm.  We will have bread, a salad and deserts to accompany our many soup choices.

In the past we have had many varieties of soups, so anything from Asparagus to Zucchini and everything in between will be fine.  Remember to place your soup in a pan that can sit on the grill about 2 feet above the embers, there will be no flaming fire so most metal pans will work fine!  If you do not have a suitable pan, try the "thrift " stores in the area, they have lots of pans that will work for very little money!

We are also planning our "White Elephant Gift Exchange".  We will draw to see who picks first and so on and then the fun begins!  These are our Rules for the exchange.

Aripeka West’s White Elephant Gift Exchange 2013

THE GIFTS:

1. There is no theme for gifts, any gift you pick out will be fine
2. The gift should be valued as close to $10.00 as is reasonable.
3. The gift should be something someone would actually want or use. It should be in new condition.
4. The gift should be wrapped or in an envelope before arriving to the party. Gift bags are OK but must be completely sealed..
5. Gift certificates are OK, but must be boxed and wrapped.

6. Please place your gift under our Christmas tree when you arrive at the party.

THE GAME:

1. Each guest who wishes to participate must contribute a gift. Everyone gathers around the Christmas tree.
2. Choose a number on a paper slip from our bowl of numbers.  On the first turn, the guest with paper slip #1 chooses a gift, opens it, and all admire it.
4. On the second turn, the guest with paper slip #2 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's) or choosing a wrapped one. If #2 steals #1's gift, then #1 must open a wrapped gift.
5. On the third turn, the guest with paper slip #3 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's or #2's) or choosing a wrapped one.

The game continues based on the following:

1. If a gift is stolen from you, you can steal a gift (within limits, described below), or open a wrapped one.
2. The turn proceeds until a wrapped gift is chosen.
3. A gift cannot be immediately stolen back from the guest who just stole it.
4. The fourth "owner" of a gift gets to keep it. The gift is "dead" after it has been stolen three times.
5. "Owners" of "live" gifts must keep them visible and hold them up when requested.
6. The gift exchange ends when the last wrapped gift is opened. Usually, guests are encouraged to perpetuate the gift stealing as long as there are "live" gifts, but no one is obligated to do this.

At this years Christmas party we will have a "Photo Booth" please take photos of your friends and family, takes lots of pictures of everything and everybody, then post them on our Facebook Page (Aripeka West MH & RV Park).  If you have not already "liked" our page, please click to "like" it!

The CONTEST this year will be decorating your Christmas Hat!  Whatever type of "hat" you choose, just throw on the decorations!  Your hat might be a Santa hat, then again it might be Reindeer Antlers or a Wreath or a Christmas Tree, oh just let you imagination run wild, pick you headgear and decorate!  Everyone has a vote, and we will announce the winner right before the White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Please vote for your favorite "hat" and drop it in the box provided.

The Christmas party will begin at 6PM on Friday December 20th, hope to see everyone there.

Thanksgiving Dinner...

The food was great!  We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon eating turkey and ham with all the trimmings.  For dinner there was potatoes, gravy, dressing balls, stuffing, green beans, broccoli, baked beans, squash, carrots, yams, peas, great northern beans, corn, cabbage, cranberry salad, cranberry sauce, chicken & dumplings , deviled eggs and more! Then there was the desert table, pumpkin pie, apple pie, sweet potato pie, berry pie, apple crisp, cookies, cake, brownies and more!  At dinner we served around 50 people, maybe a few more than 50! The line was long, but moved pretty fast once it got going!

The day was beautiful with sunny skies and temps near 80°, a prefect Florida Thanksgiving!  Our Dinner was on the 23rd and the temps were great, glad we did it early, the temps for Thanksgiving Day were much lower, in the 60's, would not have been as nice for our outdoor event!

Windy and Cooler...

Fall has finally brought us some cooler weather, but along with the cool, came the wind.  When the wind blows, lots of tree branches and palm fronds fall.  We have been trying to keep them picked up, but you can help us by moving the palm fronds and small branches to a spot on your lot near the road for pick up.  We will get them moved off your lot as soon as possible. Thanks for pitching in!


A fire to warm you...

We want you to enjoy the Fire Pit in the RV Park this winter, so please if you need more wood for the fire let us know.  We are happy to get the wood to keep your fires burning, but remember that if you start the fire you must stay with the fire, it is your responsibility to keep an eye on it until it is out.  Also, make sure it is not too windy when you start a fire in the Fire Pit, we don't want burning embers falling on RV's or in the woods surrounding the park.  No ground fires are permitted on any lot in the RV or Mobile Home Park.  Only fires in grills or in outdoor above ground fireplaces are allowed at Aripeka West.  If you use your grill or outdoor fireplace, you must stay with the fire until it is completely extinguished.


At Aripeka Community Center...

On Monday December 2nd there will be a Pot Luck Supper at the Aripeka Community Center.  We will celebrate the opening of our "new" Aripeka Post Office and say a big "thank you" to Carl Norfleet for the role he played in making it happen!  This event has been planned by many of the same folks who worked so hard to "Save our Post Office", from getting signatures on our petition to calling the media and attending the meetings! These people worked hard, please plan to be there and show them your appreciation for a job well done. This just goes to show you that when a community pulls together and stands up for what they believe in, it can happen!  Welcome back to Aripeka USPS, we missed you!



The "New" Aripeka Post Office...

Our Post Office re-opened on November 25th and in order to receive the key to your PO Box you must complete the paperwork that was placed in your PO Box in Hudson.  If you have not been to your Hudson PO Box since Saturday November 23rd, there may be mail in that box.  The last delivery to your Hudson Box was on Saturday November 23rd and mail was delivered to your Aripeka Box on Monday November 25th (mail in your Hudson PO Box through November 23rd was not transferred to your Aripeka PO Box). 

The USPS is asking for a Photo Id and one other ID that traces you to your physical address of 9230 Elmira Avenue w/ Lot #.  If you live in the Mobile Home Park, your physical address is located on your WREC (Electric) Bill and that should work as your 2nd ID.  In the RV Park, if you have a problem, the park will give you a letter if your rent receipt is not enough.  You MUST have a Photo ID to get the key to your PO Box.

New Year's ...

At Aripeka West, we do not have a New Year's Eve Party, but on New Year's Day we will have a few little things out to celebrated the beginning of 2014. For those of you who would like to stop by, we will be watching the Big Games, shooting a little pool and if the weather is very cooperative we will have the Ping Pong table set up.  We will be celebrating with friends and neighbors and some foods that are said to bring "Good Luck" in the new year!

Some Lucky Foods

Black-Eyed Peas
A common food on American tables, black-eyed peas look like little coins and are thought to bring good luck those who eat them.  Another belief is that as the beans grow when they cook, those who eat them will “grow” with good fortune.

Cooked Greens
Cooked greens, which look like folded dollar bills, are believed to bring money and prosperity for the new year.

Pork
Pork signifies abundance and plenty of food.  Pigs also root forward into the ground, which symbolizes progress.

Cornbread
A favorite throughout the year, cornbread is especially venerated as a New Year’s treat in the southern United States. Its color resembles that of gold. To ensure extra luck, some people add extra corn kernels, which are emblematic of golden nuggets.

Round Cakes, Donuts and Fruit

Represents coming full circle, one year rolling into the next.


Holiday Traditions...

Start a NEW TRADITION this year...think of something you can do as a family and continue it year after year.  Watch a special holiday movie, go to the movies as a family, bake cookies for your neighbors or your church, visit Santa and get a family picture taken, cut your own Christmas Tree at a local tree farm, pick a name off one of the local Angel Trees and make Christmas great for a child who may otherwise not get a gift, donate a toy to Toys for Tots or another of the Christmas charity Toy Drives, decorate your yard and home for Christmas, take a drive and check out the decorations in the surrounding neighborhoods.

You can probably think of many other ways to make new traditions, while continuing your current traditions!

How do you celebrate the holidays?  What are your traditions?  Tell us about your family traditions, we are writing a blog for Aripeka West Daily and would like to include you.  Just email AripekaWest@gmail.com and let us know!

Holiday Pies...

What pie is your favorite?  At Aripeka West a few different pies have been served at our events in the last month or so.  Although Pumpkin Pie is supposed to be the traditional pie for the holidays, this is most likely because pumpkin was readily available at this time of year in days gone by.  Now, you can get any type of pie at your local supermarket or buy the ingredients to make the pie of your choice, so which one do you choose?  In addition to Pumpkin Pie, you can find many varieties of Apple Pie, Pecan Pies, Cherry and other Berry Pies, Chess Pie, Cream Pie in all flavors, Mincemeat Pie, Rhubarb Pie in a couple of varieties, Lemon Meringue Pie and many others.  So which is your favorite?  Post you favorite and a recipe for it if you have one on our Facebook Page Aripeka West Recipes. While you are there check out the recipes that are posted, you may find something interesting!  Remember to "like" Aripeka West Recipes when you visit! 

Turkey or not...

Tradition on Thanksgiving says Turkey, but Christmas opens the door to other choices. There is of course the Florida Seafood Christmas, The Italian Christmas, the Prime Rib Christmas, the Ham Christmas, the Cuban Mojo Pork Christmas, Pork Crown Roast Christmas, Beef Wellington Christmas and the list goes on...   The are many ethnic Christmas Dinners too, in Germany and Great Brittan they may serve Goose, in Spain and Greece they may serve a Lamb Roast, so what do you serve?  Post it on Facebook Aripeka West Recipes with the recipe if you have it!

Great Christmas Movies...

1 A Charlie Brown Christmas
 Charlie Brown sets out to find the true meaning of Christmas in this animated anti-commercialism classic.                                 

2 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This sixties stop-motion-animation movie is impossibly cute, right down to Sam the Snowman.                          

3 It’s a Wonderful Life
Whether or not you have your own guardian angel hovering, the lesson here is that it's not money that makes you rich.                                 

4 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Decking the halls and other traditions are all colossal failures for the Griswold family -- riotous because it hits close to home.                                 

5 Home Alone
A game changer for the Christmas-movie category: it has action, like a zip line to the neighbors' house.                                 

6 Frosty the Snowman
This holiday staple features one of the most memorably catchy Christmassy theme songs ever.                                 

7 Miracle on 34th Street
Uplifting without being cloying. It's no wonder that this movie is a much-beloved holiday chestnut.                                 

8 White Christmas
The follow-up to Holiday Inn is once again full of Irving Berlin tunes, with Bing Crosby providing the vocals. What's not to love?                                 

9 A Christmas Story
This comedy satisfies two sets of audiences: kids (Ralphie gets his BB gun) and parents (it does exactly what they warned him it would).                                 

10 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Boris Karloff's dulcet baritone lends sinister charm to everyone's favorite Who hater in this short, sweet Christmas special.

11 Elf
It may star Will Ferrell as a dim-witted elf, but the movie's payoff is old-fashioned, familiar, and welcome.      

12 A Christmas Carol
George C. Scott plays Scrooge in this classic made-for-TV version of the Charles Dickens holiday tale.                                 

13 The Santa Clause
Tim Allen deconstructs Saint Nick -- and reconstructs his waistline -- as a hapless Santa in training.                                 

14 Holiday Inn
Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire celebrate a year's worth of holidays, against a steady flow of Irving Berlin tunes.                   

15 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
It's rather hard to say who's the real star of this funny live-action version: is it Jim Carrey or Dr. Seuss?

Wonder if they will all be on TV this Christmas Season?

New Year's Resolutions...

What doesn't work, what works
1. Go on a Diet
Some weight loss experts will tell you flat out, diets don’t work. For many people, unfortunately this is very true. For other people, particularly those whose eating habits are super unhealthy in the first place or who find it easier to cede control over what they eat, they aren’t a bad option.
But typically diets only work for awhile – usually for as long as you stick to the carefully regulated plan. And studies show, after awhile, most people get tired of following such a strict regimen and go back to eating pretty much what they ate before. Sadly, diets actually make many people gain weight, which a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed to the boomerang action of hormones that control appetite and fat metabolism.
What Does Work: Making small changes to your eating habits. Here are a few small changes that pack a big calorie punch. Giving up that daily soda habit: 150 calories saved a day. Switching from your daily bakery muffin (400-600 calories) to a bowl of oatmeal at your desk (150 calories): 250 – 450 calories saved a day.  Swap your latte (180 calories) for a cup of house java with half and half (80 calories): 100 calories saved. Better yet, switch from half and half (3 tablespoons = 80 calories) to nonfat milk (3 tablespoons = 15 calories and save an extra 65 calories per cup. Total for making all three changes: as many as 765 calories a day. And that’s without eating any more veggies!

2. Stop Smoking
Well, it’s not that you can’t stop smoking. You can, and you should. Sooner, rather than later. But if you’re waiting for that perfect day when you’ll just be able to stop because you promised yourself you would (likely after a few too many New Year’s Eve toasts), it’s not going to happen.
What Does Work:  Rather than list the techniques that work best (there are a number of really successful ones), I’m going to defer to Stanford University internist Kelly Traver, MD, author of The Program: The Brain-Smart Approach to the Healthiest You. Traver has written an entire book about how to use current neurological understanding to make healthy lifestyle changes and can tell you exactly why you should quit and how to quit and stay quit. (There’s even a website and iPhone app based on The Program to help you get started.)
Add these 10 extra tricks and you’re even more likely to succeed.

3. Get More Exercise (Related Resolution: Join a Gym)
The problem with this one is, it’s too vague. In other words, it’s too easy to make a stab at, and then let yourself slide because it’s cold outside, or it’s too dark when you get home, or your muscles hurt, or the gym’s too crowded and the equipment smells sweaty.
What Does Work: To make a significant lifestyle change and make it stick, you need to replace an old habit (being a couch potato or workaholic) with a new one. You also need to make it pleasant, or at least not too unpleasant. A few ways to do this are to start a new sport, one you actually like, or join forces with a workout buddy you actually like and want to spend time with.
What’s worked best for me, though, is to change my thinking to make exercise a no-matter-what priority, the same way I do any medical need, such as taking my prescription blood pressure medication.
4. Lose 20 Pounds
Like quitting smoking, it’s not that you shouldn’t lose weight. If your body-mass index is over 25, you qualify as overweight and you want to tip the scales downwards. But the typical promise, “I’m going to lose 20 pounds by June so I can wear a bathing suit,” is not going to be kept. Just ask anyone who made this resolution last year.
What Does Work: Not attaching a number to your goal. That’s not to say you shouldn’t watch the scale. While this used to be controversial (and is an absolute no-no for anyone who’s struggled with an eating disorder) recent studies suggest that regular weight checks are important for keeping any weight loss program on track.
What really works: calories in < calories out. Despite all our efforts to develop new weight loss pills (two of which, Qnexa and lorcaserin, came on the market this year) and come up with new diets, it’s pretty simple says Harvard School of Public Health, summarizing the last five years of weight loss trials. Cut out 500 calories a day (see above for ideas) and up your exercise to burn an extra 250 calories a day — and keep at it, month in and month out – and you’re on track for significant weight loss you can sustain for the rest of your life.
5. Stop Biting My Nails, or Twirling My Hair, Or….
It’s almost impossible to break a physical habit with willpower alone, experts say. That’s because we’ve been doing it so long (hence the name habit…) that we’re no longer aware of it.
What Does Work: Becoming aware of the cues that trigger our habits, even when we’re not paying attention. According to Psychology Today, “habit reversal therapy” can target even the toughest habits (procrastination, anyone?). I’m going to leave it up to the experts to explain this concept in detail, but suffice to say it’s based on the idea that you have to understand the “cravings underlying behaviors” before you can eliminate them. For a more fun read on this subject, check out The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg.

December 2013...

November 2013 Newsletter

A Message from BJ...

Looks like the season is off to a great start, our Good Morning Aripeka West Breakfasts are back every Wednesday Morning at 9AM, we had lots of fun at our Halloween Spooktacular Party, yes we are off to a great start and the fun has only just begun!  The months ahead will be lots of events here at Aripeka West, Thanksgiving is the next holiday event, hope everyone in the Park will come and enjoy some good food with your neighbors and give thanks for all that we are so luck to have!

Daylight Savings Time Ends...

On November 3rd at 2 AM we will "Fall Back" to Eastern Standard Time.  Please remember to set your clocks back before your go to bed on Saturday Night so you will not be late for your planned events on Sunday Morning!  This means that sunrise will be before 7 AM and sunset will be before 6 PM.  This is going to take some getting used to!




Good MorningAripekaWest...

Remember that Breakfast is being served every Wednesday Morning in the screen room at the RV Park, everyone is welcome to stop by, have a cup of coffee and eat breakfast with us.  We start at 9 AM and are normally there for about an hour and a half.  If you can make a small donation to our "bacon fund" , it would be greatly appreciated!  We used to call it a "coffee fund", but since bacon now costs more than most steaks, we need a fund to be able to afford it!




Thanksgiving at Aripeka West...

We will celebrate Thanksgiving here at Aripeka West on Saturday November 23rd with a Turkey Dinner and all the Trimmings!  By holding our Celebration early, it will allow everyone with plans for November 28th, the real Thanksgiving Day, to attend our celebration!  Thanksgiving Dinner will be an RSVP Event this year so we can better plan our dinner.  You will receive an Invitation on your door early in November, please sign and return it to us if you plan to attend. We would appreciate everyone bringing a covered dish to share.  There will be a place on your Invitation to let us know what dish you plan to bring.  Aripeka West will supply Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce,  Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Bean Casserole and Pumpkin Pie.   Your unique dishes will make this meal a real Thanksgiving Feast to remember!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday...

For those of you who like shopping "Black Friday Sales" or "Cyber Monday Sales", let's share our great Ad finds!  If you get early notice about any special buy that is being offered on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, please share it with everyone on our FaceBook Page, Aripeka West MH & RV Park Page.  These ads can be for stores located in our area or for online deals, doesn't matter.  So come on all you "thrifty shoppers" let's see who can come up with the best deals!


Halloween Spooktacular Pics...

Our 3rd annual Halloween Spooktacular was fun.  The food was great as were the costumes.  Our Mile High Captain, Nancy Rudd won the Costume Contest!  We also had Witches, a Gypsy,  a Bucs Fan, a Dolfan, a French Maid, a Princess, two Chefs and more!  See the pics!




Recipe Sharing...,

Many of us have been sharing recipes on Facebook lately, it is fun and everyday there is something new floating from page to page, so if you see something good, please post it on Aripeka West Recipes, our new FaceBook Page just for Recipes, so everyone can see it.  Hey, we might even find something new to bring to our Pot Luck Dinners!  There are lots of Recipe Pages on Facebook, so as you find them please feel free to post a link on our Aripeka West Recipes Page.  Following are a few recipes as seen on FaceBook in the last few weeks.

 

 

 

Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks

 

 

By: Everyday Maven, Serves: 4 Ingredients 1 (approx 2lb) head of organic green cabbage, cut into 1" thick slices 1.5 tablespoons olive oil, 2 to 3 large smashed garlic cloves, kosher salt, freshly ground... black pepper and olive oil spray OR non-stick cooking spray. Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 375F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Pull outer leaf off cabbage, cut cabbage from top to bottom (bottom being root) into 1" thick slices. 2. Rub both sides of cabbage with smashed garlic. 3. Use a pastry brush to evenly spread the olive oil over both sides of the cabbage slices. 4. Finally, sprinkle each side with a bit of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. 5. Roast on the middle rack for 25 minutes. Carefully flip the cabbage steaks and roast for an additional 25 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. A very nice optional condiment would be adding balsamic vinegar on the top when finished cooking.

 

Kentucky Hot Brown Bake

 

INGREDIENTS
8 oz package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 lb. package smoked turkey lunch meat
8 slices cooked bacon
8 slices Swiss cheese
3 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin
4 eggs, beaten

INSTRUCTIONS
Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 2 squares.
Place one square in bottom of 8" pan that is greased or lined with parchment paper.
Press dough to fit pan.
Layer with half the turkey, bacon, cheese and tomatoes.
Pour half the eggs over the top.
Repeat the layers.
Top with remaining dough square.
Pour remaining eggs over top.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, covered with foil. Remove foil and bake another 20-25 minutes.
Let sit at room temp for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Black Forest Waffle Ice Cream Cake

 

Ingredients:

12 Eggo waffles -homestyle
1 jar (16 oz.) hot fudge topping, homemade or store bought
1.5 quart Breyers chocolate ice cream
16 oz. chocolate whipped topping
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling & topping
chocolate shavings for garnish, optional

 

 Directions
1.Bring waffles to room temp.
2.Soften ice cream by removing from the freezer to thaw. You will want your ice cream almost melted, so that it’s easy to spread.
3.Spread each waffle with fudge topping. Lay each waffle side by side in two rows in a 3 qt. baking dish. (Each row will have three, for a total of six.)
4.Next, spread half the container of ice cream all over the fudge covered waffles. Spread the fudge topped waffles with half the whipped topping. Top whipped topping with half the pie filling. Evenly dredge the filling with a knife. Repeat layers, ending with pie filling on top.
5.Now, gently dredge a knife through the pie filling and whipped topping to make it look pretty. Use the remainder whipped topping to star the sides for a finished look. Gently cover and freeze over night. To serve, remove from freezer and let set at room temp for approx. 8-10 minutes before slicing; serve.


Fun Facts...

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.        

The strongest muscle in proportion to its size in the human body is the tongue.         

Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

A person cannot taste food unless it is mixed with saliva. For example, if strong-tasting substance like salt is placed on a dry tongue, the taste buds will not be able to taste it. As soon as a drop of saliva is added and the salt is dissolved, however, a definite taste sensation results. This is true for all foods. Try it!

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself.

Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands.

Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.

Dogs have four toes on their hind feet, and five on their front feet.

The ant can lift 50 times its own weight, can pull 30 times its own weight and always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

A cockroach will live nine days without it's head, before it starves to death.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Elephants are the only mammals that can't jump.

Starfish don't have brains.

Polar bears are left handed.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

An ostrich's eye is bigger that it's brain.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.

The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.
       
Snails can sleep for 3 years without eating.

Porcupines float in water.

Armadillos are the only animal besides humans that can get leprosy.

Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time.

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

A male emperor moth can smell a female emperor moth up to 7 miles away.

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!

Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into to shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.

The number of possible ways of playing the first four moves per side in a game of chess is 318,979,564,000.

The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is "uncopyrightable".

Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple.

"I am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better than men.

Bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers were all invented by women.

The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.

The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

Pearls melt in vinegar.

Honey is the only food that doesn't spoil.

Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
   
More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in aircrashes.        

A shark can detect one part of blood in 100 million parts of water.

Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

USPS & Aripeka...

Carl Norfleet and the USPS have finalized the lease for the Aripeka Post Office.  The USPS will take possession of the facility on Aripeka Road November 1, 2013, but it is not known when our Post Office will actually re-open.  Remember when they closed, it took them about 2 weeks to remove their property from the building, so it will most likely take them at least that amount of time to put it back together.  It has been a long month and a half of driving to the Hudson location, but it will soon be over.  Thanks to all who wrote letters, made phone calls, signed petitions, attended meetings and worked with the media to help make this happen.  And a special "thank you" to Carl Norfleet, had he not stepped up to purchase the building we would have lost our Post Office in Aripeka forever.