Milestones - what do they mean, signify, define? I don't have the answers but I do have a perspective to consider. This year, I'll be rounding a milestone birthday and I'm looking at the occassion simply as something I've never done before (and will never do again). To celebrate this milestone year, my aim is to do at least 52 Never B4 things -- some big, some small but all within week-to-week reality. Care to join me?
The Urban Dictionary defines a meme as "an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads
throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by
parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by
peers, information media, and entertainment media)."
And here's how I can prove that Never B4 fits the meme definition:
1. People are seeking out Never B4's of their own and writing to me about it.
Karen Perrin, is a perfect example of cultural inheritance. Karen is my sister-in-law's mom and she's been one of my most faithful Never B4 readers (thanks!). Karen had never made jewelry before so she took a class in Rhode Island and made this gorgeous ring. Go Karen!
2. Never B4 is spreading outside the United States. Peers are telling peers about the Never B4 idea and their stories are coming back to me. For example, Christine Hennessey emailed me about her friend Sue Klose in Australia who went on a Never B4 hike with an aboriginal guide who brought her to see secluded aboriginal carvings. My Never B4 year came to an end before I had the chance to interview Sue for this blog but I hope she continues to pursue such exciting Never B4 adventures.
3. Never B4 is popping up into casual conversation. Just last weekend my nephew asked if our visit to Rumble on the River was a Never B4. It certainly was, but he made the connection before I did!
This leads me to a big "Thank You!" to all of you that followed my Never B4 adventures and helped create the Never B4 meme by doing Never B4's of your own or by telling your friends, families or colleagues about this blog.
It's fun to see Never B4 become a meme. What's more fun though is hearing about your Never B4 tales so please keep the stories coming -- by commenting here and/or by sending me an email at cboyle.now@gmail.com
BREAKING NEWS: Never B4 is officially part of the Urban Dictionary. Check it out and if you're inspired, give the definition a thumbs up.
Knowing my milestone year was coming to an end, I decided to do something I’d been thinking about for months, ever since I made Sahara my first blog mascot.
I found Sahara on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary website and sponsored her until she was adopted. Since then, I read more and more about this special animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah and learned that it is not only the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the U.S but it was also founded by 22 friends from around the world who shared the same dream - to help homeless pets.
The story of the sanctuary intrigued me and their work impressed me. So, as my last Never B4, I decided I wanted to visit and volunteer at Best Friends for a long weekend. Little did I know, this one Never B4 would lead me to 15 more.
#2: Needed a valet to show me how to start my own car. Even though I had driven a Prius before, I completely forgot that you had to hold the brake down before you pushed the power button or the car wouldn’t shift into drive. Because of this oversight, Dave and I found ourselves stuck in the crowded driveway of the MGM Grand Hotel in Vegas unable to get on the road to Utah. Horns blared. People stared. We squirmed in our seats. Thankfully, a valet rescued us by showing me how to drive my own car. It was an embarrassing start but quickly forgotten when caught a glimpse of Angel Canyon in Utah.
#3 Slept in a cottage at the base of a gorgeous canyon Angel Canyon is about 5 miles north of Kanab, Utah and was once home to the Anasazi Indians. Today the Best Friends Sanctuary is protected by the canyon’s steep red walls and nourished by the gentle waters of Angel Creek which carved the canyon thousands of years ago. We were lucky enough to rent one of Best Friends cottages for our visit and woke every morning to the sun’s rays illuminating the canyon walls and the horses grazing in the pasture outside out door.
#4 Walked 2 cats on leashes Dave and I spent our first volunteer day with the cats. I always thought walking a cat sounded ridiculous but I found myself walking not only one but two cats in the desert sands behind the Kittyville. One cat took me on a tour of all the cat buildings and the other showed me where the lizards hide below the bushes
#5 Stood guard for a cat with 2 paralyzed legs Shelley, one of the cat caretakers, told me to watch out for Dilli because she was a tough one despite the fact that her hindquarters were completely paralyzed. I couldn’t help but wonder if Best Friends had done the right thing in saving Dilli since she couldn’t walk like other cats. She quickly erased my doubts though when she headed straight for the 6-foot, rug-covered cat house in the center of the room. I stood by as she climbed, ready to catch her if she fell. Dilli didn’t flinch. She steadily pulled herself to the top. Within a matter of minutes she was looking down at me with her front paws reaching out to play with any toy I threw to her. My doubts were gone. This cat was enjoying life as much, or more, than any other in the room.
#6 Watched my husband mop a floor with a cat on his shoulder It’s a rare day when my husband mops a floor with a smile on his face, let alone a cat on his shoulder. But that’s how I found him when I visited the room he had chosen to volunteer in. Sunshine, the cat, was happily perched on his shoulder as if she was checking to make sure Dave didn’t miss a spot.
#7 Had a cat “sleepover” in our cottage One of the volunteer opportunities at Best Friends is to take a cat (or dog) on a sleepover. It helps socialize the animal and get it used to being alone with people. Needless to say, it’s also great for increasing the adoption rate. Our cat was named Al Jolson and he was the loudest purring cat we ever met. It took incredible will power (and constant reminders that our cat back home is a prima donna) to stop us from adopting him.
#8 Helped make a group of puppy mill dogs feel at home Best Friends is famous for rescuing dogs from puppy mills and many times they find the dogs in terrible condition. I got the chance to meet the newest wave of puppy mill dogs and, together with another volunteer from Pennsylvania, we cleaned the puppies’ kennels to make them feel more comfortable. Of course, we also got to pet and play with them, too.
#9 Made a dog shake with fear just by saying “hello” This was completely unintentional and shocking. A beautiful Shiba Inu named RC, who was recently rescued from a puppy mill, stood in the back of her kennel and shook from head to tail just because I stood outside, saying hello. The handlers told me that many puppy mill dogs act that way when they first arrive but with some special handling, they start to trust and love people again. I hope RC’s fears can be wiped away soon.
#10 Met my first potbelly pig I was surprised to see how big they were. I always thought they were small and I guess I’m not alone in the misconception. Many people adopt these animals thinking they won’t grow to full “pig size.” Well, they do and when people come to that realization, they often abandon them. Despite their large size, they’re adorable animals.
#11 Saw Turkey’s roost in trees Every night at dusk, a flock of wild Turkeys soar down from the top of the canyon to roost in the trees along the sanctuary road. We arrived too late to see them soar but we did see these awkward birds rustling the leaves high up in the branches of a tall tree.
#12 Saw the sun ignite the canyon walls with color This picture says it all
#13 Met the most caring, giving and hardworking group of people I’ve ever met. From the people that worked at the Best Friends welcome center to the animal caretakers in the Kittyville to the handlers in Dog Town, I’ve never met so many people who were happy, proud and fulfilled by what they do every single day. I was also incredibly impressed and inspired by how many of them had changed their lives and moved to Kanab to do the work they were doing.
#14 Felt sun, heat, rain, cold and hail on my skin all within 5 minutes Bryce Canyon is just over an hour north of the Sanctuary so we couldn’t resist visiting. The views were awe-inspiring but so was the weather. Snow was about the only weather sensation we missed.
#15 Saw at least 30 Model T cars in a one-horse town
Driving into Kanab Utah feels a bit like driving back in time, even when there isn’t a Model T gathering in town. We took a double take when we saw our first Model T putter down the road but within a few hours they seemed as natural a sight as the canyon walls around us.
#16 Read the most inspiring book about how a group of friends changed the world After
only 4 days at this sanctuary, I could easily envision myself spending
years there. That drove me to buy the book that told the story of how 22 friends that
came from cities all over the world pursues their dream to save the lives of unwanted pets. It’s an
inspiring book and it will make you feel good, especially knowing that
since they came together in 1984, that group of friends has helped reduce
the number of pets killed each year from 17 million to 5 million (that's in the US alone).
The incredible beauty of the landscape, the peaceful nature the canyon, the innocence of the animals and the compassionate work being done by so many caring people, made this a life-changing weekend for me. I left Angel Canyon more driven than ever to do my part to ensure that the staggering number of 5 million pets killed each year is dramatically reduced in the years ahead.
To that end, I will shift my writing energies to focus on that goal. More to come on that soon. In the meantime, click here to enjoy more pics of our visit to Best Friends and Bryce Canyon.
Despite the rain and looming amount of laundry that pinned me inside my apartment on Saturday, I carved out an hour for a Never B4. I participated in Blog Talk Radio for the very first time. I say "participated" specifically because I didn't BLalk (aka: get up the nerve to call in and talk to the blogger host) but I did BLatt (aka: send comments & questions to the blogger host in the live chat room).
Blog Talk Radio is a wonderfully bizarre because it seems anyone (even me) can host a show. I browsed the live shows happening when I logged in and immediately came across a psychic blogger giving angel card readings to listeners, a politically conservative blogger harpooning David Letterman for his "attack" on Sarah Palin, a vampire blogger that was mysteriously silent when I tuned in, a paranormal blogger talking about something I didn't understand and a progressive pair of bloggers talking with Adriel Hampton, a journalist/private investigator/social media expert who was running for a House of Representative seat in California.
The hosts of this last show drew me in with their straightforward "issues" questions and Adriel's answers intrigued me enough to want to ask him a question. I thought about calling but chickened out, fearing my tongue would get tied up or I'd come across as naive on the issue of Afghanistan. Instead, I logged on to the live chat room and let my fingers jump in with a question. Just a moment or two later, the host told Adrien that he had a question from the chat room and he proceeded to read him my question.
There were others in the chat room and we went back and forth, submitting questions and spouting our opinions on subjects from "don't ask, don't tell" to legalizing marijuana. Adriel answered them all and it felt great to engage with a politician this way.
I was hooked!
I wonder if I would have been as satisfied if I waited patiently for someone to speak on the Vampire channel? I may have to tune into that show next. Or, maybe I'll become a BLost (aka talk radio blog host) and extend this blog into that new world. I think I'll go ask the angel card reader if that is a good idea.
Seriously though, I may have to try hosting a Never B4 show just for the sheer Never B4 fun of it. Check out Blog Talk Radio and let me know if you think that's too crazy.
It’s about time I give you all an update on my longest running mascot, Mr. Moffit.
I’m happy to say the news is good but not 100% perfect - yet. To get the full story, I took a Never B4 outing to Sayville P.A.W.S to hear Mr. Moffit’s story straight from the lips of his rescuer, Donna Weber.
I’ve wanted to visit P.A.W.S for more than a year, since my mom told me it was a local all-volunteer group that regularly rescues abandoned, injured and feral cats in and around my hometown of Sayville. Until this past weekend, I had to settle for visiting their website, which wasn’t too bad because I found Mr. Moffit that way. But now that I’ve visited in person I’m more impressed than ever.
I was excited to meet Donna Weber of P.A.W.S, not only because she was integral in getting Mr. Moffit off the streets where his previous owners dumped him, but also because she’s followed her passion for animals and in turn has become a force of change in her community. P.A.W.S has rescued over 3,000 animals in the Sayville area since 1992 and was recently asked to partner with the Old Navy Clothing Store to raise awareness for the humane treatment of animals.
Donna took time out of her busy animal care schedule to talk with me about the work she has been doing with P.A.W.S and the Never B4 adventure Mr. Moffit was embarking on.
With a pen full of kittens at her feet and 2 adult cats roaming in and out of her living room, Donna told me how Mr. Moffit was launching (literally) a new life this month. It just so happens that the man that has been fostering him is the captain of a luxury yacht. Until just a few weeks ago, his plan was to return Mr. M to P.A.W.S when he set sail this summer. However, Mr. M worked his cat charms and the captain got permission from the yacht owner to bring Mr. M along on the boat.
So man and cat are setting sail this month and if all goes well, Mr. M will be officially adopted very soon. Keep your fingers crossed, knock wood and say a little prayer that Mr. M’s four little legs turn out to be four steady sea legs. If they are, his captain will keep him forever.
In the meantime, Mr. Moffit is handing the mascot torch to Barney. As the the new mascot, I'll be sponsoring Barney until he finds a permanent home.
Like Mr. M, Barney was abandoned by his owners and is now being sheltered by P.A.W.S. He’s a big beautiful cat with a fluffy tail and he clearly loves people. I met him on Donna’s porch and within seconds he was purring and letting me scratch his chin. If you or anyone you know would like to adopt Barney, please email me (cboyle.now@gmail.com) or post a comment here.
I forget things. Not mundane stuff like chores because I’ve learned the art of “to do” lists. What falls through the memory cracks for me, unfortunately, are recent conversations with friends or colleagues, visits to new places, special occasions and sometimes, even vacations.
Aside from the embarrassment and worry this memory loss causes, I also get frustrated because somehow I manage to remember professional things in complete detail. This annoying imbalance and the fact that I’ve never been to the 92nd Street Y led me to sign up for a type of class I’ve never take before: Total Recall: A One-Night Memory Workshop.
I learned multi-tasking is killing my ability to remember and I need to focus on one thing at a time to better embed memories.
This is a tough pill to swallow because I pride myself on making the most of every minute to stay on top of things. I return calls and emails while skimming the paper and commuting to work. I read Twitter and Facebook while talking on the phone, eating lunch and paying bills. At night, the TV plays while I chat with my husband, prepare dinner, throw toys for the cat and think about all the things I have to get done the next day.
My attention is clearly divided which, I learned at the workshop, means my brain is not acquiring enough information to form a complete memory.
The brain essentially works as a library. It acquires information, stores it and finally retrieves it. Like everyone in our class and the majority of those asked, I assumed memory problems occur in the retrieval phase. Surprisingly, most problems crop up in the acquisition phase.
Attention and focus are how our brains acquire information. The more attention and focus we pay to something the better our brains store that information. If you ever repeated something out loud while studying, you’ve used one of the tricks to focusing your attention to embed something into memory.
Interestingly enough, research has shown that if you also try to retrieve that new information within 24 hours of acquiring it (i.e. simply think about what you learned, observed or experienced), you’re more likely to remember it better in the future.
In my case, it’s clear that I remember professional things better than some personal things because at work, I more frequently focus on one thing at a time. At home and on vacation, I’m trying to pack too much in and not focusing enough on important moments preventing my brain from embedding the information into memory.
In today’s world, I just don’t see how it’s possible to abandon multi-tasking forever but now that I’ve heard how it hinders my ability to remember, I sure will do less of it at home, vacation and holiday weekends like this one.
I also learned these 3 useful tips for remembering little things that can be easily forgotten. I’ve already put them into practice and they work! Give them a try this weekend!
3 Tips To Remember Things We Commonly Forget
Don't Lose Your Keys, Wallets, Cell Phone: If you’re someone that always forgets where you put your keys, wallet, cell phone then a “forget-me-not spot” will help you. All you have to do is put a basket, bowl or box in a dedicated spot and ALWAYS put keys, wallet, cell phone in that place as soon as you walk in the house.
Remember Movies & Books: If you end up re-renting movies or borrowing books that you’ve already read, only to remember you’ve seen/read it before once you’re part-way in, this will help. Next time you watch or read something, talk to someone about the movie or book in detail after watching it. Talking about the plot, the characters and your impressions of them is like repeating something out loud when you’re studying. It helps embed the subject into memory.
Remember Names: If people’s names go in one and out the other, make first impressions (good or bad) work in your favor. Alliteration helps, too. For example, if you meet a bubbly woman named Pam, give her the nickname (quietly in your mind, of course) Perky Pam.
An article in the March issue of More Magazine motivated 2 women, who never met before, to take action. I was one of those women and Christine Hennessey from Pittsburgh was the other.
Thearticleprofiled the founder of Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary who rescues abused tigers, cougars, lions and many other animals. After reading the story, Christine and I both sent off emails to the sanctuary hoping to learn even more. Our emails led to fascinating phone conversations with the founder, but that's where my similarity to Christine ends and her Never B4 adventure begins.
One week after the call, Christine jumped on a plane to Mississippi to visit her first wild cat sanctuary and meet Kay McElroy, the founder of Cedarhill. I had the opportunity to interview Christine recently and learned how this Never B4 visit fueled her passion to incorporate the well being of animals into her growing business.
CB: What was your biggest expectation about this Never B4 visit to the sanctuary and how did your visit live up to that expectation?
Christine:
My biggest expectation was of the facilities themselves. I imagined
the staff and physical layout and animal “homes” would be top-notch.
Both exceeded my expectations.
CB: Did you have hesitations or doubts about reaching out to Kay
or visiting a sanctuary like Cedarhill for the first time?
Christine:Around
the time I read the More Magazinepiece about Kay & Cedarhill, I had
also decided to begin pursing work that appealed to things I am passionate
about. The article touched
a few of my passions – the proper care of animals, opportunities
for women as independent business/non-profit owners and the satisfaction that
can come from following your interests in life. What followed was
an email introduction I sent to Kay offering her pro bono PR assistance. I
thought there might be a 20-30% chance she’d reply. I was pleasantly surprised
when she did. Shortly after receiving her reply, we spoke by phone. About 20
minutes into the call, I committed to traveling to Mississippi the next week
to meet her and see the sanctuary. It was only after the call and making
travel reservations that I paused about my decision. I recognized that it was a
bit impulsive after only a brief introduction. However, my strong intuition was
telling me this was a good thing. Over the years, I’ve learned to trust
my intuition because it rarely fails me.
CB: How would you characterize your visit to the sanctuary? By this
I mean, was it a zoo-like tour, a behind-the-scenes tour or something
completely different?
Christine: It was a behind-the-scenes tour with a big dose of Southern hospitality, charm and rich conversation.
CB: One
of the policies Cedarhill Sanctuary has in place is to only allow
donors and invited guests to tour the sanctuary and visit the animals.
Did you get the impression that this policy impacts the sanctuary or
the animals in any way?
Christine: The Cedarhill policy reflects Kay McElroy’s desire to not put the animals on display. At its core, Cedarhill’s mission is to provide a place where abused and abandoned domestic and exotic animals come to live out their lives in care, comfort and peace. I believe the policy minimizes disruption for the animals—many of whom have come from extreme, abusive situations and have a limited trust of humans. Kay and her staff have worked to gain the animals’ trust through loving, expert care and an almost sacred presence…a sacred co-existence with one another. The policy underscores the respect Kay and the Cedarhill staff have for the animals.
CB: I imagine it's common for visitors to an animal rescue sanctuary to
leave with the urge to do something to help. Can you tell me a bit
about what you're doing to help the Sanctuary and how you went about
proposing your unique "donation"?
Christine: I launched my own business, Hennessey Consulting, in October 2008. It is my first entrepreneurial effort after spending nearly 20 years in corporate America. In life and business, I take inspiration from many places. With the freedom of being my own boss and having full control of my schedule and time, I am jumping at the chance to follow my passions and hope it leads me to new things in life and business. The More Magazine article did a great job at illuminating Kay’s strong life/career story. After meeting her, I realized there is even more to her story that is very rich, deep, varied and inspirational. She runs Cedarhill as efficiently and successfully as any CEO would run a successful business. Everything she does for the sanctuary, her staff, her donors and her animals is well-planned and executed with the best care money can buy. In my heart and in my experienced PR mind, I am certain I can help attract more media attention to Cedarhill and help achieve its goal of creating an endowment for a sustaining future.
Now that you're home and are hundreds of miles away from Cedarhill, is there one moment or mental image that stays with you stronger than others?
Christine:Kay graciously invited me to stay in a guest cottage on the Cedarhill grounds. It’s a lovely little red cottage decorated in a safari theme. The interior walls and floors are wooden—giving the rooms a rustic feel like a cabin in the woods. When it came time for Kay and I to discuss PR, we spent a few hours each day at the desk in the cottage.
Behind where I sat was a glass-paneled door leading to a porch that overlooked one of the tiger’s pen and two other pens for four of Cedarhill’s pooches. There with mid-day sun shining through the door, Kay told me about her life. A life that took her from Oklahoma, to Carmel, Calif., to inner city Los Angeles, back to Oklahoma and then Mississippi and through college, teaching, painting, a psychology PhD program, a consulting career and now a sanctuary founder and director. Her openness not only led to additional ideas for the PR plan but it helped me fully understand her passion and dedication. She has lived a very full life. I’m honored that she shared her story with me. I’ve earned her trust and she has earned mine—an imperative part of any successful venture.
Christine Hennessey is a spirited, 41-year-old Chicago ex-pat now living in western Pennsylvania. In the summer of 2007, she adopted an eight-week old yellow Labrador retriever whom she named Citizen Sugar Cane. Sugar, as he is most commonly known, has opened her heart to the joy and magic of animals. Through her love and understanding of this mischievous canine, she is becoming an advocate for the proper care of animals. Click here for more photos of her visit to Cedarhill, all of which were graciously provided by Christine. To contact Christine, email her at christine@hennesseyconsulting.com.
Would you follow your instincts like Christine did and sponteneously pursue something that feels right? Post a comment to share your thoughts.
This double debut turned into a weekend of Never B4’s for me.
Bringing the Banjo Back to Africa
My Never B4 weekend began when I caught the radio interview with Sasha Paladino and Bela Fleck about how they took the Banjo back to its home in Africa to record an album and make a documentary about their experiences with the local musicians. I never knew the Banjo originated in Africa so right away my Never B4 ears were perked. Then, when I didn’t hate the sound of the banjo playing with the local artists, I knew I had to see this movie. You see, I normally hate the sound of the banjo, but not his time. The ear-piercing twang I thought I’d hear, wasn’t there. Instead, the plucky string sound accented the heavy rhythms of one African country and perked up the bluesy sounds of another.
Throw Down Your Heart was not only the first movie premiere I ever attended, it was also the first movie I ever saw with the director and star sitting in the audience. At the end of the show, Sasha and Bela took the stage for a 20 minute Q&A and then Bela opened his banjo case and played us a song from the show. One Never B4 followed another all night long (ending with getting Bela’s autograph).
Pedal Power Rocks Central Park
Central Park’s Earth Day Celebration on Sunday was also debut day for New York’s very own pedal-powered stage. Rock the Bike, inventors and bike advocates from Berkeley California, conceptualized and built the "Multi-Person Biker Bar Pedal Power Rig" which consists of 4 bikes tethered to each other and to a sort of cylinder that generates the precious current while we pedaled (don't quote me on that science!). When I heard the Berkeley group was working with a team from Brooklyn to build a special pedal powered rig specifically for NYC, I was determined to put my feet to good use and be one of the first to give it a go.
I read about a similar bike-powered engine used in Times Square last New Year’s Eve that powered part of the ball drop at midnight. What was different about this pedal-powered engine was that it couldn’t store the power. Our power was all live, so to speak. In other words, if all the riders stopped pedaling for a minute, the power would die out.
I didn’t realize the pressure that would put me under as a rider until I was up there, pedaling away in the midday sun, and the bike next to me broke down. That left just 3 bikes to power the mic the singer was using to entertain the hundreds of people gathering in front of the band shell.
The line of people who were willing to rotate in and relieve us was long but because the “engine” was down one bike we couldn’t risk stopping even for a second to switch riders. We pedaled harder. We sweat faster. Thankfully, though, volunteers were nearby with spray bottles of water to cool us off.
Bike #4 was fixed quickly (although it seemed like a long time under that 85 degree sun) and soon I was sitting on a bench taking pictures of my replacement bikers and the Fender Blenders, bike-powered blenders that were making smoothies in the shade (well, at least my bench was in the shade).
I highly recommend giving both of these Never B4’s a try if you get the chance.
Thanks for taking a moment to read about my Never B4s! If you've done something new recently, share it by posting a comment. Even better, if you’ve never posted a comment here before, go for it. It feels great to do something new. Click here and leave a message in the comments section : - )
Social networking for me has come to mean spending even more time on my computer: checking status updates on Facebook, tweets on Twitter, network updates on LinkedIN and most recently "who's where" on BrightKite.
I get a lot out of this extra screen time. I reconnect with old and new friends on Facebook, keep open channels with past and present colleagues on LinkedIN, get breaking news and information on topics I'm interested in through Twitter. Yet, I've run out of time to get myself out there in the real world to meet new people face-to-face.
The trouble with face-to-face networking I've found is that we tend to get shy. The beauty of online social networking sites is no one is bashful. Strangers easily connect with strangers and openly share information, both personal and professional. Myself included.
This week, I started to wonder if face-to-face social networking would be less intimidating if it was couched in something else people are always trying find time to do -- exercise. The challenge is finding an exercise that provides a good but fast workout and ability to talk.
Swimming, for instance, doesn't work.
Jumping rope, does. In 10 minute intervals, you can burn up to 160 calories. It's also easy to do and it's a great outdoor exercise (perfect for the warm weather coming).
With all this in mind, I kicked off a Never B4 social networking experiment this week to see if I can build a neighborhood jump rope group to connect neighborhood professionals (face-to-face), provide intense exercise quickly and let us all get a little fresh air and fun before work.
So far, I found a location to meet -- John Jay Park. The basketball courts there are deserted at that hour and the breeze off the river is refreshing. I went for my first day-break jumping session on Friday and got a great workout in just 20 minutes.
As you can see, I need to brush up on my jumping skills before leading a group. At this point, I can only do the traditional 2-foot jumping. I think I'll wait until I can do all the "moves" before officially inviting others to join.
My goal is to have the group up and running by mid-May and have it go through the summer. A mid-May start will give me time to become a stronger jumper and also advertise the idea. It will be interesting to see if people will be brave enough to join, or shy away to the anonymity of online networking.
If you know anyone living on the upper east side of NYC and think they might be interested in joining this jump rope group, please ask them to email me (cboyle.now@gmail.com). Or, if you have thoughts, question or suggestions about this or future Never B4 ideas, post a comment.
Yesterday I had the Never B4 pleasure of feeding newborn Nubian Goats – out of beer bottles! I think it’s safe to safe that all parties involved, kids and humans alike, loved the experience.
Thanks goes to Dave for suggesting this Never B4 idea (and for taking the pics & video you'll see here). Actually, his suggestion was to visit Olde Oak Farms to watch them make their delicious mozzarella cheese (which we happened to be eating the night he thought of the Never B4 idea). Unfortunately, as Jen Maeverde, the co-owner of the Olde Oaks Farm quickly pointed out, it wasn’t the right time to make the cheese. The goats were in kidding season so the heavy cheese-making period was still a few weeks off.
When Jen heard about my search for a Never B4 experience, she kindly offered up a selection of other things she thought I may not have done B4 – cleaning a barn, bailing hay or hand-feeding feeding Nubian kids from beer bottles.
Jen was right. They would ALL be Never B4s for me and I went to the farm with Dave with an open mind to try any one of them, or all of them. I won’t lie though, when we got to the farm and Jen paired me up with her apprentice Arlene to feed the newborn kids, I was relieved and thrilled at the same time.
The farm was alive with the bleating of goats, the does in the back barn, the bucks in a separate barn of their own to the right of the ladies and in a smaller barn near the front of the farm were the kids. Six of the long-eared cuties were huddled under a heat lamp in a small hay covered pen, bleating madly for some food.
Arlene quickly took me to a work-station in a small wooden building to prepare the milk for feeding. All the kids were very young, the oldest were 4 days old and the youngest were 4 hours old. Their mom’s colostrum (the mother’s first milk) would be their steady diet because they needed all the nutrients they could get.
Because the goats will be milked later to make the farm's amazing cheeses, it was important to keep the bacteria levels low. That was the primary reason why the babies were hand fed. Feeding off their mother’s teats, I learned, introduced the babies to bacteria that they may not be able to fight. Also, hand feeding allowed the goats to bond with the humans which would help the milking process in the future.
The reason for the beer bottles was because they were healthier than plastic, they were recyclable, they could be heated in a double boiler and they were plentiful, as the staff liked to enjoy a good beer after a long day of working the farm.
When the milk was heated to 104 degrees, we carried the bottles over to the bleating babies, climbed into the pen with them and they took over from there. Arlene focused on the two youngest ones and I fed any that came to me.
They certainly weren’t shy, that’s for sure. As soon as we were in the pen, they were literally climbing on us to get to the bottle’s nipple. It was every kid for him/herself.
Before I could get settled on the pen floor, the hungriest of them was climbing up my thighs to get to the bottle. Once they latched on they were peaceful little angels and I could sneak a pet of their droopy ears.
If they let go for a minute though, another kid was right there at the nipple to take the place.
Did I say adorable, yet?
Dave and I were so enamored with the kids we forgot to snap any pics of the mom’s, but if you can find plenty of photos of Nubian goats here.
I'd like to thank Jen, Arlene and Dave for so warmly welcoming us to the Farm. For more information on Olde Oaks Farm, their lovely Nubian goats or their products, click here.
What do you think of these droopy-eared kids? Post a comment with your thoughts or post a suggestion for future Never B4’s. And, if you’ve done a recent Never B4 of your own, let me know because I'd love to interview about it.
Hills...Drunks...Washington...And Defending the Financial District
With an hour to spare before leaving for a business trip, I zipped up to 110th Street & 5th Avenue last Saturday to join a walking tour through a section of Central Park I never visited before -- the Northern Highlands.
My goals were simple: get some fresh air before being cooped up in a plane for 9 hours and see more of the amazing park I sometimes forget is in my backyard.
Little did I know I'd...
Meet Dick Cheney's twin brother
Ponder the lasting impression of hills and drunks
Stand in the historic shadow of General George Washington, and
Gain a new perspective on the financial district.
Manahatta: Island of Hills? Or Drunks?
When I arrived at the Dana Discovery Center on the shore of the Harlem Meer about 10 others were already there. I joined the gaggle glued to the side of a friendlier, tour guide-version of Dick Cheney and let him take me back in time to
when the city was not much more than a long stretch of hills.
Mannahatta, he told us, was the name the Lenape Indians had for Manhattan. I never knew that and I never would have questioned the most common translation (Island of Hills) had he not mentioned the other possible translation (Island of Drunks).
From my vantage point on the Meer and the many "hill" neighborhood names scattered around the city (ie. Lenox Hill, Murray Hill, Carnegie Hill, etc. ), the first translation seemed absolutely fitting. Yet, as I reconsidered the second option and watched Cheney point out the spot where McGowns Pass Tavern stood for many decades, it occured to me that it is much easier to find a historic tavern in the city today than it is to spot a hill. So, even though it's not as romantic, Island of Drunks won me over as a more fitting and time-tested name.
Central Park Was George Washington's Escape Route
Crossing the Delaware, I learned, was not George Washington's only famous transverse. He crossed through Central Park's Highlands, specifically through McGown's Pass where I stood on Saturday.
The year was 1776 and he raced south to defend the city against the British invasion. When he arrived at the site of the battle (around E. 30's) he witnessed the collapse of his make-shift army. His citizen soldiers threw down their weapons under heavy shelling and ran for safety. Realizing his untrained troops were ill-equipped in numbers, weapons and morale, Washington led the retreat out of Manhattan, once again via McGown's Pass. He crossed the Pass for a third time, seven years later, when he returned with his tattered army and successfully reclaimed NYC for America.
The city in those days was a mere fraction of what it is today; a population of just more than 5000 and a border somewhere near what is now Canal Street. The New York of the 18th century, the city George Washington knew he had to reclaim to win the war, was not much more than the financial district we know today. Yet, despite its small size, its location at the center of the very active harbor made it the cornerstone in the nation's budding economy. If it fell permanently to the Brits, they would control commerce, weapons transport and the people that arrived on American shores.
When our guide moved beyond the Revolution to explain the roll the Highlands played in the War of 1812 and how it served as home for a religious convent many years later, I listenedd but I couldn't get my mind off Washington. I found it fascinating that even in the 18th century, the financial district was too important to fail or fall into the wrong hands.
It seemed oddly coincidental that today the financial district is once again at the heart of another battle. Once more it seems to be in need of defending. Could Timothy Geitner be the modern-day Washington? If he and his Treasury Plan are leading the financial district into retreat, will he soon ride back to restore its place in American society. Maybe someday another walking tour guide will tell that story.
Never has one walking tour made me think so much about the city, I thought I already knew.
