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Health & Fitness

Mega-Mixer Elixir

The cold, concrete floor underneath my hot, tired, bare feet was soooo soothing. It was tough dangling the straps of my platform sandals from the index and middle fingers of my left hand, ALMOST healed from a recent fracture.  Slinging the camera bag over my right shoulder, I perceive that I’m a minimalist when it comes to toting around my writing gear. In reality, I usually have my friend, Joseph, lugging around a backpack filled with bottled water, too many pens and too few note pads. 

I used to record interviews and my associated thoughts about such things, sifting through the scratchy audio files while transcribing them afterward.  At times, I’d have a multitude of different projects collected on the same day.  I’d archive the files which meant deciphering the recordings, the photos and my notations.  As a writer, I MUST EDIT the information down to a comprehensible story – the bane of my creative existence.  No complaints, though. None. Nada. Zilch. Zip. However, I try to keep logistics simple.

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Anyway, I attended the All-Chamber Mega-Mixer VI, last Thursday afternoon at the Orchard Stone Creek Plaza.  I found a hotbed of potential business stories I can parlay into features later on; a vertiable elixir for occasional writer’s block.

 I’ve mentioned that I’m a member of Toastmasters International (TM) Menifee Club 2002786: http://menifeetoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org

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Aside from proffering a public speaking and leadership learning lab, the TM fellowship is unparalleled.  Ten feet into the open warehouse filled with vendors, many members of OTHER Toastmasters clubs greeted me, most of who are either entrepreneurs or professionally involved in the business community.

“What’s your elevator speech, Lyn?”  Paul asked, in Toastmaster fashion.

“I’m a humorist, a freelance writer and an award-winning, professional speaker.  What’s your story?” I asked, but he knows the inquiry is the tagline of my spiel.  “Do you have vendor space?”

“No, I’m helping out with things.  I came by to touch base. Did you see the cookies over there?” he asked, deviously snickering and pointing toward the many platters piled high with sweet wonder.

“See them? I could smell the aroma from the off-ramp of the 215 freeway and Clinton Keith,” I said.

A friendly series of familiar faces and warm voices greeted me as I wandered through the aisles of local businesses touting services from the A AAAA AAAA As (to ensure first, alphabetical placement in advertisements) to ZZZs.

My long-time favorite is the CLB: The Community Little Book: http://www.askclb.com. Donald Reyes did well with his acting debut in the attached video link.  The beautiful, young ladies representing the Oak Grove Institute (OGI) were signing up volunteers.  OGI is a private, nonprofit, 24-hour residential, educational and therapeutic treatment center serving 76 resident students.  About 100 non-resident students attend during the school year.  The main campus is located in Murrieta.  A second, ranch-like campus is located in Perris. I penned my name as a future volunteer and took a snapshot http://www.oakgrovecenter.org of the two lovelies.

Trinda Burch’s glam display of eye-catching jewelry had me toying with the glittering necklaces, the dangling earrings and the bedazzling bracelets just meant to accessorize the most casual of creaking surfer chicks in aged denial.

I’m all into logos and graphic design, but a Logomaster, Roland Behny, already exists, serving clients in design matters http://www.logomediagroup.com.  I must also mention Logo Joe: http://www.logojoes.net who quips, “Put your logo wear it counts.” Get it? Got it?  Good. 

Good, preventative maintenance on your heating, air conditioning (AC) and refrigeration units pays! REE HVAC can help you out with the AC before the scorching weather arrives:  http://www.reehvac.net.

Of course, if your AC fails, tap the wellspring of your mind to create immediate, positive change with hypnotherapy.  No, no, no. I’m not deriding visualization and the power of suggestion at all. Bright Paths Hypnotherapist, Cynde Gardner, has a story to share in helping people to alleviate the effects of chronic pain: http://www.brightpaths.com.  Should you need to transcend the heat, the public pools are open and inexpensive.  Running through the sprinklers in the front yard works, too. I just pretend I’m adjusting the irrigation system, for all juvenile intents and whimsical purposes.

Generally speaking, Harrah’s Rincon San Diego north can be an inexpensive get-away.  If you’ve never been through Valley Center, BRING YOUR CAMERA!  The expanse of hills and dales is captivating plus winning a jackpot DEMANDS a photo opp for a life-size display of your smiling, noveau riche self: http://www.harrahsrincon.com

J&M Display, International, offers innumerable portable, graphic banners as demonstrated by Luis Pena in the video link: http://www.jmdisplay-us.com

Just in case you’d have to calculate a portion of your winnings for Uncle Sam, Jeff Cane, a certified public accountant (CPA), crunches numbers for Liberty Tax Service. Cane independently extends his expertise in bookkeeping and payroll, as well http://www.ExpAccounting.com.  Any numbers pro who willingly places a spongy, green star around his head for a photo is cool in my book: http://www.libertytaxtemecula.com. 

As part and parcel of my future scribbling, I’ve been invited to attend the Riverside County Manufacturers & Exporters Association meeting, 0700 hours, July 9: The Benefits of Technology Transfer to Your Company + Available State Funded Training + Export Topic of Interest.  Actually, anyone who’s interested is invited http://www.jfmglobal.com.  Mr. Joseph Mignone is the principal consultant and enthusiast for the group.  I’ve an affinity for most things business-related and for learning something new. The aforementioned venue will be hosted by the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce: 25125 Madison Ave. #108: http://www.murrietachamber.org.

RKR Marketing & Advertising in Temecula is renowned for serving clientele, helping them to develop and sustain business: http://www.RKRmarketing.com, while the Coworking Connection in Murrieta offers small businesses a professional setting to conduct operations and logistics http://www.coworkingconnection.com

Finally, I think I can; I think I can; I think I can…RUN a 5K for the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure (breast cancer).  Sunday, October 20 the run/walk event begins at 0800 hours at the Promenade Mall, BUT teams, sponsors, individuals, survivors, kids can sign up on the website: http://www.komenie.org in the interim. Cindy Fitch, Co-Race Chair, said the race attracts about 15,000 participants. If you have any questions, call the Inland Empire Affiliate: 951-676-PINK. 

The Broken Yolk Restaurant in Temecula brazenly shared bacon-wrapped dates and chicken sausages as appetizers.  The cookies and chocolate everywhere tempted me to grab handfuls of the goodies, but I left the event unscathed by my sweet tooth weaknesses – stacks of moist raisin-oatmeal cookies and the delectable jars of chocolates.  Oh, I dream of the discipline to eat just three cookies, but that would be a deprivation nightmare.

Lynda StarWriter is a humorist, a freelance writer and an award-winning public speaker on such topics as: ‘Say what you mean, but eat three cookies, first.’  lyndastarwriter@aol.com

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