BETTY'S TRIVIA & TRIVIAL
The Color Red: Signals excitement, commands attention and is associated
with Fire, Love, Sex Appeal, Anger and Danger.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hester Prynne was marked by her Puritan neighbors
not with the color purple,
but 'A,' for adultery, a scarlet letter.
Divorce Happens: The Guide to Good Divorce.
Sat. May 19 The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, The Guide to Good Divorce
Parenting With Courage: A Better Spouse Makes a Better Parent.
Sometimes our partner can seem like just 10 more fingers used to plug up the
dam, not the love of your life with whom you vowed to spend your life.
Can a better marriage impact your ability to be a good parent? Without Question. Harriet Lerner, author of Marriage Rules, details 100 rules to
have a better marriage. Flexibility: Folks in successful couples change for
each other all the time. Our children learn how to be in a relationship by
watching how we behave with our partners.
'Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate,
but through being the right mate', Rabbi Barnett Brickner wrote more than
50 years ago. Houston Chronicle 5-11-2012 byline: Rabbi Amy Weiss
Foreign-born: Altering the Face of America.
The Census Bureau released its most complete look yet at the nation's 40 Million foreign-born residents, a group that differs from those born here in some
key respects, but that also has changed the face of the U.S. Residents of foreign birth now make up 12.9% of the nation's population, the highest number
ever. Texas gained 1.2 Million foreign-born residents during the decade, accounting for more than 16% of the state's residents.
More than half of all foreign-born residents live in California, New York,
Texas and Florida. Houston Chronicle 5-11-2012 byline: Jeannie Kever
Census: By the Numbers:
Mormons and Muslims may have long been considered minority religions, but
in Houston and across the country, their numbers have grown since 2000.
More familiar faiths-Catholics, Baptists, and Methodists-grew as well.
Houston's TOP 15 Faiths:
1. Catholic: 741,890. 2. Southern Baptist: 579, 759. 3. Non-denominational (evangelical) 348,461. 4. United Methodist: 182,624.
5. Muslim: 117,148. 6. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
44,472. 7. Episcopal Church: 39,041. 8. Presbyterian Church (USA)
43,952. 9. Churches of Christ: 33,525. 10. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: 30,521. 11. Judaism: 21,807. 12. Church of God in
Christ: 19,190. 13. National Baptist Convention of America (Black
Protestant): 18,575. 14. Buddhist: 15,385. 15. Seventh-day Adventist:
12,708. Houston Chronicle 5-4-2012 byline: Kate Shellnutt
Name The Baby: TOP 20 Names in 2011.
Girls 1-10 11-20 Boys 1-10 11-20
Sophia Elizabeth Jacob Anthony
Isabella Ella Mason Matthew
Emma Addison William Elijah
Olivia Natalie Jayden Joshua
Ava Lily Noah Liam
Emily Grace Michael Andrew
Abigail Samantha Ethan James
Madison Avery Alexander David
Mia Sofia Aiden Benjamin
Chloe Aubrey Daniel Logan
Source: Social Security Administration
Mohel: Jewish Ritual Circumciser:
Jewish law requires that male babies be circumcised on the eighth day of life
as a sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The Hebrew
word for circumcision, bris, technically means 'covenant.' Today, most
mohels hail from one of two professions: rabbi or doctor. When done correctly, the procedure takes only about a minute, plus some prep time.
Max Mintz, who works as a mohel, is a retired Houston-area pediatrician.
He has circumcised 9,700 babies during the past 30 years. So, what does he
do with all those foreskins? In accordance with Jewish tradition, some ask that it be buried. Others want to keep it, and Mintz hands it over wrapped in a piece of aluminum foil. Most parents forget about it, though, and Mintz simply disposes of it.
Until Mintz retired, most of the babies he circumcised were not Jewish.
Today, about 70% are Jews. Shortly after he began his mohel career, Mintz
who has circumcised all five of his grandsons, began keeping count of his
circumcisions. He expects to reach 10,000 near the end of this year.
Houston Chronicle 5-11-2012 byline: Uriel Heilman
Better Baby Your Skin: Or Look Like a Tanned Hide or Worse?
The warnings about skin cancer from too much sun don't seem to be getting
through. Half of U.S. adults under 30 say they have had a sunburn at least once in the previous year. Experts say that even one blistering burn can double the risk of developing melanoma, an often lethal form of skin cancer.
Not only that, but women in their 20s are going to tanning salons almost twice
a month on average.
More than one third of those surveyed said they use sunscreen when they are
out in the sun, but some experts said the increasing rate of sunburns suggests
many people are not putting on enough sunscreen or are not re-applying it ad-
equately. Associated Press 5-11-2012
Ready? Chaaaarrrgge !
More Great News in Houston: Riding Along in my Automobile !
Johnny Carson: King of Late Night: Heeerrs Johnny !
Hobby Battle Becomes Political: Big Guns Enlisted in Airline War.
Life is so uncertain. Eat dessert first. Ernestine Ulmer
Betty says: Houston: Fabulously Sassy, Brassy, and Bold With a derring-do
TEXAS: What we like about Texas-dream big/fail big, don't judge, but do
If you are really interested in what you're doing, age doesn't matter.
It really comes down to mind over matter: if you don't mind, it don't matter.
This very moment is a seed from which the flowers of tomorrow's happiness
Be yourself. The world worships the original. Ingrid Bergman
Maybe it's true that life begins at 50, but everything else starts to wear out,
How To Be A Lady by: Candace Simpson Giles
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming
May You Always Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care.
May You Always Walk in Sunshine, May You Never Want for More,
May Your Troubles be Less, May Your Blessings be More
Best Regards to you and yours. Be Sweet Now.
…………………………………………40.................................................................
Get those plastic cards ready to shop !
Houston shoppers have been eagerly
awaiting for H&M to open on May 31 at Baybrook Mall. The store will have
about 20,500 sq.ft. of space that will include ladies, men, lingerie, accessories,
sports apparel, a new plus-size line, H&M+, baby and kids.
This is the first Houston store for H&M-Hennes & Mauritz-the popular
international retailer known for offering fashion-forward apparel. There are
numerous successful stores open in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
In celebration of opening day, H&M Baybrook will give the first 500 shoppers in line an H&M T-shirt and an Access to Fashion Pass, valued at $10 to
$500, in addition to other special deals.
Baybrook Mall is located at Bay Area Blvd. & I-45 S. in Friendswood.
Store hours will be 10 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Sat. and noon-6 p.m. on Sun.
Store can be reached by phone: 281-280-0051.
The People's Pharmacy: Joe and Teresa Graedon 5-12-2012
Snack bars contain stealth fiber, which causes gas. Chicory root contains
inulin, which is frequently used as a fiber supplement in some processed
foods, such as ice cream, dairy drinks and juice in addition to breakfast bars.
Because it is indigestible, it does not raise blood sugar, but it can cause gas.
There are many causes of flatulence, ranging from your breakfast bar or
bagel to cholesterol pills. Stealth fiber is in so many foods that it is hard to
keep track. You may want to keep a ' Fart Chart' to help you identify your
food triggers. (Remember: don't let certain people pull your finger !)
(Wow ! A new list: The Fart Chart. LOL)
In The Good Ole Summertime, I'll Be Your Tootsie-Wootsie in the
Good Ole Summertime: the song goes something like that ?….
Make the most of summer by planning now what you like to do.
Get Out: go to a concert, bebop, boot up, go to billboard.com to find some-
thing you like that is coming your way and buy tix.
Get Culture: go to a museum, a marquee show, venues have extended
summer schedules.
Learn Something: Spanish, Beginning guitar, how to design a website.
Sign up now and practice all summer.
Hit a Boardwalk: Rides and games are great, but the best fun is the people
watching. Kemah Boardwalk is No. 2 in the nation !
Get Cooking: Make Ice Cream Sandwiches. That's Cool !
Make Pickles: Give out as hostess gifts all summer. Check out BHG.com/
Pickles for a super simple method.
Get Healthy: Keep fresh fruit and veggies in the fridge at eye level and every
one is more likely to eat it.
Take Up a New Sport: Badminton or Frisbee are Fun & Easy.
Get In Touch With Nature: Watch a sunrise or a sunset. Get mesmerized by
the last sliver of sun. Pack a picnic basket for the patio.*
Go For a Hike: Take a pleasure walk/stroll at the local nature center.
Grow Something: Herbs are perfect, cheap to buy, easy to keep alive, and
quick to grow into something you can use.
Walk on the Grass: Once a week, walk on the grass in bare feet. And this
means you can schedule a pedicure.
Do Nothing: Find a quiet spot outside and calm your mind with a 5-minute
meditation or relaxation session. Do this every day.
Inside Out: The fave room of the house this time of year: One that's outdoors. Shift your living to the deck or patio-it's time to chill and grill.
* Packing a Picnic? Don't worry too much about mayonnaise making you
sick. Research show store-bought brands actually inhibit harmful food bacteria, thanks to acidifying ingredients such as vinegar and lemon juice. The
Far Bigger Dangers: Undercooked meat and unwashed produce. Go to
BHG.com/SafePicnic for a guide to outdoor food handling.
Better Homes & Gardens 6-2012
Lip Service: Five Multi-tasking Balms Go Beyond the Basics.
Packed with anti-aging ingredients, infused with sheer shots of color, and
cased in luxurious-looking tubes, these do-it-all pout protectors are must-
haves for low-maintenance days. Look for warm vibrant shades, they will
wake up your face even if you're wearing nothing else, says makeup artist
Michelle Coursey. ( Wearing nothing else sounds pretty good to me !)
1. YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color in Tangy Mandarine. $30. yslbeautyus.com .
2. Maybelline New York Baby Lips Repairing Lip Balm with SPF 20 in Pink
Punch. $4. drugstores.
3. Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15. $22.50 fresh.com
4. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Balm in Heavenly Berry. $8. drugstores.
5. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart. $8. drugstores.
Better Homes & Gardens 6-2012
Dr. Mehmet Oz says: Carry a reusable water bottle, adding flavor to your
H2O with slices of lemon, lime, or strawberry. Eat water-rich fruit like water
melon or cantaloupe; for a snack try a 100% fruit juice popsicle.
MORE: Refresher Course. Take Tea & See.
Nothing cools you down quite like iced tea. Thanks to its rich stores of poly-
phenols, even the humble black variety tea is associated with reduced rates of
heart attack and ovarian cancer. Get the most from your glass with these tips
from the U. of Arizona tea researcher Iman Hakim.
Start with Hot Water: Brewing with boiling H2O releases far more poly-
phenols from tea leaves than cold brewing or sun brewing. Steep for three minutes for max potency.
Hold Off on the Ice: Pouring hot tea over freezing cubs makes poly-phenols
tougher for the body to absorb. Instead, chill tea in the fridge and add ice
just before drinking.
Finish with a Twist: On the downside, black tea contains plant chemicals called tannins that can thwart the body's absorption of iron. The Fix:
Squeeze in some lemon juice. Its vitamin C counteracts those tannins.
Better Homes & Gardens 6-2012
Houston's Rich Beer History: This One's For YOU !
The six Million people who call the Houston metro area home are a diverse
bunch, but their palates and sensibilities are very much aligned with urbanites across the country. They frequent farmer's markets, follow gourmet
food truck on Twitter and pay a premium for 'locally sourced' meats and
veggies. Growing numbers, too, are showing a preference for craft beer over
the mass produced light, lower-cal Bud, Miller and Coors products that have dominated the domestic industry for decades.
At the beginning of 2008, there was a single craft brewery in Houston catering to these emerging tastes; four years later, there are five within an hour's
drive of downtown and a handful of hopefuls in varying stages of development. Those of a certain generation, many of whom were first exposed to 'good beer' through European travel or maybe a fave college prof, can trace it back to Oct. 14, 1978, the day President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that made home-brewing legal in post-Prohibition America, or to the 1990s when an act of the Texas legislature led to a short-lived boom in brew-pub restaurants that made their own beer on site.
Houstonians may look east of downtown, to the 136-acre Anheuser-Busch complex that opened in 1966 and pumps out 12.5 Million barrels of Bud Light,
ZiegenBock and other brands each year.
Local breweries have been a part of the city's tapestry. Houston, it turns out,
from its earliest days has known booms not just in lumber, cotton, oil and ex-
-ploration of the heavens, but in the ancient art of brewing as well.
Besides those brash early oil drillers known as wildcatters, the city boasted
wildcatters of ale, with outsized personalities of their own. As the 19th century would down, it was possible for visitors to board a train at the Grand Cen-
-tral depot and pass two 'handsome and large' breweries, the Houston Ice &
Brewing Company to one side and American Brewing, owned by a certain
Adolphus Busch of St. Louis, on the other, each with brick smokestacks pro-
-truding from multi-story factory buildings.
THE Rest of The Story
is found in 'Houston Beer: A Heady History of
Brewing in the Bayou City' by Ronnie Crocker, Houston Chronicle business
writer/editor, and published by the History Press 2012
Houston Chronicle 5-13-2012
Meet The Author: Ronnie Crocker will sign copies of his book at the following locations and dates.
May 26: Cactus Music, 2110 Portsmouth, 1-4 p.m.
June 7: HEB Wine Walk @ Market Street, The Woodlands. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
June 9: Barnes & Noble, Pearland Town Ctr. 11200 Broadway. 1-3 p.m.
June 16: Southern Star Brewing Co. tour, 1207 N. FM 3083 E. in Conroe. 1-3 p. m.
July 21 Red Hot Block Party, Sugarland Town Square. 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 Houston History Book Fair & Symposium, 500 McKinney, Julia
Ideson Bldg. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Houston is a Great Car Town: Vehicles Jump Off the Dealer Lots.
Our love affair with the car is back in high gear. The region just recorded
its best quarter for new car and truck sales in nearly four years, moving ve-
-hicles off the lot at a pace nearly twice the national rate. Numerous Houston
area dealers rank among the Top Sellers Nationally in their respective brands.
Lone Star Chevrolet is the automaker's Number ONE U.S. dealership in terms of sales thus far this year. Munday Chevrolet has been in the TOP TEN nationally for the past three years. Last month, THREE of the nation's 13 biggest Ford dealerships also were based in Houston. Fred Haas Toyota World in Spring is the nation's Number ONE seller of Toyota pickups and Number Two in combined car and truck sales this year through April, according to Toyota International. Beck & Masten Buick GMC in northwest Houston was the Number 2 dealer nationally last year.
WOO HOO ! Auto Sales are Powerful in Houston, Texas !
Houstonian Robert Hardey, 83, has done more than his share to support the
local new-car market, buying one every couple of years. Earlier this year, he
decided to buy a pair: a Ford Fusion and a Mustang from Russell & Smith
Ford. Hardey, a semi-retired seller of electrical supplies, says: ' This is
Houston-you need a car.' ( How about a couple of cars; or as someone once
said to me: 'You look goood in a truck !' I just luv it ! Rev It Up !)
Houston Chronicle 5-13-2012 byline: David Kaplan
For all the happiness Carson gave to millions during his 30 years on NBC, the
offstage Carson was haunted by complicated inner demons his entire life. The Iowa-born, Nebraska-reared boy vied with his older sister and younger
brother for their mother's attention. As a teenager, he turned to magic
tricks as a way of drawing attention to himself, while adopting a kind of
sleight of hand about the disappointment and loneliness that would define
him into adulthood. Carson and the medium of TV grew up together.
Two of his idols were Jack Benny and Red Skelton.
Off camera, he battled alcohol off and on until the end of his life, was a
'cheap drunk' who could turn violent after only a couple of drinks. He be-
rated himself for being a detached and inadequate father to his three sons,
was married four times and cheated on all of his wives; and, most of all,
spent his entire life trying in vain to please his mother.
Ruth Carson was a gregarious woman with a keen sense of humor, but no
matter how famous her middle child became, she always seemed to withhold
approval. After her death, her family found a box in her bedroom containing
newspaper clippings about Johnny's career going back to his early days in
show biz. Carson kept the box in his closet for the rest of his life.
TV viewers saw a comic genius who had learned perfect timing from the master himself, Jack Benny. Johnny was an Olympian talent who is as funny and engaging today as he was decades ago. (Long Live The King !)
Houston Chronicle 5-12-2012 byline: David Wiegand
Team Anyone ? Some of City Hall's most influential insiders are making
their cases. Southwest Airlines wants the city's approval to have a Customs
facility built at Hobby Airport to make international flights possible. United
Airlines opposes it. On United's Team: Marty Stein, lobbyist, Anthony Hall
lobbyist, Michelle Baden, lobbyist, Nene Foxhall, lobbyist, Keir Murray,
lobbyist, Bill Archer, former member of Congress, adviser, Carol Alvarado,
state rep, adviser, Michael Moore, PR, chief of staff for former Mayor Bill
White. On Southwest Airline's Team: Jeri Brooks, lobbyist, communications director for Mayor Parker's 2009 campaign, Felix Chevalier, lobbyist
& City Hall lobbying veteran, Ron Hicks, lobbyist, Southwest executive,
Sherri Hull, lobbyist, Southwest executive, Denis Braham, lobbyist, lawyer,
Ross Margraves, lobbyist, lawyer, David Staas, lobbyist, lawyer, Garnet
Coleman, adviser, state rep. (Stay Tuned !)
Houston Chronicle 4-26-2012 byline: Chris Moran
Don't try to 'fix' a man. You cannot rely on someone else for your happiness.
(It May Be a Man's World, but Women Hold the Seat of Power, right between their legs.)
Due South: My Window Faces The South. Rise… Shine….Dine….
Every Day is a Picnic and Every Night is a Party. Eat, Drink, Dance and Party On !
And daring you: Be the Best you can in this Our Land: TEXAS !
dance!
Diversity is a Houston thing. On a certain level, essentially the world is looking more like Houston, Texas. We take it for granted, but we are really very
American. I wish the rest of America looked like this, quite frankly. It is a
great place to be. Joseph Kahn, director and writer of the film 'Detention'.
Kahn is a grad of Jersey Village HS. Houston Chronicle 4-11-2012
byline: Joey Guerra
Davy Jones, musician and actor. 1945-2012
Horse sense is a good judgment which keeps horses from betting on people.
W.C. Fields
A Gambler always loses. He loses money, dignity and time. And if he wins,
he weaves a spider's web round himself. Maimonides
grow. Margaret Lindsey
Don't be a blueprint. Be an original. Roy Acuff
Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got. Janis Joplin
It's So Simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say, and then
Don't say it ! Sam Levenson
Life Isn't About Waiting for the Storm to Pass, It's About Learning
to Dance In The Rain. Rosie Giesie Book: Keep Dancing.
Dancing is wonderful training for girls, it's the first way to learn to guess
what a man is going to do before he does it !
Christopher Morley from the book Kitty Foyle
I Promised to Love and Cherish; but I Didn't Promise to Fly Coach .
Think of me as Unexpected Turbulence, Cute and Fun.
fall out, or spread out. Phyllis Diller
A Lady is mindful of her appearance at all times.
A Lady knows that her posture is as important as any article of clothing on
her back.
gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust
The world is wonderful and beautiful and good beyond one's wildest
imagination. D. H. Lawrence.
Unknown
May someone love you enough to accept and forgive your faults and be
blind to your blemishes, and tell the whole world about your virtues.
May Angels Rest Their Wings Right Beside Your Door.
May you continue to smile, may your life be filled with laughter,
May you live in a world at peace, with an awareness of the beauty of
every sunset, and the beating of your own heart. Unknown
May Nothing but Happiness Come Through Your Door. Billy Graham
It is never too late to learn how to have fun on the dance floor.
We appreciate your input. Let us know if you have comments, compliments or otherwise.
Betty & Ed