OCR Text |
Show Page Two - The Pyramid - January 1, 2004 3303353 3E3KF Christmas, New Years Its over! That one day in 365 which is anticipated by children (of all ages), hyped and built up by advertisers, gone into debt over, laden with guilt in some cases, and hopefully -hopefully remembered with fond memories by most of us. Yes, Christmas 2003 is in the books. For the record, it was a big ticket item Christmas between the "missus" and 1 this year. I asked for a microwave oven and she asked for a dishwasher. These ' wishes were easily granted as both those items have been sitting in our garage for a couple of months or more now. Doing a makeover of our kitchen made gift giving convenient and easy. Its just too bad that the kids didnt ask for floor tile and grout, or a kitchen sink, or a garbage disposal. Those could have been since provided easily theyre also part of the project. Originally we thought that the kitchen would be all "made over" by now. Weve found that Murphys Law is still very much in effect. The guys showed up the day after Christmas and tore out everything. I hope that its not too many weeks before the replacements are installed. Im already tired of the force of habit that walks me into a barren room expecting to do a "kitchen thing" and finding disappointment over and over . Mernllgden report Perhaps its time to set some new goals. Goals that are reasonable and genuinely attainable. I can feel that some of you are looking at me expecting me to provide you with examples of those kind of goals. All right, if you insist. Im happy to share and be of service to my fellow Sanpeters. What follows are out takes from my "resolutions list" for 2004. Its been thought out on a calendar basis. Im hoping to achieve 100 accomplishment with this set of goals. Youll notice that theres nothing about weight loss, exercise or scripture study here. These are "one shot" goals. You do them and youre done. None of this day to day tedium. You take action, you accomplish the goal, and BANG you get the pay-ofeeling of "mission accomsemi-careful- Okay - here we go. JANUARY : Celebrate the new year by having a colonoscopy. (Urn mm, did I say something about a feeling?) Im and the doctor says its high time to submit to this procedure. (But I mentioned it anyway.) My good friend, Katie Couric, reminds me quite frequently that I should do this as well. Who am I to argue with a Sanpete MD and Katie both? In another personal health related matter for f January, Ive resolved have a prime rib dinner to at The Pyramid Subscriptions and Delivery Service News and 375-510- Advertising 462-213- Fax 462-245- pyramidavpro.com USPS 365-58- Published Thursdays by Pulitzer Newspapers, IncL 49 West Main Street Mt. Pleasant Utah 84647. Periodicals postage paid at Mt. Pleasant, Utah 84647. Postmaster: Send address changes to 49 West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant Utah 84647. Mambar: Audit Buraau of Circulations NEWSTANDPR1CES 500 1 1 year $36.50 (in county) Thursday Only year $45.40 (out of county) NEWS We welcome news tips. Call 462-213- to report a news tip, or if you have a comment or a question. We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must include the author's name (printed AND signed) and a phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic. ) JULY: Go to the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake and see the musical stage show "Phantom of the Ive already bought the tickets, so if I Opera." dont achieve this goal, I will have blown a lot of money. Im resolved to attend at least one parade in July. With both Independence Day and Pioneer Day as parade holidays, this shouldnt be a tough goal to meet. In conjunction with the parade, I intend to salute the flag, wave at the beauty queens, and eat too much salt water taffy. Well, I think you have the idea now of how this style of goal setting works. I realize that my goals may appear to be too easy to the hard-cor- e Franklin Planner out there. But hey, types MY goals and I theyre happen to like them. You, obviously, will have to choose your own way of making new years resolutions. But just remember that there are alternatives to the "lose 20 sit-u100 poundsdo resoluNew Years daily" tions. I say put these on a different list. I call this list, "The Stuff Im working on and Feeling Guilty about List." No matter how you do it, I wish you a "HAPPY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! "...Merrill Larry Peterson, was arrested in Ephraim by the Ephraim Police Department on the charge of driving under the influence (DUI). Bail was set at $1,300. Dec. 20 Gregory F. Jensen, Price, was arrested on State Road 264, Mile Post 3, by the Department of Wildlife Resources on a Utah County Warrant. Bail was set at $560. Dec. 22 James Jeramiah Danner, Mt. Pleasant, was arrested in Wales by the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department on the charge of DUI. Bail was set at $2,000. Jamie Ann Peczuh, Helper, was arrested in Manti by the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department on charges of theft and two counts forgery. Booked and released for court. Dec. 27 Mandie T. Dennison, Manti, was arrested in Manti by the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department on the charge of assault. Bail was set at $1,850. Chad Lee Peterson, Mt. Pleasant, was arrested in Mt. Pleasant by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department on the charge of assault. Bail was set at $925. Clifford Michael Toombs, Mt. Pleasant, was arrested in Mt. Pleasant by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department on the charge of assault. Bail was set at $925. Dec. 28 Osvaldo Navarro Vargas, Moroni, was arrested in Moroni by the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) on the charge of DUI. Bail was set at plished." -- an edition of The Daily Herald a Pulitzer, Inc. Newspaper Hank Ephraim, ly a Sanpete cafe. This will celebrate my recent good news that my again. cholesterol level has been But enough of my significantly reduced. problems. Lets talk about (Get the doctor to let yours. Its the new year and time to make those you double your Lipitor resolutions. pills and its amazing the What are you going to results that you can get) resolve to do in 200411s it. .My triglycerides ar? still going to be the same old. high, but what the heck boring stuff? I mean how its prime rib. APRIL: Plant a Weepoften do we put the same list after that on ing Cherry Tree. This things year would be the same tree that year? I bought last But on the other hand, Spring which all sat reason we a summer theres waiting for maybe it. me to the on stuff same the plant put list year after year. Maybe In April, I also have a weve never lost that to make a hoopla over goal weight. been married for 25 having susnever weve Maybe tained an exercise program years. Yes, its a big annifor longer than three versary for us in 2004. Im not sure what the weeks. Maybe weve never will be, but I "hoopla" been able to keep up a that Mrs. Ogden is suspect scripture reading program more than a expecting any longer than the exerdouble cheese burger and a cise program. movie this year. (As good as that sounds and has been in some years past) Main 49 West Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 MANTI-- Activities on the Sanpete County Booking report are as follows: Dec. 19 ff "pay-of- Booking $1,300. . by James P. Marshall, Linda Skogrand, USU extension family, human development specialists LOGA- N- Money is one of the topics couples fight about most. It is also a contributing factor in divorce. Debt brought into marriage is an especially troublesome part of many couples money problems. According to the Center for Marriage and Familys 2000 research, debt brought into marriage is the number one problem for newlyweds. This makes sense since 67 percent of women and 74 E- Despite SALT LAKE CIT- Y- A new study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA) found that higher intake of dietary calcuim, such as that found in milk, cheese and yogurt, is associated with lower body fat in young children. The studys lead author, Jean Skinner, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recommends children be encouraged to: 1) regularly eat calcuim-ric- h foods, such as lowfat milk and yogurt; 2) increase physical activity; and 3) restrict intake of carbonated soft drinks and other beverages. Study statistics and a helpful tip sheet are available by contacting Bonnie Johnson at (702) 492-071low-nutrie- nt This study is an extension of earlier research published by the same group and one of the first to directly examine the relationship between dietary calcuim intake and body fatness in children. Ut- ahs frigid temperatures this time of year, come Sunday, Jan. 4, at 11 a.m., MST, Utah and the rest of the earth will be as close to the sun as were going to get this year. Astronomers refer to this point in Earths orbit as perihelion. "While it may seem counter intuitive that were coldest when were closest to the source of the heat, there is a simple explanation," says NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah Patrick Wiggins. The difference between furthest from the sun and closest is actually quite small so the change in distance has little effect on temperature. The real culprit is the tilt of the earth. Many might remember that Earth globes are usually tilted. Thats the way it is with the real Earth too, its tilted about 23 degrees from straight up. "During this time of year," explains Wiggins, we in the northern hemisphere are tilted away from the sun, meaning the sun stays pretty low in our sky and doesnt stay up nearly as long as it does in the summer. This makes for short, frigid days." On the other hand, during the toasty days of July, Earth is actually furthest from the sun. But at that time were also tilted towards it, so the Sun is much higher in our sky and stays there a lot longer. "Happily," jokes Wiggins, "for those who dont like the current season there is a simple fix. One need only head for the southern hemisphere where the seasons are just the opposite of what we have here so its pretty hot down there just now." For additional astronomical information log on to Wiggins solar System Ambassador web site at percent of men enter marriage with at least some debt. With the exception of home loans, the debt comes primarily from auto loans, credit cards, student loans and medical bills. Consider this information on how debt affects the marriage relationship. It is estimated that many American adults spend up to 80 percent of their waking hours either earning, spending or thinking about money. Debt brought into marriage causes strain on the relationship because it forces couples to spend most of their time and energy focused on money. Dairy foods linked to lower body fat in children 5. Feel the heat? TOOEL- Tips to keep debt from hurting marriage Results suggest that dietary calcuim may play a role in preventing childhood obesity. "Even a slight decrease in body fat during childhood may reduce the risk of obesitiy in later childhood, adolescence and adulthood," said Skinner. "Parents, educators and health professionals can help children develop healthy habits early by lifestyles teaching them to choose and foods like enjoy nutrient-ric- h dairy more often." "This study reinforces the importance of parents as role models when it comes to developing healthy habits. Moms and dads who drink milk and eat yogurt have kids who drink milk and eat yogurt," said Bonnie Johnson, MS, RD, Dairy Council of UtahNevada. "Getting three servings of h dairy foods is as as a glass of milk, a easy container of yogurt and a slice of lowfat cheese. Today its easy for parents to make healthy snack options available to their children. " calcuim-ric- Entertaining made easier with beef SALT LAKE and any holiday season usually go And, when it comes to hosting a meal for a large group or just the immediate family, savory roasts and briskets come to mind. Utah beef producers and their beef checkoff program has made the meal planning a little less hectic by providing free recipes. "A holiday season offers so many opportunities for but sometimes entertaining, the thought of throwing a party can be overwhelming," says Brent Tanner, executive director with the Utah Beef Council. "There are simpler ways to make a spectacular dinner that will still be special, but not too time consuming." Tanner suggests simmering a beef stew or a classic beef rib roast for an extrasimple treat. The stew can be simd mered or with CITY--Entertaini- hand-in-han- slow-cooke- d. root vegetables, giving the host time to relax and enjoy the evening. A beef tendeiloin or ribeye toast can also add flair to your entertaining without adding time spent in the kitchen. Tanner suggests cooking the roast until an internal thermometer registers 135 Fahrenheit for medium rare, or 145 for medium, and allow the roast to stand for at least 10 minutes for easier carving. "Because these beef roasts have no bones, carving is extra easy," Tanner says. The Utah Beef Council has free beef recipes available by request. Recipes can also be downloaded from the beef industry web site at The last line of the poem, "Twas the Christmas" Night Before is "Happy Christ- mas to all and to all a good night." A couples financial problems are linked to increased levels of stress, conflict and marital duress, as well as decreased levels of marital satisfaction. In contrast, one of the unique strengths of the majority of happy couples was that they did not have major debt problems. Indebtedness is a factor in college graduates decisions to delay marriage andor childbearing since starting a marriage with large amounts of debt may put the marriage in jeopardy from many the beginning. Debt can be addressed prior to or after getting married. Either way, it must be addressed. Develop a plan to begin reducing debt now so you dont put your marriage on the line. Communicate - This is the most important thing you can do to minimize financial fights. Share your financial information, including what you make, what youve saved, what you owm and what you owe. Dont keep secrets - Its a bad idea to hide your debts. Share your debts, family financial upbringing and current views on money with your fiance or spouse. Establish common goals If you are in agreement, you will be more willing to work together to meet those goals. What do both of you want to do with your money? How will you get out of debt? Quantify your goals Write and formalize your goals. Plot out exactly how and when you will pay off your debt. Develop a budget - Keep a money diary to get you started. Keep track of everything you spend. You wont be able to stay within a -- -- dont know where the money goes. Use savings to pay oft high interest loans - Having emergency(fiviilgs is wise, but if youre paying more interest than you are earning, consider paying off your loans with savings. Switch to a credit card with a lower interest rate Many low interest credit cards exist. Shop around and choose one that gives you a consistently low rate. Dont pay more than necessary. Consolidate your debt Find a low interest loan where you can combine all your debt and have only one payment. This will reduce your monthly payment and help you pay the debt off more quickly. Pay more than the minimum due - Do this on credit cards, mortgages and wherever you can. You will pay much less for things in the long run and you will own them more quickly. Cut spending - Spend less and put the money you save toward paying off debt. Do this by budgeting, kicking an expensive habit, leaving credit cards at home or getting rid of them. Be a financial housekeeper - One of you should take the lead in managing finances to be sure bills get paid on time and checkbooks get balanced. However, both partners should be aware of and take responsibility for your overall financial situation. budget if you -- -- |