Join Extra Steppers team in Let's Move event

Do you run, walk, lift weights, swim, bike or otherwise workout in Palm Beach County?

Consider yourself recruited for the Extra Steppers team in the Let's Move event. The competition starts March 1 and runs through the month. Your role will be easy: Track your daily fitness activities and record them,

Still moving, blogging suspended

I know I was supposed to re-start my blog this fall, but life intervened.

My need to write is filled by working for The Coastal Star. I cover Boynton Beach and Delray Beach for the monthly newspaper. I write mostly about government issues, but occasionally I am lucky enough to interview people who inspire me, such as Ken Parker.

Ken Parker tries beach access mats at South Beach Park
in Boca Raton. (Photo by Tim Stepien)

He lost his legs five years ago to an infection that started in his kidneys. He still wants to be independent and gets around fine on his motorized wheelchair. I approached him to try out the mats.

Exploring Boat Show in West Palm Beach

I went to the Palm Beach International Boat Show thinking I would pick out a yacht to buy -- when my money ship comes in.

But the AquaZone grabbed my attention. It was a 40,000-gallon pool of pure fun on the grounds of the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach.

Walking to defeat ALS in Okeeheelee Park

My third time was truly a charm at the Walk to Defeat ALS in Palm Beach County.

Walk Committee Chairwoman Dorothy Bradshaw, whose Daddy died from ALS complications, rallied the forces and raised a boatload of money while creating a fun-filled family day on Saturday, March 21 at Okeeheelee Park.

The SpenWen team was there in memory of Susan Spencer-Wendel. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and courts reporter for the Palm Beach Post. Susan died on June 4, when she was just 47.

The day was full of emotional moments, with remembrances in the form of shoes and signs for those who died from this horrible disease. Inspiration was there, too. Family and friends gathered to honor the legacy of a loved one.

Before The Walk

The day began with the Maureen Corps doing an Irish Stepdancing performance to honor their dance teacher, Maureen Drake, who died 4 years ago from ALS complications. I loved their T-shirts:

Bird-watching at Wakodahatchee Wetlands

The chattering of the mating birds was overwhelming Sunday at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

The birds drew visitors who packed the parking lots heading to the boardwalk while holding digital cameras with gigantic zoom lenses or powerful binoculars or smart phones. I had my trusty iPhone 5S with me.

A woodstork helps to build his nest while sharing the
tree with egrets, anhingas and herons.

Martial arts extravaganza in Lake Clarke Shores

Paying it forward.

That's how In-Nae TaeKwonDo studio owner, Bridget Hammond, lives her life.

In early 2014, after reading Susan Spencer-Wendel's memoir, Until I Say Goodbye, Bridget felt compelled to help Susan who was diagnosed with ALS. Bridget sent a text to Susan: "I'd like to help by walking your dog. I am not a crazy woman, I live in Lake Clarke Shores."

And then she explained how when she was immobile from breast cancer surgery, she came to depend on the kindness of friends. They drove her kids to school and one came weekday mornings to walk her six-month-old Irish setter, Murphy.

Bridget Hammond greets guests at her martial
arts studio, In-Nae TaeKwonDo.

Exploring dog area at Okeeheelee Park

This past week, I cut short my walks with Sadie because I was on deadline. I promised that on Saturday I would take her to the dog area at Okeeheelee Park.

Saturday came and it poured most of the afternoon. We had to wait one more day for her first trip to a dog park. I was glad we did. She found a playmate in 7-month-old Audrey, a mixed-breed that also is a rescue.

Audrey's owners found her on Petfinder, a Match.com for dogs, the mom said. "You put in all the characteristics you want in a pet, and it returns a list of potential pets," she said. Sunday was Audrey's first time at a dog park, too!

Sadie, my Cairn-terrier mix, did not know what to make of
 the shih tzu-mix that wanted to sniff her butt.

Walking to Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth

My friends wanted to sell bottled water to benefit ALS at the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival and I wanted to help them. I love that festival, live in Lake Worth and plan to participate in 2015 Walk to Defeat ALS.

Just last June, we lost our mutual friend, Susan Spencer-Wendel, to that awful disease, She wasn't even 50, but she packed a whole lot of living into her 47 years. She was a wife, mother of three, sister, daughter, best-selling writer and a courts reporter for The Palm Beach Post.

We gathered in front of the @The-Hair.Net salon, owned by Kerri Olah-Brennan who was Susan's hairdresser and is a SpenWen Team co-captain along with me and Susan's sister Stephanie Harwood-Parlamento; Kerri's wife, Pamela Olah-Brennan, who is on the 2015 Walk to Defeat ALS committee with Kerri and me; Bridget Hammond, owner of In-Nae Tae Kwon Do studio in Lake Clarke Shores and a SpenWen Team member; and several others who were selling costume jewelry, raffle tickets for a baby doll and hand-made bracelets. We raised more than $1,500 during the festival.

Kerri Olah-Brennan (left) and her wife Pam sell $2 bottled water
for the ALS Walk.

Exploring FreshFest in West Palm Beach

FreshFest made its second appearance in West Palm Beach. The subculture of health- and fitness-nuts thoroughly enjoyed the free event.

The grassy base of the Meyer Amphitheatre was divided into areas with plant names such as Zinnia and Azalea.Various fitness  classes and demonstrations were held there. Vendors circled around the perimeter, just like last year.

Here are some photos from the packed FreshFest event:

Walking by Kinetic Art in Boynton Beach

An outdoor art fair that is free? Count me among the visitors to Boynton Beach.

I also wanted to see for myself what the International Kinetic Art Exhibit was after previewing the event for The Coastal Star. I came away impressed with the ingenuity of the artists who were thrilled with their artworks.

Friday evening was an invitation-only reception where I met artist Debbie Lee Mostel and her "Globes." Each globe had a door that opened to reveal a scene inside -- often made of her son's toys. She created the tableaus because she likes surprises.

Debbie Lee Mostel shows how the doors work on her "Globes."

Trying Five Tibetans in Lake Worth

My yoga teacher keeps coming up with poses for us to do daily.

First it was the yoga squat. Do these everyday, Priyanka Shanbag said, and you will be healthy into old age. Turns out, she had some science to back up the benefits of doing squats daily. 

Now she has us doing the Five Tibetan Rites. Wherever we are, there is always time to do these rites, she said. Consider them, "yoga on the go."

After a Saturday yoga class, Priyanka (right) poses
willingly with her friend.

Hooping for fitness in Royal Palm Beach

Who knew that a social media strategist was using a Hula-Hoop as part of her fitness routine?

One of members of the Team Extra Steppers posted about Hula-Hooping in the morning. I wanted to know more. I did a basic Google search and found that my friend, who I met at a Tweetup, was part of trend that seeks to make fitness fun.

Here is a picture of the Hula-Hoop that she posted on Instagram last July:

New Health Goal: #Hooplahooping :) Anyone have tips?

How to put more steps in your life

I try to work more steps into my regular life each day so that walking becomes routine.

Sunday, I wanted to go to Sunday on the Waterfront in West Palm Beach where 2009 American Idol winner, Kris Allen, was playing.

The free show started at 4 p.m., so I drove up at 3 p.m. to get some walking in along the waterfront first. The gorgeousness of the day lured me outside where it was a wonderful 78 degrees with a nice breeze.

This view from South Cove Natural Area boardwalk looks
as if it were painted.

Recruiting for Let's Move team

Do you walk, swim, run or workout in Palm Beach County? If so, consider yourself recruited for the Extra Steppers Team as we try to be Number 1 in the Let's Move campaign.

Runners in the annual Palm Beach United Way Turkey Trot.

Aaron Wormus of aGuyOnClematis fame and I are joining together again on the Extra Steppers Team. You can enter your minutes here.

We already recruited Jeanne Taylor, a youth librarian at the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, and her surfing scientist husband, Bob Taylor.

Friend Tara Husband, a social media strategist, will join us -- as soon as I send her the link.

Making New Year's Resolutions in Lake Worth

I'm a little late but wanting to play the resolutions game. This year, I resolve to be more mindful in my interactions with others.

By that I mean I will write down good things that happen daily -- from a simple thank you to a spectacular adventure. I will once again create a gratitude jar to hold these notes for an entire year.

Then at the end of 2015, I will review them and toast to the good year I just enjoyed.

Loving Opera@TheWaterfront in West Palm Beach

Palm Beach Opera held a community event Saturday, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The event was billed as Opera@TheWaterfront. Ninety minutes of live opera music outside on the lush lawn of the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach -- what's not to love?

The weather that Saturday was postcard-perfect, as if someone called Central Casting and ordered blue skies, a breeze that swayed the palm fronds and a temperature in the low 70s.

My favorite tenor, James Valenti, was there, along with the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra and its Chorus. And the whole thing was free!

People used the fans, which listed the afternoon's music schedule, to
shield their faces from the bright sun.

Exploring Sandi Land in West Palm Beach

I was supposed to go to Clematis by Night event on Thursday when West Palm Beach would light its 600-ton sand tree, but the downtown was mobbed. The  closest parking was about a mile away from the waterfront. My friends begged off and chose CityPlace instead for our Girls Night Out.

So I had to wait until Saturday morning when I usually drive up to West Palm Beach for yoga at its library and veggie shopping at its GreenMarket. The 35-foot tall sand sculpture was awesome.

The sculpture was decorated with a Christmas tropical theme.

Smelling through West Palm Beach garden

Sunday was a beautiful but blustery day here in Palm Beach County.

Wouldn't it be great, I thought, to photograph wind in action. I decided to drive up to Mounts Botanical Garden, across Military Trail from Palm Beach International Airport. It would be a veritable wind tunnel up there, with palm fronds swaying in the wind.

The planes were noisy as they landed and took off from the airport, often making the butterflies scatter. But I was soon lost in the garden, entranced by its fragrant blooms and brilliant hues that I forgot about my idea of photographing wind.

Here are five plants that caught my eyes and nose:

1. Bourbon rose

When the double white flowers of the Boule de neige (ball of snow) are opened
fully, the outer petals roll back at the tips giving the blossom a rounded, snow-
ball-like appearance. The flowers carried a moderate damask rose fragrance. 

Feeling grateful in Lake Worth

I remind myself daily to take time to be grateful for life's blessings. I live in a charming small city, have a dog who reminds me not to forget about her and work enough hours to keep us in spinach, dark chocolate and dog treats.

Even so, I find it hard not to get caught up in the drama of everyday living. The inadvertent social slights, juggling bills and added stress brought on by the holiday season take their tolls on my psyche. So I am pausing to list five reasons why I am grateful, mindful of Thanksgiving.

No. 1 reason: 

Free beach parking for one year after paying a $40 fee. The beach has become
my place to relax and put my problems in perspective. 

Bonfires return to Lake Worth beach

Bonfires on the Beach are back! As a Lake Worth resident, I love this freebie presented by my city. 

The bonfires bring the crowds to the Lake Worth Beach every other Friday evening, once turtle-nesting season is over. The city's lifeguards build and staff the bonfires, which begin about 6 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. or so. The shops and restaurants stay open late to serve the onrush of customers.

Friday was the first one of the season. By 7 p.m., several hundred had gathered to toast marshmallows and enjoy the bonfires listening to the waves lapping on the shore. And it wasn't even the peak time -- between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. In past years, as many as 1,500 would gather for the bonfires.