On March 17, 431AD, when Patrick of Ireland died, a new holiday was born.

Though the celebrations began in the 700’s as a traditional Catholic Holy Day, over the years St. Patrick’s Day has become more a secular holiday which marks the beginning for spring.

The official date for the beginning of spring is March 21, and this also supports the tradition of wearing green.  Green is the color for life and growth and if you desire good luck and on this day, you should “be wearin’ a touch o’ the green!

The spreading of Christianity and Catholicism to the Irish of the 4th and 5th century is mainly attributed to St. Patrick, who received the name of Patrick while in seminary after his captivity in Ireland. Traditions that originated back in the 7th century have changed from being strictly religious to a St. Patrick’s Day where “everybody is Irish for the day”.

Catholics will start the day off at early mass which signifies the beginning of the holiday.  Tradition has it that St. Patrick often used a Shamrock to explain to pagans the concept of the Trinity.  The trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost which Christians know all stem from the same God –  three in one like the Shamrock plant – three leaves from one stem. If you are wearing a shamrock you can claim Good Luck or Blessings!

The tradition of the Shamrock still remains though most don’t know the reason behind it; but it still means Good Luck! to whoever wears it or receives it.

St. Patrick’s Day was first observed as a holiday in the United States in 1737.  The US was still under the authority of the British because the Revolutionary War that gave freedom didn’t even start until 1776.  So even though many of the Irish had not yet arrived to our shores yet, St. Patrick’s Day was still considered a very important holiday.   Queen’s NY started the first parade in honor of St. Patrick and as a result, St. Patrick’s Day parades are popular all across the country.  Parades are a great way to celebrate this day!

If you need a tad bit more good luck to start your season off, invite a Leprechaun to accompany you throughout the day.  They are packed with good luck – and are kind of cute, to boot!

Of course, one of the most popular traditions that goes only with St. Patrick’s Day is the drinking of particularly green ale. Green is the color of the day! For this holiday, there should be no bar or tavern which does not add some green food coloring to a keg of draft beer to serve mugs of tinted beer to its customers.  And of course Irish cream and Irish Whiskey ought to be available too, but make sure the kids get green lemonade or 7UP!

St. Patrick’s Day is a day of fun for all ages.

Whether we see them or not, wildflowers bloom with each passing year. They blanket uninhabited mountainsides with carpets of beautiful color with each season. Our children bloom with new attributes to their personalities with each passing day as well—whether we take notice or not.

Time has a funny way of slipping away from us right under our noses, and we must be careful not to miss out on the beauty of everyday.

Sure, we all have floors to clean, laundry to wash, bills to pay and running around to do day after day. All the chores we do are for the purpose of providing a safe and clean environment for our families, but the more important task at hand is to take notice of our children’s emotional and spiritual needs.

It’s very easy to get into a strict schedule—off to school, do chores in between, home from school, homework, dinner, bath, and then bed. Day after day we stick to our schedules and rely on things remaining the same for the sake of sanity.

Having a schedule is wonderful; in fact it’s a great way to provide stability for our children. However, there are times when we need to break away from our schedules; be free to have fun and spend time sharing in our children’s childlike spirit!

Make time to enjoy your children—play tea party, army men, board games or whatever suits their fancy! Playing with your kids is not only fun for them, but it’s also relaxing for you. For a brief moment in time, you’re not the waitress, disciplinarian, dietician, or taxi driver—you’re just “ma” having a good time with your children.

Just this once, don’t yell at the kids for running down the hall laughing out loud because your favorite television show is on—turn off the T.V. and run down the hall with them and play a game or two of hide and go seek!

Loosen the bun from the back of your head and get some dirt under your fingernails and dig for worms on a hot summer day; and then go rinse off under the sprinkler with them, clothes and all!

I challenge you to have more fun being a parent and interact with your child’s playtime more often.

Although it can be difficult to manage a household, raise kids and take time for yourself on a daily basis; you should enjoy your little wildflowers while you can, for someday they will bloom into adulthood and tend to their own wildflower gardens!

Keep It Exciting!

Use all of the tools that you have to remind yourself of the day.  Set up your palm pilot or your computer to remind you of the day.  And, not just on that day but several weeks before.  This way, you can easily remember to do something for the day.

* Make dinner reservations.

* Buy a new outfit for the day.

* Plan what you will be serving for dinner.

* Find a way to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.

* Head out on the town for several hours.

* Plan out your meal for the night and test new recipes before then.

One of the biggest problems for the evening is with the kids.  Where can they go or do?  Find a sitter for them so that you two will have time on your own.  Make sure to leave them someplace that they will enjoy themselves so that you don’t have to worry about them all evening.  And, doing this will allow you to spend better quality time with your loved one too.

Gifts should be purchased well in advance.  First of all, more and more individuals are turning to the internet to purchase gifts.  If this is your plan, do it well in advance of the day, as it may take several weeks to receive a package.  If you plan to purchase something, make sure that you know the tastes of the individual and their size.  If you visit local department stores, they may even wrap them up for you on this day.

Go For Something Different!

Go ahead and get something more unique this year.  For example a singing telegram is sure to surprise her.  Surprise her with something like this that you purchase through the local florist.

Making Valentine’s Day special is important for each of you to really enjoy the day.  Do something different, set aside a block of time and make it mean something to each of you.  Then, it will be a day to remember even though you are married.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

EIGHT MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

A look back at 2009 with Dail Gregory.

Our little world within San Diego, CA made the news in many ways.  From the Chargers up and down playoff performance to the Parkview Little League World Championships, here are some of the highlights of of the year on both a local and national scale.

January 1, 2009.
Comedian Kathy Griffin raises eyebrows with some interesting banter while hosting New Year’s celebration in New York City.

January 3, 2009. Darren Sproles scores 21 yard TD in overtime as San Diego Chargers beat Indianapolis Colts, 23-17 in AFC Wild Card game in San Diego, California.

January 11, 2009 San Diego Chargers’ playoff hopes are lost as they lose to the Steelers.

January 20, 2009, Barack Obama takes the presidential oath becoming the 44th U.S. president, shattering racial barriers as the first black leader of a country gripped by profound economic troubles and at war.

June 15, 2009 General Stanley McChrystal, takes command in Afghanistan.

June 25, 2009 POP icon Michael Jackson dies from a suspected cardiac arrest. He was 50 years old. Jackson, who was due to perform a number of farewell concerts in London later.

July 21, 2009 Historic Navy Plane found in bottom of Otay Lakes

August 2, 2009 Michael Phelps beats rival Milorad Cavic in World Finals despite wetsuit controversy.

August 5, 2009. Eastlaketimes.com opens its doors with its first post about Tony Jefferson signing with UCLA.

August 2009. The movie The Hangover becomes this years Summer Sleaper.

August 30, 2009. Parkview Little League Bombers win Little League World Championship.

September 20, 2009. Cycle Eastlake is huge success.

September 23, 2009 Eastlake Tavern and Bowl Opens In Eastlake

October 2009. Eastlake Tavern and Bowl shakes up the neighborhood with their first Rock and Bowl party.
Eastlake resident parents go trick or treating with plastic red cups. “Hey, mom, what’s in the cup?

November 4, 2009. After nine years, the New York Yankees win the World Series Championship.

November 17,2009. Eastlaketimes.com breaks story on Coyote menace in Eastlake, CA.

November 2009 Eastlake HOA hosts Neighborhood Awareness Meeting with Chula Vista Police Department

December 10, 2009. Task Force Reviews Free Speech Rules at Southwestern College.

December 11, 2009. Eastlake Titans Beat Vista to become CIF champs.

December 19, 2009 Tony Jefferson from Eastlake High School signs with Oklahoma Sooners.

December 2009. Shea Homes to Begin Work on 32 New Homes

December 20, 2009 2009-2010 Chargers team clinch another playoff berth. Could this be the year they go to the show and win it all?

December 21, 2009. Strange Boom Rattles San Diego County

December 22, 2009. Two New Parks to open

Happy New Year, Eastlake!

A day is soon coming that some folks are looking at with dread, for others in eager anticipation, while the rest of us are scratching our heads not knowing what to make of it.

So, what am I talking about?  Black Friday, the day immediately following Thanksgiving Day in the US.

So, why so black and why on a Friday?

Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving used to mean one thing for retailers: it was the first day in the lengthy retailing calendar where a store could make enough money to see yearly losses for bookkeeping purposes represented by the color red turn into gains represented by the color black.

Supposedly, all the sales completed throughout the year were done at a loss until that one big day, Black Friday, whereby enough merchandise is sold to reverse course and to begin to turn a profit for the year.

Today, retailers don’t rely on just one day, even though some news reports still seem to indicate that the day after Thanksgiving is so vital to them. In reality, retailers have long since spread their reliance on Black Friday further out; now it is an entire season, Christmas, that ultimately determines whether a merchant turns a profit for the year or not.

Of course, if you are part of that one small, but significant part of the population who must rouse themselves up at 5 a.m. one day after eating Thanksgiving dinner and schlep over to a local retailer to wait on customers for twelve straight hours then the day is, understandably, black to you.

Happy Black Friday!