Hello Everyone,

Spring is here and not a moment too soon. Washington DC is a great place to be in the Springtime. So venture out and forget this last Winter on Steroids that we’ve had. Here once again is the Small Friendly Planet list of things to do this month in our city.

LUPUS DC WALK 2010
Please come and support those with Lupus on Saturday, April 17, 2010 In Washington DC. For more info visit http://lupusgw.kintera.org/dcwalk2010/tricia?faf=1&e=3292946855
For more information on this devastating disease here is a link http://miraclesnutrients.com/2010/01/08/the-4-11-on-lupus/

1. FEATURED EVENT: Earth Day Film and Reception – IMPACT MAN
2. DOING GOOD: Rotary Tango Gala
3. Member in Focus: Brian Uher, Amicus Consulting Services
4. Textile Museum Hapi Hapi Hour
5. Caetano Veloso – Pre Concert Happy Hour
6. Filmfest DC Opening Night
7. Washington Wine Academy (WWA) 1-Hour Wine School
8. Journey to the Center of Artomatic
9. Silent Weekend Meditation Retreat with Hugh Byrne
10. Green Rush Scavenger Hunt
11. Festival Imagé short film screenings
12. Woolly’s 2010 Gala

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Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week event that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. is the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that coordinates, produces, and supports creative and diverse activities promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty and the environment, and community spirit and youth education. http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=408

1. FEATURED EVENT: Earth Day Film and Reception – IMPACT MAN
When: Thursday April 22, 6:30pm
Where: AED Globe Theatre, 1927 Florida Avenue NW , Washington DC
Cost: $15
More Info: http://dcfilminstitute.org/INVITE/main.php

Join the Washington Film Institute for the screening of Impact Man followed by a reception. Author Colin Beavan, in research for his next book, began the No Impact Project. A newly self-proclaimed environmentalist who could no long avoid pointing the finger at himself, Colin leaves behind his liberal complacency for a vow to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. No more automated transportation, no more electricity, no more non-local food, no more material consumption…no problem. That is, until his espresso guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle and their two year-old daughter are dragged into the fray. Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein’s film provides a front row seat into the experiment that became a national fascination and media sensation as well as an intriguing inside look at the familial strains and strengthened bonds that result from Colin’s and Michelle’s struggle with their radical lifestyle change.

2. DOING GOOD: Rotary Tango Gala
When: Saturday, April 3, 6pm – midnight
Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Reston Town Center
1800 Presidents St, Reston VA
Cost: $100
More Info: http://www.herndonrotary.org/

Dance to the seductive sounds of the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergio Buslje. Professional tango dancers and tango dance instructors will demonstrate the art of tango dancing at 2-floor dance areas. Take a break from dancing by enjoying a 3-course gourmet dinner with Argentine complementary wine and cash bar. Dust off your tux and best evening gown optional. The Tango Gala is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Herndon, one of the largest service club, where, since 1939, business and professional men and women have partnered to support scholarship, opportunity and community service in the greater Herndon area. This year Tango Gala will also provide support to build the roof of a new Argentinean school for low income students, located in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

3. MEMBER IN FOCUS
Read online interview with SFP Member in Focus Brian Uher, Amicus Consulting Services. A Very Cool Person – Find Out Why! Access interview at www.smallfriendlyplanet.org

SFP Editor: What has been the most rewarding about consulting on environmentally safe building?

Brian Uher: Seeing a solution work, actually solving the challenge and seeing the client actually experience the relief and happiness they were looking for…you can’t buy that, you have to earn it.

4. Textile Museum Hapi Hapi Hour
When: Friday, April 9, 6-9pm
Where: 2320 S Street, NW, Washington, DC
Cost: $10
More Info: http://www.textilemuseum.org/

Enjoy a special “hapi” hour at The Textile Museum, Japanese style, just in time for the closing weekend of Contemporary Japanese Fashion: The Mary Baskett Collection. Unwind in lantern-lit gardens with a live band, The Four Horsemen, and enjoy music in the galleries by DJ Robin Bell. Purchase Japanese treats at a sushi/sake bar by FoodArts, and take gallery tours led by WE ARE SCIENCE. Play Harajuku Bingo to win fabulous prizes! Don your best fashionably casual look and join us for an unforgettable evening. Registration fee includes two drink tickets/members; one drink ticket/non-members.

5. Caetano Veloso – Pre Concert Happy Hour
When: Saturday, April 10, 6pm
Where: Old Quigley’s Pharmacy, 2036 G Street NW, Washington, DC
Cost: $75 (performance)

Join DC-Brasilia Partners for a spectacular evening with legendary Brazilian performer Caetano Veloso on at GW’s Lisner Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at Lisner web site (http://www.lisner.org/). Caetano’s music has evolved greatly over the years, incorporating elements of rock, reggae, fado, tango, samba canao, baiao and rap— Caetano’s music is sometimes traditional, sometimes contemporary, often hybrid. Before the show, join DC Brasilia Partners for a quick or leisurely bite at TONIC Restaurant. Choose from an array of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, burgers and appetizers to help give you the necessary boost of energy to ensure you’ll enjoy the rest of the evening!

6. Filmfest DC Opening Night
When: Thursday, April 15, 7pm
Where: AMC Mazza Gallerie
5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Cost: $40
More Info: http://www.filmfestdc.org/

The Filmfest DC Opening Night Gala will take place with a party immediately following a screening at the Gallerie Atrium. There will be live music, dancing, food and Champagne. Plans are underway for a festive, entertaining and memorable evening! Our opening night film premiere will be Hipsters, a vibrant musical from Russia, which takes place in the 50s. Hipsters has been described as Swing Kids meets Hairspray, bursting with razzle, dazzle and rhythm. The music and the dancing in the film is spectacular, beautifully and intricately choreographed, and bursting with color. Hipsters has been collecting prizes at film festivals worldwide, including the prize for best film at the Russian Nika Awards (equivalent to our Academy Awards).

7. Washington Wine Academy (WWA) 1-Hour Wine School
When: Thursday, April 15, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Where: Washington Wine Academy Education Center
1201 South Eads, Suite 400, Crystal City/Arlington, VA
Cost: $20.50
More Info: http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org

WWA’s 1-Hour Wine School” is a great way to learn about a wine region, grape varietal, or specialty subject…in just one short hour! This is an easy approach to “pick and choose” and target specific topics of interest…and convenient for your busy lifestyle! You will learn from a Washington Wine Academy educator using video display presentations, and you will taste six wines.

8. Journey to the Center of Artomatic
When: Friday, April 16, 7pm
Where: George Washington University’s Media and Public Affairs
Building Lower Level Auditorium (B-07)
805 21st Street, NW (corner of 21st and H Streets
Washington, DC
More Info: http://www.artomaticvoyage.com/about.html

“Journey to the Center of Artomatic” tells the story of how Artomatic began and why it’s important that cities from San Diego, to Denver to Tampa start their own Artomatic events. In 1999 a group of artists began their own journey. Much like the 10-year voyage of Ulysses, this journey brought these artists both challenges and uncertainty. Their quest? Show their art to the public. The artists’ work created Artomatic, a free art festival in Washington, D.C. The first Aromatic, held in an abandoned Laundromat housed about 350 artists. In 2009 over 1,500 artists at Artomatic showed their art under the roof of a nine-story skyscraper.

9. Silent Weekend Meditation Retreat with Hugh Byrne
When: Friday, April 16-Sunday, April 18
Where: Am Kolel Sanctuary Retreat & Renewal Center
19520 Darnestown Road, Beallsville, MD 20839- 3308
Cost: Sliding Scale: Room & Meals: $300 – $245 Camping
or Commuting (Meals included): $230 – $185
More Info: http://www.facebook.com/l/48287;www.sanctuaryretreatcenter.com

The practice of mindfulness—bringing a conscious, non-judging awareness to our own present experience—is at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings of liberation. During this weekend retreat, participants will cultivate mindfulness and loving-kindness as a path to joy, inner peace and connection to our natural wisdom and compassion. Silence will be maintained, except during question/answer periods and interviews, to help participants discover a sense of stillness and deep listening.

10. Green Rush Scavenger Hunt
When: Saturday, April 17, 2pm
Where: The kick-off at the Green in the Circle Festival
Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
Cost: Live Green members – $20 / Non-members can – $25
More Info: http://livegreen.net/?access=events

In commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Live Green invites you to an action-packed, fun-filled scavenger hunt where you will race against the clock to explore DC’s most eco-friendly spots. Teams of 2 – 5 people will have 3 hours to explore hidden treasures, solve puzzles, complete challenges, collect clues and sample food to earn as many points as possible. The team with the most points wins the grand prize of $1,000! What are you waiting for? Gather up your team and GO FOR THE GREEN!

11. Festival Imagé short film screenings
When: Thursday, April 22, 7pm – 9pm
Where: Letelier Theater
3251 Prospect Street, NW Washington, DC
Cost: $100
More Info: http://www.francedc.org

Festival Imagé is a new comics and animation festival, presented by the Alliance Française de Washington and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Animated films from SUPINFOCOM (one of the most famous French animation schools) and students of MICA will be presented together in a celebration of short animated film.

12. Woolly’s 2010 Gala
When: Saturday, April 24, 6pm
Where: Mandarin Oriental, 1330 Maryland Ave, SW, Washington, DC
Cost: $100
More Info: http://www.woollymammoth.net/

Best of Live is a unique raffle opportunity—100 tickets sold at $100 each—with the lucky winner receiving their choice of prize from the Live Auction offerings at the 2010 Woolly Mammoth Spring Benefit Bash. Raffle prizes include a European Getaway (round-trip American Airlines business-class tickets and accomondations for two at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park); A Year of Washington Sports, including pairs of tickets to see the Redskins, Nationals, Wizards, Capitals, Kastles, and DC United in action, plus the Legg Mason Tennis Classic; and Time After Time, a Tag Heuer watch for her and a Laco Abacus rollerball watch for him. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company was founded in Washington DC in 1980 and serves an essential `Research and Development’ role within the American theatre and plays premiered here have gone on to productions at more than 200 theatres in 39 states and 12 countries.

Do make an effort to visit the Textile Museum it is truly amazing, and do not forget to have your hair done at Miracles this Spring. Here is the link to our Specials page.

Hello Everyone,

More of the same this week at the salon, with many friends and clients scaling back on Christmas shopping, losing more on retirement accounts and overall trying to stretch the once mighty dollar. Can you imagine how surprised I was to see my neighbors house on Craigslist listed (and rented) for $13,500 for the week of the Inauguration?

Our nation is officially in a recession, but I hear that 3 to 4 million people will come to see this historic event. Where will these people stay? How will they afford $1000 a night hotel rooms? All the major stores have run out of ball gowns priced at 2 to 4 thousand dollars. My friends that own restaurants in town all tell me that they are booked solid. WOW…WHAT RECESSION? What about the people that want to come and witness history, but cannot afford to? I THINK I HAVE A SOLUTION.

I became a blogger, even if my English and writing was bad, because I had heard that bloggers are generous people. I love generosity and kindness in people. On November 4th Barack Obama said we should unite and come together as kind hearted Americans. We should help our Nation and our Communities….I agree with him.

HERE IS WHAT I CAN DO:

Democrat, Republican or neither. If you need a place to sleep that week, send me an e-mail and let me know what you need. I have a small home 2 miles from the White House, I don’t mind to share it with you. Please note I am not the Ritz Carlton. I have talked to some of my neighbors and they have agreed to help out also. My friends think I am insane for doing this, and I probably am. But, it was good Americans that helped me when I needed it, It’s only fair that I open my doors to the house and the store for them. This monumental day belongs to all of us, rich or poor.

Recession? What recession? We are going to have the time of our life.

A Beautiful Miracle of Style, Spirit, and Community on the Web

Partnering with award winning web design company, Blue Water Media, Miracles in the City Salon launches new website offering style, health, and beauty products, advice, and community.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 23, 2008 — Founded by Olympia Hantzopoulos, Miracles in the City has partnered with Blue Water Media to deliver the Miracles in the City experience to the web. Offering products, advice, and community on style, spirit, health, and beauty Miracles in the City offers a comprehensive experience for visitors and members alike. Hantzopoulos chose wisely when selecting Blue Water Media’s award-winning design team to develop and design a website that not only communicates beauty but is, itself, beautiful. The new beauty and health website seeks to present eco-friendly and organic health and beauty supplies to women of all ages and professional men with a fashionable sensibility.

The website’s ecommerce section offers many environmentally friendly beauty supplies that include boheme bijoux, hair and skin care products, body and nail care, and the custom hair oils produced by the Miracles salon. For those that would like to have the Miracles experience in-person, the site offers information on their full service salon and spa; Miracles offers hair, skin and nail services. Alternatively, Miracles offers their mobile spa which provides all the relaxation of their hair and spa treatments in the privacy and convenience of your home. Christy in Herndon says, “Miracles Mobile Spa is the best thing that has ever come to the Northern Virginia area. Now I can get my nails done in the middle of the week without having to get stuck in traffic on route 66.”

Miracles in the City also promotes new artists’ work in the art gallery section of the site, and has great suggestions for local special events. The new site will also provide discounts, promotions, and premium services to those customers whom sign up for club membership.

About Miracles in the City:
Miracles in the City has been in business for over 15 years and currently has over 3,500 clients in the Washington DC area offering luxury beauty treatments 7 days a week. Miracles in the City specializes in hair, make-up, nails, wax, facial treatments and even offers traditional services for men. For more information, please visit: http://www.miraclesinthecity.com/

About Blue Water Media:
As a Washington DC based web design and marketing company, Blue Water Media offers a full line of design services including print, brand identity and web design, internet marketing, and website support. For nearly a decade, Blue Water Media has worked with businesses small and large in the Washington DC metro area and beyond. Blue Water Media’s successful track record of developing effective websites establishes it as a leader in the industry. For more information, please visit: http://www.bluewatermedia.com/

“Babe, I got it!”

Tigro hoped that she did not see him rolling his eyes. He could only imagine what her suggestion was going to be.

“What are you thinking, Lisa?” he asked.

“We can still go on vacation,” she said proudly.

“How’s that? You know that we don’t really have the money right now, Lisa.”

“Must I always have to correct you? We don’t have the money for airfare and hotels, but we do have the money for camping!” Lisa said triumphantly.

Tigro was certainly interested now. He had been camping countless times as a kid, but hadn’t ever dreamed that Lisa would want to go camping with him.

“You want to go camping? Are you sure?” Tigro asked. “I just want to make sure that you know what you’re getting yourself into; there won’t be any blow dryers or anything like that when we go camping, you know.”

Lisa didn’t mind that he saw her rolling her eyes at his comment. “Leave it to you to assume your stereotypical notions,” she replied. “I’ve been camping many times before, with family, with friends, with past boyfriends, too.”

“Oh,” Tigro laughed. “No, I didn’t know that. Maybe you should have told me that last part before we started seriously dating,” he said playfully.

“Mmmhmm, and I probably know more about camping than you, Tigro.”

Tigro brought his laptop computer to the kitchen. “I think I know of a site that should have great deals on camping stuff. The company is Backcountry Edge BackcountryEdge.com and their website is. Let’s check it out!”

Lisa was not going to hold her breath on this one. She had seen more than one of Tigro’s well-intentioned plans goes awry. So, while he waited for the web browser to find the site, she made a list of all the things they would need for their upcoming trip into nature.

“Lisa! Come here and take a look,” said Tigro excitedly.

Preparing to be disappointed, Lisa meandered over to the computer and reviewed the BackcountryEdge.com webpage.

“Awesome, Tigro! I’ve never seen such low prices like these for such high-end brand names! Is it real?” Lisa asked, more than half seriously.

Tigro chuckled, “It’s no mirage, Lisa. BackcountryEdge.com is more like an oasis. All of their gear is new and they only pack the most high quality products at ridiculously low prices!”

Lisa had already grabbed her list and checking off items. “Okay, T, we could either go with a backpacking tent or an ultra light tent for now since it’s still warm out, but we’ll have to purchase a mountaineering tent for when we camp out in the winter.”

Tigro asked tentatively, “What’s a backpacking tent? And, you want to camp out in the winter time? Are you nutty?”

Lisa knew that she had him now. “The great Tigro doesn’t know his tent types?” she mockingly asked. “I knew it! I knew that I was more knowledgeable about camping than you! Oh, c’mon, with the help of BackcountryEdge.com, I’ll make a seasoned camper out of you yet!”

“C’mon! Hurry up!,” squealed Brianna to Tolu.

Tolu was frantically scrolling through the contacts in her phone, all 200 of them. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find Dawson’s phone number in her phone anywhere.

“I thought that you said he gave you his number in Calculus class on Thursday?,” inquired Brianna. “Did he really or were you just playing?”

“Arrrgh! He did, he did, Bri, but I can’t seem to find it in my phone. This is my third time going through my contacts and I still have nothing!,” a now exasperated Tolu responded.

Brianna looked around, her frizzy hair fluttering each time her head swiveled. She alternated putting weight on one foot and the other. She was antsy. And, who could blame her with all that was on the line. A night like tonight, movie debut night, was bound to be packed with other high schoolers and college students home for summer break. Brianna’s crush, Dawson, was supposed to have given them a ride there, but he was apparently lost.

It was looking like the night was going to be lost when suddenly a gleaming thought occured to Brianna- Flycell! “Tolu! Tolu! I got it! Back in the house! Follow me!,” yelled Brianna to her friend.

Without waiting to explain the abrupt change in tactics, Brianna broke into a run across her house’s front yard and exploding into the house. Tolu was running, too, but having trouble matching the pace of the excited Brianna. They continued sprinting all the way to the back of the house, where they parked themselves in Brianna’s mother’s office.

Tolu, in between pants, managed to ask, “Okay, so what are we doing here, Brianna?”

“Flycell.com. That is how we’re going to get Dawson’s number,” she said confidently. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before now!

“Genius! You’re right! With Flycell.com’s huge, online community of users, someone from our school who knows Dawson is bound to be logged in,” agreed Tolu. “Let’s do it.”

As the Flycell.com page loaded, two sets of eyes were drawn to the on-demand videos that had just been loaded onto the sight.

“Wow, how does Flycell always have the newest music videos?! Flycell goes hard, Tolu! They are the best website out there! I can’t wait to get these videos and ring-tones on my phone. You know that everybody at school is going to be jealous!”

Tolu rolled her eyes at her friend. “Oh, Brianna, you and I get excited over different things. While you may like the videos, I like to search all the fun, cellular games and cell wall paper that they keep constantly updating. If I’m bored anywhere, I can just whip out my cellie and play all the games that I’ve downloaded from Flycell.”

At this point Brianna only partially heard what her friend was saying; she was too engrossed in the new music video that she was watching on the Flycell website.

“What did you say, Tolu?”

“Don’t worry about it, Brianna. Just finish your video so we can go to Flycell’s online community and search for someone that will know your want-to-be boyfriend, Dawson,” said Tolu.

Still humming the song after the video finished, Brianna opened up the Flycell community page and began a search for a person from their high school. Like teens sometimes do, they went through each and every picture of people on the site, commenting and having a good time. Soon, they did find some people that went to their school online.

“Who is that!?,” asked Tolu, eyes bulging widely. “‘Bryce K.’,” said Tolu, reading the name in the profile.

“I don’t know him,” Brianna said, “but he’s online, he’s cute and he goes to our school. Let’s chat with him!”

That started the beginning of a chat that lasted well past the time that start-time of the movie they were supposed to see with Dawson. They were having such a good time talking online with Bryce that they completely forgot all about the movie!

“Oh, my goodness, Tolu! It’s 8:30! We’ve missed the movie!,” roared Brianna.

Tolu looked at her, tilted her head to one side, and said, “Bri, honetly, have we been having fun?”

Brianna shook her head up and down.

“And, didn’t Flycell lead us to Bryce, who is a whoooole lot cuter than Dawson?,” Tolu asked.

“Oh, yeah. That boy is so fine,” Bri said emphatically. She looked around the office, and said, “You know, maybe we should just skip the movbies and stay on Flycell tonight.”

This time it was Tolu’s turn to shake her head up and down. “Bri, I guess there are some things that we do agree on!”

“So, was she satisfied?,” Aden asked.

Mark wore a smug grin on his face at the sound of the question.

“First,” Mark began, “let me tell you that I haven’t felt that excited or had such a large hard erection since…since high school probably! I’m telling you this ViSwiss LLC enhancement pill works!”

“,ViSwiss LLC” Aden said. The word sounded almost like magic to him.

“Aden, I took the ViSwiss LLC pill and twenty minutes later, it was already working. Twenty minutes! That’s all it took!,” said Mark excitedly.

“That’s amazing. I know that I have tried some of those prescription pills for erectile dysfunction and you have to take those hours before hand in order for them to work,” Aden commented.

“Isn’t that ridiculous? Sometimes sexual moments just happen and you can’t plan those types of things,” Mark said.

“Even if you could plan them, it would probably take all the spontaneity out of sex to be on a schedule!”

“Exactly,” Mark said. “So, for me, it was an easy decision. ViSwiss LLC was the way to go.”

“Did you notice any big side effects, Mark?,” Aden asked.

“Aden, ViSwiss is so good that I only noticed the main effect, and that was my explosive erection,” Mark replied to Aden. “You know, ViSwiss is a completely natural sexual enhancement product, so I don’t have to worry about putting some man-made chemicals in my body, and I did not have to worry about any side effects at all. It left my mind completely free to focus on satisfying my lady.”

“Gee, you’re lucky, Mark. I wish that I could say that. I wish that I could have the same confidence that you have. I just don’t feel like I’m giving Carole all that she should be getting sexually, and it’s a terrible feeling,” Aden said, his face gloomy.

Mark paused for a second with his hand on his chin, clearly in thought. “Aden, you said you sometimes have trouble getting an erection?”

“Sometimes.”

“And, sometimes you are able to get an erection, but can’t sustain it long enough to have exciting sex with Carole? Is that right?,” asked Mark.

Aden shook his head, “yes.”

“Basically, you are in better shape than I was a year ago. I couldn’t get an erection at all, man. Nothing. Do you know how that made me feel? I was desperate, completely desperate. Luckily, a buddy happened to tell me about ViSwiss LLC and it has changed my life, sexually and otherwise. The confidence that I have in the bedroom has spilled over into my job, too.”

Aden couldn’t believe his ears. Was it possible that Mark was telling him the truth?

“Wait,” Aden began, “you’re telling me that you were in worse sexual shape than I am now, and after taking ViSwiss, you changed into the confident lover that you now are?”

“Yes, Aden, that’s right. ViSwiss LLC has been a rock for me. It’s given me rock-hard confidence and a rock-hard erection. Those are two things that you can’t put a price on.”
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“That is so clever,” he noted, turning the wine bottle so that he could see the full label. “They’ve a photo of the bride and groom on here with the wedding date, and the whole bit!”

The front of the chilled Sonoma, California chardonnay had beads of silvery condensation on it, and was delightfully cool to the touch. To the eye, the label on the wine was indeed unique. Instead of the normal staid presentation of facts about the wine type, vineyard, and such, there was a picture of the bride and groom on their first date, taken eight years ago. A print of intertwining golden leaves framed the photo, making the couple in the photo appear to be enclosed by a forest of pleasant yellow.

“I wonder who in the family took the time to design and paste on all these photo? There must be some artsy soul in the bunch,” he concluded.

The woman with whom he was having the conversation picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. “Well, you’re talking to that artsy fartsy person right now.”

“Oh. Oh! Well, tell me, how did you do it and how long did it take you?,” he asked. He was definitely impressed with this apparent master of the arts.

The woman, though, took her time in answering. She skillfully balanced her wine in one hand and slowly and luxuriously adjusted her white linen dress with the other. When that small task was complete, she took a slow sip from her glass.

“I don’t know you very well…,” she trailed off.

“Jacob,” he said.

“Thank you, Jacob. As I was saying, I don’t really know you that well, and one never gives away secrets of the trade to just any inquisitive outsider,” she said half jokingly.

“Ah, you are a tough one! I knew that I’d liked you for some reason,” he said with glee in his voice. “But, you must tell me more about your craft.”

“Alright, well, I have also done several of these customized bottles for parties of the company that I work for. The wines could be just about anything, from the Chardonnays which you see here before you to Cabernet Sauvignons. I have even done labels like these for bottled water, too.,” she said with pride.

Jacob’s eyebrows went up, as did his esteem of her. “You must be quite the efficient artisan, madam, to pull off such feats! I must say that I am impressed, quite impressed.”

By now Jacob was positively beaming at her. Here was a woman who was coy, clever and very easy on the eyes. Most importantly, she was a challenge!

Another sly grin stole over the face of the lady with whom he flirted as she said, “Jacob, I think that I can let you in on my secret. Would you like to know how it is that I do what I do?,” she asked him and winked one eye.

Jacob needed no time to think over his response to such a question. “Yes, I do believe that I would enjoy that most wholeheartedly,” he said.

“Then, you must come close, so that I can put my mouth near your ear,” she said.

Slowly and purposefully, Jacob inched his body closer to hers. Their faces came closer, closer and she turned at the last moment to avoid a brush of lips. He smiled at her skillful move.

Purring in his ear, she whispered, “Take out your phone and give it to me.”

Puzzled now, Jacob reached into his suit jacket and produced his PDA. He tossed it to her, but stayed right next to her as she punched the phone’s buttons.

After a few seconds, she tossed the phone back to him. He was even more confused now. “Take a look,” was all that she said.

On his phone was a website, SignatureWines.com. As he read the opening page of the site, he burst out into laughter! That was how she had made all those unique, personalized labels. She had ordered them from the website!

“So, now you know my secret! Signature Wines & Beverages has a large selection of wines and drinks from the California wine country, and the best part is that you can design your own label online or you can choose from some pre designed labels that they already have made,” she said.

“That sounds pretty simple, something that even I could do,” Jacob said, still laughing a bit to himself. “Well, I must admit, I was enjoying our conversation and the story about these beautiful labels so much, that I left me wide open and you got me. Yes, you did, you got me!”

“On the contrary, Jacob,” she said, “if I had ‘gotten you’ as you claim, it would probably be our pictures that people would be seeing on these wine labels, don’t you think?”

The clinking of the irons, woods, wedges and putter travelled from the basement up to the kitchen where Grandpa Folger was eating his routine breakfast of oranges and oatmeal. There was a final rattling of metal, a loud groan of effort, and then the sound of heavy footsteps coming nearer, ascending the basement footsteps. With a loud thud, the person put the golf bag down, and walked into the kitchen.

Grandpa Folger took his eyes off an orange slice for a moment. “How many are you fixing to play today, Elle?,” he asked.

His granddaughter, busy pouring herself a bowl of cereal, answered a curt, “Nine.”

She strode over to the table, sat and began to eat. Neither of them talked. The only sounds were the workings of jaws. Elle ate her breakfast in its entirety before Grandpa Folger had finished his third orange slice. She put her dirty bowl and spoon in the sink and walked to the border of the kitchen to where her golf bag stood.

“You know,” started Grandpa. Elle knew what he was going to say even before he said it. They both knew it. Still, out of respect, Elle waited for him to finish. “You know, your little sister would love to come out on the links with you.”

Elle took out her towel and began wiping down her clubs. “Grandpa, she’s only a little kid. She’s twelve years old and wouldn’t be able to keep up with me,” Elle answered.

“Meg’s been practicing, Elle. Everyday I see her out there in the backyard, practicing. Some days she practices her long shots, other days it’s the shorter ones. Still, on other days, it is all putting.” Grandpa ventured.

“That’s all fine and good, but what clubs is she going to use? I’ve grown and my clubs are now too large for her, Grandpa.”

“Well, another reason she’s been practicing so much is because she’s gotten a new set of clubs.”

“When and from where?,” Elle wanted to know.

“She ordered from this company named NGC Golf who is famous for clubs using the latest technologies. I think you’ll find her a formidable partner,” said Grandpa.

————————————————————————————-

It was an epic battle. The two sisters separated by eight inches in height, 30 pounds in weight, and four years in age were neck and neck as they came to the ninth and final hole. Elle had counted on crushing her younger sibling, but her assumption was wrong. Not only was Meg more accurate than Elle remembered, she was hitting the ball much farther, too.

“Those new clubs that you have, Meg,” Elle began, “where did you get them from?”

Meg slid a 3-wood from out of her own bag, then answered, “NGC Golf, Elle. I know that I surprised you today by the way that I played, but I have to give the credit to these new clubs. The ball absolutely zings off of them and the putters and wedges are dead-accurate. It’s all due to the material that they use for the facing of the club.”

“Believe me, if I didn’t notice, the scorecard would remind me,” Elle said. She eyed the yardage for this last hole. It was a 179 yard, Par 3. “Better get out the 3-iron, it seems.”

“You mean the 4 or 5 iron, right?,” Meg asked, and then remembered with a grin. “Oh, sorry, I just keep thinking that everyone has the NGC clubs.”
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