Boston Brick & Stone - October 2019

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THE MASONRY MONTHLY

2005 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | 626-296-7700 | www.bostonbrick.com | October 2019

HOW’S THAT FOR ODDS? REGGIE ‘MR. OCTOBER’ JACKSON’S LEGENDARY GAME “I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” –Reggie Jackson

S ome people shine brightest in the spotlight. When put to the test, they deliver every time. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is one of those people. During the sixth game of the 1977 World Series, Jackson hit three home runs in a row, securing the Yankees’ victory over the Dodgers and winning them their 21st World Series title. The legendary playoff game also earned Jackson the nickname “Mr. October,” which has stuck to this day. Like many stories of greatness, Jackson’s featured a lot of hard work behind the scenes. He dedicated himself to his sport and constantly worked to improve his play. Growing up, Jackson played baseball, basketball, and football and excelled at all three, though football was his strong suit. He was scouted and given opportunities to go pro straight out of high school, but, on the advice of his father, he went to college on a football scholarship. Thanks to a $5 bet, he tried out for the baseball team at Arizona State University and made it. Jackson was the first black person on the team, and, even though he experienced discrimination, he never let it stop him.

From the minor leagues into the majors, Jackson’s ambition got him through many tough times, as did the constant support of his father and of Oakland A’s manager John McNamara. Jackson always dreamed of playing for New York, and, eventually, his dream came true when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1976. To this day, Jackson holds many prominent records, including being the first player to earn more than 100 home runs for three different teams (the A’s, Yankees, and Angels). He even has his own candy bar, the “Reggie! Bar,” which debuted during a Yankees game in 1978. Let’s see if any of this year’s playoff games stir up as much excitement as Reggie Jackson’s did in his heyday.

-Dave Laverdiere

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Buyers Beware on Fiverr A Fiverr Review

CONS

Fiverr is known as the go-to online marketplace for a variety of freelance materials and services. But there’s a big question on many entrepreneurs' minds: Is it worth the hype?

The primary thing to watch for is fake reviews and testimonials, which can lead

PROS

to unsatisfactory transactions and plenty of headaches. While many sellers offer a money-back satisfaction guarantee, that doesn’t negate the loss of time and effort on your end. The quality of work can vary, too. While many sellers have samples of their work on their profile, it’s not always the quality you receive. Fiverr offers services for as little as $5, depending on the seller, so you really do get what you pay for. Keep in mind that anyone can be a seller on the site. You’re not guaranteed professional service nor the ability to get the product or service you need in a timely manner. So, is it worth the hype? That will depend on how well you discern the seller's reviews and quality of work promoted on their page. If anything seems off, utilize Fiverr’s resources and reach out to the seller with any questions or concerns before making your hiring decision.

Buying a service from one of the many freelancers on the platform is quick and easy. You can create an account and complete the checkout process with your preferred mode of payment in a matter of minutes. You can also compare prices of different freelancers to ensure you’re getting the most out of every dollar you spend. If you want to find out more about a seller before using them, you can also look up the rating and feedback score of whoever you’re interested in. Additionally, each freelancer’s contact information is provided, so you can ask them questions before making a purchase. Do you have very particular marketing needs? No problem! A variety of sellers on Fiverr provide niche products and services. You can find someone to design a classic business card and create a clever jingle for your company’s radio advertisement. Fiverr has it all.

Rock-Solid Review

CHIMNEY

•Inspection •Restoration and repair •Construction •Sweeping

FIREPLACE

•Inspection, restoration, or repair of an existing structure •Installation or reconstruction of new structures

“Boston Brick & Stone redid my fireplace and chimney about a year ago. They were very professional and did a fabulous job. This year, I was shopping around for solar and found they also do solar. Not only did they come in as the BEST bid, but they also did an amazing job. Excellent team of workers. I highly recommend and would hire them again if the need should arise.” -Lisa B. “I called and an appointment was set up almost immediately. Our inspector was very informative and explained in detail the steps he took in inspecting our brick fireplace. He gave us options as he explained the crack he saw and how we could go about repairing it. Would recommend Boston Brick & Stone to anyone needing their fireplace inspected.” -J.E.Y.

HARDSCAPE

•Backyard patios •Outdoor kitchens and barbecues •Outdoor steps, walkways, and paths •Retaining walls •Outdoor fireplaces •Driveways

HISTORICAL RESTORATION Our previous restoration work includes the following:

•Restoration of the main lobby chimney system of the El Tovar Hotel on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim •Repair and restoration of chimneys in 56 original historic cabins on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim •Historical chimney restoration for the lodge in Bryce Canyon National Park •Faithful restoration of the chimneys on the Nottingham and Arden properties in Beverly Hills

BRICK RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION

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Camping Lightly 5 Ways to Make Your Camping Trip More Eco-Friendly

MEME CORNER you have leads to less eventual waste. 2. Go Natural When choosing soap, toothpaste, makeup, sunscreen, and bug During the 35-day government shutdown that stretched from late 2018 to early 2019, National Park Service workers were stuck at home without pay. Meanwhile, Yellowstone National Park trash cans overflowed with fast food wrappers and plastic water bottles; broken sleds and beer cans piled up in the Lassen National Forest; toilets in Yosemite National Park backed up and dumped waste into the places we’ve deemed most precious. Months later, our national parks are still struggling, but nature lovers can take steps to be more eco-friendly while camping in any outdoor setting this fall. Here are five green ideas for your next campout: 1. Say No to New Before you leave town, inventory everything you’ll need for your trip. If gear is on the list, try repairing what you have, borrowing from a friend, or buying used equipment before you head to REI. Using what

spray for camping, always pick natural options that will biodegrade quickly and won’t pollute the water. Stay away from waterways while brushing your teeth, and avoid sunscreen and bug sprays that are water-soluble or toxic to animals. 3. Try DIY Making your own snacks and buying in bulk can help you avoid single-use plastic packaging, which inevitably becomes trash. Try baking your own granola bars and securing them in beeswax wrap, tossing homemade snack mixes in reusable Stasher bags, and bringing bulk oats for breakfast in repurposed jars. 4. Cook Smart Ditch gas when you camp by packing in a battery- or solar-

powered burner to start your fire without harmful chemicals. If you’re cooking over the campfire, be sure to burn smart, too. Tossing aluminum cans or random trash in with your kindling can pollute both the air and the food you’re making. 5. Pack It Out “Leave no trace” is the camper’s motto. Ideally, you should leave your campsite pristine apart from extinguished coals and flattened grass. Bring reusable bags to pack out your trash and other items to recycle and/or compost. Food scraps don’t always biodegrade quickly in nature — in fact, according to The Guardian, banana peels can take two years to decompose. There’s nothing quite like spending a few days in nature, enjoying the fresh air, lush trees, and peace and quiet. If campers do their part to preserve the health and beauty of our national parks, everyone can enjoy them for years to come.

Inspired by Bon Appétit This silky caramel recipe is spiked with miso for a complex, rich snack that won’t hurt your teeth. Miso Caramel Apples

Ingredients

• 4 Granny Smith apples • 1/2 cup raw pistachios • 1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar • 3 tbsp sesame seeds

• 2 tbsp white miso, divided • 4 Popsicle sticks • 2 tbsp light corn syrup

• 1/4 cup heavy cream • 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a food processor, pulse pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7 minutes, swirling infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.

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SERVING THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

2005 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | 626-296-7700 | www.bostonbrick.com

‘Mr. October’: The Legendary Reggie Jackson INSIDE page 1

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The Pros & Cons of Buying on Fiverr

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Rock-Solid Review

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Green Up Your Camping Trip

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Miso Caramel Apples

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Frightful Films for Families

SCARY MOVIES For the Whole Family!

With the spookiest day of the year fast approaching, there’s nothing like a scary movie night to get the whole family into the Halloween spirit. The only problem is most frightful films really aren’t for kids, and the ones that are often fall flat. But, if you’re looking for a flick that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats (without traumatizing anyone), consider our top three picks for scary, family-friendly movies. No. 3 ‘Ghostbusters’ “Who you gonna call” to be high on this list? The 1984 spectral classic, “Ghostbusters.” While this may be more of an action-comedy, plenty of scares and creepy imagery still get a jump out of first-time watchers young and old alike. If you're looking for a lighthearted movie night that still captures a Halloween feel, “Ghostbusters” is a great choice. No. 2 ‘Coraline’ Few authors weave creepiness with coming- of-age stories together better than Neil Gaiman, and his 2009 film “Coraline” proves just that. Based on Gaiman’s book of the same name, director Henry Selick uses his signature stop-motion animation

style to bring the script to

life. While young children may find the doll-like imagery too unsettling, this is a great introductory thriller for preteens. No. 1 ‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’ Yes, a Scooby-Doo movie is at the top of this list — and it deserves to be. As the feature-length debut of Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the Mystery Gang, this 1998 film doesn’t pull any punches. While the hand-drawn animation and slapstick high jinks of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon are all there, make no mistake: There are some creepy moments in this movie. Between scary zombie elements and a spooky Voodoo doll scene, this is the perfect film to get your kids into the Halloween spirit.

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