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NOVEMBER 2024 HAVING FUN WHENEVER YOU CAN 860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
Turning a 5K Into Super Mario Brothers
I was sharing that story with the RCW team this past Monday when we were all back in the office, and everyone got a good laugh. But I think that William has it right. His imagination and actions made that race more fun for him (and the people around him). And being able to create fun in lots of situations is really important — especially at work, and your that job has periods of high stress. We do what we can to make the work environment fun and engaging at RCW. But we can and should do more. William reminded me of that, and I am going to take it to heart.
runners on the streets of Woodbridge. I decided to run with him to encourage him, keep him company, and make sure there were no issues. The race started off really well. I had him line up in the middle of the pack, and in the first half mile, he bobbed and weaved his way through the crowds as he passed young and old runners. As things started to spread out a bit, I noticed with curiosity that William would jump every once in a while, with his fist in the air. After about the third time, I was processing hard what in the world he might be doing. And then it dawned on me ... He was playing a live-action version of Super Mario Brothers in his head while he was running. Every time he jumped with his fist up, he was breaking a box like in the game. Once I put it together, I laughed out loud. All around him, adults were huffing and puffing and very focused on the race and how they were doing, and William was having fun in his imaginary live-action Mario Brothers Game. I started making the noises from the soundtrack of the old Nintendo video game, and he looked at me, smiled, and jumped up again with his fist in the air. Oh, the joys of being young and having the ability to find fun in nearly anything, anytime, anywhere.
Our town does an annual 5K in October. It is not too big, but not super small, either (i.e., 102 runners this year). No one in my family has ever run it before, but with David’s new focus on running with the middle school cross country team, there was a lot of interest in doing it this year. Leading up to the race David (12) and James (10) were definites. William (8) was a maybe. The night before the race, William told me he was going to run the race, “100%.”
Frankly, I was a little concerned as he hasn’t ever run 2 miles, let alone 5K with other
To having fun whenever and wherever you can,
P.S. William finished the race without stopping once, passing many adults and kids years older than him along the way who went out too fast to start. All my boys did great. David, James, and William came in second, third, and sixth, respectively, in their age groups. I never knew I had such talented runners in my family.
My Runners
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Transform Any Room Into Your Ultimate Entertainment Hub
Say Goodbye to Old Carpet Your Guide to a Smooth Replacement Process
On average, carpet flooring in your home will last 5–15 years. It could last longer or shorter depending on how often people stand on it, the materials used, and whether a professional installed it. But once you hit the five-year mark, inspect your carpet to see if replacement is in order. If your carpet is flat and compressed or has stains, rips, and other damage throughout, it’s probably time to rip out the old carpet for something new. Removing old carpet is a straightforward task you can complete within a few hours, and then you’ll be ready for the new carpet or flooring installation. To start, remove all furniture, appliances, doors, baseboards, and moldings from the room. You don’t want anything resting on the carpet or in your way. If you plan to throw out your old carpet, you’ll want to cut it into strips using a utility knife. From there, detach the carpet from the tack strip. For this process, it’s best to wear gloves and kneepads to avoid cutting or poking yourself. You can cut the carpet away from the tack strip with your utility knife or use pliers to pull it away from the tack strip and unhook it. Once the carpet is no longer attached to the tack strip, it’s time to start pulling. While wearing gloves, grab the carpet, pull it, and roll it up. You may need to use pliers to get a better grip. Secure each strip with duct tape to preserve space in your garbage bag. Repeat this process until there is no carpet left in the room. You’ll want to remove the padding underneath the carpet, too. Pry out staples holding the padding using a floor scraper or pliers. If the carpet padding has adhesive, you will need a floor scraper and potentially some commercial adhesive remover to make progress. All that’s left is removing the tack strip, which you can do using a prybar. After removing everything, clean the floor using a broom, vacuum, and mop before you place new flooring or carpet. Just like that, you’ve removed your old carpet and are ready for the next project!
No house is complete without a dedicated space for entertainment. You need somewhere to play board games with your kids, watch a movie for date night, or finish the evening playing your favorite video game. Most houses don’t have a game room, so we usually have to turn a spare bedroom, basement, or den into one. You can design your dream game room in many ways depending on your interests. Here are three ideas to inspire your gaming paradise. The Movie Theater Treatment Going to a movie theater for a family night out or date night is a great way to spend an evening, but you don’t have to leave the house to capture the same magic. All you need is a big-screen TV or a projector, dimmable lights, a few recliners, and a way to play your favorite movies and TV shows. Not only will this become the ideal place to watch movies, but it will also be a fantastic video game room for gamers of all ages. A Space to Watch the Big Game Is the Super Bowl a can’t-miss event for you and your family? How about the Stanley Cup playoffs or the NBA Finals? If so, you should turn your game room into a dedicated place to watch your favorite teams take the ice, court, or field. Of course, you need a screen to watch the game, but you’ll also want to decorate the room with some of your favorite athletes’ jerseys, pictures of pinnacle moments in your team’s history, and an air hockey or foosball table. This room will quickly become your friends’ and family’s favorite place to watch games. A Tabletop Paradise For some, gaming screenless is their preferred style. If so, you’ll want to create the perfect space for board and tabletop games. You need a large table that can easily fit everyone playing, comfortable chairs that promote good posture, and plenty of board games. You’ll also benefit from bright lighting in the room, or if you’re looking for something to shake up game night, add colorful lights that reflect the mood of any game.
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The Unique Allure of Big Bend National Park
Most national parks are full of visitors from spring through fall. Big Bend National Park turns that schedule upside down.
The ideal time to visit this southwest Texas wonderland of wild river canyons and stunning mountain vistas is from October through May — the offseason for most national parks. But summertime temperatures in Big Bend soar to 105 degrees F or more, too hot for safe vacationing, while wintertime is mild and usually sunny. Many tourists and vacationers have recently discovered the park, driving visitation 16% higher since 2018 to more than 511,000 people annually. Big Bend offers a diversity of sights and terrain. Elevations soar from about 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande River to almost 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains. Boating and rafting trips along the Rio Grande, which Congress designated as a free-flowing Wild & Scenic River, take visitors through the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon limestone cliffs. Options range from a leisurely float lasting less than a day to a seven-day wilderness adventure down the Lower Canyons. Big Bend is also a birder’s paradise, with 450 species sighted there on various occasions. The park also offers an abundance of family-friendly activities. A legal Port of Entry enables visitors who bring their passports to cross the Rio Grande River and visit the shops and restaurants of a rural Mexican village, Boquillas del Carmen. Families also enjoy
stargazing at the Sotol Vista Overlook, scrambling over the boulders on the Upper Burro Mesa, and trekking the Grapevine Hills trails to see Balanced Rock, a giant boulder seemingly teetering in midair between two smaller boulders. Kids can also see dinosaur remains at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit or explore the ruins of a mercury-mining ghost town, Terlingua. Five visitor centers are usually open through the winter. Construction of a new visitor lodge and water system will begin in late 2024, likely causing some disruptions. However, Big Bend has four developed campgrounds and many backcountry camping opportunities. Most campsites are filled six months in advance, so reserve a spot early for your winter camping adventure.
TAKE A BREAK
Exquisite Lemon Bars
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup butter, softened • 4 large eggs • 2 cups granulated sugar
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and powdered sugar. 3. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 4. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Pour over crust. 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
Apple Basketball Black Friday Fireplace
Gratitude Leaves Nap Parade
Pie Stuffing Turkey Veteran
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INSIDE
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Having Fun Whenever You Can
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How to Create the Ultimate Entertainment Room
Carpet Replacement 101
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A Big Wintertime Playground
Exquisite Lemon Bars
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Say Goodbye to Kitchen Counter Clutter
Simple Solutions for a Neat and Inviting Kitchen Create a Culinary Haven
For most people, the kitchen is the most popular room in the home. It’s where you prepare and eat meals, snack on snacks, and make memories with loved ones. However, finding the right aesthetic when items clutter your counter space can be difficult. We have a few ideas to help you tighten your countertop. Remove Small Appliances You don’t need to keep your air fryer, blender, or slow cooker out. Unless you use an appliance daily, stick it in the pantry or a kitchen cabinet. Add Plants and Produce A bowl of fruit or a potted plant can completely change the look of your kitchen and add a pop of color!
Layer Your Decor Keep similar decor together and
condense where possible. To give your kitchen counters more space, you can even install shelves or use pantry doors for more storage.
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