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Former Chief Meteorologist starts new venture [HD]

Lindsey Miller Crouch — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:16:56 +0000

“I feel invigorated by being an entrepreneur,” said author Kristine Kahanek. ” I love being my own boss. I love the freedom it gives me to be with my kids when I want to be with my kids and then focus on the business when I need to focus on the business.”

Kristine Kahanek spent 20 years between Austin and Dallas as a television meteorologist until her heart told her it was time to tune into something new.

“There was something inside me saying you need to find another path that will fulfill you because that one had stopped fulfilling me,” said Kahanek. “It was just becoming too much and did not really work with my life like I wanted it to.”

Visiting schools as a guest speaker, having two adolescent children of her own and still mourning the loss of her daughter Katherine made becoming a children’s author and building the main character around her own family’s guardian angel a very appropriate and meaningful transition.

“Sometimes when I’m out walking or out and have some alone time I think about Katherine. I say this is for you” said Kahanek.

Her book, Katie and the Magic Umbrella, teaches children about the weather.

“There are so many kids that don’t understand that thunderstorms are a part of nature and they’re always going to happen,” said Kahanek. “I think when children understand the weather better they’re not so afraid of it. If we didn’t have storms we wouldn’t have green yards, flowers and trees. We need those storms. They have a purpose.”

And just like how storms have a purpose Kahanek says she is seeing how her books do too.

“The parents are e-mailing me saying thank you so much for writing this book,” said Kahanek. “That’s exactly why I wrote the books. It’s been incredible and very satisfying because I feel like the books are serving their purpose.”

Kahanek’s first book has sold about ten thousand copies and has also given her a tangible way to honor the daughter she lost.

Kristine Kahanek’s official website:
http://www.kristinekahanek.com

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Dirk Nowitzki among celebrities offering needed help [HD]

Cheri Garcia — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:09:25 +0000

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has teamed up for the first annual Celebrity Purple Ping Pong event at Southern Methodist University in Dallas raising awareness and funding to find a cure pancreatic cancer.

“You find out a lot of people are connected with this cause because they lost a loved one to this disease,” said Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle.

And many did connect today including most of Carlisle’s basketball team.

“I like ping and it’s a good day off to come out here and have fun,” said Dallas Mavericks Guard J.J. Barea.

“If I can help it’s no problem and I really like to play ping pong,” said Dallas Mavericks Guard Rodrique Beaubois. “I’m really happy to be here.”

“It’s great to give back when people are struggling,” said Dallas Mavericks Guard DeShawn Stevenson.

Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki came out too. While he struggles to get the ping pong ball over the net he knows its nothing compared to what victims of pancreatic cancer go through.

“It’s always a tragedy for families but if you stay together, stay strong and keep believing you can beat anything,” said Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Carlisle not only managed to get most of his team to support the cause he also reached out to other celebrities.

“It’s such a great cause and its local,” said 2008 Olympic individual all-around gold medalist Nastia Liukin. “I’m a huge fan of the Mavs and I always have been.”

Olympic gymnast Carly Patterson also said yes but she asked for some help with Carlisle in return.

“Rick was helping me with my back serve and front serve or whatever you call it,” said 2004 Olympic gold medalist Carly Patterson. “He was helping me get a little warmed up.”

This charity is near and dear to Rick Carlisle’s heart because his friend and mentor Charles Jerome “Chuck” Daly also known as one of the greatest NBA coaches passed away from pancreatic cancer.

“When he found out he had it it was about two and a half months and he was gone,” said Carlisle.

“Chuck is missed all the time,” said former Dallas Maverick Derek Harper. “I think it’s a great gesture for Rick to do something like this honoring a guy like Chuck Daly.”

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network this disease is one of the least funded and publicized.

“Our ultimate goal is to really find a cure obviously for pancreatic cancer, find an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer and just make sure that people are aware that there are resources available for them when they receive a diagnosis,” said Media Coordinator Pamela Bethel-Leduff.

“Hopefully we’ll do not only this event but many, many more to come,” said Dallas Mavericks Forward Eduardo Najera.

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Healthy food for your heart [HD]

Chris Ghanbari — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:11:41 +0000

“Heart disease is the number one killer of American women today,” said Dallas personal trainer Daniel Crouch. “Whenever you feel the need to go ahead and try to change your life this is the best place to start at the grocery store. We decided to come to the grocery store and pick out a few foods that just might help you save your life. Almonds are a great example of a quality nut. They have monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat as well. They’re excellent. They’re clean. You’re not going to have to worry about getting a lot of preservatives because these things are natural and organic.”

“I think a lot of people fail to recognize how inaugural they are in their own health and certain, little choices that they make at the grocery store of all places can have such a profound effect on the way that they feel and the health of their family and the overall well being of their entire lives,” said Crouch. “Salmon is especially is really good. If you can avoid anything that is farm raised I would recommend it because organic means that it doesn’t have any of the pesticides that farm raised does. Apples are great because they’re a great source of pectin. Pectin is in the skin of apples and what it does is it cleans the plaque from your teeth and from your heart as well.”

“Avocados can get a bad rap because they have fat in them,” said Crouch. “That’s true but it’s the good fat. It’s monounsaturated fat which is great for your heart. It lowers for LDL which is your lousy cholesterol and it raises for HDL which is your good cholesterol. A lot of people take for granted that their heart is just going to pump forever. Red wine, dark chocolate and a few of the things that you might not think are healthy for you are extremely healthy for you.”

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