ASCC

June 2010

Food for Thought In the ‘Test Kitchen’ of LifeA young woman was complaining to her mother about how difficult her life had become. The mother said nothing, but took her to the kitchen and set three pans of water to boiling. To the first pan, she added carrots; to the second, eggs; and to the third, ground coffee. After all three had cooked, she put their contents into separate bowls and asked her daughter to cut into the eggs and carrots and smell the coffee. “What does this all mean?” she asked impatiently.“Each food,” she said, “teaches us something about facing adversity, as represented by the boiling water.” The carrot went in hard but came out soft and weak. The eggs went in fragile but came out hardened. The coffee, however,

Recipe CornerRomaine Salad with Orange, Feta & BeansRecipe provided by Twyla BrownServings per recipe – 2 servings (about 4 cups each)

Ingredients6 cups chopped romaine lettuce 1 cup radishes, sliced 1 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed 1 orange, segmented 1 scallion, sliced 1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese 1/4 cup Orange-Oregano Dressing

InstructionsCombine lettuce, radishes, beans, orange, scallion, feta and dressing in a large bowl. Toss to coat.

Nutrition FactsAmount per servingCalories – 242Total fat – 5gSaturated fat – 2gCholesterol – 8mg

changed the water to something better.“Which will you be like as you face life?” she asked. Will you give up, become hard or transform adversity into triumph? As the “chef” of your own life, what will you bring to the table?

Sodium – 621mgTotal carbohydrates – 38gDietary fiber – 15gProtein – 13g

On the Cover: Photograph by Phone Friend Specialist Erin EverettWant your artwork on the cover? Email Aaron at aalmendarez@asccaz.org for information

Dear DelilahWell my fellow ASCCizonians since no one has submitted a dilemma for me to address, I decided to kick off this month with some office humor to put a little smile on your face. Please remember these are meant for entertainment only and not for actual use. Enjoy!

Best 5 Excuses if you are caught sleeping at your desk:1. This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management

course you sent me to.2. I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new

paradigm!3. I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance4. Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.5. I was not sleeping. I was trying to pick up my contact lens without hands.

Top 5 sayings that should be on the inspirational posters at the office:1. If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos...then you probably haven’t completely

understood the seriousness of the situation.2. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether.3. TEAMWORK...means never having to take all the blame yourself.4. Hang in there, retirement is only thirty years away!5. INDECISION is the key to FLEXIBILITY.

Top 5 ways to tell you are stressed at work:1. Your garbage can IS your “Inbox”!2. Visions of the upcoming weekend help you make it through Monday.3. You leave for a party and instinctively bring your ID badge.4. You ask your friends to “think out of the box” when making Friday night plans.5. You discover the aesthetic beauty of office supplies.BONUS6. You wonder if brewing is really a necessary step in the consumption of coffee.

ASCC Flagstaff office Coordinator, Paula Stefani, was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois. In 1984, a breeze from Flagstaff whispered to Paula and she moved to Arizona to live in the beautiful atmosphere of Flagstaff. When Paula was younger she thought about being either a gymnast or a doctor. However, nothing called to her more than a career helping children and families. Paula received her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University. Paula is also the proud mother of “the four best daughters in the world”. Corrie, 23 just graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in International Travel and travels the world. Mariel, 21 was just accepted into the nursing program at Northern Arizona University. Kelly, 19 is going to college in Spokane, Washington taking classes in intercultural studies. Paige, 18 is attending Northern Arizona University studying Anthropology. Paula is in awe over her daughters and cannot wait until she has grandchildren.

Paula’s hobbies include hiking, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, reading and volunteering. Paula is very dedicated to her volunteer work. She volunteers with various organizations that help children and families including Toys for Tots, VITA Volunteer Income Assistance and the Soroptimists of Flagstaff. Additionally, she has been teaching CPR/First Aid for 25 years. Paula’s likes include waking early to greet the sun, living in Flagstaff (she really enjoys the four distinct seasons, something us Phoenicians know nothing about!), spending time with her children and boyfriend, anything outdoors, all kinds of food but especially chocolate. Paula does not have much use for television but enjoys watching old classic movies that often star Hepburn, Tracy and Stewart. Paula does not like fishy food of any kind and the DES budget cuts. Paula has not traveled anywhere exotic but often enjoys road trips to various locations. However, one day she hopes to travel to Asiago, Italy where her father was born. Paula’s favorite quote is “The purpose of life is to live life with purpose”, Richard Leider. So now you know just a little more about our friend Paula Stefani.

Paula Stefani

Early Childhood Trainer/Coach, René Hobbs, was born in Medford, Massachusetts and moved to Arizona in 1999. There was no real reason that brought René to Arizona. She just decided to make a change in her life, so she loaded up her car and drove across the country until her feet landed her in beautiful Flagstaff. René has always known that she wanted to work with children and families. During her junior year in high school she began working in child care and advanced her professional path from there. René received two Bachelor’s Degrees from Westfield State College in Westfield, Massachusetts; one in Psychology and one in Special Education. But wait, there’s more! René also has a duel Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education of which she obtained from Leslie University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

ReneHobbs

René’s hobbies include journaling, yoga and reading books that pertain to spirituality; particularly from the Dali Lama. She has been working her hobbies back into her life since the addition of her beautiful little daughter, Arianna Spring Shundiin RedDay (“Meanings: Arianna in Hebrew means “like a beautiful melody” and daddy’s a musician, Shundiin means sunshine in Navajo...as she was born on the first day of Spring”); who is learning the benefits of yoga with mom. René said that she never thought the day would come where she was cooking for her family but today she makes homemade baby food for Arianna and full meals for “daddio”. René likes Reggae and World music, pot-lucks with friends and warm sunny days. She does not care for people who are angry, arrogant or who judge others without “walking a mile in their moccasins”, violence, canned peas or cottage cheese.

As a child, René traveled to Kentucky (where her father grew up) for family reunions and the county picnics. She has heard the grand tales of the year that Guinness Book of World Records recorded them as having the longest running county picnic and for frying the most meat at one time. Never underestimate the power and energy of a southern county picnic! After college, René backpacked through Europe with a group of friends visiting Italy, Greece, Ireland, Paris, London and Amsterdam. Additionally, René has traveled to 29 U.S. States and Canada. One day, she hopes to make her way to India and Africa. René’s motto is the good ‘ol Golden Rule “Do unto others as they do unto you. So now you know just a little more about our friend René Hobbs.

July BirthdaysThe following staff is having a birthday this month:

Lori Mendoza – July 1Linda Luegering – July 8Vicki McCarty – July 10Maria Sanchez – July 13Eve Samuelson – July 14Teri Nordhoff – July 17Christina Alvarez – July 21Paula Stefani – July 25Curt Kruse – July 27Todd Hirsch – July 27Gisela Jimenez-Vazquez – July 30Mayra Flores – July 31

Hi, my name is Simon Bieber (yes - related to the heart throb Justin Bieber) and I enjoy poetry and long walks on the beach...no, not really...I like anything and walking anywhere. I’m born and raised in Arizona until I move to Portland in July...ya it rains a lot but, trust me, catching raindrops in your mouth is a lot more fun than you’d think. I’m 1 year and 6 months old. My canine mom was a rescue dog that my human mom, Phone Friend Assistant Coordinator Carissa Bieber, volunteered for. I was the only puppy with blue eyes, so not to brag or anything but I was definitely the pick of the litter. I love bones, water bottles, digging holes where i’m not supposed to, and the Association for Supportive Child Care. Woof!

Pet Spawtlight