COMMON THREAD MAGAZINE

http://news.sjhlex.org/

Common Thread is a quarterly magazine produced by Saint Joseph Health System. This feel-good publication features inspirational stories of hope and healing. Editor Kara Fitzgerald and the SJHS marketing department do a great job putting it all together. I have been a contributing writer since 2008.

* Locally grown foods in Saint Joseph Health System cafeterias. Read the article.

* A miracle patient wakes from a coma. Read the article.

* Delivered from evil, the Gabriel Kuyena story. Read the article.

* The Appalachian Outreach Program celebrates 25 years of service. Read the article.

* A homeless patient had an impact on staff members of the Free Health Clinic. Read the article.

* Faith Feeds is an organization harvesting food for the hungry. Read the article.

* A mission trip provides surgical care in Guatemala. Read the article.

* Global outreach saved the life of a Jamaican patient. Read the article.

* Ducklings rescued from a storm drain. Read the article.

* Employees give back through mission work. Read the article.

* Making it to work in a snow storm. Read the article.

* A spotlight on some SJHS employees who are health nuts. Read the article.

* The house that love built. Read the article.

* Building hope in Belize. Read the article.

* A twin set of twin profiles. Read one of the articles and the other one.

* Profiles of a hospitality services manager and retired heart surgeon. Read the article.

* A walk to remember for bereaved parents. Read the article.

Heartmade Blessings is a group of volunteers in the United States and Canada who crochet “comfort blankets” or “comfortghans” for people who have experienced a loss or illness. We have square makers and assemblers (and both). Here are some photos of comfort blankets I have assembled.

01.25.12 sent to Jackie S. for comfort.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12.12.11 sent to the parents of Marine Lance Cpl. Noah P., killed in Afghanistan, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12.12.11 sent to the father of Army Sgt. Jason V., killed in Iraq, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.11.11 sent to Phyllis G., whose husband died.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
09.09.11 sent to the parents of Army Staff Sgt. Curtis O., killed in Afghanistan, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
09.09.11 sent to the parents of Army Spc. Robert R., killed in Iraq, 2003.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
08.23.11 sent to the parents of Army Sgt. Jeremy S., killed in Afghanistan, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
07.18.11 sent to the mother of Army Sgt. Patrick C., killed in Afghanistan, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
06.29.11 sent to the mother of Army Spc. Alex M., who died on active duty in the USA, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
06.11.11 sent to Terri P., whose sister died in 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

06.11.11 sent to the young daughter of Army Sgt. David C., killed in Iraq, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
06.11.11 sent to the young son of Army Sgt. David C., killed in Iraq, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
04.25.11 sent to the mother of Marine Corps Cpl Jason D., killed on active duty in the USA, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
04.04.11 sent to the parents of Army Staff Sgt. Daniel M., killed in Afghanistan, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
03.19.11 sent to the parents of Marine Pfc. Jason E., killed in Afghanistan, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
03.19.11 sent to Sharon B., whose mom died in 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
02.11.11 sent to the parents of Marine Sgt. Jeremy M., killed in Afghanistan, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
02.11.11 sent to the parents of Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Billie Jean G., killed in Iraq, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
01.18.11 sent to the parents of Army Staff Sgt. Thaddeus M., who died in Afghanistan in 2010.

In a bowl—medium, large, whatever—mix a box of French Vanilla instant pudding mix with one can of sweetened condensed milk (fat-free or fat-full) and a few ounces of Silk or milk. The recipe on the back of the pudding box will say 2 cups of cold milk, but don’t you fall for that. Eagle Brand is soooo much better. Or Kroger version of same.

With a mixer or something, do the pudding. Add a capful of coconut extract or a tidge of vanilla extract, if you want, so you can call it “the secret ingredient.” Put the bowl in the fridge for a while (overnight is too long; trust me on this one).

Fold in a tub o’ Cool Whip. Yeah, yeah, there are three sizes and 49 varieties. Just pick one.

Spoon some drained crushed pineapple into each pie crust. Drain it, I tell you, drain and strain! This is another tip I learned the hard way.

Throw some sliced bananas on top of the crushed pineapples. And by sliced, I mean the little round disc things, not the long rectangular strip things.

Pour half the goopy pudding mixture on top of the bananas and pineapples.

Lick the bowl.

Put the clear plastic lids on top of each pie (and good luck getting the booger glue off those Keebler labels). Store in the fridge for a few hours or overnight so it will be easier to cut. Or just go straight for a spoon and be done with it.

This banana-pineapple pie certainly won’t win any beauty contests, but you could dress it up around the edges with sliced strawberries or something. I have no idea how long it can actually stay in the refrigerator, because it’s never made it past 24 hours around here, frankly.

Ingredients:

3.5 oz. box of French vanilla instant pudding
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
3 or 4 ounces of milk
8 oz. or 12 oz. tub of Cool Whip
2 graham cracker pie shells, regular size
3 large bananas
16 oz. can of crushed pineapples

BUSINESS LEXINGTON MAGAZINE
www.bizlex.com

Business Lexington is a biweekly publication, produced by Smiley Pete Publishing, filled with news of the business world in Lexington and Central Kentucky. Under the direction of editor Tom Martin, it has been going strong since May 2005.

I write a column called the Stamps Collection. In the beginning (June 2005), my articles were profiles of independent professionals and small-business owners. I still write those, along with roundups and other types of pieces about small businesses.

* Putting an end to disorderly conduct. A roundup of organized people. Read the article.

* Local CIOs make technology work for internal and external customers. A roundup. Read the article.

* The city of Danville maintains economic momentum through collaboration. This town is too cool for school. Read the article.

* College career centers keep businesses connected with campus talent. They’re not called “placement centers,” thank you. Read the article.

* Jim Clark and LexArts account for creativity. The arts are good business! Read the article.

* Tiffany & Co. has a jewelry manufacturing facility in Lexington, Ky. How it all began. Read the article.

* Frugal habits are hard to break for local business owners. A roundup. Read the article.

* Big or small, businesses are subject to employment law. Read the article.

* Chad Hobson and Bill Dotson, owners of WebMedley, are a digital duo. Read the article.

* Professional organizer Sarah Hawkins, owner of DeClutter with Sarah, offers tips on getting organized. Read the article.

* What brought you to Kentucky? Business owners from England, Indonesia, Iran and West Africa answer this question. A roundup. Read the article.

* Want to rent an office? Business centers cater to solo entrepreneurs and startups. Read the article.

* Toastmasters improves more than public speaking abilities. Read the article.

* Where are they now? An update of five business owners five years later. Read the article.

* A profile of David Lawyer, the tree man and Naked Pizza franchise owner. Read the article.

* Sam and Noelle Dick have day jobs and a triathlon shop called Swim Bike Run of Kentucky. Read the article.

* The SBDC offers coaching for your small business. Read the article.

* A profile of entrepreneur Vince Edwards. Read the article.

* A profile of Chris Hall, owner of BlueGrass Go2Girl. Read the article.

* A profile of Adrienne Grizzell and her nonprofit management acumen. Read the article.

* Former Kentucky Wildcat Cedric Jenkins is the owner of a GNC store.Read the article.

* How do you recharge your batteries? A roundup. Read the article.

* Randy and Ryan Lisk, owners of Lisk Associates, are father-and-son business coaches. Read the article.

* A profile of Technology Consulting Group of America. Read the article.

* Bud Ratliff, owner of Solarity Group, talks about project management. Read the article.

* SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives. Read the article.

* Entrepreneur Jim Davis owns coffee shops. Read the article.

* What are the smartest and not-so-smartest financial decisions you made this year? A roundup. Read the article.

* Jackie and Bill Powell are the owners of Serif Group. Read the article.

* Frugality is the new status symbol. A profile of Hampton Scurlock III, owner of Retirement Tax Advisory Group. Read the article.

* A profile of Donna Ison, artistic multitasker. Read the article.

* A profile of Donna Gilbert, owner of Heavenly Confectionery. Read the article.

* A profile of Clay Harvey, owner of Bluegrass Barkery. Read the article.

* Strategies to stretch a dollar. A roundup. Read the article.

* A profile of Teresa Neil, owner of Berea Garden Center. Read the article.

* A profile of Polly Singer, owner of All You Need Is Love, Hats and Veils. Read the article.

* A profile of horse massage therapist Jennifer Oliver. Read the article.

* A profile of Jon Carloftis, gardener to the stars. Read the article.

* A profile of author and communications expert Mary Claire O’Neal. Read the article.

* A profile of Sean Damron, owner of DamronTech. Read the article.

* Susan Bachner is an aging-in-place specialist. Read the article.

* Sandy Linville is a professional organizer. Read the article.

* The balance of art and business: a profile of artist Helene Steene. Read the article.”

* A profile of photographer Bill Straus. Read the article.