How to throw a poker run

My first motorcycle was a 1957 Harley Davidson. When I found the bike for sale I had no money, but I knew I needed to have this motorcycle. So I came up with a way to raise the money and throw a great party at the same time. I threw a Poker Run. The concept of the game is easy. Each person tries to make the best 5 card poker hand.

The way it is played is, each bike has to ride along a planed rout, every few miles there are checkpoints at each checkpoint along the way each bike must stop and receive a card. Along the rout there are 7 checkpoints, and at the end the rider with the best 5 card poker hand wins the prize

Over the years the poker run has been adopted to lovers of many different hobbies.

The poker run was originally an event bikers played on their Harley's, but over the years it has been borrowed by boaters and even runners.

Throwing a poker run is fairly simple but takes time and some not to hard work. The first thing you need to do is get approval from the towns that your poker run will go thru. There may be some paperwork and fees.

You will also need to make sure that at the end of the run is at a park or event hall. Depending on where you live you may also need a permit for the park.

Next you will need riders. By figuring out how much you want to have for the prize money and how much the part after the poker ride will cost you can figure out how many riders you will need and how much the entrance fee will be, but it should be no more then $100 per bike.

The next thing you will need to do is register riders. The best way to do this is to make a website, go to biker bars and biker events in your area. If you live in New York don’t go to Daytona Bike week to sign up riders, most people will not travel that far for a poker run. Try to get locals.

After you have registered the riders you now have to plan for the party. Along with registering riders for your poker run you should also sell tickets so friends and family can join in the party after the ride is over and the poker winner is declared.

The best way to advertise the party is on a local radio station and with posters around town. The more people you can get the more money you will have for a prize and for whatever cause you are trying to raise money for.

You can either, buy your own food and get some friends to help cook or you can look in the phonebook for a caterer and you should be able to find a caterer who will throw you a great BBQ.

Then all you need to do is wait for the big day and enjoy all the bikes, poker, beef and beer.

Families face challenges of eating disorders

As many as 11 million people in the U. S. have an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, and about 25 million more are struggling with binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

These medical conditions not only affect the people who have them, they take an emotional toll on their families and friends - many of whom experience their own personal pain from watching an eating disorder slowly destroy their loved one and may feel powerless in trying to help.

"Most people who have not had their lives touched by an eating disorder dismiss them as not worth worrying about," said one parent of a daughter with an eating disorder. "It is like trying to dismiss a tornado tearing through your home and your heart, tossing everything in its path around as if it were weightless and worthless. I have been through both. I would choose the physical tornado any time."

Eating disorders are serious illnesses with a biological basis that are influenced by emotional and cultural factors. Researchers are discovering that certain genes appear to increase susceptibility to an eating disorder, much like with alcoholism or depression.

While eating disorders cause physical devastation to the individual, they also wreak emotional and financial ruin on the entire family. Marriages are strained. Siblings feel pushed aside. And because insurance rarely covers treatment, some families are forced to deplete savings accounts or take out second and third mortgages to provide their loved ones with the care they need.

Compounding the problem, according to NEDA, is the stigma associated with eating disorders, which keeps some individuals suffering in silence. Due to a lack of education and the "behind-closed-doors" nature of the conditions, some family members, friends and health care professionals fail to recognize the signs of an eating disorder or the full extent of the risks involved.

"Eating disorders treatment cannot be successful if it starts with an aspirin and a Band-Aid," said Kathy Benn, whose 19-year-old daughter Shelby Starner died as a result of an eating disorder. Starner had been treated for eating disorders for 26 months and was turned away from in-patient care because she was "not sick enough."

"We must address symptoms with aggressive, life-threatening seriousness," Benn said. "Forcing sufferers to fail their way up to intensive treatment is wrong-headed behavior that gives the illness an advantage and serves to waste valuable time and life."

NEDA provides support for families affected by eating disorders through its Parent and Family Network, which serves as a clearinghouse for up-to-date information about treatment, resources and advocacy.

"Building an informed and involved community helps families know they are not isolated, their problems are not as unique as they once thought, and that there is hope," said Lynn Grefe, chief executive officer of NEDA.

How to take care of a grandfather clock

A grandfather clock is undoubtedly an amazing piece to have in your home. It hearkens back to a time when life was simpler, yet more elegant. If you invest in a grandfather clock, chances are it will quickly become a showpiece within your entryway, living room, or dining room.

Yet, it is highly important that you take good care of your grandfather clock. To some people, there is nothing more annoying than a clock that fails to provide the correct time. Also, while it can certainly be gratifying to purchase an antique clock, you don’t want your clock to “show its age” after just a few months in your home.

The best way to ensure that you will be able to take care of a grandfather clock properly is to exercise caution when selecting a clock to buy. Whether you are interested in a new or used model, you probably have hundreds of choices to consider. You should examine each individual cabinet as you would any other piece of furniture. Be sure to carefully consider the finish and the overall quality. For instance, if you’re looking for a stunning piece that is particularly easy to care for, you might consider a 100 percent cherry, oak, or mahogany cabinet. In such a case, you’ll need to buy an older clock to get what you want.

You’ll be much better off purchasing a grandfather clock from a clock dealer rather than from a general furniture store. This is because a dealer can offer better service after the sale. This means that, working with a dealer, you should have an easier time caring for your clock. Also, be sure that you examine the actual clock you’re purchasing, rather than just buying a clock delivered from a warehouse. Otherwise, you could end up with a clock that is damaged and will therefore be difficult to take care of. If you notice dents or scratches on the surfaces of the weights or pendulum, be sure to alert a customer service representative, so that those problems can be dealt with before you get the clock home. If you want a truly durable grandfather clock, you’ll probably have to purchase one that is about 40 to 50 percent more expensive than the cheapest model.

If you purchase an older clock, you may have more difficulty taking care of it over the long run. This is because many older clocks have not been fully serviced before the sale because of the cost involved. Essentially, the dealer will probably do only that amount of maintenance necessary to get the clock running. As a result, you could find yourself facing significant maintenance costs later on. Also, be aware of the fact that a spring-driven clock does not usually last as long as a weight-driven clock.

In order to care for your clock properly, it’s important that you have your grandfather clock cleaned at least once every five years. The cleaner your clock, the better it is likely to function. Since a grandfather clock represents a treasured piece of history, you need to care for it as you would any prized possession.