How to Calculate Cubic Yards……

 Have you ever wanted to complete a backyard project and were hesitant to order materials because you did not want to sound like a complete Nimrod??? Yes construction can be a very humbling experience especially for those weekend warriors that watch those landscape shows on TV and then think they can conquer the world only to find out they cannot communicate in construction language. Yes it is very embarrassing to explain the length of a 2×4 by using your hands ie about this long…..Well I am here to help you take your manhood back and sound like you know what you are talking about. Today we will tackle the cubic yard.

A cubic yard is a unit of measurement that is three-dimensional, thereby making it a unit of volume and not surface area. To calculate a cubic yard, the formula is simple. Cubic yards are calculated by multiplying the length, width and height of the area. The cubic yard is equivalent to 27 cubic feet. Most topsoil, gravel and mulch products are sold by the cubic yard. Imagine how much product it would take to fill a box and that is the way to conceptualize how these items are measured. Now let me give you a scenario….You want to add a section of concrete to your existing driveway that is 44 feet by 8 feet and the concrete slab will be 4 inches thick. How do your order the correct amount???

Instructions

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1. • Find the cubic yards of concrete needed to add an additional driveway stall that is 44 feet long, 8 feet wide and has a thickness of 4 inches (after pouring the concrete).
   • Convert the thickness measurement of 4 inches to feet. Since 12 inches = 1 foot, you divide the 4 inches by 12 inches and get .33 feet.
   • Use the formula (Length X Width X Thickness) to find the cubic footage. From Step 1 and Step 2, Length= 44 feet, Width= 8 feet and the Thickness=.33 feet. Use the formula to get 44 feet X 8 feet X .33 feet = 116.16 cubic feet.
   • Calculate the cubic yards for this project by converting the cubic feet in Step 3. Since one cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet you then divide 116.16 by 27 i.e., (116.16÷ 27) = 4.3 cubic yards. You need 4.3 cubic yards of concrete for this driveway project.

So what are you waiting for? Get on the phone and order your concrete with the confidence of a seasoned veteran…..Now for those larger projects that involve tons all you do is multiply your cubic yards total by 1.3 to figure out your cubic tons.

The weekend awaits and so do all those projects so no excuses!!!!

Nick 

 

Go Outside With Your Kids!!!

About half of preschool-age children don’t get outside with a parent on a daily basis, according to a study published today by the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. And 42 percent of those who don’t have child care outside the home don’t go outside daily with anyone.

That’s less outdoor time than all previous generations, researchers note.

Researchers at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute and University of Washington used nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort to analyze parent-supervised outdoor play. They used a sample of 8,950 to represent approximately 4 million children.

Kids who do go outside are more likely to be boys, have regular playmates, and have parents who exercise frequently, the study found.

But researchers did not find a significant association with screen time, household income or parent perceptions of neighborhood safety.

“Our results highlight the considerable room for improvement in parent-supervised outdoor play opportunities for preschool-aged children, which could have numerous benefits for young children’s physical health and development,” the authors wrote. “In particular, efforts are needed to increase active outdoor play in children who are girls and non-white.”

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity for preschoolers — and several hours of unstructured play daily. Other studies have shown half of kids ages 3-5 are not meeting those guidelines, the authors noted.

So get outside and play with your kids on a daily basis because this will help with so many things such as: better communication, better overall health for all family members and get people out of the house and into the great outdoors.  

Nick

Related articles

• Nearly half of preschoolers lack one parent-supervised playtime per day (sciencedaily.com)
• Many Preschoolers Not Getting Enough Outdoor Play (news.health.com)
• Preschool Children Aren’t Getting Enough Time Outdoors, New Study Reports (treehugger.com)

How to Develope Will Power and Self Discipline…..

The possession of willpower and self discipline or their lack, play an important role in everyone’s life. For example, you wish to go for a walk, knowing how good it is for your health and how wonderful you feel afterwards, but you feel too lazy, and prefer to watch TV instead. You might be aware of the fact that you need to change your eating habits or stop smoking, but you don’t have the inner power and persistence to change these habits.

Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, “I wish I had will power and self discipline”? How many times have you started to do something, only to quit after a short while? We all have had experiences like these.

Everyone has a few habits they wish they could get rid of, such as smoking, excessive eating, laziness, procrastination or lack of assertiveness. To overcome these habits or addictions, one needs a certain degree of willpower and self discipline. Their possession makes a great difference in everyone’s life, bringing to the fore inner strength, self mastery and decisiveness.

Here are a few exercises that will help you develope will power and self discipline:

 

1) You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and give up your seat, even if you prefer to stay seated. Act so, not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do. This is an exercise in overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.

 

2) There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later. Get up and wash them now. Do not let your laziness overcome you. When you know that in this way you are developing your will power, and if you are convinced of the importance of will power in your life, it will be easier for you to do whatever you have to do.

3) You come home tired from work and sit in front of the T.V., because you feel too lazy and too tired to take a shower first. Do not succumb to the desire to sit in front of the T.V, and go and take a shower.

4) Do you like your coffee with sugar? If you do, then for one whole week drink it without sugar. Do you drink three cups of coffee each day? If you do, then drink only two cups a day for one whole week.

5) Don’t read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper, even if you want to.

Don’t say that you cannot practice the above exercises, because you certainly can. Motivate yourself, by thinking about of their importance, and about the inner power and strength that you will gain. Remember, the purpose of the exercises is to develop inner strength, not making life difficult for you.

Benefits of Possessing Will Power and Self Discipline

You need these skills to control your thoughts, improve your concentration, and to become the boss of your mind. The stronger these skills are, the more inner strength you possess.

Being the master of your mind you enjoy inner peace and happiness. External events do not sway you, and circumstances have no power over your peace of mind. This might sound too unreal for you, but experience will prove to you that all the above is true.

These skills are vital for achieving success. They give you more control over your life, help you change and improve habits, and are essential for self improvement, spiritual growth and meditation.

Practice the exercises presented here earnestly and persistently, and your life will start changing.

Nick

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• Willpower (mylittleblackpen.wordpress.com)
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Be aware of your surroundings!!!

Hang up the cell phone, leave the purse at home and master the art of getting in and out of the car quickly. Scan your surroundings and always be alert! I lived in New York City and rode the sub ways every day. Now I am not an overpowering person but I managed to navigate the sub way system without an incident for several years because I always knew my surroundings. When I observed strange activity I moved, when I felt uneasy I quickly came up with a plan of action. Sometimes it was nothing but why be sorry. Today people are becoming victims because of their cell phones
with the most common violent crime reported at area malls: robberies in parking lots and garages.

After reviewing hundreds of police reports and interviewed victims, investigators and experts to come up with ways to help you stay safe.

Who is most likely to be a victim?

Robbers tend to target people of all ages who seem distracted. Often, that means women who are loading bags into a car trunk, strapping children into a car seat or talking on a cell phone. Some robbers target senior citizens, pushing them to the ground before taking off with a purse or wallet.

Women are about twice as likely as men to become a victim in a mall parking lot, but men have also been targeted by robbers demanding jewelry, wallets and cell phones. In nearly all cases, men were walking alone when they were robbed.

In at least 19 cases, robbers went after people who were visibly carrying portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and music players.

How can I tell if someone is looking to rob or attack me?

There are signs, but you must be keenly aware of your surroundings to pick up on them.

Be wary of cars trolling the parking area, particularly vehicles with two or more people inside. The drivers may just be looking for a parking spot, but many robbery teams slowly drive around until they spot a possible victim. One robber will quickly jump out, snatch purses and valuables, and jump back in as the driver steps on the gas. In at least three cases, women had their purses stolen by someone who reached out from a passing car window.

Try to avoid people sitting in parked cars. Look between rows of cars as you move through the lot, and pay close attention to anyone walking through the parking area.

Look over your shoulder often — most robbers in cases we reviewed approached victims from behind, and many victims said they never noticed the robber coming.

Where are people most vulnerable?

By far, the majority of the violent crimes reported occurred in parking lots and garages. Most victims were attacked while walking through the parking area, while others were robbed at or in their vehicles.

In at least 20 cases, robbers confronted people as they stepped into or out of their parked vehicles. Another 10 people were robbed as they sat in a parked car; four were carjacked and five accosted as they loaded shopping bags into car trunks. Parking as close as possible to a store or mall entrance shortens the distance you have to walk, reducing your chances of getting robbed while walking in the parking lot. But the increased traffic there could make it harder to spot and avoid suspicious people and vehicles.

The valet services offered at Town Center, Sawgrass Mills, Pembroke Lakes, the Galleria, Aventura Mall and The Mall at Wellington Green may be a safer option, though they cost at least $3.

The Town Center offers premium parking spots close to the main entrance for $3, as well as a free shuttle service that takes people between the parking lot and mall in small golf carts. Aventura Mall has a similar free shuttle program.

What about parents who shop with children?

Some criminals won’t shy from confronting a mother with kids. In fact, a few have used children to manipulate a woman to hand over her purse and valuables.

We found nine reports of women who were robbed as they walked through a parking lot with children. Two cases were at the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines in October 2006, and at the time police said one man was likely responsible for both attacks. In both cases, the gunman said he would hurt the child if the woman didn’t hand over her purse and valuables

What should I do if I think I am going to be attacked?

One woman successfully fended off a group of robbers at Sawgrass Mills by pressing her car’s remote panic alarm.

Some victims said they sensed something wasn’t right immediately before they were attacked — so trust your instincts.

If you don’t see any warning signs but something still doesn’t feel right, head for a safe place. If you’re just steps away from your car, that may be the best option. Otherwise, head back to the mall, frequently looking around and over your shoulder, and ask a security guard to escort you to your vehicle.

Authorities think some victims were attacked because they left a car door open a few seconds too long after they got in. Experts recommend getting in and out of your vehicle as quickly as possible. Do not linger inside, even with windows up and doors locked.

We need to take the power back!!! Do not be a victim and just becasue we may not be carrying a weapon or physically stronger than our attacker does not mean we are helpless!!! Be smarter and more prepared not paranoid because there is a difference. One lives in fear and one lives with confidence…..

Nick

FIGHT NEGATIVE THOUGHTS EFFECTIVELY!!!

Does it ever feel like your walking around with a dark cloud over your head? The other day I was sitting at dinner with a few friends and all of a sudden I went of on a negative tirade…..Now most everybody I am sure has done this but at this particular moment I had an out-of-body experience, meaning I actually heard myself speaking as if I was on the outside looking in and it wasnt pretty. Now I understand what I was trying to say and why I was saying it because I was frustrated and angry over an issue that has bothered me for some time. I wanted to express myself and make those people around me understand how I felt but all it sounded like was NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE!!! and after I was through I felt no better inside only embarrassed and this feeling lingered for days…..Well this experience has left me searching for ways to fight NEGATIVE thoughts and I thought I would share some free advice with all of you : )

You can fight your negative thoughts effectively

Our mind is filled with thoughts constantly and it is these thoughts that shape our actions. When negative thoughts take over our mind we can make it turn towards the positive only with the help of our attitude.

What are negative thoughts?

Negative thoughts are thoughts that pull us down. They prevent us from taking action. They put us down and make us find faults with ourselves. Negative thoughts make us look at others with doubt and that nobody values us. It makes us believe that we are not a success and we cannot succeed.

When do we get them?

We feel a wave of negativity when things don’t happen like what we have planned. When the results of our efforts are not promising we feel a failure and it fuels our sense of dejection.

How do we behave when we get them?

When we are feeling negative everything looks negative. Even simple and innocent actions and words of others hurt us and make us feel it is purposeful actions by them and we retaliate harshly.

What is a positive attitude?

It is the attitude of seeing the positivity in any situation and believing that all will turn out well even when the going is tough.

How do we acquire it?

Every habit requires practice and action to develop. It is not easy but it is possible to acquire this attitude. It has to be conscious decision and we have to be aware of our thoughts to keep them positive.

How do we use it to fight negative thoughts?

A positive attitude helps us fight our negative thoughts by making us re-frame our mind. We can use it to look differently at our problems. We can use our attitude to transform our lives by replacing our negative interpretations. This takes time and for most of us when we have negative thoughts time seems to speed up. My advice is to slow it down and give our minds time to relax and rethink the situation. It is not easy but it is possible! I have found it necessary to unclutter my mind of thoughts as if I have pulled the plug on a bath tub full of water and let all of the negative thoughts drain out but after this we must fill the tub back up with things that are positive because if we do not then negative things will creep back in and begin the process all over again. Take it one day at a time and do not become over whelmed and do not try to fix others just concentrate on ourselves and then the environment around us will equal out. Negative thoughts attract negative people so begin by changing our perspective and I am sure we will attract the more positive things that are around us…..

Nick

Negative view (Photo credit: fmgbain)

 

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• Key To Happiness (realityofone.wordpress.com)

DON’T POST PICTURES OF YOUR FOOD!!!!!!!!!

Dont you hate it when bloggers only blog about themselves??? I mean really!!! Do I care what some random person eats for lunch? NO Do I care about what some random person eats for dinner? NO And furthermore do I care what some random person ate for breakfast and anything in between!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!

I much rather read about what some random person thinks of some other random person’s thoughts on what some FAMOUS PERSON is doing, wearing and eating!!!! Not really but that is all that seems to get anybody’s attention these days…..I personally think it is a sad commentary on society when people are wrapped up in Twitter, Facebook and now we are able to SKYPE. Well at least Skyping is talking face to face with someone even though they are not actually present. Pretty soon our lives will consist of keeping tabs on REALITY TV Stars and not on our own family members. For instance can you tell me what your spouse is doing right now? BUT I bet you can tell me what SNOOKI is doing as we speak…..by the way I heard she was pregnant, is that true??? Hit me up on Twitter and let me know….or Facebook me or better yet just Skype me. Man that sounds almost obscene doesn’t it? Oh well if you can’t beat them then I guess I have nothing left but to join them…….This is a picture of what I ate today……BONAPETITE!!!

Do Not SUPER SIZE it…..For the Kids Sake!

Image via Wikipedia

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese.  Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat.  Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year.  The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion.  Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.

What is obesity?
A few extra pounds does not suggest obesity.  However they may indicate a tendency to gain weight easily and a need for changes in diet and/or exercise.  Generally, a child is not considered obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for their height and body type.  Obesity most commonly begins between the ages of 5 and 6, or during adolescence.  Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult. 

What causes obesity?
The causes of obesity are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral and cultural factors.  Obesity occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up.  If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be obese.  However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.  Although certain medical disorders can cause obesity, less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems.  Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to:

• poor eating habits
• overeating or binging
• lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids)
• family history of obesity
• medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems)
• medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications)
• stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse)
• family and peer problems
• low self-esteem
• depression or other emotional problems

What are risks and complications of obesity?
There are many risks and complications with obesity.  Physical consequences include:

• increased risk of heart disease
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• breathing problems
• trouble sleeping

Child and adolescent obesity is also associated with increased risk of emotional problems.  Teens with weight problems tend to have much lower self-esteem and be less popular with their peers.  Depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder can also occur.

How can obesity be managed and treated?
Obese children need a thorough medical evaluation by a pediatrician or family physician  to consider the possibility of a physical cause.  In the absence of a physical disorder, the only way to lose weight is to reduce the number of calories being eaten and to increase the level of physical activity.  Lasting weight loss can only occur when there is self-motivation.  Since obesity often affects more than one family member, making healthy eating and regular exercise a family activity can improve the chances of successful weight control for the child or adolescent. 

Ways to manage obesity in children and adolescents include:

• start a weight-management program
• change eating habits (eat slowly, develop a routine)
• plan meals and make better food selections (eat less fatty foods, avoid junk and fast foods)
• control portions and consume less calories
• increase physical activity (especially walking) and have a more active lifestyle
• know what your child eats at school
• eat meals as a family instead of while watching television or at the computer
• do not use food as a reward
• limit snacking
• attend a support group (e.g., Overeaters Anonymous)

Obesity frequently becomes a lifelong issue.  The reason most obese adolescents gain back their lost pounds is that they tend to go back to their old habits of eating and exercising.  An obese adolescent must therefore learn to eat and enjoy healthy foods in moderate amounts and to exercise regularly to maintain a desired weight.  Parents of an obese child can improve their child’s self esteem by emphasizing their strengths and positive qualities rather than just focusing on their weight problem.

Related articles

• Childhood Obesity Prevention (reidmillerwrites.net)
• Children and Obesity (childrenshealthnaturally.wordpress.com)
• Childhood Obesity in the Numbers (reidmillerwrites.net)
• Positive Parenting During Early Childhood May Prevent Obesity, Reveals (biospace.com)

LYF BAGS are AWESOME…..Check it out!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out these New LYF bags……This one is named the Islander and I bring it to the beach every time I go!!!! it is more of a guys backpack and holds all of my beach essentials such as my volleyball and towel and something to drink. But thats not all it can do it can also give you x-ray vision and super human powers! Well maybe not superhuman powers but you will definetely look like a super cool guy walking around with one of these on your back. And Ladies dont feel left out check out my next favorite the Adrianno…..

 

 

 

 

 

This one is to DIE for trust me it will surely turn heads…..

You can check out all of the latest styles at http://www.loveyourlyf.com/lyf-bags.htm

Dont be the last one on your block to get you LYF bag……

Nick

I almost died yesterday…..

I almost died yesterday…..

When I told my wife how I and our kids were almost a victim of a red light runner she just looked at me like I was somehow exaggerating but it was no exaggeration!!!!

I must have a guardian angel on my shoulder or I am just plain lucky because in all reality there is no way that I should have and or could have seen that car to my left drive right through a good 5 second red light and almost take me and my family out of this world. After I maneuvered to the right and completed a hard break I first made sure that everyone was ok, which thankfully the kids were alright a little shaken up but alright and then I thought I need to tell this person what they did I need to let them know how close they were to changing the lives of a family so needlessly and carelessly I cannot let them get away with being ignorant. So I proceeded to drive behind this person until we reached the next intersection and then I blew my horn until this man opened his car door and stuck his head out. Now this guy was about 28 to 35 years old with a scruffy beard and had a look of confusion on his face like “why is this guy blowing his horn” So I proceeded to ask him if he saw the red light he just went through??? His reply was “IT WAS YELLOW”  Now that would be the response one would expect from someone who just ran a red light and maybe just maybe he thought that red light is yellow therefore I can justify going through it but this was more than that this was a second away from what could have been a life changing event….So I replied “THAT LIGHT WAS RED FOR A GOOD 4 SECONDS!!!! AND YOU ALMOST KILLED A FAMILY OF THREE PEOPLE!!!!” A LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD GIRL A 12 YEAR OLD BOY AND THEIR DAD!!! I had to put a face with the crime I had to make it as personal as possible this guy had to understand that due to his thoughtlessness and utter inconsideration for life a family might have been torn apart because of him.

His reply not only confused me but enraged me and if my kids were not in the car I probably would have been on the 5 o’clock news for road rage but he looked so sincere and almost oblivious when he said to me “why are you yelling?” Yes, why am I yelling? Why? Why does it matter if people disregard red lights and human life? Why does it matter??? Why? Was I yelling because I was MAD?  Was I truly mad at this guy or was I mad at the fact that this guy almost took out my family. Was I having a normal reaction when our children are put in harm’s way?  I mean a lioness will protect their cubs even if it means they are put in harm’s way?  Was I making a decision based on the old question of flight or fight when faced with a threat or danger. Was I deciding to fight to not let this random person just continue their day without having to at least hear what I had to say was I screaming out for all of the victims that do not have a voice that were not as lucky as me and could not confront their monster!  All I know is I had to have a voice I had to say something but what would I say…….Well, having a moment to ponder the meaning of life, I replied” In the future PLEASE be more careful” He nodded his head in agreement and we proceeded on our way without an incident. Having time to reflect on this event I appreciate how precious every minute we have on this earth is, with our family and loved one and how in the blink of an eye how everything can change. I also will continue to search for the answer to the question why are you yelling????

Nick

The facts show that more than 100,000 crashes a year are caused by drivers running red lights, killing some 950 people and injuring 90,000 others, making it a leading cause of fatal crashes in metropolitan areas, according to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Worse, the numbers are on the rise: Fatal motor vehicle crashes at traffic signals increased 19 percent nationally between 1992 and 1998 (the last year for which FHWA had statistics); over the same period, all other types of fatal crashes increased just 6 percent.

“This should be viewed as an outrageous epidemic,” says Richard Retting, chief traffic engineer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). “We’re not talking about a rare illness that requires decades of billion-dollar research to prevent or cure. This is a situation where people are dying from something that’s 100 percent preventable.”

The high fatality rate associated with red-light-running crashes is partly attributable to the fact that they are usually “T-bone,” or side-impact, crashes involving high speeds (since drivers often accelerate to get through a red light quickly). Indeed, images of vehicles broadsided at intersections often show cars cut in two or with pulverized midsections. “Of all the injuries we see, these are some of the worst,” says Harry Teter, executive director of the 2,200-member American Trauma Society. “You’re hitting the most vulnerable part of the car.” Moreover, 53 percent of drivers in a 2008 online poll said their cars were not equipped with head-protecting side-curtain air bags, even though these devices cut driver deaths in side-impact crashes by nearly half. (Last year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a new regulation that mandates that new passenger cars have side air bags by 2012.)

PLEASE BE MORE CAREFUL!!!!!

 

I Caught Bello Mania at the Circus Sarasota…….

I went to the circus last night and caught Bello Mania…..

Ok I know it is very cliché but when the ring top announcer says that the circus is fun for all ages he really means it. I sat through 2 hours of circus entertainment and could not help but laugh uncontrollably. I know it sounds crazy but I would have to say if you are looking for something to do that is inexpensive and fun then go to the Circus! Sarasota Florida has a rich history in the circus   John Ringling first visited Sarasota in 1909, when this quiet farming and fishing village had a population of just over 800. Realizing the real estate potential of the area, he bought numerous large parcels of land, including St. Armands, Bird Key, the south end of Longboat Key and 66,000 acres along the Myakka River.

In the late 1920′s, John was offered 156 acres of land if he would move his circus winter quarters to Sarasota. He recognized the many advantages of relocating, so in November, 1927, the circus train rolled into town as it would do for the next 33 years. Many other circuses followed the Ringlings, and Circus became an integral part of the social and economic life of Sarasota, giving our area its unique identity.

In 1950, Cecil B. DeMille directed The Greatest Show on Earth, a motion picture starring Charlton Heston, James Stewart and Betty Hutton. Much of the film was shot in Sarasota. Many local residents were used as extras, and circus artists advised and helped the stars with their stunts and appeared in the film. Its world premier was at what is now the Sarasota Opera House.
Today, the grand Ringling Winter Quarters is gone. While the area remains home base for many circuses and home to thousands of active and retired circus families, few Circus attractions are open to the public.

After an absence of many years, Sarasota once again has its own resident circus. Founded in 1997, Circus Sarasota is committed to continuing the legacy and broadening the artistic contribution of circus. Circus Sarasota presents exciting professional family entertainment in winter performances under the big-top and special events and classes throughout the year.

You have until the end of the month to see Bello Mania and I highly recommend it. So get out of your house and off your couch and go see the CIRCUS!!!!