Articles written by Mary Franz

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Why I love the Midwest: 1 of 22
If I close my eyes, I can still remember the way it felt to sit at the edge of our old stone bridge on our property in the Midwest. I'd sit there for no particular reason and toss pebbles into the creek water below. The creek was lined with old Willow trees whose branches became swinging vines when my little sister and I felt... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Economic Values Hungry for the silver spoon: Assessing the effect of our celebrity-obsessed culture on the lower classes: 1 of 19
The other night, Julian McMahon and I had a great night clubbing in Beverly Hills. I wore Versace, he chose Armani for the occasion. We did have a little trouble with the paparazzi when we left, but all was forgotten as we cruised away in Julian's Ferrari to his posh home. Of course, then I woke up.Don't tell me you haven't h... More..
Health & Fitness > Diet Programs Benefits of a macrobiotic diet: 1 of 11
The macrobiotic diet is not just a way of eating; it is a way of life. Benefits of following this strict diet include good physical health and contributing to a healthy environment. But perhaps the largest benefit is the one that is achieved as a result of both of these benefits combined. The word macrobiotic itself means "gr... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Growing up: 3 of 31
Growing upagainIt's funny how once we pass certain stages in our lives, we either with regret or relief are quite certain that the stage has indeed passed. As a parent of a school-aged child, I realize now that we do relive some of those stages through our children. Some of those moments are great. They begin to read, and we ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms America's obsession with youth explored: 3 of 25
When I was 25, I swore I'd never become one of those age-obsessed women who spent money on anti-aging products, lied about their ages and cried on their birthdays. I intended to grow old gracefully. I would be proud of my laugh lines and allow my hair to turn that beautiful color of silver. I would embrace each birthday as a ... More..
Health & Fitness > Alternative Exercise Tips for a vegetarian bodybuilder: 1 of 8
For the most part, daily nutrient requirements for the vegetarian bodybuilder are no different than the requirements for a non-vegetarian bodybuilder, though some of the sources for these nutrients differ. Energy requirements for a bodybuilder vs. a sedentary person are higher obviously due to the increased energy expenditure... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Rescue & Adoption The merits of adopting a dog through a rescue league: 17 of 102
It had been four months since we lost our beautiful 15-1/2 year old German Short-haired Pointer, Misha. In my 35 years of life, this was the longest period of time that I'd ever been without a dog, and we were more than ready to welcome a new friend into our lives. That emptiness we felt in our house without a dog had become ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Why public outcry is always too late: 7 of 39
Public outcry is often too late because we fail to pay attention on our own accord. We rely on the media to let us know what's going on in our world. Years ago, people had to rely on a select number of newspapers to do this. Today, there's a vast plethora of news sources. Global satellite and the World Wide Web have dismissed... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Underachieving: The expectations of society: 6 of 28
I have a friend who went to a great college on a full-ride scholarship. He graduated at the top of his class in college and went on to become a professional job hopper. Believe it or not, the jobs he holds are also minimum wage jobs. He could be making a small fortune with his educational credentials, but he's chosen a life t... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Teens (Other) How to encourage youngsters to develop a healthy lifestyle: 4 of 18
In encouraging youngsters to develop a healthy lifestyle, the best advice is to practice what you preach. Clich, yes, but true. Living a healthy lifestyle is achieved with a multitude of good habits. If you're following these and including your children, they are far more likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.For you, exercise ... More..