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The Free Life – Helping you stress less, live better and enjoy life.

Tis the season to feel festive. I still have to track down this year’s Christmas tree and set-up the lights. My plan is to get that done this weekend. But if you’re already admiring yours or need some inspiration, there are a few free events taking place around town. Here’s the list:

SPOKANE

Davenport Tree Lighting Ceremony - Tonight at 6 p.m. The Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony. Free viewing of trees on Mezzanine daily, now through December 13th. 10 South Post Street, Spokane.

POST FALLS, ID

Christmas Wish Movie Morning - Tomorrow, Dec. 6 is officially Christmas Wish Movie Morning at the Post Falls Theater. See any movie at 10 a.m. for just $5.  Half of each ticket sold will go directly to Christmas Wish. Post Falls Theater, 1486 West Seltice, Post Falls, ID. More information call: (208) 773-4332.

ST. MARIE’S, ID

Winter Sleigh Rides - Starting tomorrow The Forever Green Tree Farm in St. Marie’s is offering free sleigh rides. For adults and kids there’s also a two story holiday shop where I’m told you’ll enjoy hot chocolate, candy canes, cookies, and more. (12/6-12/7, 12/13-12/14) The farm is located at 500 Forever Green Drive, St. Maries, ID. For more information call: (208) 245-2440 or click here: http://www.forevergreentree.com/

The Free Life – Helping you stress less, live better and enjoy life.

SPOKANE

Festival Of One Acts, Tonight & Tomorrow (12/3 - 12/4) - Watch theater students direct and perform short plays. Begins at 7 p.m. Whitworth University, Cowles Auditorium, 300 W. Hawthorne Avenue, Spokane. Admission is free. (509) 777-3707.

POST FALLS

Spokane River Workshop, Tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - A public workshop to discuss current issues affecting the river.  Sponsored by The Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Aquifer, Sierra Club’s Upper Columbia River Group, and the Center for Justice. Free admission and refreshments will be served. Post Falls Library, 821 N. Spokane Street, Post Falls, Idaho. (509) 209-2899.

The Free Life - Helping you stress less, live better and enjoy life.

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be spending the day here in the KXLY 4 newsroom. There’s even an early morning football game planned by one of our producers. However, you’re spending the holiday I hope you enjoy it. 

Just in time for the holidays, free Thanksgiving meals are being hosted by community groups in Spokane, and Coeur d’Alene. All are free and open to the public.

Today - Spokane

The Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Ave. Thanksgiving program and turkey dinner at 6 p.m.; doors open at 5:45 p.m. (509) 535-8510.

City Gate, 170 S. Madison St. 5-8 p.m. (509) 455-9670.

Thanksgiving Day - Spokane

Christ Lutheran Church, 13009 E. Broadway Ave. Meal at 2 p.m.; reservations are required. (509) 496-6242 or (509) 927-9735.

VFW Post 51, 300 W. Mission Ave. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. until food runs out. For Veterans and their families. (509) 327-9847.

Gonzaga, Sodexo & St. Aloysius Parish co-host dinner, Cataldo Hall, 502 E. Boone Ave., Noon to 2 p.m. (509) 276-7121.

Mid-City Concerns, 1222 W. Second Ave. 2 p.m. (509) 456-6597.

Otis Grill, 21902 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchard. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (509) 922-9136.

Thanksgiving Day - Post Falls

St. George’s Catholic Church, 2010 N. Lucas St., Post Falls. 2-4 p.m., (208) 773-4715.

Thanksgiving Day - Coeur d’Alene

Lake City Senior Center, 1916 Lakewood Drive, Coeur d’Alene. Noon to 2 p.m. (509) 226-3208.

Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene. Noon. (208) 765-1002.

Daryl from Post Falls sent tonight’s picture from a “secret” location in Idaho.  He says “I’ve been going to this river since I was a young boy, and my son Canyon will also be raised in the mountains of Idaho, Montana and Washington.”  Thank you Daryl, for the GREAT shot.

     Join me this weekend (Saturday 27th) for our 1st ever “30 in 30″ just-for-fun bike ride.

     We’ll be starting and finishing at Mirabeau Park @ the Centennial Trail. 

     Check-in from 11:00 am to noon.  We’ll ride up to, but no more than 30 miles.  You’re welcome to ride any distance you like and all skill levels are welcome just remember to bring a helmet. 

    We’ll have a turn around & food stop at the Outlet Stores parking lot in Post Falls, Idaho.

     All riders will need to register at the event and complete liability waiver.  

    This is just for fun but donations toward our “30 in 30″ effort for low-income cancer patients are more than welcome and much appreciated.   For a $30 or more donation,  you’ll receive a ”30 in 30″ Challenge T-shirt. 

       And here’s something really cool, all riders on Saturday will receive a Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” wristband with any level of contribution based on availability.  

     Remember, all proceeds stay in our community and region and benefit Cancer Patient Care and local cancer patients and their families.

    If you have any question call or email the Executive Director at Cancer Patient Care, Cliff Evans; cliffe@cancerpatientcare.org or call CPC at (509)-456-0446.

    Thanks again and j.k. livin’

     I’m so proud of our community and the response to support our local non-profit agency, Cancer Patient Care. Today our total raised passed the $3,000 dollar mark. Thank you so much!

     Click here to see how much we’ve raised.   For those that have committed to doing 30 minutes of exercise a day for 30 days… hang in there. I’m right there with you. This morning I finished my 23rd Sprint Triathlon in a row! 7 more to go. If I can do it, you can do it.

    Here’s some more great news… this weekend (Saturday 27th) I’m holding a charity bike ride starting and finishing at Mirabeau Park @ the Centennial Trail.  Check-in from 11:00 am to noon.

     The distance is a maximum of 30 miles but riders of all abilities are encouraged to participate; any distance is OK.  We’ll have a turn around/food stop at the Outlet Stores parking lot in Post Falls, Idaho.

     All riders must register at the event and complete liability waiver.   Riders are encouraged to donate $30 or more on Saturday, when you do you’ll receive a Dave’s 30 in 30 Challenge T-shirt. 

    You can click here to donate online regardless of particpation!

   All riders on Saturday will receive a Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” wristband with any level of contribution based on availability.

   All top money raisers are eligible for prize drawings at our “Wrap Party” on Oct. 4 at Oz Fitness North Spokane location (times TBA)

   All proceeds stay in our community and region and benefit Cancer Patient Care and local cancer patients and their families.

    Email me anytime at davee@kxly.com  if you have any question or email the Executive Director at Cancer Patient Care, Cliff Evans; cliffe@cancerpatientcare.org or call CPC at (509)-456-0446.

    Thanks again and j.k. livin’

Pretty cute!  Dave Wood from Cocolalla, Idaho sent this Pic of the Night. 

“My daughter awoke the other day to find this young fella walking around her bedroom floor!  We caught him and set him free, getting a few pictures in the process.  He’s a Northern Alligator Lizard.”  

Thanks for the great picture, Dave!  I’d be a bit startled to find a lizard lurking around my bedroom, but it could be MUCH worse.  Check out who Ardella Quaaley found slithering through her yard in Post Falls this week:

     One week from today my “30 in 30″ fundraiser / fitness challenge begins.  We’ll kick it off by broadcasting live from the North side Oz Fitness Monday morning at 5 a.m.!   You’re welcome to join me or stop by and say hi.  I’ll be the guy swimming 1/2 mile, riding 13 miles and running 3.1 miles plus I’ll be wearing my yellow “30 in 30″ tshirt.

     As you may know, starting September 1st, I’ll be doing “30 triathlons in 30 days” to raise awareness and money for Cancer Patient Care.  I’m very excited about the response and enthusiasm by my friends, family and co-workers.  In fact, I received an email this morning from my friend  Scott B. from Post Falls.  Scott says he’ll give $10 for every triathlon I do in September.  Which will work out to $300 by the time I finish.   Thank you so much Scott!   To donate, please go to my Cancer Patient Care donation page.  Our goal is $30,000.

     Over the weekend I did some pretty good training.  Saturday, went to Oz Fitness and swam 1500 yards and then ran a 5k.  Sunday was an outdoor workout.  I went on a 30 mile bike ride in Coeur d’Alene with some Ironman friends and then I came home and took Lexy on a 3 mile run around the block. 

(I know, kinda gross, sorry)

     I’m a big supporter of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  In fact, it was through the LAF that I discovered the local connection to Cancer Patient Care.   So, last week I applied for some Lance Armstrong auction gear and wristbands.    I’d like to use these items to say thank you to our supporters and participants.  Their committee meets this week to decide which organizations or events get what.  I’ll let you know the status when I hear back. 

     In the meantime, just keep livin’ strong.

   We made it! What an adventure. The Spokane to Sandpoint relay took our team of 12 amazing men and women over 190 miles of the Inland Northwest in 29 hours. Our two teams of 6 were confined mostly to seperate vans but we shared a single experience that I’m sure we’ll never forget.  And what’s great about an event like this, you really get to know people.We started our Friday morning at the base of Mt. Spokane around 7:30. I was the first leg which meant I would run the first 5 miles down the hill to our first check point. I ran it pretty fast but sacrificed my legs muscles in the process.  Quads take a pounding when running down hill verses a flat road. 

     Our journey would take us through 9 Mile Falls Elementary, across North Spokane along Francis, over to Mirabeau Park and the Centennial trail, into Post Falls at Corbin park, a late evening stop at Lake Coeur d’Alene then an exhilarating 2 am roller coaster ride at Silverwood Theme Park. Our final stop was in sunny Sandpoint, Idaho.

     During the day Friday we weathered triple digit temperatures, during the evening we were guided by cooler air and moonlight.  Each van was self sufficient, meaning we packed all our clothes, food, drinks, sleeping bags and pillows and everything in between. After the first 6 hours, we were smelling pretty bad. Our first shower wasn’t until after our second leg of running.

     KXLY4 was kind enough to be our team sponsor. So from all of us, thank you David Lee.  And to my fellow runners and new friends; Patrick, Sara, Darci, Leslie, Kirsten, Bethany, Amy, Ann, Gavin, Jeff, Mariana and Molly, thanks for the memories. Let’s do it again next year! Enjoy the pictures.

(We were 12 strangers the night before the race.  We were 12 friends when it was over)

(Van decorations.  The message was funny and realistic)

(Pre-race photo-op on Mt. Spokane at 7:30 am Friday)

(Sara with hand-off to Kirsten at checkpoint #3)

(Kirsten all smiles with Leslie ready to go)

(Dave preparing to hand-off to Patrick after running 6.7 miles in 100 degree heat)

(Patrick giving Leslie a high-5 after his 3 mile run in 100 degree heat)

(Best Light Show contest, showing off our Olympic glow rings)

(Van#1 at 3 a.m. Saturday waiting for one of our runners)

(Team Captain, Bethany, on her 3rd and final leg Saturday)

(Final stretch as Team KXLY4 finishes together)

(Team KXLY4 in Sandpoint after 29 hours, 190 miles and thousands of memories)

What is it that makes some elected officials think they have the authority to restrict the choices citizens make? Who do these people think they are?

Here in Spokane, we have a mayor who thinks that people who water their lawns when the daytime temperature is hottest, should be stopped. These folks of course, pay for the water they use. They may have a perfectly good reason for watering between noon and 6:00 p.m. Besides, it’s none of the mayor’s business what they do with the water the purchase, unless its illegal.

Other cities, Post Falls, Idaho among them, have similarly encroached on citizen freedom when it comes to daytime watering of lawns between May and October. Now, if water is scarce that’s one thing. But where it is not, these self-important politicians should butt out.

In New York, where it gets pretty hot in the summertime on the streets of Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York city council want to impose fines on retailers who use the lure of air conditioning to bring customers into their establishments.

Mind you, these businesses pay for all the energy they consume, but the mayor doesn’t like the way they consume it even though its perfectly legal. Bloomberg thinks these retailers are wasting energy. He wants to stop them.

Whether you agree with these do gooders or not, you cannot ignore that this is government encroaching ever more on the private decisions that citizens make not because they are intrinsically wrong, but because some politicians don’t approve of those decisions, and feel the need to restrict them.

I have a pretty large nose. I’ve always been comfortable with that because air is free, but What am I to do if one day some elected official decides I ought to breathe less to conserve air?

Where does this encroachment on individual rights end?