Good 64º smokey morning.
In the 1870s, Los Angeles was still little more than a village of 5,000. By 1900, there were over 100,000 occupants of the city.
Several men actively promoted Los Angeles, working to develop it into a great city and to make themselves rich. Angelenos set out to remake their geography to challenge San Francisco with its port facilities, railway terminal, banks and factories. The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles was the first incorporated bank in Los Angeles, founded in 1871 by John G. Downey and Isaias W. Hellman.
Wealthy Easterners who came as tourists recognized the growth opportunities and invested heavily in the region. During the 1880s and 1890s, the central business district (CBD) grew along Main and Spring streets towards Second Street and beyond.
For its first 120 years, the Los Angeles River supplied the town with ample water for homes and farms.
^Los Angeles River 1888
It was estimated that the annual flow could have support a town of 250,000 people—if the water had been managed right. But Angelenos were among the more profligate users of water in the world. In the semi-arid climate, they were forever watering their lawns, gardens, orchards, and vineyards. Later, they needed more to support the growth of commerce and manufacturing. By the beginning of the 20th century, the town realized it quickly would outgrow its river and would need new sources of water.
Hollywood has been synonymous worldwide with the film industry for over a hundred years. It was incorporated as the City of Hollywood in 1903 but merged into LA in 1910. In the 1900s movie makers from New York found the sunny, temperate weather more suitable for year-round location shooting. It boomed into the cinematic heart of the United States, and has been the home and workplace of actors, directors and singers that range from small and independent to world-famous, leading to the development of related television and music industries.
We haven't met many people who don't love the meatball. But, we think the only thing better than meatballs, are easy meatballs! So, for a special treat, take a bite out of these stuffed meatballs and enjoy the flavorful surprise of cheese in every tasty bite. Whether cocktail or main dish-sized, these scrumptious Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs will become a loved meatball recipe that never disappoints.
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (8-ounce) block mozzarella, cut into 20 (1/2-inch) cubes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except mozzarella cheese; mix well.
- Divide mixture into 20 meatballs, then form each meatball around a mozzarella cube, making sure to cover cheese completely. Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Serve immediately.
National Relaxation Day on August 15th encourages us to slow down and unwind. It’s a day to focus on taking care of ourselves and take a moment to relax.
National Relaxation Day is an important day as we all need a break from the fast-paced and often hectic lifestyles we live. Taking time to recuperate and rejuvenate our tired minds and bodies may help prevent many health risks, too. Like the founder of this day suggested, too much work can make us sick, run-down, tired and that’s just wrong.
But he was right! It has been proven that stress can be harmful to our health, both mentally and physically. Most doctors will agree that finding ways to relax and finding ways to reduce stress will improve overall health.
What is your favorite relaxation activity?
- Reading a book
- Fishing with a friend
- A picnic in the park
- Walking along the beach
- Taking a drive in the country
- Spa
- Golfing
- Photography
- A movie
- Window shopping
- Lunch with friends
- Drinks with friends
- Watching sports
- Swimming
These are just a few of the many possible relaxation ideas that you may want to use to celebrate this holiday.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Take a deep breath, unwind while viewing your favorite TV show, or just find a quiet spot in a park and enjoy the summer breeze.
NATIONAL RELAXATION DAY HISTORY
Sean Moeller founded National Relaxation Day in 1985 as a fourth-grader. In an interview with Valerie Monson in The Des Moines Register Sean suggested people shouldn’t do anything of real value. Cleaning and real work are not part of relaxation.
Relaxation FAQ
Q. How do I reduce stress at work?
A. The American Psychological Association recommends several tips for lowering stress at work. Similar to how we approach stressing our personal lives, it’s important to know what causes our stress. Once we know what those triggers are, we can develop ways to reduce our stress response. Taking deep breaths, stretching, reducing our workloads or even speaking to our supervisor can improve the kinds and amount of stress at work. In turn, we can learn to relax more easily.
Q. What’s the most relaxing job in the United States?
A. We’re fairly confident you can rule out President of the United States. However, doing something you love improves your job satisfaction. For example, working in an environment that is relaxing to you will be less stressful. If you don’t love the outdoors but you spend most of your workday outdoors, you might find your job more stressful than someone who loves the outdoors. So, it’s a matter of perspective.