Janet Gover was born in Melbourne, Australia, and had two great loves as a child- ponies and books. She competed in horse shows, winning a handful or ribbons, but mainly riding more for work, herding cattle on horseback. Gover figured out how much she wanted to be a writer when she 12 years old, when she was instructed to write a short story for a homework assignment. She typed 20 pages and made a cardboard cover for her proud masterpiece. It was then she was hooked. Gover studied at the University of Queensland, where she focused on journalism, sociology, and political science. She went on to be a general reporter, then a specialist crime reporter before getting into politics. In the 80’s Gover was introduced to a computer, and was hooked. She currently works as a consultant, implementing high end digital systems in TV stations and production facilities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Janet Gover also is a novelist, with two novels published through Little Black Dress. Her first, The Farmer Needs a Wife was released in January of 2009, and The Bachelor and Spinster Ball was recently released. Her latest novel, Racer Girls, will be out in July 2010. She also writes short series that are often published in magazines.
Do you experience frequent headaches, even migraines, during a workout? If so, you are not alone. According to research from the National Headache Foundation, approximately 45 million people in US suffer from chronic headaches and migraines, and 70% of those feel pain when exercising. Fitness magazine ran an article in their March volume about the link between exercise and headaches, and some of the triggers I read about surprised me. Keep reading to see all the triggers and how you can prevent the pain. Trigger: Improper Breathing. While doing intense activity, it is not smart to hold your breath. This will rapidly increase blood pressure, being a cause for a sudden headache. You need to remember to keep breathing throughout any exercise, especially those with high intensity such as sprinting. Trigger: Sudden Sprinting. This can also include not warming up before a workout. Going from sitting to all out running or another form of cardio can be detrimental to the body. Making sure to warm up and fully stretch before working out to help your body adjust to the increased blood flow. Trigger: Your Food Choices. If I know I am going to be doing an intense workout, I will try to eat a banana before heading off to the gym. But I learned that if you are prone to having migraines, this can actually be worse for you. Amino acids found in soy, citrus fruits, bananas, yogurt, and nuts can bring on the headaches. Fitness suggests drinking a protein shake or munching on whole crackers about 30 minutes before your workout. Trigger: Dehydration. Too little water in the body can ‘lower pressure inside the arteries that supply blood to the lining around the brain,’ so aim to drink about 8 ounces of water an hour before your workout. Also, if you exercise for 30 minutes, it is wise to take a break and drink another 8 ounces to ward off any pain. Trigger: Poor Posture. Fitness reports that 75% of tension headaches stem from muscle strain in the neck, because of poor posture during common exercises such as crunches. The suggestion to help get over bad posture? Yoga. Research has shown that after 3 months of yoga, the frequency and intensity of migraines can be greatly reduced. I know yoga is one of my favorite activities, because even after a workout I feel my posture has improved and I have more awareness of my body. Practice these moves if you often get exercise headaches while working out, and check out Fitness Magazine for more healthy fitness tips!
Dr. Phil is now a grandpa. The talk show host and author is now grandfather to Avery Elizabeth McGraw, born on Thursday night to son Jay and his wife Erica. People.com reports the baby girl weighed in at 6 lbs., 6 oz., and measuring 21 inches long. This is the first child for the couple.
Jo Green knows she needs something more. 23 years old and still living with her parents, turning down three marriage proposals from her perfectly okay boyfriend, and living day to day with mundane tasks. When Jo finds an ad in the paper for a live-in nanny position in the big city of London, she eagerly accepts an interview with the Fitzgerald’s. After securing a position and waving good-bye to her old life, Jo begins to settle into her new adventure, not expecting what will come next. The Fitzgerald’s lead a posh life, with Vanessa the hard working corporate mother and Dick the playful dad running a record store, his hobby. They have a Brady Bunch between them, with three children from their marriage added with two from Dick’s previous marriage- which includes 25 year old Josh. After Jo commissions Josh out of work, the eldest son moves into the family home- and is practically sharing a bedroom with Jo. Jo tries to ignore the feelings of attraction for Josh, especially when boyfriend Shaun makes the trip to visit her, but the feelings are dismissed when Jo finds out he is helping his father hide an affair from Vanessa. The dysfunctional family lifestyle ensues, and soon enough Jo finds herself enjoying her day to hectic day responsibilities within the tizzy Fitzgerald home. The Nanny, written by the late Melissa Nathan, is a fun tale of a girl trying to find her way. The story of Jo Green trying to make something of herself is entertaining to read, and the Fitzgerald family adds much needed humor in all the right places. The air of mystery surrounding the affair keeps readers interested throughout the way, and the romance between Jo and Josh is undecided until the very end. A light but endearing read.
Baby number 7 is on its way for Kevin Costner and wife Christine Baumgartner Costner. A rep for the couple confirms to People.com that they are expecting in June. The newest addition will join brother Hayes Logan, 13 months, and Cayden Wyatt, 2 ½ – his sons with Christine – as well as Liam, 13, Joe, 22, Lily, 23, and Annie, 25, his children from previous relationships.
People.com confirms that comedienne Amy Poehler and husband Will Arnett are expecting their second child. The due date has not yet been released, but this baby will join brother Archie, 16 months.
Danica McKellar is expecting her first child with husband of one year, Mike Verta. People.com reports the Wonder Years actress, 35, is expecting in the fall. McKellar is also planning to release her third tome, Hot X: Algebra Exposed, in August.
Shanna Swendson always wanted to write. From the time she was a little girl, Swendson was constantly making up characters and adventures that were based of movies, TV shows, or other books. She went on to study journalism at the University of Texas, and secured a degree in broadcast news. After beginning work in public relations, Swendson decided it was time to get serious about writing novels. She joined local writing organizations and registered for her first writing conference. Now, Shanna Swendson is a successful novelist, and creator of the popular magical series Enchanted Inc. Some of her titles include: Enchanted Inc., Once Upon Stilettos, Damsel Under Stress, and Don’t Hex with Texas.
